[Polyamines in species of microorganisms of the intestinal group]

A study was made of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermin) in various representatives of the Enterobacteriaceae family--E. coli, Sh, sonnei, Sh. flexneri and S. typhi abdominalis. All the strains under study contained putrescine and spermidine, and many Shigella and Salmonella strains had spermin in addition. There were significant differences in the quantitative content of polyamines in the individual species. By the ratio of nitrogen of polyamine to phosphorus of nucleic acid it is possible to assess the correlation in the content of polyamines and nucleic acids in the bacterial cells.