EFFECT OF ANAEROBIC GROWTH ON NITRATE REDUCTION BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS

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Abstract
In anaerobic cultures a strain of S. epidermidis failed to reduce nitrate, although nitrate was reduced in stationary cultures grown in the presence of air. Resting suspensions of cells grown in air reduced nitrate. Although suspensions of cells grown anaerobically did not reduce nitrate, the nitrate reductase enzyme was shown to be present. When the artificial electron carrier (benzyl vlologen) was added to suspensions of cells grown anaerobically, nitrate was reduced indicating that an electron carrier required for nitrate reduction was missing. The addition of hemin to the growth medium enabled anaerobic cultures to reduce nitrate.