Crocosphaera watsonii

Classification

Bacteria; Cyanobacteria; Oscillatoriophycideae; Chroococcales; Aphanothecaceae; Crocosphaera

Species

Crocosphaera watsonii

https://genome.jgi.doe.gov/portal/crowa/crowa.jpg

Description and Significance

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.

Crocosphaera watsonii is a diazotrophic marine cyanobacteria. They are found in warm water conditions where the water temperature is above 24 degrees Celcius. These cyanobacteria can be found offshore or in the open ocean.

They are about 2.5-6 µm in diameter.

Crocosphaera watsonii are unicellular nitrogen fixers that help turn nitrogen in the atmosphere into ammonia, restoring the circulation of nitrogen in the oceans.

Genome Structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?

Crocosphaera watsonii has six genomes with an average length of 5.885 Mbp.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Crocosphaera watsonii has a 35-hour doubling time.

In the warm parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Crocosphaera watsonii has been found to have cell densities of above 1000 cells per mililiter.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.

If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Author

Page authored by Ashleigh Wright, student of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.