Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans genome sequencing and assembly. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain:Hel18

Theisen sludge is a fine grained waste product of former copper smelting. Theisen sludge contains remarkable amounts of heavy metals and metaloids, especially lead, zinc and arsenic. The content of organic carbon is approximately 10 % comprisong polyaromytic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxid biphenyles and benzofureandes. Isolation of acidophilic ingenious bateria was successfully performed Taxonomic classification of the 16S rRNA gene showed showed > 99% similarity to Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans DSM 14882T. The new strain was designated as A. ferrooxidans Hel18.As the sludge constitutes an environment of highly toxicity, indigenous microorganisms are supposed to adapted in terms of resistances agains zinc, lead, arsenic, and toxic organics.