Arthrobacter globiformis

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteridae; Actinomycetales; Micrococcineae; Micrococcaceae [1]

Species

NCBI: [2]

Arthrobacter globiformis

Description and significance

Arthrobacters are bacteria that are typically found in soil, but are widely distributed in the environment. Arthrobacter globiformis is found in soil. Arthrobacter means “jointed small stick” in Greek. All Artrhobacter species are rods during growth and cocci in their stationary phase. Also, all Arthrobacter are gram-positive, but A. globifomris is gram-negative during exponential growth and gram-positive in its stationary phase. Conn and Dimmick (1947) introduced the genus name Arthrobacter, which was revived from an old name that was proposed by Fischer. Conn and Dimmick classified three species in the genus Arthrobacter and one of the species was A. globiformis. Now there are 64 species. <ref> Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology (1)

globiformis is nonmotile. Its colonies on yeast media have no distinctive pigmentation. A. globiformis uses ammonium salt or nitrate as a sole nitrogen source as well as glucose as a carbon and energy source.Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology (1)

(Ex. Arthrobacter)

Genome and genetics

a. To what major branch of the prokaryotes do they belong? (see textbook or Bergey’s). List 2-3 closely related but separate species or genera of bacteria.

b. Briefly describe any extra-chromosomal elements or genetic tools that are used to study the bacterium: viruses, plasmids, transposons that allow genetic manipulation and analysis.

c. Has the genome or genomes been sequenced? If so, include the website for the database and one or two highlights of the genome. Also indicate genome size (base pairs), %G+C (nucleotide base composition) and number of genes, and specific genes or gene regions that are unique to this organism. If it has not been sequenced, give its closest relative that has been sequenced, its website, and some general information about the related sequence.

Example: The sequence of Haemophilus influenzae was determined using whole genome shotgun sequencing (Fleischmann et al. 1995).

Nutrition and metabolism

a.Describe the growth characteristics of your bacterial species; sources of C, N, electrons; respires/ferments, uses O2, etc.

b.What kinds of culture conditions (temp, pH, media) are needed for laboratory study?

c.What kinds of waste, by-products, volatile compounds are generated?

Ecology / Pathology

Ecology: How is your microorganism important in the ecosystem where it is found? How does it impact other organisms in the environment (could be positive or negative impact)?

Pathology: How does the microbe cause disease as it interacts with the host? Describe any specific toxins or pathways that are used for invading and causing disease in the host. What treatment is used to inhibit or kill the microbe?

Current Research

Describe recent research and findings that have been done with this organism. The research can be clinical, applied or basic research. This section should be based on 2 recent papers (10 years or less) and summarized in your own words.

References

1. Goodfellow M, Whitman WB. Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology . Family Micrococcaceae. 2012;5:576–600.

Authored by CYM, a student of CJ Funk at John Brown University