SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF AN OLEATE-REQUIRING, HEMOLYTIC PEDIOCOCCUS

Deibel, R. H. (St. James Hospital, Chicago Heights, Ill.), J. H. Silliker, and P. T. Fagan. Some characteristics of an oleate-requiring, hemolytic Pediococcus. J. Bacteriol. 88:1078-1083. 1964.-A gram-positive, catalase-negative, tetradforming coccus, isolated from a bronchial aspirate, is described. The organism was classified as a member of the genus Pediococcus on the basis of morphological and physiological characteristics. It differed from previously described members of this genus in that it evidenced a requirement for oleic acid, even in complex culture media. This isolate produced hemolysis on blood-agar formulated with certain specimens of human blood and not with others. It was demonstrated that hemolysis required oleate supplementation and that the level of this fatty acid required for hemolysis is greater than that necessary for growth of the organism. A cell-free hemolysin could not be demonstrated in the culture supernatant fluid of oleate-grown cultures. The organism was isolated from a patient suffering from tuberculosis; however, attempts to isolate similar organisms from other tuberculous patients as well as from routine throat and sputum specimens were negative. No pathogenicity was manifested when laboratory animals were inoculated with the hemolytic Pediococcus.