Thermophilic Pyrite Quorum Sensing Consortium

Community ID CommunityMech:000073

Ecological State ENGINEERED

Environment mine tailing
ENVO:00000072

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
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) "acyl-homoserine lactone mediated QS system repressed L. ferriphilum motility" doi:10.1128/aem.68.2.838-845.2002 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO) "Iron-oxidizing bacteria belonging to the genus Leptospirillum are of great importance in continuous-flow commercial biooxidation reactors, used for extracting metals from minerals, that operate at 40°C or less"
Acidithiobacillus caldus	NCBITaxon:33059	PRIMARY_DEGRADER	ABUNDANT
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 Acidithiobacillus caldus motility and dispersion from pyrite" doi:10.1099/00207713-42-4-673 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO) "Characterization of Thiobacillus caldus sp. nov., a moderately thermophilic acidophile with optimum growth at 45°C and pH 2-2.5" doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO) "treatment of a moderately thermophilic biomining consortium with QS compounds"
Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans	NCBITaxon:28034	PRIMARY_PRODUCER PRIMARY_DEGRADER	ABUNDANT
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO) "Mixed microbial consortia composed of moderate thermophiles such as Sulfobacillus and some Leptospirillum species improve metal extraction efficiency at higher temperatures compared to pure cultures of mesophiles" doi:10.3389/fmicb.2020.00044 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO) "Sulfobacillus and Leptospirillum occur frequently in leaching systems" doi:10.1007/s00248-013-0274-4 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO) "Requirements and abilities for growth at a wide range of salinities\ showed that 44.3 % of the isolates were extremely halotolerant, 23 % were moderate halotolerant, and 32.7 % were strict halophiles, indicating that they are adapted to thrive in these saline ecosystems" doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO) "moderate thermophiles such as Sulfobacillus"

Ecological Interactions

Taxon

Cross-feeding

Mutualism

Syntrophy

Competition

Commensalism

Niche partitioning

Colonization facilitation

Strain competition

Predation

Ferrous Iron Oxidation by Leptospirillum

CROSS_FEEDING

Source 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)

Downstream Effects:

→ Pyrite and Chalcopyrite Dissolution

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)

"concomitant expansion of Leptospirillum ferriphilum on the mineral surface"
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

MUTUALISM

Source 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)

"DSF compounds induced Acidithiobacillus caldus motility and dispersion from pyrite"

Dual Iron and Sulfur Oxidation by Sulfobacillus

MUTUALISM

Source 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

MUTUALISM

Source Taxon: Leptospirillum ferriphilum

Target Taxon: Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans

Metabolites: 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)

Downstream Effects:

→ Ferrous Iron Oxidation by Leptospirillum

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 changed the distribution of planktonic/mineral subpopulations of the acidophilic species"

DSF Quorum Sensing Signaling

MUTUALISM

Source Taxon: Leptospirillum ferriphilum

Target Taxon: Acidithiobacillus caldus

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, termed 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

MUTUALISM

Source Taxon: Acidithiobacillus caldus

Target Taxon: Leptospirillum ferriphilum

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)

"acyl-homoserine lactone mediated QS system"

Environmental Factors

Factor	Value	Unit
Temperature	40	°C
doi:10.3389/fmicb.2025.1592588 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO) "Mixed microbial consortia composed of moderate thermophiles such as Sulfobacillus and some Leptospirillum species improve metal extraction efficiency at higher temperatures compared to pure cultures of mesophiles" doi:10.1128/aem.68.2.838-845.2002 - SUPPORT (IN_VIVO) "Iron-oxidizing bacteria belonging to the genus Leptospirillum are of great importance in continuous-flow commercial biooxidation reactors, used for extracting metals from minerals, that operate at 40°C or less"
pH	2.0-2.5	pH units
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:10.1099/00207713-42-4-673 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO) "Acidithiobacillus caldus pH optimum 2-2.5"
DSF Quorum Sensing Signals	2	μM
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, termed diffusible signal factors (DSF), reduced pyrite and chalcopyrite dissolution"
AHL Quorum Sensing Signals	5	μM
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) "acyl-homoserine lactone mediated QS system repressed L. ferriphilum motility"
Mineral Substrates	Pyrite and Chalcopyrite	qualitative
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) "planktonic/mineral subpopulations"
RNA-Seq Transcriptomics	12 samples, 271 Gbases	sequencing data
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) "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"
Oxygen Availability	Aerobic	qualitative
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"