title: The bioleaching potential of a bacterial consortium.
abstract: This work presents the molecular foundation of a consortium of five efficient bacteria strains isolated from copper mines currently used in state of the art industrial-scale biotechnology. The strains Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans Licanantay, Acidiphilium multivorum Yenapatur, Leptospirillum ferriphilum Pañiwe, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Wenelen and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans Cutipay were selected for genome sequencing based on metal tolerance, oxidation activity and bioleaching of copper efficiency. An integrated model of metabolic pathways representing the bioleaching capability of this consortium was generated. Results revealed that greater efficiency in copper recovery may be explained by the higher functional potential of L. ferriphilum Pañiwe and At. thiooxidans Licanantay to oxidize iron and reduced inorganic sulfur compounds. The consortium had a greater capacity to resist copper, arsenic and chloride ion compared to previously described biomining strains. Specialization and particular components in these bacteria provided the consortium a greater ability to bioleach copper sulfide ores.
authors.affiliation: Mathomics, Center for Mathematical Modeling, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, 7th Floor, Santiago, Chile; Center for Genome Regulation (Fondap 15090007), Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2085, Santiago, Chile; Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, INTA, Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524, Macul, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latorre
authors.affiliation: Mathomics, Center for Mathematical Modeling, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, 7th Floor, Santiago, Chile; Center for Genome Regulation (Fondap 15090007), Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2085, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: María Paz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cortés
authors.affiliation: Mathomics, Center for Mathematical Modeling, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, 7th Floor, Santiago, Chile; Center for Genome Regulation (Fondap 15090007), Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2085, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Dante
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Travisany
authors.affiliation: Mathomics, Center for Mathematical Modeling, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, 7th Floor, Santiago, Chile; Center for Genome Regulation (Fondap 15090007), Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2085, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Genova
authors.affiliation: Mathomics, Center for Mathematical Modeling, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, 7th Floor, Santiago, Chile; Center for Genome Regulation (Fondap 15090007), Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2085, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Budinich
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Microbiología y Probióticos, INTA, Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524, Macul, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Angélica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reyes-Jara
authors.affiliation: Center for Genome Regulation (Fondap 15090007), Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2085, Santiago, Chile; Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, INTA, Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524, Macul, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hödar
authors.affiliation: Center for Genome Regulation (Fondap 15090007), Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2085, Santiago, Chile; Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, INTA, Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524, Macul, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: BioSigma S.A., Loteo Los Libertadores, Lote 106, Colina, Chile.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parada
authors.affiliation: BioSigma S.A., Loteo Los Libertadores, Lote 106, Colina, Chile.
authors.forename: Roberto A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bobadilla-Fazzini
authors.affiliation: Center for Genome Regulation (Fondap 15090007), Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2085, Santiago, Chile; Laboratorio de Bioinformática y Expresión Génica, INTA, Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524, Macul, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cambiazo
authors.affiliation: Mathomics, Center for Mathematical Modeling, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, 7th Floor, Santiago, Chile; Center for Genome Regulation (Fondap 15090007), Universidad de Chile, Blanco Encalada 2085, Santiago, Chile; Department of Mathematical Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, 5th Floor, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: amaass@dim.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maass
mesh_terms: D042763:Acidithiobacillus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013856:Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans / Q000378:metabolism*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D003300:Copper / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D054892:Metagenome; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013440:Sulfides / Q000378:metabolism; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D013440:Sulfides; D013457:Sulfur Compounds; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron
keywords: Bacterial consortium; Bioleaching; Metabolic pathways; Metal resistance