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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Isolation, Propagation, and Identification of Bacterial Species with Hydrocarbon Metabolizing Properties from Aquatic Habitats
Published on: December 7, 2021
Isolation and characterization of marine methanotrophs
1Keck Laboratories, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125.
Abstract:
Four new methane-oxidizing bacteria have been isolated from marine samples taken at the Hyperion sewage outfall, near Los Angeles, CA. These bacteria require NaCl for growth. All exhibit characteristics typical of Type I methanotrophs, except they contain enzyme activities of both the ribulose monophosphate pathway and the serine cycle. All four strains are characterized by rapid growth in liquid culture and on agar plates, and all have temperature optima above 35 degrees C. One strain, chosen for further study, has been shown to maintain broadhost range cloning vectors and is currently being used for genetic studies.
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