Acinetobacter baylyi is a bacterial species of the genus Acinetobacter. The species designation was given after the characterization of strains isolated from activated sludge in Victoria, Australia, in 2003.[1]A. baylyi is named after the late Dr. Ronald Bayly, an Australian microbiologist who contributed significantly to research on aromatic compound catabolism in diverse bacteria. The new species designation, in 2003, was found to apply to an already well-studied Acinetobacter strain known as ADP1 (previously known as BD413), a derivative of a soil isolate characterized in 1969.[2] For a long time, the taxonomy of Acinetobacter species was complicated by the lack of distinguishing traits. Strain ADP1 was long classified as Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and it was later referred to without a species name (Acinetobacter sp.) Research, particularly in the field of genetics and aromatic compound catabolism, established A. baylyi as a model organism.[3][4]
Acinetobacter baylyi is a nonmotile, gram-negativecoccobacillus. It grows under strictly aerobic conditions, is catalase-positive, nitrate-negative, oxidase-negative, and non-fermentative.[5][6] The species is naturally competent, meaning the bacteria can take up exogenous DNA from their surroundings. If there is sufficient sequence identity between the transforming DNA and the genome of the recipient, the foreign DNA will be integrated in the chromosome by allelic replacement.[7] The processes of natural transformation and homologous recombination are incredibly efficient in A. baylyi compared to all studied microbes, thus contributing to its experimental utility.[8] There are numerous biotechnology applications for A. baylyi, such as producing alternative fuel sources and chemicals, acting as a host for biosensors to monitor the presence of important compounds, and aiding in degradation of pollutants.[9][10][11]