Characterization of a thermophilic sulfur oxidizing enrichment culture dominated by a Sulfolobus sp. obtained from an underground hot spring for use in extreme bioleaching conditions.

A thermoacidophilic elemental sulfur and chalcopyrite oxidizing enrichment culture VS2 was obtained from hot spring run-off sediments of an underground mine. It contained only archaeal species, namely a Sulfolobus metallicus-related organism (96% similarity in partial 16S rRNA gene) and Thermoplasma acidophilum (98% similarity in partial 16S rRNA gene). The VS2 culture grew in a temperature range of 35-76 degrees C.