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Marchetti A, Kupka D, Senatore VG, Bártová Z, Branduardi P, Hagarová L, Hredzák S, Lotti M. Iron bioleaching and polymers accumulation by an extreme acidophilic bacterium. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:275. [PMID: 38775940 PMCID: PMC11111502 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04005-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
In many European regions, both local metallic and non-metallic raw materials are poorly exploited due to their low quality and the lack of technologies to increase their economic value. In this context, the development of low cost and eco-friendly approaches, such as bioleaching of metal impurities, is crucial. The acidophilic strain Acidiphilium sp. SJH reduces Fe(III) to Fe(II) by coupling the oxidation of an organic substrate to the reduction of Fe(III) and can therefore be applied in the bioleaching of iron impurities from non-metallic raw materials. In this work, the physiology of Acidiphilium sp. SJH and the reduction of iron impurities from quartz sand and its derivatives have been studied during growth on media supplemented with various carbon sources and under different oxygenation conditions, highlighting that cell physiology and iron reduction are tightly coupled. Although the organism is known to be aerobic, maximum bioleaching performance was obtained by cultures cultivated until the exponential phase of growth under oxygen limitation. Among carbon sources, glucose has been shown to support faster biomass growth, while galactose allowed highest bioleaching. Moreover, Acidiphilium sp. SJH cells can synthesise and accumulate Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) during the process, a polymer with relevant application in biotechnology. In summary, this work gives an insight into the physiology of Acidiphilium sp. SJH, able to use different carbon sources and to synthesise a technologically relevant polymer (PHB), while removing metals from sand without the need to introduce modifications in the process set up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Marchetti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, State University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Daniel Kupka
- Institute of Geotechnics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 45, Kosice, 040 01, Slovakia
| | | | - Zuzana Bártová
- Institute of Geotechnics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 45, Kosice, 040 01, Slovakia
| | - Paola Branduardi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, State University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Lenka Hagarová
- Institute of Geotechnics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 45, Kosice, 040 01, Slovakia
| | - Slavomír Hredzák
- Institute of Geotechnics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Watsonova 45, Kosice, 040 01, Slovakia
| | - Marina Lotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, State University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.
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Breuker A, Schippers A. Rates of iron(III) reduction coupled to elemental sulfur or tetrathionate oxidation by acidophilic microorganisms and detection of sulfur intermediates. Res Microbiol 2024; 175:104110. [PMID: 37544391 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Bioleaching processes and acid mine drainage (AMD) generation are mainly driven by aerobic microbial iron(II) and inorganic sulfur/compound oxidation. Dissimilatory iron(III) reduction coupled to sulfur/compound oxidation (DIRSO) by acidophilic microorganisms has been described for anaerobic cultures, but iron reduction was observed under aerobic conditions as well. Aim of this study was to explore reaction rates and mechanisms of this process. Cell-specific iron(III) reduction rates for different Acidithiobacillus (At.) strains during batch culture growth or stationary phase with iron(III) (∼40 mM) as electron acceptor and elemental sulfur or tetrathionate as electron donor (1% or 5 mM, respectively) were determined. The rates were highest under anaerobic conditions for the At. ferrooxidans type strain with 6.8 × 106 and 1.1 × 107 reduced iron(III) ions per second per cell for growth on elemental sulfur and tetrathionate, respectively. The iron(III) reduction rates were somehow lower for the anaerobically sulfur grown archaeon Ferroplasma acidiphilum, and lowest for the sulfur grown At. caldus type strain under aerobic conditions (1.7 × 106 and 7.3 × 104 reduced iron(III) ions per second per cell, respectively). The rates for five strains of At. thiooxidans (aerobe) were in between those for At. ferrooxidans (anaerobe) and At. caldus (aerobe). There was no pronounced pH dependence of iron(III) reduction rates in the range of pH 1.0-1.9 for the type strains of all species but rates increased with increasing pH for four other At. thiooxidans strains. Thiosulfate as sulfur intermediate was found for At. ferrooxidans during anaerobic growths on tetrathionate and iron(III) but not during anaerobic growths on elemental sulfur and iron(III), and a small concentration was measured during aerobic growths on tetrathionate without iron(III). For the At. thiooxidans type strain thiosulfate was found with tetrathionate grown cells under aerobic conditions in presence and absence of iron(III), but not with sulfur grown cells. Evidence for hydrogen sulfide production at low pH was found for the At. ferrooxidans as well as the At. thiooxidans type strains during microaerophilic growth on elemental sulfur and for At. ferrooxidans during anaerobic growths on tetrathionate and iron(III). The occurrence of sulfur compound intermediates supports the hypothesis that chemical reduction of iron(III) ions takes place by sulfur compounds released by the microbial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Breuker
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Stilleweg2, 30655 Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schippers
- Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Stilleweg2, 30655 Hannover, Germany.
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Reductive Soil Disinfestation Enhances Microbial Network Complexity and Function in Intensively Cropped Greenhouse Soil. HORTICULTURAE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae8060476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) is an effective practice to eliminate plant pathogens and improve the soil microbial community. However, little is known about how RSD treatment affects microbial interactions and functions. Previous study has shown that RSD-regulated microbiomes may degenerate after re-planting with former crops, while the effect of planting with different crops is still unclear. Here, the effects of both RSD treatment and succession planting with different crops on microbial community composition, interactions, and functions were investigated. Results showed that RSD treatment improves the soil microbial community, decreases the relative abundance of plant pathogens, and effectively enhances microbial interactions and functions. The microbial network associated with RSD treatment was more complex and connected. The functions of hydrocarbon (C, H), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) cycling were significantly increased in RSD-treated soil, while the functions of bacterial and fungal plant pathogens were decreased. Furthermore, the bacterial and fungal communities present in the RSD-treated soil, and soil succession planted with different crops, were found to be significantly different compared to untreated soil. In summary, we report that RSD treatment can improve soil quality by regulating the interactions of microbial communities and multifunctionality.
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Fungi Can Be More Effective than Bacteria for the Bioremediation of Marine Sediments Highly Contaminated with Heavy Metals. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050993. [PMID: 35630436 PMCID: PMC9145406 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The contamination of coastal marine sediments with heavy metals (HMs) is a widespread phenomenon that requires effective remediation actions. Bioremediation based on the use of bacteria is an economically and environmentally sustainable effective strategy for reducing HM contamination and/or toxicity in marine sediments. However, information on the efficiency of marine-derived fungi for HM decontamination of marine sediments is still largely lacking, despite evidence of the performance of terrestrial fungal strains on other contaminated matrixes (e.g., soils, freshwater sediments, industrial wastes). Here, we carried out for the first time an array of parallel laboratory experiments by using different combinations of chemical and microbial amendments (including acidophilic autotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria, as well as filamentous marine fungi) for the bioremediation of highly HM-contaminated sediments of the Portman Bay (NW Mediterranean Sea), an area largely affected by long-term historical discharges of mine tailings. Our results indicate that the bioleaching performance of metals from the sediment is based on the addition of fungi (Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma sp.), either alone or in combination with autotrophic bacteria, was higher when compared to other treatments. In particular, fungal addition allowed obtaining bioleaching yields for As eight times higher than those by chemical treatments and double compared with the addition of bacteria alone. Moreover, in our study, the fungal addition was the only treatment allowing effective bioleaching of otherwise not mobile fractions of Zn and Cd, thus overtaking bacterial treatments. We found that the lower the sediment pH reached by the experimental conditions, as in the case of fungal addition, the higher the solubilization yield of metals, suggesting that the specific metabolic features of A. niger and Trichoderma sp. enable lowering sediment pH and enhance HM bioleaching. Overall, our findings indicate that fungi can be more effective than acidophilic autotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria in HM bioleaching, and as such, their use can represent a promising and efficient strategy for the bioremediation of marine sediments highly contaminated with heavy metals.
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Zhou S, Tong G, Meng X, Wang Y, Gu G, Gan M. Reactive oxygen species formation driven by acidophiles mediated pyrite oxidation and its potential role on 2,4-dichlorophenol transformation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 425:127833. [PMID: 34872039 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Researches of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from pyrite oxidation and its impact on contaminants transformation has been constrained to abiotic conditions. However, pyrite oxidation by acidophiles is widespread in acidic environments. The potential role of these microorganisms on pyrite-induced ROS formation and pollutants processing is not understood well. Here, ROS production and 2,4-DCP transformation during pyrite oxidation under oxic and anoxic atmospheres by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) were explored. 2,4-DCP removal was enhanced in biosystem. Under oxic and anoxic conditions, microbially mediated pyrite oxidation resulted in removing 93.66% and 43.77% 2,4-DCP, which were 1.14- and 1.51-fold greater than that without cells. Based on intermediates identified by LC-MS, the transformation pathway of 2,4-DCP was proposed. The trapping experiments demonstrated ROS contributed during 2,4-DCP transformation. The improving effect of A. ferrooxidans on 2,4-DCP degradation was mainly due to ROS increase. A. ferrooxidans was to promote pyrite surface renew, exposing more Fe(II) and Fe(III) sites that facilitated O2 reduction and H2O dissociation for ROS generation. Biogenic ROS and sulfite bio-oxidation with the free radical mechanism provided other ROS sources. ESR revealed A. ferrooxidans-pyrite interaction led to sustainable ROS production, indicating it could be a significant pathway in driving geochemical cycles of elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhou
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Mineral Metallurgical Resources Utilization and Pollution Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430081, China
| | - Ge Tong
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Xiaoyu Meng
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Yanhong Wang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Guohua Gu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
| | - Min Gan
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China.
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Zhou YH, Wang C, Liu HC, Xue Z, Nie ZY, Liu Y, Wan JL, Yang Y, Shu WS, Xia JL. Correlation Between Fe/S/As Speciation Transformation and Depth Distribution of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidiphilium acidophilum in Simulated Acidic Water Column. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:819804. [PMID: 35222314 PMCID: PMC8863614 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.819804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that speciation transformations of As(III) vs. As(V) in acid mine drainage (AMD) are mainly driven by microbially mediated redox reactions of Fe and S. However, these processes are rarely investigated. In this study, columns containing mine water were inoculated with two typical acidophilic Fe/S-oxidizing/reducing bacteria [the chemoautotrophic Acidithiobacillus (At.) ferrooxidans and the heterotrophic Acidiphilium (Aph.) acidophilum], and three typical energy substrates (Fe2+, S0, and glucose) and two concentrations of As(III) (2.0 and 4.5 mM) were added. The correlation between Fe/S/As speciation transformation and bacterial depth distribution at three different depths, i.e., 15, 55, and 105 cm from the top of the columns, was comparatively investigated. The results show that the cell growth at the top and in the middle of the columns was much more significantly inhibited by the additions of As(III) than at the bottom, where the cell growth was promoted even on days 24–44. At. ferrooxidans dominated over Aph. acidophilum in most samples collected from the three depths, but the elevated proportions of Aph. acidophilum were observed in the top and bottom column samples when 4.5 mM As(III) was added. Fe2+ bio-oxidation and Fe3+ reduction coupled to As(III) oxidation occurred for all three column depths. At the column top surfaces, jarosites were formed, and the addition of As(III) could lead to the formation of the amorphous FeAsO4⋅2H2O. Furthermore, the higher As(III) concentration could inhibit Fe2+ bio-oxidation and the formation of FeAsO4⋅2H2O and jarosites. S oxidation coupled to Fe3+ reduction occurred at the bottom of the columns, with the formations of FeAsO4⋅2H2O precipitate and S intermediates. The formed FeAsO4⋅2H2O and jarosites at the top and bottom of the columns could adsorb to and coprecipitate with As(III) and As(V), resulting in the transfer of As from solution to solid phases, thus further affecting As speciation transformation. The distribution difference of Fe/S energy substrates could apparently affect Fe/S/As speciation transformation and bacterial depth distribution between the top and bottom of the water columns. These findings are valuable for elucidating As fate and toxicity mediated by microbially driven Fe/S redox in AMD environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hang Zhou
- Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Can Wang
- Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong-Chang Liu
- Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhen Xue
- Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhen-Yuan Nie
- Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jiao-Li Wan
- Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yu Yang
- Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wen-Sheng Shu
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin-Lan Xia
- Key Lab of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education of China, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Li Y, Dong C, Li Y, Nie W, Wang M, Sun C, Liang L, Zhao Z, Zhang Y. Independent of direct interspecies electron transfer: Magnetite-mediated sulphur cycle for anaerobic degradation of benzoate under low-concentration sulphate conditions. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 423:127051. [PMID: 34523502 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the primary mechanism of magnetite promoting anaerobic degradation of aromatic compounds under the low-concentration sulphate conditions. Under influent conditions of benzoate at 50 mM-chemical oxygen demand (COD) and sulphate at 15 mM, magnetite promoted benzoate degradation (77.1% vs 56.3%), while the effluent sulphate concentration was slightly higher than that without magnetite (1.6 mM vs 0.7 mM), inconsistent with functional gene prediction that both sulphate respiration and sulphur compound respiration were relatively more active in the presence of magnetite. Remarkably, X-ray diffraction showed that, signal related to Fe3O4 faded away and finally was replaced by FeSO4 and FeS, indicating that magnetite participated in benzoate degradation coupled to sulphate reduction via dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction. Further X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that, signal related to S0 was only detected with magnetite, suggesting the possibility of re-oxidation of sulphide to elemental sulphur coupled to Fe(III) reduction. This was further supported by the increase in abundance of Desulfuromonas acetexigens capable of growing on Fe(III). In addition, magnetite specially enriched the chemolithotrophic sulphur-disproportionating microbes, Desulfovibrio aminophilus, which might proceed the disproportionation of elemental sulphur to sulphate and sulphide to achieve a sulphur cycle for benzoate degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
| | - Chunlei Dong
- School of Ocean Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Panjin 124221, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Wenqi Nie
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Mingwei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Cheng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Lianfu Liang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China.
| | - Yaobin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Dalian University of Technology), Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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Malik L, Hedrich S. Ferric Iron Reduction in Extreme Acidophiles. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:818414. [PMID: 35095822 PMCID: PMC8790237 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.818414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biochemical processes are a key element of natural cycles occurring in the environment and enabling life on earth. With regard to microbially catalyzed iron transformation, research predominantly has focused on iron oxidation in acidophiles, whereas iron reduction played a minor role. Microbial conversion of ferric to ferrous iron has however become more relevant in recent years. While there are several reviews on neutrophilic iron reducers, this article summarizes the research on extreme acidophilic iron reducers. After the first reports of dissimilatory iron reduction by acidophilic, chemolithoautotrophic Acidithiobacillus strains and heterotrophic Acidiphilium species, many other prokaryotes were shown to reduce iron as part of their metabolism. Still, little is known about the exact mechanisms of iron reduction in extreme acidophiles. Initially, hypotheses and postulations for the occurring mechanisms relied on observations of growth behavior or predictions based on the genome. By comparing genomes of well-studied neutrophilic with acidophilic iron reducers (e.g., Ferroglobus placidus and Sulfolobus spp.), it became clear that the electron transport for iron reduction proceeds differently in acidophiles. Moreover, transcriptomic investigations indicated an enzymatically-mediated process in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans using respiratory chain components of the iron oxidation in reverse. Depending on the strain of At. ferrooxidans, further mechanisms were postulated, e.g., indirect iron reduction by hydrogen sulfide, which may form by disproportionation of elemental sulfur. Alternative scenarios include Hip, a high potential iron-sulfur protein, and further cytochromes. Apart from the anaerobic iron reduction mechanisms, sulfur-oxidizing acidithiobacilli have been shown to mediate iron reduction at low pH (< 1.3) under aerobic conditions. This presumably non-enzymatic process may be attributed to intermediates formed during sulfur/tetrathionate and/or hydrogen oxidation and has already been successfully applied for the reductive bioleaching of laterites. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date overview on ferric iron reduction by acidophiles. The importance of this process in anaerobic habitats will be demonstrated as well as its potential for application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise Malik
- Research Group Biohydrometallurgy and Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- Research Group Biohydrometallurgy and Microbiology, Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
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Jung H, Inaba Y, Banta S. Genetic engineering of the acidophilic chemolithoautotroph Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:677-692. [PMID: 34794837 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
There are several natural and anthropomorphic environments where iron- and/or sulfur-oxidizing bacteria thrive in extremely acidic conditions. These acidophilic chemolithautotrophs play important roles in biogeochemical iron and sulfur cycles, are critical catalysts for industrial metal bioleaching operations, and have underexplored potential in future biotechnological applications. However, their unique growth conditions complicate the development of genetic techniques. Over the past few decades genetic tools have been successfully developed for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, which serves as a model organism that exhibits both iron- and sulfur-oxidizing capabilities. Conjugal transfer of plasmids has enabled gene overexpression, gene knockouts, and some preliminary metabolic engineering. We highlight the development of genetic systems and recent genetic engineering of A. ferrooxidans, and discuss future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejung Jung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Yuta Inaba
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA.
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10
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Newsome L, Falagán C. The Microbiology of Metal Mine Waste: Bioremediation Applications and Implications for Planetary Health. GEOHEALTH 2021; 5:e2020GH000380. [PMID: 34632243 PMCID: PMC8490943 DOI: 10.1029/2020gh000380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Mine wastes pollute the environment with metals and metalloids in toxic concentrations, causing problems for humans and wildlife. Microorganisms colonize and inhabit mine wastes, and can influence the environmental mobility of metals through metabolic activity, biogeochemical cycling and detoxification mechanisms. In this article we review the microbiology of the metals and metalloids most commonly associated with mine wastes: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc. We discuss the molecular mechanisms by which bacteria, archaea, and fungi interact with contaminant metals and the consequences for metal fate in the environment, focusing on long-term field studies of metal-impacted mine wastes where possible. Metal contamination can decrease the efficiency of soil functioning and essential element cycling due to the need for microbes to expend energy to maintain and repair cells. However, microbial communities are able to tolerate and adapt to metal contamination, particularly when the contaminant metals are essential elements that are subject to homeostasis or have a close biochemical analog. Stimulating the development of microbially reducing conditions, for example in constructed wetlands, is beneficial for remediating many metals associated with mine wastes. It has been shown to be effective at low pH, circumneutral and high pH conditions in the laboratory and at pilot field-scale. Further demonstration of this technology at full field-scale is required, as is more research to optimize bioremediation and to investigate combined remediation strategies. Microbial activity has the potential to mitigate the impacts of metal mine wastes, and therefore lessen the impact of this pollution on planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Newsome
- Camborne School of Mines and Environment and Sustainability InstituteUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | - Carmen Falagán
- Camborne School of Mines and Environment and Sustainability InstituteUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
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11
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Kotsyurbenko OR, Cordova JA, Belov AA, Cheptsov VS, Kölbl D, Khrunyk YY, Kryuchkova MO, Milojevic T, Mogul R, Sasaki S, Słowik GP, Snytnikov V, Vorobyova EA. Exobiology of the Venusian Clouds: New Insights into Habitability through Terrestrial Models and Methods of Detection. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:1186-1205. [PMID: 34255549 PMCID: PMC9545807 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The search for life beyond Earth has focused on Mars and the icy moons Europa and Enceladus, all of which are considered a safe haven for life due to evidence of current or past water. The surface of Venus, on the other hand, has extreme conditions that make it a nonhabitable environment to life as we know it. This is in contrast, however, to its cloud layer, which, while still an extreme environment, may prove to be a safe haven for some extreme forms of life similar to extremophiles on Earth. We consider the venusian clouds a habitable environment based on the presence of (1) a solvent for biochemical reactions, (2) appropriate physicochemical conditions, (3) available energy, and (4) biologically relevant elements. The diversity of extreme microbial ecosystems on Earth has allowed us to identify terrestrial chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms that may be analogs to putative venusian organisms. Here, we hypothesize and describe biological processes that may be performed by such organisms in the venusian clouds. To detect putative venusian organisms, we describe potential biosignature detection methods, which include metal-microbial interactions and optical methods. Finally, we describe currently available technology that can potentially be used for modeling and simulation experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg R. Kotsyurbenko
- Yugra State University, The Institute of Oil and Gas, School of Ecology, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russian Federation
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds, UK
| | - Jaime A. Cordova
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrey A. Belov
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds, UK
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir S. Cheptsov
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds, UK
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Denise Kölbl
- Space Biochemistry Group, Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yuliya Y. Khrunyk
- Department of Heat Treatment and Physics of Metal, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
- M.N. Mikheev Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
| | - Margarita O. Kryuchkova
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds, UK
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Tetyana Milojevic
- Space Biochemistry Group, Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rakesh Mogul
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Satoshi Sasaki
- School of Biosciences and Biotechnology/School of Health Sciences, Tokyo University of Technology, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Grzegorz P. Słowik
- Institute of Materials and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Valery Snytnikov
- Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Elena A. Vorobyova
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds, UK
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow, Russian Federation
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12
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Nasiri SS, Sarabi M, Fatemi F, Dini S. Investigating the rus and petI operon expression patterns in exposed Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 to different doses of gamma irradiation. Appl Radiat Isot 2021; 177:109911. [PMID: 34481316 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The bioleaching process is developing as an economic and successful biotechnology method in the metallurgy industry. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is one of the most important bacteria involved in uranium bioleaching which converts insoluble U4+ to soluble U6+ by oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ using several periplasmic proteins encoded by the genes in rus and petI operons in its electron transport pathway. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to consider the expression of these genes through exposed A. ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 to γ-ray in 17 different doses targeting uranium extraction yield. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 was irradiated by gamma rays at 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 300, 450, 600, 750 Gy and 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kGy doses. Moreover, the Eh value of 9k culture media was measured as special screening criteria to select the four treatments. The selected bacteria were cultured in 9k media, containing 50% uranium ore powder in the bioleaching process. Then, the value of pH & Eh of culture media, Fe2+ and uranium concentrations in 4, 8 and 13 day's period of incubation were measured. In followings, the expression levels of cyc1, cyc2, rus, coxB, petA, petB, petC and cycA genes at the end of each period were investigated by real-time PCR. Overall, all samples demonstrated a decrease in pH value and Fe2+ concentration and an increase in Eh value and U concentration in time intervals. The gamma irradiation in given doses raised the expression levels of all genes encoded in rus and petI operons, except petB gene during the bioleaching process, although, it had no effect either on the pH, Eh values or on Fe2+ and uranium concentrations. This result implies that during the oxidation of ferrous iron and formation of Jarosite sediment, the decreasing trend of pH and the increasing trend of Eh occurred in all samples. However, the differences in expression of the genes of rus and petI operons in the samples did not have an effect on uranium extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sheikh Nasiri
- Radiation Application Development Company, AEOI, Tehran, Iran; Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Sarabi
- Radiation Application Development Company, AEOI, Tehran, Iran; Department of Biology, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Fatemi
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology, Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Salome Dini
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
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13
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Blake RC, Nautiyal A, Smith KA, Walton NN, Pendleton B, Wang Z. Ferrimicrobium acidiphilum Exchanges Electrons With a Platinum Electrode via a Cytochrome With Reduced Absorbance Maxima at 448 and 605 nm. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:705187. [PMID: 34381433 PMCID: PMC8350767 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.705187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferrimicrobium acidiphilum is a Gram-positive member of the Actinobacteria phylum that can respire aerobically or anaerobically with soluble Fe(II) or Fe(III), respectively, in sulfuric acid at pH 1.5. Cyclic voltammetry measurements using intact F. acidiphilum at pH 1.5 produced fully reversible voltammograms that were highly reproducible. The maximum current observed with the anodic peak was considerably less than was the maximum current observed with the cathodic peak. This difference was attributed to the competition between the platinum electrode and the soluble oxygen for the available electrons that were introduced by the cathodic wave into this facultative aerobic organism. The standard reduction potential of the intact organism was determined to be 786 mV vs. the standard hydrogen electrode, slightly more positive than that of 735 mV that was determined for soluble iron at pH 1.5 using the same apparatus. Chronocoulometry measurements conducted at different cell densities revealed that the intact organism remained in close proximity to the working electrode during the measurement, whereas soluble ionic iron did not. When the cyclic voltammetry of intact F. acidiphilum was monitored using an integrating cavity absorption meter, the only small changes in absorbance that were detected were consistent with the participation of a cellular cytochrome with reduced absorbance peaks at 448 and 605 nm. The cytochrome that participated in the exchange of electrons between the intact organism and extracellular solid electrodes like platinum was the same cytochrome whose oxidation was previously shown to be rate-limiting when the organism respired aerobically on extracellular soluble iron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Blake
- Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Amit Nautiyal
- Department of Chemistry, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Kayla A Smith
- Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Noelle N Walton
- Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Brealand Pendleton
- Division of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, NY, United States
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14
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Inaba Y, Kernan T, West AC, Banta S. Dispersion of sulfur creates a valuable new growth medium formulation that enables earlier sulfur oxidation in relation to iron oxidation in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans cultures. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:3225-3238. [PMID: 34086346 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is an acidophilic chemolithoautotroph that is commonly reported to exhibit diauxic population growth behavior where ferrous iron is oxidized before elemental sulfur when both are available, despite the higher energy content of sulfur. We have discovered sulfur dispersion formulations that enables sulfur oxidation before ferrous iron oxidation. The oxidation of dispersed sulfur can lower the culture pH within days below the range where aerobic ferrous iron oxidation can occur. Thus, ferric iron reduction can be observed quickly which had previously been reported over extended incubation periods with untreated sulfur. Therefore, we demonstrate that this substrate utilization pattern is strongly dependent on the cell loading in relation to sulfur concentration, sulfur surface hydrophobicity, and the pH of the culture. Our dispersed sulfur formulation, lig-sulfur, can be used to support the rapid antibiotic selection of plasmid-transformed cells, which is not possible in liquid cultures where ferrous iron is the main source of energy for these acidophiles. Furthermore, we find that media containing lig-sulfur supports higher production of green fluorescent protein compared to media containing ferrous iron. The use of dispersed sulfur is a valuable new tool for the development of engineered A. ferrooxidans strains and it provides a new method to control iron and sulfur oxidation behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Inaba
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Timothy Kernan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Alan C West
