Anoxybacillus flavithermus WK1

Names Anoxybacillus flavithermus WK1
Accession numbers NC_011567
Background Anoxybacillus spp. are facultative anaerobes found in diverse moderate- to high-temperature habitats such as geothermal hot springs, manure and processed foods such as gelatin. Anoxybacillus flavithermus is a major contaminant of milk powder and gelatin. Strain WK1 (DSM 21510) was isolated from the waste water drain at the Wairakei geothermal power station in New Zealand. The bacterium is a dark yellow color which is caused by accumulation of a carotenoid pigment in the cell membrane. It is unusual in its ability to grow in waters that are super-saturated with amorphous silica, and where opaline silica sinter is actively forming. Sinter is a deposit of opaline or amorphous silica with small cavities that occurs as an incrustation around hot springs and geysers and sometimes forms conical mounds (geyser cones) or terraces. The ability of A. flavithermus to grow in super-saturated silica solutions makes it an ideal subject to study the processes of sinter formation, which might be similar to the biomineralization processes that occurred at the dawn of life. The genome shows clear signs of genome compaction in the Anoxybacilus/Geobacillus branch, compared to other members of the family Bacillaceae. Synthesis of long chain polyamines and biofilm formation by A. flavithermus could regulate sinter formation and control the textural features of the resulting siliceous sinters. The presence of an array of c-di-GMP-related signal transduction proteins suggests that A. flavithermus could regulate biofilm formation in response to the environmental conditions (adapted from PubMed 19014707 and Encyclopaedia Brittanica). (HAMAP: ANOFW)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Bacteria
Phylum:Firmicutes
Class:Bacilli
Order:Bacillales
Family:Bacillaceae
Genus:Anoxybacillus
Species:flavithermus
Strain NA
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre (13-NOV-2008) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
(17-DEC-2007) Microbiology, University of Hawaii, 2538 McCarthy Mall, Snyder Hall, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method NA
Isolation site waste water drain at the Wairakei geothermal power station in New Zealand
Isolation country New Zealand
Number of replicons 1
Gram staining properties Positive
Shape Bacilli
Mobility Yes
Flagellar presence Yes?
Number of membranes 1
Oxygen requirements Facultative
Optimal temperature 60.0
Temperature range Thermophilic
Habitat Specialized
Biotic relationship Free living
Host name NA
Cell arrangement NA
Sporulation Sporulating
Metabolism NA
Energy source NA
Diseases NA
Pathogenicity No