Organic nutrition of Beggiatoa sp.

Abstract

Culture OH-75-B of Beggiatoa sp. differed significantly from any described previously in its utilization of organic carbon and reduced sulfur compounds. It deposited internal sulfur granules characteristic of Beggiatoa sp. with either sulfide or thiosulfate in the medium. This strain (OH-75-B, clone 2a) could be grown in agitated liquid cultures on mineral medium with acetate as the only source of organic carbon. The resultant growth yields and rates were comparable to those for typical heterotrophs. Of the other simple organic compounds tested, only pyruvate, lactate, or ethanol could singly support the growth of this strain. Single sugars or amino acids neither supported growth nor enhanced it when added to acetate-containing medium. In contrast, compounds of the tricarboxylic acid cycle enhanced growth yields when tested in concert with acetate. These and fluoroacetate inhibition results indicate that Beggiatoa sp. possesses a functional tricarboxylic acid cycle. Poor yields characterized the growth of this strain on dilute yeast extract medium, and higher concentrations of yeast extract proved inhibitory. The enzyme catalase, contrary to the findings of others, had no synergistic influence on growth yields when added to medium containing yeast extract or acetate or both.