We have a large (7 um in diameter) coccoid cyanobacteria that seems to have some type of endosymbiotic bacteria. The endosymbiotic bacteria are seen around the cyanobacteria but also seem to live in compartments with in each cyanobacterium (seems like 2-6 per cell from microscopy). The bacteria swim around in the compartments so I don't think they are being 'eaten.' The bacteria are semi-spherical with a dimple/depression in the center.
Has anyone come across cyanobacteria with endosymbionts? I haven't found any relevant papers yet.
Hello Dr. Katherine E. French
Could they be motile baeocytes? since no endosymbionts (more accurately endocytobionts) are restricted by well defined compartments in any hosts, whether in diatoms, corals, sponges or lichens. Many unicellular cyanobacteria tend to asexually produce swarmers that closely fit your description.
Apart from that technically speaking any all mitochondria and chloroplast containing species possess endosymbionts.
With regards,
Dr. Abhishek Mukherjee
Thanks for the suggestion Abhishek! We sent the dna from the cyanobacteria for sequencing and it looks like there's dna from 2 different bacteria so I'm thinking it probably isn't baeocytes. But I won't rule it out!
Good day Katherine and everyone!
Maybe sharing this screenshot would be of help. not necessarily about bacteria in cyanobacteria but amoeba in cyanobacteria etc... also you can use this for purpose of endosymbiont discussions.
Vampire amoebae
Vampyrellids
Vampyrella lateritia
Sorry I couldnt add the screenshot
something wrong with add files option in my phone.
Interesting Frederick, I've never heard of these vampire amoebae!
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