Microbiological assays of Antibiotics and Vitamins

Microbiological assays of Antibiotics and Vitamins

Contents

•       Assay of antibiotics

–      Streptomycin

–      Penicillin

•       Assay of vitamins

–      Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamine)

–      Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Learning objectives

At the
end of this lecture, student will be able to:

•       Explain the principle of
microbiological assay of antibiotics

•       Explain the principle of
microbiological assay of vitamins

Assay of antibiotics

•       Method?

•       Both Method A (cup plate) and Method
B (Turbidimetric) can be used

•       Method A – Depends on measurement of
zone of inhibition

•       Method B – Depends on measurement
of  turbidity

Assay of Streptomycin

Assay of Penicillin

Microbiological assay of
Vitamins

Principle

•       Vitamins and amino acids are
essential for the growth of microorganisms.

•       The basis of this assay is to
measure the ability of test organism to utilize the substance being assayed
under a proper nutritional condition.

•       The organisms require these growth
factors (vitamins & amino acids) in micro or nanograms.

•       The response (growth of test
organism) is proportional to the dose (amount of factor) added to medium.

•       Nutrient medium will contain an
abundance of all nutrients essential for growth of the organism except the test
substance

•       On adding small amounts of the test
substance to tubes, growth takes place

•       Growth depends on the quantity of
test substance added

Microbiological assay of
Cyanocobalamine

About
Vit B₁₂:

•       Also known as cyanocobalamin

•       It is a water soluble vitamin

•       Structure is similar to that of heme
where the iron is replaced with cobalt as a centre of molecule

•       Its main  sources are liver, eggs, milk, meat &
fish

•       Vit B₁₂ deficiency causes
Macrolyticanemia and Pernicious anemia.

•       National Research Council,USA
recommends a daily in take of about 5mg of vitB₁₂

Principle
of assay:

•       The test organism selected must be
capable of utilizing free cyanocobalamin

•       Lactobacillus Liechmanni is found to satisfy the requirements

•       Gram negative bacilli,
non-pathogenic, easy to culture & easily available

•       Isolated from milk, cheese,
&  other dairy products

•       Assay is performed by using either
titrimetric or turbidimetric method.

Microbiological assay of
Riboflavin

Titrimetric Method

Principle

•       Estimation of amounts of acid
produced by Lactobacillus by titrimetric method

•       It is a much slower method compared
to turbidimetric

•       It takes almost 3 days for the acids
to build up

•       Titrimetric procedures have been
largely replaced by turbidimetric procedure

Summary

•       Antibiotic assay – determines growth
inhibitory property

•       Antibiotic assay can be carried out
by cup plate or turbidometric method

•       Vitamin assay determines growth
promoting ability of vitamins

•       Vitamin assay  is carried out by turbidometric method

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