cell membrane contains an abundance of ferric hydroxide whereas the sheath is relatively devoid of this substance. Non-motile and unattached. Found in iron-bearing waters.
The type species is Sideronema qlobuliferum Beger.
1. Sideronema globuliferum Beger, 1941. (Sideronemn globulifera (sic) Beger, Zent. f. Bakt., II Abt., 103, 1941, 321.)
glob.u.li.fe'rum. L. divcv.noun globulus a, small sphere, globule; L. v. fero to bear, carry; M.L. adj. globulijerus globule-bearing.
Cells coccoid, round to egg-shaped, 4.8 to 5.0 by 6.5 microns. Occur in chains (3 to 8 cells) which are enclosed in a gelatinous sheath 1.6 microns thick; the cells in these chains are non-confluent. Ferric hydroxide is found in the cell membrane but only sparingly so in the sheath. Non-motile and unattached.
Source: Found on glass slides submerged in spring water near Magdeburg, Germany.
Habitat: Presumably widely distributed in iron-bearing waters.
Genus IV. Ferribacterium Brussoff, 1916.
(Brussoff, Cent. f. Bakt., II Abt., 45, 1916, 547; Sideroderma Naumann, Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl., 62, 1922, 54.)
Fer.ri.bac.te'ri.um. L. noun ferrum iron; Gr. dim.noun bacterium a small rod; M.L. neut.n. Ferribacterium iron rodlet.
Rods, with rounded or square ends, usually occurring in pairs, sometimes appearing singly or in short chains. Motility occasionally observed; presumably the cells are polar flagellate. In most cultures the cells are enclosed in a gelatinous capsule which is ordinarily surrounded by deposits of iron compounds. Produces a pellicle on the surface of liquid media and water. Found in iron- or manganese-bearing water.
The type species is Ferribacterium duplex Brussoff.
1. Ferribacterium duplex Brussoft", 1916. (Brussoff", Cent. f. Bakt., II Abt., 45, 1916, 547; Sideroderma duplex Naumann, Kgl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl., 62, 1922, 55 and 63.)
du'plex. L. adj. duplex two-fold, double. Rods, with rounded ends, 1.2 by 2.5 to 5.0 microns, occurring usually in pairs, sometimes singly or in short chains. Reported as non-motile. Cells enclosed in a gelatinous capsule which is ordinarily surrounded by iron compounds. According to Sauer (Inaug. Diss., Kiel, 1934, 33) the cells are motile and Gram-negative.
Peat-infusion agar: In old cultures the gelatinous capsule is surrounded by a dark sheath, never by an iron secretion; the sheath is generally ellipsoidal. Irregular forms are also found.
Iron ammonium citrate broth: Pellicle scarcely visible, appearing yellow under the microscope.
Iron peptone broth: Produces a barely visible pellicle which appears yellow under the microscope.
Water: A pellicle is formed which is weakly iridescent or of a metallic sheen. Aerobic.
Source: Isolated from an ochre-colored sediment from two samples of tap-water from Breslau labelled "Schwentniger" and "Pirschamer".
Habitat: Found in iron-bearing waters.
2. Ferribacterium rectangulare (Naumann, 1922) Beger, comb. nov. (Sideroderma rectangulare Naumann, Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl., 62, No. 4, 1922, 54; Sideroderma tenue Naumann, loc. cit.)
rec.tang.u.la're. L. adj. rectus straight; L. adj. angularis angular; M.L. adj. rectangularis rectangular.
Rods, with square ends, 0.5 by 3.0 microns. Embedded in capsular material in pairs. Iron compounds deposited outside
