biostudies-literatureUnknownGeelhoed JSCarlsbergfondetDanmarks GrundforskningsfondEuropean Research CouncilDanmarks Frie ForskningsfondDutch Research Council (NWO)Fonds Wetenschappelijk OnderzoekBacterial cells can vary greatly in size, from a few hundred nanometers to hundreds of micrometers in diameter. Filamentous cable bacteria also display substantial size differences, with filament diameters ranging from 0.4 to 8 µm. We analyzed the genomes of cable bacterium filaments from 11 coastal environments of which the resulting 23 new genomes represent 10 novel species-level clades of <i>Candidatus</i> Electrothrix and two clades that putatively represent novel genus-level diversity. Fluorescence <i>in situ</i> hybridization with a species-level probe showed that large-sized cable bacteria belong to a novel species with the proposed name <i>Ca</i>. Electrothrix gigas. Comparative genome analysis suggests genes that play a role in the construction or functioning of large cable bacterMicrobiology spectrume0053823https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10580974biostudies-literatureIndications for a genetic basis for big bacteria and description of the giant cable bacterium <i>Candidatus</i> Electrothrix gigas sp. nov.PMC10580974016.VICI.170.072306933136104G038819NCF19-0666291650Thorup CANielsen LPMarshall IPGSchramm AMeysman FJRGeelhoed JSSchreiber LBjerg JJfalseIndications for a genetic basis for big bacteria and description of the giant cable bacterium <i>Candidatus</i> Electrothrix gigas sp. nov.Bacterial cells can vary greatly in size, from a few hundred nanometers to hundreds of micrometers in diameter. Filamentous cable bacteria also display substantial size differences, with filament diameters ranging from 0.4 to 8 µm. We analyzed the genomes of cable bacterium filaments from 11 coastal environments of which the resulting 23 new genomes represent 10 novel species-level clades of <i>Candidatus</i> Electrothrix and two clades that putatively represent novel genus-level diversity. Fluorescence <i>in situ</i> hybridization with a species-level probe showed that large-sized cable bacteria belong to a novel species with the proposed name <i>Ca</i>. Electrothrix gigas. Comparative genome analysis suggests genes that play a role in the construction or functioning of large cable bacter2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Sep2026-05-28T11:14:44.061Z2025-04-06T02:07:08.837ZS-EPMC105809743773280610.1128/spectrum.00538-23