Autotrophic assimilation of CO2 and C1-compounds by pathogenic bacteria.

We demonstrate for the first time that the pathogenic bacteria Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Listeria monocytogenes (pathogens of saprozoonoses) are capable of chemolithoautotrophic assimilation of CO2. Low temperature is favorable for better absorption of CO2 by these bacteria; this is supported by increased enzymatic activity of carbonic anhydrase acting as the supplier of the substrate to the site of carboxylation. Data of radioisotopic methods indicate that assimilated labeled carbon of CO2 is incorporated into all major cell biopolymers. The bacteria can utilize not only CO2, but also other C1-compounds for biosynthesis.