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| "Candidatus Epulopiscium" | |
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| Scientific classification | |
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| Genus: | "Candidatus Epulopiscium" corrig. Montgomery and Pollak 1988
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| Binomial name | |
| "Candidatus Epulopiscium fishelsonii" corrig. Montgomery and Pollak 1988
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| Type strain | |
| USNM 40601 | |
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Candidatus Epulopiscium is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria that have a symbiotic relationship with surgeonfish. These bacteria are known for their unusually large size, many ranging from 0.2 - 0.7 mm (200–700 μm) in length. Until the discovery of Thiomargarita namibiensis in 1999, Epulonipiscium species were thought to be the largest bacteria.[1][2] They are still the largest known heterotrophic bacteria.
In addition to their large size, Epulonipiscium, commonly referred to as "epulos," are morphologically diverse and extremely polyploid.[3] Epulos also have unique reproductive strategies in which certain cells can form intracellular offspring, similar to microbial sporulation; furthermore, several epulo morphologies exhibit sporulation.
While the bacteria have not been successfully grown in the lab, scientists have gained a better understanding of Epulonipiscium through microscopic, phylogenetic, and genomic analyses.
- ^ Angert ER, Clements KD, Pace NR (March 1993). "The largest bacterium". Nature. 362 (6417): 239–241. Bibcode:1993Natur.362..239A. doi:10.1038/362239a0. PMID 8459849. S2CID 4242187.
- ^ Angert ER, Brooks AE, Pace NR (March 1996). "Phylogenetic analysis of Metabacterium polyspora: clues to the evolutionary origin of daughter cell production in Epulopiscium species, the largest bacteria". Journal of Bacteriology. 178 (5): 1451–1456. doi:10.1128/jb.178.5.1451-1456.1996. PMC 177821. PMID 8631724.
- ^ Hutchison E, Yager NA, Taw MN, Taylor M, Arroyo F, Sannino DR, Angert ER (January 2018). "Developmental stage influences chromosome segregation patterns and arrangement in the extremely polyploid, giant bacterium Epulopiscium sp. type B". Molecular Microbiology. 107 (1): 68–80. doi:10.1111/mmi.13860. PMID 29024073.