title: Characterization of novel Acidobacteria exopolysaccharides with potential industrial and ecological applications.
abstract: Acidobacteria have been described as one of the most abundant and ubiquitous bacterial phyla in soil. However, factors contributing to this ecological success are not well elucidated mainly due to difficulties in bacterial isolation. Acidobacteria may be able to survive for long periods in soil due to protection provided by secreted extracellular polymeric substances that include exopolysaccharides (EPSs). Here we present the first study to characterize EPSs derived from two strains of Acidobacteria from subdivision 1 belonging to Granulicella sp. EPS are unique heteropolysaccharides containing mannose, glucose, galactose and xylose as major components, and are modified with carboxyl and methoxyl functional groups that we characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Both EPS compounds we identified can efficiently emulsify various oils (sunflower seed, diesel, and liquid paraffin) and hydrocarbons (toluene and hexane). Moreover, the emulsions are more thermostable over time than those of commercialized xanthan. Acidobacterial EPS can now be explored as a source of biopolymers that may be attractive and valuable for industrial applications due to their natural origin, sustainability, biodegradability and low toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Department of Microbial Ecology, P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kielak
authors.affiliation: São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Rod. Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane km 5, CEP 14884-900, Jaboticabal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tereza C L
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Castellane
authors.affiliation: São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Rod. Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane km 5, CEP 14884-900, Jaboticabal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joao C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Campanharo
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Instrumentação, Rua XV de Novembro, 1452, CEP 13560-970, São Carlos, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Colnago
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Department of Microbial Ecology, P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ohana Y A
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (Unesp), Departmento de Química e Bioquímica, Rua Roberto Símonsen, 305, CEP 19060-900, Presidente Prudente, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Corradi da Silva
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Department of Microbial Ecology, P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Veen
authors.affiliation: São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Rod. Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane km 5, CEP 14884-900, Jaboticabal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliana G M
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lemos
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Department of Microbial Ecology, P.O. Box 50, 6700 AB, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eiko E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Kuramae
mesh_terms: D061271:Acidobacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D001704:Biopolymers; D045703:Emulsifying Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry; D009005:Monosaccharides / Q000737:chemistry; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012212:Rheology; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D045703:Emulsifying Agents; D004655:Emulsions; D009005:Monosaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial