Vibrio fischeri NEU2011

Classification Higher order taxa Domain; Phylum; Class; Order; family; genus; species

Vibrio fischeri Kingdom: Bacteria Phylum: Proteobacteria Class: Gamma Proteobacteria Order: Vibrionales Family: Vibrionaceae Genus: Vibrio Species: V. fischeri

[It is a type of Halophile meaning it’s optimum NaCl concentration is about 3%; for extreme halophiles, it is between 15 and 30%, depending on the organism. ](Pg 142; Figure 5.25 Brock Microbiology)

References Madigan M, Martinko J (editors) (2005). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (13th ed.). Prentice Hall.

Description and Significance of Vibrio Fischeri

Vibrio Fischeri is a member of the phylum proteobacteria. These bacteria are motile, gram-negative rods that are found in temperate and subtropical waters. These heterotrophic bacteria use flagella as a means of movement and they are most famous for their bioluminescence properties. V. Fischeri is mainly found living in symbiosis with various deep sea marine animals such as monocentrid fishes and bobtail squid. V. Fischeri is found within unique light-organs or as part of the normal gut of these marine animals. V. Fischeri can also be found living as free bacteria in small quantities surviving on decaying organic matter. V. Fischeri use proteins coded by a set of genes called the lux operon to produce bioluminescence. The light is produced in a chemical reaction where luciferin is oxidized by the enzyme luciferase. As a result of the oxidation, a blue-green light is emitted. The symbiotic relationship between a strain of the V. Fischeri and its host, the bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes, has been studied extensively. The bobtail squid acquires these bacteria from its surroundings and uses it as a protection from predators. Within several hours of being ingested, these bacteria begin to change. They decrease in size, lose their flagella, and begin to emit light. These bacteria help to eliminate the squid’s shadow caused by the moonlight above. The isolation and cloning of the lux gene from V. Fischeri, and their use as a reporter gene, have provided scientists with many valuable research techniques. The lux gene has enabled scientists to visually study and examine many living organisms at a cellular level. Likewise, V. Fischeri cells have been made commercially available to ecotoxicologists to detect contaminants in the environment more quickly and cheaper than most other available methods. References

Genome Structure of Vibrio Fisheri: Pilin namePilus gene locus* (kb)ClassPresence in other Vibrio spp.† Chr I    MshAVF0355-0371 (390)Type IVVc, Vp, Vv    PilTVF0431-0432 (460)Type IVVc, Vp, Vv    FlplAVF0510-0523 (550)Type IVBVp, Vv    PilA1VF0571-0572 (630)Type IVVc, Vp, Vv    PilAVF2184-2191 (2,400)Type IVVc, Vp, Vv    CsgAVF2405-2411 (2,700)CurliNone Chr II    PilA2VFA0148 (166)Type IVVc‡    Flp1VFA0217-0232 (240)Type IVBVp, Vv    TcpAVFA0865-0875 (980)Type IVBVc pES100    VirB2VFB38-44; 54-55 (26)ConjugativeNone

References http://www.pnas.org/content/102/8/3004.full

Section 1 Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.

Section 2 Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.

Section 3 Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.

Conclusion Overall paper length should be 3,000 words, with at least 3 figures.