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA
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15
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Zhao J, Li F, Cao Y, Zhang X, Chen T, Song H, Wang Z. Microbial extracellular electron transfer and strategies for engineering electroactive microorganisms. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 53:107682. [PMID: 33326817 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) are ubiquitous in nature and have attracted considerable attention as they can be used for energy recovery and environmental remediation via their extracellular electron transfer (EET) capabilities. Although the EET mechanisms of Shewanella and Geobacter have been rigorously investigated and are well characterized, much less is known about the EET mechanisms of other microorganisms. For EAMs, efficient EET is crucial for the sustainable economic development of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs). Currently, the low efficiency of EET remains a key factor in limiting the development of BESs. In this review, we focus on the EET mechanisms of different microorganisms, (i.e., bacteria, fungi, and archaea). In addition, we describe in detail three engineering strategies for improving the EET ability of EAMs: (1) enhancing transmembrane electron transport via cytochrome protein channels; (2) accelerating electron transport via electron shuttle synthesis and transmission; and (3) promoting the microbe-electrode interface reaction via regulating biofilm formation. At the end of this review, we look to the future, with an emphasis on the cross-disciplinary integration of systems biology and synthetic biology to build high-performance EAM systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Zhao
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), SynBioResearch Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Li
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), SynBioResearch Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingxiu Cao
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), SynBioResearch Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinbo Zhang
- Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, Department of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Chen
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), SynBioResearch Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Song
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), SynBioResearch Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), SynBioResearch Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Kucera J, Lochman J, Bouchal P, Pakostova E, Mikulasek K, Hedrich S, Janiczek O, Mandl M, Johnson DB. A Model of Aerobic and Anaerobic Metabolism of Hydrogen in the Extremophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:610836. [PMID: 33329503 PMCID: PMC7735108 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.610836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen can serve as an electron donor for chemolithotrophic acidophiles, especially in the deep terrestrial subsurface and geothermal ecosystems. Nevertheless, the current knowledge of hydrogen utilization by mesophilic acidophiles is minimal. A multi-omics analysis was applied on Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans growing on hydrogen, and a respiratory model was proposed. In the model, [NiFe] hydrogenases oxidize hydrogen to two protons and two electrons. The electrons are used to reduce membrane-soluble ubiquinone to ubiquinol. Genetically associated iron-sulfur proteins mediate electron relay from the hydrogenases to the ubiquinone pool. Under aerobic conditions, reduced ubiquinol transfers electrons to either cytochrome aa 3 oxidase via cytochrome bc 1 complex and cytochrome c 4 or the alternate directly to cytochrome bd oxidase, resulting in proton efflux and reduction of oxygen. Under anaerobic conditions, reduced ubiquinol transfers electrons to outer membrane cytochrome c (ferrireductase) via cytochrome bc 1 complex and a cascade of electron transporters (cytochrome c 4, cytochrome c 552, rusticyanin, and high potential iron-sulfur protein), resulting in proton efflux and reduction of ferric iron. The proton gradient generated by hydrogen oxidation maintains the membrane potential and allows the generation of ATP and NADH. These results further clarify the role of extremophiles in biogeochemical processes and their impact on the composition of the deep terrestrial subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Kucera
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Lochman
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Pavel Bouchal
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Eva Pakostova
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Kamil Mikulasek
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno, Czechia
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- Institute of Biosciences, Technische Universität (TU) Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Oldrich Janiczek
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martin Mandl
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - D Barrie Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
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17
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Ayala-Muñoz D, Burgos WD, Sánchez-España J, Couradeau E, Falagán C, Macalady JL. Metagenomic and Metatranscriptomic Study of Microbial Metal Resistance in an Acidic Pit Lake. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8091350. [PMID: 32899650 PMCID: PMC7563247 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cueva de la Mora (CM) is an acidic, meromictic pit lake in the Iberian Pyrite Belt characterized by extremely high metal(loid) concentrations and strong gradients in oxygen, metal, and nutrient concentrations. We hypothesized that geochemical variations with depth would result in differences in community composition and in metal resistance strategies among active microbial populations. We also hypothesized that metal resistance gene (MRG) expression would correlate with toxicity levels for dissolved metal species in the lake. Water samples were collected in the upper oxic layer, chemocline, and deep anoxic layer of the lake for shotgun metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing. Metagenomic analyses revealed dramatic differences in the composition of the microbial communities with depth, consistent with changing geochemistry. Based on relative abundance of taxa identified in each metagenome, Eukaryotes (predominantly Coccomyxa) dominated the upper layer, while Archaea (predominantly Thermoplasmatales) dominated the deep layer, and a combination of Bacteria and Eukaryotes were abundant at the chemocline. We compared metal resistance across communities using a curated list of protein-coding MRGs with KEGG Orthology identifiers (KOs) and found that there were broad differences in the metal resistance strategies (e.g., intracellular metal accumulation) expressed by Eukaryotes, Bacteria, and Archaea. Although normalized abundances of MRG and MRG expression were generally higher in the deep layer, expression of metal-specific genes was not strongly related to variations in specific metal concentrations, especially for Cu and As. We also compared MRG potential and expression in metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) from the deep layer, where metal concentrations are highest. Consistent with previous work showing differences in metal resistance mechanisms even at the strain level, MRG expression patterns varied strongly among MAG populations from the same depth. Some MAG populations expressed very few MRG known to date, suggesting that novel metal resistance strategies remain to be discovered in uncultivated acidophiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Ayala-Muñoz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - William D. Burgos
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA;
| | - Javier Sánchez-España
- Geochemistry and Sustainable Mining Unit, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), Calera 1, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Estelle Couradeau
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, 450 ASI, University Park, PA 16802, USA;
| | - Carmen Falagán
- Environment & Sustainability Institute and Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK;
| | - Jennifer L. Macalady
- Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 211 Deike Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA;
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18
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Gao XY, Fu CA, Hao L, Gu XF, Wang R, Lin JQ, Liu XM, Pang X, Zhang CJ, Lin JQ, Chen LX. The substrate-dependent regulatory effects of the AfeI/R system in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans reveals the novel regulation strategy of quorum sensing in acidophiles. Environ Microbiol 2020; 23:757-773. [PMID: 32656931 PMCID: PMC7984328 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A LuxI/R‐like quorum sensing (QS) system (AfeI/R) has been reported in the acidophilic and chemoautotrophic Acidithiobacillus spp. However, the function of AfeI/R remains unclear because of the difficulties in the genetic manipulation of these bacteria. Here, we constructed different afeI mutants of the sulfur‐ and iron‐oxidizer A. ferrooxidans, identified the N‐acyl homoserine lactones (acyl‐HSLs) synthesized by AfeI, and determined the regulatory effects of AfeI/R on genes expression, extracellular polymeric substance synthesis, energy metabolism, cell growth and population density of A. ferrooxidans in different energy substrates. Acyl‐HSLs‐mediated distinct regulation strategies were employed to influence bacterial metabolism and cell growth of A. ferrooxidans cultivated in either sulfur or ferrous iron. Based on these findings, an energy‐substrate‐dependent regulation mode of AfeI/R in A. ferrooxidans was illuminated that AfeI/R could produce different types of acyl‐HSLs and employ specific acyl‐HSLs to regulate specific genes in response to different energy substrates. The discovery of the AfeI/R‐mediated substrate‐dependent regulatory mode expands our knowledge on the function of QS system in the chemoautotrophic sulfur‐ and ferrous iron‐oxidizing bacteria, and provides new insights in understanding energy metabolism modulation, population control, bacteria‐driven bioleaching process, and the coevolution between the acidophiles and their acidic habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Yan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Chang-Ai Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Likai Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Lincheng West Road, Guiyang, 550081, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Xiu-Feng Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jian-Qiang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xiang-Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xin Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Cheng-Jia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jian-Qun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Lin-Xu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
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19
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Yang Y, Chen S, Wang B, Wen X, Li H, Zeng RJ. Effect of ferric ions on the anaerobic bio-dissolution of jarosites by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 710:136334. [PMID: 32050370 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Large amounts of jarosites are produced during zinc hydrometallurgy and bioleaching, as well as in acid sulfate soils and acid mine drainage environments. As such, understanding the behavior of jarosite dissolution is important for analyzing the iron cycle process and promoting the control and treatment of jarosites. In general, soluble ferric ions and jarosites coexist in acid environments; however, the relationship between soluble ferric ions and jarosites under anaerobic reductive conditions is still not well understood. In this study, the effect of adding Fe3+ on the promotion of the bio-dissolution of jarosites using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is investigated. With the addition of 12 mM Fe3+, the efficiency and maximum rate of jarosite bio-dissolution were found to reach 84.1% and 2.66 mmol/(L·d), respectively. The addition of Fe3+ at concentrations higher than 12 mM did not further improve the jarosite bio-dissolution. These results indicate that the mechanisms underlying these improvements include: (i) the reduction of the zeta potential due to the compression of the diffusion layer of the electric double layer by Fe3+; (ii) bacteria growth enhancement and the stabilization of the pH of cultures via the reduction of soluble Fe3+. Based on these observations, this study serves to promote the development of jarosite bio-dissolution using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and challenges the idea that soluble Fe3+ suppresses the bio-dissolution reaction of solid Fe3+ substances such as jarosite when soluble ferric ions and jarosite coexist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuankun Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Shu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Xinyu Wen
- Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Hanke Li
- Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Raymond Jianxiong Zeng
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Centre of Wastewater Resource Recovery, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China.
