Geomyces Destructans
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Geomyces Destructans
Classification
Kingdon: Fungi
Subkingdom: Dikarya
Phylum: Ascomycota
Subphylum: Pezizomycotina
Class: Leotiomycetes
Order: Helotiales
Family: Myxotrichaceae
Genus: Geomyces
Species: Geomyces destructans
Description and Significance
Chlorobium tepidum is a thermophilic green sulfer bacteria originally isolated from a New Zealand hot spring. This type of bacterium has special light-harvesting complexes called chlorosomes that contain bacteriochlorophylls and carotenoids. Chlorobium grows in dense mats over hot springs as well as in other warm muds and bodies of water that contain sufficient hydrogen sulfide (used by C. tepidum as an elecron donor). C. tepidum is a valuable model for the green sulfur bacteria because it is easily cultivated and naturally transformable.