Microbial interactions in heterotrophic nitrification

An Arthrobacter sp. capable of extensive nitrification was isolated from a eutrophic lake sediment employing inorganic salts medium with acetamide as the carbon source. This heterotrophic nitrifier was found to be closely associated with a Corynebacterium sp. both in growth and in nitrification. When the Arthrobacter sp. was jointly cultured with the Corynebacterium sp. in medium containing ammonium ion, acetate, and inorganic salts, the concentrations of nitrification products (nitrite and nitrate) increased approximately 10-fold. This stimulatory interaction was also determined in filter-sterilized sediment water samples amended with ammonium ion and acetate. Although both organisms failed to grow singly in media containing 1 mg/mL of nitrite N and of acetaldoxime N, they grew well in both media when cultured jointly. Nitrification, however, occurred only in the acetaldoxime medium. This is the first reported instance of mutualistic relationships in heterotrophic nitrification arid appears to be significant to our understanding of nitrogen transformation in lacustrine environments.