Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans 2CP-1

Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans (strain 2CP-1) is a slender Gram-negative rod-shaped spore-forming soil bacterium. It is capable of a gliding motility and it forms a spore-like structure. It was first isolated by anaerobic enrichment from a Michigan soil sample on 2-chlorophenol and acetate followed by growth of single plate-grown colonies. It is the first Myxobacterium that is found capable of anaerobic respiration, wherein it is able to grow by coupling the oxidation of both acetate or hydrogen, which is a distinguishing property of the organism from other reducing populations, to the reduction of ortho-substituted halophenols, ferric iron, nitrate, nitrite, nitrous oxide, manganese oxide, uranium (VI) and fumarate. Of interest is its unique respiratory reduction of nitrate and nitrite to ammonia which is not linked to its ability to reduce nitrous oxide to nitrogen gas. These metal-reducing microorganisms are widely distributed in the environment. Anaeromyxobacter strains have been found in undisturbed and contaminated soils and sediments, and evidence shows they also exist in acidic subsurface sediments and agricultural soils. A. dehalogenans is an important model organism that exists as both as a productive dechlorinator and metal reducer. By studying the potential interferences between the competing substrates in contaminated environments we can further understand bioremediation efforts. (adapted from PubMed 11823233 and http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Anaeromyxobacter_dehalogenans). (EBI Integr8)