Author:
Brune Andreas,Mies Undine S.
Abstract
Abstract
E.lu.si.mi.cro.bi.o'ta. N.L. neut. n.
Elusimicrobium
, type genus of the phylum; N.L. neut. pl. n. suff. ‐
ota
, ending to denote a phylum; N.L. neut. pl. n.
Elusimicrobiota
, the
Elusimicrobium
phylum.
Elusimicrobiota
belongs to the PVC superphylum and comprises at least four class‐level lineages of mostly uncultured bacteria. Only the classes
Elusimicrobia
and
Endomicrobia
each have a single cultured representative. Both isolates are strictly anaerobic ultramicrobacteria with a fermentative metabolism and an unusual cell cycle. Like their uncultured relatives in the families
Elusimicrobiaceae
and
Endomicrobiaceae
, they colonize the intestinal tracts of invertebrate and vertebrate hosts and show considerable genome reduction. All other lineages seem to consist of free‐living, strictly anaerobic bacteria that occur in a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Members of several apical lineages possess the capacity for aerobic respiration.
Type genus
:
Elusimicrobium
Geissinger et al. 2009, VL132.
The phylum
Elusimicrobiota
contains the classes
Elusimicrobia
Geissinger et al. 2009, VL132 and
Endomicrobia
Zheng et al. 2016, VL180.