Desulfovibrio
Encyclopedia
Desulfovibrio is a genus of Gram negative sulfate-reducing bacteria
. Some species of Desulfovibrio are capable of transduction
. Desulfovibrio species are commonly found in aquatic environments with high levels of organic material, as well as in water-logged soils, and form major community members of extreme oligotrophic habitats such as deep granitic fractured rock aquifers.
Like other sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfovibrio was long considered to be obligately anaerobic
. This is not strictly correct: while growth may be limited, these bacteria can survive in O2-rich environments. These types of bacteria are known as aerotolerant.
Some Desulfovibrio species have in recent years been shown to have bioremediation
potential for toxic radionuclides such as uranium by a reductive bioaccumulation
process.
Sulfate-reducing bacteria
Sulfate-reducing bacteria are those bacteria and archaea that can obtain energy by oxidizing organic compounds or molecular hydrogen while reducing sulfate to hydrogen sulfide...
. Some species of Desulfovibrio are capable of transduction
Transduction (genetics)
Transduction is the process by which DNA is transferred from one bacterium to another by a virus. It also refers to the process whereby foreign DNA is introduced into another cell via a viral vector. Transduction does not require cell-to-cell contact , and it is DNAase resistant...
. Desulfovibrio species are commonly found in aquatic environments with high levels of organic material, as well as in water-logged soils, and form major community members of extreme oligotrophic habitats such as deep granitic fractured rock aquifers.
Like other sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfovibrio was long considered to be obligately anaerobic
Obligate anaerobe
Obligate anaerobes are microorganisms that live and grow in the absence of molecular oxygen; some of these are killed by oxygen. -Metabolism:...
. This is not strictly correct: while growth may be limited, these bacteria can survive in O2-rich environments. These types of bacteria are known as aerotolerant.
Some Desulfovibrio species have in recent years been shown to have bioremediation
Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of microorganism metabolism to remove pollutants. Technologies can be generally classified as in situ or ex situ. In situ bioremediation involves treating the contaminated material at the site, while ex situ involves the removal of the contaminated material to be treated...
potential for toxic radionuclides such as uranium by a reductive bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation
Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other organic chemicals in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a toxic substance at a rate greater than that at which the substance is lost...
process.