AUTHOR=Han Yuchen , Perner Mirjam 

TITLE=The globally widespread genus Sulfurimonas: versatile energy metabolisms and adaptations to redox clines

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00989

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2015.00989

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Sulfurimonas</italic> species are commonly isolated from sulfidic habitats and numerous 16S rRNA sequences related to <italic>Sulfurimonas</italic> species have been identified in chemically distinct environments, such as hydrothermal deep-sea vents, marine sediments, the ocean’s water column, and terrestrial habitats. In some of these habitats, <italic>Sulfurimonas</italic> have been demonstrated to play an important role in chemoautotrophic processes. <italic>Sulfurimonas</italic> species can grow with a variety of electron donors and acceptors, which may contribute to their widespread distribution. Multiple copies of one type of enzyme (e.g., sulfide:quinone reductases and hydrogenases) may play a pivotal role in <italic>Sulfurimonas</italic>’ flexibility to colonize disparate environments. Many of these genes appear to have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer which has promoted adaptations to the distinct habitats. Here we summarize <italic>Sulfurimonas</italic>’ versatile energy metabolisms and link their physiological properties to their global distribution.</p>