Desulfovibrio vulgaris

Desulfovibrio vulgaris is a species of Gram-negative sulfate-reducing bacteria in the Desulfovibrionaceae family. It is also an anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria that is an important organism involved in the bioremediation of heavy metals in the environment. Desulfovibrio vulgaris is often used as a model organism for sulfur-reducing bacteria and was the first of such bacteria to have its genome sequenced. It is ubiquitous in nature and has also been implicated in a variety of human bacterial infections, although it may only be an opportunistic pathogen. This microbe also has the ability to endure high salinity environments, which is done through the utilization of osmoprotectants and efflux systems.
Sulfate Reducing Bacteria
Desulfovibrio vulgaris is a sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) that plays an important role in cycling elements. The metabolism of SRBs contributes to bioremediation by increasing their pH. SRBs also play a key role in biogeochemical cycles. Studies have shown that SRBs grow best with hydrogen and sulfate.
Bioremediation
Desulfovibrio vulgaris can be used to remove metals from the environment due to its production of H2S. It can also carry out this process while being exposed to high concentrations of NaCl. During the removal of metals from mine waste piles, there was a removal efficiency of 99% by sulfate-reducing bacteria. However, it has been found that, at high concentrations, heavy metals can be toxic to D. vulgaris. D. vulgaris can also reduce the highly toxic Cr(VI) metal to a less toxic, less soluble Cr(III).
Salt Stress
When Desulfovibrio vulgaris is exposed to increased salinity, it responds with the upregulation of chemotaxis genes and the downregulation of flagellar biosynthesis. The upregulation of chemotaxis genes may help move the cells away from the stressful environment.
Another common response is the accumulation of neutral, polar, small molecules that serve as osmoprotectants, such as glycine betaine (GB) and proline. These molecules may either be synthesized in the cell or imported in. However, GB is only imported into the cell, and proline is not the preferred molecule to use by Desulfovibrio vulgaris.
This microbe also responds to increased salinity by using its efflux systems to pump excess salt ions out of the cell. This process, as well as GB import, requires more energy than the cells normally require. Desulfovibrio vulgaris also responds by increasing transcript levels of all Hmc operon members, indicating that electron channeling increases during salt stress. One notable characteristic of Desulfovibrio vulgaris is that it changes to have a more elongated structure when exposed to high salinity, possibly caused by inhibition of DNA replication.
Pathogen
Desulfovibrio vulgaris has been linked to several human bacterial infections but may just be an opportunistic pathogen. Overall, Desulfovibrio may be a weak pathogen, but D. fairfieldensis has a higher pathogenic potential than most other Desulfovibrio species. Most infections with Desulfovibrio are susceptible to imipenem. These infections are an infrequent cause of diseases in humans.
References
External links
Type strain of Desulfovibrio vulgaris at BacDive - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase
Desulfovibrio