title: A qualitative and quantitative study of the fatty acid composition of selected micro-organisms.
abstract: Fatty acid content was found to be an important parameter in the identification and numerical taxonomy of many micro-organisms. Isolates of the same species and genus as well as members of many well defined groups, such as the Enterobacteriaceae, were included in the study. A direct methylation procedure of the bacteria was found to be accurate, efficient and rapid. Fatty acids were found to be reliable indicators of micro-organisms in group, generic, specific and strain identification. Other biochemical tests were especially valuable when used in conjunction with fatty acid profiles in identification and classification of the bacteria studied.
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D008745:Methylation
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids