Summary
Two new nitrite oxidizing bacteria for which the names Nitrococcus mobilis and Nitrospina gracilis are proposed were isolated from the marine environment. Nitrococcus mobilis was cultured from South Pacific waters and it is a large motile coccus with unique tubular cytomembranes. Nitrospina gracilis was isolated from South Atlantic waters and it is a long slender rod which lacks an extensive cytomembrane system. Both are obligate marine organisms and both are obligate chemoautotrophs. The fine structure of these organisms is detailed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnes, H.: Apparatus and methods of oceanography, pp. 117–118. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd. 1959.
Bendschneider, K., Robinson, R. J.: A new spectrophotometric method for the determination of nitrite in sea water. J. Marine Res. 11, 87–96 (1952).
Breed, R. S., Murray, E. G. D., Smith, N. R.: Bergey's manual of determinative bacteriology, pp. 72–73, 7th Edit. Baltimore: The Williams and Wilkins Co. 1957.
de Petris, S.: Ultrastructure of the cell wall of Escherichia coli and the chemical nature of its constituent layers. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 19, 45–83 (1967).
Eimhjellen, K.: Thiocapsa pfennigii sp. nov. a new species of the phototrophic sulfur bacteria. Arch. Mikrobiol. 73, 193–194 (1970).
—, Steensland, H., Traetteberg, J.: A Thiococcus sp. nov. gen., its pigments and internal membrane system. Arch. Mikrobiol. 59, 82–92 (1967).
Gantt, E., Conti, S. F.: Ultrastructure of blue-green algae. J. Bact. 97, 1486–1493 (1969).
Giesbrecht, P.: Zur Darstellung der DNS von Bakterien und plastischer biologischen Strukturen mit Hilfe der Gefrierätzung. Zbl. Bakt., I. Abt. Orig. 207, 198–221 (1968).
Kellenberger, E., Ryter, A., Sechaud, J.: Electron microscope studies of DNA-containing plasms. II. Vegetative and mature DNA as compared with normal bacterial nucleoids in differing physiological states. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 4, 671–676 (1958).
Lowry, O. H., Rosebrough, N. J., Farr, A. L., Randall, R. J.: Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent. J. biol. Chem. 193, 265–275 (1951).
Murray, R. G. E., Steed, P., Elson, H. E.: The location of the mucopeptide in sections of the cell wall of Escherichia coli and other Gram-negative bacteria. Canad. J. Microbiol. 11, 547–560 (1965).
—, Watson, S. W.: Structure of Nitrosocystis oceanus and comparison with Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. J. Bact. 89, 1594–1609 (1965).
Nelson, D. H.: Isolation and characterization of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. Zbl. Bakt., II. Abt. 83, 280–311 (1931).
Remsen, C. C., Valois, F., Watson, S. W.: Fine structure of the cytomembranes of Nitrosocystis oceanus. J. Bact. 94, 422–433 (1967).
Ryter, A., Kellenberger, E.: étude au microscope électronique de plasmas contenant de l'acide desoxyribonucléique. I. Les nucléoides des bactéries en croissance active. Z. Naturforsch. 13b, 597–605 (1958).
Ryther, J. H.: Organic production by plankton algae, and its environmental control. In: The ecology of algae. The Pymatuning Symposia in Ecology, Spec. Pub. 2, Pymatuning Laboratory of Field Biology, The University of Pittsburg, pp. 72–83 (1960).
Shively, J. M., Decker, G. L., Greenawalt, J. W.: Comparative ultrastructure of the Thiobacilli. J. Bact. 101, 618–627 (1970).
Smith, A. J., Hoare, D. S.: Acetate assimilation by Nitrobacter agilis in relation to its “obligate autotrophy”. J. Bact. 95, 844–855 (1968).
Steed, P., Murray, R. G. E.: The cell wall and cell division of Gram-negative bacteria. Canad. J. Microbiol. 12, 263–270 (1966).
Umbreit, W. W., Burris, R. H., Stauffer, J. F.: Manometric techniques, pp. 1–17. Minneapolis: Burgess Publishing Co. 1957.
Vaccaro, R. F.: The oxidation of ammonia in sea water. J. Conseil, Conseil Perm. Intern. Exploration Mer 27, 3–14 (1962).
van Gool, A. P., Lambert, R., Laudelout, H.: The fine structure of frozen etched Nitrobacter cells. Arch. Mikrobiol. 69, 281–293 (1969).
Watson, S. W.: Reisolation of Nitrosospira briensis. Arch. Mikrobiol. 75, 179–188 (1971).
Watson, S. W., Remsen, C. C.: Cell envelope of Nitrosocystis oceanus. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 33, 148–160 (1970).
—, Asbell, M. A., Valois, F. W.: Ammonia oxidation by cell-free extracts of Nitrosocystis oceanus. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 38, 1113–1119 (1970).
—, Graham, L. B., Remsen, C. C., Valois, F. W.: A lobular ammonia-oxidizing bacterium, Nitrosolobus multiformis Nov. Gen. Nov, Sp. Arch. Mikrobiol. 76, 183–203 (1971).
Winogradsky, H.: On the number and variety of nitrifying organisms. Int. Cong. Soil Sci. 1, 138–140 (1935a).
—: Sur la microflore nitrificatrice des boues activées de Paris. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 200, 1886–1888 (1935b).
—: Contribution à l'étude de la microflore nitrificatrice des boues activées de Paris. Ann. Inst. Pasteur 58, 326–340 (1937).
Winogradsky, S.: Contributions à la morphologie des organismes de la nitrification. Arch. Sci. Biol. St. Petersb. 1, 86–137 (1892).
Winslow, C.-E. A., Broadhurst, J., Buchanan, R. E., Krumwiede, C., Jr., Rogers, L. A., Smith, G. H.: The families and genera of the bacteria. Preliminary report of the Committee of the Society of American Bacteriologists on characterization and classification of bacterial types. J. Bact. 2, 505–566 (1917).
ZoBell, C. E.: Marine microbiology. Waltham, Mass.: Chronica Botanica Co. 1946.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Contribution No. 2631 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Watson, S.W., Waterbury, J.B. Characteristics of two marine nitrite oxidizing bacteria, Nitrospina gracilis nov. gen. nov. sp. and Nitrococcus mobilis nov. gen. nov. sp. . Archiv. Mikrobiol. 77, 203–230 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408114
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408114