Effects of bacterial prey species and their concentration on growth of the amoebae Acanthamoeba castellanii and Hartmannella vermiformis.

Two amoebae were presented with six bacterial prey at a range of concentrations, and the growth parameters of the amoebae were deduced. All but one bacterium (Synechococcus) resulted in a positive growth response, but the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus proved to be difficult to digest and the heavily pigmented bacterium Klebsiella ozaenae induced unusual amoebic behavior prior to ingestion.