Sphaerotilaceae

Sphaerotilaceae is a family of bacteria in the order Burkholderiales. Genome-based classification places the family as a monophyletic lineage closely related to, but distinct from, the family Comamonadaceae. The type genus is Sphaerotilus.

Some members of the family have distinctive morphologies or metabolic capabilities. Species assigned to Sphaerotilus and Leptothrix have historically been studied as sheathed, filamentous bacteria. Pseudideonella sakaiensis, formerly classified as Ideonella sakaiensis, can degrade and assimilate polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Taxonomy

The family was established following analyses of 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences. These analyses recovered the group as a coherent lineage sister to Comamonadaceae. Genome-relatedness indices, including digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity, together with phenotypic comparisons, were used to resolve relationships within the family.

The family name is formed from the name of its type genus, Sphaerotilus, and the family suffix -aceae.

Genera

As of August 2026, LPSN recognizes the following 17 genera with validly published and correct names in Sphaerotilaceae:

• Amphibiibacter
• Aquabacterium
• Aquariibacter
• Aquincola
• Azohydromonas
• Caldimonas
• Ideonella
• Inhella
• Leptothrix
• Methylibium
• Piscinibacter
• Pseudideonella
• Rivibacter
• Roseateles
• Rubrivivax
• Scleromatobacter
• Sphaerotilus

The validly published genera Calidifontimicrobium, Kinneretia, Paucibacter, Pelomonas, Pseudaquabacterium, and Pseudorivibacter are treated by LPSN as taxonomic synonyms and are therefore excluded from the list of accepted genera.

Phylogeny

Nomenclature follows the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN).

The tree below shows a reduced genome-based phylogeny from GTDB release R11-RS232. It includes one named representative for each LPSN-recognized genus identifiable in the release. Unnamed species clusters and accession-based placeholder genera are excluded.

GTDB assigns the represented genomes to the family Burkholderiaceae_C rather than to a family named Sphaerotilaceae. The tree therefore shows the GTDB relationships among selected genera recognized by LPSN as members of Sphaerotilaceae.

The tree displays genus names, with one named species cluster used to represent each genus. Other genera occurring between the displayed branches in the complete GTDB tree are omitted. ^† GTDB classifies the representative of Pseudideonella as Ideonella_A sakaiensis. No representative is shown for Leptothrixas GTDB R11-RS232 assigns members of this genus to Sphaerotilus.