Myxococcus xanthus

Description and significance
Myxococcus xanthus is a social organism, which are self-organized, saprotrophic and predatory. M. xanthus is a rod shaped, gram negative bacteria, which uses a form of gliding for locomotion. There's been recent discovery of two types of systems used for locomotion. The first system is type IV pilli, which is used as a type of hook. The second system is mucus secreting, which tend to form sites of focal adhesion. During starvation periods this bacteria has been discovered to use a form of chemotaxis signaling in order to produce and regulate multi-cellular rippling during predation. Predation takes place a multi-cellular synchronizing mechanism. The ability for this bacteria to communicate with others and be able to work together towards the targeted prey, makes it a good candidate for research. M. xanthus tends to form fruiting bodies. Within these fruiting bodies there are spores. These spores will germinate in order to return to a vegetative cycle as soon as conditions are favorable. M.xanthus is a predator to other bacteria, but harmless to humans.

Genome structure
M.xanthus is one of the largest prokaryotic genomes to be sequenced.

Cell structure and metabolism
M. xanthus has a life cycle which includes; predation, fruit bodies and swarming.

Ecology
M. xanthus is commonly found in soil. This bacteria lives in a multi-cellular unit.

Pathology
This bacteria is a predator of other bacteria. The fact that M. xanthus moves by chemotaxis and usually moves towards a prey resulted in the word "predataxis".

Application to biotechnology
The unique feature of M.xanthus being predatory towards other bacteria, is of great use for studies. This feature has been hypothesis to be utilized in order to predate for other harmful bacteria.

Current research
Current locomotion studies have revealed that the synchronizing of both motor systems is due to spatial oscillation of motility proteins. M. xanthus predation tactics are being studied with results such as: a sort of cell reversal motion which cause a wave like effect, directing towards the prey. There is also a correlation between the ripple wavelength and amount of prey available. High amounts prey there are shorter wavelengths, lower amounts of prey cause a longer wavelength. Current research has positive results on the identification of the pathway responsible for chemotaxis in this bacteria. The assumed pathway is Frz, which activates FrCD, a chemotaxis protein.