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Genetic relationships and diversity of 101 Thermus isolates from different geothermal regions in Iceland were investigated by using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) and small subunit ribosomal rRNA (SSU rRNA) sequence analysis. Ten polymorphic enzymes were used and seven distinct and genetically highly divergent lineages of Thermus were observed. Six of seven lineages could be assigned to species whose names have been validated. The most diverse lineage was Thermus scotoductus. In contrast to the other lineages, this lineage was divided into very distinct genetic sublineages that may represent subspecies with different habitat preferences. The least diverse lineage was Thermus brockianus. Phenotypic and physiological analysis was carried out on a subset of the isolates. No relationship was found between growth on specific single carbon source to the grouping obtained by the isoenzyme analysis. The response to various salts was distinguishing in a few cases. No relationship was found between temperature at the isolation site and the different lineages, but pH indicated a relation to specific lineages.

Rhodothermus marinus has been the subject of many studies in recent years. It is a thermohalophilic bacterium and is the only validly described species in the genus Rhodothermus. It is not closely related to other well-known thermophiles and is the only thermophile within the family Crenotrichaceae. R. marinus has been isolated from several similar but distantly located geothermal habitats, many of which are subject to large fluctuations in environmental conditions. This presumably affects the physiology of R. marinus. Many of its enzymes show optimum activity at temperatures considerably higher than 65 degrees C, the optimum for growth, and some are active over a broad temperature range. Studies have found distinguishing components in the R. marinus electron transport chain as well as in its pool of intracellular solutes, which accumulate during osmotic stress. The species hosts both bacteriophages and plasmids and a functional intein has been isolated from its chromosome. Despite these interesting features and its unknown genetics, interest in R. marinus has been mostly stimulated by its thermostable enzymes, particularly polysaccharide hydrolysing enzymes and enzymes of DNA synthesis which may be useful in industry and in the laboratory. R. marinus has not been amenable to genetic analysis until recently when a system for gene transfer was established. Here, we review the current literature on R. marinus.

The genetic diversity and relationships of 81 Rhodothermus isolates from different geothermal environments in Iceland were examined by analysis of electrophoretically demonstrable allelic variation of 13 genes encoding enzymes. All the enzymes were polymorphic. A total of 71 distinctive multilocus genotypes (electrophoretic types, ETs) were identified. The mean genetic diversity per locus (H1) was 0.586. The relatively high genetic variance observed within Rhodothermus isolates from different locations is most likely the result of genetic changes occurring independently in the locations studied. A high Gst value (0.284) indicates that a considerable part of the variance observed is due to differences between locations. Cluster analysis revealed two major groups of ET clusters diverging at a genetic distance of 0.75, reflecting strongly the geographic origin of isolates. Estimation of the association index (I(A)) indicates that Rhodothermus marinus is a clonal species in which recombination events occur rarely. Partial or whole sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes of Rhodothermus isolates grouping at genetic distance of 0.40 confirmed that all the isolates belonged to the species Rhodothermus marinus. The results of this study confirm that, despite phylogenetic and phenotypic similarity, genetic diversity within Rhodothermus marinus is quite high.

In solfataric fields in southwestern Iceland, neutral and sulfide-rich hot springs are characterized by thick bacterial mats at 60 to 80 degrees C that are white or yellow from precipitated sulfur (sulfur mats). In low-sulfide hot springs in the same area, grey or pink streamers are formed at 80 to 90 degrees C, and a Chloroflexus mat is formed at 65 to 70 degrees C. We have studied the microbial diversity of one sulfur mat (high-sulfide) hot spring and one Chloroflexus mat (low-sulfide) hot spring by cloning and sequencing of small-subunit rRNA genes obtained by PCR amplification from mat DNA. Using 98% sequence identity as a cutoff value, a total of 14 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 5 archaeal OTUs were detected in the sulfur mat; 18 bacterial OTUs were detected in the Chloroflexus mat. Although representatives of novel divisions were found, the majority of the sequences were >95% related to currently known sequences. The molecular diversity analysis showed that Chloroflexus was the dominant mat organism in the low-sulfide spring (1 mg liter(-1)) below 70 degrees C, whereas Aquificales were dominant in the high-sulfide spring (12 mg liter(-1)) at the same temperature. Comparison of the present data to published data indicated that there is a relationship between mat type and composition of Aquificales on the one hand and temperature and sulfide concentration on the other hand.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been shown to be a useful tool in the evaluation of the complex deformities which are present in congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot)., Objective: To evaluate MRI with the multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) technique as a new method for assessment of clubfoot., Materials and Methods: Seven infants with 11 clubfeet were studied by using three-dimensional gradient-echo MR sequences. MPR was performed from the acquired image data in orthogonal, single and double oblique planes to demonstrate the complex deformities in clubfoot. Three angles (talar body-neck angle, talocalcaneal left-right angle and the talocalcaneal superior-inferior angle) were defined for measuring the medial angulation of the talar neck and the rotation of the calcaneus in relation to the talus., Results: The method clearly demonstrated the pathological anatomy of the clubfeet, especially the talonavicular articulations. Dislocation of the navicular bone was observed in 9 of the 11 feet. The angle measurements were easily conducted with MPR, and these angles differed considerably among the patients., Conclusions: The information provided by this method is useful for classification of the severity of clubfoot deformities.

Mesophilic, moderately halophilic bacteria were isolated from a silica-rich geothermal lake, the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. The isolates are strictly aerobic, but reduce nitrate to nitrite, and are oxidase- and catalase-positive. The nonsporeforming and nonmotile Gram negative rods are 0.6-0.8 microm in diameter and variable in length (9-18 microm), and contain gas vacuoles. The GC content in their DNA is 66.15%. The minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures for growth are 22 degrees C, 45 degrees C, and 50 degrees C, respectively. The isolates do not grow without added salt in the medium and can grow at up to 7% NaCl (w/v). The optimal salinity for growth is 3.5%-4% NaCl. The pH range for growth is 6.5-8.5, with the optimal pH at 7.0. At optimal conditions the bacterium has a doubling time of 80 min. The main cytochrome is a membrane-bound cytochrome c with an alpha-peak at 549nm. Sequencing of 16S rRNA from the type strain ITI-1157 revealed it to be a proteobacterium of the alpha-subclass with the closest relatives being Roseobacter litoralis and Paracoccuss kocuri. The new isolates do not contain bacteriochlorophyll a and are considered to represent a new genus and a new species, Silicibacter lacuscaerulensis.