Effect of water soluble vitamins and their analogues on growth of Candida albicans II. Vitamin B12, thiamine,oxythiamine, neopyrithiamine,substituted pyrimidines and thiazoles

Summary By employing wide ranges in vitamin concentrations in biotin basal mineral synthetic medium, it was demonstrated that vitamin B₁₂ markedly stimulated the growth ofCandida albicans, the organism showing a partial dependency upon this vitamin. Growth inhibition by 5-fluorouracil was reversed non-competitively by vitamin B₁₂, suggesting that B₁₂ has a role in nucleic acid biosynthesis of the organism. Thiamine was growth stimulatory, the organism being partially dependent upon this vitamin as well. Neopyrithiamine and oxythiamine were growth inhibitory in thiamine-free biotin basal mineral synthetic medium although the halves of each inhibitor compound were non-inhibitory. Neopyrithiamine inhibition was reversed by intact thiamine but not by pyrimidine thiamine or thiazole thiamine; while oxythiamine inhibition was reversed by thiamine and pyrimidine thiamine but not by thiazole thiamine, the inference being drawn that oxythiamine selectively blocks utilization of pyrimidine thiamine. Twenty-seven different substituted pyrimidines, thiazoles and related thiamine compounds were all utilizable byC. albicans in thiamine-free basal synthetic mineral medium, the organism presumably synthesizing thiamine when presented with the constituent parts of these thiamine analogues. Substitution of sulfur of the thiazole ring with oxygen, as in -methyloxazolium, failed to produce an inhibitory compound forC. albicans. Acetylthiamine, allithiamine, cocarboxylase, tetrahydrothiamine and dihydrothiamine were equally as growth stimulatory as thiamine.     

Morphological and physiological characteristics of Gemmiger formicilis isolated from chicken ceca.

Morphological and physiological studies were made on chicken cecal isolates of the strictly anaerobic bacterial species Gemmiger formicilis. Structural features (phase-contrast and electron microscopy) of these microorganisms indicate they (i) are highly pleomorphic, (ii) possess a trilaminar cell wall like gram-negative bacteria, (iii) exhibit an unusual growth process characterized by polar swelling (resembling budding bacteria), and (iv) grow into elongated cells when exposed to a subinhibitory concentration of penicillin. The morphological data presented suggest that this species has a rod-shaped structure. These bacteria ferment a variety of sugars to produce formic, butyric, and lactic acids. There appear to be two groups of Gemmiger, one producing primarily lactate and the other producing formate as major fermentation metabolites. Growth of six strains in a basal medium, consisting of Trypticase, minerals, carbohydrate, Na2CO3 buffer, and cysteine as reducing agent, was stimulated by rumen fluid and yeast extract. Volatile fatty acids partially replaced the requirement for rumen fluid with some strains. Single deletions of vitamins (from a defined vitamin mixture) indicated that pantothenate, riboflavin, and thiamine were highly stimulatory to growth of the organism in a medium containing rumen fluid and Trypticase as source of vitamins. Other vitamin requirements were not studied.     

Vitamin B1 de novo synthesis in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum depends on external provision of 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is an essential cofactor for several key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism. Mammals have to salvage this crucial nutrient from their diet to complement their deficiency of de novo synthesis. In contrast, bacteria, fungi, plants and, as reported here, Plasmodium falciparum, possess a vitamin B1 biosynthesis pathway. The plasmodial pathway identified consists of the three vitamin B1 biosynthetic enzymes 5-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-4-methylthiazole (THZ) kinase (ThiM), 4-amino-5-hydroxymethyl-2-methylpyrimidine (HMP)/HMP-P kinase (ThiD) and thiamine phosphate synthase (ThiE). Recombinant PfThiM and PfThiD proteins were biochemically characterised, revealing K(m)app values of 68 microM for THZ and 12 microM for HMP. Furthermore, the ability of PfThiE for generating vitamin B1 was analysed by a complementation assay with thiE-negative E. coli mutants. All three enzymes are expressed throughout the developmental blood stages, as shown by Northern blotting, which indicates the presence of the vitamin B1 biosynthesis enzymes. However, cultivation of the parasite in minimal medium showed a dependency on the provision of HMP or thiamine. These results demonstrate that the human malaria parasite P. falciparum possesses active vitamin B1 biosynthesis, which depends on external provision of thiamine precursors.     

