Pyridoxine Nutrition of Lactic Acid Bacteria

Abstract

Six species of lactic acid bacteria were tested for pyridoxine (vitamin B6) requirement. 3 required the compound and 3 grew well without it. The latter were found to synthesize the vitamin. Lactobacillus casei, the microorganism commonly used for assay purposes, required more pyridoxine as the Oa tension of the medium was decreased. The response of L. casei to a number of pyridoxine analogues parallels rather closely the effect of the same compounds on rats.