Deinococcus geothermalis DSM 11300

Deinococcus geothermalis is an extremely radiation resistant, moderately thermophilic bacterium closely related to the mesophilic Deinococcus radiodurans. D. geothermalis is remarkable not only for its extreme resistance to ionizing gamma irradiation, but also for its ability to grow at temperatures as high as 55 degrees C and in the presence of chronic irradiation. The organism was isolated from thermal springs at Agnano, Naples, Italy. D. geothermalis belongs to the bacterial family Deinococcaceae, currently comprised of eight distinct nonpathogenic radiation resistant species, of which Deinococcus radiodurans strain R1 is the most characterized. Characteristics support the prospective development of this thermophilic radiophile for bioremediation of radioactive mixed waste environments. Like D. radiodurans, D. geothermalis accumulates high intracellular Mn(II) concentrations, believed to be important to its extreme resistance phenotypes. (EBI Integr8)