Halothiobacillus

Halothiobacillus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Proteobacteria
Class:	Gamma Proteobacteria
Order:	Chromatiales
Family:	Halothiobacillaceae
Genus:	Halothiobacillus
Species
	H. halophilus ; H. hydrothermalis ; H. kellyi ; H. neapolitanus

Halothiobacillus is a genus of Proteobacteria. All species are obligate aerobic bacteria; they require oxygen to grow. They are also halophilic; they live in environments with high concentrations of salt, and are considered "extremophiles".

The members of this genus used to belong to Thiobacillus, before they were reclassified in 2000. They are now classified with the purple sulfur bacteria.^[1]

Environmental importance

Together with Betaproteobacteria such as Thiomonas intermedia, Halothiobacillus species play an important role in global carbon and sulfur cycles. They are able to depend entirely on inorganic compounds (CO₂ and reduced sulfur) for their carbon and energy needs. They are able to promote corrosion of concrete, acidification of mine tailings, and bioleaching of low-grade ores.

Species

H. halophilus
H. hydrothermalis
H. kellyi
H. neapolitanus

H. neapolitanus is a model organism for studying carboxysomes.

References

^ Kelly, D.P., and Wood, A.P. "Reclassification of some species of Thiobacillus to the newly designated genera Acidithiobacillus gen. nov., Halothiobacillus gen. nov. and Thermithiobacillus gen. nov." Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. (2000) 50:489-500.

External links

Genome page for Halothiobacillus neapolitanus c2 at the Joint Genome Institute

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[1] Kelly, D.P., and Wood, A.P. "Reclassification of some species of Thiobacillus to the newly designated genera Acidithiobacillus gen. nov., Halothiobacillus gen. nov. and Thermithiobacillus gen. nov." Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. (2000) 50:489-500.

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