Definition
Leptothrix describes a genus of bacteria that have long been recognized as important in the biological oxidation of iron and manganese (van Veen et al., 1978). It is one of several genera that may be referred to as the “iron bacteria.” At present, there are five recognized species: L. ochracea, L. discophora, L. cholodnii, L. lopholea, and L. mobilis (Garrity et al., 2004). The genus is in the class Betaproteobacteria. The members of this genus are recognized for the production of an extracellular tubular sheath. The cells typically grow as chains of cells within the sheath, which they excrete as they grow. It is common for the sheaths to be coated in Mn oxides or Fe oxyhydroxides. L. ochracea is perhaps the most commonly recognized Leptothrixspp. due to copious production of very straight, iron encrusted sheaths. This species has never been cultivated in the laboratory and its exact relationship to other members of the genus is not known. Circumstantial evidence suggests...
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Emerson, D. (2011). Leptothrix. In: Reitner, J., Thiel, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geobiology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9212-1_127
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