Molecular and morphological characterization of cultures from the extreme environmental area of Copahue Volcano-Argentina

GIAVENO A.; HUERGO J.; LAVALLE L.; SAND W.; DONATI E.

Bariloche, Argentina

Simposio; 18th International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium (IBS).; 2009

This report describes the detection and identification of archaea in several sites located in the area of Copahue volcano, Neuquén province, Argentina by mean of different molecular techniques (PCR, DGGE, DNA sequencing and FISH). In order to study the archaea morphology, cultures were examined using different microscopic techniques (SEM, TEM, EFM and AFM). The corresponding archaea were identified as close relative or members of the genus Acidianus as well as other uncultured archaea clones showing a 93% of similarity to each others.