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OceanospirillumRANK: GenusTAXONOMY: cellular organisms -> Bacteria -> Proteobacteria -> Gammaproteobacteria -> Oceanospirillales -> Oceanospirillaceae -> Oceanospirillum OVERVIEW: Rigid, helical cells 0.4–1.2 μm in diameter. Motile by bipolar tufts of flagella. A polar membrane underlies the cytoplasmic membrane at the cell poles in all species so far examined by electron microscopy. Intracellular poly-β-hydroxybutyrate is formed. All species form thin-walled coccoid bodies that predominate in old cultures. Gram negative. Aerobic, having a strictly respiratory type of metabolism with oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. Nitrate respiration does not occur. Nitrate can be reduced to nitrite in all oceanospirilla. Optimum temperature for growth, 25–32°C. Oxidase positive. Indole and aryl sulfatase negative. Casein, starch, hippurate, and esculin are not hydrolyzed. Seawater is required for growth. Carbohydrates are neither oxidized nor fermented. Amino acids or the salts of organic acids serve as carbon sources. Growth factors are not usually required. Isolated from coastal seawater, decaying seaweed, and putrid infusions of marine mussels.The mol% G + C of the DNA is: 45–50.Type species: Oceanospirillum linum |