Geothermobacter ehrlichii: Difference between revisions

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''Geothermobacter ehrlichii''gen.nov.,sp.nov.
''Geothermobacter ehrlichii'' gen.nov.,sp.nov.


==Description and Significance==
==Description and Significance==

Revision as of 19:28, 25 April 2010

Classification

Domain; Phylum; Class; Order; family [Others may be used. Use NCBI link to find]

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Geothermobacter ehrlichii gen.nov.,sp.nov.

Description and Significance

Geothermobacter ehrlichii is a Gram negative bacterium. It is shaped like a rod and is 1.2 to 1.5 µm in length and 0.5 µm in diameter. It does not form spores. This microorganism expresses a flagellum up to 6 µm long allowing it to be very motile. It also has pili all along its outer surface which are thought to aid it in biofilm interactions [1]. Geothermobacter literally means “a rod from hot earth” which seems to perfectly describe this microorganism for its capacity to live in temperatures up to 65°C. Geothermobacter ehrlichii was isolated from a hydrothermal chimney named Bag City. It is a strict anaerobe and its main metabolic process is reduction of Fe(III).

Genome Structure

The complete genome sequence of this novel bacterium is not yet available so very little is known about the size and content of the genome. Most of what is known about the DNA sequence of this bacterium is from isolated strain SS015 [2]. It has a 62.6% G+C content and phylogenetic analysis of its 16S rRNA has shown that it is most similar to other members of the family Geobacteraceae. Other interesting facts include resistance to antibiotics like trimethoprim and tetracycline.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Not much is known about the life cycle of Geothermobacter ehrlichii. Like most other members of the Geobacteraceae family it is thought to form biofilms around iron clusters which will be reduced. Pili are essential in the formation of these biofilms. Thanks to its flagellum, Geobacter ehrlichii is also known to be very motile helping it locate electron donors and acceptors around the hydrothermal vents.

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

(1) Kashefi, Kazem, Holmes, Dawn E., Baross, John A., Lovley, Derek R. "Thermophily in the Geobacteraceae: Geothermobacter ehrlichii gen. nov., sp. nov., a Novel Thermophilic Member of the Geobacteraceae from the "Bag City" Hydrothermal Vent". Applied Environmental Microbiology. 2003. Volume 69. p. 2985-2993.

Author

Page authored by Rhonda Sohocki and Carlos Salgado, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at Michigan State University.

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