Desulfurococcus

Abstract De.sul.fu.ro.coc.cus. L. prep. de , from; L. neut. n. sulfur , sulfur (S); N.L. pref. desulfo‐ , desulfuricating, suffix used to characterize a dissimilatory sulfate‐reducing prokaryote (in compound words); N.L. masc. n. coccus , coccus; from Gr. masc. n. kokkos , grain, seed; N.L. masc. n. Desulfurococcus , the sulfur‐reducing coccus. Thermoproteota / Thermoprotei / Desulfurococcales / Desulfurococcaceae / Desulfurococcus The genus Desulfurococcus accommodates anaerobic hyperthermophilic archaea of the family Desulfurococcaceae , order Desulfurococcales , class Thermoprotei , phylum Thermoproteota . Cells are regular or irregular cocci, with or without flagella, with a cell envelope of globular structure. Hyperthermophiles with optimum growth temperature of 80–92°C. Neutrophiles or moderate acidophiles with optimum pH for growth of 6.0–6.5. Obligate anaerobes. Organotrophs utilize a wide range of organic substrates: peptides, proteins, monomeric and polymeric carbohydrates. Fermentative type of metabolism. Growth of most strains is inhibited by molecular hydrogen and stimulated by the presence of elemental sulfur. Cell envelope is flexible, composed of an S‐layer of protein or glycoprotein subunits; devoid of muramic acid. The major core lipids are glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs). Resistant to benzylpenicillin, vancomycin, streptomycin, low sensitivity to chloramphenicol. The DNA‐dependent RNA polymerases are of the BAC type. Reported species inhabit terrestrial hot springs. The type species is Desulfurococcus mucosus Zillig and Stetter 1983 (type strain ATCC 35584 T =DSM 2162 T =JCM 9187 T ). DNA G + C content (mol%) : 44.8–53.14 ( T m , genome). Type species : Desulfurococcus mucosus Zillig and Stetter 1983, VL10 (synonym: Desulfurococcus mobilis Zillig and Stetter 1983, VL10) emend. Perevalova et al. 2016.