The History of Aerobic Ammonia Oxidizers: from the First Discoveries to Today

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Monteiro, M (Author) Other; Seneca, J (Author) Other; Magalhaes, C (Author) Other

Journal

The Journal is awaiting validation by the Administrative Services.

Title: Journal of Microbiology

Vol. 52

Pages: 537-547

ISSN: 1225-8873

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 53 Citations

Scopus - 59 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-9MX

DOI: 10.1007/s12275-014-4114-0

Abstract (EN): Nitrification, the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and nitrate, has long been considered a central biological process in the global nitrogen cycle, with its first description dated 133 years ago. Until 2005, bacteria were considered the only organisms capable of nitrification. However, the recent discovery of a chemoautotrophic ammonia-oxidizing archaeon, Nitrosopumilus maritimus, changed our concept of the range of organisms involved in nitrification, highlighting the importance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) as potential players in global biogeochemical nitrogen transformations. The uniqueness of these archaea justified the creation of a novel archaeal phylum, Thaumarchaeota. These recent discoveries increased the global scientific interest within the microbial ecology society and have triggered an analysis of the importance of bacterial vs archaeal ammonia oxidation in a wide range of natural ecosystems. In this mini review we provide a chronological perspective of the current knowledge on the ammonia oxidation pathway of nitrification, based on the main physiological, ecological and genomic discoveries.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11