Taxonomic and functional diversity of microbial community from a mining environment

Julliane D Medeiros,Laura R Leite,Sara Cuadros-Orellana,Guilherme Oliveira

doi:10.1186/1471-2105-16-s8-a3

Abstract

Background Biomining uses acidophilic and chemolithotrophic microbes capable of oxidizing iron and sulfur to recover metals of interest from complex minerals. One of the most critical issues in mining environments is the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) that pollutes water and sediments with acids and metals. The Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SBR) are an alternative to bioremediate contamination of AMD. The current knowledge on the microbial diversity and the metabolic pathways involved in bioming and bioremediation is still limited. In this context, metagenomics has become a valuable tool to investigate previously uncultured microorganisms in environmental samples. The aim of this study was to assess the taxonomic and functional microbial diversity in a mining area in the Brazilian Amazon.

Highlights

Biomining uses acidophilic and chemolithotrophic microbes capable of oxidizing iron and sulfur to recover metals of interest from complex minerals
One of the most critical issues in mining environments is the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) that pollutes water and sediments with acids and metals
The current knowledge on the microbial diversity and the metabolic pathways involved in bioming and bioremediation is still limited

Summary

Introduction

Biomining uses acidophilic and chemolithotrophic microbes capable of oxidizing iron and sulfur to recover metals of interest from complex minerals. One of the most critical issues in mining environments is the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) that pollutes water and sediments with acids and metals. The Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SBR) are an alternative to bioremediate contamination of AMD. The current knowledge on the microbial diversity and the metabolic pathways involved in bioming and bioremediation is still limited. In this context, metagenomics has become a valuable tool to investigate previously uncultured microorganisms in environmental samples.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion