Synthesis of intracellular storage polymers by Amaricoccus kaplicensis, a tetrad forming bacterium present in activated sludge.
J Appl Microbiol 2001;
91:299-305. [PMID:
11473594 DOI:
10.1046/j.1365-2672.2001.01384.x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
AIMS
The study investigated the physiology of Amaricoccus kaplicensis to determine whether it could outcompete polyphosphate accumulating bacteria in activated sludge systems removing phosphorus, by preferentially assimilating substrates in the anaerobic stages of these processes.
METHODS AND RESULTS
The storage processes were investigated under anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic conditions in both batch and periodically fed cultures in an aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Amaricoccus kaplicensis showed a high capacity for storing aerobically large amounts of acetate as poly beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) at high rates. However, no acetate assimilation under anaerobic conditions and very slow assimilation under anoxic conditions could be detected.
CONCLUSION
Amaricoccus kaplicensis in pure culture does not behave as polyphosphate accumulating bacteria competitor; therefore it is difficult to understand why anaerobic/aerobic systems often contain such large numbers of Amaricoccus cells.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY
Amaricoccus kaplicensis is probably not responsible for the failure of activated sludge systems removing phosphorus, and other organisms capable of anaerobic substrate assimilation should be sought.
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