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The Genus Sporomusa

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The Prokaryotes

Introduction

The genus Sporomusa was created in 1984 (Möller et al., 1984) to accommodate a number of strains of anaerobic, homoacetogenic bacteria distinguished by having a Gram-negative cell wall and an ability to form endospores-two properties whose coincidence is uncommon in the microbial world. The genus name means “spore-bearing banana,” and reflects the slightly curved, rod shape of the cells. Two species, S. sphaeroides and S. ovata, were distinguished from each other on the bases of endospore shape, substrate utilization pattern, and G+C content of their genomic DNA. Subsequently, five additional species were revealed, and the phylogenetic position of Sporomusa was clarified. This chapter will update our understanding of Sporomusa, including several of their more notable properties: their common occurrence in anoxic (and even seemingly well-aerated) environments, their ability to grow by decarboxylation of organic acids, and their possession of unusual corrinoids.

Phylogeny

The...

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Authors
  1. John A. Breznak
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Minnesota, Box 196, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0312, USA

    Martin Dworkin Professor Dr. (Editor-in-Chief) (Editor-in-Chief)

  2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University Medical School, 299 Campus Drive, Fairchild, D039, Stanford, CA, 94305-5124, USA

    Stanley Falkow

  3. Department of Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Ramat-Aviv, 69978, Israel

    Eugene Rosenberg

  4. Department of Microbiology, Technical University Munich, 80290, Munich, Germany

    Karl-Heinz Schleifer

  5. DSMZ- German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH, Mascheroder Weg 1b, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany

    Erko Stackebrandt

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Breznak, J.A. (2006). The Genus Sporomusa . In: Dworkin, M., Falkow, S., Rosenberg, E., Schleifer, KH., Stackebrandt, E. (eds) The Prokaryotes. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-30744-3_34

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