Isolation of Members of the Families Chromatiaceae and Chlorobiaceae

Abstract

The green and purple sulfur bacteria (Chlorobiaceae and Chromatiaceae) are two physiological-ecological groups of anaerobic phototrophic bacteria with anoxygenic photosynthesis. The two groups display a competitive advantage over other microorganisms in similar aquatic habitats. The most important environmental factors are anaerobic conditions, the presence of hydrogen sulfide, and illumination. Both families are treated in one chapter because they occur under similar environmental conditions and because the strains of both families are isolated with similar methods and media. Only the genus Ecto-thiorhodospira is treated in a seChapaute chapter (this Handbook, Chapter 15) because of methodological differences.