Thiomargarita namibiensis: Difference between revisions
imported>SanaRizvi786 |
imported>Meg Taylor No edit summary |
||
(8 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | |||
{{Taxobox | |||
| color = pink | |||
| name = <center>''Thiomargarita namibiensis''</center> | |||
| domain = Bacteria | |||
| phylum = Proteobacteria | |||
| classis = Gamma Proteobacteria | |||
| order = Thiotrichales | |||
| familia = Thiotrichacea | |||
| genus = Thiomargarita | |||
| species = T. namibiensis | |||
| binomial = <center>''Thiomargarita namibiensis''</center> | |||
}} | |||
==Description and significance== | |||
'''''Thiomargarita namibiensis''''' also referred to as the “Sulfur pearl of Namibia,” is the largest bacterium known to mankind thus far.<ref>[http://www.accessexcellence.org/WN/SUA12/marg499.php Sean Henahan, 'Giant Bacteria Discovered', ''Access Excellence'']</ref> ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' is referred to as the sulfur pearl of Namibia because it looks like a large pearl made out of white globules of sulfur and was found off the coast of Namibia.<ref>[http://web.mst.edu/~microbio/BIO221_2005/T_namibiensis.htm Brandie Amsden, ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'']</ref> Shortly after its discovery in 1999 ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' was said to be generally 0.1 - 0.3 mm wide with exception of a few which reach up to a size of 1.0 mm. ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' is said to be 3 million times the volume of a normal bacterium cell.<ref>[http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/19990318191806data_trunc_sys.shtml 'New Bacterial Life Form Discovered', ''Sci Gogo'']</ref> | |||
==Genome structure== | |||
Once discovered scientist were able to place ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' in to the phylogenetic tree were they concluded that ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' is closely related to the bacterial genera Triploca and Beggiatoa because of the high sulfur environment it is able to survive in. ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' is from the family of bacteria known as Thiotrichaceae.<ref>[http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Thiomargarita 'Thiomargarita', ''MicrobeWiki'']</ref> | |||
==Cell structure and metabolism== | |||
''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' is a chemolithotroph, which means that it obtains its electrons required for the electron transport chain from nitrates rather then organic molecules. The sulfur granules found in the cytoplasm of this organism is due to the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in to sulfur. ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' is a non-motile organism, due to this it must wait for its nitrate supply and store it for long periods of time. The cytoplasm of ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' lines the cell membrane, giving the bacterium the flexibility to diffuse the nitrate from its surroundings. ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' contains a large vacuole which is 80% of its size in its cytoplasm for the shortage of nitrates and can survive three months at a time if nitrate supply is low in its environment. | |||
==Ecology== | |||
''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' is found in sulfur-rich sediments in the ocean off the shore of Namibia. These bacteria play a essential role in there environment by oxidizing sulfur, and removing toxic gases from the water allowing it to be suitable for other marine organisms. ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' also prefers to be in an anaerobic environment, resulting in it's habitant being close to phytoplankton.<ref>[http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewImage.do?id=5667&aid=2497 Carl Wirsen, 'Is Life Thriving Deep Beneath the Seafloor?: Recent discoveries hint at a potentially huge and diverse subsurface biosphere', ''Oceanus'', Vol. 42, No. 2, Apr. 2004]</ref> | |||
==Pathology== | |||
As of current day research ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' is not known to be a pathogenic bacterium. | |||
==Application to biotechnology== | |||
''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' is not currently being utilized in biotechnology. ''Thiomargarita namibiensis'' can contribute greatly to biotechnology by becoming a tool in releasing stored phosphorus in sediments, and also in releasing sulfur from landfill gases. | |||
==Current Research== | ==Current Research== | ||
'''Heide N. Schulz and Horst D. Schulz ''Large Sulfur Bacteria and the Formation of Phosphorite''''' | |||
