Emerging contaminants: A One Health perspective

Environmental pollution is escalating due to rapid global development that often prioritizes human needs over planetary health. Despite global efforts to mitigate legacy pollutants, the continuous introduction of new substances remains a major threat to both people and the planet. In response, global initiatives are focusing on risk assessment and regulation of emerging contaminants, as demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to establish the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention. This review identifies the sources and impacts of emerging contaminants on planetary health, emphasizing the importance of adopting a One Health approach. Strategies for monitoring and addressing these pollutants are discussed, underscoring the need for robust and socially equitable environmental policies at both regional and international levels. Urgent actions are needed to transition toward sustainable pollution management practices to safeguard our planet for future generations.

Do contaminants compromise the use of recycled nutrients in organic agriculture? A review and synthesis of current knowledge on contaminant concentrations, fate in the environment and risk assessment

Use of nutrients recycled from societal waste streams in agriculture is part of the circular economy, and in line with organic farming principles. Nevertheless, diverse contaminants in waste streams create doubts among organic farmers about potential risks for soil health. Here, we gather the current knowledge on contaminant levels in waste streams and recycled nutrient sources, and discuss associated risks. For potentially toxic elements (PTEs), the input of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) from mineral feed supplements remains of concern, while concentrations of PTEs in many waste streams have decreased substantially in Europe. The same applies to organic contaminants, although new chemical groups such as flame retardants are of emerging concern and globally contamination levels differ strongly. Compared to inorganic fertilizers, application of organic fertilizers derived from human or animal feces is associated with an increased risk for environmental dissemination of antibiotic resistance. The risk depends on the quality of the organic fertilizers, which varies between geographical regions, but farmland application of sewage sludge appears to be a safe practice as shown by some studies (e.g. from Sweden). Microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils show a wide spread and our understanding of its toxicity is limited, hampering a sound risk assessment. Methods for assessing public health risks for organic contaminants must include emerging contaminants and potential interactions of multiple compounds. Evidence from long-term field experiments suggests that soils may be more resilient and capable to degrade or stabilize pollutants than often assumed. In view of the need to source nutrients for expanding areas under organic farming, we discuss inputs originating from conventional farms vs. non-agricultural (i.e. societal) inputs. Closing nutrient cycles between agriculture and society is feasible in many cases, without being compromised by contaminants, and should be enhanced, aided by improved source control, waste treatment and sound risk assessments.

Impacts of biochar materials on copper speciation, bioavailability, and toxicity in chromated copper arsenate polluted soil

Trace element polluted soils pose risks to human and environmental health. Biochar can decrease trace element bioavailability in soils, but their resulting ability to reduce soil toxicity may vary significantly depending on feedstocks used, pyrolysis conditions, and the target pollutants. Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) polluted sites are common, but only very few types of biochar have been tested for these sites. Hence, we tested fourteen well-characterized biochar materials for their ability to bind Cu and reduce toxicity in a CCA polluted soil in a 56-day experiment. Biochar (1%, wt/wt) increased plant (wheat, Triticum aestivum L.) shoot and root growth by 6-58% and 0-73%, reduced soil toxicity to Arthrobacter globiformis by 7-55%, decreased bioavailable Cu (Pseudomonas fluorescens bioreporter) by 5-65%, and decreased free Cu2+ ion activities by 27-89%. The A. globiformis solid-contact test constituted a sensitive ecotoxicological endpoint and deserves further attention for assessment of soil quality. Oil seed rape straw biochar generally performed better than other tested biochar materials. Biochar performance was positively correlated with its high cation exchange capacity, multiple surface functional groups, and high nitrogen and phosphorus content. Our results pave the way for future selection of feedstocks for creation of modified biochar materials with optimal performance in CCA polluted soil.

Limited impacts of high doses of dietary copper on the gut bacterial metal resistome explain negligible co-selection of antibiotic resistance

High dietary intake of Cu has previously been linked to the selection of Cu resistance and co-selection of antibiotic resistance in specific gut bacteria. Based on a novel HT-qPCR metal resistance gene chip as combined with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and phenotypic resistance typing of Escherichia coli isolates, we here report the impacts of two contrasting Cu-based feed additives on the swine gut bacterial metal resistome and community assembly. DNA was extracted from fecal samples (n = 80) collected at day 26 and 116 of the experiment from 200 pigs allotted to five dietary treatments: negative control (NC) diet with 20 μg CuSO₄ g^-1 and four diets added 125 or 250 μg CuSO₄ g^-1 feed or 125 or 250 μg Cu₂O g^-1 feed to the NC diet. Dietary Cu supplementation reduced the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, but it had negligible impacts on bacterial community composition relative to the gut microbiome maturation effect (time). The relative importance of different bacterial community assembly processes was not markedly affected by the dietary Cu treatments, and differences in swine gut metal resistome composition could be explained primarily by differences in bacterial community composition rather than by dietary Cu treatments. High dietary Cu intake (250 μg Cu g^-1) selected for phenotypic Cu resistance in E. coli isolates, but surprisingly it did not result in increased prevalence of the Cu resistance genes targeted by the HT-qPCR chip. In conclusion, the lacking impacts of dietary Cu on the gut bacterial metal resistome explain results from a previous study showing that even high therapeutic doses of dietary Cu did not cause co-selection of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements known to harbor these genes.

Impacts of dietary copper on the swine gut microbiome and antibiotic resistome

Restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters have prompted livestock producers to use alternative growth promoters, and dietary copper (Cu) supplementation is currently being widely used in pig production. However, elevated doses of dietary Cu constitute a risk for co-selection of antibiotic resistance and the risk may depend on the type of Cu-based feed additives being used. We here report the first controlled experiment investigating the impact of two contrasting Cu-based feed additives on the overall swine gut microbiome and antibiotic resistome. DNA was extracted from fecal samples (n = 96) collected at four time points during 116 days from 120 pigs allotted to three dietary treatments: control, divalent copper sulfate (CuSO₄; 250 μg Cu g^-1 feed), and monovalent copper oxide (Cu₂O; 250 μg Cu g^-1 feed). Bacterial community composition, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were assessed, and bioavailable Cu ([Cu]_bio) was determined using whole-cell bacterial bioreporters. Cu supplementation to feed increased total Cu concentrations ([Cu]_total) and [Cu]_bio in feces 8-10 fold and at least 670-1000 fold, respectively, but with no significant differences between the two Cu sources. The swine gut microbiome harbored highly abundant and diverse ARGs and MGEs irrespective of the treatments throughout the experiment. Microbiomes differed significantly between pig growth stages and tended to converge over time, but only minor changes in the bacterial community composition and resistome could be linked to Cu supplementation. A significant correlation between bacterial community composition (i.e., bacterial taxa present) and ARG prevalence patterns were observed by Procrustes analysis. Overall, results of the experiment did not provide evidence for Cu-induced co-selection of ARGs or MGEs even at a Cu concentration level exceeding the maximal permitted level for pig diets in the EU (25 to 150 μg Cu g^-1 feed depending on pig age).

