A Desulfovibrio sp. capable of growing by reducing U(VI)

A Gram‐negative sulfate‐reducing bacterium, named strain UFZ B 490, was isolated from the uranium dump “Haberland” near Johanngeorgenstadt (Saxony, Germany) using a medium containing lactate as the sole electron donor and sulfate as electron acceptor. This strain was able to grow in a bicarbonate buffer medium by reducing U(VI) as the sole electron acceptor to U(IV). Strain UFZ B 490 belongs to the genus Desulfovibrio. Its curved cells were 1.3 μm to 2.5 μm long and 0.4 μm to 0.7 μm wide and motile. Growth occurred from pH 6.0 to 8.5, with an optimum around 7.5. The optimum temperature was found to be at 37 °C. The strain was able to utilize other sources of carbon and energy such as pyruvate, fumarate, succinate, ethanol, propanol, butanol, choline, glucose and fructose. The addition of yeast extract or vitamins was not necessary for growth.