The autoinhibition activity of some microbial species.

Studies revealed that during the process of their reproduction some microorganisms produce substances inhibiting the development of the own populations. A method was developed to establish the phenomenon, distinguished by its simple application and dependable results. The phenomenon was noted with the species Staphylococcus, L. monocytogenes, Salmonealla, and E. coli, and was lacking in P. multocida, Brucella, Ery. rhusiopathiae, Bac. anthracis, and Bac. subtilis. It was found that the agent capable of producing an autoinhibitory effect in Staphylococcus epidermidis had no protein character. The term microbial autoinhibition is suggested to denote a phenomenon in which the own populations of a given strain of one and the same species of microorganisms are inhibited in their development by an agent produced by the strain itself.