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20
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Li J, Tong L, Xia Y, Yang H, Sand W, Xie H, Lan B, Zhong S, Auwalu A. Microbial synergy and stoichiometry in heap biooxidation of low-grade porphyry arsenic-bearing gold ore. Extremophiles 2020; 24:355-364. [PMID: 32108913 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-020-01160-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Heap biooxidation method was used to evaluate the availability of Paodaoling gold ore in Anhui province, China. 15,000 tons of gold ores (≤ 10 mm in diameter) were bioxidized under mesophilic conditions. Under the synergistic effect of microbial community, arsenic and sulfur were oxidized by 42% and 38% after 80 days. Relatively, leaching of gold was improved from 36 to 78% after heap biooxidation. The sequencing results showed there were 28 operational taxonomic units identified the microbial community in the heap. The main genera were Acidithiobacillus, Ferroplasma, Acidiferrobacter and Nitrospira. According to stoichiometry, the content of microorganisms with various functions tended to be balanced. The biomass production rate was 10 g/s, the CO2 fixation rate was 18 g/s, and the oxygen consumption rate was 60 g/s. This study provides a good basis for the further design and application of heap biooxidation technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiafeng Li
- School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China
| | - Linlin Tong
- School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China.
| | - Yu Xia
- School of Chemical and Environmental, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hongying Yang
- School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China
| | - Wolfgang Sand
- Biofilm Centre, Aquatische Biotechnologie, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Hongzhen Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Low-Grade Refractory Gold Ores, Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd, Shanghang, 364200, China
| | - Bibo Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Low-Grade Refractory Gold Ores, Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd, Shanghang, 364200, China
| | - Shuiping Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Low-Grade Refractory Gold Ores, Zijin Mining Group Co., Ltd, Shanghang, 364200, China
| | - Ali Auwalu
- School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China
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21
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Novel Strategy for Improvement of the Bioleaching Efficiency of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Based on the AfeI/R Quorum Sensing System. MINERALS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/min10030222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is an acidophilic and chemolithotrophic sulfur- and iron-oxidizing bacterium that has been widely used in the bioleaching process for extracting metals. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are essential for bacteria-ore interactions, and the regulation of EPS synthesis could be an important way of influencing the efficiency of the bioleaching process. Therefore, exploring and utilizing the regulatory pathways of EPS synthesis to improve the bacterial bioleaching capability have posed a challenge in the study and application of bioleaching bacteria. Here, several engineering strains were constructed using genetic manipulation methods. And we revealed the regulatory function of the AfeI/R quorum sensing (QS) system in EPS synthesis and biofilm formation of A. ferrooxidans, and the AfeI/R-mediated EPS synthesis could influence bacteria-substrate interactions and the efficiency of bioleaching. Finally, an AfeI/R-mediated bioleaching model was proposed to illustrate the role of QS system in this process. This study provided new insights into and clues for developing highly efficient bioleaching bacteria and modulating the bioleaching process.
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Yang YK, Chen S, Yang DS, Zhang W, Wang HJ, Zeng RJ. Anaerobic reductive bio-dissolution of jarosites by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans using hydrogen as electron donor. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 686:869-877. [PMID: 31200307 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Jarosites are secondary iron-hydroxyl-sulfate minerals and widely occur in bioleaching, acid mine drainage, and acid sulfate soil environments. Anaerobic reductive dissolution of jarosites is yet to be methodically examined. In this study, we explored the bio-dissolution of jarosites by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (At. ferrooxidans) by using hydrogen in batch experiments. After bio-dissolution by At. ferrooxidans for 22 d, ferrous ion concentrations reached 10.07 mM (biologically produced jarosites), 7.68 mM (potassium jarosite), and 1.45 mM (lead jarosite). Strengthening the dissolved jarosites by decreasing the initial pH (pH < 2.0) or by adding citric acid (1, 5, and 10 mM) was inefficient for bio-dissolution owing to restricted cellular activity. The pathways of bio-dissolution should include direct contact bio-dissolution and indirect bio-dissolution and relate to the solubility of jarosites in a bio-dissolution system. The results demonstrate that anaerobic reductive bio-dissolution of jarosites by At. ferrooxidans using hydrogen shows potential. This study also provides opportunities to contribute to the development of the bioleaching field via the aerobic/anaerobic cycle using a single strain to control and reuse jarosites in situ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Kun Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Shu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Resource Recycle, Ministry of Education, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Hua-Jie Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Raymond Jianxiong Zeng
- CAS Key Laboratory for Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Centre of Wastewater Resource Recovery, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China.
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Osorio H, Mettert E, Kiley P, Dopson M, Jedlicki E, Holmes DS. Identification and Unusual Properties of the Master Regulator FNR in the Extreme Acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1642. [PMID: 31379789 PMCID: PMC6659574 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to conserve energy in the presence or absence of oxygen provides a metabolic versatility that confers an advantage in natural ecosystems. The switch between alternative electron transport systems is controlled by the fumarate nitrate reduction transcription factor (FNR) that senses oxygen via an oxygen-sensitive [4Fe-4S]2+ iron-sulfur cluster. Under O2 limiting conditions, FNR plays a key role in allowing bacteria to transition from aerobic to anaerobic lifestyles. This is thought to occur via transcriptional activation of genes involved in anaerobic respiratory pathways and by repression of genes involved in aerobic energy production. The Proteobacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a model species for extremely acidophilic microorganisms that are capable of aerobic and anaerobic growth on elemental sulfur coupled to oxygen and ferric iron reduction, respectively. In this study, an FNR-like protein (FNRAF) was discovered in At. ferrooxidans that exhibits a primary amino acid sequence and major motifs and domains characteristic of the FNR family of proteins, including an effector binding domain with at least three of the four cysteines known to coordinate an [4Fe-4S]2+ center, a dimerization domain, and a DNA binding domain. Western blotting with antibodies against Escherichia coli FNR (FNREC) recognized FNRAF. FNRAF was able to drive expression from the FNR-responsive E. coli promoter PnarG, suggesting that it is functionally active as an FNR-like protein. Upon air exposure, FNRAF demonstrated an unusual lack of sensitivity to oxygen compared to the archetypal FNREC. Comparison of the primary amino acid sequence of FNRAF with that of other natural and mutated FNRs, including FNREC, coupled with an analysis of the predicted tertiary structure of FNRAF using the crystal structure of the related FNR from Aliivibrio fisheri as a template revealed a number of amino acid changes that could potentially stabilize FNRAF in the presence of oxygen. These include a truncated N terminus and amino acid changes both around the putative Fe-S cluster coordinating cysteines and also in the dimer interface. Increased O2 stability could allow At. ferrooxidans to survive in environments with fluctuating O2 concentrations, providing an evolutionary advantage in natural, and engineered environments where oxygen gradients shape the bacterial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Osorio
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Erin Mettert
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Patricia Kiley
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Mark Dopson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Eugenia Jedlicki
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - David S Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Universidad San Sebastian, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
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Hottenstein JD, Neilson JW, Gil-Loaiza J, Root RA, White SA, Chorover J, Maier RM. Soil Microbiome Dynamics During Pyritic Mine Tailing Phytostabilization: Understanding Microbial Bioindicators of Soil Acidification. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1211. [PMID: 31275251 PMCID: PMC6593306 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Challenges to the reclamation of pyritic mine tailings arise from in situ acid generation that severely constrains the growth of natural revegetation. While acid mine drainage (AMD) microbial communities are well-studied under highly acidic conditions, fewer studies document the dynamics of microbial communities that generate acid from pyritic material under less acidic conditions that can allow establishment and support of plant growth. This research characterizes the taxonomic composition dynamics of microbial communities present during a 6-year compost-assisted phytostabilization field study in extremely acidic pyritic mine tailings. A complementary microcosm experiment was performed to identify successional community populations that enable the acidification process across a pH gradient. Taxonomic profiles of the microbial populations in both the field study and microcosms reveal shifts in microbial communities that play pivotal roles in facilitating acidification during the transition between moderately and highly acidic conditions. The potential co-occurrence of organoheterotrophic and lithoautotrophic energy metabolisms during acid generation suggests the importance of both groups in facilitating acidification. Taken together, this research suggests that key microbial populations associated with pH transitions could be used as bioindicators for either sustained future plant growth or for acid generation conditions that inhibit further plant growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Hottenstein
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Julie W Neilson
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Juliana Gil-Loaiza
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Robert A Root
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Scott A White
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Jon Chorover
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Raina M Maier
- Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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Singh VK, Singh AL, Singh R, Kumar A. Iron oxidizing bacteria: insights on diversity, mechanism of iron oxidation and role in management of metal pollution. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s42398-018-0024-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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26
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Tufo AE, Porzionato NF, Curutchet G. Effects of pollution and bioleaching process on the mineral composition and texture of contaminated sediments of the Reconquista River, Argentina. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:21368-21384. [PMID: 29090439 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0484-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we report on the structural and textural changes in fluvial sediments from Reconquista River´s basin, Argentina, due to processes of contamination with organic matter and remediation by bioleaching. The original uncontaminated matrix showed quartz and phyllosilicates as the main primary mineral constituents and phases of interstratified illite-montmorillonite as secondary minerals. It was found that in contaminated sediments, the presence of organic matter in high concentration causes changes in the specific surface area, particle size distribution, size and distribution of micro and meso, and the morphology of the particles with respect to the uncontaminated sediment. After the bioleaching process, there were even greater changes in these parameters at the level of secondary mineral formation and the appearance of nanoparticles, which were confirmed by SEM. Especially, we found the formation of cementing substances such as gypsum, promoting the formation of macroporous aggregates and the weathering of clay components. Our results indicate that the bioleaching not only decreases the content of metals but also favors the formation of a material with improved characteristics for potential future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana E Tufo
- Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, and Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Campus Miguelete 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Natalia F Porzionato
- Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, and Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Campus Miguelete 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Curutchet
- Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, and Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Campus Miguelete 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Rivadavia, 1917, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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27
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An electrochemical sensing approach for scouting microbial chemolithotrophic metabolisms. Bioelectrochemistry 2018; 123:125-136. [PMID: 29747131 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The present study was aimed to test an electrochemical sensing approach for the detection of an active chemolithotrophic metabolism (and therefore the presence of chemolithotrophic microorganisms) by using the corrosion of pyrite by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans as a model. Different electrochemical techniques were combined with adhesion studies and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experiments were performed in presence or absence of A. ferrooxidans and without or with ferrous iron in the culture medium (0 and 0.5 g L-1, respectively). Electrochemical parameters were in agreement with voltammetric studies and SEM showing that it is possible to distinguish between an abiotically-induced corrosion process (AIC) and a microbiologically-induced corrosion process (MIC). The results show that our approach not only allows the detection of chemolithotrophic activity of A. ferrooxidans but also can characterize the corrosion process. This may have different kind of applications, from those related to biomining to life searching missions in other planetary bodies.
