Genetic manipulation of acidophilic bacteria
Thiobacillus ferrooxidans is important in leaching of metals from mineral ores and in the removal of pyritic sulfur from coal. It is also intimately involved in production of acid mine drainage. Other acidophilic bacteria, including members of the genus Acidiphilium, are usually present in the same environments as T. ferrooxidans, and there is evidence to suggest that these acidophilic heterotrophs may increase the rate of T. ferrooxidans' attack on inorganic sulfides. Our laboratory is studying the genetic characteristics of these acidophilic bacteria and developing techniques for introducing desirable genes into them. Several endogenous plasmids from Acidiphilium strains have been cloned into E. coli vectors. Some of the resulting plasmids are able to confer antibiotic resistance to Acidiphilium after transformation by electroporation. In addition, a broad-host range plasmid conferring resistance to tetracycline has been introduced into Acidiphilium strains by electroporation. This same plasmid, has also been transferred to Acidiphilium from E. coli directly by conjugation. A temperate bacteriophage which infects a number of Acidiphilium isolates has been discovered and partially characterized. It has a lambdoid morphology and a genome of approximately 97 kb, comprised of double-stranded DNA which is probably modified. 16 refs., 2 figs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/FE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- OSTI ID:
- 5462438
- Report Number(s):
- EGG-M-89235; CONF-890916-3; ON: DE90002048
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 6. annual international Pittsburgh coal conference, Pittsburgh, PA (USA), 25-29 Sep 1989
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
COAL
DESULFURIZATION
THIOBACILLUS FERROXIDANS
GENETIC ENGINEERING
BACTERIOPHAGES
CLONING
ESCHERICHIA COLI
GENETICS
PLASMIDS
BACILLUS
BACTERIA
BIOLOGY
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
PARASITES
SULFUR-OXIDIZING BACTERIA
VIRUSES
010402* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Purification & Upgrading
550700 - Microbiology
550400 - Genetics