Rhodovulum sulfidophilum

Rhodovulum sulfidophilum is a purple bacteria. The cells are rod-shaped, 0.6 to 0.9 μ wide and 0.9 to 2.0 μ long, and motile by means of polar flagella. Cell division occurs by binary fission. Its pigments consist of bacteriochlorophyll a and of carotenoids, most probably of the spheroidene group. The new species needs 2.5% (w/v) sodium chloride for optimal growth. The bacteria has a high sulfide tolerance. Sulfide and thiosulfate are oxidized to sulfate without an intermediate accumulation of elemental sulfur. It can either grow photoautotrophically or photoheterotrophically.