1 Division: Cyanobacteria

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

1 Division: Cyanobacteria May 26 Please submit a question about your presentation Division: Cyanobacteria to me electronically. blue-green algae May 28, June 2 & 4 -Student Presentations Powerpoint Presentation 7-9 minutes. Both people must speak during the presentation. Intro, Material & Methods, Results & Discussion May 29Turn in herbarium early- 10 points extra credit Mastocarpus papillatus species complex (C. Agardh) Lindstrom Ulotricales/Ulvales-3 June 4/5- Lab practical, Notebooks & pressings due! June 11- Final 8:00-11:00am Single class: Cyanophyceae ~4,484 species 1 2 Algal Evolution: DOMAIN Groups (Kingdom) 1.Bacteria- cyanobacteria (blue green algae) 3.9 bya = Cyanobacteria appear and introduce photosynthesis 2.Archae 3.Eukaryotes 1. Alveolates- dinoflagellates 2.5 bya = Eukaryotes appeared (nuclear envelope and ER thought to come from invagination of plasma membrane) 2. Stramenopiles- diatoms, heterokonyophyta 1.6 bya = Multicellular algae -Rhodophyta (Red algae) &Chlorophyta 3. Rhizaria- unicellular amoeboids (Green algae) 4. Excavates- unicellular flagellates 900 mya= Dinoflagellates & Invertebrates appear 5. Plantae- rhodophyta, chlorophyta, seagrasses 490 mya = Phaeophyceae (Brown algae) & land plants & coralline algae & 6. Amoebozoans- slimemolds crustaceans & mulluscs 7. Fungi- heterotrophs with extracellular digestion 408mya= Insects & Fish 8. Choanoflagellates- unicellular 362 mya = Coccolithophores & Amphibians & Reptiles 9. Animals- multicellular heterotrophs 290mya- Gymnosperms 4 145 mya = Diatoms & Angiosperms 1 Domain Bacteria- unicellular, lacking a nucleus, ribosomes, tRNA, peptoglycan in the cell wall Cyanobacteria are important because: Phylum Low-GC Gram-positive- staph infections & antrax Phylum High GC- Gram-positive- tuberculosis & antibiotics • Cyanobacteria are modern representatives of the very Phylum Hyperthermophilic bacteria- live at high temperatures Phylum Hadobacteria-live at high temps, consume nuclear waste first photosynthetic organisms on Earth. Phylum Cyanobacteria- blue green algae, origin of the chloroplast Phylum Spirochetes- syphilis & lime disease •First organisms to have 2 photosystems and to produce Phylum Chlamydias- intercellular parasites orggganic material and to give off O2 as a biproduct. Phylum Proteobacteria- pathogens, nitrogen fixers, autotrophs, origin of mitochondria •Instrumental in transforming early earths atmosphere to an oxidizing one the oxygen revolution • Most common algal group in terrestrial systems and symbiotic relationships 5 6 Cyanobacteria Cellular Structure Cyanobacteria Cellular Structure •Nucleus ? – none, circular DNA, lack histones No complex organelles Thyllakoids- photosystems I & II •Chloroplasts? – no complex organelles Carboxisomes- bacterial microcompartments that contain enzymes Thylakoids- single or paired involved in carbon fixation -concentrate CO2 for RuBisCo •Pigments?– Chl a, b, d carotenoids- B carotene phycobiliproteins- phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin •Carbon storage? - Cyanophycean starch •Flagella ? –none •Life History? Asexual reproduction 7 8 4 2 Cyanophyta Cellular Structure Cellular Structure: microscopic vegetative cells- photsynthesize • Unicells in mucus envelope spores- resting stages • Colonies heterocysts- specialized cells for fixing nitrogen • Filaments, Branched filaments most complicated form 9 10 “facultative chemoautotropes” Morphology of Cyanophyta • Cell wall made of peptidoglycan, polymer consisting of sugars and •Many spp have the ability to photosynthesize under both aerobic amino acids (not cellulose), similar to gram-negative bacteria and anaerobic conditions • Trichome- Row of cells Difference is where the electrons come from: • Filament- Trichome within a mucilaginous sheath Aerobic