Ammoniphilus

Abstract

Am.mo.ni.phi'lus. N.L. neut. n. ammonium ammonia (NH 3 ); Gr. adj. philos loving, friendly to; N.L. masc. n. Ammoniphilus ammonia lover. Firmicutes / “Bacilli” / Bacillales / “Paenibacillaceae” / Ammoniphilus Straight or slightly curved rods. Motile by peritrichous flagella. Endospores are formed. Gram reaction is variable. Cell wall consists of two electron‐dense layers and electron‐dense granules. Obligate aerobe . Catalase‐ and oxidase‐positive. Chemo‐organotroph . Produce H 2 S from cysteine. Nitrate is not reduced. Indole‐negative. High concentrations of ammonium ions required for growth. Growth is optimal at ≥0.07 M NH 4 + . Oxalate is used as the sole organic source for carbon and energy. Obligate oxalotroph . Temperature optimum for growth is 28–30°C; pH optimum for growth is 8.0–8.5. Cell wall contains meso ‐diaminopimelic acid. The major menaquinone is MK‐7. Phylogenetically this genus belongs to the Bacilli lineage of Gram‐positive bacteria. Isolated from Rumex acetosa roots and decaying pinewood. DNA G + C content ( mol %): 42–46 (HPLC). Type species : Ammoniphilus oxalaticus Zaitsev, Tsitko, Rainey, Trotsenko, Uotila, Stackebrandt and Salkinoja‐Salonen 1998, 161 VP .