Bacterial sulfate reduction and salinity: two controls on dolomite precipitation in Lagoa Vermelha and Brejo do Espinho (Brazil)

The hydrological system of Lagoa Vermelha, a dolomite-precipitating lagoon in Brazil, was investigated using hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopic composition of the water collected during an annual cycle (1996–1997). These data demonstrated that dolomite formed in May–June during high saline conditions. High salinity apparently provides the ions and saturation state necessary for dolomite precipitation. Ion concentrations in the lagoon water indicated an identical timing of dolomite precipitation and demonstrated that dolomite formed at decreased sulfate concentrations. In Brejo do Espinho, a neighbouring lagoon, the ion concentrations in the water column revealed that dolomite precipitates throughout the year, most likely due to its higher salinity than Lagoa Vermelha during the measured period. In Lagoa Vermelha, high ³⁴S of pore water sulfate and high sulfide concentrations correlated with dolomitic horizons, demonstrating the association of bacterial sulfate reduction with dolomite formation. In Brejo do Espinho high ³⁴S of pore water sulfate and high sulfide concentrations occurred throughout the dolomitic sedimentary column. We conclude that elevated salinity and sulfate reduction are the main factors inducing dolomite precipitation in these lagoons, confirming the microbial dolomite formation theory. These results suggest that there may be other settings where sulfate-reducing bacteria induce dolomite precipitation under saline conditions, such as deep-sea sediments or sabkhas, and imply that microbial dolomite may significantly contribute to the sedimentary carbonate budget, particularly in the earliest Earth's history when anoxic conditions were more prevalent.     

Formation of Ni- and Zn-Sulfides in Cultures of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria

The purpose of this study was to characterize Ni- and Zn-sulfides precipitated in sulfate-reducing bacterial cultures. Fe-free media containing 58 mM SO ₄ ^2? were amended with Ni and Zn chloride followed by inoculation. Precipitates were sampled from cultures after two weeks of incubation at 22, 45, and 60 ^° C. Abiotic controls were prepared by reacting bacteria-free liquid media with Na ₂ S solutions under otherwise identical conditions. Precipitates were collected anaerobically, freeze-dried and analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and for total Ni, Zn, and S. In Ni-containing media, biogenic sulfide precipitates were mostly heazelwoodite (Ni ₃ S ₂ ), whereas abiotic precipitates were mixed heazelwoodite and vaesite (NiS ₂ ). The biogenic Ni-precipitates were better crystalline than the corresponding abiotic samples. Sphalerite (ZnS) was identified by XRD in precipitates sampled from Zn-containing media. Scanning electron microscopy revealed disordered morphological features for the sulfides, which occurred mostly as aggregates of fine particles in biogenic samples, whereas abiotic precipitates contained more plate- and needle-like structures.     

Ecological Strategy of Bacteria: Specific Nature of the Problem

An attempt is made to sum up the results of the many years of using the conception of ecological strategy in bacterial ecology. Taking into account the specificities of microorganisms and their natural selection and the coevolution of microorganisms within evolving microbial communities, an inference is derived that the ecological strategy of most bacteria is the sum of a number of particular canonical strategies, some of which are common to higher organisms. It is proposed to call these particular strategies ecological tactics. The author considers this review to be a basis for a discussion.     

Screening of Marine Bacteria for the Production of Microbial Repellents Using a Spectrophotometric Chemotaxis Assay

A method for screening marine bacteria for the production of microbial repellents has been developed. The spectrophotometer provided quantitative information on bacterial chemotaxis in response to extracts from other strains of marine bacteria. Aqueous extracts were incorporated into an agar plug at the base of a cuvette, which was overlaid with a suspension of a motile strain. Negative chemotaxis of the motile strain in response to diffusion of repellent compounds from the agar could be measured by a fall in the optical density, allowing the direct screening of supernatants for repellent activity. Three strains producing metabolites with a repellent effect on a motile marine bacterium were identified. Antibiotic activity and the repellent effect of the supernatants were compared, with no significant correlation being found. The screening method will therefore allow the identification of bioactive metabolites that would be overlooked using traditional antibiotic screening strategies. Received March 4, 1998; accepted November 11, 1998.     

