Metal-microbe interactions

Poole, R.K. and Gadd, G.M., Metal-Microbe Interactions, IRL Press, Oxford, England, 1989, pp. 1-37. 

Fig, 1. Schematic diagram of the different processes involved in the metal-microbe interaction (from Tabak et al. 2005). 

Heavy Metal-Microbe Interactions and Microbial Response... 

Mn2+ active transport system in Staphylococcus aureus. These metal-microbe interactions result in decrease microbial growth, abnormal morphological changes, and inhibition of biochemical processes in individual (Akmal et al. 2005a,b). The toxic effects of metals can be seen on a community level as well. In response to metal toxicity, overall community numbers and diversity decrease. Soil is a living system where all biochemical activities proceed through enzymatic processes. Heavy metals have also adverse effects on enzyme activities (Fig. 1). 

Filer JM, Mojzsis SJ, Arrhenius G (1997) Carbon isotope evidence for early life discussion. Nature 386 665 Emerson D (2000) Microbial oxidation of Ee(II) and Mn(II) at circumneutral pH. In Environmental metal-microbe interactions. Lovley DR (ed) ASM Press, Washington DC, p 31-52 Ewers WE (1983) Chemical factors in the deposition and diagenesis of banded iron-formation. In Iron formations facts and problems. Trendall AF, Morris RC (eds) Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 491-512 Farley KJ, Dzombak DA, Morel FMM (1985) A surface precipitation model for the sorption of cations on metal oxides. J Colloid Interface Sci 106 226-242... 

An important aspect of metal-microbe interactions, but one that is rarely addressed, is metal speciation and metal bioavailability. It is the metal species present and their relative bioavailability rather than total metal concentration in the environment that determines the overall physiological and toxic effects on biological systems (Bernhard, Brinckman Sadler, 1986 Hughes Poole, 1989 Morrison, Batley Florence, 1989). 

Blake R. and Johnson D. B. (2000) Phylogenetic and biochemical diversity among acidophilic bacteria that respire on iron. In Environmental Metal-microbe Interactions (ed. D. R. Lovley). ASM Press, Washington, DC, pp. 53-78. 

In this chapter, some aspects of the transformation and mobilization of metals by microorganisms in relation to the soil environment have been outlined. It seems evident that metal-microbe interactions are important in several soil contexts, not least in the biogeochemical cycling of metals, associated elements, and nutrients, and in plant productivity. The application and potential of many natural microbial and microbe-plant processes are also growing topics in the area of bioremediation. However, analysis and understanding of the effects of toxic metals on microbial communities is relatively limited despite extensive research, and many studies are site specific. Clearly, the complexity of interactions between metal species and soil components, as well as between metal... 

Gadd, G. M., and White, C. (1989). Heavy metal and radionuclide accumulation and toxicity in fungi and yeasts. In Metal-Microbe Interactions, ed. Poole, R. K., and Gadd, G. M., IRL Press, Oxford, 19-38. 

Hamilton, W. A. (2003). Microbially influenced corrosion as a model system for the study of metal microbe interactions a unifying electron transfer hypothesis. Biofouling 19, 65-76. 

Silver, S., R. A. Laddaga, and T. K. Misra. Plasmid-determined resistance to metal ions. In R. K. Poole and G. N. Gadd, eds.. Metal-microbe interactions (Oxford Oxford Univ. Press, 1989), pp. 49-63. 

Ford T, Maki J, MitcheU R (1995) Metal-microbe interactions. In Gaylarde CC, Videla HA (eds) Bioextraction and biodeterioration of metals. Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 1-23... 

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