Carbohydbate Metabolism of Lactic Acid Cultures. I. Effects of Antibiotics on the Glucose, Galactose, and Lactose Metabolism of Streptococcus Lactis

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Abstract
S. lactic UN metabolized glucose, galactose and lactose. Varying amounts of lactic, formic and acetic acids, CO2, ethanol and glycerol were produced. S. lactis (normally a homofermenter) functioned as a heterofermenter. The organism metabolized sugars by classical glycolysis and the hexosemonophos-phate shunt. Penicillin and streptomycin inhibited the growth of the organism, the utilization of carbohydrates and the production of various metabolites initially but not after extended incubation. In the presence of residual antibiotics the emerging cells produced lactic acid and CO2 at a reduced rate. Penicillin was more inhibitory toward the fermentation of the monosaccharides than disaccharides, and the reverse was true for streptomycin. Aureomycin and terramycin completely inhibited the growth, the metabolism and the acid production up to 48 hr. of incubation.

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