Biodegradation kinetics testing of two hydrophobic UVCBs - potential for substrate toxicity supports testing at low concentrations

The biodegradation kinetics of UVCB substances (unknown or variable composition, complex reaction products or biological materials) should be determined below the solubility limit to avoid experimental artefacts by the non-dissolved mixture. Recently, we reported delayed biodegradation kinetics of single petroleum hydrocarbons even at concentrations just below the solubility limit and attributed this to toxicity. The present study aimed to determine the concentration effect on biodegradation kinetics for constituents in two UVCBs, using surface water from a rural stream as the inoculum. Parallel biodegradation tests of diesel and lavender oil were conducted at concentrations just below the solubility limit and two orders of magnitude lower. The biodegradation kinetics of diesel oil constituents were generally similar at the two concentrations, which coincided with the stimulation of bacterial productivity (growth) at both concentrations, determined by [³H]leucine incorporation. By contrast, the biodegradation of lavender oil constituents was significantly delayed or even halted at the high test concentration. This was consistent with lavender oil stimulating bacterial growth at low concentration but inhibiting it at high concentration. The delayed biodegradation kinetics of lavender oil constituents at high concentration was best explained by mixture toxicity near the solubility limit. Consequently, biodegradation testing of hydrophobic UVCBs should be conducted at low, environmentally relevant concentrations ensuring that mixture toxicity does not affect the biodegradation kinetics.

A converging subset of soil bacterial taxa is permissive to the IncP-1 plasmid pKJK5 across a range of soil copper contamination

Stressors like metals or antibiotics can affect bacterial community permissiveness for plasmid uptake, but there is little knowledge about long-term effects of such stressors on the evolution of community permissiveness. We assessed the effect of more than 90 years of soil Cu contamination on bacterial community permissiveness (i.e. uptake ability) toward a gfp-tagged IncP-1 plasmid (pKJK5) introduced via an Escherichia coli donor. Plasmid transfer events from the donor to the recipient soil bacterial community were quantified and transconjugants were subsequently isolated by fluorescence activated cell sorting and identified by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Transfer frequency of plasmid pKJK5 was reduced in bacterial communities extracted from highly Cu contaminated (4526 mg kg-1) soil compared to corresponding communities extracted from moderately (458 mg kg-1) Cu contaminated soil and a low Cu reference soil (15 mg kg-1). The taxonomic composition of the transconjugal pools showed remarkable similarities irrespective of the degree of soil Cu contamination and despite contrasting compositions of the extracted recipient communities and the original soil communities. Permissiveness assessed at the level of individual operational taxonomic units (OTUs; 16S rRNA gene 97% sequence similarity threshold) was only slightly affected by soil Cu level and high replicate variability of OTU-level permissiveness indicated a role of stochastic events in IncP-1 plasmid transfer or strain-to-strain permissiveness variability.

Long-term application of Swedish sewage sludge on farmland does not cause clear changes in the soil bacterial resistome

The widespread practice of applying sewage sludge to arable land makes use of nutrients indispensable for crops and reduces the need for inorganic fertilizer, however this application also provides a potential route for human exposure to chemical contaminants and microbial pathogens in the sludge. A recent concern is that such practice could promote environmental selection and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria or resistance genes. Understanding the risks of sludge amendment in relation to antibiotic resistance development is important for sustainable agriculture, waste treatment and infectious disease management. To assess such risks, we took advantage of an agricultural field trial in southern Sweden, where land used for growing different crops has been amended with sludge every four years since 1981. We sampled raw, semi-digested and digested and stored sludge together with soils from the experimental plots before and two weeks after the most recent amendment in 2017. Levels of selected antimicrobials and bioavailable metals were determined and microbial effects were evaluated using both culture-independent metagenome sequencing and conventional culturing. Antimicrobials or bioavailable metals (Cu and Zn) did not accumulate to levels of concern for environmental selection of antibiotic resistance, and no coherent signs, neither on short or long time scales, of enrichment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria or resistance genes were found in soils amended with digested and stored sewage sludge in doses up to 12 metric tons per hectare. Likewise, only very few and slight differences in microbial community composition were observed after sludge amendment. Taken together, the current study does not indicate risks of sludge amendment related to antibiotic resistance development under the given conditions. Extrapolations should however be done with care as sludge quality and application practices vary between regions. Hence, the antibiotic concentrations and resistance load of the sludge are likely to be higher in regions with larger antibiotic consumption and resistance burden than Sweden.

Evaluation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a co-solvent for toxicity testing of hydrophobic organic compounds

Toxicity testing of hydrophobic compounds with low aqueous solubility remains challenging. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is widely used as a co-solvent for toxicity testing of hydrophobic chemicals, but it may modulate chemical toxicity patterns. In this study, we critically evaluated the suitability of DMSO as a co-solvent for toxicity testing of hydrophobic organic compounds in aqueous solutions. As the toxicity measure, we used growth inhibition of a natural bacterial community, and the test toxicants included phenol, BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) and transformation products of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We found that dose-response curves for phenol were unaffected by DMSO concentrations up to 10% (v/v) and that DMSO (5% v/v) did not affect the degree of bacterial growth inhibition for any of the other test compounds in short-term experiments (3.5 h). By contrast, marked co-solvent effects of DMSO were observed in the long-term assay (25 and 27 h). We therefore conclude that DMSO has excellent co-solvent properties for short-term (≤3.5 h) toxicity testing of sparingly water-soluble compounds and its application provides a simple, inexpensive approach for screening of various environmentally relevant hydrophobic chemicals. Importantly, the use of DMSO allows for generation of full dose-responses that may otherwise not be attained.

Heavy metal pollution and co-selection for antibiotic resistance: A microbial palaeontology approach

Frequent and persistent heavy metal pollution has profound effects on the composition and activity of microbial communities. Heavy metals select for metal resistance but can also co-select for resistance to antibiotics, which is a global health concern. We here document metal concentration, metal resistance and antibiotic resistance along a sediment archive from a pond in the North West of the United Kingdom covering over a century of anthropogenic pollution. We specifically focus on zinc, as it is a ubiquitous and toxic metal contaminant known to co-select for antibiotic resistance, to assess the impact of temporal variation in heavy metal pollution on microbial community diversity and to quantify the selection effects of differential heavy metal exposure on antibiotic resistance. Zinc concentration and bioavailability was found to vary over the core, likely reflecting increased industrialisation around the middle of the 20th century. Zinc concentration had a significant effect on bacterial community composition, as revealed by a positive correlation between the level of zinc tolerance in culturable bacteria and zinc concentration. The proportion of zinc resistant isolates was also positively correlated with resistance to three clinically relevant antibiotics (oxacillin, cefotaxime and trimethoprim). The abundance of the class 1 integron-integrase gene, intI1, marker for anthropogenic pollutants correlated with the prevalence of zinc- and cefotaxime resistance but not with oxacillin and trimethoprim resistance. Our microbial palaeontology approach reveals that metal-contaminated sediments from depths that pre-date the use of antibiotics were enriched in antibiotic resistant bacteria, demonstrating the pervasive effects of metal-antibiotic co-selection in the environment.

Soil bacteria and protists show different sensitivity to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at controlled chemical activity

This study linked growth inhibition of soil bacteria and protists to the chemical activity (a) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and compared the sensitivities of bacteria and protists. Passive dosing from pre-loaded silicone provided well-defined and constant a of PAHs in independent tests. Single-species growth inhibition with two bacterial (Pseuodomonas fluorescens DR54 and Sinorhizobium meliloti) and two protist (Cercomonas longicauda and Acanthamoeba castellanii) strains at maximum a (amax) of nine and four PAHs, respectively, showed no inhibition of PAHs with amax below 0.1 (pyrene and anthracene), while growth inhibition was observed for PAHs with amax above 0.1 (e.g. fluorene, fluoranthene and naphthalene). The bacteria were less sensitive than the protists. Soil bacterial community-level growth inhibition by naphthalene was in good agreement with single-species data, but also indicated the presence of sensitive bacteria that were inhibited by a below 0.05 and increasing pre-exposure time giving higher inhibition. The a of 50% inhibition (Ea50) was 0.434 and 0.329 for 0.5 and 4 h pre-exposure time, respectively. Invertebrates tended to be more sensitive than single-celled organisms tested here. This suggests that PAH exposure leads to differential toxicity in soil biota, which may affect soil food web structure and cycling of organic matter.

Assessment of biochar and zero-valent iron for in-situ remediation of chromated copper arsenate contaminated soil

Chromated copper arsenates (CCA) have been extensively used as wood impregnation agents in Europe and North America. Today, CCA contaminated sites remain abundant and pose environmental risks that need to be properly managed. Using a TRIAD approach that combined chemical, ecotoxicological and ecological assessment of soil quality, we investigated the abilities of biochar and zero-valent iron (ZVI) to remediate CCA contaminated soil in a microcosm experiment. Soil samples from a highly contaminated CCA site (1364, 1662 and 540 μg g^-1 of As, Cu and Cr, respectively) were treated with two different biochars (fine and coarse particle size; 1% w w^-1) and ZVI (5% w w^-1), both as sole and as combined treatments, and incubated for 56 days at 15 °C. In general, bioavailable As (As_bio) and Cu (Cu_bio) determined by whole-cell bacterial bioreporters corresponded well to water-extractable As and Cu (As_water and Cu_water). However, in biochar treatments, only Cu_bio and not Cu_water was significantly reduced. In contrast, under ZVI treatments only Cu_water and not Cu_bio was reduced, demonstrating the value of complementing analytical with bacterial bioreporter measurements to infer bioavailability of elements to soil microorganisms. The combined fine particle size biochar and ZVI treatment effectively reduced water extractable concentrations of Cr, Cu, and As on site by 45%, 45% and 43% respectively, and led to the highest ecological recovery of the soil bacterial community, as measured using the [³H]leucine incorporation technique. We conclude that the combined application of biochar and ZVI as soil amendments holds promise for in-situ stabilization of CCA contaminated sites.

Factors governing the solid phase distribution of Cr, Cu and As in contaminated soil after 40 years of ageing

The physico-chemical factors affecting the distribution, behavior and speciation of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and arsenic (As) was investigated at a former wood impregnation site (Fredensborg, Denmark). Forty soil samples were collected and extracted using a sequential extraction technique known as the Chemometric Identification of Substrates and Element Distributions (CISED) and a multivariate statistical tool (redundancy analysis) was applied. CISED data was linked to water-extractable Cr, Cu and As and bioavailable Cu as determined by a whole-cell bacterial bioreporter assay. Results showed that soil pH significantly affected the solid phase distribution of all three elements on site. Additionally, elements competing for binding sites, Ca, Mg and Mn in the case of Cu, and P, in the case of As, played a major role in the distribution of these elements in soil. Element-specific distributions were observed amongst the six identified soil phases including residual pore salts, exchangeable, carbonates (tentative designation), Mn-Al oxide, amorphous Fe oxide, and crystalline Fe oxide. While Cr was strongly bound to non-extractable crystalline Fe oxide in the oxic top soil, Cu and notably, As were associated with readily extractable phases, suggesting that Cu and As, and not Cr, constitute the highest risk to environmental and human health. However, bioavailable Cu did not significantly correlate with CISED identified soil phases, suggesting that sequential extraction schemes such as CISED may not be ideally suited for inferring bioavailability to microorganisms in soil and supports the integration of receptor-specific bioavailability tests into risk assessments as a complement to chemical methods.

