Metagenome-scale analysis yields insights into the structure and function of microbial communities in a copper bioleaching heap.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Metagenomics allows us to acquire the potential resources from both cultivatable and uncultivable microorganisms in the environment. Here, shotgun metagenome sequencing was used to investigate microbial communities from the surface layer of low grade copper tailings that were industrially bioleached at the Dexing Copper Mine, China. A bioinformatics analysis was further performed to elucidate structural and functional properties of the microbial communities in a copper bioleaching heap.

Results

Taxonomic analysis revealed unexpectedly high microbial biodiversity of this extremely acidic environment, as most sequences were phylogenetically assigned to Proteobacteria, while Euryarchaeota-related sequences occupied little proportion in this system, assuming that Arch

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4717592 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature