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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 3665

J.J.A. Van Bruggen, G.L.M. Van Rens, E.J.M. Geertman, K.B. Zwart, C.K. Stumm, and G.D. Vogels; Isolation of a Methanogenic Endosymbiont of the Sapropelic Amoeba Pelomyxa palustris Greeff. J.Protozool. 35(1):20-23, 1988

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One of the two methanogenic endosymbionts of the giant sapropelic amoeba Pelomyxa palustris was isolated in pure culture. The cells were slender non-motile rods (3x0.4 µm), sometimes occurring in chains of 3-4 cells. Ultrathin sections revealed a Gram-positive cell wall and conically pointed ends with mesosome-like structures in the cytoplasm. The isolate had a generation time of 10 and 12 hr during growth on H2/CO2 and formate, respectively. The optimum growth temperature was 40 degrees C and the optimum pH was 7.8. The G+C content of its DNA was found to be 37.7% mole percent. The isolate was identified as Methanobacterium formicicum.