Environmentally induced changes in Salmonella cultures

Abstract

Exposure to unfavourable conditions resulted in an alteration of characteristics in certain strains of Salmonella: (l) Different strains of Salmonella gallinarum yielded motile variants showing various H-antigens. In addition somatic antigenic components, not detectable in the parent strains, accompanied by altered morphological and biochemical characteristics as well as virulence were demonstrated. (2) Strains of Salmonella dublin showed a change of 0- and H-antigens and acid and gas production in inositol. It has not yet been established whether the new serotypes observed represent transitional variants of adaptive or mutant nature.