Stenotrophomonas sp. exopolysaccharides produced during aerobic growth can reduce selenite to red elemental selenium

Different Stenotrophomonas sp. strains – namely SelTE02, B, T, A16, and AW - able to reduce selenite to elemental selenium in aerobic conditions were isolated from soil. Several Stenotrophomonas strains are reported in scientific literature to be able to produce EPS. In the present study, EPS production by the different Stenotrophomonas isolates at increasing selenite concentrations (i.e. 0.2, 0.5, and 2 mM respectively) was measured to evaluate the possible influence of this oxyanion on exopolysaccharide formation.