JAKARTA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- A research team from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Indonesia (UI) has discovered a new species of heat-resistant bacteria named Thermus javaensis in the Cisolok geyser area of Sukabumi, West Java, according to a report published by UI on Tuesday.
Yellow-pigmented and rod-shaped, the bacteria discovered from leaf litter possess a unique structure known as rotund bodies, can survive in temperatures close to the boiling point of water, and are the first species from the genus Thermus discovered in Indonesia's geothermal region.
"The discovery of Thermus javaensis shows that Indonesia's geothermal ecosystem is a biodiversity hotspot with enormous microbial diversity that has not yet been fully scientifically explored," lead researcher Prof. Wellyzar Sjamsuridzal said on Tuesday.
Exploration of microorganisms in the Cisolok geyser area began in 2012, while samples for this species were collected in 2015.
Beyond its importance for microbiology, Thermus javaensis is considered to have potential for the development of heat-resistant enzymes and bioactive compounds that could be used in industry, healthcare and biotechnology. ■
