Characterization of arsenopyrite oxidizing Thiobacillus. Tolerance to arsenite,arsenate, ferrous and ferric iron

Two strains of Thiobacillus, T. ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans, have been isolated from a bacterial inoculum cultivated during a one-year period in a 1001 continuous laboratory pilot for treatment of an arsenopyrite/pyrite concentrate. The optimum pH for the growth of both strains has been found to be between 1.7 and 2.5. Because of the high metal toxicity in bioleach pulps, the tolerance of T. ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans with respect to iron and arsenic has been studied. The growth of both strains is inhibited with 10 g/l of ferric ion, 5 g/l of arsenite and 40 g/l of arsenate. 20 g/l of ferrous iron is toxic to T. ferrooxidans but 30 g/l is necessary to impede the growth of T. thiooxidans.     

The Effects of Bacterial Leaching on Metal Partitioning in Sewage Sludge

The partitioning of Mn, Al, Zn, Cu and Ti ions in municipal sewage sludge was investigated before and after bioleaching processes effectuated by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. Oxidation–reduction potential increase and pH decrease were obtained as a result of bacterial activity. A less pronounced and constant decrease was obtained with A. ferrooxidans, whereas A. thiooxidans presented a lag phase before a steep pH decrease. Metal solubilization was accomplished in experimental systems supplemented with energy source, Fe²⁺ for A. ferrooxidans and S⁰ for A. thiooxidans. Solubilization efficiency differed for each metal except for Al, and was relatively similar for either organism. Metal partitioning was conducted using a five-step sequential extraction procedure before and after the bioleaching. The results indicated that Zn and Mn ions were mostly associated with the organic fraction, whereas Cu, Al and Ti ions with the sulphide/residue fraction. The bioleaching process caused prompt solubilization of metals mostly associated with the more labile fractions (exchangeable, adsorbed and organically bound metals), whereas those associated to the less labile ones (EDTA and sulphide/residue fractions) were exchanged towards more labile fractions.     

Technical communication: Determination of cuprous ions in bacterial leachates and for environmental monitoring

A sensitive and precise spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of copper(I) in bacterial leach liquors produced by the action of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans on copper ores. In this method bicinchoninic acid (BCA) has been used as the chromogenic reagent which produces a stable purple complex with Cu(I) which was found to obey Beer's Law and with _max at 560 nm. The coloured complex has a molar extinction coefficient () value of 6.6 × 10³ l mol^–1 cm^–1; specific absorptivity () value of 0.104 ml^–1 g cm^–1 and the Sandell sensitivity (S) value was 0.0096 g cm². Optimal conditions for development of coloration/sensitivity were determined. Interferences due to cations and anions were investigated and various masking agents for alleviating their inhibition were studied. The method has been found very useful in determining ratios of Cu(I) to Cu(II) in bacterial leach liquors and should play a significant role in determining the reaction mechanisms of biological leaching and for environmental monitoring.     

Lipopolysaccharides of Thiobacillus species containing lipid A with 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxyglucose

Lipopolysaccharides were isolated from two strains of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and one strain each of Thiobacillus thiooxidans, Thiobacillus novellus and Thiobacillus sp. IFO 14570. Neutral sugars, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate, fatty acids and the rare 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxyglucose were detected in all lipopolysaccharides. Lipopolysaccharides of both T. ferrooxidans strains contained l-glycero-d-manno-heptose, whereas that of T. thiooxidans contained both l-glycero-d-manno-heptose and d-glycero-d-manno-heptose. On the other hand, heptoses were absent in lipopolysaccharides of T. novellus and Thiobacillus sp. IFO 14570. Lipid A of T. ferrooxidans and T. thiooxidans contained both glucosamine and 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxyglucose, in contrast, lipid A of T. novellus and the Thiobacillus sp. IFO 14570 most likely contain only 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxyglucose as backbone sugar. Deoxycholate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed S-type character for all lipopolysaccharides studied. The significance of the lipopolysaccharide composition for taxonomic and phylogenetic questions with regard to thiobacilli is discussed.Abbreviations DAG 2,3-diamino-2,3-dideoxyglucose - DOC sodium deoxycholate - GC gas-liquid chromatography - GC/MS gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry - d,d-Heptose d-glycero-d-manno-heptose - l,d-Heptose l-glycero-d-manno-heptose - KDO 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate - LPS lipopolysaccharide - 3-OH-14:0 3-hydroxy-tetradecanoic acid - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - PCP phenol-chloroform-petroleum ether     

