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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/118658
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Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Progressive biogeochemical transformation of placer gold particles drives compositional changes in associated biofilm communities |
Author: | Rea, M. Standish, C. Shuster, J. Bissett, A. Reith, F. |
Citation: | FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 2018; 94(6):fiy080-1-fiy080-15 |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Issue Date: | 2018 |
ISSN: | 0168-6496 1574-6941 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Maria Angelica Rea, Christopher D. Standish, Jeremiah Shuster, Andrew Bissett and Frank Reith |
Abstract: | Biofilms on placer gold (Au)-particle surfaces drive Au solubilization and re-concentration thereby progressively transforming the particles. Gold solubilization induces Au-toxicity; however, Au-detoxifying community members ameliorates Au-toxicity by precipitating soluble Au to metallic Au. We hypothesize that Au-dissolution and re-concentration (precipitation) places selective pressures on associated microbial communities, leading to compositional changes and subsequent Au-particle transformation. We analyzed Au-particles from eight United Kingdom sites using next generation sequencing, electron microscopy and micro-analyses. Gold particles contained biofilms composed of prokaryotic cells and extracellular polymeric substances intermixed with (bio)minerals. Across all sites communities were dominated by Proteobacteria (689, 97% Operational Taxonomic Units, 59.3% of total reads), with β-Proteobacteria being the most abundant. A wide range of Au-morphotypes including nanoparticles, micro-crystals, sheet-like Au and secondary rims, indicated that dissolution and re-precipitation occurred, and from this transformation indices were calculated. Multivariate statistical analyses showed a significant relationship between the extent of Au-particle transformation and biofilm community composition, with putative metal-resistant Au-cycling taxa linked to progressive Au transformation. These included the genera Pseudomonas, Leptothrix and Acinetobacter. Additionally, putative exoelectrogenic genera Rhodoferax and Geobacter were highly abundant. In conclusion, biogeochemical Au-cycling and Au-particle transformation occurred at all sites and exerted a strong influence on biofilm community composition. |
Keywords: | Gold; bacteria; biofilms; biogeochemistry; diversity; adaptation; NGS |
Rights: | © FEMS 2018. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com |
DOI: | 10.1093/femsec/fiy080 |
Grant ID: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT150100250 |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiy080 |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest 8 Molecular and Biomedical Science publications |
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