Thermothrix Caldwell et al. 1981
General information
Description and emendation
The organism is found in neutral hot springs as macroscopic bundles of cell chains several centimetres in length and encrusted with S0. The individual cells are 0.5-1.0 × 3-5 µm. The morphology of the organism in pure culture is variable. However, on nitrate broth at 70°C the characteristic morphology of the organism in nature is reliably produced in culture. Under these conditions the cells are colorless, filamentous to rod-shaped, gram-negative, 0.5-1.0 × 3-20 µm in size, and form cell chains. The cell chains are not enclosed by a sheath. The temperature optimum is 70°C and no growth occurs below 55°C or above 85°C. When grown on synthetic media either sulfide, sulfite, thiosulfate, glucose, mannitol, or arginine can be used as the electron donor with either O2, NO3-, or NO2- as the terminal electron acceptor. The presumptive identification of Thermothrix thioparus could be based on the observation of chains of colorless cells resembling filaments up to several centimetres in length encrusted with acid (1 N HCl) insoluble granules and occurring in thermal (60-80°C) environments. Confirmatory identification would require cultivation aerobically and anaerobically at 70°C and pH 7.0 on nitrate broth and on a synthetic autotrophic medium containing HS-, S2O3, or SO3- as the energy source and NO3- as the electron acceptor.
Subdivision(s)
MID | Name | Rank | Taxon ID |
---|---|---|---|
M022503010217002 | Thermothrix azorensis | Species | 48383 |
M022503010216001 | Thermothrix thiopara | Species | 48382 |