Sulfate-reducing bacterium grows with Cr(VI), U(VI), Mn(IV), and Fe(III) as electron acceptors

Abstract

A spore-forming sulfate-reducing bacterium <it>Desulfotomaculum reducens</it> sp. nov. strain MI-1 has been isolated from heavy metal contaminated sediments. Strain MI-1 grows with Cr(VI), Mn(IV), Fe(III), and U(VI), in addition to various sulfur compounds, as electron acceptors. This organism shares physiological properties with both the sulfate-reducing and metal-reducing groups of bacteria and is the first sulfate-reducing bacterium described that can grow with metals or U(VI) as sole electron acceptors.