Magnetococcus marinus MC-1

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Classification

Bacteria (Domain); Proteobacteria (Phylum); Alphaproteobacteria (Class); Magnetococcales (Order); Magnetococcaceae (family)

Species

Magnetococcus marinus MC-1

Description and Significance

Magnetotactic bacteria are morphologically, metabolically, and phylogenetically varying, but all have the ability to produce magnetosomes, which are biomineralized membrane-encased crystals of magnetite or greigite (Ji et al., 2017). MC-1 is a strain of Magnetococcus marinus, a magnetotactic coccus that is often found at the oxic-anoxic interface of bodies of water. MC-1 was first isolated from the oxic-anoxic interface of the Pettaquamscutt Estuary in Rhode Island, USA (Bazylinski et al., 2013).

Magnetotactic cocci are ubiquitous in freshwater, marine water, and mud samples from natural habitats. They are the most commonly encountered magnetotactic bacteria. Magnetococcus marinus are Gram negative, coccoid to ovoid in shape, and 1-2 micrometers in diameters.They are bilophotrichous, having two bundles of flagella on one side of the cell. Each cell contains magnetosomes, typically arranged in a linear chain inside the cytoplasm (Bazylinski et al., 2013).

As well as being ubiquitous in most water environments and being the most commonly encountered magnetotactic bacteria, Magnetococcus marinus has been tested in clinical studies for its potential use in drug delivery within tumors.

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

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Author

Page authored by _____, student of Prof. Jay Lennon at IndianaUniversity.