This paper reports on the biotechnical use of ''Thiomarigarita namibiensis''. The paper entails the ability of ''Thiomarigarita namibiensis'' in releasing phosphorus in to its surrounding environment. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient which remains deposited in the marine sediments. The presence of ''Thiomarigarita namibiensis'' in the marine waters of Namibian may account for abundance of apatite in that environment. Later studies showed that under laboratory experimentation in anoxic conditions, ''Thiomarigarita namibiensis'' released large amounts of phosphate which can be correlated to the large amount of hydroxyapatite observed by the researchers in the sediments on the Namibian marine shelf.<ref>[http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/307/5708/416 'Large Sulfur Bacteria and the Formation of Phosphorite', ''Science'' 21 January 2005: Vol. 307 no. 5708 pp. 416-418 DOI: 10.1126/science.1103096]</ref><ref>[http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2006-06/1151465295.Mi.r.html Stephanie Shaw, 'How does the Thiomargarita namibiensis bacteria die?', ''MadSci'', ID: 1150082075.Mi]</ref> | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} |
Latest revision as of 05:33, 28 November 2013
![](http://s9.addthis.com/button1-share.gif)
Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||
Binomial name | ||||||||||||
Description and significance
Thiomargarita namibiensis also referred to as the “Sulfur pearl of Namibia,” is the largest bacterium known to mankind thus far.[1] Thiomargarita namibiensis is referred to as the sulfur pearl of Namibia because it looks like a large pearl made out of white globules of sulfur and was found off the coast of Namibia.[2] Shortly after its discovery in 1999 Thiomargarita namibiensis was said to be generally 0.1 - 0.3 mm wide with exception of a few which reach up to a size of 1.0 mm. Thiomargarita namibiensis is said to be 3 million times the volume of a normal bacterium cell.[3]
Genome structure
Once discovered scientist were able to place Thiomargarita namibiensis in to the phylogenetic tree were they concluded that Thiomargarita namibiensis is closely related to the bacterial genera Triploca and Beggiatoa because of the high sulfur environment it is able to survive in. Thiomargarita namibiensis is from the family of bacteria known as Thiotrichaceae.[4]
Cell structure and metabolism
Thiomargarita namibiensis is a chemolithotroph, which means that it obtains its electrons required for the electron transport chain from nitrates rather then organic molecules. The sulfur granules found in the cytoplasm of this organism is due to the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in to sulfur. Thiomargarita namibiensis is a non-motile organism, due to this it must wait for its nitrate supply and store it for long periods of time. The cytoplasm of Thiomargarita namibiensis lines the cell membrane, giving the bacterium the flexibility to diffuse the nitrate from its surroundings. Thiomargarita namibiensis contains a large vacuole which is 80% of its size in its cytoplasm for the shortage of nitrates and can survive three months at a time if nitrate supply is low in its environment.
Ecology
Thiomargarita namibiensis is found in sulfur-rich sediments in the ocean off the shore of Namibia. These bacteria play a essential role in there environment by oxidizing sulfur, and removing toxic gases from the water allowing it to be suitable for other marine organisms. Thiomargarita namibiensis also prefers to be in an anaerobic environment, resulting in it's habitant being close to phytoplankton.[5]
Pathology
As of current day research Thiomargarita namibiensis is not known to be a pathogenic bacterium.
Application to biotechnology
Thiomargarita namibiensis is not currently being utilized in biotechnology. Thiomargarita namibiensis can contribute greatly to biotechnology by becoming a tool in releasing stored phosphorus in sediments, and also in releasing sulfur from landfill gases.
Current Research
Heide N. Schulz and Horst D. Schulz Large Sulfur Bacteria and the Formation of Phosphorite
This paper reports on the biotechnical use of Thiomarigarita namibiensis. The paper entails the ability of Thiomarigarita namibiensis in releasing phosphorus in to its surrounding environment. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient which remains deposited in the marine sediments. The presence of Thiomarigarita namibiensis in the marine waters of Namibian may account for abundance of apatite in that environment. Later studies showed that under laboratory experimentation in anoxic conditions, Thiomarigarita namibiensis released large amounts of phosphate which can be correlated to the large amount of hydroxyapatite observed by the researchers in the sediments on the Namibian marine shelf.[6][7]
References
- ↑ Sean Henahan, 'Giant Bacteria Discovered', Access Excellence
- ↑ Brandie Amsden, Thiomargarita namibiensis
- ↑ 'New Bacterial Life Form Discovered', Sci Gogo
- ↑ 'Thiomargarita', MicrobeWiki
- ↑ Carl Wirsen, 'Is Life Thriving Deep Beneath the Seafloor?: Recent discoveries hint at a potentially huge and diverse subsurface biosphere', Oceanus, Vol. 42, No. 2, Apr. 2004
- ↑ 'Large Sulfur Bacteria and the Formation of Phosphorite', Science 21 January 2005: Vol. 307 no. 5708 pp. 416-418 DOI: 10.1126/science.1103096
- ↑ Stephanie Shaw, 'How does the Thiomargarita namibiensis bacteria die?', MadSci, ID: 1150082075.Mi