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
Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated. Include a picture or two (with sources) if you can find them.
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
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Application to Biotechnology
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Current Research
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References
Edited by Fanny Wong of Rachel Larsen
