Open AccessPhysiological diversity amongst some moderately thermophilic iron‐oxidising bacteria
Author(s) -
Afzal Ghauri M.,
Johnson D. Barrie
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1991.tb04759.x
Subject(s) - ferrous , thermophile , sulfur , chemistry , bacteria , sulfate , chalcopyrite , pyrite , ferric , food science , carbon fixation , nuclear chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , inorganic chemistry , carbon dioxide , biochemistry , biology , copper , mineralogy , organic chemistry , enzyme , genetics
Three strains of moderately thermophilic and acidophilic bacteria capable of oxidising ferrous iron, isolated from different sources, were compared with each other and with an earlier isolate, TH1. The isolates displayed different rates of carbon dioxide fixation and incorporation of glucose and glycine; only one could be subcultured continuously in organic‐free ferrous sulfate medium. Two of the isolates readily oxidised elemental sulfur, and all were capable of solubilising pyrite and chalcopyrite, though at different rates; there was no correlation between rates of ferrous iron and pyrite oxidation. Reduction of ferric iron by two of the isolates was observed in unshaken cultures containing 10 mM glucose. The DNA base composition of the isolates varied from 43–68 mol% G + C.