Biofilm formation, communication and interactions of leaching bacteria during colonization of pyrite and sulfur surfaces
Author
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Bellenberg, Soren
Author
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Díaz Beneventi, Mauricio
Author
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Noel, Nanni
Author
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Sand, Wolfgang
Author
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Poetsch, Ansgar
Author
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Dominique Guiliani, Nicolás
Author
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Vera, Mario
Admission date
dc.date.accessioned
2015-08-12T12:22:37Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2015-08-12T12:22:37Z
Publication date
dc.date.issued
2014
Cita de ítem
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Research in Microbiology 165 (2014) 773-781
en_US
Identifier
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DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.08.006
Identifier
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https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/132607
General note
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Artículo de publicación ISI
en_US
Abstract
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Bioleaching of metal sulfides is an interfacial process where biofilm formation is considered to be important in the initial steps of this process.
Among the factors regulating biofilm formation, molecular cell-to-cell communication such as quorum sensing is involved. A functional LuxIRtype
I quorum sensing system is present in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. However, cell-to-cell communication among different species of
acidophilic mineral-oxidizing bacteria has not been studied in detail. These aspects were the scope of this study with emphasis on the effects
exerted by the external addition of mixtures of synthetic N-acyl-homoserine-lactones on pure and binary cultures. Results revealed that some
mixtures had inhibitory effects on pyrite leaching. Some of them correlated with changes in biofilm formation patterns on pyrite coupons. We
also provide evidence that A. thiooxidans and Acidiferrobacter spp. produce N-acyl-homoserine-lactones. In addition, the observation that A.
thiooxidans cells attached more readily to pyrite pre-colonized by living iron-oxidizing acidophiles than to heat-inactivated or biofilm-free pyrite
grains suggests that other interactions also occur. Our experiments show that pre-cultivation conditions influence A. ferrooxidans attachment to
pre-colonized pyrite surfaces. The understanding of cell-to-cell communication may consequently be used to develop attempts to influence
biomining/bioremediation processes.