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TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS
Citation:
Stackebrandt, E., D. A. Stahl, AND R D. Devereux. TAXONOMIC RELATIONSHIPS. 1995, Chapter 3, Larry L. Barton (ed.), Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria. Biotechnology Handbooks, vol. 8. Plenum Press, New York, NY, , 49-87, (1995).
Impact/Purpose:
To provide the reader with both a historical and contemporary perspective on the classification and phylogeny of the SRB
Description:
The last several years have seen a notable increase in basic and applied research into the dissimilatory reduction of sulfate by microorganisms. The most significant change in our knowledge of this functionally-defined assemblage has been the recognition of far greater evolutionary, genetic, and metabolic capability than previously appreciated. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (abbreviated SRB in the following text) are now known to directly or indirectly participate in the degradation of a wide variety of substrates, including saturated hydrocarbons and a variety of aromatic and xenobiotic compounds. Our intention in this chapter is to provide the reader with both a historical and contemporary perspective on the classification and phylogeny of the sulfate-reducing bacteria. The historical chronicle is a prelude to discussion of more recent molecular studies and provides an essential overview of the defining physiological attributes of these bacteria. In turn, the developing molecular phylogeny serves to frame the principal physiological features within a natural classification and provide a foundation for the development of DNA probes used for the direct exploration of environmental diversity and studies of the SRB ecology. It is the latter that remains the greatest challenge. Although we have greatly expanded our appreciation of the genetic diversity of sulfate-reducing bacteria, a complete understanding of that diversity can only come from an understanding of their ecology in relationship to their evolution.