title: Acidithrix ferrooxidans gen. nov., sp. nov.; a filamentous and obligately heterotrophic, acidophilic member of the Actinobacteria that catalyzes dissimilatory oxido-reduction of iron.
abstract: A novel acidophilic member of the phylum Actinobacteria was isolated from an acidic stream draining an abandoned copper mine in north Wales. The isolate (PY-F3) was demonstrated to be a heterotroph that catalyzed the oxidation of ferrous iron (but not of sulfur or hydrogen) under aerobic conditions, and the reduction of ferric iron under micro-aerobic and anaerobic conditions. PY-F3 formed long entangled filaments of cells (>50 μm long) during active growth phases, though these degenerated into smaller fragments and single cells in late stationary phase. Although isolate PY-F3 was not observed to grow below pH 2.0 and 10 °C, harvested biomass was found to oxidize ferrous iron at relatively fast rates at pH 1.5 and 5 °C. Phylogenetic analysis, based on comparisons of 16S rRNA gene sequences, showed that isolate PY-F3 has 91-93% gene similarity to those of the four classified genera and species of acidophilic Actinobacteria, and therefore is a representative of a novel genus. The binomial Acidithrix ferrooxidans is proposed for this new species, with PY-F3 as the designated type strain (=DSM 28176(T), =JCM 19728(T)).
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK. Electronic address: afu833@bangor.ac.uk.
authors: Rose M
authors: RM
authors: Jones
authors: School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK. Electronic address: d.b.johnson@bangor.ac.uk.
authors: D Barrie
authors: DB
authors: Johnson
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D052836:Heterotrophic Processes; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D008906:Mining; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D013455:Sulfur; D014852:Wales; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013455:Sulfur; D003300:Copper; D006859:Hydrogen
keywords: Acidophile; Actinobacteria; Iron oxidation; Iron reduction; Novel species