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Iron is a common cation in biomineral sand; it is present for example in magnetite produced by magnetotactic bacteria and in iron sulfides produced by sulfate reducing microorganisms. The work presented in this thesis focused on two types of microorganisms capable of forming iron biominerals. In the first project I have studied the effect of O2 on the respiratory physiology and the formation of magnetosomes by Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1. In the second project I have studied the relationship between olivine and the activity of dissimilatory sulfate reducing (DSR) microorganisms. For the first project, I grew cells of AMB-1 in cultures with various concentrations of O2 and monitored growth and the formation of magnetic mineral particles (MMP). Results have shown that AMB-1 cells grew better at 100-225 uMO2(aq) than at lower [O2], yet the formation of MMP was repressed at ~45 uM O2(aq) and strongly inhibited at >100 uM O2(aq).These results have helped better understand the dissimilarity between the optimal growth conditions of magnetotactic bacteria and the conditions needed for the formation of MMPs. My results have also shown that the reaction between H2S produced by DSRs and olivine is abiotic, not catalyzed and exergonic. The pH did not vary significantly during this reaction and pH variation (in the 5-9 range) did not significantly influence this chemical reaction. Bicarbonate inhibited the reaction between H2S and olivine, but not the chemical equilibrium. Phosphate, a weak iron chelator, influenced the equilibrium of the reaction and it is assumed to help increase the rate of olivine weathering in the presence of DSRs. The activity of DSRs was positively influenced by the presence and abundance of olivine. Based on my results I propose that olivine help DSR obtain energy more efficiently, but does not represent a source of energy or nutrients for the cells. These results helped better understand the formation of iron biominerals and signatures of this activity.

No description available.

Microbial-influenced corrosion (MIC) has been widely recognized as a significant economic and environmental problem in the oil and gas industry. MIC can be classified into two types based on the mechanisms: the extracellular electron transfer MIC (EET-MIC) and the metabolite MIC (M-MIC). The first includes electroactive bacteria that facilitate EET, while the latter includes bacteria that secrete corrosive metabolites. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is believed to cause EET-MIC in carbon steel, a widely used metal in the oil and gas industry. In previous electroactive bacteria studies, nanowires have been shown to facilitate EET by acting as electron mediators. This study investigates the use of magnetite nanowires as electron mediators to accelerate EET-MIC of C1020 by Desulfovibrio vulgaris. The addition of 40 ppm (w/w) nanowires to carbon steel incubated with D. vulgaris, corrosive SRB species, for seven days resulted in 45% weight loss and 57% deeper pitting of carbon steel. Furthermore, electrochemical measurements of open circuit potential, linear polarization resistance and potentiodynamic polarization were found to be parallel with weight loss and pitting results. Therefore, these findings highlight the possibility of using magnetic nanowires as an electron mediator with high efficiency and selectivity to EET-MIC for future MIC studies and applications.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an acidic, iron-rich leachate that causes the dissolution of metals. It constitutes a worldwide problem of environmental contamination detrimental to aquatic life and water quality. AMD, however, is naturally attenuated at Davis Mine in Rowe, Massachusetts. We hypothesize that sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are attenuating AMD. To elucidate the mechanisms by which SRB attenuate AMD, three research projects were conducted using a suite of molecular and geochemical techniques. First we established biological influence on the attenuation of AMD by comparing the microbial community and geochemical trends of microcosms of two contrasting areas within the site: AMD attenuating (AZ) and AMD generating (GZ) zones. The differences in geochemical trends between these zones were related to differences in microbial community membership. SRB were only detected in microcosms of the AZ, while iron oxidizers were only detected in the GZ. This study indicates that biological activity contributes to the attenuation of AMD and that SRB may have a role. To further describe the role of SRB, we determined the rates of sulfate reduction, the abundance, and membership of SRB in the second project. The sulfate reduction rate was weakly correlated with the abundance of SRB. This indicates that the SRB population may be utilizing another electron acceptor. One such electron acceptor would be iron, which was investigated in the third project. When SRB are inhibited, neither accumulation of reduced iron nor the formation of reduced iron sulfide precipitates occurred. Higher concentration of sulfide produced an increase in reduced iron and pH. Therefore, iron reduction mediated by reaction with biogenic sulfide contributes to the attenuation of AMD. This is the first report of the biological enhancement of iron reduction by acidotolerant SRB. The interdisciplinary research described in this dissertation provides evidence that SRB attenuate AMD through sulfate and iron reduction and a greater understanding of SRB in acidic environments. It also demonstrates how the biogeochemical cycling of sulfur is coupled to the iron cycle. Overall, the ubiquity and metabolic versatility of SRB offers boundless potential and exciting opportunities of study in the fields of bioremediation, geomicrobiology, and microbial ecology.

