[Cholesterol-degrading capacity of several strains of Actinomyces lavendulae]

Forty eight strains of Actinomyces lavendulae were studied. Morphological and physiological differences between the strains were found during growth on a liquid glucose-asparagine medium. In short-term experiments, the mycelium of 17 cultures of actinomycetes decomposed over 50% of cholesterol during two hours. The strains with a high activity of cholesterol decomposition (from 0.86 to 1.47-10(-2) conventional units of the specific activity) in short-term experiments were found: 556, 6959, 12348, 6960, 9840, and 10979. Introduction into the medium of such inductors as cholesterol, cortisone, cortisone acetate, and acetate of substance S had different effect on growth of the cells and their cholesterol decomposing ability.