Isolation of a Deep-Sea Barophilic Bacterium and Some of Its Growth Characteristics

Abstract

A bacterium, a spirillum, has been isolated from a deep-sea sample and has been found to grow optimally at about 500 bars and 2 degrees to 4 degrees C. These conditions are similar to those prevailing at the 5700-meter depth from which the sample was collected. The organism grows at these pressures and temperatures with a generation time of between 4 and 13 hours; at atmospheric pressure and 2 degrees to 4 degrees C, the generation time is about 3 to 4 days.