Selenomonas ruminantium

Selenomonas ruminantium is a species of Selenomonas bacteria which are closely associated with ruminants, aiding in digestion of their food. It is predominantly observed in the rumen of these animals, and is strictly anaerobic.

Selenomonas ruminantium
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
S. ruminantium
Binomial name
Selenomonas ruminantium
Certes 1889[1]

Shape and classification

The bacterium has a rod shaped structure.

Gram

16S rRNA test

The bacteria Selenomonas ruminantium was considered a gram positive bacteria by the 16S rRNA.It was believed to be correct until the flagellar basal test was performed.

Flagellar basal test

The observation of flagella under electron microscope revealed the presence of four rings, a typical sign of gram negative species. Observation of the flagellar basal structure confirms that S. ruminantium has an outer membrane, a characteristic of Gram-negative bacteria . Gram-positive outer membranes or mycomembranes were recently reported for the Gram-positive general Corynebacterium and Mycobacterium, but none of them have flagella.

Flagellae

Flagellae are a bunch of thread like structures, that actually helps in the movement of the organism.

Tuft flagellae

The tuft of flagellae is seen arising from the concave of basal body of S.ruminantium. The movement is achieved by self rotation about the axis of the body by the rotational force exerted by the tuft at the centre. If the polar region to midpoint distance is considered as 50% the tuft is located at the midpoint represented as 50% of the organism.

Lateral flagellae

The bacteria also exhibits polar or lateral flagellar structures depending upon the medium in which they are developed.

Polymorphism in flagellar structures

Their flagellae exhibits polymorphic properties depending upon the environment of the bacteria. Generally the flagellae protruding from all points are clustered around the midpoint. Flagellin is glycosylated.

pH effect on the structure of flagellae

The bacterial flagellae's existence depends upon the pH.The rumen pH is about 5.5 to 7.

pH effect
pH range Flagellae
0-3 disappears
3-5 right handed coiled form
5-8 large curly coiled form
8-14 normal

Mobility

Glucose effect

The medium of development determines the motility of the bacteria. For Selenomonas ruminantium, glucose suppresses the flagellation.

Medium of development
Medium Motility
TYL motile
TYG immotile
TYL+glucose supplement immotile
TYG+lactose supplement immotile

Swim

The microbe swims by self rotation about the axis of the body unlike its nearest appropriate comparison R.sphaeroides, which the microbe rotates in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the body.The average number of flagellae per 20 cells is 6.The microbe swims with a speed of 16ɥm/s.

Hooks

The shape and size of the hooks on the flagellae differ by the physiological conditions present, but the general structure is S shaped.

References

  1. "Selenomonas". List of Prokaryotic Names with Standing in Nomenclature. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.