The Effect of 2,4‐Dinitrophenol on the Growth of Bordetella pertussis in Chick Tracheal Organ Culture

Among various metabolic inhibitors tested, only 2, 4-dinitrophenol inhibited the growth of Bordetella pertussis in chick tracheal organ culture at concentrations nontoxic both for bacterial organisms and for ciliary motility of the tracheal fragments. Although this effect of 2, 4-dinitrophenol was reversible in its early stage, longer treatment with this inhibitor resulted in an irreversible inhibition of bacterial growth due to secondary damage of the tracheal fragments. From these observations, it was postulated that the energy required for bacterial growth might be derived from cellular metabolism sensitive to inhibition with 2, 4-dinitrophenol.