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Lactose utilization byVibrio vulnificus

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Abstract

The ability of wild-type strains ofVibrio vulnificus to utilize lactose as a sole source of carbon and energy and produce acid in lactose-containing media is associated with the appearance of spontaneous lactose-utilizing mutants. These contain increased activities of an enzyme able to hydrolyzeo-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactoside as well as lactose. This activity is constitutive in some mutants and inducible by both lactose and isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactoside in others. A limited survey of otherVibrio species indicates thatV. pelagius also can acquire, by mutation, the ability to grow on and make acid from lactose. No immunological cross-reaction was detected between the enzymes fromVibrio and the β-galactosidases ofEscherichia coli andKlebsiella.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, University of California, 95616, Davis, California, USA

    Paul Baumann & Linda Baumann

  2. Microbiology Section, U-44, University of Connecticut, 06268, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

    Barry G. Hall

Authors
  1. Paul Baumann
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  2. Linda Baumann
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  3. Barry G. Hall
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Baumann, P., Baumann, L. & Hall, B.G. Lactose utilization byVibrio vulnificus . Current Microbiology 6, 131–135 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01642385

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