Barite (BaSO4) biomineralization at Flybye Springs, a cold sulphur spring system in Canada's Northwest Territories

2007 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 835-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandy M Bonny ◽  
Brian Jones
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Microbial Mats ◽  
Outer Cell ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Average Temperature ◽  
Passive Adsorption ◽  
Spring System ◽  
Sulphur Spring ◽  
Reducing Bacteria

The Flybye Springs, Northwest Territories, consist of 10 active vents and numerous small seeps that discharge sulphide- and barium-rich spring waters at an average temperature 8.5 °C. Oxidation of sulphide to sulphate drives precipitation of stellate and platy barite microcrystals in the proximal flow paths. Downstream, and in vent- and tributary-fed ponds, barite is precipitated among streamer and mat forming colonies of sulphur-tolerant microbes, including Thiothrix, Beggiatoa, Thioploca, Chromatium, Oscillatoria, fungi (dominantly Penicillium), and unicellular sulphate reducing bacteria. These microbes mediate barite saturation by adjusting redox gradients and via passive adsorption of barium ions to cell surfaces and extracellular polymeric substances. Passive biomineralization produces barite laminae in floating microbial mats, nanometric coatings, and micrometric encrustations around microbial cells and filaments, and local permineralization of Thiothrix, Beggiatoa, and Oscillatoria outer cell walls. Intracellular barium enrichment and (or) metabolic sulphur oxidation may be important to "active biomineralization" that produces nanometric barite globules on the tips of fungal hyphae, barite-filled cell cavities in Beggiatoa and Thiothrix, and baritized sulphur globules. Degradation of biomineralized cells generates detrital "microfossils," including barite tunnels, layered cylinders, solid cylindrical grains and chains of barite beads. The diversity of inorganic and biomineralized barite in the Flybye Springs flow path highlights the influence of ambient chemistry, microbial metabolism, and cellular structure on barite solubility and on the taphonomy of microfossils preserved in barite.

Microbes and mineral precipitation, Miette Hot Springs, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

2003 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
pp. 1483-1500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandy Bonny ◽  
Brian Jones
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Microbial Mats ◽  
Hot Springs ◽  
Crystal Habit ◽  
Microbial Populations ◽  
Diatom Assemblages ◽  
Mineral Precipitation ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Reducing Bacteria ◽  
Distal Flow

At Miette Hot Springs, SO42–/H2S-, Ca2+-, Sr2+-, and CO32–-rich waters with a mean temperature of 51.2 °C are ejected from three spring vents and several minor seeps near the floor of Sulphur Creek valley. Runoff channels from the springs are colonized by cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria, Phormidium, Gloeocapsa, Synechococcus, Xenococcus) that grow in resistant mats and as loose filaments within 0.5 m of the spring vents, diatom assemblages (Cymbella, Mastagloia, Brachysira, Sellaphora, Rhopalodia, Nitzschia, Navicula, Pinnularia) that dominate the flow paths 0.5–2.0 m from the vents, and microbial mats with cyanobacteria and diatoms in the distal flow paths. Sulphate-reducing bacteria and green algae are also present. Gypsum, elemental sulphur, and lesser quantities of calcite and strontianite precipitate from the spring waters. Microbial populations influence accumulation of mineral precipitates by (i) forming mats close to the spring vents on which crystals grow, (ii) forming mats alongside the flow paths that trap and bind precipitates, and (iii) providing loose filaments to which microscopic gypsum crystals adhere. The microbes also influence crystal habit by (i) creating pores on the surfaces of gypsum crystals where smaller crystal precipitates form, and (ii) producing intercellular mucus in microbial mats, where suspended crystals can grow in all directions to produce polyterminal calcite crystals. Diatoms also mediate corrosion of the faces of calcite and gypsum crystals. Enriched δ13Cinorganicsignatures in the precipitates associated with microbial communities indicate that photosynthesis may promote precipitation of calcite and strontianite.

scholarly journals Ferrihydrite Reduction by Photosynthetic Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and Its Correlation With Electricity Generation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenya Tanaka ◽  
Ginga Shimakawa ◽  
Shoko Kusama ◽  
Takashi Harada ◽  
Souichiro Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Microbial Mats ◽  
Microbial Reduction ◽  
Extracellular Electron Transfer ◽  
Solid State Electron ◽  
Exogenous Glucose ◽  
Photosynthetic Microorganisms ◽  
Dark Conditions ◽  
Reducing Bacteria ◽  
Pcc 6803

Microbial extracellular electron transfer (EET) to solid-state electron acceptors such as anodes and metal oxides, which was originally identified in dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria, is a key process in microbial electricity generation and the biogeochemical cycling of metals. Although it is now known that photosynthetic microorganisms can also generate (photo)currents via EET, which has attracted much interest in the field of biophotovoltaics, little is known about the reduction of metal (hydr)oxides via photosynthetic microbial EET. The present work quantitatively assessed the reduction of ferrihydrite in conjunction with the EET of the photosynthetic microbe Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Microbial reduction of ferrihydrite was found to be initiated in response to light but proceeded at higher rates when exogenous glucose was added, even under dark conditions. These results indicate that current generation from Synechocystis cells does not always need light irradiation. The qualitative trends exhibited by the ferrihydrite reduction rates under various conditions showed significant correlation with those of the microbial currents. Notably, the maximum concentration of Fe(II) generated by the cyanobacterial cells under dark conditions in the presence of glucose was comparable to the levels observed in the photic layers of Fe-rich microbial mats.

