title: Distribution of oxidizing bacterial activities and characterization of bioleaching-related microorganisms in a uranium mineral heap.
abstract: The occurrence and activity of bioleaching-related microorganisms are highest at 0.25 m under the surface of a uranium mineral heap, and decrease at points deeper than 1 m inside the heap. Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, Th. acidophilus, Th. thiooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans have been found and isolated from different sites inside the heap. Other mesophilic iron- or sulphur-oxidizing bacteria and some moderate thermophile have also been isolated from deep (1 m and 4 m) sites and characterized. Several fungi and some yeasts are present in this bioleaching habitat.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, I. Facultades de Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: de Silóniz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perera
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013855:Thiobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014501:Uranium / Q000378:metabolism*; D014876:Water Pollution
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D014501:Uranium