title: [Investigations made to test the demarcation line method (DLM) after Dienes for its suitability in the epidemiology of Proteus mirabilis (author's transl)].
abstract: In 1946, DIENES observed that non-identical Proteus-strains, when swarming towards each other, were froming distinctly demarcated lines ("DIENES' phenomenon", demarcation (=AGL) phenomenon). Strains of the same origin were amalgamating without demarcation. In 1970, STURDZA studied this phenomenon and commented on its relevance for the epidemiology of nosocomial Proteus-infections. An increased number of Proteus-infections in Berlin was the reason that this procedure was tested for epidemiological purposes. Approx. 300 Proteus mirabilis-strains, tested on normal meat fluid agar, could be divided into 52 AGL-groups. When tested by several investigators, the coordination to any AGL-group seemed to be very subjective. Consequently, a DNase-agar with o-toluidinblue as an indicator, as had been mentioned by CHAMBERS in 1975, was used in order to give a more exact demonstration of AGL. This resulted in a reduction from 52 to 42 AGL-groups. Another 140 newly isolated Proteus-strains belonged to the 42 known as well as to another 42 new AGL-groups. Whether these 84 AGL-groups possess the constancy which is imperative for practical purposes, is however, still rather doubtful.
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D011512:Proteus Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D014048:Tolonium Chloride
chemical_list: D014048:Tolonium Chloride; D000362:Agar
vernacular_title: Untersuchungen über die Brauchbarkeit des Abgrenzungslinienverfahrens (AGL) nach Dienes für die Epidemiologie von Proteus mirabilis.