scholarly journals Late Anisian microbe-metazoan build-ups ('stromatolites') in the Germanic Basin — aftermath of the Permian — Triassic Crisis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Pei ◽  
Jan-peter Duda ◽  
Jan Schoenig ◽  
Cui Luo ◽  
Joachim Reitner
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Mats ◽  
Middle Triassic ◽  
Ecological Niches ◽  
Carbon And Oxygen Isotopes ◽  
Germanic Basin ◽  
Sulfate Reducing ◽  
Mutualistic Relationship ◽  
Relative Rarity ◽  
Geochemical Analyses ◽  
Reducing Bacteria

The so-called Permian — Triassic mass extinction was followed by a prolonged period of ecological recovery that lasted until the Middle Triassic. Triassic stromatolites from the Germanic Basin seem to be an important part of the puzzle, but have barely been investigated so far. Here we analyzed late Anisian (upper Middle Muschelkalk) stromatolites from across the Germanic Basin by combining petrographic approaches (optical microscopy, micro X-ray fluorescence, Raman imaging) and geochemical analyses (sedimentary hydrocarbons, stable carbon and oxygen isotopes). Paleontological and sedimentological evidence, such as Placunopsis bivalves, intraclasts and disrupted laminated fabrics, indicate that the stromatolites formed in subtidal, shallow marine settings. This interpretation is consistent with δ13Ccarb of about -2.1 % to -0.4 %. Occurrences of calcite pseudomorphs after gypsum suggest slightly evaporitic environments, which is well in line with the relative rarity of fossils in the host strata. Remarkably, the stromatolites are composed of microbes (perhaps cyanobacteria and sulfate reducing bacteria) and metazoans such as non-spicular demosponges, Placunopsis bivalves, and/or Spirobis-like worm tubes. Therefore, these ″stromatolites″ should more correctly be referred to as microbe-metazoan build-ups. They are characterized by diverse lamination types, including planar, wavy, domal and conical ones. Microbial mats likely played an important role in forming the planar and wavy laminations. Domal and conical laminations commonly show clotted to peloidal features and mesh-like fabrics, attributed to fossilized non-spicular demosponges. Our observations not only point up that non-spicular demosponges are easily overlooked and might be mistakenly interpreted as stromatolites, but also demonstrate that microbe-metazoan build-ups were widespread in the Germanic Basin during Early to Middle Triassic times. In the light of our findings, it appears plausible that the involved organisms benefited from elevated salinities. Another (not necessarily contradictory) possibility is that the mutualistic relationship between microbes and non-spicular demosponges enabled these organisms to fill ecological niches cleared by the Permian — Triassic Crisis. If that is to be the case, it means that such microbe-metazoan associations maintained their advantage until the Middle Triassic.

scholarly journals Behavior and Mechanism of Cesium Biosorption from Aqueous Solution by Living Synechococcus PCC7002

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Runlan Yu ◽  
Hongsheng Chai ◽  
Zhaojing Yu ◽  
Xueling Wu ◽  
Yuandong Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Extracellular Proteins ◽  
Biosorption Mechanism ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Passive Adsorption ◽  
Pseudo Second Order ◽  
Cs Ions

Many efforts have focused on the adsorption of metals from contaminated water by microbes. Synechococcus PCC7002, a major marine cyanobacteria, is widely applied to remove metals from the ocean’s photic zone. However, its ability to adsorb cesium (Cs) nuclides has received little attention. In this study, the biosorption behavior of Cs(I) from ultrapure distilled water by living Synechococcus PCC7002 was investigated based on kinetic and isotherm studies, and the biosorption mechanism was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and three-dimensional excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy. Synechococcus PCC7002 showed extremely high tolerance to Cs ions and its minimal inhibitory concentration was 8.6 g/L. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in Synechococcus PCC7002 played a vital role in this tolerance. The biosorption of Cs by Synechococcus PCC7002 conformed to a Freundlich-type isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics. The binding of Cs(I) was primarily attributed to the extracellular proteins in EPS, with the amino, hydroxyl, and phosphate groups on the cell walls contributing to Cs adsorption. The biosorption of Cs involved two mechanisms: Passive adsorption on the cell surface at low Cs concentrations and active intracellular adsorption at high Cs concentrations. The results demonstrate that the behavior and mechanism of Cs adsorption by Synechococcus PCC7002 differ based on the Cs ions concentration.

scholarly journals Can Primary Ferroan Dolomite and Ankerite Be Precipitated? Its Implications for Formation of Submarine Methane-Derived Authigenic Carbonate (MDAC) Chimney

