Desulfotalea psychrophila
Classification
Bacteria; Proteobacteria; Deltaproteobacteria; Desulfobacterales; Desulfobulbaceae
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Desulfotalea psychrophila
Description and Significance
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.
Desulfotalea psychrophila is a gram-negative sulfate-reducing proteobacterium that is circular in shape and composed of a single chromosome approximately 3.5 million base pairs in length. The chromosome consists of two small plasmids and roughly 3100 predicted genes. The delta-proteobacterium is a marine organism which can be found in marine sediments that are permanently cold. This organism was first discovered in arctic marine sediment off the coast of Svalbard. Desulfotalea psychrophila can withstand extremely cold temperatures and can live in waters below 0°C. D. psychrophila has very little in common with other sulfate-reducing bacteria. A photograph taken of the bacteria with an electron microscope reveals an imperfect rod shape in appearance. The organism breaks down sulfur as suggested by its name. D. psychrophila is believed to play an important role in energy cycles, as it is an abundant member of the microbial community. The bacterium plays an important role in energy cycles by contributing to global carbon and sulfur cycles.
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.
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.
References
Author
Page authored by _____, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.
