[Methods of isolating phospholipids from Coxiella burnetii]

Phospholipids are a part of the outside membrane of Coxiella burnetii (or other gram negative bacteria). It is possible to extract them with a mixture of chloroform-methanol (CM). For extraction of phospholipids from C. burnetii it is important to take account of temperature, proportion of CM, and reaction time. The best results are obtained at CM 2:1, at boiling point of this mixture and reaction time of 2 hours. Longer reaction time does not influence the reaction, the additional amounts of phospholipids can be extracted only with fresh solvent mixture.