Desulfobacter

Desulfobacter is a genus of sulfate-reducing bacteria within the Desulfobacteraceae family, order Desulfobacterales, class Deltaproteobacteria, phylum Proteobacteria. Members are obligate anaerobes that reduce sulfate to hydrogen sulfide while oxidizing organic compounds, most notably acetate, as electron donors. The type species is Desulfobacter acetoxidans. Desulfobacter acetoxidans and other species are typically Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, curved to short straight rods found in anaerobic environments.

Metabolism: They couple the oxidation of acetate to CO2 with the reduction of sulfate to sulfide, gaining energy via dissimilatory sulfate reduction. Some strains may oxidize other short-chain fatty acids. They require sulfate or other sulfur compounds as electron acceptors; they do not perform photosynthesis.

Ecology: They are common in marine and freshwater sediments, hydrocarbon-contaminated environments, oil fields, and anaerobic digesters. They contribute to the sulfur cycle, influence sulfuric acid production and metal corrosion, and participate in the biodegradation of organic matter under anoxic conditions.

Significance: Desulfobacter species are studied as model organisms for acetate-oxidizing sulfate-reducing bacteria. Their activity affects biogeochemical cycles, corrosion of steel infrastructure, and bioremediation processes. In laboratory and environmental contexts, they serve as representatives of sulfidogenic bacteria involved in anaerobic decomposition and sulfur cycling.