Imhoffiella

Abstract

Imhoffiella genus in honor of a German microbiologist, Johannes F. Imhoff, who has made a noteworthy contribution to our understanding of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria. Proteobacteria / Gammaproteobacteria / Chromatiales / Chromatiaceae / Imhoffiella. The genus Imhoffiella accommodates obligately anaerobic, phototrophic bacteria and does not grow in chemotrophic and fermentative modes. Cells of these phototrophs are Gram-negative, anaerobic, motile, coccoid, which divide by binary fission, and they present singly or in diplococci. Cells have a single flagellum and vesicular-type internal membranes. Possess bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids as photosynthetic pigments. Utilize reduced sulfur sources as electron donors during growth and deposit elemental sulfur intracellularly as small bright globules. Cells can photoassimilate organic substrates such as acetate, butyrate, lactate, succinate, glucose, glycerol, pyruvate, glycolate, casamino acids, and valerate in the presence of sulfide and bicarbonate. Growth factors are not required. They are mesophilic and halotolerant. The major fatty acids comprise C16:0, C16:1 omega 7c and/or iso-C15:0 2OH (summed feature 3), and C18:1 omega 7c. Known habitats are beach tidal water and marine aquaculture pond water. DNA G + C content (mol%): 63.1-65.5 (Tm). Type species: Imhoffiella purpurea Nupur et al. 2017 VP.