Use of Ferric and Ferrous Iron Containing Minerals for Respiration by Desulfitobacterium frappieri

The potential of Desulfitobacterium frappieri strain G2, which was isolated from subsurface smectite bedding, to participate in iron redox reactions was investigated. Strain G2 can use poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxide, soluble forms of Fe(III) and Fe(III) in the structure of phyllosilicate minerals as electron acceptors. It can also oxidize Fe(II)-NTA or Fe(II) in the structure of phyllosilicate minerals with nitrate as the electron acceptor. These results suggest for the first time that strains of Desulfitobacterium frappieri may play an important role in iron cycling in sedimentary environments.