The family thioalkalispiraceae

Abstract

The family Thioalkalispiraceae is accommodated in the order Chromatiales of the class Gammaproteobacteria of the phylum Proteobacteria for the chemolithoautotrophic bacteria oxidizing sulfur compounds. Four species of three genera, Thioalkalispira, Thiohalophilus, and Thioprofundum, are classified in this family to date. The organisms have been isolated from a soda lake, hypersaline lake, or marine samples and require a certain concentration of NaCl for growth. The organisms of this family are obligate chemolithoautotroph. Thiosulfate is oxidized by all species, but capability of oxidation of elemental sulfur and sulfide is different in species. The species use oxygen as an electron accepter. The members are mesophilic or moderate thermophilic and neutrophilic except Thioalkalispira microaerophila, which is alkaliphilic. Photosynthetic growth is not reported.