20 



THE ACTINOMYCETES, Vol. I 



Table 2 

 Classification of streptomyces on the basis of carbon utilization (after Pridham and Gottlieb) 



Dulcitol - 

 DL-Inositol + 



8-80 group 

 S. flavovirens 



Na-acetate + 

 Na-succinate — 



I 

 (8-80 group) 



L-Rhamnose 

 Raffinose — 



S. griseus 

 S. lavendulae 



Dulcitol -f 

 DL-Inositol + 



(A-105) 



Na-acetate — 

 Na-succinate -f- 



{S. flavovirens) 



L-Rhamnose + 

 Raffinose + 



8-80 group 

 S. flavovirens 

 S. gardneri 

 A-105 



Dulcitol - 

 DL-Liositol — 



(iS. gardneri) 



D-Mannitol -+- 

 DL-Inositol + 



((S. antibioticus) 



L-Rhamnose -+- 

 Raffinose — 



8-44 



S. antibioticus 



D-Mannitol 

 DL-Inositol 



(8-44) 



istics, one may list reduction of nitrate and 

 the utilization of fats, paraffin, and phenol. 



Pridham and Gottlieb suggested that the 

 utilization of carbon compounds should re- 

 ceive greater consideration for species deter- 

 mination than hitherto. All the particular 

 species tested were able to utilize f/-glucose, 

 ^/-mannose, dextrin, and glycerol but not 

 erythritol, phenol, cresols, and the sodium 

 salts of formic, oxalic, and tartaric acids. 

 The utilization of such compounds, how- 

 ever, as rhamnose, raffinose, xylose, lactose, 

 mannitol, dulcitol, inositol, and the sodium 

 salts of acetic and succinic acids was selec- 

 tive (Table 2). 



Many species of actinomycetes have Ix^en 

 described in the literature as pathogenic to 



both animals and plants. The fact that such 

 cultures were isolated from infectious con- 

 ditions is not always proof, however, that 

 they are the causative agents of such dis- 

 eases. 



Microscopic Methods 



Microscopic studies involve, (a) direct 

 examination of growing cultures; (b) study 

 of hanging drop preparations; (c) use of con- 

 tact slides, stained and unstained; (d) elec- 

 tron microscope studies; (e) special methods. 



Direct microscopic examination. In order 

 to examine the soil, compost, or water mi- 

 croscopically, a dilute suspension of the ma- 

 terial is spread over a clean slide, dried, and 

 stain(Hl with an acid dye, such as erythrosin 



