Expanded metabolic versatility of ubiquitous nitrite-oxidizing bacteria from the genus Nitrospira

Nitrospira are a diverse group of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria and among the environmentally most widespread nitrifiers. However, they remain scarcely studied and mostly uncultured. Based on genomic and experimental data from Nitrospira moscoviensis representing the ubiquitous Nitrospira lineage II, we identified ecophysiological traits that contribute to the ecological success of Nitrospira. Unexpectedly, N. moscoviensis possesses genes coding for a urease and cleaves urea to ammonia and CO2. Ureolysis was not observed yet in nitrite oxidizers and enables N. moscoviensis to supply ammonia oxidizers lacking urease with ammonia from urea, which is fully nitrified by this consortium through reciprocal feeding. The…

• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Award: SP-667/10-1
• VS
  Vienna Science and Technology Fund

  Award: LS09-40
• AS
  Austrian Science Fund

  Award: P25231-B21
• NO
  Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

  Award: 863.14.019
• ER
  European Research Council

  Award: 294343