Cultivation of Pasteurella haemolytica in a chemically defined medium

A chemically defined medium was developed for the aerobic cultivation of Pasteurella haemolytica. Studies on the growth of strain H44L were conducted in a medium consisting of 15 amino acids, inorganic salts, citrate, nicotinamide, pantothenate, thiamine or thiamine monophosphate, and carbon sources. The amino acids were provided as l isomers, because racemic mixtures of some amino acids inhibited growth. The carbon source consisted of a mixture of 1.0% d-galactose and 0.1% d-glucose. Culture populations of strain H44L reached 2 x 10(10) cells per milliliter after 16 hr of incubation at 37.5 C. Other strains of P. haemolytica, from a wide variety of sources, were tested for growth in the medium, and 23 of 24 strains grew well. Five strains of P. haemolytica var. ureae failed to grow in the medium.     

The Development of an Experimental Multiple Serogroups Vaccine for Neisseria meningitidis

A native outer membrane vesicles (NOMV) vaccine was developed from three antigenically diverse strains of Neisseria meningitidis that express the L1,8, L2, and L3,7 lipooligosaccharide (LOS) immunotypes, and whose synX, and lpxL1 genes were deleted.. Immunogenicity studies in mice showed that the vaccine induced bactericidal antibody against serogroups B, C, W, Y and X N. meningitidis strains. However, this experimental NOMV vaccine was not effective against serogroup A N. meningitidis strains. N. meningitidis capsular polysaccharide (PS) from serogroups A, C, W and Y were effective at inducing bactericidal antibody when conjugated to either tetanus toxoid or the fHbp1-fHbp2 fusion protein fHbp(1+2). The combination of the NOMV vaccine and the N. meningitidis serogroup A capsular polysaccharide (MAPS) protein conjugate was capable of inducing bactericidal antibodies against a limited number of N. meningitidis strains from serogroups A, B, C, W, Y and X tested in this study.     

Production of enriched in B vitamins biomass of Yarrowia lipolytica grown in biofuel waste

Yarrowia lipolytica as an oleaginous yeast is capable of growing in various non-conventional hydrophobic substrate types, especially industrial wastes. In this study, the content of thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), biotin (vitamin B7) and folic acid (vitamin B9) in the wet biomass of Y. lipolytica strains cultivated in biofuel waste (SK medium), compared to the standard laboratory YPD medium, was assessed. Additionally, the biomass of Y. lipolytica A-101 grown in biofuel waste (SK medium) was dried and examined for B vitamins concentration according to the recommended microbial methods by AOAC Official Methods. The mean values of these vitamins per 100 g of dry weight of Y. lipolytica grown in biofuel waste (SK medium) were as follows: thiamine 1.3 mg/100 g, riboflavin 5.3 mg/100 g, pyridoxine 4.9 mg/100 g, biotin 20.0 µg/100 g, and folic acid 249 µg/100 g. We have demonstrated that the dried biomass is a good source of B vitamins which can be used as nutraceuticals to supplement human diet, especially for people at risk of B vitamin deficiencies in developed countries. Moreover, the biodegradation of biofuel waste by Y. lipolytica is desired for environmental protection.     

Defined minimal media for the growth of prototrophic and auxotrophic strains of Bacillus stearothermophilus

Minimal chemically defined media for Bacillus stearothermophilus were developed at 60°C and quantitative requirements for each nutrient were determined. A prototrophic strain of B. stearothermophilus was grown in medium containing only glucose and mineral salts whereas auxotrophic strains in addition required biotin, thiamine, nicotinic acid and DL-methionine. Metabolic interaction between L-valine and L-leucine was observed with auxotrophic organisms. The presence of L-leucine in minimal medium necessitated the addition of L-valine. Growth took place in the absence of both amino acids.     

