Nutritional Patterns in Acetic Acid Bacteria

Abstract

The nutritional patterns of 21 strains of Acetobacter spp. were determined. The strains were distinguished as having either a predominantly lactate (lactaphilic) or glucose (glycophilic) metabolism. Lactaphilic strains oxidize lactate and acetate; when incubated with proline, glutamate and aspartate they produce new ninhydrin-reacting substances. Glycophilic strains require added nicotinate, pantothenate and occasionally para-aminobenzoate for growth; they produce no new ninhydrin-reacting substances.