Classification of Microorganisms by Analysis of Chemical Composition I

Abstract

ABEL, K. (Melpar, Inc., Falls Church, Va.), H. DESCHMERTZING, AND J. I. PETERSON. Classification of microorganisms by analysis of chemical composition. I. Feasibility of utilizing gas chromatography. J. Bacteriol. 85:1039-1044. 1963.-The feasibility of utilizing gas chromatography as a sensitive and rapid method for the analysis of lipids as a natural basis for the classification of microorganisms by chemical composition was investigated. The lipids were extracted and transesterified to component carboxylic acid methyl esters in a single step, after which the methyl esters were resolved by gas chromatography to provide distinctive chromatographic elution patterns. Similarities in the lipid carboxylic acid distribution were noted among selected species of the family Enterobacteriaceae, and significant differences were noted among selected families of the class Schizomycetes.

In Situ Preparation of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters for Analysis of Fatty Acid Composition in Foods

“…If the extraction step could be omitted and FAME could be prepared in situ from lipidcontaining foods, the simplified procedure would save labor, increase sample throughput and reduce organic solvent waste. Authors Direct FAME preparation without prior lipid extraction was used on microorganisms (Abel et al, 1963) and cereal grains (Welsh, 1975) without comparison to other methods. By heating feedstuffs and feces in benzene and methanolic HCl, Outen et al (1976) prepared FAME which had a fatty acid composition comparable to FAME prepared through saponification followed by methylation or transesterification of lipid extract (Sukhija and Palmquist, 1988).…”

Next generation agents (synthetic agents): Emerging threats and challenges in detection, protection, and decontamination

“…GC chromatograms generate important fatty acid fingerprints that have been successfully employed for identification and characterization of various biological agents, viz. B. anthracis, B. mallei, Brucella, B. pseudomallei, F. tularensis, and Y. pestis (Abel and Peterson, 1963;Kaneda, 1963;Pal et al, 2016).…”

DETERMINING BLUBBER FATTY ACID COMPOSITION: A COMPARISON OF IN SITU DIRECT AND TRADITIONAL METHODS

“…Traditional methods involve the initial extraction of all lipids from a tissue sample, followed by acidic (or basic) transesterification (e.g., Christie 1982). Direct, or in situ transesterification, is an alternative method in which FAME are formed directly from tissue without prior isolation of lipids (Abel et al 1963). This method has a number of advantages over traditional methods that require initial extraction of lipids.…”