The nature of the action of penicillin on the cell walls of bacteria is reviewed. The composition of bacterial cell walls is compared to cell walls of blue-green algae. The test organisms used were thermophilic: Anacystis nidulans grew optimally at 35⁰C, whereas Synechococcus lividus grew best at 45⁰ C. Growth was recorded by reading optical densities. Cells of these two thermophilic blue-green algae were treated with varying dosages of penicillin and streptomycin. Penicillin inhibited growth of Anacystis nidulans and Synechococcus lividus in concentrations of 3.0 Mg/ml and 0.03 Mg/ml respectively. However, when 0.3 Mg/ml of penicillin was added to Anacystis nidulans, an initial lag phase of growth was observed. Possible reasons for this lag are suggested and results of pertinent experiments are discussed. No similar lag was noted in Synechococcus lividus. Streptomycin inhibited growth of both species when present in 0.03 Mg/ml.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:pdx.edu/oai:pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu:open_access_etds-2450 |
| Date | 01 January 1971 |
| Creators | Christenson, Erleen Blanche |
| Publisher | PDXScholar |
| Source Sets | Portland State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Dissertations and Theses |
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