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Archaeal diversity in two thermophilic chalcopyrite bioleaching reactors
Author(s) -
Mikkelsen Deirdre,
Kappler Ulrike,
McEwan Alastair G.,
Sly Lindsay I.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.01115.x
Subject(s) - thermophile , bioleaching , phylotype , chalcopyrite , archaea , biology , sulfolobus , library , 16s ribosomal rna , phylogenetic diversity , phylogenetic tree , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , gene , genetics , copper , metallurgy , materials science
Summary This study used a culture‐independent molecular approach to investigate the archaeal community composition of thermophilic bioleaching reactors. Two culture samples, MTC‐A and MTC‐B, grown with different concentrations of chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ), a copper sulfidic ore, at a temperature of 78°C and pH 1.6 were studied. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA genes revealed that both cultures consisted of Archaea belonging to the Sulfolobales . The 16S rRNA gene clone library of MTC‐A grown with 4% (w/v) chalcopyrite was dominated by a unique phylotype related to Sulfolobus shibatae (69% of total clones). The remaining clones were affiliated with Stygiolobus azoricus (11%), Metallosphaera sp. J1 (8%), Acidianus infernus (2%), and a novel phylotype related to Sulfurisphaera ohwakuensis (10%). In contrast, the clones from MTC‐B grown with 12% (w/v) chalcopyrite did not appear to contain Sulfolobus shibatae ‐like organisms. Instead the bioleaching consortium was dominated by clones related to Sulfurisphaera ohwakuensis (73.9% of total clones). The remaining microorganisms detected were similar to those found in MTC‐A.