Effect of Various Metals and Calcium Metabolism Inhibitors on the Growth of Bifidobacterium bifidum Var. pennsylvanicus

1 January 1984

journal article
research article
Published by Wiley in Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

Vol. 3 (1) , 137-142
https://doi.org/10.1097/00005176-198401000-00026

Abstract

In view of the facts that the normal intestinal flora exerts beneficial effects and that bifidobacteria are a more important component in the breast-fed than in the bottle-fed infant, factors affecting the growth of the latter microorganisms are of interest. A series of transition and other metals were shown to be growth inhibitors of Bifidobacterium bifidum var. pennsylvanicus. Such inhibition could be reversed fully or partially by 0.5–1.0 mM Fe²⁺ in the case of Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Au³⁺, Pt⁴⁺, La³⁺, Cr³⁺ Mn²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cd²⁺, but not with Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, and VO²⁺. In addition, 2–4 mM Ca²⁺ substantially relieved the inhibitory effects of Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, and La³⁺, and partially relieved the effects of Cd²⁺. Mg²⁺ was ineffective in relieving Zn²⁺ inhibition, but Ba²⁺ and Sr²⁺ could replace Ca²⁺ to some extent. The calcium metabolism antagonists verapamil, ruthenium red, 2-chloroadenosine, lasalocid, Ca-ionophore A-23187, and calmodulin inhibitors W-5 and W-7 inhibited microbial growth. Inhibition could be relieved fully or partially with 0.5–1 mM Fe²⁺. Mg²⁺ relieved the inhibition by lasalocid, Ca-ionophore A-23187, and verapamil, whereas Ca²⁺ was effective only in the case of Ca-ionophore A-23187. We conclude that calcium and magnesium fluxes play an important role in the physiology of the bifidobacteria and that several metal growth inhibitors interfere with iron metabolism.

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