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Norris PR, Laigle L, Slade S. Cytochromes in anaerobic growth of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Microbiology (Reading) 2018; 164:383-394. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paul R. Norris
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Present address: Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Ludovic Laigle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Present address: The Native Antigen Company, Langford Locks, Kidlington, Oxford, OX5 1LH, UK
| | - Susan Slade
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Present address: Waters Corporation, Stamford Avenue, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, SK9 4AX, UK
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29
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Song Y, Wang H, Yang J, Zhou L, Zhou J, Cao Y. Evaluation and optimization of a new microbial enhancement plug-flow ditch system for the pretreatment of acid mine drainage: semi-pilot test. RSC Adv 2018; 8:1039-1046. [PMID: 35538942 PMCID: PMC9076946 DOI: 10.1039/c7ra10765j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) is typically characterized by low pH, a high concentration of sulfate and dissolved heavy metals. Therefore, it is of practical significance to promote the transformation of soluble Fe and SO42− into iron hydroxysulfate minerals by biomineralization of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. This enhances the lime neutralization efficiency of AMD by reducing the production of ferric hydroxide and waste gypsum. In this study, a new microbial enhanced plug-flow ditch reaction system was developed for the pretreatment of AMD on a semi-pilot scale. System stability under different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) was examined and the effects of microbe enhancement-lime neutralization technology and direct lime neutralization technology were compared. The bio-oxidation efficiency of Fe2+ (5 g L−1) reached 100% in some parts of the system when HRT was 3 and 2 days, and the time taken to reach steady state was 6 and 4 days, respectively. When the HRT was 1 day, the reaction system had operated for 4 days before the equilibrium was lost. At the optimum HRT (2 days) and after the system was stable, the average precipitation rate of total Fe was 53.62% and the average removal rate of As(iii) was 17.27%. Following microbial enhanced pretreatment, the amount of lime required and waste residues generated for AMD neutralization decreased by 75.00% and 85.25%, respectively. This result supports the application of microbial enhancement-lime neutralization passive treatment technology for AMD. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is typically characterized by low pH, a high concentration of sulfate and dissolved heavy metals.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongwei Song
- Department of Environmental Engineering
- School of Information and Safety Engineering
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
- Wuhan 430073
- China
| | - Heru Wang
- Department of Environmental Engineering
- School of Information and Safety Engineering
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
- Wuhan 430073
- China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Environmental Engineering
- School of Information and Safety Engineering
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
- Wuhan 430073
- China
| | - Lixiang Zhou
- Department of Environmental Engineering
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences
- Nanjing Agricultural University
- Nanjing 210095
- China
| | - Jingcheng Zhou
- Department of Environmental Engineering
- School of Information and Safety Engineering
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
- Wuhan 430073
- China
| | - Yanxiao Cao
- Department of Environmental Engineering
- School of Information and Safety Engineering
- Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
- Wuhan 430073
- China
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Sulonen MLK, Lakaniemi AM, Kokko ME, Puhakka JA. The effect of anode potential on bioelectrochemical and electrochemical tetrathionate degradation. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2017; 226:173-180. [PMID: 27997871 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The effect of poised anode potential on electricity production and tetrathionate degradation was studied in two-chamber flow-through electrochemical (ES) and bioelectrochemical systems (BES). The minimum anode potential (vs. Ag/AgCl) for positive current generation was 0.3V in BES and 0.5V in the abiotic ES. The anode potential required to obtain average current density above 70mAm-2 was 0.4V in BES and above 0.7V in ES. ES provided higher coulombic efficiency, but the average tetrathionate degradation rate remained significantly higher in BES (above 110mgL-1d-1) than in the abiotic ES (below 35mgL-1d-1). This study shows that at anode potentials below 0.7V, the electrochemical tetrathionate degradation is only efficient with microbial catalyst and that significantly higher tetrathionate degradation rates can be obtained with bioelectrochemical systems than with electrochemical systems at the tested anode potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira L K Sulonen
- Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Aino-Maija Lakaniemi
- Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland
| | - Marika E Kokko
- Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jaakko A Puhakka
- Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Tampere University of Technology, Tampere, Finland
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Fonti V, Dell'Anno A, Beolchini F. Does bioleaching represent a biotechnological strategy for remediation of contaminated sediments? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 563-564:302-319. [PMID: 27139303 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Bioleaching is a consolidated biotechnology in the mining industry and in bio-hydrometallurgy, where microorganisms mediate the solubilisation of metals and semi-metals from mineral ores and concentrates. Bioleaching also has the potential for ex-situ/on-site remediation of aquatic sediments that are contaminated with metals, which represent a key environmental issue of global concern. By eliminating or reducing (semi-)metal contamination of aquatic sediments, bioleaching may represent an environmentally friendly and low-cost strategy for management of contaminated dredged sediments. Nevertheless, the efficiency of bioleaching in this context is greatly influenced by several abiotic and biotic factors. These factors need to be carefully taken into account before selecting bioleaching as a suitable remediation strategy. Here we review the application of bioleaching for sediment bioremediation, and provide a critical view of the main factors that affect its performance. We also discuss future research needs to improve bioleaching strategies for contaminated aquatic sediments, in view of large-scale applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Fonti
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Antonio Dell'Anno
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesca Beolchini
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131, Ancona, Italy
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Kucera J, Sedo O, Potesil D, Janiczek O, Zdrahal Z, Mandl M. Comparative proteomic analysis of sulfur-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans CCM 4253 cultures having lost the ability to couple anaerobic elemental sulfur oxidation with ferric iron reduction. Res Microbiol 2016; 167:587-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Ruecker A, Schröder C, Byrne J, Weigold P, Behrens S, Kappler A. Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Western Australian Salt Lake Sediments: Implications for Meridiani Planum on Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2016; 16:525-538. [PMID: 27258848 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2015.1429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Hypersaline lakes are characteristic for Western Australia and display a rare combination of geochemical and mineralogical properties that make these lakes potential analogues for past conditions on Mars. In our study, we focused on the geochemistry and mineralogy of Lake Orr and Lake Whurr. While both lakes are poor in organic carbon (<1%), the sediments' pH values differ and range from 3.8 to 4.8 in Lake Orr and from 5.4 to 6.3 in Lake Whurr sediments. Lake Whurr sediments were dominated by orange and red sediment zones in which the main Fe minerals were identified as hematite, goethite, and tentatively jarosite and pyrite. Lake Orr was dominated by brownish and blackish sediments where the main Fe minerals were goethite and another paramagnetic Fe(III)-phase that could not be identified. Furthermore, a likely secondary Fe(II)-phase was observed in Lake Orr sediments. The mineralogy of these two salt lakes in the sampling area is strongly influenced by events such as flooding, evaporation, and desiccation, processes that explain at least to some extent the observed differences between Lake Orr and Lake Whurr. The iron mineralogy of Lake Whurr sediments and the high salinity make this lake a suitable analogue for Meridiani Planum on Mars, and in particular the tentative identification of pyrite in Lake Whurr sediments has implications for the interpretation of the Fe mineralogy of Meridiani Planum sediments. KEY WORDS Western Australia-Salt lakes-Jarosite-Hematite-Pyrite-Mars analogue. Astrobiology 16, 525-538.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ruecker
- 1 Geomicrobiology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tübingen , Tübingen, Germany
| | - C Schröder
- 2 Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling , Stirling, Scotland, UK
| | - J Byrne
- 1 Geomicrobiology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tübingen , Tübingen, Germany
| | - P Weigold
- 1 Geomicrobiology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tübingen , Tübingen, Germany
| | - S Behrens
- 1 Geomicrobiology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tübingen , Tübingen, Germany
| | - A Kappler
- 1 Geomicrobiology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tübingen , Tübingen, Germany
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Are there multiple mechanisms of anaerobic sulfur oxidation with ferric iron in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ? Res Microbiol 2016; 167:357-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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35
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Florentino AP, Weijma J, Stams AJM, Sánchez-Andrea I. Ecophysiology and Application of Acidophilic Sulfur-Reducing Microorganisms. BIOTECHNOLOGY OF EXTREMOPHILES: 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-13521-2_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
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36
