Development of a chemically defined liquid medium for growth of Legionella pneumophila

A chemically defined liquid medium has been developed for the study of the physiology and antigen production of the Legionnaires disease bacterium. The medium contains basal salts, vitamins, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, pyruvate, 0.05% l-cysteine, 0.05% glutathione, and a mixture of 20 additional amino acids, each of 0.01% final concentration, except serine, which was at 0.1%. The medium in shake culture at 37 degrees C with increased CO2 at pH 6.5, supports the maximum rate of growth, the highest cell yields, and the maximum cell surface antigen as distinguished by specific fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated antibody. Studies during the development of this medium showed that CO2, pyruvate, and alpha-ketoglutarate strongly stimulated growth; that cysteine and methionine were required for growth; and that serine, threonine, histidine, tyrosine, and tryptophane were energy sources. Glutathione substituted for cysteine, but cystine did not. The organisms did not use glucose and polysaccharides, as judged by cell yields when these carbohydrates were present or absent. The chelators malate, citrate, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid totally inhibited growth. Beta-mercaptoethanol, thioglycolate, dithiothreitol, and Tween 80 (0.05%) inhibited growth strongly or completely. Catalase activity was extremely weak or absent. Morphology varied, depending upon conditions and phases of growth. In general, filamentous forms became chains of cigar-shaped bacilli fragmenting to pairs and becoming coccoidal in the late stationary pha-e of growth. The organism grew at 25, 30, and 37 degrees C. Although they varied in their growth characteristics, 10 isolates were passed for five transfers in the chemically defined broth, giving maximum rates of growth, cell yields, and antigen production.