Vibrio harveyi: Difference between revisions
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'''Metabolism:''' ''Vibrio harveyi'' is a heterotrophic, facultative anaerobic bacterium meaning it can swap between aerobic respiration and fermentation. This characteristic helps ''V. harveyi'' survive in low oxygen concentrations when enough fermentable material is present. | '''Metabolism:''' ''Vibrio harveyi'' is a heterotrophic, facultative anaerobic bacterium meaning it can swap between aerobic respiration and fermentation. This characteristic helps ''V. harveyi'' survive in low oxygen concentrations when enough fermentable material is present. | ||
:Bioluminecence is controlled by the | :Bioluminecence is controlled by the regulatory gene luxR in ''V. harveyi'' as well as density-sensing, quorum sensing, autoinducer signaling molecules. Expression occurs when the enzyme luciferace oxidizes an organic compound releasing free energy in the form of light! | ||
==Ecology== | ==Ecology== | ||
Revision as of 06:21, 2 May 2007
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Vibrio harveyi
Classification
Higher Order Taxa
- Kingdom: Bacteria
- Phylum: Proteobacteria
- Class: Gammaproteobacteria
- Order: Vibrionales
- Family: Vibrionaceae
Species
Vibrio harveyi
Synonyms: Lucibacterium harveyi, Beneckea harveyi, Achromobacter harveyi, Pseudomonas harveyi, Photobacterium harveyi, (Johnson and Shunk, 1936); Vibrio carchariae (Grimes, 1985); Vibrio trachuri, (Iwamoto, 1996)
Description and significance
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated. Include a picture or two (with sources) if you can find them.
Appearance: V. harveyi is curved rod shaped, Gram-negative, non-sporulating, and monotrichous (mobilized by a single polar flagellum). It also has the characteristic of bioluminesence.
Habitat: V. harveyi is found mainly in tropical marine environments including brackish water. V. harveyi is also found in symbiotic relationships with many marine organisms such as.....
Discovery: Johnson and Shunk 1936
Significance: Inter- and intra-bacterial communication, quorum sensing (Bassler). Sequencing of the genome would undoubtedly contribute to further understanding of this unique skill.
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? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?
- The Microbial Sequencing Center of the Institute for Genomic Research is currently doing shotgun seguence research for the HY01 strain of Vibrio harveyi. This research is in conjunction with a project to identify the genome sequence for 17 different Vibrio species enabling extensive comprehension of the Vibrio genus.
Cell structure and metabolism
Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Structure: Because V. harveyi is Gram-negative it has a cell wall that consists of two membranes: an outer membrane full of lipopolysaccharides and an inner cytoplasmic membrane. In between these is a periplasmic space housing a peptidoglycan layer.
Metabolism: Vibrio harveyi is a heterotrophic, facultative anaerobic bacterium meaning it can swap between aerobic respiration and fermentation. This characteristic helps V. harveyi survive in low oxygen concentrations when enough fermentable material is present.
- Bioluminecence is controlled by the regulatory gene luxR in V. harveyi as well as density-sensing, quorum sensing, autoinducer signaling molecules. Expression occurs when the enzyme luciferace oxidizes an organic compound releasing free energy in the form of light!
Ecology
Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.
Milky Sea: When large areas of open ocean water are filled with "V. harveyi living in association with colonies of the microalga Phaeocystis." For centuries mariners documented this strange instense glow coming from the ocean at night. Even Jules Verne wrote about it in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, describing the effect as "myriads of infusoria." The most famous and most referenced photograph of the milky sea effect was done at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute. Researcher Steve Haddock stated, "...that the light produced by the bacteria is actually blue, not white." Going on to say that the effect appears white because "the rods in our eye (used for night vision) don't discriminate color." [1]
Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
V. harveyi is a known cause of luminous vibrosis in comercially farmed marine invertebrates Going out with a glow. (as opposed to a bang)
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
- Miller, S.D., S.H.D. Haddock, C.D. Elvidge, T.F. Lee. (2005) Detection of a bioluminescent milky sea from space. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 102:14181-14184
Johnson and Shunk 1936
- Nealson, K.H. and J.W. Hastings (2006) Quorum sensing on a global scale: massive numbers of bioluminescent bacteria make milky seas Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72:2295-2297
Edited by Ryan Kendall of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano's Bacteriology class Spring 2007
