So far two different morphologies of the gelatinous mats have been described: a spherical or bladder-like shape ( Molisch, 1912 Devidé, 1952 Vouk et al., 1967 Anagnostidis, 1968 Scheminzky et al., 1972 Seki and Naganuma, 1989) and a dendroid shape ( Lackey and Lackey, 1961 Lackey et al., 1965). They occur in thermal and sulfur springs ( Devidé, 1952 Lackey and Lackey, 1961 Lackey et al., 1965 Vouk et al., 1967 Anagnostidis, 1968 Scheminzky et al., 1972 Fjerdingstad, 1979), but also in sulfidic marine and brackish waters ( Molisch, 1912 Lackey et al., 1965 Seki and Naganuma, 1989). In the years after this discovery, the conspicuous sulfur-storing, non-motile rods embedded in a gelatinous matrix were found in other marine and continental locations worldwide. The genus Thiobacterium was first described by Molisch in 1912 ( Molisch, 1912). Further phylogenetic characterization of the mats led to the discovery of an unexpected microbial diversity associated with Thiobacterium.

belong to the Gammaproteobacteria, a class that harbors many mat-forming sulfide-oxidizing bacteria. Fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that Thiobacterium spp. Sulfide and oxygen microprofiles confirmed the dependence of Thiobacterium on hydrogen sulfide as energy source. Microsensor measurements and other biogeochemistry data suggest chemoautotrophic growth of Thiobacterium. All three mats contained massive amounts of Thiobacterium cells and were highly enriched in sulfur. This study examined the occurrence of Thiobacterium mats in three different sulfidic marine habitats: a submerged whale bone, deep-water seafloor and a submarine cave. Owing to the fragility of mats and cells, their 16S ribosomal RNA genes have not been phylogenetically classified.

The genus Thiobacterium includes uncultivated rod-shaped microbes containing several spherical grains of elemental sulfur and forming conspicuous gelatinous mats.

Sequencher stored at room temperature