Affiliation:
1. Department of Poultry Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850
Abstract
Growth of, and rate of acid production by, six cultures of lactic acid bacteria were increased in the presence of
Micrococcus
isolate F4 or a preparation of its capsular material. Concentrations of hydrogen peroxide found in pure cultures of the lactic acid bacteria were not detectable, or were greatly reduced, in mixed culture with
Micrococcus
isolate F4. The capsular material was not as effective as whole cells in preventing accumulation of H
2
O
2
. Catalase stimulated growth of, and the rate of acid production by, the lactic acid bacteria, but not to the same extent as
Micrococcus
isolate F4 in some cultures. The existence of two mechanisms for micrococcal stimulation of the lactic acid bacteria is postulated. One mechanism involves removal of H
2
O
2
; the other has not been characterized.
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Subject
General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics,General Immunology and Microbiology,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,General Medicine