Thermus aquaticus*: Difference between revisions

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
Line 11: Line 11:


==Description and significance==
==Description and significance==
Describe the disease caused by this organism if it is a pathogen, or the natural macroscopic "field guide" appearance and habitat of your organism if it is notWhat is or has been the impact your organism on human history or our environment?. How does it do this? How have we harnessed this power, or tried to prevent it? In other words, how do you know it if you see it, and how does its presence influence humans in the present, and historically?
Thermus Aquaticus is a typical gram negative bacteria, meaning that its cell walls contain much less peptidoglycan than their gram positive cousins, and unlike gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria contain lipoproteinsThermus Aquaticus appears as either a rod or short filaments, and the rod-shaped cells will tend to form either a rosette or a linear pattern [1]. When exposed to sunlight, Thermus can exhibit a yellow, pink, or red color due to pigments within the bacteria.  Along with the coloration, Thermus Aquaticus can either have flagella or be immotile.


==Genome structure==
==Genome structure==

Revision as of 20:52, 9 October 2007

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Thermus aquaticus*

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Deinococcus-Thermus; Deinococci; Thermales; Thermaceae

Species

Thermus Aquaticus

Description and significance

Thermus Aquaticus is a typical gram negative bacteria, meaning that its cell walls contain much less peptidoglycan than their gram positive cousins, and unlike gram positive bacteria, gram negative bacteria contain lipoproteins. Thermus Aquaticus appears as either a rod or short filaments, and the rod-shaped cells will tend to form either a rosette or a linear pattern [1]. When exposed to sunlight, Thermus can exhibit a yellow, pink, or red color due to pigments within the bacteria. Along with the coloration, Thermus Aquaticus can either have flagella or be immotile.

Genome structure

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

Cell structure, metabolism & life cycle

Provide a physical and biochemical description of the organism. What kind of organism is it, what does it look like, how is it built, what are its metabolic properties, how can it be identified, what is it's life cycle, &c. In other words, describe the organism from its perspective.

Ecology (including pathogenesis)

Describe its habitat, symbiosis, and contributions to environment. If it is a pathogen, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Describe virulence factors and patient symptoms.

Interesting feature

Describe in detail one particularly interesting aspect of your organism or it's affect on humans or the environment.

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 the NC State University MB 103 class of 2007.