Extract

Structome analysis (quantitative and three-dimensional structural analysis of a whole cell at the electron microscopic level [1–3]) is a useful tool for identification of unknown microorganisms that cannot be cultured. In 2012, we discovered a unique microorganism with a cell structure intermediate between those of prokaryotes and eukaryotes in the deep sea off the coast of Japan [4–7], and named it Myojin parakaryote. We also found another unique microorganism (Myojin spiral bacteria [8]) at the same place. Here we describe the third unique microorganism discovered at the same place using structome analysis. We named this unique microorganism ‘Myojin amorphous bacteria’ after the discovery location and their morphology. They had a total length of 1.82 ± 0.40 μm and a total volume of 0.37 ± 0.09 μm3. The cells had two layers of cell surface membrane, ribosomes and inner fibrous structures. This is the first report that shows the presence of unique bacteria, individuals of which have different shapes.

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