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Falagán C, Johnson DB. Acidithiobacillus ferriphilus sp. nov., a facultatively anaerobic iron- and sulfur-metabolizing extreme acidophile. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015; 66:206-211. [PMID: 26498321 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.000698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Acidithiobacillus includes three species that conserve energy from the oxidation of ferrous iron, as well as reduced sulfur, to support their growth. Previous work, based on multi-locus sequence analysis, identified a fourth group of iron- and sulfur-oxidizing acidithiobacilli as a potential distinct species. Eleven strains of 'Group IV' acidithiobacilli, isolated from different global locations, have been studied. These were all shown to be obligate chemolithotrophs, growing aerobically by coupling the oxidation of ferrous iron or reduced sulfur (but not hydrogen) to molecular oxygen, or anaerobically by the oxidation of reduced sulfur coupled to ferric iron reduction. All strains were mesophilic, although some were also psychrotolerant. Strain variation was also noted in terms of tolerance to extremely low pH and to elevated concentrations of transition metals. One strain was noted to display far greater tolerance to chloride than reported for other iron-oxidizing acidithiobacilli. All of the strains were able to catalyse the oxidative dissolution of pyrite and, on the basis of some of the combined traits of some of the strains examined, it is proposed that these may have niche roles in commercial mineral bioprocessing operations, such as for low temperature bioleaching of polysulfide ores in brackish waters. The name Acidithiobacillus ferriphilus sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the strains described, with the type strain being M20T ( = DSM 100412T = JCM 30830T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Falagán
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
| | - D Barrie Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
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Marrero J, Coto O, Goldmann S, Graupner T, Schippers A. Recovery of Nickel and Cobalt from Laterite Tailings by Reductive Dissolution under Aerobic Conditions Using Acidithiobacillus Species. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:6674-6682. [PMID: 25923144 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Biomining of sulfidic ores has been applied for almost five decades. However, the bioprocessing of oxide ores such as laterites lags commercially behind. Recently, the Ferredox process was proposed to treat limonitic laterite ores by means of anaerobic reductive dissolution (AnRD), which was found to be more effective than aerobic bioleaching by fungi and other bacteria. We show here that the ferric iron reduction mediated by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans can be applied to an aerobic reductive dissolution (AeRD) of nickel laterite tailings. AeRD using a consortium of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans extracted similar amounts of nickel (53-57%) and cobalt (55-60%) in only 7 days as AnRD using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The economic and environmental advantages of AeRD for processing of laterite tailings comprise no requirement for an anoxic atmosphere, 1.8-fold less acid consumption than for AnRD, as well as nickel and cobalt recovered in a ferrous-based pregnant leach solution (PLS), facilitating the subsequent metal recovery. In addition, an aerobic acid regeneration stage is proposed. Therefore, AeRD process development can be considered as environmentally friendly for treating laterites with low operational costs and as an attractive alternative to AnRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Marrero
- †Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hannover, Germany
| | - O Coto
- ‡Laboratory of Metals, Department of Microbiology, University of Havana, Calle 25 e/J e I, Havana, Cuba
| | - S Goldmann
- †Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hannover, Germany
| | - T Graupner
- †Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hannover, Germany
| | - A Schippers
- †Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Stilleweg 2, 30655 Hannover, Germany
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Hou Q, Fang D, Liang J, Zhou L. Significance of oxygen supply in jarosite biosynthesis promoted by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0120966. [PMID: 25807372 PMCID: PMC4373806 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Jarosite [(Na+, K+, NH4+, H3O+)Fe3(SO4)2(OH)6] is an efficient scavenger for trace metals in Fe- and SO42--rich acidic water. During the biosynthesis of jarosite promoted by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, the continuous supply of high oxygen levels is a common practice that results in high costs. To evaluate the function of oxygen in jarosite production by A. ferrooxidans, three groups of batch experiments with different oxygen supply levels (i.e., loading volume percentages of FeSO4 solution of 20%, 40%, and 70% v/v in the flasks), as well as three groups of sealed flask experiments with different limiting oxygen supply conditions (i.e., the solutions were not sealed at the initial stage of the ferrous oxidation reaction by paraffin but were rather sealed at the end of the ferrous oxidation reaction at 48 h), were tested. The formed Fe-precipitates were characterized via X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectral analysis. The results showed that the biosynthesis of jarosite by A. ferrooxidans LX5 could be achieved at a wide range of solution loading volume percentages. The rate and efficiency of the jarosite biosynthesis were poorly correlated with the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the reaction solution. Similar jarosite precipitates, expressed as KFe3 (SO4) 2(OH)6 with Fe/S molar ratios between 1.61 and 1.68, were uniformly formed in unsealed and 48 h sealed flasks. These experimental results suggested that the supply of O2 was only essential in the period of the oxidation of ferrous iron to ferric but was not required in the period of ferric precipitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingjie Hou
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Di Fang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Jianru Liang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Lixiang Zhou
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- * E-mail:
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Justice NB, Norman A, Brown CT, Singh A, Thomas BC, Banfield JF. Comparison of environmental and isolate Sulfobacillus genomes reveals diverse carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and hydrogen metabolisms. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:1107. [PMID: 25511286 PMCID: PMC4378227 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-1107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 11/27/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacteria of the genus Sulfobacillus are found worldwide as members of microbial communities that accelerate sulfide mineral dissolution in acid mine drainage environments (AMD), acid-rock drainage environments (ARD), as well as in industrial bioleaching operations. Despite their frequent identification in these environments, their role in biogeochemical cycling is poorly understood. RESULTS Here we report draft genomes of five species of the Sulfobacillus genus (AMDSBA1-5) reconstructed by cultivation-independent sequencing of biofilms sampled from the Richmond Mine (Iron Mountain, CA). Three of these species (AMDSBA2, AMDSBA3, and AMDSBA4) have no cultured representatives while AMDSBA1 is a strain of S. benefaciens, and AMDSBA5 a strain of S. thermosulfidooxidans. We analyzed the diversity of energy conservation and central carbon metabolisms for these genomes and previously published Sulfobacillus genomes. Pathways of sulfur oxidation vary considerably across the genus, including the number and type of subunits of putative heterodisulfide reductase complexes likely involved in sulfur oxidation. The number and type of nickel-iron hydrogenase proteins varied across the genus, as does the presence of different central carbon pathways. Only the AMDSBA3 genome encodes a dissimilatory nitrate reducatase and only the AMDSBA5 and S. thermosulfidooxidans genomes encode assimilatory nitrate reductases. Within the genus, AMDSBA4 is unusual in that its electron transport chain includes a cytochrome bc type complex, a unique cytochrome c oxidase, and two distinct succinate dehydrogenase complexes. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results significantly expand our understanding of carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and hydrogen metabolism within the Sulfobacillus genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas B Justice
- />Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- />Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Anders Norman
- />Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- />Section for Infection Microbiology, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Christopher T Brown
- />Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Andrea Singh
- />Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Brian C Thomas
- />Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- />Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
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Río tinto: a geochemical and mineralogical terrestrial analogue of Mars. Life (Basel) 2014; 4:511-34. [PMID: 25370383 PMCID: PMC4206857 DOI: 10.3390/life4030511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Revised: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The geomicrobiological characterization of the water column and sediments of Río Tinto (Huelva, Southwestern Spain) have proven the importance of the iron and the sulfur cycles, not only in generating the extreme conditions of the habitat (low pH, high concentration of toxic heavy metals), but also in maintaining the high level of microbial diversity detected in the basin. It has been proven that the extreme acidic conditions of Río Tinto basin are not the product of 5000 years of mining activity in the area, but the consequence of an active underground bioreactor that obtains its energy from the massive sulfidic minerals existing in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Two drilling projects, MARTE (Mars Astrobiology Research and Technology Experiment) (2003–2006) and IPBSL (Iberian Pyrite Belt Subsurface Life Detection) (2011–2015), were developed and carried out to provide evidence of subsurface microbial activity and the potential resources that support these activities. The reduced substrates and the oxidants that drive the system appear to come from the rock matrix. These resources need only groundwater to launch diverse microbial metabolisms. The similarities between the vast sulfate and iron oxide deposits on Mars and the main sulfide bioleaching products found in the Tinto basin have given Río Tinto the status of a geochemical and mineralogical Mars terrestrial analogue.
