Is acidophilic bacteria (aka acidobacteria) heterotrophic or autotrophic?

I have actualy a few questions regarding acidobacteria. In addition to its trophics, how does it exploit its environment to make ATP and NADPH. For the ATP does the synthetic process resemble closer to the glycosis cycle, krebs cycle, or respiration. Thanks to all those who help!

Is acidophilic bacteria (aka acidobacteria) heterotrophic or autotrophic?
Many of them oxidize H2S





so its like water but using sulphur, thats why a lot of these bacteria are purple.





heres an abstract on how they work, or at least will give you a general idea ans some examples!





Seven strains of heterotrophic iron-oxidizing acidophilic bacteria were examined to determine their abilities to promote oxidative dissolution of pyrite (FeS2) when they were grown in pure cultures and in mixed cultures with sulfur-oxidizing Thiobacillus spp. Only one of the isolates (strain T-24) oxidized pyrite when it was grown in pyrite-basal salts medium. However, when pyrite-containing cultures were supplemented with 0.02% (wt/vol) yeast extract, most of the isolates oxidized pyrite, and one (strain T-24) promoted rates of mineral dissolution similar to the rates observed with the iron-oxidizing autotroph Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Pyrite oxidation by another isolate (strain T-21) occurred in cultures containing between 0.005 and 0.05% (wt/vol) yeast extract but was completely inhibited in cultures containing 0.5% yeast extract. Ferrous iron was also needed for mineral dissolution by the iron-oxidizing heterotrophs, indicating that these organisms oxidize pyrite via the "indirect" mechanism. Mixed cultures of three isolates (strains T-21, T-23, and T-24) and the sulfur-oxidizing autotroph Thiobacillus thiooxidans promoted pyrite dissolution; since neither strains T-21 and T-23 nor T. thiooxidans could oxidize this mineral in yeast extract-free media, this was a novel example of bacterial synergism. Mixed cultures of strains T-21 and T-23 and the sulfur-oxidizing mixotroph Thiobacillus acidophilus also oxidized pyrite but to a lesser extent than did mixed cultures containing T. thiooxidans. Pyrite leaching by strain T-23 grown in an organic compound-rich medium and incubated either shaken or unshaken was also assessed. The potential environmental significance of iron-oxidizing heterotrophs in accelerating pyrite oxidation is discussed.
Reply:Most are autotrophs, but some are heterotrophs.


For example, Thiobacillus is a chemoautotroph that gets its energy from oxidizing sulfur compounds. Acidophilus, on the other hand, is a heterotroph that relies on glycolysis and fermentation. For more information, try the Wikipedia article on Lactobacillus acidophilus. For the autotrophs, try the lecture notes posted here: http://www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/~sab...