No description available.

No description available.

Le soufre existe dans l’hydrosphère dans des état d’oxydation allant des sulfates (+VI) aux sulfures (-II) et incluant de nombreuses espèces à des états d'oxydation intermédiaires, telles que le soufre élémentaire (0), les thiosulfates (-I, V) et les sulfites (IV). Ces espèces en particulier sont considérées comme des intermédiaires importants dans les réactions biologiques et abiotiques qui transforment (oxydent, réduisent ou dismutent) le soufre et sont fréquemment couplées aux cycles biogéochimiques du carbone, de l’azote, de l'oxygène et du fer.Les processus du cycle du soufre sont étudiés en mesurant les concentrations des différentes espèces contenant du soufre (analyse de spéciation) et en mesurant leur rapport isotopique respectif (analyse isotopique). Des difficultés analytiques sont fréquemment rencontrées, car les espèces soufrées, notamment celles de valence intermédiaire, sont présentes en faibles concentrations et sont difficiles à isoler. Ainsi, les rapports isotopiques des espèces de valence intermédiaire sont rarement déterminés. Les études des processus du cycle du soufre gagneraient grandement à l'amélioration des méthodes de mesure des rapports isotopiques des espèces de soufre inorganiques, en particulier des espèces intermédiaires les moins abondantes.Dans ce contexte, ce travail de thèse s’est consacré à l’élaboration de stratégies analytiques combinant spéciation et isotopie du soufre, afin de réaliser la mesure des rapports isotopiques du soufre de plusieurs espèces inorganiques présentes simultanément dans des échantillons liquides. Une méthode de spéciation permettant de quantifier les sulfites, les sulfates et les thiosulfates par chromatographie liquide couplée à un spectromètre de masse à plasma à couplage inductif haute résolution (LC-HR-ICP-MS) a tout d’abord été mise en place. Ensuite, une approche hors-ligne a été développée pour l’analyse isotopique des sulfures, des sulfates et des thiosulfates. Elle consiste en une préparation d’échantillon par précipitation séquentielle des espèces soufrées, suivie de leur analyse par analyseur élémentaire couplé à un spectromètre de masse à rapport isotopique (EA-IRMS). Cette méthode permet de déterminer les valeurs de δ34S des sulfures, des sulfates et des thiosulfates avec des incertitudes de mesure inférieures à 0,5 ‰ pour des échantillons d’eau contenant au moins 27 µg de soufre. Cette méthode a été appliquée à l’étude d’eaux de source et d’eaux d’un aquifère profond et au suivi du fractionnement isotopique du soufre dans une culture de bactéries sulfato-réductrices.Un couplage entre séparation anionique et détection par spectromètre de masse à plasma à couplage inductif multicollecteur (LC-MC-ICP-MS) a été mis au point pour la détermination en ligne des valeurs de δ34S des sulfites, des sulfates et des thiosulfates. Cette méthode nous a permis de déterminer δ34S des sulfites, des sulfates et des thiosulfates pour des échantillons d’eau contenant 1 µg de soufre par espèce avec des incertitudes de mesure inférieures à 0,6 ‰. / Sulfur is present in the hydrosphere at oxidation states ranging from sulfate (+VI) to sulfide (-II) and including many species at intermediate oxidation states, such as elemental sulfur (0), thiosulfate (-I, V) and sulfite (IV). These species in particular are considered as important intermediates in biological and abiotic reactions (oxidation, reduction or disproportionation) involving sulfur and are frequently coupled to the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and iron.Sulfur cycle processes are studied by measuring the concentrations of different species containing sulfur (speciation analysis) and by measuring their respective isotope ratios (isotopic analysis). Analytical difficulties are frequently encountered because sulfur species, especially intermediate valence species, are present in low concentrations and are difficult to isolate. Thus, the isotope ratios of intermediate valence species are rarely determined. Methods for measuring isotope ratios of inorganic sulfur species, particularly the least abundant intermediate species, would be a great assistance in deciphering sulfur cycle processes.In this context, this thesis work was devoted to the development of analytical strategies combining speciation and isotopic analysis of sulfur, in order to measure sulfur isotope ratios of several inorganic species that can be simultaneously present in liquid samples. First, a speciation method for quantifying sulfite, sulfate and thiosulfate by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LC-HR-ICP-MS) was set up. Then, an off-line approach was developed for the isotopic analysis of sulfide, sulfate and thiosulfate. It consisted of a sample preparation by sequential precipitation of the sulfur species, followed by elemental analyzer coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometer (EA-IRMS) analysis. This method made it possible to determine the δ34S values of sulfide, sulfate and thiosulfate with measurement uncertainties below 0.5 ‰ for water samples containing at least 27 µg of sulfur. This method has been applied to the study of spring waters and deep aquifer waters and the monitoring of isotopic fractionation of sulfur in a culture of sulfate-reducing bacteria.Moreover, an on-line analytical method coupling anionic separation and detection by multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LC-MC-ICP-MS) has been developed for the determination of δ34S values of sulfite, sulfate and thiosulfate. This method allowed us to determine δ34S of sulfite, sulfate and thiosulfate for water samples containing as little as 1 µg of sulfur per species with measurement uncertainties below 0.6 ‰.

