Nannocystis exedens: vegetative cells in situ on agar surface in a chamber culture. Phase-contrast micrograph. Bar 13 microns. - Source:2
In axenic culture, members of the genus show swarming motility and produce fruiting bodies. Simple sugars do not appear to be utilised, with the organisms relying on peptones or proteins for growth 2. Bacterial groups within the order Myxococcales, are suggested to degrade active and/or dead cells in activated sludge (micropredators) 1. The in situ physiology of the genus in activated sludge has not been determined.
[1] Osaka, Ebie, Tsuneda, Inamori - Identification of the bacterial community involved in methane-dependent denitrification in activated sludge using DNA stable-isotope probing. - FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 64(3): 494-506. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6941.2008.00473.x
[2] Reichenbach, H. (2005b) Genus I. Nannocysis Reichenbach 1970, 137AL. In: D.J. Brenner., N.R, Kreig., J.T. Staley., and G.M, Garrity (eds). Bergeys Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Second edition, vol 2 (The Proteobacteria), Part C (The Alpha-Beta- Delta- and Epsilon Proteobacteria), pp 1137-1142. Springer, New York. - Reichenbach 2005b -
[3] Reichenbach - Nannocystis exedens gen. nov., spec. nov., a new myxobacterium of the family Sorangiaceae. - Arch Mikrobiol 70(2): 119-38.