Inhibition of Yeast Growth by Streptomycin

Abstract

FOR the isolation of a pure culture from yeast cultures heavily contaminated with bacteria, sub-cultures were made into media containing penicillin and streptomycin. With certain yeasts we observed that yeast growth as well as bacterial growth was inhibited. Preliminary observations suggested that the streptomycin was the inhibitory agent. This observation contradicts earlier opinion which considered fungi, including yeasts, to be insensitive to the action of streptomycin^1,2. Based on this opinion of insensitivity to streptomycin, some media designed for the isolation of pathogenic³ and saprophytic⁴ yeasts include streptomycin, at a concentration of 40 µg/ ml., to inhibit bacterial growth.