A moderately thermophilic three-species bioleaching consortium used to study the effects of quorum sensing (QS) signaling on pyrite and chalcopyrite dissolution. This acidophilic community consists of Leptospirillum ferriphilum DSM 14647, Acidithiobacillus caldus DSM 8584, and Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans DSM 9293, operating at pH 2.0-2.5 and 40°C. The consortium demonstrates coordinated microbial behavior mediated by diffusible signal factor (DSF) and N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum sensing systems. Treatment with DSF-family compounds (DSF and BDSF at 2 μM each) reduced pyrite and chalcopyrite dissolution via inhibitory effects on iron oxidation and mineral colonization. DSF compounds induced A. caldus motility and dispersion from pyrite with concomitant expansion of L. ferriphilum on mineral surfaces, while AHL-mediated signaling (C12-AHL, C14-AHL, 3-OH-C12-AHL, 3-OH-C14-AHL at 5 μM each) repressed L. ferriphilum motility. The consortium was subjected to RNA-seq transcriptomics (12 samples, 271 Gbases) to elucidate gene expression changes in response to QS molecules (NCBI BioProject PRJNA1259591). This system represents the first comprehensive study of quorum sensing regulation in moderately thermophilic biomining bacteria, revealing that QS molecules change planktonic/mineral subpopulation distributions and modulate leaching efficiency through control of cell attachment and iron oxidation rates.
Taxonomy
| Taxon | Ontology ID | Functional Roles | Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leptospirillum ferriphilum | NCBITaxon:178606 |
PRIMARY_PRODUCER
PRIMARY_DEGRADER
|
DOMINANT |
| Acidithiobacillus caldus | NCBITaxon:33059 |
PRIMARY_DEGRADER
|
ABUNDANT |
| Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans | NCBITaxon:28034 |
PRIMARY_PRODUCER
PRIMARY_DEGRADER
|
ABUNDANT |
Ecological Interactions
Ferrous Iron Oxidation by Leptospirillum
CROSS_FEEDINGSource Taxon: Leptospirillum ferriphilum
Metabolites: Fe(II) (CHEBI:29033), Fe(III) (CHEBI:29034)
Biological Processes:
- oxidation-reduction process (GO:0055114)
- iron ion transport (GO:0006826)
- carbon fixation (GO:0015977)
- quorum sensing (GO:0009372)
Evidence
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"In addition, DSF compounds induced Acidithiobacillus caldus motility and dispersion from pyrite with a concomitant expansion of Leptospirillum ferriphilum on the mineral surface while in contrast, the acyl-homoserine lactone mediated QS system repressed L"
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"DSF compounds induced concomitant expansion of Leptospirillum ferriphilum on the mineral surface"
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doi:10.1038/s41598-021-95324-9 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"Bioleaching of metal sulfide ores involves acidophilic microbes that catalyze the chemical dissolution of the metal sulfide bond that is enhanced by attached and planktonic cell mediated oxidation of iron(II)-ions and inorganic sulfur compounds"
Sulfur Oxidation by Acidithiobacillus caldus
MUTUALISMSource Taxon: Acidithiobacillus caldus
Metabolites: sulfur (CHEBI:26833), sulfuric acid (CHEBI:26836)
Biological Processes:
- oxidation-reduction process (GO:0055114)
- sulfur compound metabolic process (GO:0006790)
- quorum sensing (GO:0009372)
Evidence
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"In addition, DSF compounds induced Acidithiobacillus caldus motility and dispersion from pyrite with a concomitant expansion of Leptospirillum ferriphilum on the mineral surface while in contrast, the acyl-homoserine lactone mediated QS system repressed L"
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"A decrease in mineral-attached populations of A. caldus was demonstrated after DSF addition"
Dual Iron and Sulfur Oxidation by Sulfobacillus
MUTUALISMSource Taxon: Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans
Metabolites: Fe(II) (CHEBI:29033), Fe(III) (CHEBI:29034), sulfur (CHEBI:26833), sulfuric acid (CHEBI:26836)
Biological Processes:
- oxidation-reduction process (GO:0055114)
- iron ion transport (GO:0006826)
- sulfur compound metabolic process (GO:0006790)
