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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Sequential nitrification by an Alcaligenes sp. and Nitrobacter agilis
Abstract:
The ecological importance of heterotrophic nitrification has been difficult to assess because of low levels of nitrification associated with this phenomenon. Nitrification by a soil isolate, an Alcaligenes sp., which oxidizes pyruvic oxime to produce up to 1867 mg nitrite-nitrogen/L, is described. Sequential nitrification with the chemoautotroph Nitrobacter agilis, ATCC 14123, resulted in nitrate accumulation and a concomitant decrease of the nitrite produced by the Alcaligenes sp. when the bacteria were jointly cultured. The ecological significance of such a sequential system is discussed.
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