Isolation of elemental sulfur as a self-growth-inhibiting substance produced by Legionella pneumophila.

The addition of HP-20 resin to a medium could enhance the growth of Legionella species. Elemental sulfur was isolated as a self-growth-inhibiting substance produced endogenously by Legionella pneumophila from methanol extracts of the resins used to culture the bacterium. Elemental sulfur shows strong growth-inhibiting activity toward all Legionella species tested.