Long-term soil metal exposure impaired temporal variation in microbial metatranscriptomes and enriched active phages

BACKGROUND

It remains unclear whether adaptation and changes in diversity associated to a long-term perturbation are sufficient to ensure functional resilience of soil microbial communities. We used RNA-based approaches (16S rRNA gene transcript amplicon coupled to shotgun mRNA sequencing) to study the legacy effects of a century-long soil copper (Cu) pollution on microbial activity and composition, as well as its effect on the capacity of the microbial community to react to temporal fluctuations.

RESULTS

Despite evidence of microbial adaptation (e.g., iron homeostasis and avoidance/resistance strategies), increased heterogeneity and richness loss in transcribed gene pools were observed with increasing soil Cu, together with an unexpected predominance of phage mRNA signatures. Apparently, phage activation was either triggered directly by Cu, or indirectly via enhanced expression of DNA repair/SOS response systems in Cu-exposed bacteria. Even though total soil carbon and nitrogen had accumulated with increasing Cu, a reduction in temporally induced mRNA functions was observed. Microbial temporal response groups (TRGs, groups of microbes with a specific temporal response) were heavily affected by Cu, both in abundance and phylogenetic composition.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, results point toward a Cu-mediated "decoupling" between environmental fluctuations and microbial activity, where Cu-exposed microbes stopped fulfilling their expected contributions to soil functioning relative to the control. Nevertheless, some functions remained active in February despite Cu, concomitant with an increase in phage mRNA signatures, highlighting that somehow, microbial activity is still happening under these adverse conditions.

Biocide Runoff from Building Facades: Degradation Kinetics in Soil

Biocides are common additives in building materials. In-can and film preservatives in polymer-resin render and paint, as well as wood preservatives are used to protect facade materials from microbial spoilage. Biocides leach from the facade material with driving rain, leading to highly polluted runoff water (up to several mg L^-1 biocides) being infiltrated into the soil surrounding houses. In the present study the degradation rates in soil of 11 biocides used for the protection of building materials were determined in laboratory microcosms. The results show that some biocides are degraded rapidly in soil (e.g., isothiazolinones: T_1/2 < 10 days) while others displayed higher persistence (e.g., terbutryn, triazoles: T_1/2 ≫ 120 days). In addition, mass balances of terbutryn and octylisothiazolinone were determined, including nine (terbutryn) and seven (octylisothiazolinone) degradation products, respectively. The terbutryn mass balance could be closed over the entire study period of 120 days and showed that relative persistent metabolites were formed, while the mass balances for octylisothiazolinone could not be closed. Octylisothiazolinone degradation products did not accumulate over time suggesting that the missing fraction was mineralized. Microtox-tests revealed that degradation products were less toxic toward the bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri than their parent compounds. Rain is mobilizing these biocides from the facades and transports them to the surrounding soils; thus, rainfall events control how often new input to the soil occurs. Time intervals between rainfall events in Northern Europe are shorter than degradation half-lives even for many rapidly degraded biocides. Consequently, residues of some biocides are likely to be continuously present due to repeated input and most biocides can be considered as "pseudo-persistent"-contaminants in this context. This was verified by (sub)urban soil screening, where concentrations of up to 0.1 μg g^-1 were detected for parent compounds as well as terbutryn degradation products in soils below biocide treated facades.

Comparison of Metals and Tetracycline as Selective Agents for Development of Tetracycline Resistant Bacterial Communities in Agricultural Soil

Environmental selection of antibiotic resistance may be caused by either antibiotic residues or coselecting agents. Using a strictly controlled experimental design, we compared the ability of metals (Cu or Zn) and tetracycline to (co)select for tetracycline resistance in bacterial communities. Soil microcosms were established by amending agricultural soil with known levels of Cu, Zn, or tetracycline known to represent commonly used metals and antibiotics for pig farming. Soil bacterial growth dynamics and bacterial community-level tetracycline resistance were determined using the [³H]leucine incorporation technique, whereas soil Cu, Zn, and tetracycline exposure were quantified by a panel of whole-cell bacterial bioreporters. Tetracycline resistance increased significantly in soils containing environmentally relevant levels of Cu (≥365 mg kg^-1) and Zn (≥264 mg kg^-1) but not in soil spiked with unrealistically high levels of tetracycline (up to 100 mg kg^-1). These observations were consistent with bioreporter data showing that metals remained bioavailable, whereas tetracycline was only transiently bioavailable. Community-level tetracycline resistance was correlated to the initial toxicant-induced inhibition of bacterial growth. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that toxic metals in some cases may exert a stronger selection pressure for environmental selection of resistance to an antibiotic than the specific antibiotic itself.

Two draft genome sequences of Pseudomonas jessenii strains isolated from a copper contaminated site in Denmark

Pseudomonas jessenii C2 and Pseudomonas jessenii H16 were isolated from low-Cu and high-Cu industrially contaminated soil, respectively. P. jessenii H16 displayed significant resistance to copper when compared to P. jessenii C2. Here we describe genome sequences and interesting features of these two strains. The genome of P. jessenii C2 comprised 6,420,113 bp, with 5814 protein-coding genes and 67 RNA genes. P. jessenii H16 comprised 6,807,788 bp, with 5995 protein-coding genes and 70 RNA genes. Of special interest was a specific adaptation to this harsh copper-contaminated environment as P. jessenii H16 contained a novel putative copper resistance genomic island (GI) of around 50,000 bp.

Limited recovery of soil microbial activity after transient exposure to gasoline vapors

During gasoline spills complex mixtures of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released to terrestrial environments. Gasoline VOCs exert baseline toxicity (narcosis) and may thus broadly affect soil biota. We assessed the functional resilience (i.e. resistance and recovery of microbial functions) in soil microbial communities transiently exposed to gasoline vapors by passive dosing via headspace for 40 days followed by a recovery phase of 84 days. Chemical exposure was characterized with GC-MS, whereas microbial activity was monitored as soil respiration (CO2 release) and soil bacterial growth ([(3)H]leucine incorporation). Microbial activity was strongly stimulated and inhibited at low and high exposure levels, respectively. Microbial growth efficiency decreased with increasing exposure, but rebounded during the recovery phase for low-dose treatments. Although benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) concentrations decreased by 83-97% during the recovery phase, microbial activity in high-dose treatments did not recover and numbers of viable bacteria were 3-4 orders of magnitude lower than in control soil. Re-inoculation with active soil microorganisms failed to restore microbial activity indicating residual soil toxicity, which could not be attributed to BTEX, but rather to mixture toxicity of more persistent gasoline constituents or degradation products. Our results indicate a limited potential for functional recovery of soil microbial communities after transient exposure to high, but environmentally relevant, levels of gasoline VOCs which therefore may compromise ecosystem services provided by microorganisms even after extensive soil VOC dissipation.

