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Sephadex LH-20 was tested for a potential application in the enrichment of ubiquinone-9 from a lipid-hydrocarbon-extract. The lipid-hydrocarbon-extract was isolated from yeast grown on gas oil (b. p. 240 to 380°C) as carbon-source. The main components of the lipid-hydrocarbon extract were phosphatides, glycerides, fatty acids, and hydrocarbons of gas oil. By use of Sephadex LH-20 and CHCl3/CH3OH (2:1)as eluent it is possible to concentrate the whole ubiquinone-9 in a special fraction both directly from the lipid-hydrocarbon-extract and from the aceton-soluble part of the extract The concentration of ubiquinone in the special fraction was ten times higher than in the raw-material and the hydrocarbons were separated completely. Ubiquinone-9 can be obtained by a simplified separation from the enriched fraction.

The optimal qualitative and quantitative identification by microscopy of mycobacteria cultivated in liquid medium in including several problems. Acridine-orange was used for staining in all investigations. Polyvinyl-alcohol (1--2.5%) proved to be the best means for fixing mycobacteria culture suspensions on slides. A reliable sterilization of the sides was possible with peracetic acid (3%). Tween 80 in the culture medium did not impair the adherence of the fixed suspension on the slide under these conditions. Mycobacteria in a suspension of 10(-4) mg (wet weight) per ml could be still found by microscopy with this procedure.

The possibility of using the rapid resistance test to determine the levels of antibiotic, antimycotic and antituberculotic drugs is systematically investigated. As a rule the incubation time reduced to seven days for tubercel bacilli results in a lower inhibitor concentration (MIC) than with other microbiological methods used in tuberculosis diagnostics due to a lower inactivation of the drugs. The MIC of antibiotics and antituberculotics is found between 0.02 and 15 microgram/ml; for penicillin G and nystatin between 100 and 400 microgram/ml. Urine added to the medium influences the MIC. A dilution of urine 1 : 100 corresponds to the MIC-value found in a control sample with aqua dest. For examining the level of antibiotic drugs in blood a dilution of the blood of at least 1 : 60 is necessary. In this way the levels of rifampicin and isoniazid may be examined. Only 0.1--0.2 ml of capillary blood are needed. If probenecid is administered simultaneously to the patient the rifampicin level in blood is increased for 6 hours. But this effect is small and does not justify a change in the usual dosage of rifampicin.

Mice were infected with Mycobacterium avium (serotype I and serotype II). The application of kveim antigen or two kinds of lipid fractions of Mycobacterium avium (serotype I or II) is followed in all cases by typical tissue reactions resembling positive kveim tests. Control animals which only received kveim antigen or lipid fractions of mycobacterium I showed in all cases negative kveim reactions. Sensibilization of mice with killed kinds of Mycobacterium avium I or II leads after application of kveim antigen or lipid fractions (outside and inside lipids of Mycobacterium avium I and II) only in few cases to positive kveim reactions.