Flavobacterium marinum
Flavobacterium marinum
Ecology
The genus Flavobacterium is found in a variety of environments, including soil, fresh and saline acquatic systems, and arctic. The microbe Flavobacterium marinum was first isolated in a saltwater sample from the Indian Ocean (49°39′18′′ E 37°47′22′′ S), collected at a depth of 800m.
Cell Structure and Metabolism
Single Cell Morphology
Flavobacterium marinum has a gram negative, rod shaped morphology. Cells are often found in singlets or pairs, and are not capable of gliding motility. Each cell is approximately 0.5µm in diameter and 1.5µm in length. The cells were not found to form endospore or capsule structures.
While the optimum temperature for growth is 35°C, Flavobacterium marinum is tolerant of temperatures between 15°C and 45°C. The optimal pH for growth is close to neutral conditions at 7.0-7.5; however, F. marinum has been cultured between pH values of 5.5-8.5. NaCl at a 1.0%-1.5% (w/v) are also optimal conditions for F. marinum, but cultures can be obtained within the range of 0-5% (w/v)
Colonial Morphology
Aggregate colonies of Flavobacterium marinum appear as yellow, semiopaque structures, with a diameter measuring 1.5mm-2.0mm.
Metabolic Activity
F. marinum has been cultured successfully on LB (Luria-Bertani) broth, trypticase soy agar, as well as marine and nutrient agars.
Phylogeny
Genome Structure
Metabolism
References
Authors
Original page and amendments were created by Andrew Fischer and Torrin McDonald, both students in Prof. Ned Walker's Microbial Ecology course at Michigan State University.