Table 1.
Relevant traits of the nine species included in Acidithiobacillus genus.
| Trait | A. ferrooxidans | A. ferrivorans | A. ferriphilus | A. ferridurans | A. ferrianus | A. thiooxidans | A. caldus | A. sulfuriphilus | A. albertensis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % GC | 58.5 | 56.0 | 56.5 | 58.0 | 58.0 | 53.0 | 61.0 | 61.5 | 52.5 |
| Cell size (µm) | 1.0 × 0.5 | 2.4 × 0.5 | 1.0–2.0 | 1.0–2.0 | 1.2–2.5 | 1.0–2.0 × 0.5 | 1.2–1.9 × 0.7 | 1.5–2.5 × 0.5 | 1.0–2.0 × 0.4–0.6 |
| Motility | +/− | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Growth pH (optimum) |
1.3–4.5 (2.0–2.5) |
1.9–3.4 (2.5) |
1.5 (2.0) |
1.4–3.0 (2.1) |
1.5–3.0 (2.2) |
0.5–5.5 (2.0–3.0) |
1.0–3.5 (2.0–2.5) |
1.8–7.0 (3.0) |
2.0–4.5 (3.5–4.0) |
| Growth T (°C) (optimum) | 10–37 (30–35) |
4–37 (28–33) |
5–33 (30) |
10–37 (29) |
NR (28–30) |
10–37 (28–30) |
32–52 (40–45) |
15–30 (25–28) |
10–40 (25–30) |
| Growth on: | |||||||||
| Sulfur | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Thiosulfate | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Metal sulfides | + | + | + | + | +/- | + | - | - | - |
| Ferrous iron | + | + | + | + | + | - | - | - | - |
| Hydrogen | + | +/- | - | + | + | - | + | - | NR |
| References | [1,34,35] | [25,34,36] | [24,34] | [34,37,38] | [4] | [1,6,34] | [1,34,39] | [13] | [1,34,40] |
Note: “NR” means “Not reported”.