Abstract

The phylum Aquificae is comprised of thermophilic and hyperthermophilic bacteria, which flourish in marine and terrestrial hydrothermal environments. Most Aquificae species are chemolithoautotrophs; however, some also grow heterotrophically. The phylum presently contains a single class and a single order with three families. Of these families, Aquificaceae and Hydrogenothermaceae are aerobic or microaerophilic bacteria deriving energy by …