Autolysis of psychrophilic bacteria from marine fish.

Two psychrophillic bacterial isolates of marine fish origin unable to grow at 20 degrees C or above were found to be distinguishable on the basis of autolysis at elevated temperature in various buffer systems. Isolate OP2 exhibited autolysis at 30 degrees C and above, while isolate OP7 underwent autolysis only at 35 degrees C and above. Tris buffer at pH 7.0 and 8.0 and at 35 degrees C significantly protected isolate OP2 from autolysis and failed to do so with isolate OP7. At pH 5.0, suspension phosphate buffer resulted in significantly greater autolysis of both isolates than did suspension in succinate buffer.