Acetobacter pasteurianus strain AB0220: cultivability andphenotypic stability over 9 years of preservation

Acetobacter species are members of the a-subclassof Proteobacteria, which harbors a large number of bacteriarecalcitrant to cultivation. Strain AB0220 was isolatedfrom a superficial acetification system and preserved for9 years by short and long time methods. Under short timepreservation it was estimated that 540.54 number of generationsoccurred, whereas in long time preservation conditionsthe number of generations was 17.40. Ethanoloxidation to acetic acid was stable and confirmed, as wellas acetate assimilation during long time preservation.Cultivability checks showed persistence of phenotypictraits (growth on ethanol and methanol, growth on differentcarbon sources and cellulose production) over the extendedpreservation time. 16S rRNA gene sequences analysisshowed 100 % of similarity with A. pasteurianus (Accessionnumber GQ240636). Stability of subcultures related tothe culture age and subcultures frequency, tested by ERIC/PCR, confirmed the suitability of long term preservationat least over a period of 9 years.