The Myxobacteria

Biogeography and phylogenetic diversity of a cluster of exclusively marine myxobacteria

“…Thus resuspension of sediment particles by tidal currents (Jago et al, 2002) is a possible reason for presence of these organisms in the water column. The MMC was predominantly found in oxic habitats, suggesting an aerobic metabolism as described for most myxobacteria (Shimkets et al, 2006). On the basis of the presence of MMC bacteria in three different sediment cores from the North Sea down to a sediment depth of about 2 m, however, one can speculate that these organisms can also live under anoxic conditions or produced spores that were buried in the sediment.…”

“…They are capable of excreting hydrolytic enzymes and decomposing various and complex biopolymers but can also lyse and degrade other prokaryotes and even eukaryotes (Shimkets et al, 2006). Myxobacterial cells can spread and swarm on an excreted polymeric, mucus-like matrix.…”

“…Myxobacterial cells can spread and swarm on an excreted polymeric, mucus-like matrix. Most notably, under unfavourable nutrient conditions, many myxobacteria can aggregate to dense mushroom-like cell colonies and produce fruiting bodies and spores (Shimkets, 1990;Shimkets et al, 2006). In this complex, densitydependent life style, signalling compounds have a key role (Goldman et al, 2006), and myxobacteria are well known for the production of various secondary metabolites and thus are prime targets for the search of new secondary metabolites (Gerth et al, 2003;Wenzel and Mü ller, 2007;Weissman and Mü ller, 2010).…”

Minicystis rosea gen. nov., sp. nov., a polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich and steroid-producing soil myxobacterium

“…All characterizations were based with the first isolated strain SBNa008 T . Phenotypic growth stages were studied and documented after cultivation of the strain on VY/2 (Reichenbach & Dworkin, 1992;Shimkets et al, 2006) Since myxobacteria are known for their growth development phases that culminate in the formation of multicellular fruiting bodies that bear myxospores, and these stages may change or be lost unexpectedly after subcultivation, phenotypic characteristics were documented early after isolation. Swarm and fruiting body stages were studied and photographed using a stereomicroscope (Zeiss Discovery-V20), while myxospores and vegetative cells were observed by phase-contrast microscopy (Zeiss Axiovert 200, Zeiss Axio-Star), photographed using an Axiocam MRC (Zeiss) camera and analysed by using the AxioVision LE software.…”

“…A temperature tolerance test was performed at 18, 22 (room temperature), 30 and 37 u C, while pH tolerance was assessed at pH 3-10 at intervals of 1.0 pH unit on VY/2 agar. The growth response to different temperatures and antibiotic resistance at 50 mg ml 21 were tested on buffered VY/2 agar (Garcia et al, 2009a) supplemented with vitamin solutions (Shimkets et al, 2006). The antibiotics used were gentamicin (AppliChem), thiostrepton (Calbiochem), rifampicin (Fluka), ampicillin, carbenicillin, hygromycin B and kanamycin (all from Roth), apramycin, bacitracin, sodium cephalothin, fusidic acid, kasugamycin, neomycin, oxytetracycline, polymxin, spectinomycin, tetracycline and trimetoprim (all from Sigma) and streptomycin (Synopharm), all filter-sterilized and added to autoclaved medium that had cooled to 50 u C. Cellulose and chitin degradation was assessed on water, VY/2 and buffered-VY/ 2 agars overlaid with sterile filter paper (2.061.0 cm) and a drop of cellulose or chitin powder solution (both from Sigma) on separate sections of the Petri dish.…”