N. Wakao et al., ACIDIPHILIUM-MULTIVORUM SP-NOV, AN ACIDOPHILIC CHEMOORGANOTROPHIC BACTERIUM FROM PYRITIC ACID-MINE DRAINAGE, Journal of General and Applied Microbiology, 40(2), 1994, pp. 143-159
Six strains of acidophilic chemoorganotrophic bacteria from acid mine
drainage were studied in their taxonomic aspects. They were gram negat
ive, aerobic, mesophilic, oxidase negative, catalase positive, urease
positive, nonsporeforming, and rod-shaped. Carotenoid and bacteriochlo
rophyll a were formed. Two strains had a polar flagellum and other two
strains fimbriae. They used a wide variety of organic compounds for g
rowth, but did not use ferrous iron, elemental sulfur, and thiosulfate
as the sole energy source. Acetate was inhibitory to growth. Growth w
as enhanced by adding high concentrations of glucose or complex organi
c compounds such as trypticase soy (BBL) and yeast extract. Methanol w
as utilized as the sole source of carbon and energy. The major ubiquin
one was Q-10. The major cellular fatty acid was straight-chain unsatur
ated C18:1 acid. The hydroxy acid was 3-OH C14:0 acid. The DNA base co
mposition was 66.2 to 68.1 mol% guanine plus cytosine. The isolates sh
owed relatively low levels of genetic similarity to Acidiphilium crypt
um and Acidiphilium organovorum. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemo
taxonomic, and genotypic characters, we conclude the isolates as a new
species, for which we propose Acidiphilium multivorum sp. nov. The ty
pe strain is AIU 301 (JCM 8867).