VITAMIN B12, THIAMINE,AND BIOTIN CONTENTS OF MARINE PHYTOPLANKTON1

An extraction procedure was developed for determining vitamin B₁₂, thiamine, and biotin contents of marine phytoplankton. Phytoplankters were collected either by centrifugation or by retention on a glass fiber filter, then heated at 100 C for I hr in 100 ml of vitamin-free seawater acidified to pH 3.5 with HCl. The extract, after debris removal, was filter-sterilized and analyzed, for vitamin B₁₂, thiamine, and biotin with standard vitamin assay procedures. The vitamin contents of haeodactylum tricornutum, Skeletonema costatum, Stephanopyxis turris, and occolithus liuxleyi were determined during growth in batch cultures. P. tricornutum (non-vitamin requirer) growing in aerated cultures contained 0.29–0.96 ng B₁₂, 5–15 ng thiamine, and 0.45–1.70 ng biotin/mg C. Under similar conditions S. costatum (B₁₂-requirer) contained about 0.06 ng B₁₂, 5–36 ng thiamine, and 0.16–2.10 ng biotin/mg C. The concentrations of vitamin were generally similar during some portion of the growth curve, eg, logarithmic growth. The vitamin B₁₂, content of S. costatum growing under nonaerated conditions decreased when medium B₁₂, was reduced. The biotin content did not change when medium B₁₂ was decreased. The thiamine content per unit weight of C. huxleyi (thiamine-requirer) growing with either 10 or 120 ng/liter thiamine decreased under both medium concentrations, indicating no net synthesis of the vitamin.     

The role of thiamine inYersinia kristensenii resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals

The resistance to divalent metal ions, antibiotics and H₂O₂ was investigated inYersinia kristensenii strains 13, 15, 18 by performing subcultivations with CdSO₄ (20 and 100mg/L) in nutrient agar (NA) and M9 medium with thiamine. Metal resistance of all three strains in NA was the same and decreased in the following sequence: Ni>Zn=Co>Cd. The chloramphenicol (Cmp) resistance ranged between 32 and 256 mg/L and the H₂O₂ sensitivity was very low or even zero. In the presence of thiamine the metal resistance sequence changed to Zn=Cd>Ni, Co, Ni and Co tolerance being 10–20 mg/L. Cmp resistance of all strains increased to 256 mg/L and H₂O₂ sensitivity also rose. In Cd-treated cultures, the ratio of glucose to thiamine in culture medium affected Cd resistance. At normal content of glucose and thiamine (5 g/L and 5mg/L), Cd resistance markedly decreased coincident with thiamine exhaustion in these slowly-growing cultures. The Cmp resistance decreased to 16 mg/L, Ni and Co intolerance and H₂O₂ hypersensitivity appeared. At lowered glucose or thiamine levels (5 g/L and 2.5 mg/L or 2.5 g/L and 5 mg/L) a marginal decrease of Cd resistance took place in response to limited glucose uptake. Low thiamine or low-glucose cultures were resistant to H₂O₂, and exhibited a small decrease in Cmp resistance and a low Ni, Co tolerance. The adaptation of strain 15 to Cd induced only a small decrease of Cd resistance. Lowered glucose-to-thiamine ratio in culture medium probably induced in Cd-treated cultures a response triggering Cd resistance.     

The nature of the requirement of Saccharomyces carlsbergensis for vitamin B6

Saccharomyces carlsbergensis 4228, an organism widely used for determination of vitamin B₆, grows well without this vitamin if thiamine is also omitted from the basal medium, and an inoculum grown in a thiamine-low medium is used. Thiamine inhibits growth when added to such a medium. The thiazole moiety of thiamine, but not the pyrimidine, is also inhibitory, but less so than thiamine itself.Growth inhibition by thiamine is prevented by vitamin B₆. At low concentrations of thiamine, the amount of vitamin B₆ required for growth increases with the thiamine concentration; at concentrations of thiamine above 1 μg./10 ml. the vitamin B₆ requirement for growth remains essentially constant. Since these higher concentrations of thiamine have been used in methods that utilize this organism for determination of vitamin B₆ (1,2), the validity of these methods is confirmed.In the presence of thiamine, growth was also permitted by additions of the thiamine antagonist, neopyrithiamine. In this case, however, the relationship was fully competitive; i.e., the amount of neopyrithiamine required for growth increased regularly with the thiamine concentration. At concentrations considerably higher than those required for growth, neopyrithiamine again inhibited growth, and this inhibition was prevented by an increase in the thiamine concentration. Thus neopyrithiamine acts by lowering the effective thiamine concentration to subinhibitory levels; if excessive amounts are used, it prevents essential metabolic functions of thiamine and itself becomes toxic. The mechanism by which vitamin B₆ prevents thiamine toxicity is not known.The appearance of a requirement for certain growth factors because of inhibitory effects of other metabolically important compounds, rather than because of an intrinsic inability of the organism to synthesize the growth factor, may be much more common than the few recorded instances of this phenomenon indicate.     

