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A Study of the Genus Microbacterium

Department of Bacteriology, University of Maryland College Park, Maryland

ABSTRACT

Orla-Jensen (6) described seven strains of rod-shaped bacteria, occurring chiefly in dairy products, which manifested sufficient peculiar properties in common to be placed in a separate genus, to which he gave the name Microbacterium. Since that time but little information has been added regarding these organisms, and their relationships to other more well-defined groups have remained questionable. In Bergey's Manual (2) this genus was placed in the family Bacteriaceae, a "heterogeneous collection of genera whose relationships to each other and to other groups are not clear. "

The cultures of Orla-Jensen (6) were small rods, weak acid-formers in milk; they reduced nitrates to nitrites, and usually split hydrogen peroxide. He believed they constituted a genus entirely separate from the other lactic acid rod forms which were discussed; i.e., Thermobacterium, Streptobacterium, and Betabacterium. Three species, viz., Mbm. lacticum, Mbm. flavum, and Mbm. mesentericum, were definitely recognized and less definitely a fourth, Mbm. liquefaciens.

¹ Now with Sealtest, Inc., Research Laboratories, Baltimore, Md.