Tanaka, M., Knowles, W., Brown, R. et al. (5 more authors) (2016) Biomagnetic recovery of selenium: Bioaccumulating of selenium granules in magnetotactic bacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 82 (13). pp. 3886-3891. ISSN 0099-2240
Abstract
Using microorganisms to remove waste and/or neutralize pollutants from contaminated water is attracting much attention due to the environmentally friendly nature of this methodology. However, cell recovery remains a bottleneck and a considerable challenge for the development of this process. Magnetotactic bacteria are a unique group of organisms that can be manipulated by an external magnetic field due to the presence of biogenic magnetite crystals formed within their cells. In this study, we demonstrated the first account of accumulation and precipitation of amorphous elemental selenium nanoparticles within magnetotactic bacteria alongside and independently to magnetite crystal biomineralisation when grown in a medium containing selenium oxyanion (SeO3 (2-)). Quantitative analysis shows that magnetotactic bacteria accumulate the highest amount of target molecules (Se) per cell than any other previously reported of non-ferrous metal/metalloid. For example, 2.4 and 174 times more Se is accumulated when compared to Te uptaken into cells and Cd(2+) adsorption onto the cell surface respectively. Crucially, the bacteria with high levels of Se accumulation were successfully recovered with an external magnetic field. This biomagnetic recovery and effective accumulation of target elements demonstrate the potential for application in bioremediation of polluted water. IMPORTANCE: The development of a technique for effective environmental water remediation is urgently required across the globe. A biological remediation process of waste removal and/or neutralization of pollutant from contaminated water using microorganism has great potential, but cell recovery remains a bottleneck. Magnetotactic bacteria synthesize magnetic particles within their cells, which can be recovered by a magnetic field. Herein, we report the first example of accumulation and precipitation of amorphous elemental selenium nanoparticles within magnetotactic bacteria independent of magnetic particle synthesis. The cells were able to accumulate the highest amount of Se compared to other foreign elements. More importantly, the Se accumulating bacteria were successfully recovered with an external magnetic field. We believe magnetotactic bacteria confer unique advantages of biomagnetic cell recovery and of Se accumulation, providing a new and effective methodology for bioremediation of polluted water.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. This is an author produced version of a paper subsequently published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Chemistry (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL (BBSRC) BB/H005412/2 ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL (EPSRC) EP/I032355/2 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 15 Jun 2016 12:24 |
Last Modified: | 02 Jul 2017 02:24 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/AEM.00508-16 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | American Society for Microbiology |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1128/AEM.00508-16 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:100830 |