Immunofluorescent assay for the marine ammonium-oxidizing bacterium Nitrosococcus oceanus

Journal Article · Tue Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1980 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5372216

Ward, B B; Perry, M J

Nitrification is one of the important microbiological transformations of nitrogen in the ocean. Traditional enrichment-culture methods for enumerating the autotrophic bacteria which oxidize ammonium to nitrite are very time consuming (months) and are believed to seriously underestimate natural abundances. A fluorescent-antibody assay for a marine ammonium-oxidizing bacterium was developed to provide a rapid and direct means of identifying these microorganisms. Antibodies to Nitrosococcus oceanus were prepared and tested against pure cultures of marine, freshwater, and soil ammonium oxidizers and against bacteria from natural seawater samples. Cell counts of culture samples determined by the fluorescent-antibody assay agreed with hemacytometer and acridine orange counts. Our results demonstrated that the immunofluorescent assay is a powerful tool for the detection of Nitrosococcus in the marine environment.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington, Seattle
• OSTI ID: 5372216
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 39:4; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
550200 -- Biochemistry
550700* -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
ANTIBODIES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BACTERIA
BIOASSAY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ECOSYSTEMS
FLUORESCENCE
IMMUNE REACTIONS
LUMINESCENCE
MICROORGANISMS
NITROGEN FIXATION
OXIDATION