“Up to 2 cm, 5000 times more than other bacteria” – Corriere.it

It is thousands of times larger than other known microorganisms: in Guadeloupe Giant bacteria have been discovered that can be seen even with the naked eye. worlds: “Without comparisons, he is like a human being the length of Everest”, Experts said. The Fantastic Thiomargaritacan be recognized even without high-magnification instruments, It measures about 1 centimeter and has been found on the surfaces of mangrove leaves Decaying in tropical swamps. They found it by scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and it is up to 5,000 times larger than other bacteria. Discovery Thiomargarita Magnifica It was published in the magazine Sciences. It consists of thin white threads that can be seen with the naked eye.

uncontaminated surface

According to the co-author of the study published in SciencesJean-Marie Foland (marine biologist and scientist at California Research Laboratory), il Thiomargarita Magnific
to me It can be up to 2 cm long. For comparison, it takes more than 625,000 Escherichia coli bacteria to make one Thiomargarita Magnifica. The study says that despite its size, the bacteria will have a “particularly uncontaminated” surface, devoid of microorganisms that live on the surface of live plants and animals.

Membranes that produce energy

It was previously believed that bacteria cannot grow to a size visible to the naked eye. Because of the way they interact with their environment and produce energy. But Thiomargarita Magnifica It has an extensive network of membranes that can produce energy, So that you don’t have to rely solely on the surface to absorb nutrients. In addition, unlike most bacteria that contain genetic material freely floating within their single cell, their DNA is contained in small, membrane-bound sacs (called “pipins”).

The “engine” is in sulfur

These giant bacteria grow on sediments at the bottom of sulfuric watersThey harness the chemical energy of sulfur and use the oxygen from the surrounding water to produce the sugars. Tania Woicki, chief scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, It is believed that ‘giant bacteria’, or related species, are likely to be found in other mangroves around the world: It always amazes me how little we know about the microbial world and how much is out there. “Discovery Fantastic Thiomargarita He suggests that larger, more complex bacteria can hide from our eyes: but just because we haven’t seen them yet – concludes Woyke – doesn’t mean they don’t exist.