Find great scientists Bacteria In the swamp forests of the Caribbean in the world, its enormous nature can be seen with the naked eye.

Jean-Marie Foland, a marine biologist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and co-author of the research paper, announced the discovery Thursday in the journal Science, describing the human eyelid-sized thin white fibers as “the largest bacteria.” Known to date. “”.

Olivier Gross, a biologist at the University of the West Indies and French Guiana, discovered the first example of the bacterium Theomargarita magnifica, or “wonderful sulfur pearl”, sticking to the leaves of a swamp in the Guadeloupe Islands in 2009.

But, according to the Associated Press, he did not immediately realize that it was a bacterium because it was surprisingly large at one-third of an inch (0.9 cm).

Later genetic analysis only revealed that the organism was a bacterial cell.

The world’s largest bacterium (AB)

“Amazing Discovery”

Petra Levine, a microbiologist at the University of Washington in St. Louis, said: “This is a wonderful discovery.

“It opens up the question of how many of these giant bacteria there are and reminds us that bacteria should never be underestimated,” he added.

“Having such a large center gap certainly helps to avoid physical limitations on cell size,” said Manuel Campos, a biologist at the French National Scientific Research Center who was not involved in the study.

The world’s largest bacterium (AB)

Although the researchers said they did not know why the bacteria were so large, co-author Woland speculated that it might be an adaptation to help prevent them from being eaten by smaller organisms.

The world’s largest bacterium (AB)

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Cross also found bacteria associated with oyster shells, rocks and glass bottles in the swamp.

Unusual structure

Scientists have not yet been able to grow new bacteria in laboratory culture, but the cell has an unusual structure for bacteria, say researchers.

It differs from that of a key in that it has a large center box or vacuum, which allows it to perform certain cell functions in that restricted environment, without the cell being full.