納米細菌

納米細菌是一種具有細胞壁的微生物。其體直徑約為200納米，是可於正常光學顯微鏡下成像的物件最小尺寸，大大低於細菌的理論下限。1996年，尚未發現納米細菌時，這個大小被假定的理由是「現時所知生物需要用到的最小體型」。

有關牠們為生命體的報告是相當具衝擊性的。假如這些微小的東西是生存著的，那麼就意味著一種與細菌完全不同的嶄新生命形式被發現。但最近研究發現纳米细菌只是矿物质与蛋白质形成的晶体，無關生命。其出现可能暗示人体代谢机制出现异常。鈣化納米顆粒 (CNPs) 被用作迴避有關這種生命形式的所有難題。雖然納米生物時常與納米細菌扯上關係，甚至時而被當作其同義詞，可是有關兩者的關係暫時並未明朗。

引文參考

其他参考 
 From Scum, Perhaps the Tiniest Form of Life, NY Times December 23, 2006 
 Abstract: American Journal Physiology — Heart and Circulatory Physiology May 13, 2004
 An alternative interpretation of nanobacteria-induced biomineralization 
 Are Nanobacteria Making Us Ill? , Wired News, Mar. 14, 2005
 Claim made for new form of life , BBC News, May 19, 2004
 Evidence of Nanobacterial-like Structures in Human Calcified Arteries and Cardiac Valves
 Infectious Microorganism Linked to Kidney Stones and other Diseases, February 2005
 Nannobacteria Research Page of the Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University
 Nanobac press release, April 2004
 Nanobacteria: An alternative mechanism for pathogenic intra- and extracellular calcification and stone formation 
 New Scientist article about nanobacteria 
 The Calcium Bomb — The Nanobacteria Link to Heart Disease and Cancer
 
 Nanobac Pharmaceuticals news release. First Live Video of Calcifying Nanoparticles Provides Possible Key to Chronic Disease Condition, November 2, 2006

延伸閱讀 
 Nanobacteria: Facts or Fancies?

外部連結 
 Nannobacteria Research associated with Robert Folk.
 Nanobac Pharmaceuticals official website 

细菌性疾病
地球微生物学
微生物学
有争议生命