The effect of amino acids and zinc salts on the growth kinetics of bacteria of the genus Escherichia and Staphylococcus

Abstract

 Biologically active substances (BAS) (tryptophan, zinc aspartate, arginine, tatipacin, taurine) have modulating effects on the metabolism of microorganisms in vitro. The study found that biologically active substances have dose-dependent effects on the metabolic activity of bacteria in planktonic form. Daily incubation of bacteria in the presence of a high concentration of biologically active substances (1200–20 000 μg/ml) led to a decrease in the number of planktonic forms. BAS concentrations in the range of 600–150 μg/ml did not have an inhibitory effect on microorganisms. All test substances at a concentration of 150 μg/ml promoted the growth of E. coli strains. Dose-dependent effects of biologically active substances were also observed in relation to bacteria in biofilms. Zinc aspartate at a concentration of 2500 µg/ml has a bactericidal effect on S. aureus and E. coli in monobiofilms. The identity of metabolic flows leads to competition between body cells and microorganisms for nutrient substrates, which is important in the development of the infectious process, and also indicates the need to study the effects of biologically active substances in animal models.