Isolation and characterization of a marine iron-oxidizing bacterium requiring NaCl for growth

An iron-oxidizing bacterium was isolated from seawater, and designated stra in KU2-11. The strain KU2-11 was a Gram negative, non-spore-forming and rod -shaped bacterium. Strain KU2-11 can grow autotrophically by using ferrous iron and elemental sulfur as sole energy sources. The bacterium obligately required NaCl for growth. The optimum NaCl concentration was 2%. Optimum gr owth pH and temperature were 2 and 30 degrees C, respectively. G+C content of the DNA was 59 mol%. An iron-oxidizing activity of the bacterium also de pended on the NaCl concentration. The role of NaCl for this bacterium was i nvestigated. The maintenance of cell morphology is necessary for both the g rowth and iron-oxidizing activity. NaCl played an important role in maintai ning the morphology of this bacterium.