The Growth and Toxin Production of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in Submerged Culture

Abstract

SUMMARY: The growth curve of Corynebacterium diphtheriae in aerated submerged culture was studied. It showed a logarithmic phase followed by a period in which growth was linear when plotted on an arithmetic scale. There was then a phase of retardation of growth and finally a stationary phase. There was no lag phase. There was no simple correlation between the amount of growth and the amount of toxin produced, although in cultures as growth increased toxin also increased. No relationship was found between toxin production and the formation of catalase or the disappearance of maltose. The relationship between porphyrin and toxin production requires further investigation.