"Unveiling the Astonishing Energy Generation of Giant Bacterium"
Researchers have described the full genome of Epulopiscium viviparus, a giant bacterium found in the intestinal tracts of certain surgeonfish. These bacteria, which are visible to the naked eye and 1 million times larger than E. coli, have unique characteristics such as their mode of reproduction and metabolic processes. The study revealed that E. viviparus uses a rare method to produce energy and move, similar to the bacteria that cause cholera. It also devotes a significant portion of its genetic code to making enzymes that can extract nutrients from its host's gut. This research has potential applications in understanding how to efficiently utilize nutrients from algae, which is increasingly used in livestock feeds, renewable energy, and human nutrition.