- quorum sensing (GO:0009372)
Evidence
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"In this study, treatment of a moderately thermophilic biomining consortium with QS compounds, termed diffusible signal factors (DSF), reduced pyrite and chalcopyrite dissolution via an inhibitory effect on iron oxidation and mineral colonization by the mixed culture"
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.00044 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"ferriphilum occurs during the dual-species biofilm formation, but different effects on bioleaching were noted, if the preculture of L"
Pyrite and Chalcopyrite Dissolution
MUTUALISMMetabolites: pyrite (CHEBI:51905), chalcopyrite (CHEBI:50885), Fe(III) (CHEBI:29034), Fe(II) (CHEBI:29033), copper(2+) (CHEBI:29036), sulfuric acid (CHEBI:26836)
Biological Processes:
- oxidation-reduction process (GO:0055114)
- biofilm formation (GO:0042710)
- quorum sensing (GO:0009372)
Evidence
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"In this study, treatment of a moderately thermophilic biomining consortium with QS compounds, termed diffusible signal factors (DSF), reduced pyrite and chalcopyrite dissolution via an inhibitory effect on iron oxidation and mineral colonization by the mixed culture"
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"QS molecules change the planktonic/mineral subpopulations distribution of moderately thermophilic leaching bacteria"
DSF Quorum Sensing Signaling
MUTUALISMSource Taxon: Leptospirillum ferriphilum
Metabolites: cis-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid (CHEBI:71190), (2Z)-2-dodecenoic acid (CHEBI:87659)
Biological Processes:
- quorum sensing (GO:0009372)
- regulation of biofilm formation (GO:1901725)
- regulation of cell motility (GO:2000145)
Evidence
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"In this study, treatment of a moderately thermophilic biomining consortium with QS compounds, termed diffusible signal factors (DSF), reduced pyrite and chalcopyrite dissolution via an inhibitory effect on iron oxidation and mineral colonization by the mixed culture"
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"treatment of a moderately thermophilic biomining consortium with QS compounds called diffusible signal factors (DSF) reduced pyrite and chalcopyrite dissolution"
-
doi:10.1038/s41598-021-95324-9 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"In this study, we demonstrated a functional diffusible signal factor interspecies quorum sensing signaling mechanism in Leptospirillum ferriphilum and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans that produces (Z)-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid when grown with pyrite as energy source"
AHL Quorum Sensing Regulation
MUTUALISMSource Taxon: Acidithiobacillus caldus
Metabolites: N-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (CHEBI:75314), N-tetradecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (CHEBI:75315), N-(3-hydroxy-dodecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (CHEBI:75317), N-(3-hydroxy-tetradecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (CHEBI:75318)
Biological Processes:
- quorum sensing (GO:0009372)
- negative regulation of cell motility (GO:0051271)
- regulation of biofilm formation (GO:1901725)
Evidence
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"In addition, DSF compounds induced Acidithiobacillus caldus motility and dispersion from pyrite with a concomitant expansion of Leptospirillum ferriphilum on the mineral surface while in contrast, the acyl-homoserine lactone mediated QS system repressed L"
-
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO)"Some Acidithiobacillus species, including Acidithiobacillus caldus, possess a QS system mediated by acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs)"
Environmental Factors
| Factor | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 40 | °C |
| pH | 2.0-2.5 | pH units |
| DSF Quorum Sensing Signals | 2 | μM |
| AHL Quorum Sensing Signals | 5 | μM |
| Mineral Substrates | Pyrite and Chalcopyrite | qualitative |
| RNA-Seq Transcriptomics | 12 samples, 271 Gbases | sequencing data |
| Oxygen Availability | Aerobic | qualitative |