Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic compound that can affect various groups of water microorganisms. Photolithotrophic sulfur bacteria including Chromatiaceae and Chlorobiaceae are able to convert inorganic substrate (hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide) into organic matter deriving energy from photosynthesis. This process takes place in the absence of molecular oxygen and is referred to as anoxygenic photosynthesis, in which exogenous electron donors are needed. These donors may be reduced sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide. This paper deals with the description of this metabolic process, representatives of the above-mentioned families, and discusses the possibility using anoxygenic phototrophic microorganisms for the detoxification of toxic hydrogen sulfide. Moreover, their general characteristics, morphology, metabolism, and taxonomy are described as well as the conditions for isolation and cultivation of these microorganisms will be presented.
Highlights
Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas with a characteristic odor that is soluble in various liquids including water
Photolitotrophic sulfur bacteria are a group of microorganisms that includes the families Chlorobiaceae and Chromatiaceae [9]
The general characteristics of photolitotrophic sulfur bacteria from the family Chlorobiaceae and Chromatiaceae were described in this work, which differ in their morphology, photosynthetic apparatus, and mechanism of anoxygenic photosynthesis
Summary
Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas with a characteristic odor that is soluble in various liquids including water. Hydrogen sulfide is highly toxic, and even in small doses can cause fatal poisoning It inhibits the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase and prevents tissues from using molecular oxygen (O2 ) [7,8]. Photolitotrophic sulfur bacteria are a group of microorganisms that includes the families Chlorobiaceae (green sulfur bacteria) and Chromatiaceae (purple sulfur bacteria) [9] These names refer to their coloration, which are due to the different content of photosynthetic pigments, such as bacteriochlorophylls and carotenoids [10]. Green sulfur bacteria (GSB) and purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) of the above families may metabolize hydrogen sulfide High concentrations of this compound often occur in aqueous layers of molecular sulfur-rich sediment, which is reduced by two groups of microbial communities: sulfate-reducing and sulfur-reducing microorganisms. This work aims to summarize the recent knowledge on the above-mentioned families of bacteria with emphasis on the description of the mechanism of anoxygenic photosynthesis, their cultivation, and an outline of their possible use in industry
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