In this context, a negative correlation between metabolic activity and the relative degree of virulence was observed among B. abortus strains [38]. Avirulent mutants of B. melitensis, B. abortus SCH 900776 chemical structure and B. suis that failed to replicate or survive in macrophages or animal models often had mutations in the carbohydrate metabolism [39]. In our study, B. microti which is not known to be human pathogenic was the metabolically most active species. Independent of the method used a broad agreement can

be observed for the utilization of carbohydrates by Brucella spp. whereas the results of the amino acid metabolism are more variable [3, 16]. Differences in the oxidation rate of different isomers of the same amino acid have been described for short incubation periods, e.g. B. suis and B. melitensis are known to oxidize D-alanine Gefitinib cost more rapidly

than the L-isomer [40] or B. abortus oxidized L-glutamic acid and L-asparagine rapidly whereas relatively slight activity was obtained with the D-isomers [38]. Differences in the metabolization rate could not be used for differentiation in our multi-substrate test. As many substrates were tested at the same time the incubation period was prolonged to 48 hours to ensure that each substrate was completely utilized. With a few exceptions, there are only minor differences in the general utilization of D- and L-isomers of amino acids within the same species [41]. Therefore both isomers of the same amino acid were only included three times in the Micronaut™ plate, i.e. D-/L-proline, D-/L-alanine, and D-/L-serine. In our experiments, opposing metabolic activity could be observed for the different isomers of proline in B. abortus bv 3, B. suis bv 2, and B. canis, for the isomers of alanine in B. canis and B. neotomae, and for the isomers of serine in B. suis bv 1, 2, and 4, B. ovis, B. microti and B. inopinata. Further, substrate concentration may influence the metabolic activity of Brucella [34, 38]. Although sample volumes are different in Taxa SPTLC1 Profile™ and Micronaut™ plates the final substrate concentration is the same. Hence, apparently contradictory results in these two test systems which could be observed in our study cannot

be explained by different concentrations of the same compound. Because of the small volumes used in the Taxa Profile™ plate turbidity could not be measured due to technical www.selleckchem.com/products/netarsudil-ar-13324.html limitations. Therefore the indicator phenol red was added to colorimetrically measure respiration. In contrast, in the 96-well Micronaut™ plate turbidity as a measure of bacterial growth was determined. The measurement of respiration instead of growth is much more sensitive since bacteria may respond metabolically by respiring but not by growing [42]. Hence, this effect may have led to differing results for the utilization of the same substrate on the two platforms. However, respiration could not be used in the genus Brucella since some strains are dependent on CO2 which catalyzes abiotic reduction of the dye.