Abstract: | The object of this work was to study the ability of propionic bacteria to utilize sulfur compounds having various degrees of oxidation. Propionibacterium shermanii was found to utilize sulfite, thiosulfate, sulfide and elemental sulfur, apart from sulfate, as a sulfur source. When the culture grew in a medium with elemental sulfur, sulfide was produced. The utilization of sulfate by P. shermanii had a peculiar character. In the process of the culture growth, the utilization of sulfate alternated with its release into the medium. |