GROWTH AND AMINO-ACID-REQUIREMENTS OF HYALURONIC-ACID-PRODUCING STREPTOCOCCUS-ZOOEPIDEMICUS

A chemically defined medium has been developed for anaerobic cultivati on of hyaluronic-acid(HA)-producing Streptococcus zooepidemicus, which contains 11 amino acids essential to growth, and glutamine as a princ ipal nitrogen source. The final HA concentration, the specific rate of HA production and HA-to-glucose yields were similar for growth in the chemically defined medium relative to growth in complex medium. Conse quently cells cultivated on chemically defined medium can be expected to have similar activity regarding HA synthesis as compared to cells g rown on complex media. However, the specific growth rate and volumetri c HA production rate were found to be less favourable in the chemicall y defined media.