The family Thermoleophilaceae

Abstract

Thermoleophilaceae, a family within the order Thermoleophilales, embraces the genus Thermoleophilum with two species: Thermoleophilum album and T. minutum (Reddy and Garcia-Pichel Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:87-94, 2009; Zarilla and Perry Arch Microbiol 137:286-290, 1984; Zarilla and Perry 1986a). The organisms included in this order have the ability to grow at elevated temperatures, with optimum growth temperatures of around 60 °C and at the expense of n-alkanes with 13-20 carbons; however, these organisms are unable to assimilate any other carbon and energy sources examined. The two species of the genus Thermoleophilum are strictly aerobic and catalase positive. These organisms possess several polyamines, but the polar lipid and fatty acids have not been examined. These organisms were isolated from hot springs and nonthermal sources.