The Effect of the Growth Rate on the Composition of S. Enteritidis Cell Walls

Summary S. Enteritidis Se 795 was grown in a chemostat under carefully controlled environmental conditions. Cells were grown at progressively faster dilution rates and the chemical composition of the cell walls was determined quantitatively. The total nitrogen and protein content of the walls decreased significantly as the growth rate increased. Chromatographic examination of hydrolysed cell walls showed a decrease in the mannose, rhamnose and tyvelose content of the walls with increasing rate of growth. Agglutination tests revealed that the fastest growing cells underwent a partial smooth to rough antigenic variation which was reversed when the growth rate was again reduced.