Date of Award

8-1966

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Biological Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Imy V. Holt

Second Advisor

Dr. Jack Wood

Third Advisor

Dr. Jean Lawrence

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this investigation was to differentiate Staphylococcus aureus phage type 42D from Staphylococcus epidermidis.

The investigation involved four approaches to this differentiation. The first was a selective screening technique on specific media to point out physical and biochemical characteristics and to demonstrate the presence of specific enzymes. The second was a drug survey which was used to show basic susceptibility and resistance to ten different antibiotics. The third was ultra-violet irradiation which was used to discern susceptibility and resistance to the soft rays of this spectrum segment. The fourth was a chromatographic procedure using labeled carbon which demonstrated certain amino acids that were present and/or synthesized by these microorganisms, and showed carbon-14 incorporation by these microorganisms.

The differentiation therefore was based on the finding of similarities and differences. Since variation sometimes points to a genetic difference, the investigation also proposed to indicate some basic genetic similarities and differences between these two strains of staphylococci.

Included in

Biology Commons

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