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The existence of differences between the infra-red absorption spectra of bacteria

1957; Elsevier BV; Volume: 9; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0371-1951(57)80131-3

1873-3816

J.E.S. Greenstreet, K. P. Norris,

Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies

The infra-red absorption spectra of 136 strains of bacteria have been examined. The attempt is made to show that bacteria can be differentiated by their infra-red absorption spectra (5–15 μ). The difficulties and the means adopted to overcome them are discussed. A statistical method of comparing spectra is described and results quoted to show that similarity between bacteria on biological grounds is paralleled by similarity between their spectra, and vice versa. Genera are easily distinguished. Species can be distinguished with more difficulty, but the spectral differences between strains are of the same order of magnitude as those arising from errors of the technique as yet uncontrolled. However, there is evidence that it is possible to distinguish strains. It is also shown that the spectrum of Bacillus megatherium varies with the morphology of the organism. It appears possible that differential spectroscopy may help to elucidate the changes which occur in such bacteria.