The Claim

The E. coli B834 (DE3) assay reliably distinguishes between bacterial strains that produce vitamin B12 and those that do not, as evidenced by the absence of growth response in the assay when exposed to extracts from known non-producing strains such as E. coli OP50 and the ΔcbiAΔcbiB mutant of Comamonas aquatica.

Source: A simple, fast and inexpensive approach using E. coli to detect and estimate vitamin B12 content in microbial extracts

What the research says

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Description
1 study reviewed
In plain English

The E. coli B834 (DE3) assay detects vitamin B12 production by showing no growth when exposed to extracts from bacteria that do not produce vitamin B12, while it shows growth when exposed to extracts from bacteria that do produce vitamin B12.

See the scientific wording

The E. coli B834 (DE3) assay can reliably distinguish between vitamin B12-producing and non-producing bacterial strains, as demonstrated by the absence of growth response to extracts from known non-producers like E. coli OP50 and the ΔcbiAΔcbiB mutant of Comamonas aquatica.

Why this might work

E. coli B834 (DE3) cannot make its own methionine unless it gets vitamin B12. When vitamin B12 is present, it activates an enzyme that turns a precursor into methionine. Methionine lets the bacteria build proteins and divide, so the culture grows. If no vitamin B12 is present, methionine is not made, the bacteria cannot divide, and no growth occurs.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: A simple, fast and inexpensive approach using E. coli to detect and estimate vitamin B12 content in microbial extracts

    Scientists used a special type of E. coli that only grows when vitamin B12 is present. When they tested samples from bacteria that don’t make B12, the E. coli didn’t grow — proving the test works to tell if B12 is there or not.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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