Abstract
Hoffman, Heiner (New York University, New York, N.Y.), Jon Valdina, and Michael E. Frank. Effects of high incubation temperature upon the cell wall of Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 91:1635-1637. 1966.-Escherichia coli cells grown at 45 C were found to swell when suspended in distilled water, and were broken down when subjected to egg white lysozyme. Cells grown at 37 C were unaffected by these reagents. It appears, therefore, that cultivation at the upper limits of the temperature growth range leads to cell wall damage. It is suggested that this reaction may account for the favorable therapeutic effects of artificially elevated body temperature in certain infectious diseases.