Deeply branching <i>Bacillota</i> species exhibit atypical Gram-negative staining
In this study, we examined the evolution of bacterial cell envelopes, specifically focusing on Gram-positive and Gram-negative cell wall types in the <i>Bacillota</i> phylum. Our results indicate that certain bacteria can stain Gram-negative despite having a monoderm cell wall structure, thus challenging the conventional interpretation of Gram-staining results. Our observations also question the assumption that Gram-negative staining is always indicative of a diderm structure. These findings have broader implications for understanding how and when cell walls thicken during the evolution of bacterial cell envelopes.
Authors
- Saroj Poudel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7147-1836)
- Jennifer Louise Goff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9089-9632)
- Nathan Yee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1023-5271)
- Jessica K. Choi
Institutions
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Purchase College (US)
- Planetary Science Institute (US)
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Microbiology Spectrum
- Published
- 2024-08-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00732-24
- Citations
- 6
- Primary Topic
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.40
Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- University of Pennsylvania
- Syracuse University
- State University of New York
- Universities Space Research Association
- Nuclear Safety and Security Commission
- NASA Astrobiology Institute