Nitrosomonadales
Spirilla
The Nitrosomonadales are bacteria and form an order within the Betaproteobacteria. One finds in this order a variety of metabolic pathways and cell shapes in very different habitats. The Nitrosomonadaceae family consists of nitrifying bacteria. Members of this family oxidize ammonium ions to nitrite. The genus Gallionella the Gallionellacea family lives chemolithotroph, it oxidizes iron and uses no organic substrates for energy conservation. It belongs to the group of iron bacteria. Spirillum is characterized by its spiral cell shape.
System
The order consists of the following families and genera:
- Nitrosomonadaceae Garrity et al. 2006 Nitrosomonas Winogradsky 1892
- Winogradsky and Winogradsky 1933 Nitrosospira
- Nitrosovibrio Harms et al. 1976
- Gallionella Ehrenberg 1838
- Spirillum Ehrenberg 1832
Some synonyms and controversial positions:
- The order Spirillales under which the genus Spirillum should be provided as a type, is controversial among microbiologists.
- Nitrosolobus is a synonym for Nitrosospira.
- Nitrosovibrio tenius is partially viewed as a synonym for Nitrosospira tenius.
- Synonyms for Nitrosomonas europaea: Pseudomonas europaea, Nitrosomonas bacterium, Planococcus europaeus
- Ferrugineum Spirillum, Chlamydothrix ferruginea, Spirophyllum ferrugineum: synonyms for the only kind of Gallionellaceae, Gallionella ferruginea
Short description of the genera
Nitrosomonadaceae: In this family, there is a wide variety of cell lines. Thus, in the genus Nitrosomonas single or short chains of rod - shaped or spherical cells are present. Nitrosomonas is found in forest soils, eutrophic waters or in the sea. The cell forms of Nitrosolobus are pleomorphic, the species occur in arable soils and are also in fresh water found. The cells of Nitrosovibrio are usually curved rods. Nitrosovibrio was mostly isolated from oligotrophic soils and also found on stones. Nitrosospira has spiral-shaped cells with 3-20 turns, also spherical cells do occur. Nitrospira was, inter alia, rarely found in forest soils and on rock surfaces and fresh water.
Spirillaceae: Only one genus Spirillum is described. It is rigid, curved spiral cells, the bipolar, polytrich ( büschelarig ) are flagellated. The cells are relatively large, from 1.4 to 1.7 x 14 - 60 microns. The bacteria come into standing fresh waters before with low oxygen content. They build from various organic substances, carbohydrates are however not used.
Gallionellaceae: Also only one genus is known Gallionella. The cell is bean - or rod- shaped and bestielt. The bacterium is flagellated polar with a flagellate. It is chemolithotroph and microaerobically, it uses CO2 as a carbon source and wins by iron oxidation energy. She lives in iron containing waters and ground water with low oxygen content. Nitrosospira multiformis is Gallionella phylogenetically closest.