Characterization of growth and metabolite production of Lactobacillus reuteri during glucose/glycerol cofermentation in batch and continuous cultures

In anaerobic batch cultures of Lactobacillus reuteri, glucose/glycerol cofermentation resulted in production of reuterin (beta-hydroxypropionaldehyde) and 1,3 propanediol at the expense of ethanol and lactate. In anaerobic chemostat cultures of L. reuteri, glucose/glycerol cofermentation resulted in an increased ethanol production and a decreased lactate production. Moreover, reuterin and 1,3 propanediol were produced in significant amounts. These results demonstrate that growing L. reuteri cells have the ability to produce reuterin.