Microbiology · 2009 · 20 citations · 15 references
Life SciencesEcologyMicrobiologyAquatic MicrobiologyEnvironmental MicrobiologyMicrobial EcologyAquatic Microbial EcologyFreshwater MicrobiologyMicrobial Sulfur CyclingSulfur CompoundsSulfur CycleSulfur MetabolismMicrobial Sulfur MetabolismSulfide-oxidizing MicroorganismsSulfur Cycling BacteriaSulfur Metabolism EnzymesSulfur Metabolism EvolutionSulfur-oxidizing Bacteria
The colorless sulfur bacteria Thioploca spp. found in Lake Baikal are probably a marker for the influx of subterranean mineralized fluids. Bacteria act as a biological filter; by consuming sulfide in their metabolism, they detoxicate it and maintain the purity of Lake Baikal's water. The bacteria were investigated by various techniques. According to analysis of the 16S rRNA gene fragment, Thioploca sp. from Frolikha Bay, Baikal belongs to the clade of freshwater species found in Lake Biwa and Lake Constance; it is most closely related to Thioploca ingrica.
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