Download Background Factsheet: Microbes

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/
http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Microbial_Biorealm
http://cmore.soest.hawaii.edu/education/kidskorner/index.htm
Rhodoferax ferrireducens
The Proteobacteria are a major group (phylum) of bacteria. They include a wide variety of pathogens, such
as Escherichia, Salmonella, Vibrio, Helicobacter, and many other notable genera. Others are free-living, and
include many of the bacteria responsible for nitrogen fixation.Rhodoferax ferrireducensone have single polar
flagellum - Gram-negative cell during all of its growth phases. There was no phototrophic growth detected
but they can oxidize glucose to CO2 with Fe as the sole acceptor. It cannot grow on glucose in absence of Febut is able to convert energy from this type of metabolism to grow.
Potential use in microbial fuel cells (MFC) because this organism can not only oxidize carbohydrates, but
also other metabolic intermediates such as acetate, lactate, and pyruvate. Also novel because the layer of R
ferrireducens growing on the electrode is responsible for the voltage, not the microbe growing in the
solution.
Prochlorococcus marinus
Prochlorococcus is a genus of very small (0.6 µm) marine cyanobacteria with an unusual pigmentation
(chlorophyll b). These bacteria belong to the photosynthetic picoplankton and are probably the most
abundant photosynthetic organism on Earth. Microbes of the genus Prochlorococcus are among the major
primary producers in the ocean, responsible for at least 50% of atmospheric oxygen. The average genome
size is about 2000 genes. In contrast, eukaryotic algae have over 10,000 genes.
Dinoroseobacter shibae
One of the most abundant groups of bacteria in the world`s oceans and plays an important role for the
global carbon and sulfur cycle; it was isolated from toxic marine dinoflagellates and is able to
perform aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis. This aerobic anoxygenic phototroph was isolated from
cultivated marine dinoflagellates originally from the Bay of Tokyo. An interesting feature of this
species is its relatively strong pigmentation. Liquid cultures grown in the dark are distinctly pink,
while colonies on complex agar media are dark red. This coloration is due to a carotenoid pigment.
SAR 11 peligbactor
Pelagibacter ubique, is known to be one of smallest and simplest, self-replicating, and free living
cell; small, heterotrophic alphaproteobacteria, equaling to ~25% of all microbial plankton cells and
lives in a low nutrient habitat. has the smallest genome (1,308,759 bp) for any free living organism.
P. ubique has complete biosynthetic pathways for all 20 amino acids; has no duplicate gene copies,
no viral genes, and no junk DNA. It is an efficient microbe. It is dependent on organic matter. It
consumes the dead organic matter which is dissolved in the ocean water. Because the ocean is a vast
area, there is no drawback of overabundance or under abundance; it is known that ocean algae are
credited for most of photosynthetic oxygen.
Nitrosomonas
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Nitrosomonas is a genus comprising rod shaped chemoautotrophic bacteria.
This bacteria oxidizes ammonia into nitrite as a metabolic process. Nitrosomonas are useful in
treatment of industrial and sewage waste and in the process of bioremediation. They are important in
the nitrogen cycle by increasing the availability of nitrogen to plants while limiting carbon dioxide
fixation. The genus is found in soil, sewage, freshwater, and on building surfaces, especially in
polluted areas that contains high levels of nitrogen compounds.
The bacteria has power generating membranes, which form long, thin tubes inside the cell. These use
electrons from the oxidation of ammonia to produce energy. It obtains the carbon it requires from the
atmosphere via carbon fixation, which converts carbon in a gaseous form into carbon bound in
organic molecules. Unlike plants, which fix carbon into sugar through energy gained through the
process of photosynthesis. This microbe is photophobic, and will cover itself in slime or form clumps
with other microbes to avoid light.