Les Bactéries sulfato-réductrices (BSR) représentent un groupe fonctionnel majeur dans les habitats aquatiques en intervenant dans les processus de minéralisation de la matière organique. En plus de leur implication dans le cycle du carbone et du soufre, les BSR sont considérées comme les principaux producteurs de méthylmercure en milieu côtier, un composé neurotoxique extrêmement bioaccumulable dans les réseaux trophiques. Dans ce contexte, la diversité des BSR dans les sédiments et le panache de l'estuaire de l’Adour (France) a été évaluée par une approche polyphasique incluant le clonage des gènes dsrAB et une méthode de culture haut-débit en microplaques 384 puits. Ces deux techniques ont fourni des données très complémentaires et donc, une meilleure représentation de la diversité sulfato-réductrice réellement présente dans l’estuaire. La réduction des volumes de culture à raison de 100 µL a permis d’améliorer significativement l’efficacité d’isolement des BSR. Près de 200 souches ont été isolées et identifiées à partir des sédiments et du panache de l’estuaire, et plusieurs d'entre elles ont constitué de nouveaux taxons cultivés. En parallèle, un biosenseur luminescent sensible spécifiquement au méthylmercure a été appliqué pour l’étude de la méthylation du mercure par les BSR. Cet outil simple et rapide constitue une bonne alternative aux méthodes de détection chimique traditionnellement utilisées pour évaluer les potentiels de méthylation du mercure des micro-organismes. L’analyse de la production de méthylmercure chez 21 BSR affiliées à la famille des Desulfobulbaceae a permis d’identifier des souches méthylantes, dont certaines ont été identifiées comme abondantes dans les sédiments de l’estuaire. À long terme, l’utilisation du biosenseur pour l’analyse des capacités de méthylation du mercure chez les BSR ou d’autres groupes fonctionnels permettra de mieux connaître la distribution phylogénétique des micro-organismes méthylants et d'appréhender le déterminisme génétique de ces transformations. / Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria (SRB) represent a significant part of the standing microbial communities living in coastal sediments. This functional group is involved in the decomposition and the mineralization of organic matter as well as in the sulfur cycle. In addition, production of methylmercury was shown to be mainly driven by SRB in aquatic ecosystems. Environmental methylation of inorganic mercury constitutes a human health issue due to its neurotoxic effect and its biomagnification in aquatic food webs. In this context, sulfate-reducing diversity was evaluated in anoxic sediments, as well as in the water plume of the Adour estuary. SRB were characterized through a polyphasic approach including dsrAB genes analysis and high throughput isolations in 384-well microplates. As a result, the microplate approach contributed to assess a significant part of the sulfate-reducing community and provided complementary results to the molecular approach. High-throughput SRB isolation permitted a rapid access to numerous but also original strains and around 200 SRB were isolated and identified from the estuarine sediments and the estuarine plume. Beside, the mercury methylation potentials of 21 sulfate reducing strains were determined using a bacterial sensor. All strains were related to the Desulfobulbaceae family and the capacity to produce methylmercury varied a lot. This work permit to identify some methylating strains identified as abundant in the Adour estuarine sediments. On the long view, the use of the biosensor to assess the mercury methylation potential will offer a better knowledge on the distribution of methylating bacteria among the SRB and other functional groups and could help to identify the molecular determinism beside these transformations.