''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous

cyanobacterium Cyanobacteria (), also known as Cyanophyta, are a phylum of gram-negative bacteria that obtain energy via photosynthesis. The name ''cyanobacteria'' refers to their color (), which similarly forms the basis of cyanobacteria's common name, blue ...

which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the

oscillating Oscillation is the repetitive or periodic variation, typically in time, of some measure about a central value (often a point of equilibrium) or between two or more different states. Familiar examples of oscillation include a swinging pendulum ...

motion of its filaments as they slide against each other to position the colony facing a light source. ''Oscillatoria'' reproduces by

fragmentation Fragmentation or fragmented may refer to: Computers * Fragmentation (computing), a phenomenon of computer storage * File system fragmentation, the tendency of a file system to lay out the contents of files non-continuously * Fragmented distributi ...

, facilitated by dead cells which separate a filament into separate sections, or hormogonia, which then grow. ''Oscillatoria'' uses photosynthesis to survive and reproduce. Each filament of oscillatoria consists of trichome which is made up of rows of cells. The tip of the trichome oscillates like a pendulum. In reproduction, it takes place by vegetative means only. Usually the filament breaks into a number of fragments called hormogonia. Each hormogonium consist of one or more cells and grow into a filament by cell division in one direction. ''Oscillatoria'' are the subject of research into the natural production of

butylated hydroxytoluene Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), also known as dibutylhydroxytoluene, is a lipophilic organic compound, chemically a derivative of phenol, that is useful for its antioxidant properties. BHT is widely used to prevent free radical-mediated oxid ...

(BHT), an antioxidant, food additive and industrial chemical. Cyclic

peptides Peptides (, ) are short chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Long chains of amino acids are called proteins. Chains of fewer than twenty amino acids are called oligopeptides, and include dipeptides, tripeptides, and tetrapeptides. ...

called venturamides, which may have anti-

malarial Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or deat ...

activity, have been isolated from bacteria in this genus. They are the first peptides with this activity to have been found in cyanobacteria.

Species

''Oscillatoria'' contains the following species: *'' Oscillatoria amoena'' (Kützing) Gomont *'' Oscillatoria anguiformis'' (P. González Guerrero) Anagnostidis *'' Oscillatoria anguina'' Bory ''ex'' Gomont *'' Oscillatoria annae'' van Goor *'' Oscillatoria bonnemaisonii'' (P. L. Crouan & H. M. Crouan) P. L. Crouan & H. M. Crouan ''ex'' Gomont *'' Oscillatoria brevis'' Kützing ''ex'' Gomont *'' Ocillatoria chalybea'' Mertens ''ex'' Gomont *''

Oscillatoria chilkensis ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Biswas *'' Oscillatoria crassa'' (Rao) Anagnostidis *'' Oscillatoria croasdaleae'' Kamat *'' Oscillatoria curviceps'' C. Agardh ''ex'' Gomont *'' Oscillatoria depauperata'' (Copeland) Anagnostidis *'' Oscillatoria engelmanniana'' Gaidukov *'' Oscillatoria euboeica'' Anagnostidis *'' Oscillatoria fischeri'' Corda ''ex'' Forti *'' Oscillatoria fracta'' Carlson *'' Oscillatoria froelichii'' Kützing ''ex'' Gomont *'' Oscillatoria funiformis'' (Vouk) Komárek *'' Oscillatoria indica'' P. C. Silva *''

Oscillatoria jenensis ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of Filamentation, filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillation, oscillating motion of its filaments as the ...

'' G. Schmid *''

Oscillatoria levis ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of Filamentation, filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillation, oscillating motion of its filaments as the ...

'' (Gardner) Anagnostidis *''

Oscillatoria limosa ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' C. Agardh ''ex'' Gomont *''

Oscillatoria limnetica ''Oscillatoria limnetica'' is a species of freshwater cyanobacteria in the genus '' Oscillatoria''. It is a facultative anaerobic organism, so it uses hydrogen sulfide Hydrogen sulfide is a chemical compound with the formula . It is a colorle ...

'' Lemmermann *''

Oscillatoria mahabaleshwarensis ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Kamat *''

Oscillatoria major ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Vaucher ''ex'' Hansgirg *''

Oscillatoria margaritifera ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Kützing ''ex'' Gomont *''

Oscillatoria miniata ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' (Zanardini) Hauck ''ex'' Gomont *''

Oscillatoria minutissima ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of Filamentation, filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillation, oscillating motion of its filaments as the ...

'' P. González *''

Oscillatoria muralis ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' (Dillwyn) C. Agardh *''

Oscillatoria nitida ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Schkorbatov *'' Oscillatoria nylstromica'' Claassen *''

Oscillatoria obscura ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Brühl & Biswas *''

Oscillatoria olivaceobrunnea ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' L. Hoffmann & V. Demoulin *'' Oscillatoria princeps'' Vaucher ''ex'' Gomont *''

Oscillatoria proboscidea ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of Filamentation, filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillation, oscillating motion of its filaments as the ...

'' Gomont *''

Oscillatoria pulchra ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Lindstedt *''

Oscillatoria rhamphoidea ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of Filamentation, filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillation, oscillating motion of its filaments as the ...

'' Anagnostidis *''

Oscillatoria ribeyi ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of Filamentation, filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillation, oscillating motion of its filaments as the ...

'' F. E. Drouet *''

Oscillatoria rubescens ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' De Candolle ''ex'' Gomont *''

Oscillatoria sancta ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Kützing ''ex'' Gomont *'' Oscillatoria subbrevis'' Schmidle *''

Oscillatoria subcapitata ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Ponomarev *''

Oscillatoria tapetiformis ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Zenker ''ex'' Gomont *'' Oscillatoria tenioides'' (Bory de Saint-Vincent) Bory de Saint-Vincent ''ex'' Gomont *''

Oscillatoria trichoides ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' Szafer *''

Oscillatoria versicolor ''Oscillatoria'' is a genus of filamentous cyanobacterium which is often found in freshwater environments, such as hot springs, and appears blue-green. Its name refers to the oscillating motion of its filaments as they slide against each other ...

'' G. Martens ''ex'' Prain *''

Oscillatoria willei ''Oscillatoria willei'' is a species of bacteria that is able to photosynthesize to make food, similarly to plants. Anatomy Bacteria of the genus '' Oscillatoria'' occur in rows of cells of similar size. They form filaments called trichomes. M ...

'' N. L. Gardner

References

* http://faculty.mdc.edu/jmorata/Slide%20Study%20Gyomamauide.pdf

External links

*https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055858/http://133.25.19.145/pdb/images/Prokaryotes/Oscillatoriaceae/Oscillatoria/index.html Oscillatoriales Cyanobacteria genera {{cyanobacteria-stub