Spirochaeta americana

Taxobox
color = lightgrey
name = "Spirochaeta americana"
status =

---

image_width = 250px
domain = Bacteria
phylum = Spirochetes
classis = Spirochetes
ordo = Spirochaetales
familia = Spirochaeta
genus = "Spirochaeta"
species = "S. americana"
binomial = "Spirochaeta americana"
binomial_authority = Hoover, Pikuta and Bej 2003

"Spirochaeta americana" is a relatively newly-discoveredcite journal |last=Hoover |first=Richard B. |authorlink= |coauthors="et al." |year=2003 |month= |title="Spirochaeta americana" sp. nov., a new haloalkaliphilic, obligately anaerobic spirochaete isolated from soda Mono Lake in California |journal=International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology |volume=53 |issue= |pages=815–821 |doi=10.1099/ijs.0.02535-0 |url= |accessdate= |quote= ] single-celled extremophile. This haloalkaliphilic and obligately anaerobic bacteria can be found in the bleach-like highly alkaline, salty, deep waters of California's Mono Lake. [cite web |url=http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/30jul_monolake.htm |title=A New Form of Life |accessdate=2008-02-10 |work=Science@Nasa]

Physical characteristics

Like all Spirochaeta, "S. americana" has long helically-coiled cells, is gram-negative, and is chemotrophic in its metabolism. Spirochaeta also have unique flagella, sometimes called "axial filaments", which run lengthwise between the cell membrane and outer membrane. These cause a twisting motion which allows the spirochaete to move about. Despite the extreme environment that they require, "their cell walls are very delicate, and it is difficult to keep them alive for long periods in the laboratory," says Dr. Elena Pikuta, one of the discoverers of "S. americana".

Environment

"S. americana" thrives in the lake-bottom mud of Lake Mono, a 13 mile wide former monomictic volcanic basin which is fed by numerous small Sierra streams and which has no outflow except evaporation and Californian aqueducts, thereby continually increasing the concentration of salts and other minerals in its waters. Further mineral enrichment of these waters also occur due to the volcanically active area, such as when Negit Island erupted roughly 250 years ago. [cite web |url=http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/VolcanicPast/Places/volcanic_past_long_valley.html |title=America's Volcanic Past, Long Valley Vicinity, California |accessdate=2008-02-21 |work=Cascades Volcano Observatory]

Surviving in deep, salty, alkaline lake mud of Lake Mono, the extreme conditions in which "S. americana" thrive have prompted its discoverers to explore Antarctica's Lake Untersee, hopefully to discover similar species. [cite web |url=http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/07feb_cloroxlake.htm?list970856 |title=Extremophile Hunt Begins |accessdate=2008-02-10 |work=Science@Nasa Feature] [cite web |url=http://www.volcano.buffalo.edu:9090/VolcanoGroup/1131395721/index_html |title=Geomorphic Studies and Hazard Evaluation of Negit Island and Mammoth Mountain, Long Valley Caldera, California |accessdate=2008-02-21 |work=University at Buffalo - Volcano Studies Group]

Reproduction

"S. americana" reproduces via transverse binary fission, where the cytoplasm divides transversely between two sets of nuclei, forming two dissimilar individuals, as do other Spirochaeta. [cite web |url=http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2958.2004.04283.x/pdf |title=Bacterial cell division and the septal ring |accessdate=2008-02-21 |work=Molecular Microbiology - MicroReview (2004)]

Growth and Metabolism

This bacteria grows in environments of 10 to 44 degrees Celsius with optimal growth at 37 degrees and prefers a pH balance of 9.5, similar to that of baking soda, hand soap, or a solution of household bleach in water. [cite web |url=http://www.iupac.org/reports/provisional/abstract01/rondinini_prs.pdf |title=The Measurement of pH - Definition, Standards and Procedures |accessdate=2008-02-21 |work=Report of the Working Party on pH, IUPAC Provisional Recommendation]

"S. americana" is capable of metabolizing D-glucose, fructose, maltose, sucrose, starch and D-mannitol and has as its waste H₂, acetate, ethanol and formate.

References

External links

* [http://www.scienceagogo.com/news/20030630213230data_trunc_sys.shtml Science a gogo - New Species Of Organism Excites Astrobiologists]
* [http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/new_life_030731.html Space.com - New Life Form Found in Mars-Like Conditions]