THE POTASSIUM UPTAKE OF LACTOBACILLUS ACIDOPHILUS

Abstract

SUMMARY: A reproducible flame speetrophotometric method for the determination of the potassium uptake of Lactobacilius acidophilus is described. The potassium uptake curve was characteristic and had a coefficient of variation between replicate samples at peak uptake of approximately 2%. Two general applications of the technique have been demonstrated: the evaluation of the toxicity of an inhibitory substance (fluoride as sodium fluoride), and determination of the effect of the interaction of L. acidophilus and L. casei in a mixed culture.