Thermal Organism: uncultured Thermodesulfobacterium sp.

Thermodesulfobacterium is a thermophilic, sulfate-reducing bacterium. Alhtough not a true hyperthermophile because its growth temperature optimum is only 70°C, Thermodesulfobacterium is the most thermophilic of all known sulfate-reducing Bacteria. Thermodesulfobacterium is a strict anaerobe, cannot utilize acetate as an electron donor in its energy metabolism and instead uses compunds like lactate, pyruvate, and ethanol, reducing SO₄^2- to H₂S. An unusual biochemical feature of species of Thermodesulfobacterium is the presence of ether-linked lipids. A very interesting situation exists in Thermodesulfobacterium ether-linked lipids because the glycerol side chains are not phytanyl groups but instead a unique C₁₇ hydrocarbon along with some fatty acids. These lipids are similar to the thermophilic bacterium Ammonifex.

Taken from the text Brock Biology of Microorganisms (10th ed.). Madigan, M.T., Martinko, J.M., and Parker, J. 2003. Prentice Hall. 441p.