title: Isolation of a salt tolerant pleomorphic Klebsiella strain from a case of diabetic periodontitis.
abstract: An unusual Klebsiella strain was isolated from a deep periodontal pocket of a diabetic patient. According to its biochemical reactions the new strain differed from Klebsiella pneumoniae and other described biotypes. In addition, the new isolate was very salt tolerant; in the presence of 7.5% sodium chloride the bacterium changed into a spirillum-like form, with highly pleomorphic filaments, and reverted immediately to the short rod form at lower sodium chloride concentrations or in the absence of sodium chloride. Optimum growth was observed in the presence of 2% sodium chloride. A wide range of carbohydrates was fermented with a large amount of gas production. It appears that the adaptation of the isolated Klebsiella strain to sodium chloride allows it to enter the ecological niche of periodontal lesions.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D006801:Humans; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012965:Sodium Chloride