title: Uric acid utilization by Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum isolates.
abstract: Forty-nine human and environmental isolates of Mycobacterium intracellulare and Mycobacterium scrofulaceum were tested for their ability to grow on uric acid and a number of its degradation products. Nearly all (88 to 90%) strains used uric acid or allantoin as a sole nitrogen source; fewer (47 to 69%) used allantoate, urea, or possibly ureidoglycollate. Enzymatic activities of one representative isolate demonstrated the existence of a uric acid degradation pathway resembling that in other aerobic microorganisms.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid; D009584:Nitrogen