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

• Published in: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2001-10, Vol.80 (1), p.65-75
• Main Authors: CAMPOS PAULINO, Luciana, FARIA BERGAMO, Rogério, DE MELLO, Maricilda P, GARCIA, Oswaldo JR, MANFIO, Gilson P, OTTOBONI, Laura M. M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidithiobacillus caldus; Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans; Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans; Bacteria; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Coal mines; Coal Mining; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal - analysis; DNA, Ribosomal - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gammaproteobacteria - classification; Gammaproteobacteria - genetics; Gammaproteobacteria - isolation & purification; Genetic Variation; Genetics; Hybridization; Industrial Waste; Metals, Heavy; Microbiology; Mining; Molecular Sequence Data; Nucleic Acid Hybridization; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Ribotyping; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Uranium; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies
• ISSN: 0003-6072; 1572-9699
• DOI: 10.1023/a:1012247325537

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.