An Archaeal Iron-Oxidizing Extreme Acidophile Important in Acid Mine Drainage

Abstract

A new species of Archaea grows at pH approximately 0.5 and approximately 40 degrees C in slime streamers and attached to pyrite surfaces at a sulfide ore body, Iron Mountain, California. This iron-oxidizing Archaeon is capable of growth at pH 0. This species represents a dominant prokaryote in the environment studied (slimes and sediments) and constituted up to 85% of the microbial community when solution concentrations were high (conductivity of 100 to 160 millisiemens per centimeter). The presence of this and other closely related Thermoplasmales suggests that these acidophiles are important contributors to acid mine drainage and may substantially impact iron and sulfur cycles.

Quantitative proteomic analyses of the response of acidophilic microbial communities to different pH conditions

“…Several Ferroplasma type I proteins abundant at high pH were indicative of growth and respiration (Supplementary Table 5). Although the laboratory isolate Ferroplasma acidarmanus, a representative of the Ferroplasma type I group, has been shown to grow in solution pH ranging from 0 to 1.5 (Edwards et al, 2000), growth of this organism in batch culture is inhibited at pH below B0.7 (data not shown). Within environmental biofilms, it is perhaps the case that Ferroplasma types I and II are partitioned along pH gradients, effectively minimizing competition.…”

Characterization of the archaeal community fouling a membrane bioreactor

“…Indeed, this group of microorganisms is best known for their ability to adapt to extreme environments, such as the hot springs (Song et al, 2013), acidic environment (Edwards et al, 2000) and hypersaline lakes (Oren, 2001). They have even been identified in activated sludge from wastewater treatment plants (Gómez-Silván et al, 2010;Zhang et al, 2011).…”

Characterization of an ATP-dependent DNA ligase from the acidophilic archaeon “Ferroplasma acidarmanus” Fer1

“…''Ferroplasma acidarmanus'' Fer1 (hereafter referred to as F. acidarmanus Fer1) is an acidophilic archaeon, which was first identified as a dominant prokaryote in the acid-drainage biofilm at Iron Mountain in Northern California (Dopson et al 2004;Edwards et al 2000;Golyshina and Timmis 2005;Tyson et al 2004). F. acidarmanus Fer1 is mesophilic, with optimal growth at about 40°C, but it survives in extremely acidic conditions, with optimal growth at pH 1.2.…”

“…F. acidarmanus Fer1 is mesophilic, with optimal growth at about 40°C, but it survives in extremely acidic conditions, with optimal growth at pH 1.2. This group of Archaea plays important roles in geochemical iron and sulphur cycles and has also been implicated as a major contributor in the process of acid mine drainage, which causes considerable environmental damage by the release of metal-rich acidic effluents into groundwater (Dopson et al 2004;Edwards et al 2000;Golyshina and Timmis 2005;Schleper et al 2005). Coupling these points with its unusual microbiology, identification of factors involved in the metabolism of F. acidarmanus Fer1 holds considerable interest for both applied and basic sciences.…”

“…The only family of cultured acidophiles among the Crenarchaeota are the Sulfolobaceae, which grow at pH 2-4 (Makarova and Koonin 2003;Makarova and Koonin 2005;She et al 2001). The Euryarchaeota contains several members that grow at extremely low pH, including F. acidarmanus Fer1 and the other identified member of this family, F. acidiphilum (Edwards et al 2000;Golyshina and Timmis 2005). The Ferroplasmaceae lie within the order of Thermoplasmatales, which also contains the other characterized acidophiles, the Thermoplasmaceae and Picrophilaceae (Darland et al 1970;Futterer et al 2004;Golyshina et al 2006;Golyshina and Timmis 2005).…”