Confirmation of Thiobacillus denitrificans as a species of the genus Thiobacillus, in the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria, with strain NCIMB 9548 as the type strain

DP Kelly and AP Wood Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK Thiobacillus denitrificans is physiologically similar to the type species of the genus Thiobacillus, Thiobacillus thioparus, and both are located in the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria. T. denitrificans is distinguished from all other Thiobacillus species by its ability to grow as a facultatively anaerobic chemolithotroph, coupling the oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds to the reduction of nitrate, nitrite and other oxidized nitrogen compounds to dinitrogen. A definitive description of this species is provided and strain NCIMB 9548(T) is designated as the type strain of the species, thereby correcting an earlier error in the literature.