title: Precipitation of barite by Myxococcus xanthus: possible implications for the biogeochemical cycle of barium.
abstract: Bacterial precipitation of barite (BaSO(4)) under laboratory conditions is reported for the first time. The bacterium Myxococcus xanthus was cultivated in a solid medium with a diluted solution of barium chloride. Crystallization occurred as a result of the presence of live bacteria and the bacterial metabolic activity. A phosphorous-rich amorphous phase preceded the more crystalline barite formation. These experiments may indicate the involvement of bacteria in the barium biogeochemical cycle, which is closely related to the carbon cycle.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Campus Fuentenueva, Universidad de Granada, 18002 Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: González-Muñoz
authors.forename: Belén
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fernández-Luque
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martínez-Ruiz
authors.forename: Kaoutar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ben Chekroun
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Gallego
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Cañamero
authors.forename: Concepción
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Linares
authors.forename: Adina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paytan
mesh_terms: D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016941:Myxococcus xanthus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate