The nutrition of Staphylococcus aureus; nicotinic acid and vitamin B1

Abstract

The staphylococcus growth factor'' is a complex of at least 2 components, both essential for aerobic growth in a medium containing otherwise only known compounds (certain amino acids, glucose and salts). One component of the growth factor can be replaced by nicotinic acid or nicotinamide and the other component by synthetic vitamin B1 (aneurin). Per 10 ml. of the ammo-acid basal medium, 2.0[gamma] of nicotinic acid (or nicotinamide) plus 0.027 of synthetic vitamin B1, give abundant growth. In this way a typical strain of S. aureus has been grown in a medium containing only known chemical compounds.