The sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) of genus Desulfovibrio are a group of prokaryotes associated with
autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The connection between the elevated numbers of Desulfovibrio in the gut of children with ASD compared with healthy children remains unresolved. A conceivable consequence of SRB overgrowth in the gut is the conversion of bioavailable
iron into low-soluble crystalline
iron sulphides, causing
iron deficiency in the organism. In this study, we report the draft genome sequence and physiological features of the first cultivable isolate from a patient with ASD, Desulfovibrio desulfuricans strain AY5.The capability of the strain to produce crystalline
iron sulphides was studied under different pH conditions. The most notable
greigite(
Fe3S4) and
pyrite (FeS2) formation was revealed at pH 6.0, which suggests that the
iron loss due to insoluble sulphide formation may occur in the proximal part of the gastrointestinal tract. Strain AY5 was adapted to grow under
nitrogen-limiting conditions by N2 fixation. The
urease found in the strain's genome may play a role in resistance to acidic pH.