In situ imaging of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on pyrite under conditions of variable pH using tapping mode atomic force microscopy
Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans cells attached to pyrite surfaces were imaged using in situ tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). The attached bacteria were dispersed in small groups without preferred orientation or site specific preference. The importance of extracellular polymeric substan...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Elsevier
2011
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5491 |
| _version_ | 1848744812004507648 |
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| author | Becker, Thomas Gorham, Nicole Shiers, D. Watling, H. |
| author_facet | Becker, Thomas Gorham, Nicole Shiers, D. Watling, H. |
| author_sort | Becker, Thomas |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans cells attached to pyrite surfaces were imaged using in situ tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). The attached bacteria were dispersed in small groups without preferred orientation or site specific preference. The importance of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production by cells upon changing pH was examined. Bacteria detached or were dislodged and no EPS was detected for a rapid decrease from pH 2.2 to pH 1.0 in the solution. In contrast, a layer of EPS with increasing thickness was observed for a decrease from pH 2.2 to pH 1.4. Upon further acidification (pH 0.9) the cells were not dislodged but the thickness of the EPS layer decreased immediately, which is attributed to structural re-arrangements of the polymeric chains within the EPS network. This suggests that the bacteria respond to stress caused by increased acidity by expressing EPS, which acts as a buffer against unfavourable conditions in the environment. Secondary mineral formation (‘scale’) on the pyrite surface was found to form only in the presence of microorganisms and eventually covered the pyrite surface. Bacterial cells did not attach to the scale surface. Upon scale removal, etch pits with similar shape to bacterial cells were observed in the underlying pyrite surface. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:07:24Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-5491 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:07:24Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-54912017-09-13T16:06:54Z In situ imaging of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on pyrite under conditions of variable pH using tapping mode atomic force microscopy Becker, Thomas Gorham, Nicole Shiers, D. Watling, H. Sulfide Bioleaching Atomic force microscopy (AFM) Sulfobacillus Bacterial attachment Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans cells attached to pyrite surfaces were imaged using in situ tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). The attached bacteria were dispersed in small groups without preferred orientation or site specific preference. The importance of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production by cells upon changing pH was examined. Bacteria detached or were dislodged and no EPS was detected for a rapid decrease from pH 2.2 to pH 1.0 in the solution. In contrast, a layer of EPS with increasing thickness was observed for a decrease from pH 2.2 to pH 1.4. Upon further acidification (pH 0.9) the cells were not dislodged but the thickness of the EPS layer decreased immediately, which is attributed to structural re-arrangements of the polymeric chains within the EPS network. This suggests that the bacteria respond to stress caused by increased acidity by expressing EPS, which acts as a buffer against unfavourable conditions in the environment. Secondary mineral formation (‘scale’) on the pyrite surface was found to form only in the presence of microorganisms and eventually covered the pyrite surface. Bacterial cells did not attach to the scale surface. Upon scale removal, etch pits with similar shape to bacterial cells were observed in the underlying pyrite surface. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5491 10.1016/j.procbio.2011.01.014 Elsevier restricted |
| spellingShingle | Sulfide Bioleaching Atomic force microscopy (AFM) Sulfobacillus Bacterial attachment Becker, Thomas Gorham, Nicole Shiers, D. Watling, H. In situ imaging of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on pyrite under conditions of variable pH using tapping mode atomic force microscopy |
| title | In situ imaging of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on pyrite under conditions of variable pH using tapping mode atomic force microscopy |
| title_full | In situ imaging of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on pyrite under conditions of variable pH using tapping mode atomic force microscopy |
| title_fullStr | In situ imaging of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on pyrite under conditions of variable pH using tapping mode atomic force microscopy |
| title_full_unstemmed | In situ imaging of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on pyrite under conditions of variable pH using tapping mode atomic force microscopy |
| title_short | In situ imaging of Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on pyrite under conditions of variable pH using tapping mode atomic force microscopy |
| title_sort | in situ imaging of sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans on pyrite under conditions of variable ph using tapping mode atomic force microscopy |
| topic | Sulfide Bioleaching Atomic force microscopy (AFM) Sulfobacillus Bacterial attachment |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5491 |