Bacillus megaterium

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Bacillus megaterium
Bacillus megaterium DSM-90 cells.jpg
Bacillus megaterium cells stained with Sudan Black B and safranin.
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Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Bacillota
Class: Bacilli
Order: Bacillales
Family: Bacillaceae
Genus: Bacillus
Species:
B. megaterium
Binomial name
Bacillus megaterium
de Bary 1884

Bacillus megaterium is a rod-like, Gram-positive, mainly aerobic, spore forming bacterium found in widely diverse habitats. [1] [2] It has a cell length up to 100 μm and a diameter of 0.1 μm, which is quite large for bacteria. [3] The cells often occur in pairs and chains, [1] where the cells are joined by polysaccharides on the cell walls.[ citation needed ]

In the 1980s, prior to the use of Bacillus subtilis for this purpose, B. megaterium was the main model organism among Gram-positive bacteria for intensive studies on biochemistry, sporulation, and bacteriophages. Recently, its popularity has started increasing in the field of biotechnology for its recombinant protein-production capacity. [3]

This species was transferred into the genus Priestia . [4] The correct nomenclature is now Priestia megaterium [5] .

Characteristics

B. megaterium grows at temperatures from 3 to 45 °C, with the optimum around 30 °C. Some isolates from an Antarctic geothermal lake were found to grow at temperatures up to 63 °C. [1] It has been recognized as an endophyte and is a potential agent for the biocontrol of plant diseases. Nitrogen fixation has been demonstrated in some strains of B. megaterium. [1]

B. megaterium has been an important industrial organism for decades. It produces penicillin amidase used to make synthetic penicillin and several enzymes, such as amylases used in the baking industry and glucose dehydrogenase used in glucose blood tests. It also produces enzymes for modifying corticosteroids and several amino acid dehydrogenases. Further, it is used for the production of pyruvate, vitamin B12 and molecules with fungicidal and antiviral properties. [2] Several of these bioactive compounds are cyclic lipopeptides, belonging to the surfactin, iturin, and fengycin lipopeptide families, which are also produced by several other Bacillus species. [6]

B. megaterium is known to produce poly-γ-glutamic acid. The accumulation of the polymer is greatly increased in a saline (2–10% NaCl) environment, in which the polymer comprises largely of L-glutamate (L-isomer content up to 95%). [7] At least one strain of B. megaterium can be considered a halophile, as growth on up to 15% NaCl has been observed. [8]

Gram-stained Bacillus megaterium Bacillus megaterium 1000x magnification.png
Gram-stained Bacillus megaterium

Phylogenetically, based on 16S rRNA, B. megaterium is strongly linked with B. flexus , the latter distinguished from B. megaterium a century ago, but only recently confirmed as a different species. [1] B. megaterium has a complex plasmid content [9] as well as some phenotypic and phylogenetic similarities with pathogens B. anthracis [10] and B. cereus , although itself being relatively harmless. [1]

Isolation

B. megaterium is ubiquitous in the environment. In addition to being a common soil bacterium and an endophyte, it can be found in various foods (including honey and bee pollen, [11] in which most microorganisms do not grow) and on a variety of surfaces, including clinical specimens, leather, paper, stone etc. It has also been isolated from cattle feces, emperor moth caterpillars, and greater wax moth frass. [1]

History of the name

The species was described by de Bary in 1884, who called it Bacillus megaterium, but did not give an etymology. [12] However, some subsequent authors called it B. megatherium assuming the name was incorrectly spelled. [13] This trend continues as many scientists still use the name B. megatherium, [14] [15] sowing confusion.

The name B. megaterium is a nominative noun in apposition (see Rule 12 of IBCN [16] ) and is formed from the Greek adjective mega, (μέγας , μεγάλη, μέγα) meaning "great", [17] and a second word of unclear etymology. Three hypotheses of the epithet "megaterium" are possible: [13]

Consequently, it was decided in the first juridical opinion of the Bacteriological code that the name should remain "megaterium" given the unclear meaning. [13]

The etymology listed in LPSN is, despite being not quite correct, a fusion of the first and third interpretation Gr. adj. megas, large; Gr. n. teras -atis, monster, beast; N.L. n. megaterium, big beast. [21]

The species name megaterium has been applied to other genera.

Related Research Articles

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<i>Achromatium</i> Genus of bacteria

Achromatium is a genus in the phylum Pseudomonadota (Bacteria).

Acidiphilium is a genus in the phylum Pseudomonadota (Bacteria). As the name suggests, this comprises a nutritionally diverse genus of bacteria adapted to life in extremely acidic conditions, and often exhibiting FeIII reduction.

Acidomonas is a genus in the phylum Pseudomonadota (Bacteria). The genus contains single species, namely A. methanolica, formerly known as Acetobacter methanolicus

Actinosynnema is a genus in the phylum Actinomycetota (Bacteria).

Actinotalea is a genus in the phylum Actinomycetota (bacteria).

Aeribacillus is a genus in the phylum Bacillota (Bacteria).

