 | ||||
DesulfurobacteriumRANK: GenusTAXONOMY: cellular organisms -> Bacteria -> Aquificae -> Aquificae -> Desulfurobacteriales -> Desulfurobacteriaceae -> Desulfurobacterium OVERVIEW: D. thermolithotrophum are observed to be strict anaerobes, meaning that they do not utilize oxygen as an electron acceptor and are actually harmed by its presence in large amounts. Instead, these organisms use sulfur as its electron acceptor, as well as hydrogen gas (H2) as the electron donor in reducing sulfate into hydrogen sulfide gas. Aside from sulfur, these organisms can also utilize: thiosulfate, sulfite, and other polysulfides as alternative electron acceptors. However, D. thermolithotrophum were unable to use cysteine, sulphate, nitrate, or nitrite in this process (L'Haridon et. al., 1998). These organisms are classified as chemolithoautotrophs, due to their utilization of energy from reduced mineral compounds (such as rock sediments or elemental sulfur), along with chemical reactions occurring between carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas available, to behave as primary producers (autotrophs) in their ecosystem.
|