Lactic acid bacteria: Micro-organisms able to grow in the absence of available iron and copper

The growth of different species of the genera Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus and Leuconostoc was followed in media in which all available iron and copper was chelated by 2,2′-dipyridyl. None of the species tested was inhibited in its growth. Iron and copper complexation, by means of chemical scavengers, could be a useful method to direct non-axenic lactic fermentations.