Ecotoxicological assessment of antibiotics: A call for improved consideration of microorganisms

Antibiotics play a pivotal role in the management of infectious disease in humans, companion animals, livestock, and aquaculture operations at a global scale. Antibiotics are produced, consumed, and released into the environment at an unprecedented scale causing concern that the presence of antibiotic residues may adversely impact aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Here we critically review the ecotoxicological assessment of antibiotics as related to environmental risk assessment (ERA). We initially discuss the need for more specific protection goals based on the ecosystem service concept, and suggest that the ERA of antibiotics, through the application of a mode of toxic action approach, should make more use of ecotoxicological endpoints targeting microorganisms (especially bacteria) and microbial communities. Key ecosystem services provided by microorganisms and associated ecosystem service-providing units (e.g. taxa or functional groups) are identified. Approaches currently available for elucidating ecotoxicological effects on microorganisms are reviewed in detail and we conclude that microbial community-based tests should be used to complement single-species tests to offer more targeted protection of key ecosystem services. Specifically, we propose that ecotoxicological tests should not only assess microbial community function, but also microbial diversity (‘species’ richness) and antibiotic susceptibility. Promising areas for future basic and applied research of relevance to ERA are highlighted throughout the text. In this regard, the most fundamental knowledge gaps probably relate to our rudimentary understanding of the ecological roles of antibiotics in nature and possible adverse effects of environmental pollution with subinhibitory levels of antibiotics.

Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) for environmental development and transfer of antibiotic resistance

BACKGROUND

Only recently has the environment been clearly implicated in the risk of antibiotic resistance to clinical outcome, but to date there have been few documented approaches to formally assess these risks.

OBJECTIVE

We examined possible approaches and sought to identify research needs to enable human health risk assessments (HHRA) that focus on the role of the environment in the failure of antibiotic treatment caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

METHODS

The authors participated in a workshop held 4-8 March 2012 in Québec, Canada, to define the scope and objectives of an environmental assessment of antibiotic-resistance risks to human health. We focused on key elements of environmental-resistance-development "hot spots," exposure assessment (unrelated to food), and dose response to characterize risks that may improve antibiotic-resistance management options.

DISCUSSION

Various novel aspects to traditional risk assessments were identified to enable an assessment of environmental antibiotic resistance. These include a) accounting for an added selective pressure on the environmental resistome that, over time, allows for development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB); b) identifying and describing rates of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the relevant environmental "hot spot" compartments; and c) modifying traditional dose-response approaches to address doses of ARB for various health outcomes and pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose that environmental aspects of antibiotic-resistance development be included in the processes of any HHRA addressing ARB. Because of limited available data, a multicriteria decision analysis approach would be a useful way to undertake an HHRA of environmental antibiotic resistance that informs risk managers.

Management options for reducing the release of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes to the environment

BACKGROUND

There is growing concern worldwide about the role of polluted soil and water environments in the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistance.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim in this study was to identify management options for reducing the spread of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistance determinants via environmental pathways, with the ultimate goal of extending the useful life span of antibiotics. We also examined incentives and disincentives for action.

METHODS

We focused on management options with respect to limiting agricultural sources; treatment of domestic, hospital, and industrial wastewater; and aquaculture.

DISCUSSION

We identified several options, such as nutrient management, runoff control, and infrastructure upgrades. Where appropriate, a cross-section of examples from various regions of the world is provided. The importance of monitoring and validating effectiveness of management strategies is also highlighted. Finally, we describe a case study in Sweden that illustrates the critical role of communication to engage stakeholders and promote action.

CONCLUSIONS

Environmental releases of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria can in many cases be reduced at little or no cost. Some management options are synergistic with existing policies and goals. The anticipated benefit is an extended useful life span for current and future antibiotics. Although risk reductions are often difficult to quantify, the severity of accelerating worldwide morbidity and mortality rates associated with antibiotic resistance strongly indicate the need for action.

Protozoan predation in soil slurries compromises determination of contaminant mineralization potential

Soil suspensions (slurries) are commonly used to estimate the potential of soil microbial communities to mineralize organic contaminants. The preparation of soil slurries disrupts soil structure, however, potentially affecting both the bacterial populations and their protozoan predators. We studied the importance of this "slurry effect" on mineralization of the herbicide 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA, (14)C-labelled), focussing on the effects of protozoan predation. Mineralization of MCPA was studied in "intact" soil and soil slurries differing in soil:water ratio, both in the presence and absence of the protozoan activity inhibitor cycloheximide. Protozoan predation inhibited mineralization in dense slurry of subsoil (soil:water ratio 1:3), but only in the most dilute slurry of topsoil (soil:water ratio 1:100). Our results demonstrate that protozoan predation in soil slurries may compromise quantification of contaminant mineralization potential, especially when the initial density of degrader bacteria is low and their growth is controlled by predation during the incubation period.

Low concentration of copper inhibits colonization of soil by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices and changes the microbial community structure

Common agricultural practices result in accumulation of copper in agricultural soils worldwide. The effect of bioavailable copper ([Cu](bio)) on colonization of soil by the AM fungus Glomus intraradices and other soil microorganisms was investigated in microcosms containing copper-amended soil. To avoid indirect effects through the plant, copper was only added to root-free microcosm compartments. [Cu](bio) was measured using a Pseudomonas fluorescens biosensor strain. In the range of 0-1.5 μg g(-1) [Cu](bio), a log-log linear relationship between added copper and [Cu](bio) was found. Microbial colonization of the root-free compartment was evaluated by whole-cell fatty acid analysis (WCFA) and amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). The WCFA analysis showed that the AM fungus soil colonization was severely inhibited by Cu with a 50% reduction of mycorrhizal growth at 0.26 μg g(-1) [Cu](bio). The growth of other main microbial groups was not significantly affected by copper. However, ARDRA analysis showed a very strong effect of copper on the bacterial community composition probably caused by an increased proportion of Cu-resistant bacteria. Our results suggest that problems with plant yield may arise when converting slightly copper-contaminated soils to land uses such as low-input and sustainable agriculture that are dependent on AM fungal symbiosis.

