ELECTROPHORETIC PATTERNS OF ESTERASES AND LACTATE-DEHYDROGENASES AND L-MALATE-DEHYDROGENASES FROM FLAVOBACTERIUM SPECIES

Esterases and lactate-(LDH) and L-malate-(MDH) dehydrogenases of 64 st rains of 13 species of Flavobacterium (particularly 46 strains of F. m eningosepticum belonging to 15 different serotypes) were analyzed by h orizontal polyacrylamide-agarose gel electrophoresis. Twenty-five este rase types were detected; these enzymes were distinguished by their sp ectra of hydrolytic activity towards five synthetic substrates (hydrol ytic type) and their electrolytic mobilities (electrophoretic type). N o variant of LDH was detected in all the strains of Flavobacterium. No variant of MDH was detected in three species: F. aquatile, F. branchi ophilum, and F. breve and in serotype I, J and L. of F. meningosepticu m. These results within the genus Flavobacterium permit precise identi fication, which may be useful for characterization of strains kept in collections as well as for epidemiological studies.