Natranaerobius thermophilus

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Classification

Domain: Bacteria

Phylum: Firmicutes

Class: Clostridia

Order: Natranaerobiales

Family: Natranaerobiaceae

Species

Natranaerobius thermophilus

NCBI Taxonomy ID: 59001

Description and Significance

Electron microscopy of N. thermophilus

First discovered and isolated in 2005, N. thermophilus was characterized as the first identified truly anaerobic, halophilic alkalithermophilic organism. The bacterium is a rod-shaped, non-motile, non-sporeforming bacteria. It is an obligate anerobe and Gram-positive. Its circular chromosome consists of 3,165,557-bp and has two significantly smaller plasmids (17,207 bp and 8,689 bp). Being a polyextremophile, it thrives in multiple extremes of the environment. The bacteria are obligate alkaphiles and obligate halophiles. As such, N. thermophilus has various growth optima. Its preferred temperature is 53°C, with a culturable temperature range of 30-57°C. Its pH optima is 9.5, with a range of pH 8.5-10.6, at 55°C. Optimal growth occurs with a salt concentration of around 3.3-3.9 M Na+ (range 1.5-4.9 M Na+).

Genome Structure

The genome of N. thermophilus was sequenced in 2011 and consists of one circular 3.16 mbp chromosome and two smaller plasmids, one being 17.2 kbp and the other 8.69 kbp. The G+C content of the whole genome was found to be 36.4%. Many genes were recognized that are believed to be associated with the bacteria's polyextremophile capabilities, such as various membrane transporters.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

The cell structure are straight to curved rods, 0.2-0.4 µm in diamtere, and 3-5 µm in length. Cells either aggregated into chains or were found singular and non-motile. Many of the extremophile capabilities of N. thermophilus are attributed to the membrane transport proteins, like Na+(K+)/H+ anitporters.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Original discovery of N. thermophilus was isolated from the sediment in an alkaline, hypersaline, Lake Fazda in Wadi An Natrun, Egypt, in 2005. At the time, the family, order, genus, and species identified were all novel lineages discovered.

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.

Natranaerobius thermophilus. I. V. Grigoriev, H. Nordberg, I. Shabalov, A. Aerts, M. et. al. Nucleic Acids Res 2011 0: gkr947v1-gkr947

Mesbah, Noha., Cook, Gregory., Wiegel, Juergen. "The halophilic alkalithermophile 'Natranaerobius thermophilus' adapts to multiple environmental extremes using a large repertoire of Na+(K+)/H+ antiporters". Molecular Microbiology. 2009. 74(2): 270-281.

Mesbah, Noha., Hedrick, David., Peacock, Aaron., Rohde, Manfred., Wiegel, Juergen. Natranaerobius thermophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a halophilic, alkalithermophilic bacterium from soda lakes of the Wadi An Natrun, Egypt, and proposal of Natranaerobiaceae fam. nov. and Natranaerobiales ord. nov.

Author

Page authored by Zach Geurin, Caroline Moon, and Mike Reitmeyer, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.

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