1. Inductive effects of environmental concentration of atrazine on Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis.
- Author
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Koutsotoli AD, Dimou DS, Alamanos YP, and Maipa VE
- Subjects
- Colony Count, Microbial, Culture Media, Enterococcus faecalis growth & development, Enterococcus faecalis metabolism, Escherichia coli growth & development, Escherichia coli metabolism, Atrazine pharmacology, Enterococcus faecalis drug effects, Environmental Monitoring methods, Escherichia coli drug effects, Herbicides pharmacology, Water Microbiology, Water Pollution, Chemical
- Abstract
Atrazine solutions (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 microg/L) inoculated with Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis under natural conditions significantly increased (p < or = 0.05) the population levels of both test bacteria; it indicates the ability of bacterial cells to degrade atrazine and to use the original compound or its degradation products as nutrient(s). In some cases, alterations in the morphology of the colonies were also observed on selective solid media. Biochemical differentiation was also found and, on the other hand, a loss of culturability was recorded; this suggests that bacteria have entered in a viable but nonculturable state. A re-appearance of the colonies occurred after inoculation on tryptone-soy agar with atrazine.
- Published
- 2005
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