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Novel observations of Thiobacterium, a sulfur-storing Gammaproteobacterium producing gelatinous mats

Novel observations of Thiobacterium, a sulfur-storing Gammaproteobacterium producing gelatinous mats
Novel observations of Thiobacterium, a sulfur-storing Gammaproteobacterium producing gelatinous mats
The genus Thiobacterium includes uncultivated rod-shaped microbes containing several spherical grains of elemental sulfur and forming conspicuous gelatinous mats. Owing to the fragility of mats and cells, their 16S ribosomal RNA genes have not been phylogenetically classified. This study examined the occurrence of Thiobacterium mats in three different sulfidic marine habitats: a submerged whale bone, deep-water seafloor and a submarine cave. All three mats contained massive amounts of Thiobacterium cells and were highly enriched in sulfur. Microsensor measurements and other biogeochemistry data suggest chemoautotrophic growth of Thiobacterium. Sulfide and oxygen microprofiles confirmed the dependence of Thiobacterium on hydrogen sulfide as energy source. Fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that Thiobacterium spp. belong to the Gammaproteobacteria, a class that harbors many mat-forming sulfide-oxidizing bacteria. Further phylogenetic characterization of the mats led to the discovery of an unexpected microbial diversity associated with Thiobacterium.
gelatinous mats, microsensor, sulfur oxidizer, Thiobacterium
1751-7362
1031-1043
Grünke, Stefanie
608e287e-913d-4a43-94e6-40d7c7fe913e
Lichtschlag, Anna
be1568d9-cc63-4f85-bd38-a93dfd7e245f
Beer, Dirk de
24ff916a-0176-4d19-ac90-c67d207e2820
Kuypers, Marcel
0034c6b4-471c-4b8b-845a-7fac94bff243
Lösekann-Behrens, Tina
b9d576d4-29e4-43d2-92c9-dc8e7671fb96
Ramette, Alban
958f197e-b073-431e-b233-7a75b6e7ccad
Boetius, Antje
7d9c9e50-85b5-4f14-a07c-18957419a015
Grünke, Stefanie
608e287e-913d-4a43-94e6-40d7c7fe913e
Lichtschlag, Anna
be1568d9-cc63-4f85-bd38-a93dfd7e245f
Beer, Dirk de
24ff916a-0176-4d19-ac90-c67d207e2820
Kuypers, Marcel
0034c6b4-471c-4b8b-845a-7fac94bff243
Lösekann-Behrens, Tina
b9d576d4-29e4-43d2-92c9-dc8e7671fb96
Ramette, Alban
958f197e-b073-431e-b233-7a75b6e7ccad
Boetius, Antje
7d9c9e50-85b5-4f14-a07c-18957419a015

Grünke, Stefanie, Lichtschlag, Anna, Beer, Dirk de, Kuypers, Marcel, Lösekann-Behrens, Tina, Ramette, Alban and Boetius, Antje (2010) Novel observations of Thiobacterium, a sulfur-storing Gammaproteobacterium producing gelatinous mats. The ISME Journal, 4 (8), 1031-1043. (doi:10.1038/ismej.2010.23).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The genus Thiobacterium includes uncultivated rod-shaped microbes containing several spherical grains of elemental sulfur and forming conspicuous gelatinous mats. Owing to the fragility of mats and cells, their 16S ribosomal RNA genes have not been phylogenetically classified. This study examined the occurrence of Thiobacterium mats in three different sulfidic marine habitats: a submerged whale bone, deep-water seafloor and a submarine cave. All three mats contained massive amounts of Thiobacterium cells and were highly enriched in sulfur. Microsensor measurements and other biogeochemistry data suggest chemoautotrophic growth of Thiobacterium. Sulfide and oxygen microprofiles confirmed the dependence of Thiobacterium on hydrogen sulfide as energy source. Fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that Thiobacterium spp. belong to the Gammaproteobacteria, a class that harbors many mat-forming sulfide-oxidizing bacteria. Further phylogenetic characterization of the mats led to the discovery of an unexpected microbial diversity associated with Thiobacterium.

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More information

Published date: 2010
Keywords: gelatinous mats, microsensor, sulfur oxidizer, Thiobacterium
Organisations: Marine Geoscience

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 342675
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/342675
ISSN: 1751-7362
PURE UUID: 1a545e9b-1a35-4121-83c2-512c74e4c202

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Date deposited: 12 Sep 2012 10:46
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 11:54

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Contributors

Author: Stefanie Grünke
Author: Anna Lichtschlag
Author: Dirk de Beer
Author: Marcel Kuypers
Author: Tina Lösekann-Behrens
Author: Alban Ramette
Author: Antje Boetius

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