title: Discrimination of bacteria from Jamaican bauxite soils using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.
abstract: Soil bacteria are sensitive to ecological change and can be assessed to gauge anthropogenic influences and ecosystem health. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the focus on new technologies that can be applied to the evaluation of soil quality. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a promising technique that has been used for the investigation and characterization of explosives, solids, liquids, gases, biological and environmental samples. In this study, bacteria from un-mined and a chronosequence of reclaimed bauxite soils were isolated on Luria-Bertani agar media. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of the bacterial 16S rDNA, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis were applied to each isolated soil bacteria from the sample sites resulting in the identification and classification of the organisms. Femtosecond LIBS performed on the isolated bacteria showed atomic and ionic emission lines in the spectrum containing inorganic elements such as sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and calcium (Ca). Principal component analysis and partial least squares regression analysis were performed on the acquired bacterial spectra demonstrating that LIBS has the potential to differentiate and discriminate among bacteria in the un-mined and reclaimed chronosequence of bauxite soils.
authors.affiliation: Center for Plasma Science and Technology, Department of Physics, Florida A&M University, 2077 E. Paul Dirac Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA. dawnelewis@cepast.famu.edu
authors.forename: Dawn E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Charlemagne A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Akpovo
authors.forename: Lewis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Ashvini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Maurice D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Edington
mesh_terms: D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007834:Lasers; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D000537:Aluminum Oxide