Objective This project is focused on characterizing sulfate-reducing bacteria from boreal wetlands and submerged soils that are impacted by acid mine drainage. The unique feature of this study is the sampling of geographically distinct boreal ecosystems in Russia, Sweden, and Finland, with a view to finding sulfate-reducers with novel traits such as the ability to grow at low pH values and low temperatures. To our knowledge, a systematic search of acidophilic and psychrophilic sulfate-reducers in boreal environments has never before been undertaken. Sulfate-reducers from boreal sampling sites will be characterized by 16S rDNA based phylogeny, and those sulfate-reducers that are culturable and can be isolated in pure culture will be further characterized by conventional physiological approaches including metal resistance and various electron donor and electron acceptor conditions. Rates and stable isotopic composition of intermediates and products of sulfate reduction will be measured under boreal conditions in order to identify the geochemical role of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Ultimately, it is planned to develop mixed and pure cultures of sulfate-reducing bacteria from boreal environments that have potential application for bioremediation of acid mine drainage either in-situ or in stirred tank bioreactors. Programme(s) IC-INTAS - International Association for the promotion of cooperation with scientists from the independent states of the former Soviet Union (INTAS), 1993- Topic(s) 4 - Life Sciences OPEN - OPEN Call Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme Data not available Coordinator Umea University EU contribution No data Address 90187 Umea Sweden See on map Total cost No data Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Russian Academy of Sciences Russia EU contribution No data Address 7/2 Prospekt 60-let Oktybry 117312 Moscow See on map Total cost No data Tampere University of Technology Finland EU contribution No data Address 33101 Tampere See on map Total cost No data Tomsk State University Russia EU contribution No data Address Lenin Av., 36 634050 Tomsk See on map Total cost No data