The Pantothenic Acid Requirements of Lactic Acid Bacteria

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Abstract
Pantothenic acid has been found to be a growth determinant for 33 strains of lactic acid bacteria. The [beta]-alanine and lactone moieties of the vitamin, alone or together, are not utilized by these organisms. Growth and acid production were compared using 4 media. The various strains were classified into 3 groups: 1) organisms which attain maximum growth with pantothenic acid in a synthetic medium of glucose, salts, several B vitamins and other growth stimulants, to which have been added vitamin-free hydrolyzed casein and alkali-hydrolyzed yeast; 2) organisms requiring the presence of both alkali-hydrolyzed yeast and peptone, but no additional B vitamins except riboflavin; 3) organisms requiring some or all of the known B vitamins in addition to the medium used for group 2. One of the organisms tested grows optimally only in the presence of untreated yeast and liver extracts. Several of the organisms grow rapidly and produce large amts. of acid. These are suggested as suitable assay organisms for pantothenic acid. Addition of several B vitamins to simple media is utilized in studying the other growth requirements of some spp.