Transition of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans KG-4 from heterotrophic growth on glucose to autotrophic growth on ferrous-iron

The reputedly obligately organotrophic Thiobacillus ferrooxidans KG-4 cultured on glucose contained a small proportion of cells which grew autotrophically on ferrous-iron.     

The use of genetic probes to detect microorganisms in biomining operations

Summary Microorganisms are currently used for the recovery of copper from mining dumps of low-grade ore. One of the most important microorganisms involved in copper-solubilization isThiobacillus ferrooxidans, although many other microbial genera are also thought to be implicated. A mining dump poses some special problems for the industrial microbiologist because it represents a non-sterile and heterogeneous substrate. Consequently, to enhance our knowledge of the role of microorganisms in metal recovery we must identify the indigenous microorganisms and understand their respective contributions to the process. In addition, when a superior strain of microorganism is developed in the laboratory, by genetic engineering or by other means, we must have a method to evaluate the maintenance of such a strain in the mining dump. In this paper, we describe DNA homology studies, using dot blot and Southern blot analysis of hybridizations of both whole genomic DNA and cloned DNA sequences, to identify and enumerate several bioleaching microorganisms. We demonstrate that it is possible to identify different species of microorganisms and, in one case, to discriminate between different strains of a single species. It is also possible to identify and quantitate certain species in a mixed culture. DNA hybridization analysis has several advantages over the more conventional bacteriological methods of identification, especially in a complex bioleaching situation.     

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans response to copper and other heavy metals: growth, protein synthesis and protein phosphorylation

Respirometric experiments demonstrated that the oxygen uptake by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans strain LR was not inhibited in the presence of 200 mM copper. Copper-treated and untreated cells from this T. ferrooxidans strain were used in growth experiments in the presence of cadmium, copper, nickel and zinc. Growth in the presence of copper was improved by the copper-treated cells. However, no growth was observed for these cells, within 190 h of culture, when cadmium, nickel and zinc were added to the media. Changes in the total protein synthesis pattern were detected by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for T. ferrooxidans LR cells grown in the presence of different heavy metals. Specific proteins were induced by copper (16, 28 and 42 kDa) and cadmium (66 kDa), whereas proteins that had their synthesis repressed were observed for all the heavy metals tested. Protein induction was also observed in the cytosolic and membrane fractions from T. ferrooxidans LR cells grown in the presence of copper. The level of protein phosphorylation was increased in the presence of this metal.     

Utilization of organic compounds as the sole source of nitrogen by Thiobacillus thiooxidans

Thiobacillus thiooxidans DSM 504 was shown to grow with adenine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid as sole sources of nitrogen. Growth with these compounds was observed after lag periods of varying lengths, unless the cells had been previously grown with the same purine base. The disappearance of adenine was accompanied by a temporary accumulation of hypoxanthine in the medium. The utilization of purines was inhibited by ammonia (1 mM). Guanine, pyrimidines and some other organic compounds were not utilized.Non-standard abbreviation U-¹⁴C uniformly labeled by ¹⁴C     

Morphology of bacterial leaching patterns by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans on synthetic pyrite

