[Thermophilic nitrifying bacteria from hot springs]

A culture of thermophilic nitrifying bacteria was isolated from geothermal springs of Kamchatka (50-86 degrees C, pH 6.3-7.5) AND Tajig SSR (50-85 degrees C, pH 7.3-8.5). The culture oxidizes ammonium nitrogen at 40-70 degrees C. It resembles Nitrosomonas europea Winogradskyi by its morphology. Dimensions of the cells vary within 0.7-0.9 X 0.8-1.4 mcm. Each cell has a polar flagellum whose diameter is about 140 A. This is the first description of thermophilic nitrifying bacteria belonging to the genus Nitrosomonas.