Geobacter metallireducens | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Thermodesulfobacteriota |
Class: | Desulfuromonadia |
Order: | Geobacterales |
Family: | Geobacteraceae |
Genus: | Geobacter |
Species: | G. metallireducens
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Binomial name | |
Geobacter metallireducens Lovley et al. 1995
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Geobacter metallireducens is a gram-negative metal-reducing proteobacterium.[1] It is a strict anaerobe that oxidizes several short-chain fatty acids, alcohols, and monoaromatic compounds with Fe(III) as the sole electron acceptor.[2] It can also use uranium for its growth and convert U(VI) to U(IV).[3]
Geobacter metallireducens was discovered by Derek Lovley at UMass Amherst in 1993.[1] It is an iron-reducing bacteria and it has been thought that the microbe could be used to treat industrial sites where "cyanide-metal complexes" have formed to contaminate the site.[4] Geobacter metallireducens becomes motile when necessary, producing a flagellum in order to relocate when environmental conditions become unfavorable. [4]
The genome of Geobacter metallireducens has a chromosome length of 3,997,420 bp. It has a circular bacterial chromosome, meaning there are no free ends of DNA. The shape is roughly like that of an egg.[5] Geobacter metallireducens also has a GC content of 59.51%.[5] The plasmid has a lower GC content, of 52.48%, and is 13,762 bp in length. The plasmid encodes a stabilizing protein, RelE/ParE, which allows Geobacter metallireducens to adapt and thrive in different and new environmental conditions.[6]
G. metallireducens has been demonstrated to reduce chloramphenicol (CAP) to complete dechlorination products under pure culture conditions. Research utilizing cyclic voltammograms and chronoamperometry revealed that the bacteria exhibited a negative correlation CAP removal efficiency with initial CAP dosages, displaying the organism's potential application of bioremediation in environments polluted by antibiotics.[7]