Rapid and sensitive Nitrosomonas europaea biosensor assay for quantification of bioavailable ammonium sensu strictu in soil

Knowledge on bioavailable ammonium sensu strictu (i.e., immediately available for cellular uptake) in soil is required to understand nutrient uptake processes in microorganisms and thus of vital importance for plant production. We here present a novel ammonium biosensor approach based on the lithoautotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacterium Nitrosomonas europaea transformed with a luxAB sensor plasmid. Bioluminescence-based ammonium detection was achieved within 10 min with a quantification limit in liquid samples of ∼20 μM and a linear response range up to 400 μM. Biosensor and conventional chemical quantification of ammonium in soil solutions agreed well across a range of sample and assay conditions. The biosensor was subsequently applied for a solid phase-contact assay allowing for direct interaction of biosensor cells with soil particle-associated (i.e., exchangeable plus fixed) ammonium. The assay successfully quantified bioavailable ammonium even in unfertilized soil and demonstrated markedly higher ratios of bioavailable ammonium to water- or 2 M KCl-exchangeable ammonium in anoxic soil than in corresponding oxic soil. Particle-associated ammonium contributed by at least 74% and 93% of the total bioavailable pool in oxic and anoxic soil, respectively. The N. europaea biosensor should have broad relevance for environmental monitoring of bioavailable ammonium and processes depending on ammonium bioavailability.

Copper toxicity to bioluminescent Nitrosomonas europaea in soil is explained by the free metal ion activity in pore water

The terrestrial biotic ligand model (BLM) for metal toxicity in soil postulates that metal toxicity depends on the free metal ion activity in solution and on ions competing for metal sorption to the biotic ligand. Unequivocal evidence for the BLM assumptions is most difficult to obtain for native soil microorganisms because the abiotic and biotic compartments cannot be experimentally separated. Here, we report copper (Cu) toxicity to a bioluminescent Nitrosomonas europaea reporter strain that was used in a solid phase-contact assay and in corresponding soil extracts and artificial soil solutions. The Cu(2+) ion activities that halve bioluminescence (EC50) in artificial solutions ranged 10(-5) to 10(-7) M and increased with increasing activities of H(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) according to the BLM concept. The solution based Cu(2+) EC50 values of N. europaea in six contaminated soils ranged 2 × 10(-6) to 2 × 10(-9) M and these thresholds for both solid phase or soil extract based assays were well predicted by the ion competition model fitted to artificial solution data. In addition, solution based Cu(2+) EC50 of the solid phase-contact assay were never smaller than corresponding values in soil extracts suggesting no additional solid phase toxic route. By restricting the analysis to the same added species, we show that the Cu(2+) in solution represents the toxic species to this bacterium.

Cu exposure under field conditions coselects for antibiotic resistance as determined by a novel cultivation-independent bacterial community tolerance assay

Environmental reservoirs of antibiotic resistance are important to human health, and recent evidence indicates that terrestrial resistance reservoirs have expanded during the antibiotic era. Our aim was to study the impact of Cu pollution as a selective driver for the spread of antibiotic resistance in soil. Bacteria were extracted from a well-characterized soil site solely contaminated with CuSO₄ more than 80 years ago and from a corresponding control soil. Pollution-induced bacterial community tolerance (PICT) to Cu and a panel of antibiotics was determined by a novel cultivation-independent approach based on [³H]bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into DNA and by resistance profiling of soil bacterial isolates on solid media. High Cu exposure selected for Cu-tolerant bacterial communities but also coselected for increased community-level tolerance to tetracycline and vancomycin. Cu-resistant isolates showed significantly higher incidence of resistance to five out of seven tested antibiotics (tetracycline, olaquindox, nalidixic acid, chloramphenicol, and ampicillin) than Cu-sensitive isolates. Our BrdU-PICT data demonstrate for the first time that soil Cu exposure coselects for resistance to clinically important antibiotics (e.g., vancomycin) at the bacterial community-level. Our study further indicates that Cu exposure provides a strong selection pressure for the expansion of the soil bacterial resistome.

Vogesella mureinivorans sp. nov., a peptidoglycan-degrading bacterium from lake water

A novel, non-pigmented, rod-shaped, Gram-negative strain was isolated from mesotrophic lake water in Zealand, Denmark. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the bacterium, designated strain 389(T), indicated that the strain belonged to the genus Vogesella and formed a monophyletic group with Vogesella perlucida DS-28(T) (99.1 % nucleotide similarity); it was less related to Vogesella indigofera ATCC 19706(T) (96.9 % similarity) and Vogesella lacus LMG 24504(T) (96.8 % similarity). Hybridization of DNA from strain 389(T) and V. perlucida demonstrated a reassociation of 50.6 ± 9.6 %. The DNA G+C content of strain 389(T) was 61.2 mol%. The fatty acid profile of the strain differed from those of the other strains representing the genus Vogesella by a high content of C₁₆:₁ω7c and/or iso-C₁₅:₀ 2-OH (71.6 %) and a lower content of C₁₆: ₀. Strain 389(T) was capable of degrading peptidoglycan and had chitinase and lysozyme activities, possibly associated with the degradation of peptidoglycan, and had capacity for degradation of several other polymer compounds. Based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain 389(T) represents a novel species, for which we propose the name Vogesella mureinivorans sp. nov. The type strain is 389(T) (=DSM 21247(T) =LMG 25302(T)).

