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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1981 August; 42(2): 317-324

Chemolithotrophic Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria from the Galapagos Rift Hydrothermal Vents

E. G. Ruby, C. O. Wirsen and H. W. Jannasch

Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543

ABSTRACT

Three distinct physiological types of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were enriched and isolated from samples collected at several deep-sea hydrothermal vents (2,550 m) of the Galapagos Rift ocean floor spreading center. Twelve strains of the obligately chemolithotrophic genus Thiomicrospira were obtained from venting water and from microbial mats covering surfaces in the immediate vicinity of the vents. From these and other sources two types of obligately heterotrophic sulfur oxidizers were repeatedly isolated that presumably oxidized thiosulfate either to sulfate (acid producing; 9 strains) or to polythionates (base producing; 74 strains). The former were thiobacilli-like, exhibiting a thiosulfate-stimulated increase in growth and CO₂ incorporation, whereas the latter were similar to previously encountered pseudomonad-like heterotrophs. The presence of chemolithotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in the sulfide-containing hydrothermal water supports the hypothesis that chemosynthesis provides a substantial primary food source for the rich populations of invertebrates found in the immediate vicinity of the vents.

Present address: Department of Bacteriology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

Contribution no. 4810 of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Contribution no. 31 of the Galapagos Rift Biology Expedition.

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