STABILITY OF MARINE LIPID BASED-LIPOSOMES UNDER ACID CONDITIONS. INFLUENCE OF XANTHAN GUM

Liposomes are potential candidates in Human nutrition to supplement diets in essential lipo- and hydro-soluble nutriments. In this context, marine lipid based-vesicles, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and containing vitamin B1 (thiamine) were prepared. Two methods were envisaged for vitamin trapping, passive encapsulation and active loading through the use of a transmembrane pH gradient. These methods were compared in terms of thiamine trapping efficiency. Influence of xanthan addition was also studied. Although, the active loading yielded to higher encapsulation ratios than the passive method, encapsulation efficiency was markedly increased, in both cases, as soon as the hydrocolloid was added after the lipid hydration phase. Liposome stability was assayed by microscopy observation and membrane permeability to thiamine in a medium that mimic that faced by the structures administrated by the oral route, i.e., an acid pH medium, as in the Human stomach. Low pH value led to an instantaneous vesicle aggregation. Thiamine was totally released from liposomes prepared without xanthan after 24 h storage in a neutral medium. This time was shortened to 1 h at pH 1.5. However, thiamine retention was significantly improved when liposomes were prepared in presence of the hydrocolloid, whatever the encapsulation method used. On the whole, these results were interpreted in terms of xanthan coating around the liposome surface that would result from lipid-hydrocolloid interactions occurring during the centrifugation steps of liposome preparation.     

Development of improved media for axenic cultivation of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni, Singh and Das 1970

Several varieties of peptone supported growth of A. culbertsoni to different extents reaching a maximum cell density of 1-2 X 10(6)/ml. Proteose peptone and tryptone also yielded good growth when combined with thiamine and vitamin B12. A combination of proteose peptone with glucose, yeast extract and salts promoted excellent growth of A. culbertsoni with cell density reaching 1-2 X 10(7) cells/ml; tryptone and one of the indigenous peptones also yielded comparable growth when substituted for proteose peptone in this medium. Casamino acids also supported good growth of amoebae and requirement of yeast extract could be met by a combination of thiamine, vitamin B12 and biotin. Bacto peptone did not support good growth of this amoeba but supplementation of peptone with casamino acids or amino acid mixture improved the growth supporting capacity of the medium. Development of several media with or without glucose will aid in cultivation of A. culbertsoni, studies on its metabolism as well as screening of potential drugs.     

Chemically defined media for the cultivation of Naegleria: pathogenic and high temperature tolerant species

Chemically defined minimal media for the cultivation of high temperature tolerant and pathogenic Naegleria spp. have been developed. A defined minimal medium, identical for N. fowleri and N. lovaniensis, consists of eleven amino acids (arginine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tryptophan, and valine), six vitamins (biotin, folic acid, hemin, pyridoxal, riboflavin, and thiamine), guanosine, glucose, salts, and metals. Three of the four strains of Naegleria fowleri tested (ATCC 30100, ATCC 30863, and ATCC 30896) and two strains of N. lovaniensis (ATCC 30467 and ATCC 30569) could be cultured beyond ten subcultures on this medium. For N. fowleri ATCC 30894 diaminopimelic acid, or lysine, or glutamic acid was also required. Mean generation time was reduced and population density increased for all strains with the introduction of glutamic acid. Glucose could be eliminated from the minimal medium only if glutamic acid was present. Without glucose, mean generation time increased and population density decreased. Diaminopimelic acid could substitute for lysin for ATCC 30894, indicating that Naegleria species may synthesize their lysine via the DAP pathway. Naegleria fowleri ATCC 30100 could be adapted to grow without serine or glycine in the minimal medium with glutamic acid added, but with mean generation time increased and population density decreased. The strain could be grown in the minimal medium in the absence of metals. For growth of N. australiensis ATCC 30958, modification of the medium by increasing metals ten-fold, substituting guanine for guanosine and adding lysine, glutamic acid, and six vitamins (p-aminobenzoic acid, choline chloride, inositol, vitamin B12, nicotinamide, and Ca pantothenate) was required.     

