A Bacillus subtilis culture incubated anaerobically in nitrate-containing medium lost viability during the first 3 days but recovered thereafter. A flavohemoglobin mutant showed very poor survival under these conditions unless the cells were prevented from carrying out nitrate respiration.
Department of Environmental and Biomolecular Systems, OGI School of Science and Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University, 20000 NW Walker Road, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA. mnakano@ebs.ogi.edu
