Effects of fatty acids on growth of Bordetella pertussis in defined medium.

The effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on the growth of Bordetella pertussis strain 114 in defined medium were tested. Individual fatty acids were found to be either inhibitory or stimulatory to growth, depending on concentration. Myristic (C14), pentadecanoic (C15), and palmitic (C16) acids were the most inhibitory saturated fatty acids tested. B. pertussis 114 was extremely sensitive to the unsaturated fatty acids oleic (C18; cis-9), elaidic (C18; trans-9) and petroselinic (C18; cis-6).