THE ABILITY OF BACTERIA TO USE NA-HYALURONATE AS A NUTRIENT

The objective of this study was to test bacteria ability to use Na-hya luronate as a nutrient in vitro. Thirteen bacteria strains were tested in three different media: specific culture medium, agar-Healon medium and agar-Healon GV medium. The bacterial growth criteria were determi ned by counting the number of new colonies appearing at each observati on time (0, 24, 48 and 72 h). The results were expressed as the percen tage of growth in agar-Na-hyaluronate compared to each corresponding s pecific culture medium. After 24 h in the medium containing agar-Healo n, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. pyogenes and S. viridans grew using h yaluronic acid as a nutrient. The percentage of growth of these specie s remained constant over the follow-up period. The other bacteria stra ins tested were unable to use Healon as a nutrient. After 24 h of incu bation in the medium containing agar-Healon GV, S. aureus, S. epidermi dis, S. pyogenes and S. viridans exhibited about 20% growth. Subsequen tly, this percentage slowly increased to about 50%. The other bacteria strains tested were unable to employ Healon GV as a nutrient. With th e exception of Staphylococci and Streptococci, the other species do no t synthesize the necessary enzymes to break glucosidic bonds, therefor e neither concentration of hyaluronic acid can be utilized as a source of carbohydrate for their survival in culture media.