Taxonomy
- Domain: Bacteria
- Phylum: Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes)
- Class: Flavobacteriia
- Order: Flavobacteriales
- Family: Flavobacteriaceae
- Genus: Gaetbulibacter (Kwon et al., 2005)
General Characteristics
- Cell morphology: Gram‑negative, rod‑shaped bacteria. Cells are typically 0.5–0.7 µm in width and 2–3 µm in length.
- Motility: Species are generally non‑motile; some isolates exhibit gliding motility characteristic of Flavobacteriia.
- Oxygen requirement: Obligate aerobes.
- Metabolism: Heterotrophic; capable of degrading a variety of polysaccharides and proteins found in marine environments.
- Growth conditions: Mesophilic, with optimal growth at temperatures of 20–30 °C and in the presence of seawater‑based media (typically 2–3 % NaCl).
Ecology
Members of the genus have been isolated from coastal marine habitats, including tidal flats, seawater, and sediments. The name Gaetbulibacter derives from the Korean word “gae‑tbul” (meaning “tidal flat”), reflecting the environment from which the type species was first recovered.
Species (selected)
- Gaetbulibacter saemankumensis – type species, isolated from a tidal flat in the Saemankum region of South Korea.
- Gaetbulibacter marinus – isolated from seawater collected off the coast of Japan.
- Gaetbulibacter lutimaris – isolated from marine sediment.
Genomic Information
Whole‑genome sequences are available for several species; genome sizes range from approximately 3.0 to 3.5 Mbp with G + C contents of 30–35 mol %. Genes encoding carbohydrate‑active enzymes (CAZymes) are common, supporting polysaccharide degradation capabilities.
Relevance
- Environmental microbiology: Contributes to the turnover of organic matter in marine ecosystems.
- Biotechnological potential: Enzymes involved in polysaccharide degradation are of interest for applications in bioconversion of marine biomass.
References
- Kwon, K. K., Lee, J. J., & Lee, H. M. (2005). Gaetbulibacter saemankumensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from a tidal flat. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 55(5), 1915‑1919.
- Additional species descriptions and genome reports are documented in peer‑reviewed microbiological journals and the NCBI genome database.
