Ancalomicrobium adetum

About this microbe: James T. Staley

A. adetum produces several long prosthecae from its cells which divide by budding. It is a member of the Alphaproteobacteria. It is immotile, but produces gas vesicles under certain conditions. A. adetum is the only prosthecate bacterium known to grow anaerobically. Remarkably it carries out a mixed acid fermentation and the products of that fermentation are exactly the same as Escherichia coli a member of the Gammaproteobacteria.

Figure Legend

SEM photo by Alex van Neerven and J. T. Staley.

Cells about 1.5 microns in diameter

Artist Response: Jehanne Dubrow and Lindsay Lusby