Desulfurivibrio alkaliphilus AHT2

Names Desulfurivibrio alkaliphilus AHT2
Accession numbers NC_014216
Background Combustion of sulfur-containing fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, contributes significantly to global environmental problems, such as air pollution and acid rain. In addition, sulfur dioxide also supports reactions that create ozone depletion in the stratosphere. So, removal of sulfur compounds from energy carriers is essential for a clean and healthy environment. A sustainable process to remove these sulfur compounds is the production of elemental sulfur (which can be used as a fertilizer or fungicide) from H2S-containing gas streams by the use of sulfur bacteria under highly alkaline (pH 10) and oxygen-limited conditions. However, the sulfate and thiosulfate byproducts of this process need to be removed from the waste stream prior to disposal. This is done by sulfate- and thiosulfate reducing bacteria in an anaerobic reactor with hydrogen as electron donor. Desulfurivibrio alkaliphilus (strain DSM 19089 / UNIQEM U267 / AHT2) is an anaerobic, haloalkaliphilic Gram-negative bacterium isolated from sediment from a highly alkaline saline soda lake in Egypt. D. alkaliphilus is adapted to a life at high pH and high salinity (haloalkaline conditions) and reduces different sulfur compounds (sulfate, thiosulfate and sulfur/polysulfide) at high pH and high salt concentrations. Comparative, structural, and functional genomics studies will allow researchers to create genomic tools, such as DNA microarrays, to study the diversity and physiology of these microorganisms in natural and engineered ecosystems. These tools are essential to study the performance of these bacteria in the removal of reduced sulfur compounds from industrial waste streams and energy carriers (e.g., natural gas and syngas). (adapted from : http://genome.jgi-psf.org/desaa/desaa.home.html). (EBI Integr8)
Taxonomy
Kingdom:Bacteria
Phylum:Proteobacteria
Class:Deltaproteobacteria
Order:Desulfobacterales
Family:Desulfobulbaceae
Genus:Desulfurivibrio
Species:alkaliphilus
Strain AHT2
Complete Yes
Sequencing centre (02-JUN-2010) National Center for Biotechnology Information, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
(16-FEB-2010) US DOE Joint Genome Institute, 2800 Mitchell Drive B310, Walnut Creek, CA 94598-1698, USA
Sequencing quality Level 6: Finished
Sequencing depth NA
Sequencing method NA
Isolation site Sediments from a highly alkaline saline soda lake in Egypt
Isolation country Egypt
Number of replicons 1
Gram staining properties Negative
Shape Bacilli
Mobility No
Flagellar presence Yes
Number of membranes 2
Oxygen requirements Anaerobic
Optimal temperature NA
Temperature range Mesophilic
Habitat Specialized
Biotic relationship Free living
Host name NA
Cell arrangement Singles
Sporulation Nonsporulating
Metabolism NA
Energy source NA
Diseases 40.5
Pathogenicity No