Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria and Archaea

The abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria and archaea (SRBA) is impressive and new isolates are being reported continuously.  A few decades ago, only two genera of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) had been identified. As of 2018, 92 genera containing more than 420 species of SRB have been isolated and characterized and there are several species of archaea. This book addresses the development of the research with SRBA and includes historical background of this field. Biochemical characterization of the enzymes, cytochromes and electron carriers involved with dissimilatory sulfate reduction are reviewed and the presence of relevant genes in cultured and uncultured SRBA are assessed using genome analysis. The contributions of transmembrane electron transport complexes as related to cell energetics are discussed. This book highlights the unique cellular and molecular features of the SRBA and discusses the biochemical interactions behind their metabolic capabilities which enable SRBA to grow in extreme environments. Examples are provided to detoxify and alleviate pollution situations, to evaluate mechanisms proposed for corrosion of ferrous metals and to examine the effects of SRB on human and animal hosts.  

The sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) became a major research interest of Larry L. Barton (LB) following his position as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Harry D. Peck Jr at the University of Georgia (UGA). The research at UGA focused on energetics of SRB and included collaboration with Jean LeGall who maintained a laboratory in the Department of Biochemistry at UGA. Following an academic  position at Johns Hopkins University, LB became a member of the Biology Department at the University of New Mexico (UNM) where his laboratory focused on metabolism of transition elements and biodetoxification of heavy metal(loid)s including metabolism of selenium, immobilization of uranium and formation of metallic nanoparticles. Recently his interest has focused on the impact of intestinal SRB on animal activities. Over the years, LB published 35 review articles, 90 peer review articles, 12 books including two edited monographs of SRB, served as founding editor of the international journal Anaerobe, was the series editor of SpringerBriefs in Biometals and participated in the organization of numerous international symposia on biometals. While on sabbatical in the laboratory of Jean LeGall at Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Marseille, France, LB established a collaboration with Guy Fauque and this collegial interaction resulted in publishing several reviews on metabolic activities of SRB.