TABLE 2.

PCR primers used in this study

Primera	Sequence (5′ to 3′)b	Positionc	Specificity	Reference(s)
B341f	CCTACGGGIGGCIGCA	341-357	Bacteria	46
U515f	GTGYCAGCMGCCGCGGTAA	515-533	Universal	46
U533rd	TTACCGCGGCKGCTGRCAC	515-533	Universal	46
U1492r	GGYTACCTTGTTACGACTT	1492-1510	Universal	11
GAM660rd	AATTCCACTTCCCTCTAC	660-674	Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and some other bacteria in Thiotrichales	32
SRB385mfd	CCTGACGCAGCRACGCC	385-401	Sulfate-reducing bacteria in δ-Proteobacteria and some other bacteria (e.g., Clostridium spp.)	1, 29
U926rd	CCGTCAATTCMTTTRAGTTT	907-926	Universal	2
Dv687rd	TCTACGGATTTCACTCCT	687-704	Desulfovibrio spp.	10
Sval428fd	GTAAAATCCTGTCAGATGG	428-446	Desulfotalea spp. and Desulfofustis spp.	35
DSS658rd	TCCACTTCCCTCTCCCAT	658-685	Desulfosarcina spp. and Desulfofaba spp.	26
T7W	TAATACGACTCACTATAGGGC		pGEM-T vector	45
SP6W	ATTTAGGTGACACTATAGAATACTC		pGEM-T vector	45

^af, forward PCR primer; r, reverse PCR primer.

^bAccording to International Union of Biochemistry codes for bases. I, inosine.

^cCorresponding to the numbering in the sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of E. coli.

^dThese primers were used for qcPCR.