New Article Published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology

A new manuscript by Jung, Inaba and Banta describes the genetic engineering of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans to overexpress the key enzyme used for the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide.  This improved cell growth on sulfur and also improved the oxidation of pyrite and pyrrhotite.  Oxidation of these minerals leads to acid mine drainage and biological remediation of mining wastes could be used to reduce these environmental impacts.