Data for: Isolation and characterization of Acidithiobacillus caldus TST3 and the effect of pre-cultivation on its dissolution of phosphorous from rock phosphates

we report the results of the first study on isolation and characterization of Acidithiobacillus caldus TST3 and the effects of pre-cultivation on improving the bio-leaching of rock phosphates by this microorganism. Indeed, we isolated and identified Acidithiobacillus caldus TST3, studied the dissolution of rock phosphates by strain TST3 in a series of bio-leaching experiments with and without pre-incubation, and then elucidated the relevant mechanism involved in the enhanced bio-solubilization. The results from our study reveal that Acidithiobacillus caldus TST3 has some unusual physiological characteristics with optimal growth at 37ºC and at an initial pH of 1.5-2.0. No pre-cultivation was observed to enhance bio-leaching significantly in comparison with that achieved with pre-grown culture in a phosphorous-limited environment. We presumed that the reason for the enhanced bio-leaching without pre-cultivation may results from the enhancement of the expression of sulfur oxidation genes, bio-oxidative activity of elemental sulfur and bacterial growth due to the simultaneous addition of RPs with inoculation.