222029671
Meet Desulfovibrio desulfuricans, the microscopic powerhouse that’s both a hero and a troublemaker! Found in deep-sea sediments, marshes, and wastewater.Desulfovibrio desulfuricans – the microbe with a double life! In one breath, it cleans polluted waters by breaking down toxic metals, making it a hero in bioremediation. But in the next, it silently corrodes pipelines, costing industries millions. A tiny bacterium with massive power—both good and bad.
The Hidden World of Anaerobic Waters: Where Desulfovibrio desulfuricans Thrives. They live in oxygen-deprived (anaerobic) water habitats—deep-sea sediments, marshes, wetlands, and wastewater treatment plants.Desulfovibrio desulfuricans thrives where oxygen is scarce but sulfates are abundant, using them for energy while breaking down toxic metals. This makes it a key player in bioremediation, but also a villain in pipeline corrosion.
Scientific name:Desulfovibrio desulfuricans
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Thermodesulfobacteriota
Class: Desulfovibrionia
Order: Desulfovibrionales
Family: Desulfovibrionaceae
Genus: Desulfovibrio
Species: D. desulfuricans
Desulfovibrio desulfuricans are rod-shaped, curved, motile with a single polar flagellum.Found in anaerobic (oxygen-free) water environments, including marshes, sewage systems, and deep-sea sediments. It is gram negative. Uses sulfate instead of oxygen for respiration, producing hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a gas with a rotten-egg smell.
https://lpsn.dsmz.de/genus/desulfovibrio.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desulfovibrio_desulfuricans.
Desulfovibrio desulfuricans is a sulfate-reducing bacterium (SRB), meaning it helps in sulfur cycling and metal detoxification.Converts sulfates (SO₄²⁻) into hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which supports sulfur-dependent organisms.Removes toxic heavy metals (e.g., uranium, chromium, lead) from contaminated water.Can cause microbial-induced corrosion (MIC) in metal pipelines and oil structures.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3131654.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desulfovibrio_desulfuricans.
Threats & Issues:Produces H₂S, which can be harmful in high concentrations.Causes structural damage in oil, gas, and water industries.
Conservation & Solutions:Controlled bioremediation techniques to safely use SRBs in metal detoxification.Corrosion-resistant coatings to protect industrial infrastructure from SRB activity.
http://genome.jgi.doe.gov/desde/desde.home.html.
Desulfovibrio desulfuricans is used in bioremediation and industrial metal recovery.
Applications:Bioremediation: Helps remove toxic metals from wastewater by converting them into insoluble, non-toxic forms.
Benefits: Contributes to oil reservoir corrosion, a challenge in the petroleum industry.Used in studies for microbial fuel cells to generate electricity.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC238649.
https://doi.org/10.1128%2FAEM.50.2.498-502.1985.
