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Magnetite formation by a magnetic bacterium capable of growing aerobically

  • Applied Microbial and Cell Physiology
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Summary

A helically shaped magnetic bacterium was isolated from freshwater sediment and a pure culture was obtained. The growth medium contained succinate, nitrate and ferric malate as the carbon, nitrogen and iron sources, respectively. The magnetic bacterium, designated AMB-1, was able to grow in free gaseous exchange with an air atmosphere. When cells were grown aerobically on agar, oxidase activity was present, and white non-magnetic colonies, which did not show catalase activity, were formed. The stationary phase of growth was reached 4–5 days later at a cell concentration of 1.4×109 cells/ml in liquid culture when an initial cell concentration of 105 cells/ml was employed. After ultrasonic disruption of harvested cells, 2.6 mg bacterial magnetite was obtained from a 11 culture.

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Matsunaga, T., Sakaguchi, T. & Tadakoro, F. Magnetite formation by a magnetic bacterium capable of growing aerobically. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 35, 651–655 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00169632

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00169632

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