Halomonas titanicae
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Halomonas titanicae
Classification
Higher order taxa
Domain; Phylum; Class; Order; family [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Proteobacteria
Class: Gannaproteobacteria
Order: Oceanospirillales
Family: Halomandacae
Genus: Halomonas
Species: H. titanicae
Species
H. titanicaeNEUF2011
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Genus species
Description and significance
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.
Halomonas titanicae is a gram-negative, bacilli shaped bacterium from strain BH1T. It's 0.5–0.8×1.5–6.0 μm in size It’s a motile microorganism which moves by flagella, and it has a peritrichous appearance. It inhabits the ocean at depths near the ocean floors thus it is psychrophilic, thriving at low temperatures. This bacterium collects on the side of metal surfaces, and was discovered on the ship the RMS Titanic. This bacterium was isolated from porous structures of corrosive by-product called rusticles. Rusticles also house 27 other species bacteria.
H. titanicae is significant because it is capable of accelerating the speed of which metals are corroded. Scientists are now gaining more information in regards to its destructive power. In 1995, Scientist had thought the structure of the titanic would 30 more years, however, with this Bacterium’s destructive ability this expectancy could be less than expected. Although a tragedy to the titanic, this new bacterium can be utilized to recycle the metal on other sea wreaks sitting idle on the ocean floor. By studying the structure and capabilities of H. titanicae new paints and coatings can be created that will abate in preserving ships and prevent against their degradation.
Due to its environment this bacterium is difficult to grow under laboratory conditions. Further research on it is difficult because it's challenging to reproduce colonies in a setting other than its natural habitat.
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?
The genome size is 1453 base pairs (bp) and is linear. Due to of the high variability of the 16S rRNA gene it was amplified and analyzed to classify the bacterium as a Halomonas (its closest relative being H. neptunia). The C+G content of the strain that this bacterium is from has been found to be 60.0 mol%. This high C+G content enable the bacterium in being stable in the extreme environment it lives in.
Cell structure and metabolism
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
The Halomonas titanicae bacteria are gram-negative bacilli that are typically unpigmented or yellow tinted. It is an extreme halophile with peritrichous flagella for motility.
As a chemo-organotrophic organism its metabolism is respiratory and Catalase as well as Oxidase are produced. They ferment D-galactose, D-glucose and D-fructose. They are capable of anaerobic growth with the aid of glucose but in addition they are able to perform denitrification to gain energy through taking nitrate, but not nitrite, and converting it to nitrogen.
It is known as a "steel munching" bacteria because it metabolizes steel rust as with the Titanic. When the bacteria breaks down the rust it gains energy in the form of electrons from the degradation iron that is present.
Ecology
Habitat; symbiosis; contributions to the environment.
Halomonas titanicae inhabits a niche in the depths of the ocean where temperature is low and salt concentration is considerable. The family Halomonadaceae, that this bacterium belongs to, generally inhabits environments that are salty. H. Titanicae's optimal salt concentration is 2.0-8.0%. This bacterium clings to metal because that’s its main energy source. H. Titancae is valuable in destroying metal located in the ocean, removing and recycle unwanted ship wreaks, oil rigs and other metal sitting idle on the ocean floor by. Although other species bacteria are found in the rusticles with H.titanicae it is uncertain at this point if these organisms have a symbiotic relationship. Research is still being conducted to determine of other species in the rusticles contribute to the degradation of the metal as well.
Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
Current Research
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Cool Factor
Describe something you fing "cool" about this microbe.
References
Edited by student of Iris Keren
Sanchez-Porro, C., Kaur, B., Mann, H., Ventosa, A. (2010). "Halomonas titanicae sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from the RMS titanic." International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary microbiology 60(12): 2768-2774.
Liu, W., Wang, J., Yuan, M. (2010). "Halomonas aidingensis sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from Aiding salt lake in Xinjiang, China." Springer 99(3).
