Acidiphilium multivorum AIU301

Acidiphilium multivorum (strain DSM 11245 / JCM 8867 / AIU301) is an acidophilic, aerobic, anoxygenic, phototrophic, Gram-negative bacterium isolated from pyritic acid mine drainage. A.multivorum has high ability of resistance to various metals under acidic condition, and require high acidity for growth. It exhibits tolerance towards some heavy metal ions like nickel, zinc, cadmium and copper, and resistance to arsenate and arsenite. A. multivorum has zinc-chelated-bacteriochlorophylls (Zn-Bchl) a rather than Mg-Bchl a as the major photopigment. Among the mesoacidophilic bio-mining heterotrophs, A. multivorum has the unique ability to oxidize arsenite to arsenate as well as the capability to utilize a wide range of organic compounds for growth. These features make this bacterium a suitable host for carrying purpose specific genes for developing bioleaching operations. Current trends in biohydrometallurgy emphasize genetic engineering of bio-mining bacteria to achieve further success in this developing area of biotechnology. (Adapted from: http://www.bio.nite.go.jp/dogan/top and PMID: 17363056). (EBI Integr8)