Deinococcus geothermalis

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Deinococcus geothermalis

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Deinococcus-Thermus; Deinococci; Deinococcales; Deinococcaceae; Deinococcus

Species

Deinococcus geothermalis

Description and significance

Deinococcus geothermalis is a gram positive, thermophilic radiophile (1). It was isolated in hot springs in Naples, Italy and in Sao Pedro do Sul in Portugal. D. geothermalis propagates in a temperature range from 45 to 50 °C and a pH range from 4.5 to 8.5, experiencing optimal growth at 47 °C and a pH of 6.5. It forms spherical cells approximately 1.2 to 2.0 micro meters in diameter which amasses into orange-pigmented colonies (2). Deinococcus geothermalis is capable of reducing Fe (III)-nitrilotriacetic acid, U (VI), and Cr (VI). (1) It is these characteristics that support the potential development of this bacterium for bioremediation of radioactive waste (1).

Genome structure

The genome structure of Deinococcus geothermalis is made up of one circular chromosome (2,467,205 base pairs) and a plasmid (574,127 base pairs), producing a genome of 3,041,331 base pairs (4). Even being exposed to a radiation level of 50 Gy/h D. geothermalis is able to continue its metabolism (5), partly due to the extra copies of its DNA and repair mechanisms available to it (6).

Cell structure and metabolism

Deinococcus geothermalis is enveloped by a three-layered cytoplasmic membrane, which is enclosed by a cell wall that has a corrugated surface and an electron-dense inner layer (7).

Metabolic functions can be carried out with a variety of compounds such as, "casein, gelatin, hide powder azure, hippurate, arbutin, and starch," "D-cellobiose, D-trehalose, lactose, maltose, D-fructose, D-galactose, D-glucose, D-mannose, L-rhamnose, sucrose, Dxylose, D-mannitol, D-sorbitol, glycerol, L-asparagine, L-glutamate, L-glutamine, L-proline, L-serine, malate, pyruvate, and succinate," (7) depending on the specific strain in question.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

It forms biofilms on mechanical printing equipment, which can pose as a monetary detriment to the printing industry (8) and it has the potential to act as a form of bioremediation to radioactive wastes.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

N/A

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Bioremediation of radioactive waste (5).

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

1. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=169113 - "Engineering Deinococcus geothermalis for Bioremediation of High-Temperature Radioactive Waste Environments"

2. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=135001 - "Firm but Slippery Attachment of Deinococcus geothermalis"

3. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1595522 - "Characterization of Adhesion Threads of Deinococcus geothermalis as Type IV Pili"

References

1. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&rendertype=abstract&artid=169113 2. http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/9336890 3. https://www.cbs.dtu.dk/services/GenomeAtlas/versions/beta/show-genus.php?KLSO=ASC&KLSK=ORGANISMSORT&kingdom=Bacteria&KLphylaDeinococcusThermus=on&GLgenus=Deinococcus&GLSHWPLA=on&GLSHWMERG=on&GLspecies=geothermalis&GLsupStrain=DSM11300&GLsubStrain=DSM11300 4. http://www.genome.jp/kegg-bin/show_organism?org=dge 5. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=169113 6. http://www.microbeworld.org/know/radiation.aspx 7. Ferreira, A., Nobre, F., Rainey, F., Silva, M., Wait, R., Burghardt, J., Chung, A., Costa, M. "Deinococcus geothermalis sp. nov. and Deinococcus murrayi sp. nov.,Two Extremely Radiation-Resistant and Slightly Thermophilic Species from Hot Springs". International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 1997. Volume 47, No.4 8. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=135001

Edited by John-Minh Q. Nguyen, student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano