Novel thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria from a geothermally active underground mine in Japan.

Thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria were enriched from samples obtained from a geothermal underground mine in Japan. The enrichment cultures contained bacteria affiliated with the genera Desulfotomaculum, Thermanaeromonas, Thermincola, Thermovenabulum, Moorella, "Natronoanaerobium," and Clostridium. Two novel thermophilic sulfate-reducing strains, RL50JIII and RL80JIV, affiliated with the genera Desulfotomaculum and Thermanaeromonas, respectively, were isolated.