American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 25, 1295-1298, Copyright © 1972 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Evolution of anaerobic methodology

¹ From the Division of Microbiology, The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, Missouri, and the Departments of Microbiology and Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis

A perusal of the literature of anaerobic methodology reveals that many individual techniques and steps incorporated into present-day methods have already been described and used during the early days of bacteriology. Better understanding of the activities and characteristics of anaerobic bacteria, such as the possible direct effect of molecular oxygen on their enzymes or metabolic intermediates, the role and mechanisms of action of oxidized products in the media upon inhibition of their growth initiation (27), as well as the acquisition of more information concerning the basic nature of anaerobiosis, will ultimately allow the development and use of truly efficient, practical, and adequate anaerobic methods.