Thermaceae is a family of bacteria belonging to the phylum Deinococcota. It is the only family in the order Thermales. They are particularly resistant to heat, and live in the benthic zone of the Gulf of Mexico.

Members of the order Thermales can be distinguished from all other bacteria through molecular signatures consisting of conserved signature indels (CSIs) and conserved signature proteins (CSPs) that are exclusively present in members of this order. Specifically, six CSIs were identified in the following proteins: DNA topoisomerase I, ABC transporter permease, citrate synthase, phosphoribosylformylglycinamidine synthase, pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha-glucan phosphorylase. 51 CSPs were also found to be exclusively shared by members of this order.

In addition, a 76-aminoacid CSI is present in the protein SecA preprotein translocase which is specific to all members of the order Thermales as well as Hydrogenibacillus schlegelii (also an thermophilic species). Based on studies on other CSIs and CSPs, it is likely that some of these CSIs and CSPs could have implications in the thermophilic phenotype of Thermales species.

Phylogeny

The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN) and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

16S rRNA based LTP_10_2024120 marker proteins based GTDB 10-RS226
Thermaceae Allomeiothermus Jiao et al. 2023 Calidithermus Raposo et al. 2019 Meiothermus Nobre et al. 1996 Oceanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003 Marinithermus Sako et al. 2003 Rhabdothermus Steinsbu et al. 2011 Vulcanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003 Thermus Brock and Freeze 1969 (Approved Lists 1980)"Marinithermaceae" Marinithermus Oceanithermus Thermaceae Allomeiothermus Calidithermus Meiothermus Thermus
Thermaceae Allomeiothermus Jiao et al. 2023 Calidithermus Raposo et al. 2019 Meiothermus Nobre et al. 1996 Oceanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003 Marinithermus Sako et al. 2003 Rhabdothermus Steinsbu et al. 2011 Vulcanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003 Thermus Brock and Freeze 1969 (Approved Lists 1980)
ThermaceaeAllomeiothermus Jiao et al. 2023 Calidithermus Raposo et al. 2019 Meiothermus Nobre et al. 1996 Oceanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003 Marinithermus Sako et al. 2003 Rhabdothermus Steinsbu et al. 2011 Vulcanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003 Thermus Brock and Freeze 1969 (Approved Lists 1980)
Allomeiothermus Jiao et al. 2023 Calidithermus Raposo et al. 2019 Meiothermus Nobre et al. 1996
Allomeiothermus Jiao et al. 2023
Calidithermus Raposo et al. 2019 Meiothermus Nobre et al. 1996
Calidithermus Raposo et al. 2019
Meiothermus Nobre et al. 1996
Oceanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003 Marinithermus Sako et al. 2003 Rhabdothermus Steinsbu et al. 2011 Vulcanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003 Thermus Brock and Freeze 1969 (Approved Lists 1980)
Oceanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003
Marinithermus Sako et al. 2003 Rhabdothermus Steinsbu et al. 2011 Vulcanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003 Thermus Brock and Freeze 1969 (Approved Lists 1980)
Marinithermus Sako et al. 2003
Rhabdothermus Steinsbu et al. 2011 Vulcanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003 Thermus Brock and Freeze 1969 (Approved Lists 1980)
Rhabdothermus Steinsbu et al. 2011 Vulcanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003
Rhabdothermus Steinsbu et al. 2011
Vulcanithermus Miroshnichenko et al. 2003
Thermus Brock and Freeze 1969 (Approved Lists 1980)
"Marinithermaceae" Marinithermus Oceanithermus Thermaceae Allomeiothermus Calidithermus Meiothermus Thermus
"Marinithermaceae"Marinithermus Oceanithermus
Marinithermus
Oceanithermus
ThermaceaeAllomeiothermus Calidithermus Meiothermus Thermus
Allomeiothermus Calidithermus Meiothermus
Allomeiothermus
Calidithermus Meiothermus
Calidithermus
Meiothermus
Thermus