Methylomirabilis oxyfera
"Candidatus ""Methylomirabilis oxyfera" is a candidate species of Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the NC10 phylum, characterized for its capacity to couple anaerobic methane oxidation with nitrite reduction in anoxic environments. To acquire oxygen for methane oxidation, "M. oxyfera" utilizes an intra-aerobic pathway through the reduction of nitrite (NO) to dinitrogen (N) and oxygen. Enrichment. Enriched "Ca. "M. oxyfera"" cells have been identified as primarily having a unique polygonal cell shape through the use of electron microscopy techniques. Unlike other methanotrophic proteobacteria, "Ca. "M. oxyfera"" cells lack intracytoplasmic membranes when grown under laboratory conditions. The optimum growth  ranges for "Ca. "M. oxyfera"" is between pH 7-8 and 25-30 °C. "Ca. "M. oxyfera""cell envelopes are Gram-negative and are generally 0.25–0.5 μm in diameter and 0.8–1.1 μm in length. Methane oxidation. "Ca. "M. oxyfera"" has the capacity to disproportionate nitric oxide into oxygen and nitrogen gas. This intermediate oxygen is then used in the oxidation of methane into carbon dioxide. Overall reactions. Nitrogen oxide dismutation: Methane oxidation: Environmental significance. "Ca. "M. oxyfera"" has been identified in several environments including rice paddy soil in China, multiple river and lake sediments, and wastewater sludge in The Netherlands . "Ca. "M. oxyfera"" is predicted to inhabit environments with high concentrations of nitrogen and methane, near boundaries that separate oxic and anoxic zones. It is suggested that "Ca. "M. oxyfera"" and similar organisms contribute to the global carbon and nitrogen cycles. These organisms may also play a role in reducing the nutrient loads within freshwater ecosystems that have been contaminated with fertilizers.