Haloferax volcanii
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Haloferax volcanii
Classification
Higher Order Taxa
Domain: Archaea
Phylum: Euryarchaeota
Class: Halobacteria
Order: Halobacteriales
Family: Halobacteriaceae
Genus: Haloferax
Species
Taxonomy of Haloferax volcanii
Description and significance
Haloferax volcanii (formerly Halobacterium volcanii) was first identified by microbiologist Benjamin Elazari Volcani, for whom the species is named [1]. It is a moderate halophile and a mesophile, and can be found in the Dead Sea, a salt lake in Israel. Members of H. volcanii are pleotropic, and may appear in a variety of shapes, including disk-like and cup-like forms.
Describe the disease caused by this organism if it is a pathogen, or the natural macroscopic "field guide" appearance and habitat of your organism if it is not. What is or has been the impact your organism on human history or our environment?. How does it do this? How have we harnessed this power, or tried to prevent it? In other words, how do you know it if you see it, and how does its presence influence humans in the present, and historically?
Genome structure
Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes and plasmids? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?
Cell structure, metabolism & life cycle
Provide a physical and biochemical description of the organism. What kind of organism is it, what does it look like, how is it built, what are its metabolic properties, how can it be identified, what is it's life cycle, &c. In other words, describe the organism from its perspective.
Ecology (including pathogenesis)
Describe its habitat, symbiosis, and contributions to environment. If it is a pathogen, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Describe virulence factors and patient symptoms.
Interesting feature
Describe in detail one particularly interesting aspect of your organism or it's affect on humans or the environment.
