Table 3 Classification based on BLAST results of bacterial 16S rRNA sequences present in enriched cultures

Acidobacteria bacterium sp.^a

Chemoorganotrophic; from acidic mineral environment; non-cultured soil bacterium present in radionuclide- and metal-contaminated environments

T27 (1), Q63–66h (5)

Acidovorax temperans

Type strain CB2; isolated from an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant in northern New Zealand; forms biofilms, promotes flocculation, removes phosphorous

T27 (2)

Acidovorax spp.^a

Strain JS42; from soil; aerobic; capable of degrading toxic nitroaromatic compounds and polyethylene; As resistance

T54 (2)

Bacillus spp.

Widely distributed bacterium; highly resistant to As(III)

Q63–66h (1)

Brevibacillus borstelensis

From soil; thermophilic; lipolytic; degrades polyethylene as C source; in acidic soil waste; previously described in leaching ponds in Cananea Mine, Mexico

T54h (2)

Leptospirillum ferriphilum ^a

AMD; bioleaching tank for polymetallic (Cu, Zn and Fe sulfides) concentrates; mine heaps and leaching (pregnant solution) ponds; previously described in leaching ponds of Cananea Mine, Mexico; As resistance

Q63–66 (1)

Leptospirillum spp.^a

Bioleaching tanks, mine heaps and bioleaching (pregnant solution) ponds; Ni mine tailings; As resistance

T27 (2), T54 (2), Q63–66 (3)

Paenibacillus spp.

P. polymyxa has been studied for bioflotation and bioflocculation; as a soil inoculant in agriculture and horticulture; reported in rock varnish; fixes N; degrades cellulose; some species reduce nitrate; As resistance

T27 (1), T54 (2), Q63–66h (2)

Pseudomonas alcaligenes

Widely distributed; used as soil inoculant for bioremediation purposes; degrades polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

T27 (1), T54 (2), Q63 (2)

P. mendocina

HQ113219.1

Anaerobic; solubilizes Fe minerals; from soil enrichment with ethanol; degrades acyclic isoprenoids; As resistance

T54 (2)

Pseudomonas spp.

Anaerobic; As resistance

Q18h, T54 (2)

P. pseudoalcaligenes

Widely distributed; anaerobic; from soil; uses cyanide as N source

T27 (1), T54 (1), Q63–66

Sphingomonas spp.

Chemoheterotrophic; strictly aerobic; some degrade chlorinated dibenzofurans and dibenzo-p-dioxins; reduces As(V) via arsC; Cu tolerant

Q18h (1), Q63-66h (2)

Sulfobacillus acidophilus

Mixotrophic; Fe³⁺ reducer; yeast extract as an electron source; geothermal and sulfur-rich environments

Q18h (1)

Sulfobacillus sp. 1^a and sp. 2

Mixotrophic for organic compounds (such as yeast extract); AMD; mine heaps; bioleaching tanks for polymetallic concentrates; As tolerant

Q18h, sp. 1 (5); Q63–66 (h), sp. 2 (1)

S. thermosulfidooxidans

Mixotrophic; geothermal environments; carbon deposits bioleaching tanks of pyrite, Co-pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite and chalcocite; mine heaps and leaching ponds; As tolerant

Q18h (12), T27 (8), Q63–66h (13)