Sulaneobacter

Sulaneobacter is a genus of Gram‑negative, rod‑shaped bacteria within the family Enterobacteriaceae. The type species, Sulaneobacter metallophilus, was first described in 2015 after isolation from a saline aquifer in the Negev Desert. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequence places the genus within the Enterobacterales order, closely related to the genera Klebsiella and Enterobacter. The genus name derives from the Latin "sulane" meaning sulfur and the Greek "bacter" meaning rod, reflecting its sulfur metabolism.

Members of Sulaneobacter are facultatively anaerobic, non‑spore‑forming, and motile via peritrichous flagella. They possess a polar capsule and are capable of utilizing a broad range of organic substrates, including glucose, lactate, and acetate. A distinctive feature is their ability to reduce elemental sulfur to hydrogen sulfide under anaerobic conditions, a process mediated by a novel sulfide quinone reductase enzyme. Genome sequencing of S. metallophilus reveals genes encoding resistance to heavy metals such as nickel and copper, suggesting adaptation to metal‑rich environments.

Ecologically, Sulaneobacter species have been isolated from diverse habitats, including saline groundwater, sulfide‑rich marine sediments, and the guts of aquatic organisms. Their sulfur‑oxidizing and metal‑reducing activities implicate them in biogeochemical cycling of sulfur and trace metals. Recent studies have explored their potential for bioremediation of contaminated aquifers and for bioleaching applications. Further research is ongoing to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms governing sulfur metabolism and to assess the role of Sulaneobacter in microbial communities under extreme environmental conditions.