The effect of carbon monoxide on bacterial growth

Growth rate studies were conducted with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Escherichia coli and Achromabacter under atmospheres containing up to thirty per cent (v/v) carbon monoxide. It was found that atmospheres containing carbon monoxide have a selective action on the type of organism that grows in a mixed culture. Studies with pure cultures demonstrated that carbon monoxide has no effect on the growth of P. aeruginosa, inhibits the growth rate of E. coli by amounts proportional to the concentration of carbon monoxide, increases the lag phase period of growth in Achromobacter and inhibits the growth rate and increases the lag phase period in P. fluorescens.