Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum

Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum
Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum
Scientific classification
Domain:
Phylum:
Class:
Unclassified
Order:
Methylacidiphilales
Family:
Methylacidiphilaceae
Genus:
Methylacidiphilum
Species:
M. fumariolicum
Binomial name
Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum
H. Op den Camp, et al 2007
Type strain
SolV

Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum is an autotrophic bacterium first described in 2007 growing on volcanic pools near Naples, Italy. It grows in mud at temperatures between 50 °C and 60 °C and an acidic pH of 2–5. It is able to oxidize methane gas. It uses ammonium, nitrate or atmospheric nitrogen as a nitrogen source and fixes carbon dioxide.

Due to the presence of a lanthanide dependent methanol dehydrogenase enzyme, its growth is strictly dependent on the abundance of rare-earth metals.

No biotic interactions between M. fumariolicum and other organisms are known, probably due to the extreme environment the bacteria needs in order to grow.