Bakteríum

Bakteríum is a fictional bacterium used in microbiology education to illustrate core principles of bacterial biology. It is a prototypical organism, not a real taxon, and appears in textbooks and classroom simulations.

Morphology and cell structure: It is depicted as a Gram-negative, rod-shaped cell about 1–2 micrometres long, with a lipopolysaccharide outer membrane and a thin peptidoglycan layer. Some versions show a single polar flagellum for motility.

Genomics and metabolism: The model genome is described as a circular chromosome of several megabases with thousands of genes. It is portrayed as a chemoorganotroph capable of aerobic respiration, using glucose as a primary carbon source, and sometimes described as facultatively anaerobic.

Ecology and significance: In educational scenarios, bakteriíum may inhabit soil, freshwater, or host-associated niches, illustrating colonization, nutrient acquisition, and interactions with hosts. It serves as a didactic tool to explain taxonomy, physiology, and genomics without referring to an actual organism.

Taxonomy and status: Bakteríum is not recognized in formal bacterial nomenclature and has no cultivated strain; it exists only as a teaching construct.