Evidence for Widespread Dissimilatory Hydrogen Metabolism among Acidophilic Bacteria

Abstract:

Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is the only acidophilic bacterium to have been reported to grow using hydrogen as sole electron donor. Hydrogen is a potentially widely available energy source in acidic environments and therefore may have more ubiquitous use among indigenous prokaryotes than currently recognized. To test this hypothesis, thirty-seven strains of acidophilic bacteria, including 24 separate designated and proposed species, were screened for their abilities to use the dissimilatory oxidation of hydrogen to support their growth. Positive results were obtained with all strains of Group I (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans) and Group II (At. ferridurans) iron-oxidizing acidithiobacilli, At. caldus, the three species of Sulfobacillus tested, and Acidimicrobium ferrooxidans. Growth yields approaching 10¹⁰ cells ml^-1 were obtained for aerobic growth of At. ferrooxidans and At. ferridurans on hydrogen.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 825)
• Pages: 202-205
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.825.202
• Online since: October 2013
• Authors: Sabrina Hedrich, D. Barrie Johnson
• Keywords: Acidithiobacillus, Acidophiles, Ferric Iron Reduction, Hydrogen

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