Bacterial Insights into the Formation of Opaline Stromatolites from the Chimalacatepec Lava Tube System,Mexico

Abstract

Cave lithifying systems are excellent models to study biomineralization in the dark. The Chimalacatepec Lava Tube System in Mexico harbors diverse biospeleothems where previous studies suggest that the formation of opaline terrestrial stromatolites is related to microorganisms in contiguous mats. However, there is no information regarding their characterization and their role in mineral formation. In this study, we characterized the bacterial and archaeal composition of microbial mats and stromatolites and suggested the main processes involved in the genesis of opaline stromatolites. Our results showed that the microbial mats and stromatolites have a similar 16S rRNA gene composition, but stromatolites contain more Actinobacteria, which have been previously found in other lava tubes together with other key bacteria. Microorganisms found here belonged to groups with the potential to fix carbon and degrade organic matter. We propose that the synergic interaction of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms that thrive in the dark might be inducing carbonate precipitation within the Ca-enriched extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), generating opal-A and calcite laminae. The similar 16S rRNA gene fingerprint and the presence of potential pathways that induce carbonate precipitation in opaline stromatolites and microbial mats suggest that microbial mats lithify and contribute to the stromatolite biotic genesis.     

微生物絮凝剂产生菌的研究进展

微生物絮凝剂是一类新型絮凝剂。絮凝剂产生菌作为微生物絮凝剂的一个科研重点已经得到广泛的研究。本文主要总结了微生物絮凝剂产生菌的一些研究进展,重点对絮凝剂产生菌的种类、筛选、培养条件、生物学机理等进行了阐述。此外还介绍了国内外几个新的研究方向,并就以后的研究趋势作了展望。     

Influence of Environmental Temperature on Biocalcification by Non-sporing Freshwater Bacteria

The process of biocalcification, recognised as precipitation of calcium carbonate, has been described as a widespread phenomenon associated with a wide range of different bacterial species. This biocalcifying activity, and factors that affect it, have been widely studied in moderately halophilic bacteria but there is a lack of information on factors that affect biocalcification by freshwater bacteria. In this paper, we study how temperature can affect biocalcification by freshwater bacteria that potentially could be used for the process of bioconsolidation during conservation. Ten isolates were characterised by standard biochemical and API 20NE tests. Their biocalcifying activity was studied at temperatures between 10 and 40°C in B4 liquid medium. Mineralogical and quantitative analyses of the crystals were carried out by XRD, and morphological studies by SEM. Biocalcification only occurred when bacteria were present and were able to grow. Carbonate precipitation by bacteria increased with time and temperature of incubation. Temperature affected not only the amount of precipitation but also crystal quality and morphology. As bioconsolidant agents, these organisms could be applied to stone when the temperature does not exceed 40°C depending on the type of isolate.     

Regulation of Fe3+-oxide Formation Among Fe2+-oxidizing Bacteria

Helical stalks (resembling Gallionella ferruginea, Mariprofundus ferrooxydans) and filamentous sheaths (resembling Leptothrix ochracea) of Fe²⁺-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) are mineralized by hydrous ferric oxides (HFO). To perform both inter-species and inter-site size comparisons of HFO particles on stalks and sheaths we measured HFO particles in samples of natural bacteriogenic iron oxides (BIOS) from 3 contrasting field sites: the Loihi Seamount (southern Hawaii); Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (eastern Sweden); and Chalk River Laboratories (northern Canada) representing seafloor saline, underground brackish, and surface freshwater aqueous conditions. Ambient temperatures were in the psychrophilic range and pHs measured for Loihi, CRL, and Äspö were 5.6, 6.9 and 7.4, respectively. Dissolved Fe was lowest for CRL (0.2 mg · L^?1) followed by Äspö (1.5 mg · L^?1), then Loihi (4.5–14.9 mg · L^?1). L. ochraceasheaths appear to have surface properties that restrict HFO particle growth in comparison to G.ferruginea-M.ferrooxydans stalks in the same environment, which we attribute to interfacial surface energy (γ). An inverse relationship between particle size and stalk/sheath length due to restrictions in reactive surface area was also observed, which may provide insight into FeOB survival strategies to alleviate oxidative stress arising from Fe³⁺ production.     

