GLUCOSE METABOLISM OF ORANGE-COLORED STREPTOCOCCUS BOVIS

Abstract

Experiments with ¹⁴C-labeled glucose indicated that the orange-colored variety of Streptococcus bovis assimilated about 12% of consumed glucose in the synthetic medium and 6% in the peptone-yeast extract medium. These values are very much higher than those of ordinary lactic streptococci which show the values of around 0.4%. Although the yield of lactic acid did not exceed 90% of consumed glucose, this species is also a homofermenter if the assimilated glucose is taken into account.
Different from ordinary lactic acid bacteria, S. bovis can grow in the medium containing ammonium salt as a sole source of nitrogen but organic nitrogen is preferable even for this species.