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A groundbreaking discovery in microbiology has revealed a new species of bacteria that functions like electrical wiring, potentially revolutionizing various fields including medicine, industry, food safety, and environmental monitoring and cleanup.
The recently identified species, named Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis, was found in a mud flat along the Oregon coast. This name pays tribute to the Native American tribes native to this region, particularly the Yaqona, who have historical ties to the area of discovery.
The findings, documented in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, were led by Cheng Li, a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University, and Clare Reimers, a distinguished professor emerita in the OSU College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Their research involved analyzing intertidal sediment samples collected from the Yaquina Bay estuary.
This new type of cable bacteria is characterized by rod-shaped cells that are linked end-to-end, with a shared outer membrane creating filaments that can extend several centimeters. Notably, this species possesses electrical conductivity, which is a rare trait among bacteria and serves to enhance their metabolic activity in sedimentary environments.
The genetic and metabolic profile of Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis represents a hybrid between the Ca. Electrothrix genus and another known genus of cable bacteria, Ca. Electronema. “This new species appears to occupy an evolutionary bridge within the Ca. Electrothrix clade, which could offer new perspectives on the evolutionary trajectory of these bacteria and their ecological roles,” stated Li, who will be returning to Oregon State as an assistant professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences following a position at James Madison University.
“Its metabolic capabilities distinguish it from other cable bacteria species significantly. Furthermore, the bacterium exhibits unique structural traits, including surface ridges that are notably wider than those of its counterparts, housing conductive fibers composed of novel nickel-based molecules,” Li added.
The bacteria’s fibers facilitate long-distance electron transport, efficiently linking electron acceptors such as oxygen or nitrate found at the sediment surface with electron donors like sulfide located deeper within the sediment layers. This long-range electron transfer ability positions the bacterium as a vital contributor to sediment geochemical processes and nutrient cycling.
“These bacteria have the potential to transfer electrons in ways that could aid in pollutant degradation, making them valuable for cleaning up contaminated sediments,” Li remarked. “Moreover, the structure of their conductive nickel proteins could inspire innovative developments in bioelectronics.”
Cable bacteria, including the newly described species, thrive in a range of climatic conditions and can be found in various sedimentary environments, both in freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.
The name Ca. Electrothrix yaqonensis not only honors the Yaqona people but also reflects their historical connection to the lands around Yaquina Bay, an area integral to their ancestral heritage. Today, descendants of the Yaqona are part of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, and the researchers collaborated with them in selecting an appropriate name for the species.
“By naming this ecologically significant bacterium after a tribe, we acknowledge their historical connection to the land while highlighting their contributions to ecological knowledge and sustainability,” Li emphasized.
In addition to researchers from Oregon State University, the study involved collaborations with scientists from the University of Antwerp, Delft University of Technology, and the University of Vienna. The project received funding from the Office of Naval Research, Oregon Sea Grant, Research Foundation Flanders, the University of Antwerp, the EU Marie Sklodowska-Curie Cofund, and the European Innovation Council.
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