Influence of vitamin B12 and cocultures on the growth of Dehalococcoides isolates in defined medium

Bacteria belonging to the genus Dehalococcoides play a key role in the complete detoxification of chloroethenes as these organisms are the only microbes known to be capable of dechlorination beyond dichloroethenes to vinyl chloride (VC) and ethene. However, Dehalococcoides strains usually grow slowly with a doubling time of 1 to 2 days and have complex nutritional requirements. Here we describe the growth of Dehalococcoides ethenogenes 195 in a defined mineral salts medium, improved growth of strain 195 when the medium was amended with high concentrations of vitamin B(12), and a strategy for maintaining Dehalococcoides strains on lactate by growing them in consortia. Although strain 195 could grow in defined medium spiked with approximately 0.5 mM trichloroethene (TCE) and 0.001 mg/liter vitamin B(12), the TCE dechlorination and cellular growth rates doubled when the vitamin B(12) concentration was increased 25-fold to 0.025 mg/liter. In addition, the final ratios of ethene to VC increased when the higher vitamin concentration was used, which reflected the key role that cobalamin plays in dechlorination reactions. No further improvement in dechlorination or growth was observed when the vitamin B(12) concentration was increased to more than 0.025 mg/liter. In defined consortia containing strain 195 along with Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and/or Acetobacterium woodii and containing lactate as the electron donor, tetrachloroethene ( approximately 0.4 mM) was completely dechlorinated to VC and ethene and there was concomitant growth of Dehalococcoides cells. In the cultures that also contained D. desulfuricans and/or A. woodii, strain 195 cells grew to densities that were 1.5 times greater than the densities obtained when the isolate was grown alone. The ratio of ethene to VC was highest in the presence of A. woodii, an organism that generates cobalamin de novo during metabolism. These findings demonstrate that the growth of D. ethenogenes strain 195 in defined medium can be optimized by providing high concentrations of vitamin B(12) and that this strain can be grown to higher densities in cocultures with fermenters that convert lactate to generate the required hydrogen and acetate and that may enhance the availability of vitamin B(12).     

A Simplified Medium for the Growth of Maize (Zea mays) Endosperm Tissue in Suspension Culture

In vitro cultures of maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm derived from the dent inbred A636 have been maintained in liquid culture using Straus' medium for over six years. We have studied the growth of this tissue in four basic media and various modifications of the organic constituents of these media. Auxins and kinetin did not improve growth rate or degree of cell dispersion and thiamine (0.4 mg/l) was the only vitamin required by this tissue. Growth equal to that in the standard Straus medium and improved cell separation was obtained in a medium containing only inorganic salts, sucrose, and thiamine. Although asparagine was not required when high quantities of NH₄NO₃ and KNO₃ were included, more rapid growth was obtained when 2 g/l of asparagine was added. The simplified medium reported in this paper should facilitate the use of maize endosperm tissue in various studies of metabolism, hormone biosynthesis, etc.     

Identification and serotyping of atypical Legionella pneumophila strains isolated from human and environmental sources

AIMS: To validate identification methods for Legionella pneumophila strains that cannot be serotyped into the known serogroups and to characterize their antigenic diversity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty L. pneumophila strains that could not be serogrouped, but which had been confirmed as L. pneumophila by mip gene sequencing, were further identified phenotypically. We used (i) MONOFLUO anti-Legionella Staining Reagent (Bio-Rad) (50/50), (ii) an in-house prepared immunoblot assay for the detection of L. pneumophila- specific Mip protein epitope (50/50), (iii) fatty acid analysis using the Microbial Identifications System (MIDI) (47/50) and (iv) Oxoid agglutination tests (44/50). The serological diversity was further characterized by testing with five serogroup-cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies, resulting in nine phenons. CONCLUSIONS: The division of L. pneumophila into 15 serogroups does not reflect the serogroup heterogeneity. Results of these tests indicate that there are more serogroups. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: MONOFLUO anti-Legionella Staining Reagent is the only commercially available tool for identifying atypical strains of L. pneumophila. If necessary for epidemiological purposes, the antigenic heterogeneity of these strains can be analysed by monoclonal antibodies.     

