Question

Which vitamin is required for growth simulation of 'Bacillus anthracis' ?

• A. B\(_6\)
• B. B\(_{12}\)
• C. B\(_1\)
• D. Vitamin K

Hint:

For many heterotrophic bacteria, if a specific B-vitamin is required, it is usually Thiamine (B\(_1\)) or Niacin (B\(_3\)) because they form the foundational coenzymes (TPP and NAD\(_+\)) necessary for basic ATP-generating catabolism.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Concept:
The question identifies a specific nutritional requirement acting as an essential growth factor for the cultivation and robust growth of the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

Step 2: Step-by-step Explanation:

• Bacillus anthracis is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium that is the causative agent of the deadly disease anthrax.

• While it can grow on basic nutrient agars, optimizing its growth in laboratory settings or in specific pathogenic states requires certain accessory growth factors that the organism cannot synthesize in sufficient quantities autonomously.

• Scientific studies on the minimal nutritional requirements of B. anthracis have demonstrated an absolute dependency on specific vitamins for robust metabolic function.

• The critical requirement for Bacillus anthracis is Thiamine, which is also known as Vitamin B\(_1\).

• Inside the bacterial cell, Thiamine is converted to its biologically active coenzyme form, Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP).

• TPP is an absolutely indispensable cofactor for several key enzymatic reactions involved in central carbon metabolism and cellular energy generation.

• Specifically, it is required for the function of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (converting pyruvate into acetyl-CoA) and the \(\alpha\)-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (a crucial step in the vital Krebs/TCA cycle).

• Without Vitamin B\(_1\), the bacterium's central metabolic pathways stall, preventing cellular respiration and ultimately restricting growth.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Vitamin B\(_1\) (Thiamine) is the crucial vitamin required for its growth.