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Electrophoretic Mobility of Mycobacterium avium Complex Organisms
Darren Lytle1, Christy Frietch, Terry Covert
1National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 26 W. Martin Luther King Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA. lytle.darren@epa.gov
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|September 4, 2004
Summary
Electrophoretic mobilities (EPMs) of Mycobacterium avium complex isolates were measured. Clinical and environmental strains exhibited similar EPM ranges, suggesting comparable surface charge characteristics at pH 7.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) comprises various organisms significant in clinical and environmental settings.
- Understanding the biophysical properties of MAC isolates is crucial for differentiating strains and assessing their behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine and compare the electrophoretic mobilities (EPMs) of clinical and environmental isolates of Mycobacterium avium complex.
- To assess potential differences in surface charge characteristics between MAC strains from different sources.
Main Methods:
- Electrophoretic mobility measurements were performed on 30 Mycobacterium avium complex isolates (15 clinical, 15 environmental).
- Measurements were conducted at a standard pH of 7.
Main Results:
- The EPMs for clinical isolates ranged from -1.9 to -5.0 microM cm V(-1) s(-1).
- The EPMs for environmental isolates ranged from -1.9 to -4.6 microM cm V(-1) s(-1).
- Both groups displayed overlapping EPM ranges, indicating similar surface charge properties.
Conclusions:
- Clinical and environmental Mycobacterium avium complex isolates exhibit comparable electrophoretic mobilities at pH 7.
- The surface charge characteristics, as indicated by EPM, do not appear to be a significant differentiating factor between these groups under the tested conditions.