LOSS OF VIABILITY CAUSED BY SUPPLY OF PHOSPHATE IN MYCOBACTERIUM GROWING IN A PHOSPHORUS-DEFICIENT MEDIUM

Abstract

Mycobacterial cells are able to retain their viability in a phosphorus-deficient medium for a longer period than they can in a normal complete medium. However, the cells pre-incubated in the phosphorus-deficient medium for a long time (more than 8 weeks) loose their viability very rapidly when exposed to a phosphorus-rich condition.