The Genus Pelobacter

Abstract

The genus Pelobacter was proposed as a taxonomic entity consisting of strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative, nonsporeforming, rod-shaped bacteria that use only a very limited number of substrates. The members of the genus are all unable to ferment sugars and therefore cannot be grouped with any other genus in the family Bacteroidaceae (Krieg and Holt, 1984). The genus comprises five different species, P. acidigallici (Schink and Pfennig, 1982), P. venetianus (Schink and Stieb, 1983), P. carbinolicus (Schink, 1984), P. propionicus (Schink, 1984), and P. acetylenicus (Schink, 1985), which all are based on 3--5 described strains.