David W Mccoy

US Patent:

51167379, May 26, 1992

Filed:

Jul 27, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/559185

Inventors:

David R. McCoy - Muskego WI

Assignee:

Chr. Hansen's Laboratory, Inc. - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

C12P 3900
C12P 138
A23C 912
C12R 146

US Classification:

435 42

Abstract:

A method is disclosed for growth acid-producing bacterial cultures, such as diary cultures, wherein the culture is selected to contain a urease-producing strain of bacteria and the medium used for the culturing contains added urea. During culturing the urease hydrolyzes the urea to acid-neutralizing ammonia which limits the pH drop of the medium, thereby producing cultures of higher bacterial activity. The urea-containing culture media can also be employed with bacterial cultures which do not produce urease, providing urease is added to the culture medium during growth of the bacteria.