The genera Prosthecomicrobium and Ancalomicrobium are heterotrophic prosthecate bacteria, which produce numerous prosthecae per cell extending in all directions. These prosthecae vary in size and number both within and among species. Morphologically Prosthecomicrobium and Ancalomicrobium resemble one another because of their budding division and multiple prosthecae, but the former group is obligately aerobic whereas Ancalomicrobium strains are facultative anaerobes. Images of the type species Prosthecomicrobium pneumaticum and Ancalomicrobium adetum are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.
Prosthecomicrobium pneumaticum (ATCC 23633). Transmission electron micrograph showing gas vesicles within the cell, many short prosthecae, and a single long prostheca. Bar = 1.0 µm.
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Oertli, G.E., Jenkins, C., Ward, N., Rainey, F., Stackebrant, E., Staley, J.T. (2006). The Genera Prosthecomicrobium and Ancalomicrobium . In: Dworkin, M., Falkow, S., Rosenberg, E., Schleifer, KH., Stackebrandt, E. (eds) The Prokaryotes. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30745-1_3
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