Acidobacteria

16S rRNA gene sequence surveys and environmental shotgun metagenomic analyses have revealed that Acidobacteria are a highly diverse phylum residing in a wide range of habitats around the globe. Despite this high abundance and diversity, information on their physiology and ecological function remains scarce, mainly due to the low number of cultured Acidobacteria representatives and their slow growth in vitro under standard laboratory conditions. Here, we summarize the characteristics of the Acidobacteria subdivisions that have been described, methods of Acidobacteria isolation, and genomic and metagenomic features of Acidobacteria, including the presence of phage and mobile elements, carbon, nitrogen and sulphur metabolism, exopolysaccharide production, and the roles of Acidobacteria in soil ecosystems.