In summary, this paper broadens what we know about the strategies used by AAP for tellurite reduction and shows that more than one approach has evolved in this physiological group of bacteria to deal with this toxic compound. These strategies differ from the only known example of a tellurite specific reductase system, in Gram positive bacterium Bacillus STG-83 . Our investigation has provided a stepping stone for future investigation of the key enzymes and pathways that provide the AAP capability to resist extremely high concentrations of toxic oxyanions.