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans has been cultivated on synthetic pyrite (FeS₂) single crystals as the only energy source and the pyrite interface investigated with respect to characteristic morphological changes using scanning electron microscopy. Corrosion patterns of bacterial size were identified in different stages of development and correlated with bacterial activity. It appears that bacterial attack of the sulfide interface starts by secretion of organic substances around the contact area between the bacterial cell and the sulfide energy source. They might either be part of a pseudo capsule which shields the contact area or may form a sulfur absorbing and transporting organic film. Degradation of the sulfide occurs in the contact area below the bacterial cell leading to a corrosion pit which the bacterium may abandon after it has reached a depth of bacterial dimension. Electron spectroscopic (XPS) and X-ray fluorescence studies indicate a layer of organic substances covering the sulfide surface under bacterial leaching conditions, which is sufficiently thick for consideration in interfacial chemical mechanisms.     

Enumeration of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans adhered to agglomerated ores in bioleaching processes

In bioleaching processes, bacteria adhered to agglomerated ores are frequently determined in the washing solution after treating the mineral with different techniques like sonification or chemical treatment with SDS, Tween 20, Tritón X-100, or only basal medium to release the adhered cells. In this work we compare the efficiency of these techniques, not only by determination of the number of released cells, but also by establishing their viability. The results indicate that, in spite of the high number of bacteria that can be released from an agglomerated ore, when detergent solutions are used, bacteria are heavily damaged and lose their ferrous-iron oxidation activity. On the other hand, when hand stirring with basal medium is used to release bacteria, a method that does not produce damage to the cells, only a percentage of the total population of active ferrous-iron-oxidizing adhered bacteria is released; therefore, the enumeration or determination of bacteria in the washing solution would be inaccurate. We thus propose that agglomerated ores be monitored directly for the presence of active bacteria, by determination of the ferrous-iron oxidation ability of the attached bacteria.     

Molecular characterization of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and A. thiooxidans strains isolated from mine wastes in Brazil

Nineteen strains of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans, including 12 strains isolated from coal, copper, gold and uranium mines in Brazil, strains isolated from similar sources in other countries and the type strains of the two species were characterized together with the type strain of A. caldus by using a combination of molecular systematic methods, namely ribotyping, BOX- and ERIC-PCR and DNA-DNA hybridization assays. Data derived from the molecular fingerprinting analyses showed that the tested strains encompassed a high degree of genetic variability. Two of the Brazilian A. ferrooxidans organisms (strains SSP and PCE) isolated from acid coal mine waste and uranium mine effluent, respectively, and A. thiooxidans strain DAMS, isolated from uranium mine effluent, were the most genetically divergent organisms. The DNA-DNA hybridization data did not support the allocation of Acidithiobacillus strain SSP to the A. ferrooxidans genomic species, as it shared only just over 40% DNA relatedness with the type strain of the species. Acidithiobacillus strain SSP was not clearly related to A. ferrooxidans in the 16S rDNA tree.     

pH variations during growth of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in buffered media designed for an assay to evaluate concrete biodeterioration

The pH of two buffered media having their initial pH ranging between 3.5 and 8.5 was monitored during growth of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. The first media was buffered with tricyclic phosphate whereas the second one contained phosphate ions and thus exhibited a stronger buffer capacity. Bacterial growth was not observed in any of the two media when the initial pH was higher than 5.5. On the other hand, for initial pH lower than 5.5, bacterial growth induced pH drops in both media. This drop was preceded by a lag phase during which the pH remained unchanged. However, in the medium buffered with phosphate ions, the lag periods were longer. As these media were developed for designing a bioleaching test to evaluate concrete biodeterioration caused by A. thiooxidans, the medium containing tricyclic phosphate appeared to be the most appropriate.     

