Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

04:40
The Cultivation, Growth, and Viability of Lactic Acid Bacteria: A Quality Control Perspective
Published on: June 16, 2022
INFLUENCE OF VARIATIONS OF MEDIA ON ACID PRODUCTION BY STREPTOCOCCI
1Department of Animal Pathology of The Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research, Princeton, N. J.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
|October 30, 2009
Summary
Streptococci acid production varies by origin and media. Bovine and human strains produced more acid than equine or low-acid milk streptococci in veal broth experiments.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Streptococci are bacteria known for acid production through fermentation.
- Nutrient availability and composition significantly influence bacterial metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different nutrient media on acid production by various streptococci strains.
- To compare acid output across human, bovine, equine, and milk-derived streptococci.
Main Methods:
- Culturing streptococci strains in veal broth with variations: dextrose, fermented/unfermented states, horse serum, and peptone.
- Measuring acid production via pH and titratable acidity.
Main Results:
- Human and bovine streptococci produced more acid than equine and low-acid milk strains.
- Peptone did not enhance acid production in human or low-acid milk streptococci.
- Equine streptococci showed reduced acid production in serum-supplemented media.
Conclusions:
- Streptococci acid production is strain-specific and media-dependent.
- Nutrient requirements for optimal acid output differ among streptococci origins.
- Veal broth composition influences the metabolic activity of streptococci.
Related Concept Videos
Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: pH
Microorganisms are classified as acidophiles, neutrophiles, or alkaliphiles based on their pH growth preferences, reflecting their adaptations to specific environments. Maintaining a stable intracellular pH is critical for macromolecular stability and enzymatic activity, which can be challenged by external pH variations.Neutrophiles, such as Escherichia coli, grow optimally between pH 5.5 and 8.0. These microorganisms inhabit neutral or slightly acidic environments and employ mechanisms like...
Production of Organic Acids
Lactic acid, an important organic acid extensively applied in food, pharmaceutical, and biodegradable polymer industries, is primarily produced via microbial fermentation. This method is favored over chemical synthesis due to its environmental sustainability and capacity for enantiomerically pure product formation. Among various microbial processes, the fermentation of starch-based substrates stands out due to the abundance and renewability of raw materials like corn and potatoes.Hydrolysis of...
Microbes in Food Production
Microbial fermentation is central to food biotechnology, enhancing flavor, texture, preservation, and stability. Fermentative microorganisms metabolize carbohydrates into organic acids, alcohols, and other metabolites that inhibit spoilage organisms and improve digestibility while contributing distinctive sensory qualities.In baking, amylases naturally present in flour hydrolyze starch into monosaccharides such as glucose, which Saccharomyces cerevisiae ferments anaerobically. Through...
Microbial Growth Media
Microbial growth media are essential tools in microbiology, providing the nutrients and conditions necessary to cultivate and study microorganisms. These media are categorized by their composition, consistency, and functional roles, enabling researchers to investigate microbial physiology, behavior, and interactions.Types and Consistencies of Growth MediaGrowth media can be solid, liquid, or semisolid. Solid media, often agar-based, allow visible colony growth for isolation and enumeration.
Production of Antibiotics
Penicillin, one of the earliest and most widely used antibiotics, is produced industrially by the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Large stirred-tank bioreactors ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of liters maintain tightly controlled temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions to support fungal metabolism and maximize antibiotic yield. Penicillin is a secondary metabolite, synthesized primarily during the stationary growth phase, which requires a carefully managed...
Designing Growth Media for Bioreactors
Growth media provide essential nutrients that support cell growth and metabolism, thereby enhancing the yield of valuable products such as enzymes, antibiotics, and biomass. Designing an effective growth medium involves balancing all components to prevent nutrient limitations or toxic excesses, both of which can impair growth and reduce product yields.Composition of a Typical Growth MediumA typical growth medium contains carbon and nitrogen sources, salts, vitamins, trace elements, and...

