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Ferroplasma-Leptospirillum Iron-Cycling Syntrophy

Ecological State STABLE
Environment acid mine drainage
ENVO:00002186
Source File Ferroplasma_Leptospirillum_Syntrophy.yaml

A synergistic two-member consortium consisting of the cell wall-lacking archaeon Ferroplasma acidiphilum and the iron-oxidizing bacterium Leptospirillum ferriphilum, found in extremely acidic, metal-rich environments including acid mine drainage and biomining operations. This partnership demonstrates mutualistic metabolic cooperation where both organisms oxidize ferrous iron but occupy complementary ecological niches. Ferroplasma grows chemomixotrophically, oxidizing Fe²⁺ while consuming organic matter secreted by Leptospirillum, thereby maintaining low organic compound concentrations that would otherwise inhibit Leptospirillum through toxic effects. In return, Leptospirillum provides organic carbon that Ferroplasma requires for mixotrophic growth. Recent transcriptomic studies show F. acidiphilum upregulates energy and stress resistance genes in L. ferriphilum under organic matter stress. The co-culture outperforms pure cultures in chalcopyrite and pyrite bioleaching, achieving 31.5% higher copper extraction and 31.7% higher ferric iron generation compared to monocultures under yeast extract stress (0.5 g/L). Cell growth is favorably affected by filtered medium from the partner organism, confirming synergistic interaction. This archaeal-bacterial partnership thrives at extremely low pH (pH <2), temperatures 30-50°C, and high metal concentrations, representing a model system for understanding cross-domain syntrophy in extreme environments. The consortium plays major roles in biogeochemical cycling of sulfur and sulfide metals in highly acidic habitats.

Taxonomy

Taxon Ontology ID Functional Roles Abundance
Leptospirillum ferriphilum NCBITaxon:178606
PRIMARY_PRODUCER SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER
DOMINANT
Ferroplasma acidiphilum NCBITaxon:74969
PRIMARY_PRODUCER SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER CROSS_FEEDER
DOMINANT

Ecological Interactions

Iron Oxidation by Leptospirillum

SYNTROPHY

Source Taxon: Leptospirillum ferriphilum

Metabolites: Fe(II) (CHEBI:29033), Fe(III) (CHEBI:29034), organic molecular entity (CHEBI:50860)

Biological Processes:

Downstream Effects:
→ Organic Matter Consumption by Ferroplasma

Evidence

  • doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2025.106190 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "The ZMR nanocomposite exhibited structural integrity, excellent regeneration (three cycles), and negligible Zn/Mo leaching across acidic, neutral, and basic media which was supported by UV-Vis"
  • doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2025.106190 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "Ferroplasma acidiphilum enhance the growth and activity of Leptospirillum ferriphilum by affecting the genes expression of oxidative phosphorylation and stress resistance"

Organic Matter Consumption by Ferroplasma

MUTUALISM

Source Taxon: Ferroplasma acidiphilum

Metabolites: organic molecular entity (CHEBI:50860), Fe(II) (CHEBI:29033)

Biological Processes:

Downstream Effects:
→ Enhanced Chalcopyrite Bioleaching

Evidence

  • doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2025.106190 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "The ZMR nanocomposite exhibited structural integrity, excellent regeneration (three cycles), and negligible Zn/Mo leaching across acidic, neutral, and basic media which was supported by UV-Vis"
  • PMID:27535541 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "acidiphilum, strain BRL-115 is a chemomixotrophic organism, and its growth is maximized with yeast extract at a concentration of 0.04% wt/vol"

Iron Oxidation by Ferroplasma

SYNTROPHY

Source Taxon: Ferroplasma acidiphilum

Metabolites: Fe(II) (CHEBI:29033), Fe(III) (CHEBI:29034)

Biological Processes:

Evidence

  • doi:10.1016/j.bbabio.2015.02.010 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "Recently, attention has been drawn to the organelles, especially the chloroplast but focused on the stromal Ca2+ transients in response to environmental stresses"
  • PMID:17203061 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "acidiphilum therefore has a currently unique iron-protein-dominated cellular machinery and biochemical phylogeny."

Enhanced Chalcopyrite Bioleaching

MUTUALISM

Metabolites: chalcopyrite (CHEBI:50885), copper(2+) (CHEBI:29036), Fe(III) (CHEBI:29034), pyrite (CHEBI:51905)

Biological Processes:

Evidence

  • doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2025.106190 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "It was found to contain 0.52 mg L-1 of Cr(VI), which exceeds the permissible limits"
  • doi:10.1016/j.ibiod.2025.106190 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "The bioleaching of chalcopyrite and pyrite by the co-culture systems of L. ferriphilum and F. acidiphilum under the stress of 0.5 g/L yeast extract led to better performance than the pure culture"

Filtered Medium Cross-Feeding

MUTUALISM

Metabolites: organic molecular entity (CHEBI:50860)

Biological Processes:

Evidence

  • PMID:27535541 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "acidiphilum supernatant and vice versa, it was observed that in both cases cell growth is favorably affected by the presence of the filtered medium of the other microorganism, proving a synergistic interaction between these species"

Environmental Factors

Factor Value Unit
Extreme Acidity 0.7-2.5 pH
Temperature 30-50 °C
Oxygen Availability Aerobic to microaerobic qualitative
Metal Concentrations High Fe, Cu, Zn, As qualitative
Organic Matter Stress 0.5 g/L yeast extract g/L