Biomolecular and Cultivation Tools

Acidophiles are a defined group of extremophilic microorganisms that have distinct physiological features that separate them from the rest of the biosphere. Those that populate biomining operations and environments that are impacted by mining (acid mine drainage waters, etc.) often face additional challenges and stresses, such as elevated concentrations of potentially toxic metals and metalloids. Techniques used to isolate, cultivate, and maintain these (predominantly prokaryotic) microorganisms in laboratories are therefore necessarily different from those used for more “mainstream” life forms. While molecular techniques that are used routinely in biology are also appropriate for studying acidophiles, some protocol modifications are usually required, especially in the sampling and preparation stages, for them to be successfully applied. This chapter describes how both cultivation-based and biomolecular techniques have been developed and applied to study “biomining” microorganisms, and how this has led to major advances in understanding both how they function as pure cultures and in mixed communities.