On the Fatty Acids of <i>Brucella abortus</i> and <i>Brucella melitensis</i>

Abstract

The main fatty acids of the lipids of Brucella abortus (strain Scherle II, or 1119) and of Brucella melitensis (strain M‐15) are palmitic acid, a C 18 monoenoic acid an a C 19 cyclopropane fatty acid. By chemical degradation, it is shown that the unsaturated C 18 acid is cis ‐vaccenic acid. The C 19 cyclopropane acid has been identified with lactobacillic acid, either by permanganate oxidation according to Murray, or by mass spectrometry of the keto‐esters obtained by chromic acid oxidation.