Sulfate reduction at -0.5°C under halophilic and anaerobic conditions by sulfate-reducing bacteria

This study intended to cultivate sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) under halophilic (high salt concentrations, 2.5% NaCl), psychrophilic (low temperature, -0.5°C), and anaerobic conditions. Acetate and sulfate substrate utilization was tracked as an indication of robust SRB activity at subzero (0°C) temperatures. Acetate and sulfate substrate utilization was observed confirming SRB metabolism over a 180 day period of time at a temperature of -0.5°C. At the time this research was conducted, there was no published data that appeared to have demonstrated successful large-scale SRB culturing under similar temperature conditions. The results of this study have important implications in the environmental engineering and science field for optimizing remediation efforts in cold climates and furthering our understanding of the geochemical cycle as well as advancements in astrobiology and astrobiological instrument development.