Researchers from the University of North Texas (UNT) recently presented data at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology from a study done in collaboration with Agricen.

Using molecular analysis techniques, the team identified a potentially novel bacterial species among the community of beneficial microorganisms from which Agricen derives its biochemical products. The previously unrecognized species appears to be related to a yet-to-be isolated bacterial group, known as the polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), which have the ability to remove excess phosphate from wastewater. This new finding may have the potential to improve wastewater purification processes, thereby helping to prevent deleterious plant and algal blooms caused by excessive phosphate in lakes or other bodies of water.

You can read the full abstract, “Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Uncultured Rhodocyclaceae Closely Related to the Phosphate Accumulating Bacteria,” here.