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Background Bacteria have developed different mechanisms for the transformation of metalloid oxyanions to non-toxic chemical forms. A number of bacterial isolates so far obtained in axenic culture has shown the ability to bioreduce selenite and tellurite to the elemental state in different conditions along with the formation of nanoparticles—both inside and outside the cells—characterized by a variety of morphological features. This reductive process can be considered of major importance for two reasons: firstly, toxic and soluble (i.e. bioavailable) compounds such as selenite and tellurite are converted to a less toxic chemical forms (i.e. zero valent state); secondly, chalcogen nanoparticles have attracted great interest due to their photoelectric and semiconducting properties. In addition, their exploitation as antimicrobial agents is currently becoming an area of intensive research in medical sciences. Results In the present study, the bacterial strain Ochrobactrum sp. MPV1, isolated from a dump of roasted arsenopyrites as residues of a formerly sulfuric acid production near Scarlino (Tuscany, Italy) was analyzed for its capability of efficaciously bioreducing the chalcogen oxyanions selenite (SeO 3 2− ) and tellurite (TeO 3 2− ) to their respective elemental forms (Se 0 and Te 0 ) in aerobic conditions, with generation of Se- and Te-nanoparticles (Se- and TeNPs). The isolate could bioconvert 2 mM SeO 3 2− and 0.5 mM TeO 3 2− to the corresponding Se 0 and Te 0 in 48 and 120 h, respectively. The intracellular accumulation of nanomaterials was demonstrated through electron microscopy. Moreover, several analyses were performed to shed light on the mechanisms involved in SeO 3 2− and TeO 3 2− bioreduction to their elemental states. Results obtained suggested that these oxyanions are bioconverted through two different mechanisms in Ochrobactrum sp. MPV1. Glutathione (GSH) seemed to play a key role in SeO 3 2− bioreduction, while TeO 3 2− bioconversion could be ascribed to the catalytic activity of intracellular NADH-dependent oxidoreductases. The organic coating surrounding biogenic Se- and TeNPs was also characterized through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. This analysis revealed interesting differences among the NPs produced by Ochrobactrum sp. MPV1 and suggested a possible different role of phospholipids and proteins in both biosynthesis and stabilization of such chalcogen-NPs. Conclusions In conclusion, Ochrobactrum sp. MPV1 has demonstrated to be an ideal candidate for the bioconversion of toxic oxyanions such as selenite and tellurite to their respective elemental forms, producing intracellular Se- and TeNPs possibly exploitable in biomedical and industrial applications.

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanomaterials, especially the mono- or few-layer ones, have received extensive research interest owing to their versatile properties, ranging from true metals (e.g., NbS 2 and VSe 2 ) and semimetals (e.g., WTe 2 and TiSe 2 ) to semiconductors (e.g., MoS 2 and We 2 ) and insulators (e.g., HfS 2 ). Therefore, the reliable production of these nanomaterials with atomically thin thickness and laterally uniform dimension is essential for their promising applications in transistors, photodetectors, electroluminescent devices, catalysis, energy conversion, environment remediation, biosensing, bioimaging, and so on. Recently, the electrochemical lithium ion intercalation-based exfoliation method has emerged as a mature, efficient and promising strategy for the high-yield production of mono- or few-layer TMD nanosheets; monolayer MoS 2 (yield of 92%), monolayer TaS 2 (yield of 93%) and bilayer TiS 2 (yield of 93%) with lateral dimensions of ~1 µm (refs. 1 – 3 ). This Protocol describes the details of experimental procedures for the high-yield synthesis of mono- or few-layer TMDs and other inorganic nanosheets such as MoS 2 , WS 2 , TiS 2 , TaS 2 , ZrS 2 , graphene, h-BN, NbSe 2 , WSe 2 , Sb 2 Se 3 and Bi 2 Te 3 by using the electrochemical lithium ion intercalation-based exfoliation method, which involves the electrochemical intercalation of lithium ions into layered inorganic crystals and a mild sonication process. The whole protocol takes 26–38 h for the successful production of ultrathin inorganic nanosheets. The electrochemical lithium ion intercalation-based exfoliation of mono- or few-layer transition metal dichalcogenides nanosheets described here results in materials that can be used in diverse applications, e.g., biosensing and catalysis.

Even though platinum group elements (PGE) solubilities are measured relative to pure metals, the PGE are assumed to dissolve as oxide complexes in silicate melts. PGE-oxide phases are, however, not known in magmatic rocks; in many cases PGE are associated with discrete magmatic phases (alloys, arsenides, bismuthotellurides, antimonides and sulfides). Here, we determine the concentrations of Pt, Pd, S, As, Se and Te in basaltic melts saturated with Fe, Pt or Pd sulfides, arsenides, selenides and tellurides and note that the solubilities of these elements are largely variable and depend on the metal–ligand reservoir in equilibrium. We equilibrated basaltic melts with immiscible Fe, Pt, and Pd sulfide, arsenide, selenide and telluride melts in a piston cylinder apparatus at 1250 °C, 0.5 GPa and relative fO2 of ~ FMQ to FMQ-1.5. The concentrations of S, As, Se and Te in the basaltic melt vary considerably with the metal–ligand reservoir; the highest concentrations are recorded when the ferrous iron cation is the principal metal ligand. When instead Pt-(S/As/Se/Te) or Pd-(S/As/Se/Te) are used, the concentrations of S, As, Se and Te fall drastically. Platinum and Pd increase the activities of semimetals and chalcogenes in the silicate melt more than Fe does. Implications are that Pt and Pd can preferentially form stable associations (fundamental building blocks) with chalcogens and semimetals before the melt attains saturation in Fe-chalcogens or Fe-semimetals. Estimated concentrations of Pt–ligand and Pd–ligand required to saturate silicate melts in some Pt–ligand and Pd–ligand minerals are close to their abundances in the parent magmas of some layered intrusions.

The perceived importance of tellurium (Te) in biological systems has lagged behind selenium (Se), its lighter sister in the Group 16 chalcogens, because of tellurium's lower crustal abundance, lower oxyanion solubility and biospheric mobility and the fact that, unlike Se, Te has yet to be found to be an essential trace element. Te applications in electronics, optics, batteries and mining industries have expanded during the last few years, leading to an increase in environmental Te contamination, thus renewing biological interest in Te toxicity. This chalcogen is rarely found in the nontoxic, elemental state (Te⁰), but its soluble oxyanions, tellurite (TeO₃²⁻) and tellurate (TeO₄²⁻), are toxic for most forms of life even at very low concentrations. Although a number of Te resistance determinants (TelR) have been identified in plasmids or in the bacterial chromosome of different species of bacteria, the genetic and/or biochemical basis underlying bacterial TeO₃²⁻ toxicity is still poorly understood. This review traces the history of Te in its biological interactions, its enigmatic toxicity, importance in cellular oxidative stress, and interaction in cysteine metabolism.

Crystals of the common rock-forming mineral pyroxene are made up of chains of silicon and oxygen atoms, spaced a nanometer (10-9meter or 10-7centimeter) apart. I gave this as an exam question: Unravel a cube of pyroxene, one centimeter (0.4 inch) on a side into a single chain. Would the chain reach from the White House to: The Washington Monument (one kilometer, 10⁵ cm) Chicago (1000 kilometers) The Moon (300,000 kilometers) Jupiter (1,000,000,000 kilometers) The correct answer is Jupiter. It’s a dirty exam question because most students do it right but then can’t believe their answer. If the chains