Sulfur is an essential element for the synthesis of cysteine, methionine, and other organo-sulfur compounds needed by living organisms. Additionally, some prokaryotes are capable of exploiting oxidation or reduction of inorganic sulfur compounds to energize cellular growth. Several anaerobic genera of Bacteria and Archaea produce hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as a result of using sulfate (SO(4)(2 -) ...

A new solid medium is described for growing iron and heterotrophic bacteria from acid mine drainage (AMD). Examination of AMD from five states revealed several kinds of colonies of iron-oxidizing bacteria: (i) smooth, (ii) smooth with secondary growth sectors or branching, (iii) star-shaped, (iv) radiating lobe, and (v) flat-rough. All AMD samples yielded whitish colonies that could not use fer...

Real-time PCR was used to quantify populations of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria representing the beta subdivision of the class Proteobacteria in samples of arable soil, both nitrogen fertilized and unfertilized, from Mellby, Sweden. Primers and probes targeting a 16S ribosomal DNA region of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria were designed and used. In the fertilized soil there were approximately 6.2 x...

Hydrogen production by microorganisms is often described as a promising sustainable and clean energy source, but still faces several obstacles, which prevent practical application. Among them, oxygen sensitivity of hydrogenases represents one of the major limitations hampering the biotechnological implementation of photobiological production processes. Here, we describe a hierarchical biodivers...

The first rainfall following a severe dry period provides an abrupt water potential change that is both an acute physiological stress and a defined stimulus for the reawakening of soil microbial communities. We followed the responses of indigenous communities of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing archaea, and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria to the addition of water to laboratory incubatio...

Activity of nitrification inhibitors to several typical ammonia-oxidizing bacteria isolated recently, i. e. Nitrosococcus, Nitrosolobus, Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira and Nitrosovibrio species was assayed using 2-amino-4-methyl-trichloromethyl-1,3,5-triazine (MAST), 2-amino-4-tribromomethyl-6-trichloromethyl-1,3,5-triazine (Br-MAST), 2-chloro-6-trichloromethylpyridine (nitrapyrin) and others, and ...

Metal-oxidizing bacteria may play a key role in the submarine weathering of volcanic rocks and the formation of ferromanganese crusts. Putative fossil microbes encrusted in Mn oxide phases are commonly observed on volcanic glasses recovered from the deep ocean; however, no known Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria have been directly identified or cultured from natural weathered basalts. To isolate epilit...