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan Xu ◽  
Xuelian You ◽  
Qing Li ◽  
Yi Liu
Keyword(s):  
Iron Reduction ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Microbial Culture ◽  
Reduction Zone ◽  
Secondary Products ◽  
Iron Reducing Bacteria ◽  
Sulfate Reducing ◽  
Dolomite Problem ◽  
Reducing Bacteria ◽  
Ferroan Dolomite

Microbes can mediate the precipitation of primary dolomite under surface conditions. Meanwhile, primary dolomite mediated by microbes often contains more Fe2+ than standard dolomite in modern microbial culture experiments. Ferroan dolomite and ankerite have been regarded as secondary products. This paper reviews the process and possible mechanisms of microbial mediated precipitation of primary ferroan dolomite and/or ankerite. In the microbial geochemical Fe cycle, many dissimilatory iron-reducing bacteria (DIRB), sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), and methanogens can reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+, while SRB and methanogens can also promote the precipitation of primary dolomite. There are an oxygen respiration zone (ORZ), an iron reduction zone (IRZ), a sulfate reduction zone (SRZ), and a methanogenesis zone (MZ) from top to bottom in the muddy sediment diagenesis zone. DIRB in IRZ provide the lower section with Fe2+, which composes many enzymes and proteins to participate in metabolic processes of SRB and methanogens. Lastly, heterogeneous nucleation of ferroan dolomite on extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and cell surfaces is mediated by SRB and methanogens. Exploring the origin of microbial ferroan dolomite may help to solve the “dolomite problem”.

scholarly journals Nanoscale Structural and Mechanical Properties of Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Biofilms

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (8) ◽  
pp. 2512-2520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Terán Arce ◽  
Ross Carlson ◽  
James Monds ◽  
Richard Veeh ◽  
Fen Z. Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Haemophilus Influenzae ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Single Cells ◽  
Turgor Pressure ◽  
Outer Cell ◽  
Nontypeable Haemophilus Influenzae ◽  
Chronic Infections ◽  
Pathogenic Factors

ABSTRACT Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) bacteria are commensals in the human nasopharynx, as well as pathogens associated with a spectrum of acute and chronic infections. Two important factors that influence NTHI pathogenicity are their ability to adhere to human tissue and their ability to form biofilms. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and bacterial appendages such as pili critically influence cell adhesion and intercellular cohesion during biofilm formation. Structural components in the outer cell membrane, such as lipopolysaccharides, also play a fundamental role in infection of the host organism. In spite of their importance, these pathogenic factors are not yet well characterized at the nanoscale. Here, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used in aqueous environments to visualize structural details, including probable Hif-type pili, of live NTHI bacteria at the early stages of biofilm formation. Using single-molecule AFM-based spectroscopy, the molecular elasticities of lipooligosaccharides present on NTHI cell surfaces were analyzed and compared between two strains (PittEE and PittGG) with very different pathogenicity profiles. Furthermore, the stiffness of single cells of both strains was measured and subsequently their turgor pressure was estimated.

scholarly journals The influence of microbial mats on travertine precipitation in active hydrothermal systems (Central Italy)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Della Porta ◽  
Joachim Reitner
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Microbial Mats ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Hydrothermal Systems ◽  
Crystal Nucleation ◽  
Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Slope System ◽  
Aluminium Silicates

ABSTRACTThe study of hydrothermal travertines contributes to the understanding of the interaction between physico-chemical processes and the role played by microbial mats and biofilms in influencing carbonate precipitation. Three active travertine sites were investigated in Central Italy to identify the types of carbonate precipitates and the associated microbial mats at varying physico-chemical parameters. Carbonate precipitated fabrics at the decimetre- to millimetre-scale and microbial mats vary with decreasing water temperature: a) at high temperature (55-44°C) calcite or aragonite crystals precipitate on microbial mats of sulphide oxidizing, sulphate reducing and anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria forming filamentous streamer fabrics, b) at intermediate temperature (44-40°C), rafts, coated gas bubbles and dendrites are associated with Spirulina cyanobacteria and other filamentous and rod-shaped cyanobacteria, c) low temperature (34-33°C) laminated crusts and oncoids in a terraced slope system are associated with diverse Oscillatoriales and Nostocales filamentous cyanobacteria, sparse Spirulina and diatoms. At the microscale, carbonate precipitates are similar in the three sites consisting of prismatic calcite (40-100 μm long, 20-40 μm wide) or acicular aragonite crystals organized in radial spherulites, overlying or embedded within biofilm EPS (Extracellular Polymeric Substances). Microsparite and sparite crystal size decreases with decreasing temperature and clotted peloidal micrite dominates at temperatures < 40°C, also encrusting filamentous microbes. Carbonates are associated with gypsum and Ca-phosphate crystals; EPS elemental composition is enriched in Si, Al, Mg, Ca, P, S and authigenic aluminium-silicates form aggregates on EPS.This study confirms that microbial communities in hydrothermal travertine settings vary as a function of temperature. Carbonate precipitate types at the microscale do not vary considerably, despite different microbial communities suggesting that travertine precipitation, driven by CO2 degassing, is influenced by biofilm EPS acting as template for crystal nucleation (EPS-mediated mineralization) and affecting the fabric types, independently from specific microbial metabolism.

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