Acidobacteriota

Acidobacteriota is a bacterial phylum found in soils and other environments. Its members span diverse metabolisms, and some lineages tolerate acidic conditions.

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Bacteria: Bacteria are single-celled prokaryotic organisms lacking a membrane-bound nucleus. Acidobacteriota is one major lineage within this domain of life.
Soil microbiology: Soil microbiology studies microorganisms living in soil and their effects on soil properties and processes. Acidobacteriota are prominent members of many soil microbial communities.
Acidophiles: Acidophiles are organisms that grow optimally in acidic environments. Some Acidobacteriota are associated with acidic habitats, though the phylum is not uniformly acidophilic.
16S rRNA gene sequencing: 16S rRNA gene sequencing compares bacterial genes encoding ribosomal RNA to identify and classify organisms. Sequence surveys first exposed many uncultured acidobacterial lineages in environmental samples.
Bacterial phylum: A bacterial phylum is a high-level taxonomic group that contains related classes and lower-ranked lineages. This rank places Acidobacteriota among the broad divisions of bacterial diversity.
Soil pH: Soil pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of soil solution. Acidity is a key environmental variable associated with some acidobacterial lineages.
Oligotroph: An oligotroph is an organism adapted to grow in environments with low nutrient availability. Many cultured acidobacterial representatives grow slowly and thrive under nutrient-poor conditions.
Acidobacterium: Acidobacterium is a bacterial genus that includes the type genus of Acidobacteriota. Its name and cultured representatives helped anchor the phylum's early classification.
16S ribosomal RNA: 16S ribosomal RNA is a component of the small ribosomal subunit used widely to identify and compare bacteria. Its gene has been central to detecting Acidobacteriota in environmental samples.
Carbon cycle: The carbon cycle describes how carbon moves among organisms, the atmosphere, oceans, and geological reservoirs. Acidobacteriota can participate in decomposition and other soil carbon transformations.