Sulphate-reducing microorganisms: the study of phylogenetic community composition, metabolic properties, a role in natural and anthropogenic ecosystems

Representatives of sulfate-reducing bacteria are among the oldest microorganisms on Earth and play a key role in the global biogeochemical cycles of carbon and sulfur, especially in marine ecosystems. Using the modern molecular biological methods based on the analysis of genes 16S rRNA and dsrAB the heterogeneous phylogenetic composition of different communities of sulfate-reducing bacteria in the water column and sediments of the Barents, Baltic and Black seas was studied. In particular, we have found representatives of the genera Desulfovibrio, Desulfomicrobium, Desulfotomaculum, Desulfococcus, Desulfosarcina, Desulfobacter. For the first time, pure cultures were obtained and the psychrophilic black sea sulfate-reducing bacteria from the water column and bottom sediments of the Black sea were fully characterized. In particular, we described as a new species of Desulfofrigus euxinos, which has a wider range of used donors and electron acceptors than a typical strain.