Increased pollution-induced bacterial community tolerance to sulfadiazine in soil hotspots amended with artificial root exudates

Sulfadiazine (SDZ) residues constitute an important pollutant in soils that may increase environmental reservoirs of antibiotic resistance. Our primary aim was to compare the development of pollution-induced community tolerance (PICT) to SDZ concentration levels in bulk soil and nutrient amended soil hotspots. Agricultural soil microcosms were amended with different concentrations of SDZ with or without weekly additions of artificial root exudates corresponding to realistic rhizodeposition rates. Bacterial community tolerance to SDZ residues, as determined by the [3H]leucine incorporation technique, increased progressively with elevated SDZ exposure, and was significantly increased in soil hotspots (LOEC of 1microg kg(-1)). An alternative PICT approach based on single-cell esterase probing by flow cytometry failed to demonstrate SDZ impacts. Bacterial growth rates ([3H]leucine incorporation) were significantly reduced in both bulk soil and hotspots 24 h after amendment with environmentally relevant concentrations of SDZ, while soil respiration remained unaffected even at 100 microg SDZ g(-1). Our study for the first time demonstrates a drastically increased PICT response of a soil bacterial community due to increased carbon substrate amendment per se. Hence, hotspot soil environments such as rhizosphere and manure-soil interfaces may comprise key sites for proliferation of bacteria that are resistant or tolerant to antibiotics.

Differential bioavailability of copper complexes to bioluminescent Pseudomonas fluorescens reporter strains

Increased levels of Cu in agricultural soils are of concern, because Cu toxicity may adversely affect important soil microorganisms, including pseudomonads. Because total metal concentrations correlate poorly with bioavailability and toxicity, a need exists for more information linking Cu speciation, bioavailability, and toxicity. The objective of the present study was to determine the bioavailability of different Cu complexes to Pseudomonas spp. A Cu-specific bioluminescent Pseudomonas fluorescens reporter strain was used to determine bioavailable Cu, which was operationally defined as those Cu species that induced expression of bioluminescence. Another strain of P. fluorescens, which continuously expressed bioluminescence, was used as a toxicity reporter. Experiments were performed in a defined aqueous medium containing 0.04 microM Cu, which was amended with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), citrate, or a well-characterized pool of dissolved organic matter (DOM). Bioluminescence emitted by the biosensors was related to data for Cu speciation obtained by geochemical modeling. Changes in Cu bioavailability in the presence of EDTA coincided with modeled changes in Cu2+ activity, indicating that Cu-EDTA complexes were not bioavailable to the Cu-specific reporter. In contrast, changes of Cu bioavailability in the presence of citrate did not correspond to changes in Cu2+, indicating that Cu-citrate complexes were fully bioavailable to the reporter strain. Finally, the response of the Cu-reporter strain to Cu in the presence of DOM indicated that Cu formed bioavailable as well as unavailable complexes with DOM. We conclude that free Cu2+ activity is a poor predictor of Cu bioavailability to Pseudomonas spp. in samples containing organic ligands.

Evidence for bioavailable copper-dissolved organic matter complexes and transiently increased copper bioavailability in manure-amended soils as determined by bioluminescent bacterial biosensors

The short-term (3 months) dynamics of bioavailable copper (Cu) species was determined in soils amended with various amounts of manure and Cu. Bioavailable Cu species were operationally defined as those species that were able to induce gene expression in a Cu-specific Pseudomonas fluorescens biosensor. Biosensor measurements were backed by analysis of total Cu in soil and of total Cu and free Cu2+ ion activity in solution. Cu bioavailability relative to the total Cu concentration increased dramatically with increasing Cu loading of manure and with increasing manure amendment to soil. In both cases, the immediate increase in bioavailability could be explained in part by increased Cu concentration in solution and in part by an increased bioavailability of dissolved Cu species. In contrast to Cu bioavailability, Cu2+ ion activity decreased progressively with increasing manure loading. Cu bioavailability declined rapidly during the weeks after manure amendment concomitant with a marked slow-down of C mineralization indicating a shift from initially bioavailable Cu-dissolved organic matter (Cu-DOM) complexes to nonavailable Cu-DOM complexes over time. Our data do not support the conventional view of metal bioavailability being primarily related to the free metal ion activity and strongly suggest differential bioavailability of Cu-DOM complexes in manure-amended soils.

Microbial degradation and impact of Bracken toxin ptaquiloside on microbial communities in soil

The carcinogenic and toxic ptaquiloside (PTA) is a major secondary metabolite in Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) and was hypothesized to influence microbial communities in soil below Bracken stands. Soil and Bracken tissue were sampled at field sites in Denmark (DK) and New Zealand (NZ). PTA contents of 2.1 +/- 0.5 mg g(-1) and 37.0 +/- 8.7 mg g(-1) tissue were measured in Bracken fronds from DK and NZ, respectively. In the two soils the PTA levels were similar (0-5 microg g(-1) soil); a decrease with depth could be discerned in the deeper B and C horizons of the DK soil (weak acid sandy Spodosol), but not in the NZ soil (weak acid loamy Entisol). In the DK soil PTA turnover was predominantly due to microbial degradation (biodegradation); chemical hydrolysis was occurring mainly in the uppermost A horizon where pH was very low (3.4). Microbial activity (basal respiration) and growth ([3H]leucine incorporation assay) increased after PTA exposure, indicating that the Bracken toxin served as a C substrate for the organotrophic microorganisms. On the other hand, there was no apparent impact of PTA on community size as measured by substrate-induced respiration or composition as indicated by community-level physiological profiles. Our results demonstrate that PTA stimulates microbial activity and that microorganisms play a predominant role for rapid PTA degradation in Bracken-impacted soils.

Bioavailability and toxicity of soil particle-associated copper as determined by two bioluminescent Pseudomonas fluorescens biosensor strains

We report the development and application of a novel, solid phase-contact bioassay based on two whole-cell bacterial biosensor strains. Our data indicate that a significant fraction of particle-associated Cu may be available to bacteria in dilute soil suspensions but also support the conventional view that mainly the soluble fraction of Cu is directly available to bacteria under more realistic soil conditions.

