In marine anaerobic environments, methane is oxidized where sulfate-rich seawater meets biogenic or thermogenic methane. In those niches, a few phylogenetically distinct microbial types, i.e., anaerobic methanotrophs (ANME), are able to grow through anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM). Due to the relevance of methane in the global carbon cycle, ANME have drawn the attention of a broad scientific community for 4 decades. This review presents and discusses the microbiology and physiology of ANME up to the recent discoveries, revealing novel physiological types of anaerobic methane oxidizers which challenge the view of obligate syntrophy for AOM. An overview of the drivers shaping the distribution of ANME in different marine habitats, from cold seep sediments to hydrothermal vents, is given. Multivariate analyses of the abundance of ANME in various habitats identify a distribution of distinct ANME types driven by the mode of methane transport. Intriguingly, ANME have not yet been cultivated in pure culture, despite intense attempts. Further advances in understanding this microbial process are hampered by insufficient amounts of enriched cultures. This review discusses the advantages, limitations, and potential improvements for ANME laboratory-based cultivation systems.

中文翻译：

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将甲烷厌氧氧化与硫酸盐还原耦合的古菌甲烷氧化菌的生理学和分布。

在海洋厌氧环境中，富含硫酸盐的海水遇到生物或热成因甲烷时，甲烷被氧化。在这些生态位中，一些系统发育上不同的微生物类型，即厌氧甲烷氧化菌（ANME），能够通过甲烷的厌氧氧化（AOM）生长。由于甲烷在全球碳循环中的相关性，ANME 4 年来引起了广泛科学界的关注。这篇综述介绍并讨论了 ANME 的微生物学和生理学直到最近的发现，揭示了厌氧甲烷氧化器的新生理类型，挑战了 AOM 专性营养的观点。概述了从冷泉沉积物到热液喷口等不同海洋生境中影响 ANME 分布的驱动因素。对不同生境中 ANME 丰度的多变量分析确定了由甲烷运输模式驱动的不同 ANME 类型的分布。有趣的是，尽管人们进行了大量尝试，但 ANME 尚未在纯文化中得到培育。由于富集培养物数量不足，阻碍了对这一微生物过程的进一步了解。本综述讨论了 ANME 实验室培养系统的优点、局限性和潜在改进。