[Effect of heavy metal salts on the growth and pathogenicity factors of opportunistic bacteria].

The paper presents experimental data on the effect of different concentrations of the salts of cadmium, copper, and zinc on the adaptive potentialities of the most common opportunistic microflora in the Volga-Caspian region. The findings suggest that natural microorganisms (Aeromonas and Citrobacter) show a high metal resistance that seems to be associated with steadily increased background levels of these metals in the waters of the Volga-Caspian basin.