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Oceanospirillum

A genus of motile, nonsporeforming, aerobic bacteria (family spirillaceae) containing gram-negative, rigid, helical cells which are 0.3 to 1.2 um in diameter. Motile cells contain bipolar fascicles of flagella. There is no growth anaerobically with nitrate. These organisms are chemoorganotrophic and possess a strictly respiratory metabolism; they neither oxidise nor ferment carbohydrates; found in marine environments. There are at present five species in this genus, of which the type species is oceanospirillum linum.

Origin: L. Oceanus, ocean, _ spirillum, coil