Carbon source utilisation by Bordetella bronchiseptica

Department of Microbiology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL * Department of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA 1 Corresponding author: Dr B.J. Plotkin. Received August 27, 1997 Accepted January 12, 1998 Bordetella bronchiseptica isolates utilised tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates - succinate, citrate, -ketoglutarate, fumarate, lactate and oxalo-acetate; the organic acids pyruvate, acetate and lactate; and the amino acids proline, glutamate, glutamine and tyrosine - as sole sources of carbon and energy. The inability of B. bronchiseptica isolates, representing the three phase types and from different animal hosts, to utilise carbohydrates and sugar alcohols as sole carbon and energy sources was confirmed and extended. The influence of the carbon substrate on doubling time, piliation, flagellation, motility, capsule production and adherence to mammalian cells was also measured.