Thiolava

"Candidatus Thiolava", represented by its sole species "Candidatus Thiolava veneris" (meaning Venus's hair), is a genus of bacteria discovered growing in stringlike mats after an eruption of the submarine volcano Tagoro near the Canary Islands.[1] The International Institute of Species Exploration named Thiolava veneris one of its 2018 Top 10 New Species.[2] The mats host a wide variety of other sea life.[3]

"Candidatus Thiolava"
Scientific classification
Domain:
Bacteria
Phylum:
Pseudomonadota
Class:
Gammaproteobacteria
Order:
Thiotrichales
Family:
Thiotrichaceae
Genus:
"Candidatus Thiolava"

Danovaro et al. 2017

Physical characteristics

Thiolava veneris was found growing in laterally extensive mats in an area recently obliterated by underwater volcanism. The bacteria were discovered growing at about 130 m water depth, near the summit of the submarine volcano Tagoro. The mats of white, hair-like filaments formed by this bacterium cover an area of approximately 2,000 m2 around the newly formed volcanic cone. Each bacteria is 3-6 μm, and form white trichomes, or chains consisting of three helical strands surrounded by a protective sheath.[3] The sheaths are 36 to 90 μm wide and up to 3 cm long.

Metabolism

Unusually, T. veneris can grow heterotrophically or chemolithotrophically, utilizing sulfur and nitrogen supplied by the volcano.[1][3] Thiolava lacks an enzyme that would prohibit deposition of elemental sulfur within the cytoplasm, thus allowing for mineral deposition within the cytoplasmic space.[3]

References
  1. Danovaro, Roberto; Canals, Miquel; Tangherlini, Michael; Dell’Anno, Antonio; Gambi, Cristina; Lastras, Galderic; Amblas, David; Sanchez-Vidal, Anna; Frigola, Jaime; Calafat, Antoni M.; Pedrosa-Pàmies, Rut; Rivera, Jesus; Rayo, Xavier; Corinaldesi, Cinzia (24 April 2017). "A submarine volcanic eruption leads to a novel microbial habitat". Nature Ecology & Evolution. 1 (6): 0144. doi:10.1038/s41559-017-0144. hdl:10508/10899. PMID 28812643.
  2. Strickland, Ashley (23 May 2018). "Meet the top 10 new species of 2018". CNN. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  3. Frazer, Jennifer (5 May 2017). "Bacterial hair on undersea volcano unlike any seen before". Scientific American. Retrieved 24 May 2018.


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