ABSTRACT
Culture conditions for specific hyperthermophilic organisms must reflect the physical and geochemical characteristics of their habitat. Analyses of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) nucleotide sequences, unusual cell wall chemical composition, and presence of ether membrane lipids from representative species of hyperthermophiles have shown that most isolates cluster together in a group distinct from all other bacteria and eukaryotes. Water bath, incubator, or heating block: no special equipment is necessary for routine incubation of hyperthermophiles up to temperatures of 110°C and 500 kPa. Most strains of anaerobic hyperthermophiles are stable for at least a short time in the presence of oxygen as long as they are held at temperatures below their minimum for growth. Most of the neutrophilic, anaerobic, heterotrophic hyperthermophiles can grow on media containing various hydrolyzed protein preparations, such as peptones and trypticase soy, and yeast extract supplemented with trace minerals and elemental sulfur.
