G. Ravot et al., THERMOTOGA ELFII SP-NOV, A NOVEL THERMOPHILIC BACTERIUM FROM AN AFRICAN OIL-PRODUCING WELL, International journal of systematic bacteriology, 45(2), 1995, pp. 308-314
A thermophilic, glucose-fermenting, strictly anaerobic, rod-shaped bac
terium, strain SEBR 6459(T) (T = type strain), was isolated from an Af
rican oil-producing well. This organism was identified as a member of
the genus Thermotoga on the basis of the presence of the typical outer
sheath-like structure (toga) and 16S rRNA signature sequences and its
ability to grow on carbohydrates (glucose, arabinose, fructose, lacto
se, maltose, and xylose). Major differences in its 16S rRNA gene seque
nce, its lower optimum temperature for growth (66 degrees C), its sodi
um chloride range for growth (0 to 2.8%), its lack of lactate as an en
d product from glucose fermentation, and its peritrichous flagella ind
icate that strain SEBR 6459(T) is not similar to the three previously
described Thermotoga species. Furthermore, this organism does not belo
ng to any of the other genera related to the order Thermotogales that
have been described. On the basis of these findings, we propose that t
his strain should be described as a new species, Thermotoga elfii. The
type strain of T. elfii is SEBR 6459 (= DSM 9442).