A novel moderately thermophilic, heterotrophic anaerobe, designated strain LG1T, was isolated from the Mariner deep-sea hydrothermal vent field along the Eastern Lau Spreading Center and Valu Fa Ridge. Cells of strain LG1T were motile rods, occurring singly or in pairs, 0.6 μm in width and 1.2 μm in length. The strain LG1T grew between 40 and 70 °C (optimum 50–55 °C), at a pH between 5 and 8 (optimum pH 6.5) and with 7.5 to 50 g L−1 NaCl (optimum 30 g L−1). Sulfur, cystine and thiosulfate were reduced to sulfide, and cell yield was improved in the presence of cystine. Strain LG1T was an organotroph able to use a variety of organic compounds. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons indicated that strain LG1T was affiliated to the... |