Bacteria of the sulfur cycle in the sediments of gold mine tailings, Kuznetsk Basin, Russia

Karnachuk, O.V., Gerasimchuk, A.L., Banks, D. , Frengstad, B., Stykon, G.A., Tikhonova, Z.L., Kaksonen, A., Puhakka, J., Yanenko, A.S. and Pimenov, N.V. (2009) Bacteria of the sulfur cycle in the sediments of gold mine tailings, Kuznetsk Basin, Russia. Microbiology, 78(4), pp. 483-491. (doi: 10.1134/S0026261709040122)

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Abstract

The number and diversity of culturable microorganisms involved in sulfur oxidation and sulfate reduction were investigated in the oxidized sediments of gold mine tailings, Kuznetsk Basin, Russia. The sediments had a low pH (2.4–2.8), high SO42− content (up to 22 g/l), and high concentrations of dissolved metals. The arsenic content was as high as 1.9 g/l. Bacterial phylogeny in microcosms was investigated by amplification of 16S rRNA gene fragments with subsequent denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Spore-forming bacteria Desulfosporosinus were the only bacteria revealed for which the capacity for dissimilatory sulfate reduction is known. Strain Desulfosporosinus sp. DB was obtained in pure culture, and it was phylogenetically remote from other cultured and uncultured members of the genus. No sulfate-reducing members of the Deltaproteobacteria were detected. The Firmicutes members were the most numerous phylotypes in the microcosms, including a separate cluster with the similarity to Pelotomaculum not exceeding 94%. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and A. caldus were found in anaerobic and microaerophilic microcosms. The number of sulfate reducers did not exceed 9.5 × 102 cells/ml.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Banks, Mr David
Authors: Karnachuk, O.V., Gerasimchuk, A.L., Banks, D., Frengstad, B., Stykon, G.A., Tikhonova, Z.L., Kaksonen, A., Puhakka, J., Yanenko, A.S., and Pimenov, N.V.
Subjects:Q Science > QD Chemistry
Q Science > QR Microbiology
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Microbiology
ISSN:0026-2617

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