TOXICITY EVALUATION OF STRAINS OF CELLULOMONAS

Five strains of Cellulomonas (ATCC 482, ATCC 488, ATCC 491, ATCC 15724 and ATCC 21399) were evaluated for toxicity. Extracts of cells in bot h water and oil as well as the cell free spent broth injected into fer tile chicken eggs were not lethal to the embryos. Viable organisms ino culated in rats, mice and rabbits by oral, subcutaneous and intraperit oneal routes respectively, did not cause generalized or localized infe ction nor abnormal changes in the vital organs. The sexual maturity, f ertility and the vital organs of adult rats as well as the vital data of their progeny were not affected by feeding 10% protein from all str ains.