The Utilization of Amino Acids and of Glucose by Clostridium botulinum

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Abstract
Alanine, phenylalanine, leucine and serine serve as H-donors to methylene blue in the presence of washed suspensions of Types A and B Cl. botulinum; lysine, proline, glycine, valine and glutamic acid do not. Amino acids such as glycine and proline are slowly de-aminated and reduced by gaseous H2 in the presence of washed suspensions although the normal mode of reduction is by means of coupled reactions with amino acids such as alamine, the latter being deaminatively oxidized to acetic acid. Leucine and particularly serine may be attacked directly, even in an inert atmosphere. CO2 and ethyl alcohol are the main products of glucose fermentation by washed cells, small amts. of acetic and lactic acids and of H2 also being formed.