Physiological Characteristics of the Facultatively Chemolithotrophic Thiobacillus Species Thiobacillus delicatus nom. rev., emend., Thiobacillus perometabolis, and Thiobacillus intermedius

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Abstract
The physiological characteristics of three facultatively chemolithotrophic Thiobacillus species with ubiquinone 8 (group II) (Thiobacillus delicatus THI 091T [T = type strain] Thiobacillus perometabolis THI 023T, and Thiobacillus intermedius THI 101T) were compared. These organisms differ from other facultatively chemolithotrophic Thiobacillus strains with ubiquinone 10 (group I) in requiring thiosulfate or elemental sulfur for optimum growth. T. delicatus THI 091T, T. perometabolis THI 023T, and T. intermedius THI 101T are regarded as three distinct species on the basis of their physiological characteristics. T. delicatus THI 091T differs from T. perometabolis THI 023T and T. intermedius THI 101T in its lack of motility, its ability to grow anaerobically with nitrate, and its intermediate formation of polythionate during thiosulfate oxidation. T. perometabolis THI 023T is distinguished from T. intermedius THI 101T by its ability to grow heterotrophically with a single carbon source. T. delicatus is not on the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names; therefore, this name is revived. In addition, the description of this organism is emended, considering its inability to grow heterotrophically with a single carbon source.