Na.no.ar.chae'um. Gr. masc. n.
nanos
dwarf; Gr. masc. adj.
archaios
ancient; N.L. neut. n.
“Nanoarchaeum”
the ancient dwarf.
Euryarchaeota / Thermococci / Nanoarchaeales / Nanoarchaeaceae / Nanoarchaeum
Presently, the genus
“Nanoarchaeum”
harbors only one species,
“Nanoarchaeum equitans”
. Cells are tiny cocci (diameters between 0.35 and 0.5 µm), which are directly attached to the surface of their host,
Ignicoccus hospitalis
cells. This association is mandatory for
“N. equitans”
to survive and proliferate.
“N. equitans”
is hyperthermophilic with an optimal growth temperature around 90°C. Its cytoplasmic membrane is covered by a regular surface layer (S‐layer) with sixfold symmetry. Cells stain Gram‐negative.
“N. equitans”
must obtain its small‐molecule cellular precursors (lipids, amino acids, and sugars) from its host. The genome is highly reduced exhibiting only around 490 kbp.
Type species
:
“Nanoarchaeum equitans”
Huber, Hohn, Rachel, Fuchs, Wimmer and Stetter 2002, 66.