Decreased abundance and diversity of culturable Pseudomonas spp. populations with increasing copper exposure in the sugar beet rhizosphere

Recent studies have indicated that culturable bacteria constitute highly sensitive bioindicators of metal-induced stress in soil. We report the impact of different copper exposure levels characteristic of contaminated agricultural soils on culturable Pseudomonas spp. in the rhizosphere of sugar beet. We observed that the abundance of Pseudomonas spp. was much more severely affected than that of the general population of culturable heterotrophic bacteria by copper. For diversity assessment, Pseudomonas isolates were divided into operational taxonomic units based on amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis and genomic PCR fingerprinting by universally primed PCR. Copper significantly decreased the diversity of Pseudomonas spp. in the rhizosphere and significantly increased the frequency of copper-resistant isolates. Concomitant chemical and biological analysis of copper in the rhizosphere and in bulk soil extracts indicated no rhizosphere effect and a relatively low copper bioavailability in the studied soil, suggesting that the observed effects of copper may occur at lower total concentrations in other soils. We conclude that culturable Pseudomonas sensu stricto constitutes a highly sensitive and relevant bioindicator group for the impact of copper in the rhizosphere habitat, and suggest that continued application of copper to agricultural soils poses a significant risk to successful rhizosphere colonization by Pseudomonas spp.

Influence of soil moisture on linear alkylbenzene sulfonate-induced toxicity in ammonia-oxidizing bacteria

Moisture affects bioavailability and fate of pollutants in soil, but very little is known about moisture-induced effects on pollutant toxicity. We here report on a modifying effect of moisture on degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LASs) and on their toxicity towards ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in agricultural soil. In soil spiked with two LAS levels (250 or 1,000 mg/kg) and incubated at four different moisture levels (9-100% of water-holding capacity), degradation was strongly affected by both soil moisture and initial LAS concentration, resulting in degradation half-lives ranging from 13 to more than 160 d. Toxicity towards AOB assessed by a novel Nitrosomonas europaea luxAB-reporter assay was correlated to total LAS concentration, indicating that LAS remained bioavailable over time without accumulation of toxic intermediates. Toxicity towards indigenous AOB increased with increasing soil moisture. The results indicate that dry soil conditions inhibit LAS degradation and provide protection against toxicity within the indigenous AOB, thus allowing for a rapid recovery of this population when LAS degradation is resumed and completed after rewetting. We propose that the protection of microbial populations against toxicity in dry soil may be a general phenomenon caused primarily by limited diffusion and thus a low bioavailability of the toxicant.

Solid-phase contact assay that uses a lux-marked Nitrosomonas europaea reporter strain to estimate toxicity of bioavailable linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in soil

Information about in situ toxicity of the bioavailable pools of adsorptive soil pollutants is a prerequisite for proper ecological risk assessment in contaminated soils. Such toxicity data may be obtained by assays allowing for direct exposure of introduced test microorganisms to the toxicants, as they appear in solid solution equilibria in the natural soil. We describe a novel sensitive solid-phase contact assay for in situ toxicity testing of soil pollutants based on a recombinant bioluminescent reporter strain of Nitrosomonas europaea. A slurry of the reporter strain and soil sample was shaken for 1 h, after which bioluminescence was measured either directly (soil slurry protocol) or in the supernatant obtained after centrifugation (soil extract protocol). The assay was validated for both protocols by using linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) as a toxic and adsorptive model compound in the soil samples. Interestingly, LAS showed the same toxicity to the reporter strain with either soil incubation (both protocols) or pure culture, suggesting that adsorbed LAS pools contributed to the observed toxicity. The solid-phase contact assay that used the reporter strain of lux-marked N. europaea was slightly more sensitive for the detection of LAS toxicity in soil than activity-based assays targeting indigenous nitrifiers and much more sensitive than assays targeting indigenous heterotrophic microbes. We conclude that the new solid-phase contact assay, which is based on direct interaction of the test microorganisms with bioavailable pools of the toxicants in soil, provides a most sensitive and relevant method for evaluating the in situ toxicity and assessing the risks of soil contaminants.

Toxic effects of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate on metabolic activity, growth rate, and microcolony formation of Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira strains

Strong inhibitory effects of the anionic surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) on four strains of autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are reported. Two Nitrosospira strains were considerably more sensitive to LAS than two Nitrosomonas strains were. Interestingly, the two Nitrosospira strains showed a weak capacity to remove LAS from the medium. This could not be attributed to adsorption or any other known physical or chemical process, suggesting that biodegradation of LAS took place. In each strain, the metabolic activity (50% effective concentration [EC(50)], 6 to 38 mg liter(-1)) was affected much less by LAS than the growth rate and viability (EC(50), 3 to 14 mg liter(-1)) were. However, at LAS levels that inhibited growth, metabolic activity took place only for 1 to 5 days, after which metabolic activity also ceased. The potential for adaptation to LAS exposure was investigated with Nitrosomonas europaea grown at a sublethal LAS level (10 mg liter(-1)); compared to control cells, preexposed cells showed severely affected cell functions (cessation of growth, loss of viability, and reduced NH(4)(+) oxidation activity), demonstrating that long-term incubation at sublethal LAS levels was also detrimental. Our data strongly suggest that AOB are more sensitive to LAS than most heterotrophic bacteria are, and we hypothesize that thermodynamic constraints make AOB more susceptible to surfactant-induced stress than heterotrophic bacteria are. We further suggest that AOB may comprise a sensitive indicator group which can be used to determine the impact of LAS on microbial communities.

Desulfocella halophila gen. nov., sp. nov., a halophilic, fatty-acid-oxidizing, sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from sediments of the Great Salt Lake

A new halophilic sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain GSL-But2T, was isolated from surface sediment of the Southern arm of the Great Salt Lake, UT, USA. The organism grew with a number of straight-chain fatty acids (C4-C16), 2-methylbutyrate, L-alanine and pyruvate as electron donors. Butyrate was oxidized incompletely to acetate. Sulfate, but not sulfite or thiosulfate, served as an electron acceptor. Growth was observed between 2 and 19% (w/v) NaCl with an optimum at 4-5% (w/v) NaCl. The optimal temperature and pH for growth were around 34 degrees C and pH 6.5-7.3, respectively. The generation time under optimal conditions in defined medium was around 28 h, compared to 20 h in complex medium containing yeast extract. The G+C content was 35.0 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain GSL-But2T belongs to the family Desulfobacteriaceae within the delta-subclass of the Proteobacteria and suggested that strain GSL-But2T represents a member of a new genus. The name Desulfocella halophila gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for this organism. The type strain of D. halophila is strain GSL-But2T (= DSM 11763T = ATCC 700426T).