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Biodiversity, metabolism and applications of acidophilic sulfur‐metabolizing microorganisms
Author(s) -
Dopson Mark,
Johnson D. Barrie
Publication year - 2012
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.1462-2920.2012.02749.x
Subject(s) - sulfur , sulfur metabolism , archaea , biology , sulfate , environmental chemistry , sulfur cycle , biodiversity , ecology , bacteria , chemistry , organic chemistry , genetics
Summary Extremely acidic, sulfur‐rich environments can be natural, such as solfatara fields in geothermal and volcanic areas, or anthropogenic, such as acid mine drainage waters. Many species of acidophilic bacteria and archaea are known to be involved in redox transformations of sulfur, using elemental sulfur and inorganic sulfur compounds as electron donors or acceptors in reactions involving between one and eight electrons. This minireview describes the nature and origins of acidic, sulfur‐rich environments, the biodiversity of sulfur‐metabolizing acidophiles, and how sulfur is metabolized and assimilated by acidophiles under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Finally, existing and developing technologies that harness the abilities of sulfur‐oxidizing and sulfate‐reducing acidophiles to extract and capture metals, and to remediate sulfur‐polluted waste waters are outlined.