A - Papers appearing in refereed journals
Redmile-Gordon, M. A. and Chen, L. 2017. Zinc toxicity stimulates microbial production of extracellular polymers in a copiotrophic acid soil. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation. 119 (April), pp. 413-418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2016.10.004
Authors | Redmile-Gordon, M. A. and Chen, L. |
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Abstract | The production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) is crucial for biofilm structure, microbial nutrition and proximal stability of habitat in a variety of environments. However, the production patterns of microbial EPS in soils as affected by heavy metal contamination remain uncertain. Here we investigate the extracellular response of the native microbial biomass in a grassland soil treated with refined glycerol or crude unrefined biodiesel co-product (BCP) with and without ZnCl2. We extracted microbial EPS and more readily soluble microbial products (SMP), and quantified total polysaccharide, uronic acid, and protein content in these respective extracts. Organic addition, especially BCP, significantly stimulated the production of EPS-polysaccharide and protein but had no impact on EPS-uronic acids, while in the SMP-fraction, polysaccharides and uronic acids were both significantly increased. In response to the inclusion of Zn2+, both EPS- and SMP-polysaccharides increased. This implies firstly that a tolerance mechanism of soil microorganisms against Zn2+ toxicity exists through the stimulation of SMP and EPS production, and secondly that co-products of biofuel industries may have value-added use in bioremediation efforts to support in-situ production of microbial biopolymers. Microbial films and mobile polymers are likely to impact a range of soil properties. The recent focus on EPS research in soils is anticipated to help contribute an improved understanding of biofilm dynamics in other complex systems - such as continuously operated bioreactors. |
Keywords | extracellular polymeric substances; biodiesel co-product; soil biofilms; bioremediation; heavy metal; exudate polysaccharide |
Year of Publication | 2017 |
Journal | International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation |
Journal citation | 119 (April), pp. 413-418 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2016.10.004 |
Open access | Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access |
Funder | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council |
Funder project or code | Delivering Sustainable Systems (SS) [ISPG] |
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A novel low cost method for reducing nitrate leaching in soil | |
Publisher's version | Copyright license CC BY |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 19 Oct 2016 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 03 Oct 2016 |
ISSN | 0964-8305 |
Publisher | Elsevier Sci Ltd |
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