Growth of Iron-Oxidizing Bacteria Gallionella ferruginea and Leptothrix cholodnii in Oligotrophic Environments: Ca,Mg, and C as Limiting Factors and G. ferruginea Necromass as C-Source

Abstract

Iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) can successively populate low-nutrient aquatic environments and adapt to a broad concentration range of alkaline earth metals, with optimum conditions widely differing from one species to another. For the most abundant known FeOB genera Gallionella and Leptothrix, there is a lack of reports on substrate affinity for calcium and magnesium and necromass assimilability. Single nutrient and combined affinity for Ca and Mg of a wild Gallionella ferruginea isolate and a Leptothrix cholodnii strain as well as growth of heterotrophic L. cholodnii on necromass of autotrophic G. ferruginea were determined by cell density measurements. G. ferruginea responds with Monod-shaped preferences and thus favors waters rich in Ca and Mg. Maximum growth occurred at Ca concentrations five times above those of commonly used modified mineral Wolfe’s medium. L. cholodnii showed a Monod-shaped preference in the low concentration range and an inhibitory response to increasing hardness: concentrations >2?mM Ca or >0.6?mM Mg allow only 50 or 75%, respectively, of maximum specific cell densities. Considering the concentration range with a Monod-shaped response (for L. cholodnii only lower concentration range), both FeOB show a type I independent colimitation for Ca and Mg with lower requirements of Mg than Ca. On a C-limited medium containing G. ferruginea necromass as the only C-source, L. cholodnii cell counts were higher by two orders of magnitude compared to pyruvate medium. Thus, the necromass may serve as a primary C-source for heterotrophic FeOB and other heterotrophic bacteria with technical and economical relevance.     

Role of Intestinal Bacteria in Ileal Ulcer Formation in Rats Treated with a Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drug

The role of intestinal bacteria in induction and repression of ulcer formation in the ileum of rats treated with one of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 5-bromo-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl) thiophene (BFMeT), was examined in this study. BFMeT was administered by intragastric gavage once at doses of 500-1,500 mg/kg of body weight to Wistar rats treated with and without antibiotics (bacitracin, neomycin, streptomycin), germ-free rats and gnotobiotic rats, and 72 hr later their gastrointestinal tracts were examined for ulcer formation. A single oral administration of BFMeT induced ileal ulcers in specific pathogen-free rats. However, the rats given antibiotics to reduce the intestinal bacteria had no ulcers. BFMeT-treated germ-free rats and gnotobiotic rats mono-associated with Bifidobacterium adolescentis or Lactobacillus acidophilus also had no intestinal ulcers. However, the drug induced ileal ulcers in gnotobiotic rats mono-associated with Eubacterium limosum or Escherichia coli. An overnight culture of B. adolescentis or L. acidophilus or yogurt containing Bifidobacterium breve and Streptococcus thermophilus, when given as drinking water, inhibited ulcer formation in the ileum of rats treated with BFMeT. Gram staining of the ileal contents of normal rats revealed that 97.4% of the stained microorganisms were Gram-positive rods and only 1.2% were Gram-negative rods. In the group of rats with ulcers induced by BFMeT, the Gram-positive rods decreased by 56.4% and the Gram-negative rods including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus and Bacteroides increased by 37.3%. However, in the group of rats administered the Bifidobacterium culture, the Lactobacillus culture or yogurt, the percentages of the Gram-negative rods were decreased. Although Lactobacillus was a major bacterium in the ileum of normal rats, the Gram-negative facultatively anaerobic rods E. coli, Klebsiella and Proteus were increased in the ulcerated ileum of rats treated with BFMeT, suggesting that these bacteria are associated with ulcer formation in rats treated with NSAIDs, and that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium inhibit it by repressing the growth of ulcer-inducing bacteria.     

Luminescence-Based Systems for Detection of Bacteria in the Environment

Abstract

The development of techniques for detection and tracking of microorganisms in natural environments has been accelerated by the requirement for assessment of the risks associated with environmental release of genetically engineered microbial inocula. Molecular marker systems are particularly appropriate for such studies and luminescence-based markers have the broadest range of applications, involving the introduction of prokaryotic (lux) or eukaryotic (luc) genes for the enzyme luciferase.

Lux or luc genes can be detected on the basis of unique DNA sequences by gene probing and PCR amplification, but the major advantage of luminescence-based systems is the ability to detect light emitted by marked organisms or by luciferase activity in cell-free extracts. Luminescent colonies can be detected by eye, providing distinction from colonies of indigenous organisms, and the sensitivity of plate counting can be increased greatly by CCD imaging. Single cells or microcolonies of luminescent organisms can also be detected in environmental samples by CCD image-enhanced microscopy, facilitating study of their spatial distribution. The metabolic activity of luminescence-marked populations can be quantified by luminometry and does not require extraction of cells or laboratory growth. Metabolic activity, and potential activity, of marked organisms therefore can be measured during colonization of soil particles and plant material in real time without disturbing the colonization process.

In comparison with traditional activity techniques, luminometry provides significant increases in sensitivity, accuracy, and, most importantly, selectivity, as activity can be measured in the presence of indigenous microbial communities. The sensitivity, speed, and convenience of luminescence measurements make this a powerful technique that is being applied to the study of an increasingly wide range of ecological problems. These include microbial survival and recovery, microbial predation, plant pathogenicity, phylloplane and rhizosphere colonization and reporting of gene expression in environmental samples.     

