Abstract
Abstract
Zes.to.sphae'ra. Gr. masc. adj.
zestos
hot, boiling; Gr. fem. n.
sphaera
a ball, a sphere; N.L. fem. n.
Zestosphaera
a hot sphere.
Crenarchaeota / Thermoprotei / Desulfurococcales / Desulfurococcaceae / Zestosphaera
The genus
Zestosphaera
(family
Desulfurococcaceae
) consists of a single species,
Zestosphaera tikiterensis
NZ3
T
. Cells are nonmotile cocci approximately 1.0 μm in diameter.
Zestosphaera
is anaerobic, neutrophilic (pH optimum 6.0) hyperthermophiles with an optimum growth temperature of 82–83°C. Growth has been observed on 0–0.5% NaCl (w/v). Thiosulfate is required for growth. Protein‐rich carbon sources support growth, including yeast extract, casamino acids, gelatin, and tryptone, and growth has not been observed on sugars, carbohydrates, alcohols, or fatty acids. Lipids consist of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers. An S‐layer is inferred from the genome.
Z. tikiterensis
cells also can form a close association with the symbiotic nanoarchaeote
Candidatus
Nanoclepta minutus, in which
Z. tikiterensis
functions as the host organism. The type species was isolated from a terrestrial geothermal spring in Tikitere, New Zealand.
DNA G + C content (mol%)
:
41.9 (genome analysis).
Type species
:
Zestosphaera tikiterensis
St. John et al. 2019, VL197.