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drafting the manuscript. PHJ supplied pure cultures of Ellin strains and contributed expert knowledge of phylum Verrucomicrobia phylogenetics. JTS supplied pure cultures of Verrucomicrobium spinosum and Prosthecobacter dejongeii and contributed expert knowledge of phylum Verrucomicrobia. K-CL and JAF wrote the manuscript and RIW, PS, PHJ and JTS contributed to drafting the manuscript. JAF conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination and helped to write the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”
“Background The toxin arsenic in soil and aqueous environments is considered as one of the prominent environmental causes of cancer mortality in the World, especially in Bangladesh, India and China. In recent years, chronic intake of groundwater with high levels of arsenic has caused endemic arsenicosis in several provinces of China and new cases of arsenicosis are continuously emerging [1]. Developing efficient and environment-friendly technologies to remove arsenic from soil and water systems is of great importance to many countries including China.