Acetobacterium woodii
Classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Firmicutes
Order: Clostridiales
Family: Eubacteriaceae
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Acetobacterium woodii
Isolated from black sediment of Oyster Pond inlet, Woods Hole, MA, USA. Named in honor of Harland G. Wood – An American Biochemist who pioneered studies which proved animals, humans, and bacteria use carbon dioxide in their metabolism. Wood studies proved that carbon dioxide can be used for the complete synthesis of acetate in bacteria.
Description and Significance
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.
Acetobacterium woodii is an anaerobic gram-positive rod-shaped acetogenic bacterium. Motility attributed to one or two flagella.
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?
Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle
Interesting features of cell structure; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Grows optimally at 30 degree C under 100% Nitrogen gas. H2 is oxidized and CO2 is reduced to form acetate 2 CO2 + 4 H2 -> CH3COOH + 2 H2O
Ecology and Pathogenesis
Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
Acetobacterium woodii is present in ruminant animals and hindgut fermentation chambers of many organisms. Examples of some animals that benefit from its presence are: cattle, goats, sheep, buffalo, termites, scarab beetles, cockroaches, and crickets. These hosts benefit from the production of acetate which supplements their nutrition.
Symbiosis with methanogens in rumen/hindgut? Acetogenesis dominate in many species of termites over methanogenesis Not pathogenic to humans
References
Author
Page authored by _____, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at IndianaUniversity.
