Growth, surface properties, production of lipase, histamine and some signal molecules (N-acyl-homoserine lactones, AHLs) in four Acinetobacter baumannii strains, in one Acinetobacter lwoffii and in one Acinetobacter haemolyticus strain cultivated in three complex media were studied. More intensive growth of bacterial suspensions was observed inMueller-Hinton broth and in brain heart infusion in comparison with growth in proteose peptone. Greater growth of bacterial strains (with the exception of A. haemolyticus) in these two media was associated with more significant surface hydrophobicity of bacteria manifested by their adherence to xylene. A higher level of lipase was found in all strains (with the exception of A. haemolyticus) after cultivation inMueller-Hinton broth. Composition of culture medium did not affect production of histamine. None of the studied strains in any medium tested produced short-chained unsubstituted AHLs that can be ones of the signal molecules shared with cell-to-cell communication.

        Key words: Acinetobacter spp. – growth medium – properties.