Resumen
En la literatura científica disponible a las bacterias ablandadoras del agar, se las describe también bajo denominaciones tales como agarolíticas, digestoras del agar, descomponedores del agar y digestoras del agar. La importancia de estos microorganismos como transformadores de la materia orgánica no ha sido realzada hasta hoy día en su debida forma. No obstante, recientemente GIRARID ET AL (1968) hicieron un estudio nutricional de 29 bacterias marinas agaroliticas y sus resultados indican que la nutrición de este tipo de bacterias es sencillo. Entre los trabajos más recientes encontramos a SHJNANO (1965) quien menciona y describe las propiedades de cinco especies bacterianas ablandadoras del agar aisladas de aguas del Pacífico Norte.

Abstract
On the function of agar-digesting bacteria isolate-d from the gut of Loxechinus albus.
The biochemical capacity of nine strains bacteria isoláted from the gut contents of L. albus in culture media (Nutrient Agar BBL, code 10-124) were investigated.
Evidence on the ability of the strains to digest agar, as well as, a comparison of their characteristics are presented. The nine strains of bacteria where identified as Pseudomoras belonging to group IV according to HENDRIE et al. (1965).
The results obteined during the present study seems to indicate a relationship between the bacteria and the digestive processes of L. albus. It was also established that fermentation of manitol is a common fact in this type of bacteria as it was reported by other investigators previously. This study contains 14 references and one table.