Project description:The pyrite mine of Lousal, Grândola, Portugal, was discovered in 1882 and extensively exploited from 1900 until its closure in 1988 when the mining ores were not viable economically. Aiming at becoming a cultural-touristic center, the mining area was rehabilitated raising a Mining Museum and a Science Centre along with the reopening of a mining gallery for public access. In recent times, aerobiological studies on subterranean environments such as caves, mines and archeological necropolis revealed to be an important source of novel bacteria, from which their biotechnological potential are under study. Here we present a Pseudomonas sp. isolated from the mine air with potential secondary metabolite biosynthesis, resistance to antibiotics and virulence factors.
