SungTimon2.2

This student page has not been curated.

Classification

Kingdom- Bacteria; Phylum- Firmicutes; Class- Bacilli; Order- Bacillales; Family- Bacillaceae; Genus- Bacillus; Species- Bacillus Megaterium

Our Blast results were inconclusive. Bacillus Megaterium is the "best guess" narrowed down from our biochemical results and cellular and colonial characteristics in the lab**

Species

Genus species

Bacillus Megaterium

(Our second choice was Bacillus Cereus)

Habitat Information

The soil organism was isolated from a partially shaded front yard, underneath an oak tree, in Austin, TX on XXX. The air temperature was X, humidity X%, pressure X, solar radiation UV X. The grid coordinates from NRCS are XX.

Description and Significance

Describe the appearance (colonial and cellular), possible antimicrobial activity etc. of the organism, and

This organism is a gram positive, endospore forming, rod shaped bacteria. The colonial appearance is circular, smooth in the center, 'grainy' on the outside, slightly umbonate, and opaque with a golden appearance.

Kirby Bauer Antimicrobial results:

Strong Zone of Inhibition for linezolid, cefamandole, azlocillin, vancomycin, sufisozazole.

Weak Zone of Inhibition for oxacillin.

Disinfectant Sensitivity Results:

Strong Zone of Inhibition for clove, 10% lysol.

Weak Zone of Inhibition for tea tree oil, 100% bleach, and lavender.

B. megaterium is a significant organism because it can be used industrially as a commercial strain and expression host.

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? Include S Ribosomal sequence that you obtained from PCR and sequencing here.

The size and content of the genome are undetermined due to inconclusive Blast results. PCR and DNA sequencing did not yield an adequate sequence for organism identification. Therefore, our genome information is based off of a 'best guess' of what organism might be based on biochemical tests and staining results.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Interesting features of cell structure

B. megaterium is a rod shaped bacteria. Consistent with gram positive bacteria, its cell wall is composed of peptidoglycan.

how it gains energy

B. megaterium utilizes aerobic metabolism.

what important molecules it produces.

Physiology and Pathogenesis

Biochemical characteristics, enzymes made, other characteristics that may be used to identify the organism; contributions to environment (if any).
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Specifically, Bacillus Megaterium is a common bacteria found in soil, and is probably not pathogenic.

Various Biochemical Test Results:

phenol red

File:P3.jpeg

PEA

to use a 200 pixel wide rendition in a box in the left margin with "alt text" as description

NEGATIVE RESULTS INCLUDE: Starch Hydrolysis, Gelatin Hydrolysis, Methyl Red-Voges Proskauer, Citrate test, SIM (negative for sulfur reduction, indole production, nonmotile organism), nitrate reduction, Urea hydrolysis, Eosin methylene blue (no coliforms, lactose fermenters, no growth: meaning possible gram +), Hektoen Enteric (presumptive ID for Gram +), MacConkey Agar (Gram + evidence), Decarboxylation Test, Phenylalanine deaminase, and catalase.

POSITIVE RESULTS INCLUDE: Casein hydrolysis, DNA hydrolysis, Lipid hydrolysis, Triple sugar iron, oxidase, blood agar (beta- complete lysis of RBC), mannitol salt agar (weak positive), phenylethal alcohol, and bile esculin.

Interpretation of Results: Our bacteria is a gram positive organism that possesses the enzymes casease,DNase, ligase, fermentable enzymes, and cytochrome C oxidase. This organism can completely lyse red blood cells, and can weakly ferment mannitol.

References

http://www.eol.org/pages/974186/overview http://www.tgw1916.net/Bacillus/megaterium.html

[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.

[1] Malten, M., Biedendieck, R., Gamer, M., Drews, A.,Stammen, S., Buchholz, K.,Dijkhuizen, L., and Dieter, J. "A Bacillus megaterium Plasmid System for the Production, Export, and One-Step Purification of Affinity-Tagged Heterologous Levansucrase from Growth Medium". Appl Environ Microbiol.. 2006. Volume 72. p. 1677–1679.

Author

Page authored by Hsiang-Yuan Sung and Kaleen Timon, student of Prof. Kristine Hollingsworth at Austin Community College.