Thermophilic heterotrophic nitrifiers isolated from Mid-Atlantic Ridge deep-sea hydrothermal vents

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Thermophilic heterotrophic nitrifiers were isolated for the first time from deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Fluid and chimney samples were taken at Snakepit (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) and nitrifiers were isolated from various parts of the hydrothermal ecosystem. However, most of these isolates originated from chimney samples and seemed to be mainly located in the inner and outer parts of the upper layers. All of them were rod-shaped cells, with or without spores, that grew aerobically at 65°C. Under aerobic conditions, they were able to produce nitrite from organic matter via ammonia (heterotrophic nitrification) but also from nitrate (reduction). Thus, they could largely contribute to the nitrogen cycle. These thermophilic heterotrophic nitrifiers were characterized by a considerable diversity and a phenotypic study has shown that they were closely related to the genera Thermus and Bacillus.Key words: thermophilic bacteria, heterotrophic nitrification, hydrothermal vents, deep-sea.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: