[The effect of the nature of the iron sources on the growth of different Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains].

In the study of the influence of organic and inorganic sources of iron on the growth of 5 C. diphtheriae clinical isolates bacterial growth was found to depended on the nature of the source of iron and its concentration. Differences between the strains in the level of growth, observed when ferric sulfate was used as the only source of iron in the medium, were established. Quantitative differences in the concentrations of inorganic and organic sources of iron, necessary for growth, were determined. The influence of three chemical chelators on the growth of C. diphtheriae under the conditions of iron deficiency in the culture medium was studied. The results of the study are indicative of the possibility of the differentiation of C. diphtheriae isolated according to the level of iron consumption.