Beggiatoa

Taxobox
color = lightgrey
name = "Beggiatoa"
regnum = Bacteria
phylum = Proteobacteria
classis = Gamma Proteobacteria
ordo = Thiotrichales
familia = Thiotrichaceae
genus = "Beggiatoa"
genus_authority = Trevisan 1842
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =

"Beggiatoa" is a filamentous (septate) genus of proteobacteria, and are among the largest prokaryotes, with cells about 200 micrometres in diameter. "Beggiatoa" can be considered an indicator species since they are present and flourish in marine environments which have been subject to pollution, where the bacteria become visible as a whitish layer.

Members of this genus are chemosynthetic, meaning that they utilize inorganic substances for the energy to make carbohydrates. "B. gigantea" obtains the energy required to survive by oxidizing compounds of sulfur; this characteristic means it is classified in the leucothiobacteria. Hydrogen sulfide is the compound typically oxidized, however its deficiency results in the use of elemental sulfur (oxidized to sulfuric acid) or of thiosulfate. There is an average of about 735kJ released per reaction.

Beggiatoa and other related filamentous bacteria can cause settling problems in sewage treatment plants, industrial waste lagoons in canning, paper pulping, brewing, milling, causing the phenomenon called Bulking.Beggiatoa are also able to detoxify hydrogen sulfide in soil.

External links

* [http://biology.kenyon.edu/Microbial_Biorealm/bacteria/beggiatoa/beggiatoa.html "Beggiatoa" page]