ABSTRACT
Recent studies on the diversity and ubiquity of Fe(III)-reducing organisms in different environments led to the isolation and identification of four new dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducers (strains H-2T, 172T, TACP-2T and TACP-5). All four isolates are non-motile, Gram-negative, freshwater, mesophilic, strict anaerobes with morphology identical to that of Geobacter metallireducens strain GS-15T. Analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences indicated that the new isolates belong to the genus Geobacter, in the delta-Proteobacteria. Significant differences in phenotypic characteristics, DNA-DNA homology and G+C content indicated that the four isolates represent three new species of the genus. The names Geobacter hydrogenophilus sp. nov. (strain H-2T), Geobacter chapellei sp. nov. (strain 172T) and Geobacter grbiciae sp. nov. (strains TACP-2T and TACP-5) are proposed. Geobacter hydrogenophilus and Geobacter chapellei were isolated from a petroleum-contaminated aquifer and a pristine, deep, subsurface aquifer, respectively. Geobacter grbiciae was isolated from aquatic sediments. All of the isolates can obtain energy for growth by coupling the oxidation of acetate to the reduction of Fe(III). The four isolates also coupled Fe(III) reduction to the oxidation of other simple, volatile fatty acids. In addition, Geobacter hydrogenophilus and Geobacter grbiciae were able to oxidize aromatic compounds such as benzoate, whilst Geobacter grbiciae was also able to use the monoaromatic hydrocarbon toluene.
Subject(s)
Deltaproteobacteria/metabolism , Ferric Compounds/metabolism , Gram-Negative Anaerobic Straight, Curved, and Helical Rods/metabolism , Iron/metabolism , Base Composition , Deltaproteobacteria/classification , Deltaproteobacteria/isolation & purification , Gram-Negative Anaerobic Straight, Curved, and Helical Rods/classification , Gram-Negative Anaerobic Straight, Curved, and Helical Rods/isolation & purification , Hydrocarbons/metabolism , Molecular Sequence Data , Nucleic Acid Hybridization , Oxidation-Reduction , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/geneticsABSTRACT
A sulfide-resistant ctrain of Thiobacillus denitrificans, strain F, prevented the accumulation of sulfide by Desulfovibrio desulfuricans when both organisms were grown in liquid medium or in Berea sandstone cores. The wild-type strain of T. denitrificans did not prevent the accumulation of sulfide produced by D. desulfuricans. Strain F also prevented the accumulation of sulfide by a mixed population of sulfate-reducing bacteria enriched from an oil field brine. Fermentation balances showed that strain F stoichiometrically oxidized the sulfide produced by D. desulfuricans and the oil field brine enrichment to sulfate. These data suggest that strain F would be effective in controlling sulfide production in oil reservoirs and other environments.
