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The destruction of methicillin by soil bacteria

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Summary

The stability in the soil of a new penicillin (methicillin) which is resistant to staphylococcal penicillinase, has been investigated. The results revealed its inactivation in both sterile and non-sterile soils of p H 7.4–7.6, with indication of biological inactivation in the latter.

Three strains identified as Pseudomonas spp., were isolated by enrichment technique from the soil, and were found able to inactivate methicillin through production of an exocellular enzyme destructable at 90°C. Such an enzyme proved to be a type of penicillinase that inactivated benzyl penicillin more actively than methicillin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bacteriological Laboratories, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London

    S. H. Elwan

  2. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    S. H. Elwan

Authors
  1. S. H. Elwan
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Elwan, S.H. The destruction of methicillin by soil bacteria. Archiv. Mikrobiol. 47, 286–295 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408945

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408945

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