Taxonomy of the Acidophilic Thiobacilli

Abstract

Numerical analysis was applied to the taxonomy of acidophilic thiobacilli; 22 strains were examined, including authentic cultures and new isolates. Two sets of tests were made with different substrates, sulfur and thiosulfate. The results from both sets of tests indicated two distinct groups corresponding to Thiobacillus thio-oxidans and T. ferro-oxidans.