thermococcus profundus thermococcus profundus thermococcus profundus is a hyperthermophilic archaeon isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. it is coccoid-shaped with 1–2 μm in diameter, designated as strain dt5432. thermococcus profundus scientific classification domain: archaea kingdom: euryarchaeota phylum: euryarchaeota class: thermococci order: thermococcales family: thermococcaceae genus: thermococcus species: t. profundus binomial name thermococcus profunduskobayashi and horikoshi 1995 one amylase isolated from t. profundus strain dt5432 was found to function at an optimal temperature of 80 °c. the scientists who extracted it speculate that it may have applications in the starch industry because of its heat tolerance and lack of any need for metal ions.