GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY - T.P. Pyrog - 2004

14. TYPES OF FERMENTATION

14.6. BUTYRIC ACID AND ACETONE-BUTANOL FERMENTATION. CLOSTRIDIA

14.6.1. Characteristics of Bacteria of the Genus Clostridium

This genus belongs to the family Bacillaceae. Like other members of this family (Bacillus, Sporolactobacillus7 Sporosarcina)t, clostridia are Gram-positive. They are motile (with peritrichous flagella), vegetative Cells are rod-shaped, and spores alter the shape of the mother Cell because their diameter exceeds the thickness of The Cell itself. Spores are heat-resistant.

Clostridia are characterized by a markedly fermentative type of METABOLISM. They grow exclusively under anaerobic conditions, although some species are aerotolerant. Starch-like Polysaccharides are typical reserve Materials. The optimum Temperature is 30-40 °C, and thermophilic species also exist (Clostridium thermoaceticum). The optimal pH is neutral or alkaline.

Based on their ability to utilize various substrates, clostridia can be divided into two groups: saccharolytic and peptonolytic.



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