Halothiobacillus
Halothiobacillus is a genus of gram-negative bacteria within the Proteobacteria. The representatives are rod-shaped and obligately aerobic, meaning that they require oxygen for growth. Furthermore, the types of halophilic (salt- loving).
Unlike other members of the order of Chromatiales the Halothiobacillus species are not capable of photosynthesis, they are rather chemolithoautotrophically: The species obtain energy by the oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds to sulfate. Oxygen acts as electron acceptor and CO2 can be used as the sole carbon source. The inorganic sulfur compounds include in this genus thiosulfate ( S2O32 - ), elemental sulfur and sulfides, and hydrogen sulfide. Physiologically they are thus made to the colorless sulfur bacteria.
Although referred to as obligate aerobic, Halothiobacillus neapolitanus is also able to take some time to survive without oxygen. Under these circumstances this bacterium fermented the stored within the cell polyglucose.
System
Before 2000, the members of this group were counted (within the Beta -proteobacteria family Hydrogenophilaceae ) to the genus Thiobacillus.
Species of this genus are:
- Halothiobacillus halophilus (Wood & Kelly 1995) Kelly & Wood, 2000
- Halothiobacillus hydrothermalis (Durand et al. 1997) Kelly & Wood 2000
- Halothiobacillus kellyi Sievert et al. 2000
- Halothiobacillus neapolitanus (Parker 1957) Kelly & Wood 2000