Colorless Sulfur Bacteria

José Rojas Echenique

Colorless Sulfur?Colorless:

Non-phototrophic

Sulfur:Sulfur oxidizing

Mats

O2

H2S

Thiovulum veilThanks Olivia!

Thiovulum at the gradientThanks Isabella!

Excellent swimmersSchulz and Jørgensen, 2001

Thiovulum slime threadThanks Isabella!

Business PlanStraddling the gradients

• Excellent swimming: stay at the optimal spot

• Slime threads: the veil makes a better interface

BeggiatoaThanks Olivia!!

BeggiatoaMubmann et al. 2007

Business PlanBeing in two places at the same time, and at two times in the same place

• Long filaments: sulfur and electron donor in different places

• Vacuole store: sulfur and electron donor at different times

• Gliding: two places at two times also works, they reach through the boundary layer

Enrichments

S2O32-

NO3-

S2O32-

O2

Gradient tubes

O2

H2S

2So + 3O2 + 2H2O 2SO42- + 4H+

Gradient tubes

From Aaron’s gradient tube

Gradient tubes

Anaerobic Thiosulfate Plates

S2O32-

NO3-

Anaerobic Thiosulfate Plates

S2O32- + 2H2O SO4

2- + H2S

Thiosulfate “Fermentation”(Desulfovibrio sulfodismutans, Desulfu ocapsa thiozymogenes)

Anaerobic Thiosulfate Plates

Thanks Katrin!

Aerobic Thiosulfate Plates

S2O32- O2

Aerobic Thiosulfate Plates

S2O32- + 2O2 + H2O SO4

2- + H2SO4

4S2O32- + O2 + 2H2O 2SO4

2- + 4OH-

2S2O32- + 7O2 + 6H2O

2SO42- + 6H2SO4

Aerobic Thiosulfate Plates

Thanks Veronica!

Colorless Sulfur Bacteria

Sulfur Cycle