title: Metabolic and genomic analysis elucidates strain-level variation in Microbacterium spp. isolated from chromate contaminated sediment.
abstract: Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a soluble carcinogen that has caused widespread contamination of soil and water in many industrial nations. Bacteria have the potential to aid remediation as certain strains can catalyze the reduction of Cr(VI) to insoluble and less toxic Cr(III). Here, we examine Cr(VI) reducing Microbacterium spp. (Cr-K1W, Cr-K20, Cr-K29, and Cr-K32) isolated from contaminated sediment (Seymore, Indiana) and show varying chromate responses despite the isolates' phylogenetic similarity (i.e., identical 16S rRNA gene sequences). Detailed analysis identified differences based on genomic metabolic potential, growth and general metabolic capabilities, and capacity to resist and reduce Cr(VI). Taken together, the discrepancies between the isolates demonstrate the complexity inter-strain variation can have on microbial physiology and related biogeochemical processes.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Great Lakes Research and Department of Biology, Central Michigan University , Mount Pleasant, MI , United States.
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Henson
authors.affiliation: National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency , Cincinnati, OH , USA.
authors.forename: Jorge W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Santo Domingo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Central Michigan University , Mount Pleasant, MI , United States.
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kourtev
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) , Blacksburg, VA , United States.
authors.forename: Roderick V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Institute for Great Lakes Research and Department of Biology, Central Michigan University , Mount Pleasant, MI , United States.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.affiliation: Institute for Great Lakes Research and Department of Biology, Central Michigan University , Mount Pleasant, MI , United States.
authors.forename: Deric R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Learman
keywords: Chromium reduction; Microbacterium; Strain-level variation