Desulfotomaculum

Desulfotomaculum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Firmicutes
Class:	Clostridia
Order:	Clostridiales
Family:	Peptococcaceae
Genus:	Desulfotomaculum Campbell & Postgate 1965

Desulfotomaculum is a genus of Gram-positive, obligately anaerobic soil bacteria. A type of sulfate-reducing bacteria, Desulfotomaculum can cause food spoilage in poorly processed canned foods^{[citation needed]}. Their presence can be identified by the release of hydrogen sulfide gas with its rotten egg smell when the can is first opened. They are endospore-forming bacteria^{[citation needed]}.

A new strain of Desulfotomaculum bacteria has been discovered in a South African gold mine, that exists completely independent of photosynthesis^[1]. The bacteria uses the energy provided by radioisotopes to form hydrogen sulfide, H₂S, which replaces the hydrogen bonds produced by normal photosynthesis. This discovery holds great promise, as it proves that organisms can obtain energy from sources other than from the sun, which means similar life-forms may be found on other planets in the Solar System.

Desulfotomaculum are straight or curved rods, are highly heat resistant and a free-living fixer of atmospheric nitrogen. They are motile with a peritrichous flagella and are common inhabitants of soil, water, geothermal run-off, insect intestines and in rumen. They also cause "sulphide stinker" spoilage of canned foods.

References

1. ^ Li-Hung Lin, Pei-Ling Wang, Douglas Rumble, Johanna Lippmann-Pipke, Erik Boice, Lisa M. Pratt, Barbara Sherwood Lollar, Eoin L. Brodie, Terry C. Hazen, Gary L. Andersen, Todd Z. DeSantis, Duane P. Moser, Dave Kershaw, and T. C. Onstott (2006). "Long-Term Sustainability of a High-Energy, Low-Diversity Crustal Biome". Science 314 (5798): 479. doi:10.1126/science.1127376. PMID 17053150. 

• Madigan M; Martinko J (editors). (2005). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed. ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-144329-1. 
• Gold mine holds life untouched by the Sun
• Bacteria that use radiated water for food discovered two miles down