FERMENTATION OF GLYCOLLATE BY A MIXED CULTURE OF ANAEROBIC-BACTERIA

A mixed culture of anaerobic bacteria was able to ferment glycollate in the presence of yeast extract. Under these conditions three cell forms were present in approximately equal numbers. Substrates other than glycollate supported growth of two of the observed organisms (a vibrio and a long thin rod), but the third member of the mixed culture (an oval-shaped organism in chains) was seen only in the presence of glycollate. Glycollate was fermented to acetate, propionate and CO2 concomitant with growth (μ = 0.13 h-1 at 34°C). The growth yield was estimated at 4.7 g dry weight per mol of glycollate. Glycollate fermentation was not inhibited under a hydrogen headspace, indicating that hydrogen transfer between organisms was not occurring. © 1990, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart · New York. All rights reserved.