Vitamin requirements of three spiroplasmas

Abstract

A chemically defined medium (CC-494M) was used to study the vitamin requirements of three spiroplasmas representing three distinct serogroups: flower spiroplasmas [Spiroplasma floricola and FS (SR-3)] and honeybee spiroplasma [HBS (AS-576)]. Nicotinic acid and riboflavin were essential to spiroplasma growth. Nicotinamide could substitute for nicotinic acid. Populations of S. floricola, FS (SR-3), and HBS (AS-576) reached 3.2 x 109, 1.96 x 1010, and 6.1 x 109 CFU/ml, respectively, when nicotinic acid (0.036 mg/liter) and riboflavin (0.014 mg/liter) were supplied.