conditions? Electron donor is Water O2 produced • MiliMucilaginous ShhSheath- layer of mucilage outside of cell wall C02 + H20 CH2O + O2 • Possible to have > 1 trichome within a filament Anaerobic conditions? Electron donor is Hydrogen sulfide Water is produced CO2 +2H2S CH2O + 2S + H2O 11 12 3 Mucilaginous Sheath – False branching = True branching = –motion (gliding) outgrowth of filaments outgrowth from cells that -protection against desiccation adjacent to dead or change their axis of - protection against UV irradiance specialized cells; filament division, 90 degrees from curves axis of trichome Sheath is often colored: Red = acidic Blue = basic Yellow/Brown = high salt 13 14 Buoyancy: Movement Cells contain gas vesicles or gas vacuole = hollow cylinders made of protein 1. ”Gliding” against a solid substrate -no change in shape or obvious pushing; no ability to steer, sometimes trichome rotates within •low light? Decreased Ps metabolism of polysaccharides sheath, and sheath is left behind as the trichome moves forward increase in gas vacuoles float upward 2. Jet propulsion = excrete mucus •high light? Increased Ps Accumulation of polysaccharides cell pressure increases gas vacuoles shrink sink 3. Helical species (e.g. Spirulina), use waves of contraction 4. Swimming? No idea how they do this, but evidence of chemotaxis and phototaxis. 5. Changing buoyancy 15 16 4 Reproduction: Reproduction 4. Hormogonia = short piece of trichome that detaches from parent filament and glides away No sexual reproduction some DNA transfer has been observed, not conjugation per se. Asexual reproduction through: 1-Binary fission – dividing in two HiHormogonia 2-Fragmentation of colonies Separation disk or “Necridium” = funky dead cell where detachment occurs 3-Endospores/exospores 4-Hormogonia 5-Akinetes 17 18 Reproduction Akinete 5. Akinetes = thick-walled resting spores. Packed with energy reserves; dense = sink to the bottom when released. Triggered by unfavorable conditions, can remain viable for years. H A - akinete 19 20 5 Earliest evidence of Cyanobacteria comes from stromatolites: Wide Range of Habitats Precambrian- 3.5 BYA •Freshwater lakes •Terrestrial soils hotsprings at Yellowstone Park • Marine systems (intertidal, open ocean) • Extreme environments (e.g. salt flats, hot springs, glaciers, etc.) • Endosymbiotic: diatoms, sponges, tunicates, lichens, polar bear fur, bryophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms • Layered calcareous mounds that contain fossils of cyanobacteria that 21 look like Oscillatoria 22 Stromatolites Nitrogen fixation • Stromatolites are produced by successive deposition through “grain trapping” or calcification: • Mucilaginous sheath of cyanos physically blocks the Many are able to fix nitrogen = convert atmospheric N2 (N N) to a usable form (Ammonium: NH +) using enzyme nitrogenase movement coarse gain sediments and laminates it to 4 the surface of the stromatolite N can be limiting; necessary for the production of amino acids • Attract and bind Ca ions to negatively charged sites •Locations :hypersaline seas (Shark Bay,western Aus.), frozen lakes (Antarctic), hot springs (Yellowstone), the Only cyanobacteria and proteobacteria can fix N; Caribbean BUT cyanobacteria also produce O2 during photosynthesis •Most cyano’s active during the day= layers count the This is a trick, because O inactivates nitrogenase numbers of days 2 •Also they grow up toward the sun and are directional How do they do it??? toward the sun (=can document annual motion of sun) 23 24 6 1. Spatial separation of functions: 2. Temporal separation of functions: Heterocyst = special cells for N fixation. • Fix N in the dark, Ps in the daytime; • Thick-walled, and larger than other vegetative cells; Every N-fixing cyanobacteria fits into these two hollow looking categories except: Trichodesmium = marine, colonial species; fix nitrogen • Not capable of dividing under aerobic conditions in the light through division of labor among cells within a filament (no heterocysts)! • Not photosynthetic, so no CO2 fixation or O2 production • Microplasmedesmata connect to other cells in filament 25 26 Domain Bacteria- unicellular, lacking a nucleus, ribosomes, tRNA, The dark side of cyanobacteria? peptidoglycan in the cell wall Phylum Cyanobacteria- 4484 species Cyanobacterial blooms = death and destruction Class Cyanophyceae- 4484 species, 10 orders Swimmer’s itch = Lyngbia seaweed dermatitus Order Spirulinales- 57 species filamentous, no specialized structures Cyanotoxins: released by animal ingestion leads to death in birds, mammals, & fish Order Oscillatoriales –1,290 species neurotoxins (e.g. Anabaena, Oscillatoria) filamentous, no specialized structures hepatotoxins (e.g. Microcystis, Nostoc) Order Nostocales- 1,365 species filamentous, specialized structures, may have true branching Oscillatoria 27 28 7 Order Spirulinales Domain Bacteria- unicellular, lacking a nucleus, ribosomes, tRNA, peptoglycan in the cell wall Genus Spirulina • Filament is spiral •Major food source for flamingos Phylum Cyanobacteria- blue green algae, origin of the chloroplast • Commercial food source • No heterocysts or akinetes Class Cyanophyceae- • benthic or plantonic, freshwater, thermal & mineral springs, coastal & brackish waters Order Spirulinales- filamentous, no specialized structures • 52 species Order Oscillatoriales -filamentous, no specialized structures Order Nostocales- filamentous, specialized structures, may have true branching 29 30 Order Oscillatoriales Order Oscillatoriales - Unbranched filaments GenusTrichodesmium -No readily identifiable sheath, but is present Genus Oscillatoria -No specialized cells - Important marine N fixer -Fix nitrogen - Segregates N fixing within colonies -Early precambrian fossil stromatolites (lacks heterocysts) -Planktonic, form
Recommended publications
  • Anoxygenic Photosynthesis in Photolithotrophic Sulfur Bacteria and Their Role in Detoxication of Hydrogen Sulfide
    antioxidants Review Anoxygenic Photosynthesis in Photolithotrophic Sulfur Bacteria and Their Role in Detoxication of Hydrogen Sulfide Ivan Kushkevych 1,* , Veronika Bosáková 1,2 , Monika Vítˇezová 1 and Simon K.-M. R. Rittmann 3,* 1 Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic; [email protected] (V.B.); [email protected] (M.V.) 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic 3 Archaea Physiology & Biotechnology Group, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Universität Wien, 1090 Vienna, Austria * Correspondence: [email protected] (I.K.); [email protected] (S.K.-M.R.R.); Tel.: +420-549-495-315 (I.K.); +431-427-776-513 (S.K.-M.R.R.) Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic compound that can affect various groups of water microorgan- isms. Photolithotrophic sulfur bacteria including Chromatiaceae and Chlorobiaceae are able to convert inorganic substrate (hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide) into organic matter deriving energy from photosynthesis. This process takes place in the absence of molecular oxygen and is referred to as anoxygenic photosynthesis, in which exogenous electron donors are needed. These donors may be reduced sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide. This paper deals with the description of this metabolic process, representatives of the above-mentioned families, and discusses the possibility using anoxygenic phototrophic microorganisms for the detoxification of toxic hydrogen sulfide. Moreover, their general characteristics, morphology, metabolism, and taxonomy are described as Citation: Kushkevych, I.; Bosáková, well as the conditions for isolation and cultivation of these microorganisms will be presented. V.; Vítˇezová,M.; Rittmann, S.K.-M.R.
    [Show full text]
  • THE CASE AGAINST Marine Mammals in Captivity Authors: Naomi A
    s l a m m a y t T i M S N v I i A e G t A n i p E S r a A C a C E H n T M i THE CASE AGAINST Marine Mammals in Captivity The Humane Society of the United State s/ World Society for the Protection of Animals 2009 1 1 1 2 0 A M , n o t s o g B r o . 1 a 0 s 2 u - e a t i p s u S w , t e e r t S h t u o S 9 8 THE CASE AGAINST Marine Mammals in Captivity Authors: Naomi A. Rose, E.C.M. Parsons, and Richard Farinato, 4th edition Editors: Naomi A. Rose and Debra Firmani, 4th edition ©2009 The Humane Society of the United States and the World Society for the Protection of Animals. All rights reserved. ©2008 The HSUS. All rights reserved. Printed on recycled paper, acid free and elemental chlorine free, with soy-based ink. Cover: ©iStockphoto.com/Ying Ying Wong Overview n the debate over marine mammals in captivity, the of the natural environment. The truth is that marine mammals have evolved physically and behaviorally to survive these rigors. public display industry maintains that marine mammal For example, nearly every kind of marine mammal, from sea lion Iexhibits serve a valuable conservation function, people to dolphin, travels large distances daily in a search for food. In learn important information from seeing live animals, and captivity, natural feeding and foraging patterns are completely lost.
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Microplankton Ecology Reading
    Marine Microplankton Ecology Reading Microbes dominate our planet, especially the Earth’s oceans. The distinguishing feature of microorganisms is their small size, usually defined as less than 200 micrometers (µm); they are all invisible to the naked eye. As a group, sea microbes are extremely diverse, and extremely versatile with respect to their abilities to make and eat food. All marine microbes are too small to swim against the current and are therefore classified as plankton. First we will discuss several ways to classify marine microbes. 1. Size Planktonic marine organisms can be divided into the following size categories: Category Size femtoplankton <0.2 µm picoplankton 0.2-2 µm nanoplankton 2-20 µm microplankton 20-200 µm mesoplankton 200-2000 µm In this laboratory we are concerned with the microscopic portion of the plankton, less than 200 µm. These organisms are not visible to the naked eye (Figure 1). Figure 1. Size classes of marine plankton 2. Type A. Viruses Viruses are the smallest and simplest microplankton. They range from 0.01 to 0.3 um in diameter. Externally, viruses have a capsid, or protein coat. Viruses can also have simple or complex external morphologies with tail fibers and structures that are used to inject DNA or RNA into their host. Viruses have little internal morphology. They do not have a nucleus or organelles. They do not have chlorophyll. Inside a virus there is only nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA. Viruses do not grow and have no metabolism. Marine viruses are highly abundant. There are up to 10 billion in one liter of seawater! B.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Microbiome: Your Body Is an Ecosystem
    Human Microbiome: Your Body Is an Ecosystem This StepRead is based on an article provided by the American Museum of Natural History. What Is an Ecosystem? An ecosystem is a community of living things. The living things in an ecosystem interact with each other and with the non-living things around them. One example of an ecosystem is a forest. Every forest has a mix of living things, like plants and animals, and non-living things, like air, sunlight, rocks, and water. The mix of living and non-living things in each forest is unique. It is different from the mix of living and non-living things in any other ecosystem. You Are an Ecosystem The human body is also an ecosystem. There are trillions tiny organisms living in and on it. These organisms are known as microbes and include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. There are more of them living on just your skin right now than there are people on Earth. And there are a thousand times more than that in your gut! All the microbes in and on the human body form communities. The human body is an ecosystem. It is home to trillions of microbes. These communities are part of the ecosystem of the human Photo Credit: Gaby D’Alessandro/AMNH body. Together, all of these communities are known as the human microbiome. No two human microbiomes are the same. Because of this, you are a unique ecosystem. There is no other ecosystem like your body. Humans & Microbes Microbes have been around for more than 3.5 billion years.
    [Show full text]
  • Archaeal Distribution and Abundance in Water Masses of the Arctic Ocean, Pacific Sector
    Vol. 69: 101–112, 2013 AQUATIC MICROBIAL ECOLOGY Published online April 30 doi: 10.3354/ame01624 Aquat Microb Ecol FREEREE ACCESSCCESS Archaeal distribution and abundance in water masses of the Arctic Ocean, Pacific sector Chie Amano-Sato1, Shohei Akiyama1, Masao Uchida2, Koji Shimada3, Motoo Utsumi1,* 1University of Tsukuba, Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan 2National Institute for Environmental Studies, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan 3Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan ABSTRACT: Marine planktonic Archaea have been recently recognized as an ecologically impor- tant component of marine prokaryotic biomass in the world’s oceans. Their abundance and meta- bolism are closely connected with marine geochemical cycling. We evaluated the distribution of planktonic Archaea in the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean using fluorescence in situ hybridiza- tion (FISH) with catalyzed reporter deposition (CARD-FISH) and performed statistical analyses using data for archaeal abundance and geochemical variables. The relative abundance of Thaum - archaeota generally increased with depth, and euryarchaeal abundance was the lowest of all planktonic prokaryotes. Multiple regression analysis showed that the thaumarchaeal relative abundance was negatively correlated with ammonium and dissolved oxygen concentrations and chlorophyll fluorescence. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that archaeal distributions differed with oceanographic water masses; in particular, Thaumarchaeota were abundant from the halocline layer to deep water, where salinity was higher and most nutrients were depleted. However, at several stations on the East Siberian Sea side of the study area and along the North- wind Ridge, Thaumarchaeota and Bacteria were proportionally very abundant at the bottom in association with higher nutrient conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • About Cyanobacteria BACKGROUND Cyanobacteria Are Single-Celled Organisms That Live in Fresh, Brackish, and Marine Water
    About Cyanobacteria BACKGROUND Cyanobacteria are single-celled organisms that live in fresh, brackish, and marine water. They use sunlight to make their own food. In warm, nutrient-rich environments, microscopic cyanobacteria can grow quickly, creating blooms that spread across the water’s surface and may become visible. Because of the color, texture, and location of these blooms, the common name for cyanobacteria is blue-green algae. However, cyanobacteria are related more closely to bacteria than to algae. Cyanobacteria are found worldwide, from Brazil to China, Australia to the United States. In warmer climates, these organisms can grow year-round. Scientists have called cyanobacteria the origin of plants, and have credited cyanobacteria with providing nitrogen fertilizer for rice and beans. But blooms of cyanobacteria are not always helpful. When these blooms become harmful to the environment, animals, and humans, scientists call them cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs). Freshwater CyanoHABs can use up the oxygen and block the sunlight that other organisms need to live. They also can produce powerful toxins that affect the brain and liver of animals and humans. Because of concerns about CyanoHABs, which can grow in drinking water and recreational water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added cyanobacteria to its Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List. This list identifies organisms and toxins that EPA considers to be priorities for investigation. ASSESSING THE IMPACT ON PUBLIC HEALTH Reports of poisonings associated with CyanoHABs date back to the late 1800s. Anecdotal evidence and data from laboratory animal research suggest that cyanobacterial toxins can cause a range of adverse human health effects, yet few studies have explored the links between CyanoHABs and human health.
    [Show full text]
  • Antibiotics from Deep-Sea Microorganisms: Current Discoveries and Perspectives
    marine drugs Review Antibiotics from Deep-Sea Microorganisms: Current Discoveries and Perspectives Emiliana Tortorella 1,†, Pietro Tedesco 1,2,†, Fortunato Palma Esposito 1,3,†, Grant Garren January 1,†, Renato Fani 4, Marcel Jaspars 5 and Donatella de Pascale 1,3,* 1 Institute of Protein Biochemistry, National Research Council, I-80131 Naples, Italy; [email protected] (E.T.); [email protected] (P.T.); [email protected] (F.P.E.); [email protected] (G.G.J.) 2 Laboratoire d’Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés, INSA, 31400 Toulouse, France 3 Stazione Zoologica “Anthon Dorn”, Villa Comunale, I-80121 Naples, Italy 4 Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, I-50019 Florence, Italy; renato.fani@unifi.it 5 Marine Biodiscovery Centre, Department of Chemistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland AB24 3UE, UK; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-0816-132-314; Fax: +39-0816-132-277 † These authors equally contributed to the work. Received: 23 July 2018; Accepted: 27 September 2018; Published: 29 September 2018 Abstract: The increasing emergence of new forms of multidrug resistance among human pathogenic bacteria, coupled with the consequent increase of infectious diseases, urgently requires the discovery and development of novel antimicrobial drugs with new modes of action. Most of the antibiotics currently available on the market were obtained from terrestrial organisms or derived semisynthetically from fermentation products. The isolation of microorganisms from previously unexplored habitats may lead to the discovery of lead structures with antibiotic activity. The deep-sea environment is a unique habitat, and deep-sea microorganisms, because of their adaptation to this extreme environment, have the potential to produce novel secondary metabolites with potent biological activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Bacteria Evolving: Tracing the Origins of a MRSA Epidemic
    STUDENT VERSION Bacteria Evolving: Tracing the Origins of a MRSA Epidemic PASSAGE FOUR The Human Microbiome To solve the mystery of the origins of USA300, researchers looked to the microbiome that lives on human skin. They knew that within this vast, microscopic ecosystem lives a network of organisms that compete with each other, co-exist with each other and are constantly evolving. If USA300 acquired the speG gene, it was most likely from some other bacterium or organ- ism that is part of this ecosystem. And that is exactly what they found. USA300 had gotten its new abilities from another staph species, Staphylococcus epidermidis. The Source: S. epidermidis Staph epidermidis is a type of Staphylococcus that is closely re- lated to Staphylococcus aureus. Like S. aureus, S. epidermidis has adapted to live on human skin. Although it’s quite common, it usually causes no health problems. One reason that S. epider- midis can colonize human skin so effectively is that it has the ACME region, the mobile element of DNA made of 34 genes. This is the set of genes that includes the speG gene. Thanks to its genome, S. epidermidis is resistant to methicillin and related antibiotics. However, S. epidermidis rarely infects us, so the fact that it is drug resistant is usually not a problem. But what seems to have happened is that S. epidermidis bacteria were living in close contact with S. aureus bacteria on human skin and at some point S. epidermidis transfered the ACME DNA, including the speG gene, to S. aureus. This might have made it possible for S.
    [Show full text]
  • Bacteria – Friend Or Foe?
    Bacteria – Friend or Foe? By Rachel L. Dittmar & Rosa M. Santana Carrero [email protected], [email protected] April 2020 Danger! Sick! Gross! Vaccine! Disease! Medicine! Dirty! MRSA! Eww! E. coli! What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “bacteria”? Science! Microscope! MRSA! Salmonella! Hospital! Germs! Staph! Food! Small! 2 Introduction to Bacteria 3 Bacterial nomenclature • Bacteria are referred to by their genus and species, with genus coming first and species coming last: Escherichia coli Escherichia: genus Species: coli Bacteria names are ALWAYS italicized. Genus names are capitalized and species names are not. Sometimes, the genus is abbreviated by its first initial: E. coli 4 Bacteria are prokaryotes. 5 What are prokaryotes? • Plasma membrane separates the cell from its surrounding environment • Cytoplasm contains organelles • Contain DNA consisting of a single large, circular chromosome • Ribosomes make proteins 6 Prokaryotes v. Eukaryotes 7 Image from: https://www.difference.wiki/prokaryotic-cell-vs-eukaryotic-cell/ How do these organisms differ? Prokaryotes Eukaryotes - circular DNA - linear DNA (found in nucleus) - no nucleus - nucleus - no membrane bound organelles - membrane bound organelles - small- less than 10μm - larger than 10μm - unicellular - can be unicellular and multicellular 8 Bacteria are very small. 9 How big are bacteria? Bacteria are very small: 0.1 – 5.0 micrometers. A micrometer (μm) is 0.000001 meters or 0.001 millimeters (mm) For comparison, a human hair is 30 – 100 μm Image from: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-cells/hs-prokaryotes-and-eukaryotes/a/prokaryotic-cells 10 Bacteria are classified by phenotype or genotype.
    [Show full text]
  • Microbiology of Septic Systems Microbiology of Septic Systems
    Microbiology of Septic Systems Microbiology of Septic Systems The purpose of this discussion is to provide a fundamental background on the relationship between microbes, wastewater, and septic systems. • What microbes are present in septic systems? • What role do they play in the treatment process? • What concerns are associated with them? Microbiology of Septic Systems The Microbes The microbes associated with septic systems are bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, rotifers, and nematodes. Bacteria are by a wide margin the most numerous microbes in septic systems. Microbiology of Septic Systems Bacteria constitute a large domain of prokaryotic (single cell, no nucleus) micro- organisms. They are present in most habitats on the planet and the live bodies of plants and animals. Escherichia coli Microbiology of Septic Systems Fungi are a large group of eukaryotic (having a nucleus and organelles) organisms that includes yeasts and molds as well as mushrooms. They are classified as a kingdom separate from plants, animals, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae bacteria. Microbiology of Septic Systems Protozoa are a diverse group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms, many of which exhibit animal-like behavior, e.g., movement. Examples include ciliates, amoebae, sporozoa, and flagellates. Assorted protozoa Microbiology of Septic Systems Rotifers are a phylum of microscopic and near- microscopic pseudo- coelomate animals, common in freshwater environments throughout the world. They eat particulate organic detritus, dead bacteria, algae, and protozoans. Typical rotifer. Microbiology of Septic Systems Nematodes , or roundworms, are one of the most diverse of all animal phyla. Over 28,000 species have been described, of which over 16,000 are parasitic. The total number of species has been estimated to be about 1,000,000.
    [Show full text]
  • Microbial Colonization in Marine Environments: Overview of Current Knowledge and Emerging Research Topics
    Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Review Microbial Colonization in Marine Environments: Overview of Current Knowledge and Emerging Research Topics Gabriella Caruso Institute of Polar Sciences, National Reasearch Council (ISP-CNR), Spianata S. Raineri 86, 98122 Messina, Italy; [email protected]; Tel.: +39-090-6015423; Fax: +39-090-669007 Received: 13 December 2019; Accepted: 22 January 2020; Published: 24 January 2020 Abstract: Microbial biofilms are biological structures composed of surface-attached microbial communities embedded in an extracellular polymeric matrix. In aquatic environments, the microbial colonization of submerged surfaces is a complex process involving several factors, related to both environmental conditions and to the physical-chemical nature of the substrates. Several studies have addressed this issue; however, more research is still needed on microbial biofilms in marine ecosystems. After a brief report on environmental drivers of biofilm formation, this study reviews current knowledge of microbial community attached to artificial substrates, as obtained by experiments performed on several material types deployed in temperate and extreme polar marine ecosystems. Depending on the substrate, different microbial communities were found, sometimes highlighting the occurrence of species-specificity. Future research challenges and concluding remarks are also considered. Emphasis is given to future perspectives in biofilm studies and their potential applications, related to biofouling prevention (such as cell-to-cell communication by quorum sensing or improved knowledge of drivers/signals affecting biological settlement) as well as to the potential use of microbial biofilms as sentinels of environmental changes and new candidates for bioremediation purposes. Keywords: biofilms; microbes; colonization; substrates; temperate areas; polar regions 1. Introduction Biofilm formation on substrate surfaces is the first step in biofouling formation [1–5].
    [Show full text]
  • Viruses and Prokaryotes in the Deep-Sea
    Viruses and prokaryotes in the deep-sea Author: Roberto DANOVARO Professor of Marine Biology Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy In the last decades the development of new technological and methodological tools has allowed demonstrating that microbes dominates both in terms of abundance and biomass the world oceans. Microbes are of size ranging from 0.02 to a few micrometres and include a wide diversity of viruses, prokaryotes (Bacteria and Archaea), and eukaryotes (either phototrophic and heterotrophic). These tiny particles, either suspended in the water column or attached to the sediments play crucially important functions and control the global biogeochemical cycles. More recently it has been also demonstrated that viruses are by far more important than previously thought. In particular we now know that viruses are the most abundant biological entities of the biosphere, with current estimates of the global viral abundance in the order of 1030-1031. They outnumber prokaryotes by at least one order of magnitude. This huge numerical abundance suggests that viruses can account also for the vast majority of the genetic diversity of the Earth (figure 1). Being not able to self-replicate, viruses invade other organisms and use their cell’s machinery to propagate. They can infect all the known life forms of the oceans, from the largest mammals to the smallest marine microbes. Indeed, also tiny viruses inside larger viruses have been recently discovered. Figure 1. Some examples of Viruses and Prokaryotes (i.e., Bacteria and Archaea)
    [Show full text]