title: Biochemical properties and fatty acid composition of Mycobacterium haemophilum: study of 16 isolates from Australian patients.
abstract: The biochemical properties and fatty acid compositions of 16 strains of Mycobacterium haemophilum from Australian patients were studied. The strains proved to be indistinguishable from each other but could readily be differentiated from other slowly growing mycobacteria with similar cultural features. Mycolic acid analyses revealed the presence of alpha-, methoxy-, and ketomycolates. The fatty acid composition supports the validity of the fact that M. haemophilum is a distinct species. The fatty acid composition was consistent among the 16 strains, but it was unusual in that there was some resemblance to the fatty acid composition of M. leprae. The wide range of pHs (5.4 to 7.4) that supported growth of M. haemophilum on artificial medium is in keeping with suggestions that M. haemophilum exists in an environmental habitat.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Portaels
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rigouts
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification*; D009171:Mycolic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D009171:Mycolic Acids