Carnimonas is a genus in the phylum Pseudomonadota (Bacteria).

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Croceicoccus is a genus in the phylum Pseudomonadota (Bacteria).

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Mahella is a genus in the phylum Bacillota (Bacteria). The name Mahella derives from: Neo-Latin feminine gender dim. noun Mahella, named in honour of the American microbiologist Professor R.A. Mah, for his important contribution to the taxonomy of anaerobes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 De Vos, P. et al. Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology: Volume 3: The Firmicutes. Springer (2009)
  2. 1 2 Vary, S. P. et al.Bacillus megaterium — from simple soil bacterium to industrial protein production host. Appl Microbial Biotechnol76:957–967 (2007)
  3. 1 2 Bunk, B. et al. A short story about a big magic bug. Bioengineered Bugs1:85–91 (2010)
  4. Gupta, Radhey S.; Patel, Sudip; Saini, Navneet; Chen, Shu (2020-11-01). "Robust demarcation of 17 distinct Bacillus species clades, proposed as novel Bacillaceae genera, by phylogenomics and comparative genomic analyses: description of Robertmurraya kyonggiensis sp. nov. and proposal for an emended genus Bacillus limiting it only to the members of the Subtilis and Cereus clades of species". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 70 (11): 5753–5798. doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004475 . ISSN   1466-5026. PMID   33112222.
  5. Parte, Aidan C.; Sardà Carbasse, Joaquim; Meier-Kolthoff, Jan P.; Reimer, Lorenz C.; Göker, Markus (2020-11-01). "Species Priestia megaterium". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 70 (11): 5607–5612. doi:10.1099/ijsem.0.004332. ISSN   1466-5026. PMC   7723251 . PMID   32701423.
  6. Pueyo, Manuel Troyano; Bloch, Carlos; Carmona-Ribeiro, Ana Maria; di Mascio, Paolo (2008-10-29). "Lipopeptides Produced by a Soil Bacillus Megaterium Strain". Microbial Ecology. 57 (2): 367–378. doi:10.1007/s00248-008-9464-x. ISSN   1432-184X. PMID   18958512. S2CID   266751.
  7. Shimizu, K., Nakamura, H. & Ashiuchi, M. Salt-Inducible Bionylon Polymer from Bacillus Megaterium. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73:2378–2379 (2007)
  8. Khan, J. A. Biodegradation of Azo Dye by Moderately Halotolerant Bacillus megaterium and Study of Enzyme Azoreductase Involved in Degradation. Advanced Biotech10:21–27 (2011)
  9. Shwed P.S. et al. Complete Genome Sequences of Priestia megaterium type and clinical strains feature complex plasmid arrays. Microbiol. Resource Announcements10(27):e00403-21(2021)
  10. Dib, E. G. et al. Nonhemolytic, Nonmotile Gram-Positive Rods Indicative of Bacillus anthracis. Emerg Infect Dis.9:1013–1015 (2003)
  11. Mohammad, Salma Malihah; Mahmud-Ab-Rashid, Nor-Khaizura; Zawawi, Norhasnida (2020-08-25). "Probiotic properties of bacteria isolated from bee bread of stingless bee Heterotrigona itama" (PDF). Journal of Apicultural Research. 60: 172–187. doi:10.1080/00218839.2020.1801152. ISSN   0021-8839. S2CID   225208290.
  12. DE BARY (A.): Vergleichende Morphologie und Biologie der Pilze, Mycetozoen und Bacterien. Wilhelm Engelmann, Leipzig, 1884.
  13. 1 2 3 Buchanan, R. E.; Breed, R. S.; St. John-Brooks, R. (1951). "Opinion 1. The Correct Spelling of the Specific Epithet in the Species Name Bacillus Megaterium De Bary 1884: Approved by the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Bacteriological Nomenclature". International Bulletin of Bacteriological Nomenclature and Taxonomy. 1: 35–36. doi: 10.1099/0096266X-1-1-35 .
  14. Nahid, E.-A. Phenotypic and Genetic Variability Among Three Bacillus Megatherium Isolates. I. In Viro Evoluation of Tri-Calcium Phosphate Solubilizing Potential and Growth Pattern. J Am Sc6:111–115 (2010)
  15. Du, X. et al. Correlation of bacterial diversity in rot Chinese cabbage with the habitat. Wei Sheng Wu Xue Bao51:1639-45 (2011)
  16. Lapage, S.; Sneath, P.; Lessel, E.; Skerman, V.; Seeliger, H.; Clark, W. (1992). International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria: Bacteriological Code, 1990 Revision. Washington, D.C.: ASM Press. PMID   21089234.
  17. μέγας
  18. θηρίον
  19. Rippel, Arch Mikrobiol. 11, 470, 1940
  20. τέρας
  21. B. megaterium in LPSN ; Parte, Aidan C.; Sardà Carbasse, Joaquim; Meier-Kolthoff, Jan P.; Reimer, Lorenz C.; Göker, Markus (1 November 2020). "List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN) moves to the DSMZ". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 70 (11): 5607–5612. doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.004332 .