Cultural Factors Influencing the Utilization or Production of Acetate by Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens

Abstract

Utilization of acetate by 4 strains of B. fibrisolvens was influenced by the composition of their growth medium. Growth-limiting glucose concentrations, low availability of CO2 and the presence of sodium lactate all stimulated acetate uptake by 3 strains. The type strain, D1, utilized acetate if the concentration of acetate added to the medium was at least 15 .mu.mol ml-1. In batch culture, all strains produced acetate before entering a phase of acetate uptake. Continuous-culture studies with 1 strain showed that acetate uptake was dependent upon growth rate. The amount of n-butyrate produced in batch or continuous culture was closely linked to the amount of acetate taken up.