Comparative growth studies of the extreme thermophile Sulfolobus acidocaldarius in submerged and solidified substrate cultures

• Published in: World journal of microbiology & biotechnology Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 229 - 234
• Main Authors: HATZINIKOLAOU, D. G, KALOGERIS, E, CHRISTAKOPOULOS, P, KEKOS, D, MACRIS, B. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.04.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Carbon sources; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microbial engineering. Fermentation and microbial culture technology; Starch; Sulfolobus acidocaldarius; Wheat bran; Sulfolobaceae; Microorganism growth; Sulfolobus acidocaldarius; Submerged culture; Archaeobacteria; Microorganism culture; Bacteria; Solid substrate fermentation; Thermophily; Sulfolobales
• ISSN: 0959-3993; 1573-0972; 1573-0972
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1016675924997

An attempt was made, for the first time, to exploit cultures on solidified substrates (SSC) as an alternative to submerged cultures (SmC) for growing extremophilic micro-organisms. The extreme thermophilic archaebacterium Sulfolobus acidocaldarius was grown on a number of carbon sources and, in all experiments, biomass yields and growth rates were always higher in SSC than in the corresponding SmC. Inoculum age significantly affected growth characteristics on both types of fermentation. Heavy growth of the micro-organism in SSC was observed on low-cost carbon sources such as starch. Wheat bran significantly enhanced growth characteristics when used to supplement starch media. The results of this work show that cultures on solid surfaces could be a promising alternative method for growing extreme thermophiles.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]