Bacterial removal of chromium (VI) and (III) in a continuous system

The capacity of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans to reduce different concentrations of hexavalent chromium in shake flask cultures has been investigated. A. ferrooxidans reduces 100% of chromium (VI) at concentrations of 1, 2.5 and 5 ppm, but in the presence of 10 ppm only 42.9% of chromium (VI) was reduced after 11 days of incubation. A. thiooxidans showed a lower capacity to reduce this ion and total reduction of chromium (VI) was only obtained for concentrations of 1 and 2.5 ppm, whereas 64.7% and 30.5% was reached for 5 and 10 ppm, respectively, after 11 days. A continuous flow mode system was subsequently investigated, in which A. thiooxidans was immobilized on elemental sulphur and the acidic medium obtained was employed to solubilize chromium (III) and to reduce chromium (VI) present in a real electroplating waste [30% of chromium (III) and 0.1% of chromium (VI)]. The system enabled the reduction of 92.7% of hexavalent chromium and represents a promising way to treat this type of waste in the industry.     

半干旱矿区排土场苜蓿恢复过程中土壤颗粒分形的演变特征

种植苜蓿恢复模式在半干旱矿区植被恢复中占重要地位。为掌握其恢复过程中土壤颗粒分形的演变特征,选择恢复年限分别为2 a、4 a、6 a和10 a(M2、M4、M6和M10)的苜蓿种植地为研究对象,通过野外分层采样与室内测定,依据颗粒体积分形理论,研究了排土场苜蓿恢复过程中土壤颗粒分形的演变特征及与土壤特性的关系。结果表明:研究区土壤各粒径含量以砂粒为主,粉粒次之,粘粒最少;随着苜蓿恢复过程,粘粒与粉粒含量整体表现为先增加后下降的趋势,且在M4阶段达到最佳,砂粒反之。土壤分形维数变化在2.09—2.57,在苜蓿恢复过程中先增大后减小,在M4阶段达到最大。土壤分形维数与粘粒、粉粒具有极显著正相关性(P<0.01),与砂粒具有极显著负相关性(P<0.01);土壤分形维数与电导率呈极显著负相关关系(P<0.01),与pH值和速效钾含量呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05),与碱解氮含量呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05)。在半干旱矿区排土场采用苜蓿恢复模式,可用土壤分形维数表征土壤特性,应重视恢复年限的调控,适时进行适宜的利用与改造,确保矿区生态恢复的可持续性。     

两株不同宿主源化脓隐秘杆菌分离鉴定及其plo基因生物信息学分析

【背景】化脓隐秘杆菌是一种能够感染人类及多种动物的条件致病菌,常引起动物的各种非特异性化脓性感染。【目的】探究不同宿主疑似化脓隐秘杆菌感染的菌属种类和病原特性。【方法】对林麝皮下脓肿和鸭跗关节脓肿进行细菌分离,通过革兰氏染色、细菌16S rRNA基因分析等方法对病原菌进行鉴定,通过生长曲线测定、药敏试验和毒力基因检测分析2株病原菌的生物学特性,对溶血素plo基因进行序列分析和结构预测。【结果】分离鉴定到林麝源和鸭源化脓隐秘杆菌各1株,分别命名为FTP-1和DTP-1;生长曲线测定发现,2株病原菌的生长繁殖速度差异较大;药敏试验表明,2株病原菌对β-内酰胺类、磺胺类和利福霉素类抗生素耐药,对氨基糖苷类、喹诺酮类抗生素敏感;毒力基因检测显示,2株病原菌均携带plo、nanH、nanP、fimA和fimE基因,鸭源分离株还携带有fimC基因;生物信息学分析软件预测显示,2株病原菌溶血素plo基因核苷酸序列存在宿主特异性差异,但二者氨基酸序列相同,蛋白结构预测发现化脓隐秘杆菌溶血素(pyolysin, PLO)与胆固醇依赖性溶细胞素家族其他成员之间相似性较高。【结论】在云南宜良地区分离到林麝源和鸭源化脓隐秘杆菌各1株,二者plo基因亲缘关系较近,相关生物学特性分析可为推进该病原菌的研究和防控提供参考。     

