Some Physiological Characteristics of Acinetobacter spp. Accumulating Large Amounts of Phosphate

Abstract

Acinetobacter strain 210A has been grown in batch and continuous cultures in an acetate medium. The P content of the cells varied from 6–10% of the dry matter and phosphate uptake continued for months as long as carbon and nitrogen source, inorganic salts and oxygen were present. The growing ( = metabolizing) bacterial cells released phosphate under anaerobic conditions. Addition of CO2, acetate and ethanol or other reduced carbon sources stimulated the rate of the phosphate release but after 24 hours of anaerobiosis the obtained results with or without additions were similar.