Paenibacillus macerans
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| Paenibacillus macerans | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Kingdom: | Bacillati |
| Phylum: | Bacillota |
| Class: | Bacilli |
| Order: | Paenibacillales |
| Family: | Paenibacillaceae |
| Genus: | Paenibacillus |
| Species: | P. macerans |
| Binomial name | |
| Paenibacillus macerans (Schardinger 1905) Ash et al. 1994 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Bacillus macerans | |
Paenibacillus macerans is a diazotroph bacterium found in soil and plants capable of nitrogen fixation and fermentation. This bacteria was originally discovered in 1905 by an Austrian biologist named Schardinger and thought to be a bacillus.[1]
Paenibacillus macerans is a part of the family Paenibacillaceae which are facultative anaerobes. It is gram-variable, being gram-positive or gram-negative rods.[2] Does not have a capsule and has peritrichous flagella for movement. It does form ellipsoidal, terminal, or subterminal spores which may last in the soil for many years.[3]
Growth conditions
Paenibacillus. macerans can be grown in the lab on a nutrient agar with a slightly acidic pH around 5. Optimal growth temperature is 30 °C. No growth in 5% NaCl.[3]
Metabolic capabilities
Paenibacillus. macerans has been shown to have some of the broadest metabolic capabilities of any of the genus Paenibacillus. It is able to ferment hexoses, deoxyhexoses, pentoses, cellulose, hemicellulose and glycerol under anaerobic conditions.[4] The high fermentation rates of glycerol makes this an important organism in the study of fuel and chemical production. P. macerans also produces a significant amount of histamines which may cause allergies in some individuals if ingested.[5] This bacterium is a facultative anaerobe capable of nitrogen fixation so in the absence of oxygen it is able to convert nitrogen gas to ammonia which is more easily used by plants.[6]