Levels of Total Airborne Bacteria,Gram-Negative Bacteria,and Endotoxin According to Biosafety Levels in Korean Biosafety Laboratories

We assessed in this study the total airborne bacteria (TAB), gram-negative bacteria (GNB), and endotoxin (ET) concentrations in three Korean university laboratories and two hospital diagnostic laboratories categorized as biosafety level 1 (BL 1) or biosafety level 2 (BL 2). We also investigated the concentrations of TAB, GNB, and ET relative to the performance results of biosafety cabinets (BSCs). TAB and GNB were incubated, and ET was analyzed using the kinetic Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. A total of 246 (TAB = 95, GNB = 95, ET = 56) air samples were collected from nine laboratories. TAB, GNB, and ET concentrations were significantly higher in BL 1 laboratories and in laboratories that failed the BSC performance test compared to BL 2 laboratories and laboratories that passed the BSC performance test. Correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationships between TAB, GNB, and ET, and it was found that TAB significantly correlated with GNB (r = 0.35, p < .01) and ET (r = 0.29, p < .01). Careful attention needs to be paid to BL 1 laboratories, and BSCs should be managed on a regular basis to improve the air quality of university and hospital laboratories.     

Occurrence and Carbon Metabolism of Green Nonsulfur-like Bacteria in Californian and Nevada Hot Spring Microbial mats as Revealed by Wax Ester Lipid Analysis

Green nonsulfur-like bacteria (GNSLB) in Yellowstone hot spring microbial mats have been extensively studied and are thought to operate both as photoheterotrophs and photoautotrophs. Here we studied the occurrence and carbon metabolisms of GNSLB by analyzing the distribution and isotopic composition of their characteristic wax ester lipids in four Californian and Nevada hot spring microbial mats at a range of temperatures (37–96°C). The distribution of wax esters varied strongly with temperature. At temperatures between 50–60°C the wax ester composition in each of the four hot spring microbial mats was dominated by C₃₀ to C₃₆ wax esters, consisting of mixtures of C₁₅-C₁₈ n-alkyl and branched fatty acids and alcohols, typical for GNSLB. Stable carbon isotopic analysis showed that these wax esters were only depleted by 5 to 10‰ compared to dissolved inorganic carbon in the overlying water, suggesting that these GNSLB were mainly autotrophic. However, analysis of different depth layers of one microbial mat showed that these GNSLB wax esters were increasingly depleted in ¹³C with depth, suggesting that photoautotrophy mainly occurred in the top layer of the mat. ¹³C-depleted C₃₆-C₄₄ wax esters were found in one hot spring at high temperatures (77–96°C) and are likely derived from allochtonous plant waxes. At several lower temperature sites (35–40°C) the wax esters were predominantly composed of C₂₈, C₃₀ and C₃₂ wax esters consisting of mixtures of C₁₄-C₁₆ fatty acids and n-alkanols and were depleted in ¹³C by 15–20‰ relative to dissolved inorganic carbon, suggesting they may be derived from heterotrophic organisms. Our results indicate that autotrophic GNSLB occur widely in hot springs and that diverse groups of organisms contribute to the pool of wax ester lipids in hot spring environments.     

Assessment of Soluble and Biomass K in Culture Medium Is a Reliable Tool for Estimation of K Releasing Efficiency of Bacteria

Abstract

Assessing the amount of released K from minerals in bacterial liquid culture is the main process for screening and isolation of efficient potassium releasing bacteria (KRB). This study was aimed to determine the amount of released K in solution phase or supernatant (SK) as well as microbial biomass K (MBK). Therefore, 20 different bacterial isolates belonging to the 10 bacterial genera (Beijerinckia, Klebsiella, Azotobacter, Pseudomonas, Agrobacterium, Rhizobium, Sphingomonas, Citrobacter, Microbacterium, and Achromobacter) were individually used to inoculate Aleksandrov medium in presence of biotite or muscovite. Our results from in-vitro experiments revealed that the MBK (K in pellet) is more important than in SK. Although some genera such as Azotobacter and Citrobacter released more SK (16?mg/l from biotite and 12.77?mg/l from muscovite, respectively), the Klebsiella isolates with the highest MBK could release an average of 90?mg/l total K. This study indicated that the assimilated K in microbial cells is the main part of K dissolution from minerals. Due to the fast turnover of nutrients in bacterial biomass, it can be concluded that both SK and MBK could be available for plants. It seems that the finding of this research should be considered in the isolation of KRB.

