Nitrosococcus

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A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Nitrosococcus

Nitrosococcus. Image from Soil Microbiology, Va Tech.

1 Classification
- 1.1 Higher order taxa:
- 1.2 Species:
2 Description and Significance
3 Cell Structure and Metabolism
4 Ecology
5 References

[edit] Classification

[edit] Higher order taxa:

Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Chromatiales; Chromatiaceae

[edit] Species:

Nitrosococcus oceani, N. halophilus, N. mobilis

NCBI: Taxonomy Genome

[edit] Description and Significance

Nitrosococcus is a small genus of marine, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. They are primarily found in brackish water environments, but recently strains were isolated in wastewater. A species of this bacteria were first isolated in 1965 and was called Nitrosocystis oceanus, which later changed to Nitrosococcus oceani, the name by which it is now known.

[edit] Cell Structure and Metabolism

Nitrosococcus's morphology is spherical or ellipsical, between 1.5-2.5 microns in diameter. Tufts of flagella located polarly allow for motility. They are Gram-negative and aerobically chemoautotrophic, growing with ammonia as the substrate and carbon dioxide as the main carbon source.

Overall Reaction: NH₄⁺ + 1 1/2 O₂ ----> NO₂^- + HOH + 2H⁺.
Under Anaerobic Conditions: NH₂OH --> NOH --> N₂O

Aquatic nitrogen cycle. Image from Alken-Murray Corp.

[edit] Ecology

Nitrosococcus has been isolated in oceans and other aquatic environments worldwide and plays an important role in the aquatic nitrogen cycle. By oxidizing ammonia, they convert organic waste to cardon dioxide and water.