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A Water-soluble, Diffusible Pigment produced by a Strain of Serratia marcescens (Chromobacterium prodigiosum)

Abstract

MEMBERS of the bacterial species, Serratia marcescens, are characterized by the production of red or pink pigments. These pigments are described as being insoluble, or sparingly soluble in water, and to be associated with the bacterial cell1,2. Heavily pigmented strains show some diffusion of pigment into agar media, but the organisms still retain most of the colour2,3. We wish to report a red-to-pink pigment produced by a strain of S. marcescens which not only is readily soluble in water, but which also diffuses from the organisms into the medium and leaves the cells colourless.

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References

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WILLIAMS, R., TAYLOR, W., HAWKINS, D. et al. A Water-soluble, Diffusible Pigment produced by a Strain of Serratia marcescens (Chromobacterium prodigiosum). Nature 182, 1028–1029 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/1821028a0

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