Dissimilatory sulfate reduction [GO:0019420]
The reduction of sulfate to hydrogen sulfide, which acts as a terminal electron acceptor. Sulfate is activated to adenosine-phosphosulfate (APS) which is then reduced to sulfite, which is in turn reduced to hydrogen sulfide.
Synonyms: dissimilatory sulfate reduction, dissimilatory sulfate reductional, dissimilatory sulfate reductions, dissimilatory sulphate reduction, dissimilatory sulphate reductional ...