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o comportamento de arquéias metanogênicas e bactérias redutoras de sulfato na presença de oxigênio, em reatores anaeróbios em batelada, sob condições sulfetogênicas e mesofílicas. Os reatores foram inoculados com lodo anaeróbio proveniente de reator UASB utilizado no tratamento de água residuária de avicultura. Triplicatas de reatores foram alimentadas com meio basal ZINDER, acrescido de acetato de sódio, etanol ou lactato de sódio e sulfato de sódio, de modo a se obter relações DQO/sulfato iniciais de 1,1-1,5. O headspace dos reatores foi preenchido com \'N IND.2\' (100%) acrescido de oxigênio puro comercial (3-3,5 mg/L de oxigênio dissolvido). Os reatores anaeróbios controle foram alimentados com os mesmos substratos orgânicos, entretanto, seu headspace foi preenchido com \'N IND.2\'/\'CO IND.2\' (70/30%). Nos reatores com acetato de sódio, etanol e lactato de sódio as velocidades de produção de metano foram de 0,30 mmol/L.h, 0,41 mmol/L.h e 0,16 mmol/L.h, respectivamente, para os reatores controle. Em relação aos reatores com oxigênio os valores foram de 0,27 mmol/L.h, 0,40 mmol/L.h e 0,08 mmol/L.h, respectivamente. Na presença de acetato, etanol e lactato a redução de sulfato foi de 57% e 97%; 59,6% e 76,6%; 77,5% e 41,9%, respectivamente, nos reatores controle e com oxigênio. Nos reatores com acetato e etanol houve predomínio de organismos do domínio Archaea nos reatores controle (59,2% e 58,8%) e com oxigênio (60,7% e 54,5%), respectivamente. No reator controle contendo lactato, também ocorreu o predomínio de arquéias metanogênicas (56,2%), enquanto na presença de oxigênio houve predomínio de organismos do domínio Bacteria (63,9%). As proporções de BRS nos reatores controle e com oxigênio contendo acetato, etanol e lactato foram de 22% e 17,3%; 28% e 16,9%; 19,5% e 21,9%, respectivamente. O oxigênio não inibiu a metanogênese e nem a redução de sulfato nos reatores contendo acetato e etanol. / This work aimed to evaluate the behavior of methanogenic archaea and sulfate reducing bacteria in the presence of oxygen, using anaerobic batch reactors under sulfidogenic and mesophilic conditions. The reactors were inoculated with anaerobic sludge from UASB reactor treating poultry wastes. Third copies of the reactors were fed with ZINDER medium, increased with sodium acetate, ethanol or sodium lactate and sodium sulfate, in order to get COD/sulfate ratio of 1,1-1,5. The headspace of the reactors was filled with \'N IND.2\' (100%) and increased with oxygen (OD concentration of 3-3.5 mg/L). The anaerobic control reactors were fed with the same organics substrates, however, the headspace was filled with \'N IND.2\'/\'CO IND.2\' (70/30%). The rates of methane production were 0.30 mmol/L.h, 0.41 mmol/L.h and 0.16 mmol/L.h, in acetate, ethanol and lactate controls reactors, respectively. In oxygen reactors, the rates of methane production were 0.27 mmol/L.h, 0.40 mmol/L.h and 0.08 mmol/L.h in acetate, ethanol and lactate reactors, respectively. The rates of sulfate reduction in acetate, ethanol and lactate reactors were 57% and 97%; 59.6% and 76.6%; 77.5% and 41.9%, respectively, in control reactors and oxygen reactors. In acetate and ethanol reactors, were verified predominance of Archaea domain in control reactors (59.2% and 58.8%) and oxygen reactors (60.7% and 54.5%), respectively. In lactate control reactor also was verified predominance of Archaea domain (56.2%), whereas in lactate oxygen reactors there was predominance of cells belonging to Bacteria domain (63.9%). BRS ratio in acetate, ethanol and lactate control reactors and oxygen reactors corresponded to 22% and 17.3%; 28% and 16.9%; 19.5% and 21.9%, respectively. The addition of oxygen didn\'t inhibit the methanogenesis and sulfate reduction in acetate reactors and in ethanol reactors.