The genus
Thermogilum consists of rod-shaped cells that inhabit neutral or slightly acidic hot springs. Filaments of
Thermofilum are thin, some 0.17-0.35 µm wide with filament lengths ranging up to 100 µm.
Thermophilum is a strict anaerobes that carry out a S
0-based anaerobic respiration. Unlike most hyperthermophiles, the oxygen sensitivity of
Thermophilum is extreme, comparable to that of the methanogens; thus, strict precautions must be taken in their culture.
Taken from the text Brock Biology of Microorganisms (10th ed.). Madigan, M.T., Martinko, J.M., and Parker, J. 2003. Prentice Hall. 465p.