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. 1996 Jul;62(7):2629–2635. doi: 10.1128/aem.62.7.2629-2635.1996

Isolation and characterization of a copper-resistant methanogen from a copper-mining soil sample.

B K Kim 1, E C de Macario 1, J Nölling 1, L Daniels 1
PMCID: PMC168042  PMID: 8779599

Abstract

A copper-resistant methanogen for which the CuSO4 MICs were approximately 2- to 36-fold higher than those for other methanogens tested was isolated from a copper-mining area in the upper peninsula of Michigan. The rod-shaped methanogen used H2-CO2 or formate, but not acetate or methanol, as a growth substrate. Standing incubation with H2-CO2 medium resulted in a mat-like surface growth, dependent on the presence of hydrogen. The presence of 1 mM cupric salt resulted in longer filamentous and intertwined cells. Antigenic fingerprinting, 16S rRNA gene analysis, morphology, and substrate use suggest that the new isolate is a novel strain of Methanobacterium bryantii that is able to use formate.

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Selected References

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