title: Comparative genomics unravels metabolic differences at the species and/or strain level and extremely acidic environmental adaptation of ten bacteria belonging to the genus Acidithiobacillus.
abstract: Members of the Acidithiobacillus genus are widely found in extreme environments characterized by low pH and high concentrations of toxic substances, thus it is necessary to identify the cellular mechanisms needed to cope with these harsh conditions. Pan-genome analysis of ten bacteria belonging to the genus Acidithiobacillus suggested the existence of core genome, most of which were assigned to the metabolism-associated genes. Additionally, the unique genes of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were much less than those of other species. A large proportion of Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans-specific genes were mapped especially to metabolism-related genes, indicating that diverse metabolic pathways might confer an advantage for adaptation to local environmental conditions. Analyses of functional metabolisms revealed the differences of carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and sulfur metabolism at the species and/or strain level. The findings also showed that Acidithiobacillus spp. harbored specific adaptive mechanisms for thriving under extreme environments. The genus Acidithiobacillus had the genetic potential to resist and metabolize toxic substances such as heavy metals and organic solvents. Comparison across species and/or strains of Acidithiobacillus populations provided a deeper appreciation of metabolic differences and environmental adaptation, as well as highlighting the importance of cellular mechanisms that maintain the basal physiological functions under complex acidic environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address: zixuange2010@126.com.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address: siyuanshe2014@126.com.
authors.forename: Siyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: She
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address: jackdong661@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Weiling
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address: 135611006@csu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jiaojiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address: huazipiaoling.123@163.com.
authors.forename: Yunhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address: liangyili@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yili
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address: xueduanliu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Xueduan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Collection and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China; Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China. Electronic address: zhangxiaoxia@caas.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China. Electronic address: fanfenliang@caas.cn.
authors.forename: Fenliang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China; Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy, Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China. Electronic address: yinhuaqun@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Huaqun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D042763:Acidithiobacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D023281:Genomics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D013455:Sulfur; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Acidithiobacillus; Cellular mechanisms; Comparative genomic analysis; Environmental adaptation; Metabolic differences