Trichodesmium erythraeum
is a genus of cyanobacteria that is found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters with low nutrient levels. It
is known as "sea-sawdust" and accumulations of large blooms can lead to discoloration of the water and "red
tides". This genus is of great interest because it has been found to contribute over 40% of all nitrogen
fixation that occurs in the ocean. In addition, there has been evidence that Trichodesmium blooms can have a
toxic effect on invertebrates and humans. Although Trichodesmium blooms are a good source of newly fixed
carbon and nitrogen, they serve as a food source only for a selected group of copepods because others
organisms are deterred by a toxin produced by the blooms. In addition, T. erythraeum can cause harm to
other organisms through a variety of mechanisms besides toxin production. When blossoms of this
cyanobacteria decay, they cause the surrounding environment to become anoxic. The low oxygen conditions
resulting from bloom decay has been associated with the death of many larger marine organisms.
Trichodesmium blooms are thought to affect the amount of light that is able to reach lower levels of water
and the ability of gases and heat to be exchanged between the air and the ocean.
Trichodesumium erythraeum contain gas vesicles which can occupy up to 60-70% of the total cell volume.
These gas vesicles allow T. erythraeum an amount of buoyancy according to changes in the concentration of
carbohydrates within the cell.
Thermococcus gammatolerans
Thermococcus gammatolerans are not human or animal pathogens, but are strictly anaerobic
hyperthermophiles, naturally found in highly extreme environmental conditions of temperature, salinity,
pressure and acidity. This species was discovered on a hydrothermal vent off of the coast of California at a
depth of 2616 m, and thrives at 88 °C and a pH of 6.0, while withstanding temperature ranges of 55 to 95 °C.
It is the most radiation-resistant organism discovered to date, surviving in gamma radiation.
Found almost exclusively in hydrothermal vents, this anaerobic species can exist only in the extreme ranges
of temperature, pressure and pH of the deep sea chimney community (4). Thermococcus gammatolerans
grows heterotrophically, reducing elemental sulfur or cystine to hydrogen sulfide. Chemosynthetic bacteria,
like Thermococcus gammatolerans, form the basis of the hydrothermal vent biological community as
opposed to most ecological communities which depend on the energy from sunlight to provide chemical
energy for other organisms.
The most interesting feature of Thermococcus gammatolerans is their incredible resistance to gamma
radiation, the level of which could kill a human 6,000 times over. A human can be killed from exposure to 5
Gy, while Thermococcus gammatolerans can withstand 30,000 Gy. The mechanism of this resistance is not
fully understood as of yet, but it appears to be the result of proteins yet to be characterized rather than a large
number of known DNA repair enzymes.
Synechococcus
Autofluoresence seen using epifluoresence microscopy (right)
Synechococcus sp. are cyanobacteria, oxygenic phototrophs that can photolyze either H2O or H2S.
Synechococcus is the main source of primary production in oligotrophic, pelagic marine waters. They can
cause destructive blooms, producing neurotoxins. Their growth is generally limited however by the
concentration of nutrients and trace metals such as iron and phosphorus.
Cyanobacteria as a whole are distinguished form other eubacteria by their ability to carry out oxygenic
photosynthesis, closely resembling that of eukaryotic photoautotrophs. Cyanobacteria have phycobilins,
instead of these accessory chlorophylls, which absorb light over a much wider range of wavelengths.
Cyanobacteria, although viewed unkindly for their destructive blooms (often producing neurotoxins) and
oppressive stench, but thrive in nutrient-rich environments.
Synechococci are found either as solitary cells or in small clusters or pairs. They prefer neutral to slightly
alkaline pH and are motile organisms, yet have no flagella. They are a significant form of primary production
worldwide, although their contribution to primary production usually increases in oligotrophic environments,
and they are essential in supporting upper trophic levels. Synechococcus colonies are found only in salt
water, and contribute about 25% of primary production in pelagic waters. In both marine and freshwater
strains of Synechococcus growth and division are light-dependent, and operate on what can be called a
circadian rhythm.
Unknown C-DEBI MICROBE---- Unknown and unnamed from deep beneath the sea floor. 16s RNA
segment is partial, but clearly represents a new microbial species. Will be updated as microbes are fully
cultured, sequenced and named. http://www.darkenergybiosphere.org/