Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans: Difference between revisions
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==Description and significance== | ==Description and significance== | ||
''Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans'' (''Ca. B. anammoxidans'') are aquatic autotrophs best known for their unique ability to anarobically oxidize ammonia to dinitrogen gas, a reaction otherwise known as the “anammox” process (5). The bacteria were first discovered in a wastewater treatment plant from a yeast factory in the Netherlands. It was observed that ammonia and nitrate concentrations dropped while dinitrogen gas was produced in airtight reactors; ''Ca. B. anammoxidans'' were subsequently held responsible for the reaction. The bacteria were isolated from enrichment cultures by density centrifugation and have received ample attention from ecologists who suspect the bacteria’s participation in consuming substantial amounts of nitrogen in the ocean, and from researchers who see the bacteria’s metabolism as a potential in revolutionizing wastewater treatment (3, 8). These microbes are no bigger than one micron in diameter and grow optimally in a pH range of 6.4-8.3 and in a temperature range of 20-43 <sup>o</sup>C (6, 9). The bacteria is named as such, as ''Candidatus'' indicates an uncultureable yet well-characterized organism, ''Brocadia'' refers to the Gist-Brocades, the place of its discovery, and ''anammoxidans'' describes the process of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (3, 10). | |||
==Genome structure== | ==Genome structure== |
Revision as of 03:36, 29 August 2007
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans
Classification
Higher order taxa
Bacteria; Planctomycetes; Planctomycetacia; Planctomycetales; Candidatus Brocadia
Species
Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans |
Description and significance
Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans (Ca. B. anammoxidans) are aquatic autotrophs best known for their unique ability to anarobically oxidize ammonia to dinitrogen gas, a reaction otherwise known as the “anammox” process (5). The bacteria were first discovered in a wastewater treatment plant from a yeast factory in the Netherlands. It was observed that ammonia and nitrate concentrations dropped while dinitrogen gas was produced in airtight reactors; Ca. B. anammoxidans were subsequently held responsible for the reaction. The bacteria were isolated from enrichment cultures by density centrifugation and have received ample attention from ecologists who suspect the bacteria’s participation in consuming substantial amounts of nitrogen in the ocean, and from researchers who see the bacteria’s metabolism as a potential in revolutionizing wastewater treatment (3, 8). These microbes are no bigger than one micron in diameter and grow optimally in a pH range of 6.4-8.3 and in a temperature range of 20-43 oC (6, 9). The bacteria is named as such, as Candidatus indicates an uncultureable yet well-characterized organism, Brocadia refers to the Gist-Brocades, the place of its discovery, and anammoxidans describes the process of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (3, 10).
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? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?
Cell structure and metabolism
Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.
Ecology
Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.
Pathology
How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.
Application to Biotechnology
Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?
Current Research
Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required
References
Edited by Daniel Calaguas, student of Rachel Larsen