Scientists discovered the largest known bacterium in the Caribbean mangrove swamp. While most bacteria is microscopic, this one can be seen with the naked eyes.
Jean-Marie Volland, marine biologist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and co-author on a paper that announced the discovery in Science, said the thin, white filament is approximately the same size as a human eyelash.
Olivier Gros was a co-author of the paper and a biologist at the University of the French West Indies. He discovered the first instance of the bacterium, Thiomargarita magnifica (or “magnificent sulfur pearl”), in 2009, while searching for sunken mangrove leaves on Guadeloupe archipelago.
He didn’t know that it was a bacteria because of its large size. These bacteria can reach an average length of one-third of an inch. The organism was only one bacterial cell. Genetic analysis of the genome revealed this later.
Petra Levin, a Washington University microbiologist, said that the discovery was “amazing.” She wasn’t involved in the research. It raises the question of how many giant bacteria there are. This reminds us to never underestimate bacteria.
Gros also discovered the bacteria attached to oyster shells and rocks, as well as glass bottles in swamp.
Although scientists haven’t been able yet to grow the cell in laboratory culture, researchers say it has a unique structure for bacteria. One important difference is that it has a large central compartment (or vacuole) that allows certain cell functions to take place in this controlled environment, instead of all over the cell.
Manuel Campos, a French biologist and member of the French National Center for Scientific Research was not involved in the study.
Researchers said that they don’t know why the bacterium was so large. Volland, a co-author, suggested that it could be an adaptation to avoid being eaten smaller organisms.
