"Candidatus Ovobacter propellens": A large conspicuous prokaryote with an unusual motility behaviour

Abstract

A new type of bacterium "Candidatus Ovobacter propellens" is described. It is a large ovoid species with a number of unusual features including special intracellular membrane systems and a huge flagellar tuft consisting of about 400 flagella. "Ovobacter" lives in oxygen gradients in the surface layer of sulphidic marine sediments at an O 2-tension of about 0.5% atmospheric saturation. It swims continuously and very fast (up to 1 mm s-1). Its mode of swimming and its chemosensory behaviour towards O2 are described in detail. © 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.