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ACTION OF FORMALDEHYDE ON MICROORGANISMS III.

Bactericidal Action of Sublethal Concentrations of Formaldehyde on Aerobacter aerogenes

Biochemical Research Laboratory, The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan

ABSTRACT

NEELY, W. BROCK (The Dow Chemical Co., Midland, Mich.). Action of formaldehyde on microorganisms. III. Bactericidal action of sublethal concentrations of formaldehyde on Aerobacter aerogenes. J. Bacteriol. 86:445–448. 1963.—Bacteriostatic concentrations of formaldehyde were found to be bactericidal during the initial growth period. This bactericidal activity was due to the primary induction of unbalanced growth by formaldehyde. The subsequent formation of 1,3-thiazane-4-carboxylic acid prevented the synthesis of methionine. This dual activity of formaldehyde resulted in an inhibition of both nuclear and cytoplasmic syntheses, and created the normal bacteriostatic condition that has been observed before with sublethal concentrations of formaldehyde.