Selective Growth Inhibition of Sphaerotilus natans and Beggiatoa sp. by Nucleosides

Abstract

9-β- d -Arabinofuranosyladenine (ara-A) has been found to specifically inhibit the growth of Sphaerotilus natans and Beggiatoa sp. at a low concentration (0.78 μg/ml). The nucleoside had no antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms other than Candida albicans at 1,000 μg/ml. 3′-Deoxyadenosine, 2′-deoxyadenosine, formycin, and some derivatives of ara-A also showed inhibitory activity against Sphaerotilus natans . The growth of Beggiatoa sp. was also inhibited by 9-β-arabinofuranosylhypoxanthine, 3′-deoxyadenosine, 2′-deoxyadenosine, formycin, toyocamycin, tubercidin, and some derivatives of ara-A. ara-A was quite stable in water and had no harmful effect on fish at 200 μg/ml. The possible uses of ara-A and some nucleosides in controlling the proliferation of S. natans and Beggiatoa sp. in the environment are discussed.