Specific gene probe for detection of biotyped and serotyped Listeria strains

A total of 284 strains of Listeria, including all known serovars and biovars together with Listeria grayi and Listeria murrayi, were biotyped and serotyped. Biotyping and serotyping could be done in 2 days. A gene probe encoding a delayed hypersensitivity factor (DTH) was used in the detection of pathogenic biotypes and serotypes of the tested strains. The gene was found in all 117 tested Listeria monocytogenes strains of serogroups 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4ab, and 7. It was also present in Listeria ivanovii. Of 78 L. monocytogenes strains of serogroup 4b, 77 strains contained the gene, whereas it was absent in all 10 tested L. monocytogenes strains of serogroup 4a. Furthermore, the gene was absent in Listeria seeligeri, L. grayi, L. murrayi, and L. innocua of serogroups 3c, 4b, and 6a and in L. welshimeri of serogroups 1/2b, 3b, 6a, and 6b. Since L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii are the only two biotypes of the genus Listeria considered pathogens, the data obtained indicate that the DNA probe tested may be a useful tool in the detection of virulent Listeria isolates in clinical, environmental, and food samples.     

Nutrition of Volvulina Playfair*

SYNOPSIS. Vitamin B₁₂, biotin and thiamine requirements of 10 strains of Volvulina steinii and 1 strain of V. pringsheimii were studied. Vitamin B₁₂ is required for growth of both species, thiamine stimulates growth slightly, and biotin has no discernible effect on growth. The minimum concentration of vitamin B₁₂ giving a growth response in V. steinii, strain SC-2, was 10^?8 g/ml, and maximum growth response was obtained with 1.1 × 10^?7 g/ml. An organic carbon source is required for growth of V. steinii but not of V. pringsheimii. Growth of V. steinii, strain SC-2, occurred in 20 of 21 carbon sources tested. Optimal growth with each carbon source was largely dependent upon pH. Except for pyruvate, acetate, and ethanol, carbon source utilization was light-dependent, and growth in ethanol was reduced in the dark. Isocitric lyase activity was detected in V. steinii grown on acetate medium.     

Specific gene probe for detection of biotyped and serotyped Listeria strains.

A total of 284 strains of Listeria, including all known serovars and biovars together with Listeria grayi and Listeria murrayi, were biotyped and serotyped. Biotyping and serotyping could be done in 2 days. A gene probe encoding a delayed hypersensitivity factor (DTH) was used in the detection of pathogenic biotypes and serotypes of the tested strains. The gene was found in all 117 tested Listeria monocytogenes strains of serogroups 1/2a, 1/2b, 1/2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4ab, and 7. It was also present in Listeria ivanovii. Of 78 L. monocytogenes strains of serogroup 4b, 77 strains contained the gene, whereas it was absent in all 10 tested L. monocytogenes strains of serogroup 4a. Furthermore, the gene was absent in Listeria seeligeri, L. grayi, L. murrayi, and L. innocua of serogroups 3c, 4b, and 6a and in L. welshimeri of serogroups 1/2b, 3b, 6a, and 6b. Since L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii are the only two biotypes of the genus Listeria considered pathogens, the data obtained indicate that the DNA probe tested may be a useful tool in the detection of virulent Listeria isolates in clinical, environmental, and food samples.     

Characterization of rat cecum cellulolytic bacteria.

Cellulose-degrading bacteria previously isolated from the ceca of rats have been characterized and identified. The most commonly isolated type was rods identified as Bacteroides succinogenes. These bacteria fermented only cellulose (e.g., pebble-milled Whatman no. 1 filter paper), cellobiose, and in 43 of 47 strains, glucose, with succinic and acetic acids as the major products. The only organic growth factors found to be required by selected strains were p-aminobenzoic acid, cyanocobalamine, thiamine, and a straight-chain and a branched-chain volatile fatty acid. These vitamin requirements differ from those of rumen strains of B. succinogenes, indicating the rat strains may form a distinct subgroup within the species. The mole percent guanine plus cytosine was 45%, a value lower than those (48 to 51%) found for three rumen strains of B. succinogenes included in this study. Cellulolytic cocci were isolated less frequently than the rods and were identified as Rumminococcus flavefaciens. Most strains fermented only cellulose and cellobiose, and their major fermentation products were also succinic and acetic acids. Their required growth factors were not identified but were supplied by rumen fluid.