Molecular and phenotypic characterization of Acinetobacter strains able to degrade diesel fuel.

Characterization of bacterial communities in oil-contaminated soils and evaluation of their degradation capacities may serve as a guide for improving remediation of such environments. Using physiological and molecular methods, the aim of this work was to characterize 17 Acinetobacter strains (13 species) able to use diesel fuel oil as sole carbon and energy source. The strains were first tested for their ability to grow on different alkanes on minimal medium containing high NaCl concentrations.

Description of Acinetobacter venetianus ex Di Cello et al. 1997 sp. nov.

The name 'Acinetobacter venetianus' has been used previously to designate three marine hydrocarbon-degrading Acinetobacter strains, of which strain RAG-1 (=ATCC 31012) has industrial applications for the production of the bioemulsifier emulsan. However, to date, the name of this taxon has not been validly published. In this study, five strains were examined to corroborate the delineation of this taxon by means of phenotypic characterization, DNA-DNA hybridization, selective restriction fragment amplification (AFLP), amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), rpoB gene sequence analysis and tRNA intergenic spacer length polymorphism analysis (tDNA-PCR) and to emend the description of 'Acinetobacter venetianus' (ex Di Cello et al.

Adherence of Acinetobacter baumannii strains to human bronchial epithelial cells.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important nosocomial pathogen, but the mechanisms contributing to its epidemicity and virulence are largely unknown. The organism is able to colonize skin and mucosal surfaces of the human host. Adherence of microorganisms to host cells is an important virulence factor as it is the initial step of the colonization process.