Highlights

• This study reports, assessment of soluble and biomass K in the culture medium is a reliable tool for estimation of K releasing efficiency of bacteria

• Our results from in vitro experiments revealed that the assimilated K in microbial cells is the main part of K dissolved from minerals.

• Although some genera such as Azotobacter released more K in solution phase, the Klebsiella isolates with the highest biomass K could release more total K

     

磁选育浸矿菌种新方法的研究——磁泳分离菌种

世界无处不有磁,磁场对整个世界产生着重大的影响。本文通过大量镜检工作,观察到从酸性矿坑水中初步分离培养得到的部分细菌对外加磁场均有微弱的趋磁性。基于菌种的这种特性,设计了磁泳装置用不同的磁场梯度分离细菌,磁泳分离的方法可以初步分离出近磁、远磁茼,这两个菌群的生理特性有着很大的差异,主要体现在其对亚铁氧化和对金属高于的浸出上,远磁菌亚铁氧化活性比近磁菌高将近50％,远磁菌对铜离子的浸出效果也比近磁茼好。近磁菌在强磁性矿物培养基中生长情况较好,而远磁茼在弱磁性矿物培养基中生长情况较好。而且,在近磁茼的纯培养茼体中分离到磁性颗粒。实验结果证明。采用磁泳用于分离体内舍有磁性颗粒的细菌是可行并且有效的,这一分离技术和工艺的结合也将大大促进我国生物冶金的步伐。     

细菌基因组重复序列PCR技术及其应用

细菌中散在分布的DNA重复序列近年来不断被报道,基因外重复回文序列和肠细菌基因间共有重复序列是两个典型的原核细胞基因组散在重复序列。重复序列在染色体上的分布和拷贝数具种间特异性,用它们的互补序列作为引物,以细菌基因组DNA为模板进行PCR扩增反应,反应产物的琼脂糖电泳可以提供非常清晰的DNA指纹图谱,使用此图谱既可对各种微生物进行快速分型及鉴定,又可对它们进行DNA水平上的遗传多样性分析。细菌基因组重复序列PCR技术具有简捷、快速、结果稳定等特点,可对细菌进行分子标记,用于菌株分型、分类鉴定和亲缘关系等方面的研究。     

Methanotrophic Bacteria in the Rhizosphere of Trichloroethylene-Degrading Plants

The presence and density of methanotrophic bacteria has been shown to play an important role in the bioremediation of trichloroethylene (TCE). This article describes the methanotrophic bacterial densities in rhizosphere soils from two areas of the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina. A direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) technique was evaluated to determine the presence of methanotrophic bacteria in roots and rhizospheres from vascular plants. The first site, the Miscellaneous Chemical Basin (MCB), was contaminated with a mixture of chemicals, including chlorinated solvents. The second site will be potentially affected by outcropping of TCE-contaminated groundwater. Significantly higher numbers of methanotrophic bacteria were observed with DFA in rhizosphere soils and on roots of Lespedeza cuneata and Pinus taeda (that previously showed higher rates of ¹⁴C-TCE mineralization) compared with nonvegetated soils. In addition, viable and heterotrophic microbial counts were consistently higher in rhizosphere soils and on plant roots compared with nonvegetated soils. Therefore, the presence of these plant species may enhance ¹⁴C-TCE mineralization by selectively increasing the microbial population in the root zone. Methanotrophic bacteria were directly observed by DFA in soils, on the surface of root hairs, within plant roots, and in higher densities associated with mycorrhizal fungi. These experiments provide further evidence that specific types of bacterial interactions with vegetation in the rhizosphere may play an important role in remediation of TCE-contaminated soils and groundwater.     

Bacteria associated with the roots of epiphytic orchids

This work is the first to report the isolation and identification of bacteria colonizing the roots of the tropical epiphytic orchids Acampe papillosa (Lindl.) Lindl. and Dendrobium moschatum (Buch.-Ham.) Swartz. and bacteria inhabiting inner layers of the aerial and substrate roots of A. papillosa. We showed by the example of this epiphyte that associative bacteria are present in large amounts on the aerial but not the substrate roots. We isolated and identified bacteria from the substrate roots of D. Moschatum and from its growth substrate (pine bark). The structure of the intercellular matrix of the associative bacteria was studied.Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 73, No. 6, 2004, pp. 825–831.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Tsavkelova, Cherdyntseva, Netrusov.