title: Characterization of bacterial communities in heavy metal contaminated soils.
abstract: Heavy metal pollution is a principle source of environmental contamination. We analyzed heavy metal impacted soil microbial communities and found that, in general, although lead adversely affected biomass, metabolic activity, and diversity, autochthonous lead- and cadmium-resistant isolates were found. In several metal-stressed soils, the microbial community consisted of two populations, either resistant or sensitive to lead. Additionally, a lead-resistant isolate was isolated from a control soil with no known previous exposure to lead, suggesting widespread lead resistance. Lead-resistant genera isolated included Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, and Enterobacter species. Plasmids, ranging from 5 to 260 kb, were not detected through standard purifications from lead-resistant isolates. Positive correlations existed between antibiotic resistance and isolation habitat for lead-resistant strains, microbial metabolic activity and soil type, soluble lead concentration and microbial diversity, and arsenic concentration and total or viable cell concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Idaho, Moscow 83844-3052, USA.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Roane
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kellogg
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007061:Idaho; D007854:Lead / Q000494:pharmacology; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008906:Mining; D010957:Plasmids; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D001151:Arsenic