Nitrifying bacteria are key elements of the Nitrogen Cycle initiating the movement of fixed inorganic nitrogen (ammonia, NH3) to nitrate (NO3-) in a coupled two-step process. First, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria extract energy for growth solely from the oxidation of NH3 to nitrite (NO2-). Second, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria extract energy for growth from the oxidation of NO2- to NO3-.  The dynamics of coupled microbiological/ physical/chemical systems in the environment may be an important factor in elucidating the biogeochemical anthropogenic impact.  Understanding N transformation in unmanaged ecosystems, in wastewater treatment, and in soils amended with ammonia-based fertilizers, requires the thorough characterization of these organisms, singly, and while in the coupled two-step process. Here we present constraints-based genome-scale models of Nitrosomonas europaea , an ammonia oxidizing bacterium, andof Nitrobacter hamburgensis, a nitrite oxidizing bacterium. Our aim is to use these models to study the individual and coupled dynamics of these two important model bacteria.

Constraints-based modeling of the nitrifying bacteria <i>Nitrosomonas europaea</i> and <i>Nitrobacter hamburgensis</i>

245th National Meeting (2013)

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Constraints-based modeling of the nitrifying bacteria Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrobacter hamburgensis