Bacillus infernus
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Bacillus infernus
Classification
Higher order taxa
Bacteria; Firmicutes; Bacilli; Bacillales; Bacillaceae; Bacillus
Species
Bacillus infernus
Nonmotile rods (including possible yet unconfirmed endospores) inhabiting the deep terrestrial subsurface of the Taylorsville, Virginia Triassic Basin. The organism is thermophilic, halotolerant, and slightly alkaliphilic. B. infernus is important because it can affect geochemical processes including transport of toxic chemicals similar to other subsurface microorganisms. B. infernus also possesses a “novel” metabolism perhaps useful in future bioremediation of the environment, biotechnology, and industry[1].
Genomic information
Entire genome not sequenced yet. 16S rDNA partial sequencing of two anaerobic strains (Th-22 and TH-23) have been studied via PCR amplification. The isolated portion contains nearly the entire gene; approximately 1500 base segments[1][2]. The study concluded B.infernus should be classified as a new Bacillus species based on RDP database information[1][2][3][4].
Cell and colony structure
Rods 0.7 to 0.8 by 4 to 8 μm. Endospores seem possible but as yet undetermined.
Metabolism
Growth is fermentative utilizing glucose or respiratory using formate, lactate, MnO2, FE3+, trimethylamine oxide, and nitrate as electron donors. Nitrate is reduced to nitrite but not further reduced to ammonia or N2. B. infernus is strictly anaerobic. The only known strict anaerobe known of the Bacillus genus.
Ecology
Deep terrestrial subsurface; Known samples obtained from depths of 2.65 to 2.77 km in the Taylorsville Triassic basin, Virginia.
.
References
[1]Boone, D. R., Liu, Y., Zhao, Z., Balkwill, D. L., Drake, G. R., Stevens, T. O., & Aldrich, H. C. (1995). Bacillus infernus sp. nov., an fe(iii)- and mn(iv)-reducing anaerobe from the deep terrestrial subsurface. International journal of systematic bacteriology, 441-448. doi: 10.1099/00207713-45-3-441. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8590670
[2]Boone, D. R., Liu, Y., Zhao, Z. J., Balkwill, D. L., Drake, D. R., Stevens, T. O., & Aldrich, H. C. (2009, March 05). Bacillus infernus strain TH-23 16s ribosomal rna, partial sequence. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/NR_027227.
[3]Balkwill D.L.,Bacillus infernus TH-22 16s small subunit rRNA gene, partial sequence. (1995, May 18). Retrieved from http://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/data/view/U20384
[4]Balwill, D. L. (1195, July 9). Bacillus infernus sp. nov., an fe(iii)- and mn(iv)-reducing anaerobe from the deep terrestrial subsurface. Retrieved from http://rdp.cme.msu.edu/hierarchy/hierarchy_browser.jsp?qvector=65535&depth=0&openNode=0&seqid=¤tRoot=2268&searchStr=bacillus%20infernus&endDataValue=&showOpt=
Edited by Matt Flynn, a student of Dr. Lisa R. Moore, University of Southern Maine, Department of Biological Sciences, http://www.usm.maine.edu/bio