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Chromatium (chrome-ace-ee-um) is a red sulphur bacterium (or purple sulphur bacterium). It is found in sediments above the reduced zone. It uses solar energy to assist in the oxidation of hydrogen sulphide producing elemental sulphur which is deposited within the bacterial cell as sulphur granules. Photosynthetic pigments are pink which give the cell its distinctive colour. It is one of a variety of bacteria which metabolise sulphur compounds and deposit sulphur granules within the cells - both red (such as Thiocystis), and colourless (such as Beggiatoa, Achromatium, Thiovulvum, and others). Not all Chromatium are as large as this cell. Phase contrast.
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Canada Del Hoyo, Castille la Mancha, Spain
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Chromatium (chrome-ace-ee-um) and Thiocystis (thigh-o-cyst-is) - red sulphur bacteria (or purple sulphur bacteria). They are found in sediments above the reduced zone. Both use solar energy to assist in the oxidation of hydrogen sulphide producing elemental sulphur which is deposited within the bacterial cell as sulphur granules. Photosynthetic pigments are pink which give the cells their colour. Chromatium are the larger spherical and elongate cells with larger sulphur granules, Thiocystis are smaller are not easy to distinguish from the detritus. Differential Interference Contrast.
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Thiocystis (thigh-owe-cyst-is) is a red sulphur bacterium (or purple sulphur bacterium). It is found in sediments above the reduced zone. It oxidizes hydrogen sulphide producing elemental sulphur which is deposited within the bacterial cell as granules of sulphur. Forms aggregates and individual cells are often hard to distinguish. The cellular nature of these aggregates is hard to determine at first glance. This detail shows that the mass is made of individual cells and the cells have granular inclusions. Phase contrast.
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Caada del Hoyo, Castilla-La Mancha, Espaa
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Thiocystis (thigh-owe-cyst-is) is a red sulphur bacterium (or purple sulphur bacterium). It is found in sediments above the reduced zone. It oxidizes hydrogen sulphide producing elemental sulphur which is deposited within the bacterial cell as granules of sulphur. Forms aggregates and individual cells are often hard to distinguish. Phase contrast.
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Galende, Castile and Len, Spain
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Thiospirillum (thigh-ow-spire-ill-um) is one of the sulphur bacterium. Rather like Spirillum, cells take the form of short-cork-screw and have flagella at both ends of the cells. The flagella occur in very substantial tufts so can be seen easily seen with the light microscope. This cell was rather large. Phase contrast.
