Liquid-nitrogen cryopreservation of three kinds of autotrophicbioleaching bacteria

Three kinds of autotrophic bioleaching bacteria strains, including mesophilic and acidophilic ferrous ion-oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans), mesophilic and acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans (A. thiooxidans), and moderately thermophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria Acidianus brierleyi, were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen and their ferrous ion- or sulfur-oxidizing activities were investigated and compared with the original ones. The results revealed that ferrous ion/sulfur oxidation activities of the strains were almost equal before and after cryopreservation. Glycerin was used as cryoprotective agent. In conclusion, liquid-nitrogen cryopreservation is a simple and effective method for autotrophic bioleaching microorganisms.