Brachybacterium netajii

Brachybacterium netajii Latest News

A team of researchers recently discovered a tough, new species of bacteria named Brachybacterium netajii in the waters of the River Ganges.

About Brachybacterium netajii

• It is a new species of bacteria.
• It was discovered from the Hooghly (a distributary of the Ganges) region of West Bengal.
• It possesses a remarkable ability to break down toxic chemicals and survive heavy metal pollution. 
• It can safely degrade p-nitrophenol (PNP), a toxic industrial chemical, and boasts extreme resilience, surviving high concentrations of toxic heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.  
• It is also halotolerant, meaning it can withstand highly salty environments containing up to 9% salt.  
• Its cellular makeup is unique. It features specific fatty acids in its cell structure, notably ones known as C11:0 and C10:0 2-OH, which are absent in its closest relatives.  
• Its genome is packed with unique genomic islands, chunks of DNA likely absorbed from other organisms.
  • They contain instructions for producing industrial enzymes and natural protective shields, such as a compound called ectoine that helps it survive extreme environmental stress.

News: RM

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