Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Prokaryotic Cells01:51

Prokaryotic Cells

132.7K
Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains—Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common organisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.
Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins....
132.7K
Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota01:26

Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota

595
The phylum Bacteroidota includes over 700 species classified into four primary orders: Bacteroidales, Cytophagales, Flavobacteriales, and Sphingobacteriales. These gram-negative, non-sporulating rods exhibit saccharolytic capabilities and can be aerobic or fermentative, encompassing obligate aerobes, facultative aerobes, and obligate anaerobes. Many species display gliding motility, though some are nonmotile or use flagella. The genus Bacteroides is well-studied due to its significant role in...
595
Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes01:27

Bacterial Phylum Firmicutes

944
Firmicutes is a diverse phylum of Gram-positive bacteria characterized by a low GC content in their genomes. This phylum includes organisms with monoderm or diderm cell envelopes, highlighting a complex evolutionary history. Firmicutes comprises several major orders, including Lactobacillales, Clostridiales, and Bacillales, which exhibit remarkable diversity in their morphology, metabolism, and ecological roles.The order Lactobacillales includes lactic acid bacteria, which are fermentative...
944
Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria01:26

Bacterial Phylum Proteobacteria

790
Proteobacteria, one of the largest and most diverse bacterial phyla, encompasses a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria distinguished by their outer membrane composed of lipopolysaccharides. These microorganisms exhibit various metabolic capabilities, including phototrophy, chemolithotrophy, and heterotrophy, and thrive in diverse environments from soil to aquatic systems and host-associated niches. The phylum is divided into six classes: Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria,...
790
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria01:30

Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria

622
Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
622
Prokaryotic Cells01:28

Prokaryotic Cells

49.3K
Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains — Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common microorganisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.
Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize...
49.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Rapid metabolism fosters microbial survival in the deep, hot subseafloor biosphere.

Nature communications·2022
Same author

Complex Microbial Communities Drive Iron and Sulfur Cycling in Arctic Fjord Sediments.

Applied and environmental microbiology·2019
Same author

Cryptic CH<sub>4</sub> cycling in the sulfate-methane transition of marine sediments apparently mediated by ANME-1 archaea.

The ISME journal·2018
Same author

Control on rate and pathway of anaerobic organic carbon degradation in the seabed.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2017
Same author

A comparison of oxygen, nitrate, and sulfate respiration in coastal marine sediments.

Microbial ecology·2013
Same author

Bacterial zonation, photosynthesis, and spectral light distribution in hot spring microbial mats of Iceland.

Microbial ecology·2013
Same journal

Circadian Control of Host-Microbiome Symbioses.

Annual review of microbiology·2026
Same journal

Host-Pathogen Interactions in Malaria: Invasion, Neutralization, and Evasion.

Annual review of microbiology·2026
Same journal

From an Interest in Molecules to a Fascination with Microbes.

Annual review of microbiology·2026
Same journal

Bacterial Physiology in the Context of Algal Partners.

Annual review of microbiology·2026
Same journal

Introduction.

Annual review of microbiology·2025
Same journal

Decoding Microbial Community Assembly: Insights on Vectors of Infectious Diseases.

Annual review of microbiology·2025
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Growing a Cystic Fibrosis-Relevant Polymicrobial Biofilm to Probe Community Phenotypes
03:53

Growing a Cystic Fibrosis-Relevant Polymicrobial Biofilm to Probe Community Phenotypes

Published on: April 19, 2024

1.1K

Big bacteria.

H N Schulz1, B B Jorgensen

  • 1Max-Planck-Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, D-28359 Bremen, Germany. hschulz@mpi-bremen.de

Annual Review of Microbiology
|September 7, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Large bacteria, like Thiomargarita namibiensis, thrive due to unique adaptations. These include efficient nutrient acquisition and storage, overcoming diffusion limitations for survival in diverse environments.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Studying Bacterial Growth in 3D Hydrogel Matrices
05:46

Author Spotlight: Studying Bacterial Growth in 3D Hydrogel Matrices

Published on: January 19, 2024

3.2K
Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry
08:51

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry

Published on: September 15, 2020

4.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Growing a Cystic Fibrosis-Relevant Polymicrobial Biofilm to Probe Community Phenotypes
03:53

Growing a Cystic Fibrosis-Relevant Polymicrobial Biofilm to Probe Community Phenotypes

Published on: April 19, 2024

1.1K
Author Spotlight: Studying Bacterial Growth in 3D Hydrogel Matrices
05:46

Author Spotlight: Studying Bacterial Growth in 3D Hydrogel Matrices

Published on: January 19, 2024

3.2K
Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry
08:51

Atomic Force Microscopy Combined with Infrared Spectroscopy as a Tool to Probe Single Bacterium Chemistry

Published on: September 15, 2020

4.5K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Bacterial cell size varies greatly, from nanobacteria to Thiomargarita namibiensis (750 microm).
  • Molecular diffusion limits nutrient uptake for most bacteria.
  • Large cell size presents unique physiological and ecological challenges and advantages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the physiology and ecology of unusually large prokaryotic species.
  • To understand how large bacteria overcome diffusion limitations and gain competitive advantages.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of bacterial cell sizes and morphologies.
  • Investigation of nutrient acquisition strategies (diffusion, motility, advection).
  • Examination of intracellular inclusions and storage capabilities.

Main Results:

  • Motility and advective flow aid nutrient supply in species like Thiovulum majus.
  • Large heterotrophic bacteria (Epulopiscium sp.) likely inhabit nutrient-rich environments.
  • Colorless sulfur bacteria demonstrate significant advantages from large size, penetrating boundary layers and storing reserves.

Conclusions:

  • Large bacterial cell size is supported by specialized physiology and environmental adaptations.
  • Strategies such as enhanced motility, nutrient-rich habitats, and intracellular storage are key.
  • Large size confers competitive advantages, particularly in nutrient acquisition and substrate independence.