Thioploca araucae

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Thioploca araucae

Classification

Cellular Organisms; Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Gammaproteobacteria; Thiotrichales; Thiotrichaceae; Thioploca; Thioploca araucae

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Thioploca araucae

Description and significance

Thioploca araucae is a filamentous sulfur-oxidizing bacterium. It is typically found in bacterial mats in sediment layers at the bottom of the ocean. Thioploca has been found off the coast of Chile and Namibia, as well as in freshwater areas in Japan.

Genome structure

The genome is currently being sequenced by the J Craig Venter Institute.

Cell structure and metabolism

nitrate principal electron acceptor

link the sulfur and nitrogen cycles

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Thioploca cells form filaments that cling to each other and secrete an encompassing sheath of mucous film. The sheath serves as a kind of vertical tunnel through the sediment up to the overlying water, allowing the Thioploca filaments to glide up and down and thereby commute between their food source and the nitrate they need to metabolize it.

Pathology

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

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

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.

Edited by student of Rachel Larsen

Bo Barker Jørgensen, Victor A Gallardo (1999) Thioploca spp.: filamentous sulfur bacteria with nitrate vacuoles FEMS Microbiology Ecology 28 (4), 301–313.

Nitrogen, Carbon, and Sulfur Metabolism in Natural Thioploca Samples

Vertical Migration in the Sediment-Dwelling Sulfur Bacteria Thioploca spp. in Overcoming Diffusion Limitations MARKUS HUETTEL,* STEFAN FORSTER, SUSANNE KLO¨ SER, AND HENRIK FOSSING Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, 28359 Bremen, Germany

Population study of the filamentous sulfur bacteria Thioploca spp. off the Bay of Concepcion, Chile Heide N. Schulzl~*B, ettina Strotmannl, Victor A. Gallardo2, Bo B. ~ergensen' 'Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1.28359 Bremen, Germany

Maier S & Gallardo VA (1984) Maier, S., and Gallardo, V.A. "Thioploca araucae sp. nov. and Thioploca chileae sp. nov." Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. (1984) 34:414-418. [No PubMed record available.]