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Isolation and characterization of Acidicaldus organivorus, gen. nov., sp. nov.: a novel sulfur-oxidizing, ferric iron-reducing thermo-acidophilic heterotrophic Proteobacterium

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Abstract

Thermo-acidophilic prokaryotes isolated from geothermal sites in Yellowstone National Park were identified as novel α-Proteobacteria, distantly related (~93% 16S rRNA gene identity) to the mesophilic acidophile Acidisphaera rubrifaciens. One of these isolates (Y008) was shown to be more thermophilic than all previously characterized acidophilic proteobacteria, with a temperature optimum for growth between 50 and 55°C and a temperature maximum of 65°C. Growth was observed in media maintained at pH between 1.75 and 3.0 and was fastest at pH between 2.5 and 3.0. The G + C content of Y008 was 71.8±0.9 mol%. The acidophile was able to grow heterotrophically on a range of organic substrates, including various monosaccharides, alcohols and amino acids and phenol, though growth on single organic compounds required the provision of one or more growth factors. The isolate oxidized sulfur to sulfuric acid in media containing yeast extract, but was not capable of autotrophic growth with sulfur as energy source. Growth occurred under aerobic conditions and also in the absence of oxygen via anaerobic respiration using ferric iron as terminal electron acceptor. Based on these genotypic and phenotypic traits, it is proposed that Y008 represents the type species of Acidicaldus organivorus, gen. nov., sp. nov.

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Abbreviations

BS/TE:

Basal salts/trace elements

FYM:

Ferrous iron/yeast extract liquid medium

FYGM:

Ferrous iron/yeast extract/glucose liquid medium

G + C:

Guanine plus cytosine

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

RISCs:

Reduced inorganic sulfur compounds

TE:

Tris/EDTA buffer

SSC:

Sodium chloride/sodium citrate buffer

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Acknowledgement

We thank Professor Akira Hiraishi of Toyohashi University of Technology, Japan, for the kind gift of As. rubrifaciens stain HS-AP3T.

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Author notes

  1. Bethan Stallwood

    Present address: Department of Natural and Social Sciences, University of Gloucestershire, Swindon Rd, GL50 4AZ, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, LL57 2UW, Bangor, UK

    D. Barrie Johnson, Bethan Stallwood, Sakurako Kimura & Kevin B. Hallberg

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  1. D. Barrie Johnson
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Correspondence to D. Barrie Johnson.

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Johnson, D.B., Stallwood, B., Kimura, S. et al. Isolation and characterization of Acidicaldus organivorus, gen. nov., sp. nov.: a novel sulfur-oxidizing, ferric iron-reducing thermo-acidophilic heterotrophic Proteobacterium . Arch Microbiol 185, 212–221 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-006-0087-7

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