title: Bacterial biodiversity from anthropogenic extreme environments: a hyper-alkaline and hyper-saline industrial residue contaminated by chromium and iron.
abstract: Anthropogenic extreme environments are among the most interesting sites for the bioprospection of extremophiles since the selection pressures may favor the presence of microorganisms of great interest for taxonomical and astrobiological research as well as for bioremediation technologies and industrial applications. In this work, T-RFLP and 16S rRNA gene library analyses were carried out to describe the autochthonous bacterial populations from an industrial waste characterized as hyper-alkaline (pH between 9 and 14), hyper-saline (around 100 PSU) and highly contaminated with metals, mainly chromium (from 5 to 18 g kg(-1)) and iron (from 2 to 108 g kg(-1)). Due to matrix interference with DNA extraction, a protocol optimization step was required in order to carry out molecular analyses. The most abundant populations, as evaluated by both T-RFLP and 16S rRNA gene library analyses, were affiliated to Bacillus and Lysobacter genera. Lysobacter related sequences were present in the three samples: solid residue and lixiviate sediments from both dry and wet seasons. Sequences related to Thiobacillus were also found; although strains affiliated to this genus are known to have tolerance to metals, they have not previously been detected in alkaline environments. Together with Bacillus (already described as a metal reducer), such organisms could be of use in bioremediation technologies for reducing chromium, as well as for the prospection of enzymes of biotechnological interest.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Ingeniería Ambiental, Departamento de Ingeniería Civil, División de Ingenierías, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico. emsbrito@gmail.com
authors.forename: Elcia M S
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Hilda A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Piñón-Castillo
authors.forename: Rémy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guyoneaud
authors.forename: César A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Caretta
authors.forename: J Félix
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Corona
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.forename: Georgina E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Reyna-López
authors.forename: G Virginia
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Nevárez-Moorillón
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fahy
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goñi-Urriza
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D054892:Metagenome; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D054712:Salinity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D007220:Industrial Waste; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D002857:Chromium; D007501:Iron