The Nutritional Requirements of Clostridium perfringens

Abstract

SUMMARY: The requirements for growth factors, amino acids and inorganic constituents were determined for three strains of Clostridium perfringens (Veillon & Zuber) Holland. A number of substances were tested as energy sources for this organism, and the influence of pH value and temperature on growth was determined. The minimal medium evolved contained: alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, histidine, isoleucine, leucine (methionine), phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine; ammonium chloride, magnesium chloride, ferrous chloride, sodium-potassium phosphate buffer; glucose; adenine, biotin, calcium pantothenate and pyridoxine. For maximal growth the presence of lysine, glycine and serine was necessary. Maximal growth was affected by the balance of amino acids in the medium; the balance of sodium and potassium ions was also important. Certain strain differences were noticed with respect to amino acid and vitamin requirements. Methionine was needed by one strain only; none of the strains required serine (reported essential for strain BP6K of Boyd, Logan & Tytell, 1948b), whereas aspartic acid was essential for all strains tested but not for BP 6 K. Riboflavine, an essential growth factor in BP6K, had no effect on growth of the strains tested. One of the strains showed a need for added nicotinamide when transferred to a nicotinamide-free medium after several transfers in peptone water.