Polyphasic analysis of an Azoarcus-Leptothrix dominated bacterial biofilm developed on stainless steel surface in a gasoline contaminated hypoxic groundwater.

Benedek, Tibor and Táncsics, András and Szabó, István and Farkas, Milán and Szoboszlay, Sándor and Maróti, Gergely and Kriszt, Balázs and Fábián, Krisztina (2016) Polyphasic analysis of an Azoarcus-Leptothrix dominated bacterial biofilm developed on stainless steel surface in a gasoline contaminated hypoxic groundwater. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH, 23 (9). pp. 9019-9035. ISSN 0944-1344

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Abstract

Pump and treat systems are widely used for hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater remediation. Although biofouling (formation of clogging biofilms on pump surfaces) is a common problem in these systems scarce information is available regarding the phylogenetic and functional complexity of such biofilms. Extensive information about the taxa and species, as well as metabolic potential of a bacterial biofilm developed on the stainless steel surface of a pump submerged in a gasoline contaminated hypoxic groundwater is presented. Results shed light on a complex network of interconnected hydrocarbon degrading chemoorganotrophic and chemolitotrophic bacteria. It was found that besides the well-known hydrocarbon degrading, aerobic/facultative anaerobic biofilm forming organisms (e.g. Azoarcus, Leptothrix, Acidovorax, Thauera, Pseudomonas etc.) representatives of Fe2+ and Mn2+ oxidizing (Thiobacillus, Sideroxydans, Gallionella, Rhodopseudomonas etc.), as well as of Fe3+ and Mn4+ respiring (Rhodoferax, Geobacter, Magnetospirillum, Sulfurimonas etc.) bacteria were present in the biofilm. The predominance of β-Proteobacteria within the biofilm bacterial community in phylogenetic and functional point of view was revealed. Investigation of meta-cleavage dioxygenase-, and bssA genes indicated that within the biofilm Azoarcus, Leptothrix, Zoogloea and Thauera species are most probably involved in intrinsic biodegradation of aromatic hydrocarbons supplementing thus the efficiency of the pump and treat system. Polyphasic analysis of the biofilm shed light on the fact that subsurface microbial accretions might be reservoirs of novel putatively hydrocarbon degrading bacterial species. Moreover, clogging biofilms besides their detrimental effects might supplement the efficiency of pump and treat systems.

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