| Popis: |
The technique of Curie-point pyrolysis-mass spectrometry was applied to a study of six species of the family Legionellaceae. The mass spectrum of the decomposition products of whole bacteria pyrolyzed at 358°C revealed that all serogroups of Legionella pneumophila shared a unique profile of m/z 67, 158, and 176. The type strains of the other species shared a common profile in which these masses were considerably reduced in intensity. The data suggested that differences in the pyrolysis-mass spectrum might be used to distinguish the various species from each other. On this basis, the pyrolysis data of a strain, 1153B, whose classification was not known at the time of testing, suggested a new species of Legionella, now classified as Legionella longbeachae serogroup 1. These results supported the application of pyrolysis-mass spectrometry to the identification of Legioneilaceae. Further implications of the spectral data are discussed. |
