Substrate inhibition of Pediococcus acidilactici by glucose on a waste medium. Simulations and experimental results

AIMS: The possibility of substrate inhibition by glucose on biomass and pediocin production was studied in cultures of Pediococcus acidilactici on a residual medium. METHODS AND RESULTS: Calculation of the substrate inhibition coefficient in the context of microbial growth is generally laborious, and very prone to experimental error. However, a simulation combining logistic and Monod kinetics equations demonstrates that quantitative evidence for this type of inhibition, without the possibility of misinterpretation, can be obtained through the comparison of punctual preasymptotic productions as a function of substrate concentration. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: It was concluded that glucose had an inhibitory effect on growth, but not on bacteriocin production.