title: A novel Acidimicrobium species in continuous cultures of moderately thermophilic, mineral-sulfide-oxidizing acidophiles.
abstract: A novel species of Acidimicrobium appeared to be the predominant ferrous iron oxidizer in a mixed culture that effected the continuous, efficient extraction of nickel from a mineral concentrate at 49 degrees C, but it was not isolated in pure culture. It outcompeted Acidimicrobium ferrooxidans, which was expected to have a major role in iron oxidation in reactors gassed with air, and was outnumbered at 49 degrees C only by the sulfur-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus caldus. Sulfobacillus species were expected to compete with Acidimicrobium species when culture aeration was enriched with carbon dioxide, but they were a minor component of the populations with and without this enrichment. Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans replaced the Acidimicrobium species and Acidithiobacillus caldus when the temperature was increased to 55 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: Adam A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cleaver
authors.forename: Nicolas P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Norris
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D013440:Sulfides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008903:Minerals; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013440:Sulfides