Abstract

Dissimilatory sulphate reduction is the unifying and defining trait of sulphate-reducing prokaryotes (SRP). In their predominant habitats, sulphate-rich marine sediments, SRP have long been recognized to be major players in the carbon and sulphur cycles. Other, more recently appreciated, ecophysiological roles include activity in the deep biosphere, symbiotic relations, syntrophic associations, human microbiome/health and long-distance electron transfer. SRP include a high diversity of organisms, with large nutritional versatility and broad metabolic capacities, including anaerobic degradation of aromatic compounds and hydrocarbons. Elucidation of novel catabolic capacities as well as progress in the understanding of metabolic and regulatory networks, energy metabolism, evolutionary processes and adaptation to changing environmental conditions has greatly benefited from genomics, functional OMICS approaches and advances in genetic accessibility and biochemical studies. Important biotechnological roles of SRP range from (i) wastewater and off gas treatment, (ii) bioremediation of metals and hydrocarbons and (iii) bioelectrochemistry, to undesired impacts such as (iv) souring in oil reservoirs and other environments, and (v) corrosion of iron and concrete. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of SRPs focusing mainly on works published after 2000. The wealth of publications in this period, covering many diverse areas, is a testimony to the large environmental, biogeochemical and technological relevance of these organisms and how much the field has progressed in these years, although many important questions and applications remain to be explored.

Keywords

Sulphate-reducing prokaryotes

Sulphate-reducing bacteria

Sulphate reduction

Anaerobic respiration

Marine sediments

Hydrocarbon degradation

Metal reduction

Souring

Microbially influenced corrosion

Microbial energy conversion

Genomics

Genetics

Electron transfer

Ecophysiology

Microbiome

Habitats

Systems biology

Abbreviations

ANME anaerobic methanotrophs

AOM anaerobic oxidation of methane

Apr APS reductase

APS adenosine 5′-phosphosulphate

ATP adenosine triphosphate nucleotide

CMIC chemical microbially influenced corrosion

DMSP dimethylsulphoniopropionate

Dsr dissimilatory sulphite reductase

EMIC electrical microbially influenced corrosion

Etf electron-transferring flavoprotein

FBEB flavin-based electron bifurcation

Fdh formate dehydrogenase

FHL formate:hydrogen lyase

Flx flavin oxidoreductase

Hdr heterodisulphide reductase

HHQ 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene

Hmc high molecular mass cytochrome c complex

LDET long-distance electron transfer

Ldh lactate dehydrogenase

LGT lateral gene transfer

Mcr methyl-coenzyme M reductase

MIC microbially influenced corrosion

MICC microbially induced concrete corrosion

MPN most probable number

MTB magnetotactic bacteria

Nfn NAD(H)/NADP(H) transhydrogenase

Nhc nine-haem cytochrome complex

NIWR near-injection wellbore region

Ohc octahaem cytochrome complex

OMZ oxygen minimum zone

PFL pyruvate-formate lyase

PFOR pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase

PWRI produced water reinjection

Qmo quinone-interacting membrane oxidoreductase complex

Qrc quinone-reductase complex

Rnf Rhodobacter nitrogen fixation complex

ROS reactive oxygen species

Sat ATP sulphurylase or sulphate adenylyltransferase

SLIC sequence ligation-independent cloning

SMTZ sulphate-methane-transition zone

SOB sulphur-oxidizing bacteria

SRB sulphate-reducing bacterium(a)

SRP sulphate-reducing prokaryote(s)

TMA trimethylamine

TMAO trimethylamine-N-oxide

Tmc tetraheme cytochrome membrane complex

TpIc3 type I cytochrome c3

TRAP tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic