Thermococcus gorgonarius sp nov, Thermococcus pacificus sp nov, thermophiles, archaea. The cell envelope consists of one layer of subunits with a major protein of M r 75000.
Elemental sulfur is required for growth and is reduced to hydrogen sulfide.
Based on physiological characteristics, 16S rDNA sequence comparison and DNA base composition, the new isolates were considered to be members of the genus Thermococcus .