Skip to main content
Log in

A new purple sulfur bacterium from stratified freshwater lakes, Amoebobacter purpureus sp. nov.

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Archives of Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Six strains of a new purple sulfur bacterium were isolated from the chemocline of four different freshwater lakes. Single cells were spherical to oval, nonmotile and contained gas vacuoles in the central part of the cytoplasm. All strains contained bacteriochlorophyll a and okenone as the major carotenoid. The intracytoplasmic membrane system was of vesicular type. All strains resembled each other in growth conditions and utilization of simple organic carbon sources. The strains were able to grow microaerophilic in the dark, used hydrogen sulfide, elemental sulfur or thiosulfate as electron donor, and lacked assimilatory sulfate reduction. On the basis of all characteristics the new bacterium represents a new species of the genus Amoebobacter, A. purpureus sp. nov.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bavendamm W (1924) Die farbiosen und roten Schwefelbakterien des Süß- und Salzwassers. In: Kolkowitz R (ed) Pflanzenforschung. Heft 2. Fischer, Jena, pp 1–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Caumette P, Schmidt K, Biebl H, Pfennig N (1985) Characterization of a Thiocapsa strain containing okenone as major carotenoid. Syst Appl Microbiol 6:132–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Cline JD (1969) Spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen sulfide in natural waters. Limnol Oceanogr 14:454–458

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen-Bazire G, Sistrom WR, Stanier RY (1957) Kinetic studies of pigment synthesis by nonsulfur purple bacteria. J Cell Comp Physiol 49:25–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Czeczuga B (1968) Primary production of the purple sulphuric bacteria, Thiopedia rosea Winogr. (Thiorhodaceae). Photosynthetica 2:161–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Eichler B, Pfennig N (1986) Characterization of a new platelet-forming purple sulfur bacterium, Amoebobacter pedioformis sp. nov. Arch Microbiol 146:295–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Floßdorf J (1983) A rapid method for the determination of the base composition of bacterial DNA. J Microbiol Meth 1:305–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler VJ, Pfennig N, Schubert W, Stackebrandt E (1984) Towards a phylogeny of phototrophic purple sulfur bacteria — 16S rRNA oligonucleotide cataloguing of 11 species of Chromatiaceae. Arch Microbiol 139:382–387

    Google Scholar 

  • Guerrero R, Montesinos E, Pedros-Alio C, Esteve J, Mas J, van Gemerden H, Hofman PAG, Bakker JF (1985) Phototrophic sulfur bacteria in two spanish lakes: Vertical distribution and limiting factors. Limnol Oceanogr 30:919–931

    Google Scholar 

  • Kämpf C, Pfennig N (1980) Capacity of Chromatiaceae for chemotrophic growth. Specific respiration rates of Thiocystis violaceae and Chromatium vinosum. Arch Microbiol 127:125–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Koppe F (1923) Die Schlammflora der ostholsteinischen Seen undd des Bodensees. Arch Hydrobiol 14:619–672

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkin TB, Brock TD (1981) The role of phototrophic bacteria in the sulfur cycle of a meromictic lake. Limnol Oceanogr 26:880–890

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N (1978) Rhodocyclus purpureus gen. nov. and sp. nov., a ring-shaped, vitamin B12-requiring member of the family Rhodospirillaceae. Int J Syst Bacteriol 28:283–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N, Trüper HG (1981) Isolation of members of the families Chromatiaceae and Chlorobiaceae. In: Starr HP, Stolp H, Trüper HG, Balows A, Schlegel HG (eds) The prokaryotes. A handbook on habitats, isolation and identification of bacteria. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 179–289

    Google Scholar 

  • Pfennig N, Markham MC, Liaaen Jensen S (1968) Carotenoids of Thiorhodoaceae. 8. Isolation and characterization of a Thiothece, Lamprocystis and Thiodictyon strain and their carotenoid pigments. Arch Microbiol 62:178–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Schegg E (1971) Produktion und Destruktion in der trophogenen Schicht. Untersuchungen ökologischer Parameter im polytrophen Rotsce und in der mesotrophen Horwer Bucht (Vierwaldstättersee). Schweiz Z Hydrobiol 33:425–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Schinck B, Pfennig N (1984) Fermentation of trihydroxybenzenes by Pelobacter acidigallici gen. nov. sp. nov., a new strictly anaerobic, non-sporeforming bacterium. Arch Microbiol 133:195–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Siefert E, Pfennig N (1984) Convenient method to prepare neutral sulfide solution for cultivation of phototrophic sulfur bacteria. Arch Microbiol 139:100–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorokin YuJ (1970) Interrelations between sulphur and carbon turnover in meromictic lakes. Arch Hydrobiol 66:391–440

    Google Scholar 

  • Steenbergen CLM, Korthals HJ (1982) Distribution of phototrophic microorganisms in the anaerobic and microaerophilic strata of Lake Vechten (The Netherlands). Pigment analysis and role in primary production. Limnol Oceanogr 27:883–895

    Google Scholar 

  • Utermöhl H (1925) Limnologische Planktonstudien. Arch Hydrobiol [Suppl] Vol 5:1–524

    Google Scholar 

  • Vetter H (1937) Limnologische Untersuchungen über das Phytoplankton und seine Bezichungen zur Ernährung des Zooplanktons im Schleinsee bei Langenargen am Bodensee. Int Rev Ges Hydrobiol Hydrogr 34:499–561

    Google Scholar 

  • Widdel F, Kohring GW, Mayer F (1983) Studies on dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria that decompose fatty acids. III. Characterization of the filamentous gliding Desulfonema limicola gen. nov. sp. nov., and Desulfonema magnum sp. nov. Arch Microbiol 134:286–294

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eichler, B., Pfennig, N. A new purple sulfur bacterium from stratified freshwater lakes, Amoebobacter purpureus sp. nov.. Arch. Microbiol. 149, 395–400 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425577

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425577

Key words

Navigation