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Electroactive bacteria—molecular mechanisms and genetic tools. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:8481-95. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-6005-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Hedrich S, Johnson DB. Aerobic and anaerobic oxidation of hydrogen by acidophilic bacteria. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2013; 349:40-5. [PMID: 24117601 DOI: 10.1111/1574-6968.12290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Revised: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
While many prokaryotic species are known to use hydrogen as an electron donor to support their growth, this trait has only previously been reported for two acidophilic bacteria, Hydrogenobaculum acidophilum (in the presence of reduced sulfur) and Acidithiobacillus (At.) ferrooxidans. To test the hypothesis that hydrogen may be utilized more widely by acidophilic bacteria, 38 strains of acidophilic bacteria, including representatives of 20 designated and four proposed species, were screened for their abilities to grow via the dissimilatory oxidation of hydrogen. Growth was demonstrated in several species of acidophiles that also use other inorganic electron donors (ferrous iron and sulfur) but in none of the obligately heterotrophic species tested. Strains of At. ferrooxidans, At. ferridurans and At. caldus, grew chemolithotrophically on hydrogen, though those of At. thiooxidans and At. ferrivorans did not. Growth was also observed with Sulfobacillus acidophilus, Sb. benefaciens and Sb. thermosulfidooxidans, though not with other iron-oxidizing Firmicutes. Similarly, Acidimicrobium ferrooxidans grew on hydrogen, closely related acidophilic actinobacteria did not. Growth yields of At. ferrooxidans and At. ferridurans grown aerobically on hydrogen (c. 10(10) cells mL(-1) ) were far greater than typically obtained using other electron donors. Several species also grew anaerobically by coupling hydrogen oxidation to the reduction of ferric iron.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Hedrich
- School of Biological Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
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Goltsman DSA, Dasari M, Thomas BC, Shah MB, VerBerkmoes NC, Hettich RL, Banfield JF. New group in the Leptospirillum clade: cultivation-independent community genomics, proteomics, and transcriptomics of the new species "Leptospirillum group IV UBA BS". Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:5384-93. [PMID: 23645189 PMCID: PMC3753937 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00202-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptospirillum spp. are widespread members of acidophilic microbial communities that catalyze ferrous iron oxidation, thereby increasing sulfide mineral dissolution rates. These bacteria play important roles in environmental acidification and are harnessed for bioleaching-based metal recovery. Known members of the Leptospirillum clade of the Nitrospira phylum are Leptospirillum ferrooxidans (group I), Leptospirillum ferriphilum and "Leptospirillum rubarum" (group II), and Leptospirillum ferrodiazotrophum (group III). In the Richmond Mine acid mine drainage (AMD) system, biofilm formation is initiated by L. rubarum; L. ferrodiazotrophum appears in later developmental stages. Here we used community metagenomic data from unusual, thick floating biofilms to identify distinguishing metabolic traits in a rare and uncultivated community member, the new species "Leptospirillum group IV UBA BS." These biofilms typically also contain a variety of Archaea, Actinobacteria, and a few other Leptospirillum spp. The Leptospirillum group IV UBA BS species shares 98% 16S rRNA sequence identity and 70% average amino acid identity between orthologs with its closest relative, L. ferrodiazotrophum. The presence of nitrogen fixation and reverse tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle proteins suggest an autotrophic metabolism similar to that of L. ferrodiazotrophum, while hydrogenase proteins suggest anaerobic metabolism. Community transcriptomic and proteomic analyses demonstrate expression of a multicopper oxidase unique to this species, as well as hydrogenases and core metabolic genes. Results suggest that the Leptospirillum group IV UBA BS species might play important roles in carbon fixation, nitrogen fixation, hydrogen metabolism, and iron oxidation in some acidic environments.
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Progress in bioleaching: fundamentals and mechanisms of bacterial metal sulfide oxidation—part A. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2013; 97:7529-41. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-013-4954-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 309] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Revised: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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Hedrich S, Johnson DB. Acidithiobacillus ferridurans sp. nov., an acidophilic iron-, sulfur- and hydrogen-metabolizing chemolithotrophic gammaproteobacterium. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2013; 63:4018-4025. [PMID: 23710060 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.049759-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Twelve strains of iron-oxidizing acidithiobacilli isolated from acidic sites throughout the world, including some previously shown by multi-locus sequence analyses and DNA-DNA hybridization to comprise a distinct species, were characterized in terms of their physiologies. The bacteria were shown to be obligately chemolithotrophic, acidophilic and mesophilic, and grew in both oxic and anoxic environments, using ferrous iron, reduced sulfur or hydrogen as electron donors and oxygen or ferric iron as electron acceptors. Some of the strains grew at lower pH than those reported for the two recognized iron-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus species, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans. Tolerance of transition metals and aluminium, and also specific rates of iron oxidation and reduction, were more similar to those of A. ferrooxidans (to which the strains are more closely related) than to A. ferrivorans. The name Acidithiobacillus ferridurans sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the 12 strains, with the type strain being JCM 18981(T) ( = ATCC 33020(T)).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Hedrich
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
| | - D Barrie Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, UK
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Anaerobic sulfur metabolism coupled to dissimilatory iron reduction in the extremophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Appl Environ Microbiol 2013; 79:2172-81. [PMID: 23354702 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03057-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene transcription (microarrays) and protein levels (proteomics) were compared in cultures of the acidophilic chemolithotroph Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans grown on elemental sulfur as the electron donor under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, using either molecular oxygen or ferric iron as the electron acceptor, respectively. No evidence supporting the role of either tetrathionate hydrolase or arsenic reductase in mediating the transfer of electrons to ferric iron (as suggested by previous studies) was obtained. In addition, no novel ferric iron reductase was identified. However, data suggested that sulfur was disproportionated under anaerobic conditions, forming hydrogen sulfide via sulfur reductase and sulfate via heterodisulfide reductase and ATP sulfurylase. Supporting physiological evidence for H2S production came from the observation that soluble Cu(2+) included in anaerobically incubated cultures was precipitated (seemingly as CuS). Since H(2)S reduces ferric iron to ferrous in acidic medium, its production under anaerobic conditions indicates that anaerobic iron reduction is mediated, at least in part, by an indirect mechanism. Evidence was obtained for an alternative model implicating the transfer of electrons from S(0) to Fe(3+) via a respiratory chain that includes a bc(1) complex and a cytochrome c. Central carbon pathways were upregulated under aerobic conditions, correlating with higher growth rates, while many Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle components were upregulated during anaerobic growth, probably as a result of more limited access to carbon dioxide. These results are important for understanding the role of A. ferrooxidans in environmental biogeochemical metal cycling and in industrial bioleaching operations.
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Biomining: metal recovery from ores with microorganisms. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2013; 141:1-47. [PMID: 23793914 DOI: 10.1007/10_2013_216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Biomining is an increasingly applied biotechnological procedure for processing of ores in the mining industry (biohydrometallurgy). Nowadays the production of copper from low-grade ores is the most important industrial application and a significant part of world copper production already originates from heap or dump/stockpile bioleaching. Conceptual differences exist between the industrial processes of bioleaching and biooxidation. Bioleaching is a conversion of an insoluble valuable metal into a soluble form by means of microorganisms. In biooxidation, on the other hand, gold is predominantly unlocked from refractory ores in large-scale stirred-tank biooxidation arrangements for further processing steps. In addition to copper and gold production, biomining is also used to produce cobalt, nickel, zinc, and uranium. Up to now, biomining has merely been used as a procedure in the processing of sulfide ores and uranium ore, but laboratory and pilot procedures already exist for the processing of silicate and oxide ores (e.g., laterites), for leaching of processing residues or mine waste dumps (mine tailings), as well as for the extraction of metals from industrial residues and waste (recycling). This chapter estimates the world production of copper, gold, and other metals by means of biomining and chemical leaching (bio-/hydrometallurgy) compared with metal production by pyrometallurgical procedures, and describes new developments in biomining. In addition, an overview is given about metal sulfide oxidizing microorganisms, fundamentals of biomining including bioleaching mechanisms and interface processes, as well as anaerobic bioleaching and bioleaching with heterotrophic microorganisms.
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Dopson M, Johnson DB. Biodiversity, metabolism and applications of acidophilic sulfur-metabolizing microorganisms. Environ Microbiol 2012; 14:2620-31. [PMID: 22510111 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02749.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Extremely acidic, sulfur-rich environments can be natural, such as solfatara fields in geothermal and volcanic areas, or anthropogenic, such as acid mine drainage waters. Many species of acidophilic bacteria and archaea are known to be involved in redox transformations of sulfur, using elemental sulfur and inorganic sulfur compounds as electron donors or acceptors in reactions involving between one and eight electrons. This minireview describes the nature and origins of acidic, sulfur-rich environments, the biodiversity of sulfur-metabolizing acidophiles, and how sulfur is metabolized and assimilated by acidophiles under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Finally, existing and developing technologies that harness the abilities of sulfur-oxidizing and sulfate-reducing acidophiles to extract and capture metals, and to remediate sulfur-polluted waste waters are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Dopson
- School of Natural Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
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Johnson DB, Kanao T, Hedrich S. Redox Transformations of Iron at Extremely Low pH: Fundamental and Applied Aspects. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:96. [PMID: 22438853 PMCID: PMC3305923 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2011] [Accepted: 02/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Many different species of acidophilic prokaryotes, widely distributed within the domains Bacteria and Archaea, can catalyze the dissimilatory oxidation of ferrous iron or reduction of ferric iron, or can do both. Microbially mediated cycling of iron in extremely acidic environments (pH < 3) is strongly influenced by the enhanced chemical stability of ferrous iron and far greater solubility of ferric iron under such conditions. Cycling of iron has been demonstrated in vitro using both pure and mixed cultures of acidophiles, and there is considerable evidence that active cycling of iron occurs in acid mine drainage streams, pit lakes, and iron-rich acidic rivers, such as the Rio Tinto. Measurements of specific rates of iron oxidation and reduction by acidophilic microorganisms show that different species vary in their capacities for iron oxido-reduction, and that this is influenced by the electron donor provided and growth conditions used. These measurements, and comparison with corresponding data for oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds, also help explain why ferrous iron is usually used preferentially as an electron donor by acidophiles that can oxidize both iron and sulfur, even though the energy yield from oxidizing iron is much smaller than that available from sulfur oxidation. Iron-oxidizing acidophiles have been used in biomining (a technology that harness their abilities to accelerate the oxidative dissolution of sulfidic minerals and thereby facilitate the extraction of precious and base metals) for several decades. More recently they have also been used to simultaneously remediate iron-contaminated surface and ground waters and produce a useful mineral by-product (schwertmannite). Bioprocessing of oxidized mineral ores using acidophiles that catalyze the reductive dissolution of ferric iron minerals such as goethite has also recently been demonstrated, and new biomining technologies based on this approach are being developed.
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50
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Johnson DB. Geomicrobiology of extremely acidic subsurface environments. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2012; 81:2-12. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01293.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2011] [Revised: 12/16/2011] [Accepted: 12/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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