Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
Classification
Higher order taxa
Archaea; Crenarchaeota; Thermoprotei; Sulfolobales; Sulfolobaceae; Sulfolobus
Species
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NCBI: Taxonomy |
Sulfolobus acidocaldarius
Description and significance
Sulfolobus acidocaldarius is an aerobic thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon which grows optimally at 80°C and pH 2 in terrestrial solfataric springs. [1]
They are primarily an aquatic organism; highly abundance in sulfur-rich hot acid springs in Yellowstone National Park. The strictly aerobic organism also establish itself in hot acid soils at temperatures 55-85°C. [3] Sulfolobus acidocaldarius is responsible for the oxidation of sulfur in sulfuric acid production and the existence of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. [3]
Sulfolobus acidocaldarius strain DSM639, the type strain of the archaeal genus Sulfolobus, was the first hyperthermoacidophile to be characterized from terrestrial solfataras. [1] They serve as a model organism for the Phylum Crenarchaeota.
Genome structure
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Cell structure and metabolism
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Ecology
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Pathology
Sulfolobus acidocaldarius is currently not known to cause any human diseases.
Application to Biotechnology
Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?
Current Research
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References
Edited by Fanny Wong of Rachel Larsen
