Neptunomonas

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Neptunomonas (Genus ) sample found inhabiting the gulf oil spill. Image provided by Masayuki Miyazaki/ International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology.

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Pseudomonadota; Gammaproteobacteria; Oceanospirillales; Oceanospirillaceae

NCBI: [1]

Genus

Neptunomonas

Description and Significance

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.

Appearance: The genus includes rod shaped (Bacillus) or slightly curved (vibrio) cells, with approximate sizes of 0.7–0.9 × 2.0–3.0 µm. Spherical (coccoid) body plans appear in older colonies, often associated with a loss of viability. They are capable of producing a capsid and are motile via a single flagellum. [1.]

Habitat: Often associated with historically polluted marine coastal sediment, such as the Puget sound (Washington, USA), the site of a wood treatment facility and the Mediterranean Sea (Milazzo Harbor, Italy), which has been impacted by municipal wastes.

In addition to these polluted sites, Neptunomonas is closely related (acting as endosymbionts) to the bone-eating polychaetes in the genus Osedax, which are inhabitants of whale carcasses within the deep sea. These endosymbionts are located within highly branched root tissues which burrow into the bones of these large carcasses, digesting them, releasing the organic carbon which can be used for nutrition. The specifics of this endosymbiosis is not fully known. [2.]

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.

Metabolism: This species can receive and use resources from a wide range of carbon sources for metabolic engineering. They are aerobically respiring organisms, with selectivity anaerobic capabilities. Oxidising strains are commonly associated with polluted coastal marine sediments. Additionally, this organism is closely related to the endosymbionts of the bone-eating polychaetes in the genus Osedax, occurring in root structures produced by Osedax which penetrate the whale bone. Location and enzyme activity suggest Neptunomonas aid in the digestion of bones for the polychaete, however it is unknown yet if the resulting molecules are used in metabolic processes for the micro-organism.

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.

1. Hedlund B.P. "Neptunomonas". Neptunomonas. 2015. pp. 1–6.

2. [https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-3-540-77587-4_127 Hedlund B.P. & Costa K.C. Neptunomonas. In: Timmis, K.N. (eds) Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.

Author

Page authored by Nathan Hicks, student of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.