초록
<P><B/></P><P>In this work a defined co-culture of the lactic acid bacterium <I>Lactobacillus zeae</I> and the propionate producer <I>Veillonella criceti</I> has been studied in continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and in a dialysis membrane reactor. It is the first time that this reactor type is used for a defined co-culture fermentation. This reactor allows high mixing rates and working with high cell densities, making it ideal for co-culture investigations. In CSTR experiments the co-culture showed over a broad concentration range an almost linear correlation in consumption and production rates to the supply with complex nutrients. In CSTR and dialysis cultures a strong growth stimulation of <I>L. zeae</I> by <I>V. criceti</I> was shown. In dialysis cultures very high propionate production rates (0.61 g L<SUP>-1</SUP>h<SUP>-1</SUP>) with final titers up to 28 g L<SUP>-1</SUP> have been realized. This reactor allows an individual, intracellular investigation of the co-culture partners by omic-technologies to provide a better understanding of microbial communities.</P>