Bacillus megaterium

This article is currently being developed as part of an Eduzendium student project. If you are not involved with this project, please refrain from collaboratively developing it until this notice is removed. Articles that lack this notice, including many Eduzendium ones, welcome your collaboration!

Classification

Here is a top-view image of a plate streaked with Bacillus Megaterium and incubated at room temperature for 24 hours.

http://www.microbelibrary.org/microbelibrary/files/ccImages/Articleimages/Atlas_LB/Bacillus%20megaterium%20TopView.jpg

Higher order taxa

'''Bacillus Megaterium'''

Kingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Firmicutes

Class: Bacilli

Order: Bacillales

Family: Bacillaceae

Genus: Bacillus

Species: B. megaterium

Species

Genus: Bacillus

Description and significance

Bacillus Megaterium is a Gram Positive, Rod Shaped Endospore-Forming Bacteria. It is considered Aerobic, but, it is also capable of growing under anaerobic conditions when necessary. One of the largest Eubacteria found in soil, and hence the name “mega” means “relatively big” is a common soil saprophyte. A saprophyte is an organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that lives on and gets its nourishment from dead organisms or decaying organic material. Saprophytes recycle organic material in the soil, breaking it down into in simpler compounds that can be taken up by other organisms. Bacillus Megaterium are also found in chains where the cells are joined together by polysaccharides on the cell walls and synthesizes a capsule composed of both polypeptide and polysaccharide. Bacillus Megaterium is also able to survive in extreme conditions such as desert environments due to the spores it forms.

Here are two images showing the structure and shape of each Bacillus Megaterium:

http://www.magma.ca/~scimat/B_mega101.jpg

http://dept.kent.edu/microbiology/images/bmeg.jpg

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? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?

Bacillus Megaterium has been studied since the 1940's because it was one of the only species to have 100% of a culture sporulate as well as the ability to germinate at the same rate. It is about two times greater in volume compared to that of an E. coli. The larger  size has allowed several proteins to be successfully studied, along with further membrane research. Such research include that of Cell division, DNA-protein, protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions, protein transport, secretion, and recycling. The size comparison to most other Bacilli would be very interesting to study from a Genomic perspective.

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

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.