Vibrio fischeri

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Vibrio fischeri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria Phylum: Proteobacteria Class: Gammaproteobacteria Order: Vibrionales Family: Vibrionaceae Genus: Aliivibrio Species: V. fischeri
Binomial name
Vibrio fischeri

Description and significance

Vibrio fischeri is a curved rod shaped, motile, marine bioluminescent symbiotic bacterium found in the light organs of fish and squid. The bacterium is a heterotrophic facultative anaerobe that shows up as gram negative using the gram stain. V. fischeri bioluminesce only after reaching a certain population density. There has been much studies done on symbiotic relationship between a particular strain of V. fischeri and the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymma scolopes. The nocturnal squid uses the bioluminescence bacteria as camouflage in a 'counterillumination' strategy, while the host provides housing and nutrients for the bacterium.

References

http://www.isbc.unibo.it/Files/BC_PlanktonNekton.htm

http://web.uconn.edu/mcbstaff/graf/VfEs/VfEssym.htm