Sedimentation of bacteria with polyethylene glycol

Abstract

Experiments are reported which show that the addition of 4,0% polyethylene glycol (6 000 MW) to liquid cultures of Clostridium welchii Type D , Pasteurella and Vibrio fetus (venerialis) will effectively sediment the bacteria. Live Brucella abortus S19, a smooth S. gallinarum Strain 28 600 and a formalin inactiviated suspension of V. fetus (intestinalis) Strain 661 were, however, not sedimented. When effective the method has appreciable application in the production of vaccines and other processes requiring the easy collection of large volumes of cells, and the separation of bacteria from their soluble exotoxins.