science

Nitrosomonas europaea

Nitrosomonas europaea is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Nitrosomonas europaea rather than just read about it. In short: Nitrosomonas europaea is a Gram-negative obligate chemolithoautotroph that can derive all its energy and reductant for growth from the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and lives in several places such as soil, sewage, freshwater, the walls of buildings and on the surface of monuments especially in polluted areas where the air contains high levels of nitrogen compounds. Due to the large amounts of ammonia this bacteri…

Key takeaways

Nitrosomonas europaea belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Nitrosomonas europaea to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Nitrosomonas europaea from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Nitrosomonas europaea is a Gram-negative obligate chemolithoautotroph that can derive all its energy and reductant for growth from the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and lives in several places such as soil, sewage, freshwater, the walls of buildings and on the surface of monuments especially in polluted areas where the air contains high levels of nitrogen compounds. Due to the large amounts of ammonia this bacterium needs to consume for energy to divide, cell division can take up to several days. This is perhaps one reason why this microbe is not studied very much. This microbe has been shown to be an ammonia-oxidizing soil bacterium and it is known to have a range of substrates that might be useful in bioremediation. Several studies are still being done with the bacterium, but will take some time due to the slow cell division rate and the high amounts of nitrogen needed to live. While not using photosynthesis for energy is not unique, "burning" ammonia with oxygen is. Both are characteristics of Nitrosomonas europaea. This microbe tolerates a pH of 6.0-9.0, the optimal conditions being slightly basic; has an aerobic metabolism; and prefers a temperature between 20-30 degrees Celsius. Most are mobile with flagella located in the polar regions although some species are nonmobile. The reaction catalysed by these bacteria is the first step in the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate. Nitrosomonas europaea are also important in the treatment of industrial and sewage waste in the first step of oxidizing ammonia to nitrate. Evidence suggests that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) contribute significantly to the global production of nitrous oxide (produced by the reduction of nitrite). Other evidence reveals that AOB are a possible source of nitric oxide via the oxidation of ammonia. Nitrosomonas europaea is also capable of degrading benzene as well as a variety of halogenated organic compounds, including trichloroethylene and vinyl chloride. The ability of nitrifying organisms to degrade some pollutants may make these organisms attractive for controlled bioremediation in nitrifying soils and waters. Nitrosomonas europaea is also accountable for nitric acid production which can cause the dissolution of some stone and other construction materials found on statues and in buildings.

References

Patrick Chain; et al. (May 2003). "Complete Genome Sequence of the Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacterium and Obligate Chemolithoautotroph Nitrosomonas europaea". Journal of Bacteriology. 185 (9): 2759–2773. doi:10.1128/JB.185.9.2759-2773.2003. PMC 154410. PMID 12700255. Nitrosomas europaea Genetic Code by the Joint Genome Project

External links Type strain of Nitrosomonas europaea at BacDive - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Nitrosomonas europaea

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Nitrosomonas europaea claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Nitrosomonas europaea before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Nitrosomonas europaea ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Nitrosomonas europaea

In research: Nitrosomonas europaea appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Nitrosomonas europaea in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Nitrosomonas europaea is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Bacteria described in 1892, Lithoautotrophs, Nitrosomonadaceae, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Nitrosomonas europaea outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Nitrosomonas europaea in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Nitrosomonas europaea means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Nitrosomonas europaea out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Nitrosomonas europaea in simple terms?

Why does Nitrosomonas europaea matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Nitrosomonas europaea?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Nitrosomonas europaea.