Isolation from poultry litter and characterization [corrected] of Staphylococcus spp. capable of growth in high phosphate conditions [corrected].
OBJECTIVE
To isolate and characterize micro-organisms from poultry litter capable of growing under phosphate concentrations typical of poultry litter.


RESULTS
Poultry litter extracts were plated onto brain-heart infusion medium (BHI) containing an additional 0.75 mol l(-1) phosphate (BHI-P). Colonies were screened for the presence of inclusion granules with five being selected for further study. All strains displayed identical biochemical characteristics consistent with Staphylococcus spp. and grouped with Staphylococcus spp. by comparative 16S rDNA analysis. Thus all five strains were identified as such. All strains displayed elevated intracellular phosphate levels when cultured in BHI-P broth (0.417-0.600 microg phosphate mg(-1) protein) vs BHI broth (0.075-0.093 microg phosphate mg(-1) protein). When grown using an austere semi-defined medium or BHI-P, Staph. sp. #7 displayed similar elevated intracellular phosphate levels compared with growth in BHI.


CONCLUSIONS
Poultry litter contains novel Staphylococcus spp. capable of robust growth when exposed to phosphate levels comparable with that typically found in poultry litter. Data suggest intracellular phosphate levels in these strains increase in response to increasing phosphate in the medium or austere medium conditions. Intracellular phosphate did not reach levels comparable with known hyper-accumulating micro-organisms.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest poultry litter possesses a resident microflora that thrives and accumulates intracellular phosphate in response to high phosphate conditions.
Vadari
Y
Y
Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1080, USA.
Mason
B P
BP
Doerner
K C
KC
D000818:Animals; D003470:Culture Media; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D008372:Manure / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D011200:Poultry; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D003470:Culture Media; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D008372:Manure; D010710:Phosphates; D011122:Polyphosphates; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S