A sulfate-reducing bacterium from the oxic layer of a microbial mat from Solar Lake (Sinai), Desulfovibrio oxyclinae sp. nov.

Daniel Krekeler, Pavel Sigalevich, Andreas Teske, Heribert Cypionka*, Yehuda Cohen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

103 Scopus citations

Abstract

In an investigation on the oxygen tolerance of sulfate-reducing bacteria, a strain was isolated from a 107-fold dilution of the upper 3-mm layer of a hypersaline cyanobacterial mat (transferred from Solar Lake, Sinai). The isolate, designated P1B, appeared to be well-adapted to the varying concentrations of oxygen and sulfide that occur in this environment. In the presence of oxygen strain P1B respired aerobically with the highest rates [260 nmol O2 min-1 (mg protein)-1] found so far among marine sulfate-reducing bacteria. Besides H2 and lactate, even sulfide or sulfite could be oxidized with oxygen. The sulfur compounds were completely oxidized to sulfate. Under anoxic conditions, it grew with sulfate, sulfite, or thiosulfate as the electron acceptor using H2, lactate, pyruvate, ethanol, propanol, or butanol as the electron donor. Furthermore, in the absence of electron donors the isolate grew by disproportionation of sulfite or thiosulfate to sulfate and sulfide. The highest respiration rates with oxygen were obtained with H2 at low oxygen concentrations. Aerobic growth of homogeneous suspensions was not obtained. Additions of 1% oxygen to the gas phase of a continuous culture resulted in the formation of cell clumps wherein the cells remained viable for at least 200 h. It is concluded that strain P1B is oxygen-tolerant but does not carry out sulfate reduction in the presence of oxygen under the conditions tested. Analysis of the 16S rDNA sequence indicated that strain PIB belongs to the genus Desulfovibrio, with Desulfovibrio halophilus as its closest relative. Based on physiological properties strain PIB could not be assigned to this species. Therefore, a new species, Desulfovibrio oxyclinae, is proposed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)369-375
Number of pages7
JournalArchives of Microbiology
Volume167
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997

Keywords

  • 16S rRNA
  • Aerobic respiration
  • Cyanobacterial mat
  • Desulfuvibrio
  • Oxygen- indifferent sulfate reduction

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