Accumulation of iron-binding phenolic acids by Actinomycetales and other organisms related to the Mycobacteria.

After growth of representatives of eight genera in the order Actinomycetales and two others related taxonomically to Mycobacterium under iron-deficient conditions, the following compounds were found in the media : salicylic and phenylacetic acids, but no mycobactin, with Thermoactinomyces vulgaris; 2,3dihydroxybenzoic acid with Corynebacterium equi, Mycococcus sp., Nocardia opaca and Streptosporangium rubrum ; a conjugate of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid were also found with S. rubrum. Unidentified compounds giving a positive reaction to FeCl, were found after growth of Dactylosporangium thailandensis and Propionibacterium shermanii. No iron-binding compounds were detected with Actinoplanes phillippinensis, Micromonospora sp. and Streptomyces albus.