The family thermaceae

Abstract

Thermaceae, a family within the order Thermales of the phylum Deinococcus-Thermus-Thermus. This family embraces the genera Marinithermus, Meiothermus, Oceanithermus, Rhabdothermus, Thermus, and Vulcanithermus. The members of this family stain Gram negative and are thermophilic or slightly thermophilic. The strains are obligately oxidative, and several grow anaerobically with alternate electron acceptors. Most strains form yellow- or red-pigmented colonies, but some strains are nonpigmented. Fatty acids are predominantly iso- and anteiso-branched; unsaturated iso-branched are also major fatty acids in some genera. Branched-chain 2-hydroxy and/or 3-hydroxy fatty acids are present in many strains. The organisms have been isolated worldwide, or environclones have also been detected in natural and artificial thermal environments such as terrestrial or marine hydrothermal areas, hot water taps, self-heating compost piles, and rock surfaces. The species of the genus Thermus are perhaps some of the most studied thermophilic bacteria; not only are they easy to grow but the strains of the species T. thermophilus are easily transformed.