title: Analysis of the microbial community in moderately acidic drainage from the Yanahara pyrite mine in Japan.
abstract: Acid rock drainage (ARD) originating from the Yasumi-ishi tunnel near the main tunnel of the Yanahara mine in Japan was characterized to be moderately acidic (pH 4.1) and contained iron at a low concentration (51 mg/L). The composition of the microbial community was determined by sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes using PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The analysis of the obtained sequences showed their similarity to clones recently detected in other moderately acidic mine drainages. Uncultured bacteria related to Ferrovum- and Gallionella-like clones were dominant in the microbial community. Analyses using specific primers for acidophilic iron- or sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Leptospirillum spp., Acidithiobacillus caldus, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, and Sulfobacillus spp. revealed the absence of these bacteria in the microbial community in ARD from the Yasumi-ishi tunnel. Clones affiliated with a member of the order Thermoplasmatales were detected as the dominant archaea in the ARD microbial population.
authors.affiliation: a Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science , Okayama University , Okayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Sultana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharmin
authors.forename: Tadayoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanao
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamimura
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007564:Japan; D008829:Microbiology; D008906:Mining; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D013440:Sulfides; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013440:Sulfides; C011342:pyrite; D013455:Sulfur; D007501:Iron
keywords: 16S rRNA gene; Ferrovum; Gallionella; acid mine drainage; acidophile