In situ speciation of sulfur globules produced from thiosulfate reduction by Thermoanaerobacter sulfurigignens and Thermoanaerobacterium thermosulfurigenes

Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA, Microbiology and Food Hygiene, Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, D-41065 Mönchengladbach, Germany, Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD), Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806, USA, Department of Microbial Pathogenicity, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: jwiegel{at}uga.edu.

	Abstract

The Firmicutes Thermoanaerobacter sulfurigignens and Thermoanaerobacterium thermosulfurigenes reduce thiosulfate forming sulfur globules inside and outside the cells. XANES analysis revealed the sulfur consisted mainly of sulfur chains with organic endgroups similar to sulfur formed in purple sulfur bacteria, suggesting the possibility that the process of sulfur globules formation by bacteria is an ancient feature.