Alcanivorax: Difference between revisions
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==Description and Significance== | ==Description and Significance== | ||
Alcanivorax, first described in 1998, is a Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, oil-degrading marine bacterium that is found in low abundances in unpolluted environments, but quickly becomes the predominant microbes in oil-contaminated open oceans and coastal waters when nitrogen and phosphorus are not limiting. When conditions in these moderately halophilic environments are right, Alcanivorax may make up 80-90% of the oil-degrading microbial community. As a result of their profound ability to degrade and live predominately on alkanes, as well as to become the dominant microbes in oil-contaminated areas, Alcanivorax plays a huge role in the biological cleanup of oil-contaminated environments. These oil-contaminated environments in the ocean are largely due to anthropogenic sources such as oil spills caused by tankers accidents, and cause serious ecological damage to coastal fauna and flora as well as other inhabitants of the ocean. Microbes such as Alcanivorax provide a major route for the breakdown of these pollutants, and demonstrate how marine bacteria keep the environment in check. | Alcanivorax, first described in 1998, is a Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, oil-degrading marine bacterium that is found in low abundances in unpolluted environments, but quickly becomes the predominant microbes in oil-contaminated open oceans and coastal waters when nitrogen and phosphorus are not limiting. When conditions in these moderately halophilic environments are right, Alcanivorax may make up 80-90% of the oil-degrading microbial community. As a result of their profound ability to degrade and live predominately on alkanes, as well as to become the dominant microbes in oil-contaminated areas, Alcanivorax plays a huge role in the biological cleanup of oil-contaminated environments. These oil-contaminated environments in the ocean are largely due to anthropogenic sources such as oil spills caused by tankers accidents, and cause serious ecological damage to coastal fauna and flora as well as other inhabitants of the ocean. Microbes such as Alcanivorax provide a major route for the breakdown of these pollutants, and demonstrate how marine bacteria keep the environment in check. | ||
[[Image:PWS tanker oil spill.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Figure 1. Tanker Exxon Valdez supertanker grounded on Bligh Reef, spilling 11 million gallons of Alaskan North Slope crude oil into the pristine waters of Prince William Sound. This is the preferred habitat for Alcanivorax.]] | |||
==Genome Structure== | ==Genome Structure== |
Revision as of 19:46, 5 April 2008
Classification
Bacteria; Phylum: Proteobacteria; Class: Gammaproteobacteria; Order: Oceanospirillales; Family: Alcanivoracaceae
Species
NCBI: Taxonomy |
- Alcanivorax balearicum
- Alcanivorax borkumensis
- Alcanivorax dieselolei
- Alcanivorax indicus
- Alcanivorax jadensis
- Alcanivorax venustensis
Description and Significance
Alcanivorax, first described in 1998, is a Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, oil-degrading marine bacterium that is found in low abundances in unpolluted environments, but quickly becomes the predominant microbes in oil-contaminated open oceans and coastal waters when nitrogen and phosphorus are not limiting. When conditions in these moderately halophilic environments are right, Alcanivorax may make up 80-90% of the oil-degrading microbial community. As a result of their profound ability to degrade and live predominately on alkanes, as well as to become the dominant microbes in oil-contaminated areas, Alcanivorax plays a huge role in the biological cleanup of oil-contaminated environments. These oil-contaminated environments in the ocean are largely due to anthropogenic sources such as oil spills caused by tankers accidents, and cause serious ecological damage to coastal fauna and flora as well as other inhabitants of the ocean. Microbes such as Alcanivorax provide a major route for the breakdown of these pollutants, and demonstrate how marine bacteria keep the environment in check.
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?
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
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
[3] Lorenzo, Víctor De. "Blueprint of an Oil-eating Bacterium." Nature Biotechnology 24 (2006): 952-953.
Author
Page authored by Andrew Buss, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.