SPORE GERMINATION AND VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM TYPE E IN SYNTHETIC MEDIA

A synthetic medium supporting growth of Clostridium botulinum type E, strain D8, from spore inocula was devised. The effects of single amino acid deletions or additions were studied. Certain of these were inhibitory, but none completely suppressed germination or subsequent vegetative growth. Spore germinations in solutions of single amino acids were also studied. Germination in some of these was delayed but it did occur in all cases.The effects of single vitamin omissions were followed from spore germination to growth maxima. Such deletions were essentially ineffectual.Additions of nucleic acids to the medium were somewhat stimulatory. Early growth curves approximated controls but maxima were superior to those of controls. The addition of purine or pyrimidine bases or pentose sugars did not greatly influence growth. Thymine or deoxyribose delayed spore germination.Additions of selected acids associated with lipids, or currently or historically with food preservation, were often detrimental but never completely inhibitory. The addition of citric and (or) lactic acid to the medium permitted toxin formation.