A new anaerobic, sporing, acetate-oxidizing, sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfotomaculum (emend.) acetoxidans

Abstract

A new strictly anaerobic, polarly flagellated, sporing, acetate-oxidizing, sulfate-reducing bacterium was isolated from anaerobic fresh or sea water mud samples. The oxidation of acetate to CO₂ is stoichiometrically linked to the formation of H₂S from sulfate. Ethanol, butanol and butyrate are also used. Hydrogen, lactate or pyruvate are not used as electron donors; organic substances are not fermented. A cytochrome of the b-type and a supposed sulfite reductase, P582, were detected spectrophotometrically. An emended description of the genus Desulfotomaculum is proposed which includes the new bacterium as the species Desulfotomaculum acetoxidans.