Halomonas titanicae
| Halomonas titanicae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Proteobacteria |
| Class: | Gammaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Oceanospirillales |
| Family: | Halomonadaceae |
| Genus: | Halomonas |
| Species: | H. titanicae |
| Binomial name | |
| Halomonas titanicae Mann, Kaur, Sánchez-Porro & Ventosa 2010 [1] | |
Halomonas titanicae is a gram-negative, halophilic species of proteobacteria which was discovered on rusticles recovered from the wreck of the RMS Titanic. Cristina Sánchez-Porro et al. first isolated the bacterium in 2010 from a sample of rusticle obtained from the RMS Titanic in 1991.[2] One of the researchers, Henrietta Mann has estimated that the action of microbes like Halomonas titanicae may bring about the total deterioration of the Titanic by 2030.[3] While the bacteria has been identified as a potential danger to oil rigs and other man-made objects in the deep sea, it also has the potential to be used in bioremediation to accelerate the decomposition of shipwrecks littering the ocean floor.[4][5]
In summer 2016, using an imaging technique neutron radiation, the facilities of the Institut Laue-Langevin demonstrate that a molecule called ectoine is used by these bacteria to survive the osmotic pressure that causes salt water on their membranes. [6]
References
- ↑ Cristina Sánchez-Porro; Bhavleen Kaur; Henrietta Mann; Antonio Ventosa (2010). "Halomonas titanicae sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from the RMS Titanic". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 60: 2768–2774. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.020628-0. PMID 20061494.
- ↑ Sánchez-Porro, Cristina (December 2010). "Halomonas titanicae sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from the RMS Titanic". IJSEM. 60 (12): 2768–2774. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.020628-0. PMID 20061494. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ↑ "New rust-eating bacteria 'destroying wreck of the Titanic'". Daily Mail. 10 December 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
- ↑ Betsy Mason (May 24, 2011). "Top 10 New Species Discovered in 2010". Wired. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "New species of bacteria found in Titanic 'rusticles'". BBC News. December 6, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ laboratoryequipment.com, September 6, 2016, Extremophile Bacteria’ Will Eat Away Wreck of the Titanic by 2030.