Journal Article

Diversity and distribution of iron-oxidising bacteria belonging to Gallionellaceae in different sites of a hydroelectric power plant

Guañabens, Anna Carolina Paganini, de Holanda Moura, Marcelo Victor, Jorge, Erika Cristina, de Paula, Rayan Silva, Gonçalves, Carlos Alberto Xavier, Andrade, Gabriela Rabelo, Cardoso, Antonio Valadão, de Paula Reis, Mariana, Nascimento, Andréa Maria Amaral, e Souza, Clara Carvalho

2024

Overview

Iron (Fe) is the fourth most abundant element on the planet, and iron-oxidising bacteria (FeOB) play an important role in the biogeochemical cycle of this metal in nature. FeOB stands out as Fe oxidisers in microaerophilic environments, and new members of this group have been increasingly discussed in the literature, even though their isolation can still be challenging. Among these bacteria is the Gallionellaceae family, mainly composed of neutrophilic FeOB, highlighting Gallionella ferruginea , and nitrite-oxidiser genera. In the previous metagenomic study of the biofilm and sediments of the cooling system from the Irapé hydroelectric power plant (HPP-Irapé), 5% of the total bacteria sequences were related to Gallionellaceae, being 99% unclassified at genus level. Thus, in the present study, a phylogenetic tree based on this family was constructed, in order to search for shared and unique Gallionellaceae signatures in a deep phylogenetic level affiliation and correlated them with geomorphologic characteristics. The results revealed that Gallionella and Ferrigenium were ubiquitous reflecting their ability to adapt to various locations in the power plant. The cave was considered a hotspot for neutrophilic FeOB since it harboured most of the Gallionellaceae diversity. Microscopic biosignatures were detected only in the CS1 sample, which presented abundance of the stalk-forming Ferriphaselus and of the sheath-forming Crenothrix . Further studies are required to provide more detailed insights on Gallionellaceae distribution and diversity patterns in hydroelectric power plants, particularly its biotechnological potential in this industry.

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Bacteria / Biofilms / Biogeochemical cycles / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biotechnology / Cooling systems / Environmental Microbiology - Short Communication / Food Microbiology / Gallionellaceae / Gallionellaceae - genetics / Geomorphology / Heat exchangers / Hydroelectric plants / Hydroelectric power / Iron / Leukocytes (neutrophilic) / Life Sciences / Medical Microbiology / Metabolism / Metagenomics / Metals / Microbial Ecology / Microbial Genetics and Genomics / Microbiology / Mycology / Oxidation / Oxidation-Reduction / Oxidizing agents / Phylogenetics / Phylogeny / Power plants / Scanning electron microscopy / Sediments / Sheaths / Software / Spectrum analysis / Sulfur