Catenococcus thiocyclus gen. nov. sp. nov. - a new facultatively anaerobic bacterium from a near-shore sulphidic hydrothermal area

A new Gram-negative facultatively anaerobic eubacterium isolated from a near-shore sulphidic hydrothermal area is described. It differs from known genera of Gram-negative cocci, and is thus proposed to be a representative of a new genus. This isolate, Catenococcus thiocyclus, is able to oxidize thiosulphate to tetrathionate during batch growth in the presence of organic carbon and energy sources. That energy is gained from thiosulphate oxidation is indicated by an increase in the growth yield compared with similar cultures from which the thiosulphate had been omitted. Thiosulphate—cytochrome c oxidoreductase and endogenous cytochrome c 553 were shown to be involved in thiosulphate oxidation in C. thiocyclus.