Growth Characteristics and Cell Partitioning of Acinetobacter on Hydrocarbon Substrates

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A microbe was isolated from a piece of asphalt found in the Thames River, London Ontario. The isolate was designated as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 2CA2 based on its morphological, enzymatic and nutritional characteristics. A calcoaceticus 2CA2 demonstrated a marked preference for hydrocarbon substrates, including pure n-alkanes, a variety of kerosenes, and synthetic crude oil from Athabasca tar sands. Growth was characterized by reductions in the surface and interfacial tension of the culture broth. The isolate did not utilize common mono- and disaccharides. Growth was possible on soluble organic acids; however this was not accompanied by a reduction in surface tensions. Cells growing on the hydrocarbon substrates demonstrated a loss of cell structural integrity which appears due to extraction of lipophilic cell surface components by the hydrocarbon. The isolate demonstrated adhesion to hydrocarbon substrates. This characteristic was lost during growth on soluble substrates but developed rapidly after contact with the hydrocarbon. It is suggested that a rapid increase in the lipid content of the cell is responsible for the increased adhesion.
1983-06-25