Cultivation Techniques and Molecular Methods of Identification of Thermophilic, Anaerobic Bacteria

The cultivation and identification of strictly anaerobic thermophilic microorganisms present a number of challenges owing to the oxygen-sensitive nature of many of these species. This chapter reviews the nature of the anaerobic environment and the techniques currently employed to cultivate both aerotolerant and strictly anaerobic bacteria. Additionally, molecular methods of identifying thermophilic bacteria without cultivation will be addressed.