Vampirococcus
Encyclopedia
Vampirococcus is an informally described genus
of ovoid Gram-negative
bacteria
, but the exact phylogeny of these bacteria is not yet known. They were first described in 1983, as small bacteria about 0.6 μm wide that attached to the surfaces of the larger photosynthetic purple sulfur bacterium Chromatium minus. Vampirococcus has since been identified as aquatic obligate parasite
that is specific to Chromatium
. They are epibiont
s, attaching to the exterior of their host and attacking via a specialized cytoplasmic bridge. They are commonly mentioned as an example of epibionts when discussing strategies employed by bacterial predators.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of ovoid Gram-negative
Gram-negative
Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol. In a Gram stain test, a counterstain is added after the crystal violet, coloring all Gram-negative bacteria with a red or pink color...
bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
, but the exact phylogeny of these bacteria is not yet known. They were first described in 1983, as small bacteria about 0.6 μm wide that attached to the surfaces of the larger photosynthetic purple sulfur bacterium Chromatium minus. Vampirococcus has since been identified as aquatic obligate parasite
Obligate parasite
An obligate parasite is a parasitic organism that cannot complete its life cycle without dependence on its host.-See also:*Obligate intracellular parasite*Parasitism*Parasitic plant*Facultative parasite...
that is specific to Chromatium
Chromatium
Chromatium is a genus of photoautotrophic Gram-negative bacteria, also known as purple sulfur bacteria, which are found in water. These bacteria oxidize sulfide to produce sulfur which is deposited in intracellular granules of the cytoplasm. They also couple oxidation of other metals, like iron, in...
. They are epibiont
Epibiont
An epibiont is an organism that lives on the surface of another living organism. An epibiont is usually considered harmless to the host; in this sense, the relationship between the two organisms can be considered neutralistic or commensalistic. Typical epibionts are barnacles, remoras, and algae,...
s, attaching to the exterior of their host and attacking via a specialized cytoplasmic bridge. They are commonly mentioned as an example of epibionts when discussing strategies employed by bacterial predators.