The phylum Nitrospirota (previously known as Nitrospirae or Nitrospira) currently encompasses a limited number of bacterial species with validly published names, including sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) of the genus Thermodesulfovibrio. Some metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of bacteria occur in this phylum, and genes involved in dissimilatory sulfur metabolism have been identified in them. Currently, however, there is no established way to discriminate SRB and sulfur-disproportionating bacteria (SDB), which obtain energy from the disproportionation of inorganic sulfur compounds. In this study, a thiosulfate-disproportionating enrichment culture was established from a hot spring microbial mat. The culture was dominated by a single species belonging to the phylum Nitrospirota, and growth of the novel bacterium was supported by disproportionation of thiosulfate and elemental sulfur. Its growth was not observed under sulfate-reducing conditions. Therefore, a comparative genomic analysis of SDB and SRB was performed using its draft genome sequence, in order to identify any genetic element that could be used as a marker for SDB. As a result, a characteristic gene cluster was identified as a putative genetic element that characterized the genomes of SDB. The gene cluster was found in some MAGs of the phylum Nitrospirota, and their corresponding bacteria may also be capable of the disproportionation of inorganic sulfur compounds.

Nitrospirota门（以前称为Nitrospirae或Nitrospira）目前包含数量有限且名称有效的细菌，包括Thermodesulfovibrio属的硫酸盐还原细菌（SRB）。一些细菌的基因组组装的基因组（MAGs）出现在该门孔中，并且已经鉴定出与异化硫代谢有关的基因。但是，目前，尚无确定的方法来区分SRB和硫歧化细菌（SDB），它们从无机硫化合物的歧化中获取能量。在这项研究中，从温泉微生物垫建立了硫代硫酸盐歧化富集培养。该培养物由属于硝化螺菌门的单一物种主导。，硫细菌硫酸盐和元素硫的歧化促进了新细菌的生长。在硫酸盐还原条件下未观察到其生长。因此，使用SDB和SRB的基因组序列草案对SDB和SRB进行了比较基因组分析，以便鉴定可用作SDB标记的任何遗传元件。结果，特征基因簇被鉴定为表征SDB基因组的推定遗传元件。该基因簇在Nitrospirota门的一些MAG中发现，其相应的细菌也可能能够分解无机硫化合物。