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ThiomicrospiraRANK: GenusTAXONOMY: cellular organisms -> Bacteria -> Proteobacteria -> Gammaproteobacteria -> Thiotrichales -> Piscirickettsiaceae -> Thiomicrospira OVERVIEW: Small spiral-, comma-, or rod-shaped cells (0.2–0.5 × 0.8–3.0 µm) that occur singly. Gram negative. Motile by means of a polar flagellum or nonmotile. No resting stages are known. Aerobic. Chemolithoautotrophic, using reduced inorganic sulfur compounds, such as S0, sulfide, tetrathionate, thiosulfate (but not sulfite or thiocyanate), and CO2 as carbon source. CO2 is fixed via the Calvin-Benson cycle (ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase is present). The final oxidation product is sulfate, but S0 may accumulate in the medium. During growth acid is produced. Ammonium salts serve as nitrogen source. Na+ ions are required for growth. The temperature optimum lies between 28°C and 40°C. The optimal pH varies from 6.0 to 8.0. Metabolic properties are very similar to those of the genus Thiobacillus. The mol% G + C of the DNA is: 39.6–49.9. Type species: Thiomicrospira pelophila |