This three-year award supports cooperative research between Olli Tuovinen, Ohio State University (OSU) and Borje Lindstrom from the University of Umea in Sweden. The objective of the research is to develop a genetic transfer vector system for Thiobacillus ferroooxidans, an autotrophic bacterium which has been used in the recovery of metals by leaching. Their long-term goal is to develop a genetically improved strain with greater leaching capacity and resistance to toxic metals. A new strain may also prove useful in the desulfurization of coal. The development of a gene transfer system for T. ferrooxidans could facilitate these improvements. The OSU group has expertise in the biotechnology of T. ferrooxidans and organic sulfur degradation in coal. The Umea lab is concerned with bioleaching at levated temperatures. The labs will conduct parallel experiments with different test organisms. The project will benefit from the availability of new test organisms and joint efforts in characterization and analysis.
