| Thiomargarita namibiensis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Stained micrograph of Thiomargarita namibiensis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
| Class: | Gammaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Thiotrichales |
| Family: | Thiotrichaceae |
| Genus: | Thiomargarita |
| Species: | T. namibiensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thiomargarita namibiensis Schulz et al., 1999
| |
Thiomargarita namibiensis is a harmless, gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, coccoid bacterium found in the ocean sediments of the continental shelf of Namibia.[1] The genus name Thiomargarita means "sulfur pearl." This refers to the appearance of the cells as they contain microscopic sulfur granules that scatter incident light, lending the cell a pearly luster. This causes the cells to form chains, resembling strings of pearls.[2] The species name namibiensis means "of Namibia".[1]
It is the second largest bacterium ever discovered, at 0.1–0.3 mm (100–300 μm) in diameter on average, but can attain up to 0.75 mm (750 μm),[3][4] making it large enough to be visible to the naked eye. Thiomargarita namibiensis is nonpathogenic.
Thiomargarita namibiensis is categorized as a mesophile[5] because it prefers moderate temperatures, which typically range between 20-45 degrees Celsius. The organism shows neutrophilic characteristics by favoring environments with neutral pH levels like 6.5-7.5. This highlights the bacterium's unique strategies to maintain its survival and grow.[6]
- ^ a b "Giant Sulfur Bacteria Discovered off African Coast" (Press release). Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. 16 April 1999.
- ^ Schulz, H. N.; Brinkhoff, T.; Ferdelman, T. G.; Mariné, M. Hernández; Teske, A.; Jørgensen, B. B. (16 April 1999). "Dense Populations of a Giant Sulfur Bacterium in Namibian Shelf Sediments". Science. 284 (5413): 493–495. Bibcode:1999Sci...284..493S. doi:10.1126/science.284.5413.493. PMID 10205058.
- ^ "The largest Bacterium: Scientist discovers new bacterial life form off the African coast" (Press release). Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology. 8 April 1999. Archived from the original on 20 January 2010.
- ^ "Genus Thiomargarita". List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature.
- ^ Schulz, Heide N. (2006). "The Genus Thiomargarita". The Prokaryotes. pp. 1156–1163. doi:10.1007/0-387-30746-X_47. ISBN 978-0-387-25496-8.
- ^ Schulz, Heide N.; Jørgensen, Bo Barker (October 2001). "Big Bacteria". Annual Review of Microbiology. 55 (1): 105–137. doi:10.1146/annurev.micro.55.1.105. PMID 11544351.