Chromate-resistance in a chromate-reducing strain of Enterobacter cloacae

Resistance to toxic hexavalent chromium (chromate: CrO4(2)) in Enterobacter cloacae strain HO1, isolated from an activated sludge sample, was investigated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Decreased uptake of 51CrO4(2-) in E. cloacae strain HO1 was observed under aerobic conditions, when compared with a standard laboratory E. cloacae strain (IAM 1624). Under anaerobic conditions E. cloacae strain HO1 was able to reduce hexavalent chromium to the less toxic trivalent form. When E. clocacae strain HO1 was grown with nitrate anaerobically, the cells were observed to lose simultaneously their chromate-reducing ability and chromate-resistance under anaerobic conditions.