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THE ACTINOMYCETES, Vol. I 



population picture was obtained by Kaila. 

 Henssen recognized that certain species of 

 streptomyces and nocardias are found abun- 

 dantly in thermophilic composts. He em- 

 phasized, however, the abundance of specific 

 thermophilic groups of actinomycetes, such 

 as Thermoadmomyces and certain newly 

 created thermophilic genera, as shown in 

 Chapter 29 (Volume II). 



Actinomycetes as Agents of Deteriora- 

 tion and Spoilage 



Through their ability to attack resistant 

 compounds and through their universal oc- 

 currence, actinomycetes may freciuently be 

 responsible for considerable damage to food- 

 stuffs and textiles. As a rule, actinomycetes 

 are usually not considered important agents 

 of deterioration and spoilage. It can easily 

 be established, however, that, under certain 

 special conditions, actinomycetes may play 

 a far more important role in these processes 

 than is commonly supposed. It is sufficient 

 to present the following evidence : 



1 . Certain foodstuffs are known to deteri- 

 orate as a result of characteristic earthy and 

 pungent flavors and odors imparted by ac- 

 tinomycetes, as pointed out previously. This 

 is true of milk, cacao, potable waters, and 

 fish. The flesh of fish is tainted through ab- 

 sorption from the water of the odoriferous 

 substance produced by actinomycetes. Cacao 

 can be damaged in a similar manner. The 

 damage to Brazil nuts by actinomycetes has 

 been suggested; an organism, described as 

 .4 . brasiliensis, a streptomyces, was isolated 

 by Spencer from the shells of such nuts. 



2. Certain fabrics, notably woolens, cot- 

 ton goods, and paper, may be stained or 



actually destroyed by actinomycetes. Al- 

 though the rate and extent of such destruc- 

 tion cannot be compared with those caused 

 by fungi or certain bacteria, especially under 

 humid and high temperature conditions, the 

 actinomycetes produce a \'ariety of stains 

 (yellow, pink, red, black) on cloth and on 

 paper, especially in l)ooks, and thus cause 

 considerable damage. 



3. Bredemann and Werner isolated from 

 soils a chromogenic actinomycete capable of 

 actively decomposing salts of butyric acid. 

 The culture withstood heating for 5 minutes 

 at 80°C. The illustrations given in this re- 

 port suggest that the organism was a Micro- 

 monospora. The culture was warty and 

 brown in color. It produced a solul)le rose 

 pigment. 



4. As a result of extensive studies carried 

 on in connection with the deterioration pro- 

 gram during the Second World War in the 

 Pacific, various cultures of actinomycetes 

 were isolated. Their exact part in causing 

 deterioration of service materials has not 

 been fully established. 



References to numerous other forms of 

 potential deterioration of essential materials 

 by actinomycetes are found in the literature. 

 Galli-Vallerio and Reiss pointed out the 

 ability of actinomycetes belonging to the 

 streptomyces to attack photographic paper, 

 both developed and unde\clopcd. They 

 found such cuHures in the wash water used 

 in photographic work. The ability of actino- 

 mycetes to attack rubber, paraffin, and other 

 complex materials has already been men- 

 tioned. The nature of the damage that may 

 thus be caused has not been determined. 



