The family desulfomicrobiaceae

Abstract

Desulfomicrobiaceae, a family within the order Desulfovibrionales, embraces a single genus Desulfomicrobium. Besides their 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogeny, all members of the family are defined by a wide range of morphological and chemotaxonomic properties for the delineation of genera and species. Strictly anaerobic, having a respiratory type or fermentative type of metabolism. Members are either mesophilic or moderately thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria. Members of the family are found in various, predominantly marine habitats. All described species are chemoorganoheterotroph and chemolithoheterotroph with the exception of Desulfomicrobium macestii and Desulfomicrobium thermophilum which are described to be chemolithoautotroph. All members oxidize organic substrates incompletely to acetate with sulfate as electron acceptor, except some substrates which are exclusively fermented. This contribution is a modified and updated version of a previous family description (Kuever et al. 2005a).