拮抗北细辛菌核病木霉菌的分离、鉴定及生防效果

【背景】菌核病是北细辛根部主要病害之一,木霉菌作为目前应用最广泛的生物防治真菌,利用木霉菌防治北细辛菌核病是目前研究的热点。【目的】通过稀释分离法对健康北细辛植株根际土壤进行菌株分离,以期筛选出有效拮抗北细辛菌核病的生防木霉菌。【方法】以北细辛菌核病菌为靶标菌,采用平板对峙培养、挥发性与非挥发性物质抑菌的方法对分离得到的木霉菌进行筛选,采用生长速率法对筛选出的木霉菌的发酵液进行抑菌效果测定,并采用硫代巴比妥酸法测定筛选出的木霉对北细辛菌核病菌的丙二醛(Malondialdehyde,MDA)含量、紫外吸收法测定过氧化氢酶(Catalase,CAT)活性、氮蓝四唑法测定超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxide Dismutase,SOD)活性、愈创木酚法测定过氧化物酶(Peroxidase,POD)活性的影响。【结果】从土壤中分离出木霉菌共14株,通过形态学和ITS-RPB2双基因联合构建系统发育树,鉴定其为哈茨木霉(Trichoderma harzianum)、钩状木霉(Trichoderma hamatum)、拟康氏木霉(Trichoderma koningiopsis)、深绿木霉(Tr...     

A co-transformation system to produce transgenic grapevines free of marker genes

A co-transformation system was developed to produce grapevines free of selectable marker genes. This was achieved by transforming Vitis vinifera L. ‘Thompson Seedless’ somatic embryos with a mixture of two Agrobacterium strains. The first strain contained a binary plasmid with an egfp gene of interest between the T-DNA borders. The second strain harbored the neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII) gene for positive selection and the cytosine deaminase (codA) gene for negative selection, linked together by a bi-directional dual promoter complex. Our technique included a short positive selection phase on medium containing 100 mg l⁻¹ kanamycin before subjecting cultures to prolonged negative selection on medium containing 250 mg l⁻¹ 5-fluorocytosine. We regenerated 25 stable EGFP expressing transgenic lines. PCR analysis confirmed 18 lines contained only the egfp gene, whereas the remaining contained both egfp and codA/nptII genes. Presumably, the 18 monogenic lines arose through cross protection by being in close proximity to cells that expressed nptII and thus detoxified kanamycin in the immediate vicinity. This is the first report for grapevine using a combination of positive and negative selection to produce transgenic plants that do not contain marker genes.     

矿区道路两侧雪岭云杉叶片重金属富集效应

采矿及矿产品运输过程会对环境造成重金属污染进而对生物体产生危害。为定量描述艾维尔沟矿区道路两侧重金属污染程度、明确雪岭云杉叶片对重金属的吸收富集效应,通过采集雪岭云杉叶片和土壤样品,测试其铅(Pb)、锌(Zn)、镉(Cd)、砷(As)、铜(Cu)、铬(Cr)的含量,分析重金属的富集效应和空间分异特征。结果表明:(1)雪岭云杉叶片和土壤中各重金属含量差异显著(P0.05),叶片中Pb的含量显著高于其余重金属(P0.05),平均达86.28μg/g,土壤中Zn、Cu超过了国家土壤质量标准的一级限制值,而As比三级限制值大41%;(2)以背景区(板房沟林场)的土壤和雪岭云杉叶片重金属为评价标准,研究区雪岭云杉叶片重金属综合污染指数为2.05,属中度污染,其中As和Pb单项污染指数较高,达3.65和2.57。研究区土壤重金属综合污染指数为1.69,属轻度污染;(3)随距离增加,除土壤和叶片中Pb含量表现为负线性递减外,As和Cu均表现为先升高后降低,土壤中Cr、Zn逐渐升高,但叶片中Cr逐渐降低,Zn变化不大;(4)冗余分析(RDA)结果显示土壤中Cu、As、Pb与雪岭云杉死树胸径和树高呈正相关关系,而Cr、Zn与其呈负相关。采矿及运输已对土壤和雪岭云杉的生长造成影响,本文对天山雪岭云杉森林的生态修复与保育具有一定的借鉴作用。