Characterisation of Low Temperature Acidophiles for Bioremediation Project in Biotechnology with measurement systems, 12hp, 5MO014 Instructor

• Main Authors: Mark Dopson, Rickard Jakobsson, Jenny Pasto, Ida Malmsten, Daniel Swensson, Adrian Lärkeryd, Kajsa Werner, Linn Fransson
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarc*; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.1078.2890; http://www8.tfe.umu.se/courses/systemteknik/TillCellBiol/2009/projekt2009/rptr/Characterisation-of-Low-Temperature-Acidophiles-for-Bioremediation.pdf

Abstract Psychroacidophilic microorganisms are a very useful tool for the mining industry in the colder parts of the world. They can be used for biomining as well as bioremediation at a lower cost than their chemical counterparts. Two yeast strains were extracted from a cold and acidic mine in northern Sweden and were examined to establish their optimum living conditions. The goal was to characterize the yeast strains and see if it could be a part of a bioremediation program. Optimal carbon source for both strains of yeast, out of the several ones tried, proved to be glycerol. While not explicitly showing signs of being acidophilic at least one yeast strain, however, is acid-tolerant. The same strain was shown to be psychrophilic growing in 5 degrees Celsius and having its optimal growth below 14 degrees. Sequencing show that the yeast was 97% similar to an Antarctic yeast CBS 8941. The two yeast strains were also shown to be 98.4% similar to each other. While the yeast is both psychrophilic and acid-tolerant, which is good for the bioremediation program, the tests to determine its ability to degrade thiosulphate failed and thus impeding a conclusion about usage in actual bioremediation. 3