Vitamin and nitrogen base requirements for Listeria monocytogenes and haemolysin production.

A complete chemically defined medium is described for the growth of different serovars of Listeria monocytogenes. The medium supported rapid, luxuriant and transferable growth. At the same time haemolysin production was induced to the same extent as in tryptose phosphate broth. Riboflavin and calcium-pantothenate were essential for the growth of all six strains tested. Biotin, pyridoxal-hydrochloride and p-aminobenzoic acid were either essential or stimulatory to all strains. Most strains did not require folic acid, thiamin, nicotinic acid and inositol, but they were stimulatory for some strains. Adenine was essential for two strains (NCTC 7973, 5214 m) while cytosine exhibited an inhibitory effect on the growth of all the strains.