"Candidatus Ovobacter propellens": a large conspicuous prokaryote with an unusual motility behaviour.
A new type of bacterium "Candidatus Ovobacter propellens" is described. It is a large ovoid species with a number of unusual features including special intracellular membrane systems and a huge flagellar tuft consisting of about 400 flagella. "Ovobacter" lives in oxygen gradients in the surface layer of sulphidic marine sediments at an O(2)-tension of about 0.5% atmospheric saturation. It swims continuously and very fast (up to 1 mm s(-1)). Its mode of swimming and its chemosensory behaviour towards O(2) are described in detail.
Fenchel
Tom
T
Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Strandpromenaden 5, Helsingør, Denmark. tfenchel@zi.ku.dk
Thar
Roland
R
D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D002633:Chemotaxis; D005407:Flagella / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008124:Locomotion; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism
D010100:Oxygen