Effect of Inhibitors of Bacterial Cell Wall Synthesis on the Growth of Anabaena variabilis, a Blue-green Alga

Abstract

The effects of penicillins and several other antibiotics (vancomycin, ristocetin, bacitracin, novobiocin, and d-cycloserine), all known as inhibitors of bacterial cell wall synthesis, were tested on the growth of Anabaena variabilis, a strain of blue-green alga.

All the antibiotics tested inhibited the growth of Anabaena variabilis at concentrations ranging from 10 µg to 1 mg per ml. However, penicillins and the other antibiotics tested did not inhibit growth of strains of green algae.