The response of the obligate acidophilic bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans to external pH changes is reported. When T. ferrooxidans cells grown at pH 1.5 were shifted to pH 3.5, there were several changes in the general protein synthesis pattern, including a large stimulation of the synthesis of a 36-kDa protein (p36). The apparent low isoelectric point of p36, its location in the membrane fr...

Further structural detail is presented of the cell envelope of the chemolithotroph Ferrobacillus ferrooxidans (Thiobacillus ferrooxidans). Thin sections of purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan show structures comparable to those seen in the envelope of intact cells, whereas negative stains of LPS appear as sheets, or ribbons, or both. The sugars common to LPS, namely, heptose, gl...

DNA sequence analysis and bioinformatic interpretations have identified two adjacent clusters of genes potentially involved in the formation of a bc1 complex and in the maturation of a cytochrome c-type protein in two strains (ATCC 19859 and ATCC 33020) of the acidophilic, chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (formerly Thiobacillus ferrooxidans). Reverse transcriptase-...

Benzoic acid, sorbic acid, and sodium lauryl sulfate at low concentrations (5 to 10 mg/liter) each effectively inhibited bacterial oxidation of ferrous iron in batch cultures of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. The rate of chemical oxidation of ferrous iron in low-pH, sterile batch reactors was not substantially affected at the tested concentrations (5 to 50 mg/liter) of any of the compounds.

Biodesulfurization of coal has been carried out in batch culture of single strain and mixed culture of sulfur oxidizing bacteria. The pure cultures of Thiobacillus thiooxidans and Thiobacillus ferrooxidans utilized inorganic sulfur content of Malaysian coal. The chemolithotroph bacteria were able to grow on coal and metabolize the coal's sulfur content. The batch cultures of coal with 3-5 perce...

Biological attack of pyrite is a potential method of reducing pyritic sulphur in coal. Integration of such attacks with microwave pretreatment can enhance the efficiency of the process. Alternatively, processes such as oil-agglomeration can be coupled with the biological attack to obtain higher rates of pyritic sulphur removal. In this study desulphurization of Indian (Assam) coal was carried o...