Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Conversion of DDT to DDD by Proteus vulgaris, a Bacterium isolated from the Intestinal Flora of a Mouse

Nature volume 205, pages 621–622 (1965)Cite this article

Abstract

THE dechlorination of 2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT) to 2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-di-chloroethane (DDD) by various animals has been reported recently1,2. The same detoxification reaction appears to be carried out by yeasts3. DDT administered intraperitoneally to mice was dechlorinated after, but not before, the animals were killed4. We undertook to test the hypothesis that the degradation of DDT to DDD in animals is due, at least in part, to the activity of the microflora of the gut.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Finley, R. B., and Pillmore, R. E., Am. Inst. Biol. Sci. Bull., 13, 41 (1963).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Allison, D., Kallman, B. J., Cope, O. B., and Van Valin, C. C., Science, 142, 958 (1963).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kallman, B. J., and Andrews, A. K., Science, 141, 1050 (1963).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Barker, P. S., and Morrison, F. O., Can. J. Zool., 42, 324 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Ozburn, W. G., and Morrison, F. O., Nature, 196, 1009 (1962).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bligh, E. G., and Dyer, W. J., Can. J. Biochem. Physiol., 37, 911 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Evans, W. H., Analyst, 87, 569 (1962).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kauffman, F., Enterobacteriaceae, second ed. (Ejnar Munksgaard, Copenhagen, 1954).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Breed, R. S., Murrey, E. G. D., and Smith, N. R., Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, seventh ed. (Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, 1957).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wilson, G. S., and Miles, A. A., in Topley and Wilson's Principles of Bacteriology and Immunology, fourth ed., 1, 737 (Edward Arnold, Ltd., London, 1955).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology,

    P. S. BARKER & F. O. MORRISON

  2. Department of Bacteriology, Macdonald College of McGill University, Province of Quebec, Canada

    R. S. WHITAKER

Authors
  1. P. S. BARKER
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. O. MORRISON
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. S. WHITAKER
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BARKER, P., MORRISON, F. & WHITAKER, R. Conversion of DDT to DDD by Proteus vulgaris, a Bacterium isolated from the Intestinal Flora of a Mouse. Nature 205, 621–622 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/205621b0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/205621b0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing