Vampirococcus

Vampirococcus is an informally described genus of ovoid Gram-negative bacteria, but the exact phylogeny of these bacteria is not yet known.[1] They were first described in 1983, as small bacteria about 0.6 μm wide that attached to the surfaces of the larger photosynthetic purple sulfur bacterium Chromatium minus.[2] Vampirococcus has since been identified as aquatic obligate parasite that is specific to Chromatium. They are epibionts, attaching to the exterior of their host and attacking via a specialized cytoplasmic bridge.[3] They are commonly mentioned as an example of epibionts when discussing strategies employed by bacterial predators.

See also

References

  1. ^ Jurkevitch, Edouard; Yaacov Davidov (2007). [10.1007/7171_052 "Phylogenetic Diversity and Evolution of Predatory Prokaryotes"]. Predatory Prokaryotes. Microbiology Monographs. 4/2007. Berlin: Springer. pp. 11–56. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-38582-0. ISBN 3540385770. 10.1007/7171_052. 
  2. ^ Esteve, I.; R. Guerrero, E. Montesinos, C. Abellà (1983-04-01). "Electron microscope study of the interaction of epibiontic bacteria with Chromatium minus in natural habitats". Microbial Ecology 9 (1): 57–64. doi:10.1007/BF02011580. 
  3. ^ Guerrero, Ricardo; Pedrós-Alió, Carlos; Esteve, Isabel; Mas, Jordi; Chase, David; Margulis, Lynn (April 1986). "Predatory prokaryotes: Predation and primary consumption evolved in bacteria". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83 (7): 2138–42. doi:10.1073/pnas.83.7.2138. PMC 323246. PMID 11542073. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=323246. 

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