Thermos Thermophilus

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Thermos Thermophilus

Classification

Higher order taxa

Higher order taxa: Bacteria (Domain): Deinococcus-Thermus (Phylum): Deinococci (Class): Thermales (Order): Thermacaea (Family): Thermus (Genus) [1] link to find]

Species

Thermophilus (Species): Strain (HB27, HB8)

NCBI: Taxonomy

Genus species

Description and significance

Thermus Thermophilus is a Gram-negative bacterium that was isolated in 1971, Japan. They spawn in thermal spring ranging from 50-82C. The biological machines from these organisms have a higher stability than other organisms due to the environment that they have to live in. In general, thermophiles are anaerobes that can live in hot environment with low oxygen solubility due to the temperature with the exception of thermus, they are aerobic chemorganotroph. Thermus Thermophilus contains two strains, HB8 and HB27; both were found in Japan’s thermal environment with optimum environment 68C and the pH 7.0. The HB8 strain can live in either anaerobe and aerobe; where as the HB27 can only strive in aerobe environment. HB8 survive anaerobeically in the presence of nitrate through nitrate reductase production. However the HB27 was unable to growth in the same environment as the HB8 due to the inability to produce nitrate reductase.

Thermus Thermophilus micrograph showing T. thermophilus cells. A curtesy from MPIMG

Genome structure

The Thermus Thermophilus bacterium contain Circular DNA and a megaplasmid. The DNA has 1,894,877 base pair where 1476627 base pair (69.40%) are G+C content. The high percentage of G+C content allow the bacterium to strive in extreme thermo environment where it's own genetic information would not be denatured by the surrounding environment. Also, the megaplasmid contain 232,605 nucleotides with 69% G+C content. In addition, it contained a total of 2210 protein encoding genes and 53 RNA genes. (2)

NCBI: Genome structure

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology

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

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