title: 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.
mesh_terms: D000421:Alcaligenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004463:Ecology; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D009576:Nitrobacter / Q000378:metabolism*; D010091:Oximes / Q000378:metabolism; D011422:Propionates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D010091:Oximes; D011422:Propionates; C003014:pyruvatoxime