Microbe oft he year 2014: The multicellular bacterium Nostoc

What is it about?

The multicellular bacterium Nostoc In 2014 the VAAM selected for the first time a “microbe of the year” and the winner was the cyanobacterium Nostoc. This multicellular filamentous prokaryote will be described in this article in more detail, focusing on its adaptations to various environmental conditions and sophisticated cell dif- ferentiation processes. The photoautotrophic bacterium can live solely on air and light. Under certain conditions it is able to form spore like cells, mobile short filaments, and N2- fixing heterocysts. Hence, Nostoc is a popular partner in sev- eral symbiotic interactions with plants and heterotrophic organisms. Its autotrophic lifestyle and the presence of dif- ferentiated cells, which show true division of labor, give Nostoc a clear selective advantage in many aquatic and ter- restrial habitats. Nostoc is a true multicellular organism having special cell wall structures, which connect the cells and allow the communication between the cells of the fila- ment.

Featured Image