Sphingobacterium multivorum was previoulsy known as Flavobacterium
multivorum and as CDC IIk-2.
Flavobacteria are generally .4 to .8 microns wide. These measurements may be
based on averages. Measuring organisms in the submicron range - using an
ocular micrometer - may have a subjective aspect to it.
Some years ago - working in a biotech firm - we had a major problem with
Xanthomonas maltophilia (I like the medium-old names) passing through a .45
micron filter.
It would seem likely that if there a large number of amplified organisms
with an average .5 microns width - there would be a significant number of
them below .45 microns.
There is also the considerations of filter construction and pressure.
Different membrane filters of the same size are constructed in a number of
forms. With the right pressure, some will allow flexible particles to be
pushed through. Not a problem of the filter, but sometime iaappropriate usage.
Barry Lifland - Stanford Univ., Dept. Comparative Medicine
Diagnostic lab - Microbiology section
RAF 1, Bld. 330, QUAD 7 Stanford, CA 94305-5410
blifland at leland.stanford.edu ph-415-725-0942, FAX-0940
