Studies on the influence of mineral ions on bacterial respiration Report I: The decrease of respiration by washing organisms and the influence of mineral ions on it

This experiment was performed to study the influence of washing on bacterial respiration and, moreover, to study the effects of various mineral ions on it. Organisms: Bacillus dysenteriae (Komagome B III and Ohno's bacillus) Bacillus coli communis, Bacillus coli communior, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus albus, Bacillus pneumoniae, Bacillus pyocyaneus, Bacillus proteus (H and Otype) and Bacillus cholerae. Substrates: glucose, α-ketoglutaric acid, pyruvic acid, succinic acid and malic acid. Mineral ions: Fe(++), Fe(+++), Mg(++), Cu(++) and Zn(++) 1) The decrease of respiration by washing varies according to the species of Organisms and the sorts of substrates. 2) The organisms of which respiration is remarkably decreased by washing are Staphylococcus and Bacillus coli. However, the respiration of Bacillus proteus and Bacillus pneumoniae is little decreased by washing. 3) The substrates in which the washing of organisms results in noticeable decrease of bacterial respiration are glucose and pyruvic acid. However, it shows little decrease in malic acid. 4) The addition of mineral ions can restore the respiration decreased by washing, of which the degree of restoration is, however, different according to the species of organisms and the sorts of substrates. 5) The most effective method for adding the mineral ions is to wash organisms with buffer containing the mineral ions and then suspend the washed organisms in the same buffer as that used for washing.