Query: NC_016940:1698000 Saprospira grandis str. Lewin chromosome, complete genome
Lineage: Saprospira grandis; Saprospira; Saprospiraceae; Sphingobacteriales; Bacteroidetes; Bacteria
General Information: Gliding bacterium. Saprospira grandis is a gram-negative, marine, multicellular, filamentous flexibacterium. They prey on other bacteria by trapping and devouring them. It is significant because it is known for devouring bacteria and also has been shown to digest algae by the same process. This makes this bacterium important because it is useful in preventing harmful algal blooms. They are mesophilic with their optimum temperature being between 25-30 degrees C, and require a neutral pH. This filamentous organism is matile by gliding. This organism is able to lyse bacterial cells on the surfaces it is moving over.
Subject: NC_006177:3457637 Symbiobacterium thermophilum IAM 14863, complete genome
Lineage: Symbiobacterium thermophilum; Symbiobacterium; Shewanellaceae; Clostridiales; Firmicutes; Bacteria
General Information: This symbiotic and thermophilic bacterium was discovered by screening for thermostable tryptanophases in Japanese compost. Cultured growth of this organism requires the presence of another bacterial species, such as a Bacillus or Escherichia coli, which provides diffusable metabolites required for its growth. Pure cultures can be obtained by growing Symbiobacterium thermophilum in a bioreactor, separated from its symbiotic counterpart by a dialysis membrane. Because of its symbiotic nature, it cannot be cultured with conventional methods. Despite a negative reaction for gram stain, this species is placed with the gram-positive bacteria based on 16s phylogenetic analysis.