title: Enhancement of growth of Mycobacterium malmoense by acidic pH and pyruvate.
abstract: The growth of Mycobacterium malmoense is dysgonic and slow on ordinary mycobacterium media. The effect of pH and pyruvate on the growth of ten strains was studied on a modification of Löwenstein-Jensen medium. Growth appeared sooner and was more abundant at pH less than 6.5. At pH 7 or higher, it was scarcely or not at all visible after six weeks of incubation. Pyruvate enhanced the growth of five strains that grew only poorly on glycerol-containing medium, even at acidic pH. The parallel use of both pyruvate and glycerol-containing media, pH 6 to 6.5, and an incubation period of seven weeks or longer are recommended for the isolation of Mycobacterium malmoense on Löwenstein-Jensen medium.
authors.affiliation: Kuopio University Central Hospital, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Finland.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Katila
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brander
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D005990:Glycerol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000254:growth & development*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D011773:Pyruvates; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D005990:Glycerol