The Effect of Heavy Metals on Microbial Communities in Industrial Soil in the Area of Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno (Poland)
The aim of this study was to determine the activity and structure of microbial communities in soils contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). To achieve this goal, soil samples were taken from two contaminated sites (i.e., Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno) in Poland. A wide range of methods were applied, inc...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-09-01
|
| Series: | Microbiology Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/13/3/45 |
| _version_ | 1797484777331228672 |
|---|---|
| author | Anna Katarzyna Jarosławiecka Zofia Piotrowska-Seget |
| author_facet | Anna Katarzyna Jarosławiecka Zofia Piotrowska-Seget |
| author_sort | Anna Katarzyna Jarosławiecka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to determine the activity and structure of microbial communities in soils contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). To achieve this goal, soil samples were taken from two contaminated sites (i.e., Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno) in Poland. A wide range of methods were applied, including: total and metal-tolerant culturable bacteria enumeration; microbial community structure analysis using the phospholipid fatty acid method (PLFA); denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE); and metabolic activity using BIOLOG and EcoPlate<sup>TM</sup>. Our studies showed that HMs negatively affected microbial community structure and activity in polluted soils. Apart from the contamination with HMs, other soil parameters like soil pH and water also impacted microbial community structure and growth. Metal-tolerant bacterial strains were isolated, identified and tested for presence of genes encoding HM tolerance using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology. Contamination with HMs in the tested areas was found to lead to development of metallotolerant bacteria with multiple tolerances toward Zn, Ni, Cd and Cu. Different genes (e.g., <i>czcA</i>, <i>cadA</i> and <i>nccA</i>) encoding HM efflux pumps were detected within isolated bacteria. Culturable bacteria isolated belonged to <i>Proteobacteria</i><i>, Actinobacteria</i> and <i>Bacteroidetes</i> genera. Among non-culturable bacteria in soil samples, a significant fraction of the total bacteria and phyla, such as <i>Gemmatimonadetes</i> and <i>Acidobacteria</i>, were found to be present in all studied soils. In addition, bacteria of the <i>Chloroflexi</i> genus was present in soil samples from Piekary Śląskie, while bacteria of the <i>Firmicutes</i> genus were found in soil samples from Bukowno. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:09:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f0683d27014844838b845d1bdc77f722 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2036-7481 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:09:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-f0683d27014844838b845d1bdc77f7222023-11-23T17:48:16ZengMDPI AGMicrobiology Research2036-74812022-09-0113362664210.3390/microbiolres13030045The Effect of Heavy Metals on Microbial Communities in Industrial Soil in the Area of Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno (Poland)Anna Katarzyna Jarosławiecka0Zofia Piotrowska-Seget1Institute of Biology, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Jagiellonska Street 28, 40-032 Katowice, PolandInstitute of Biology, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Jagiellonska Street 28, 40-032 Katowice, PolandThe aim of this study was to determine the activity and structure of microbial communities in soils contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). To achieve this goal, soil samples were taken from two contaminated sites (i.e., Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno) in Poland. A wide range of methods were applied, including: total and metal-tolerant culturable bacteria enumeration; microbial community structure analysis using the phospholipid fatty acid method (PLFA); denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE); and metabolic activity using BIOLOG and EcoPlate<sup>TM</sup>. Our studies showed that HMs negatively affected microbial community structure and activity in polluted soils. Apart from the contamination with HMs, other soil parameters like soil pH and water also impacted microbial community structure and growth. Metal-tolerant bacterial strains were isolated, identified and tested for presence of genes encoding HM tolerance using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology. Contamination with HMs in the tested areas was found to lead to development of metallotolerant bacteria with multiple tolerances toward Zn, Ni, Cd and Cu. Different genes (e.g., <i>czcA</i>, <i>cadA</i> and <i>nccA</i>) encoding HM efflux pumps were detected within isolated bacteria. Culturable bacteria isolated belonged to <i>Proteobacteria</i><i>, Actinobacteria</i> and <i>Bacteroidetes</i> genera. Among non-culturable bacteria in soil samples, a significant fraction of the total bacteria and phyla, such as <i>Gemmatimonadetes</i> and <i>Acidobacteria</i>, were found to be present in all studied soils. In addition, bacteria of the <i>Chloroflexi</i> genus was present in soil samples from Piekary Śląskie, while bacteria of the <i>Firmicutes</i> genus were found in soil samples from Bukowno.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/13/3/45heavy metalssoil pollutionmicroorganismscadmiumzinccopper |
| spellingShingle | Anna Katarzyna Jarosławiecka Zofia Piotrowska-Seget The Effect of Heavy Metals on Microbial Communities in Industrial Soil in the Area of Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno (Poland) Microbiology Research heavy metals soil pollution microorganisms cadmium zinc copper |
| title | The Effect of Heavy Metals on Microbial Communities in Industrial Soil in the Area of Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno (Poland) |
| title_full | The Effect of Heavy Metals on Microbial Communities in Industrial Soil in the Area of Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno (Poland) |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Heavy Metals on Microbial Communities in Industrial Soil in the Area of Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno (Poland) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Heavy Metals on Microbial Communities in Industrial Soil in the Area of Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno (Poland) |
| title_short | The Effect of Heavy Metals on Microbial Communities in Industrial Soil in the Area of Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno (Poland) |
| title_sort | effect of heavy metals on microbial communities in industrial soil in the area of piekary slaskie and bukowno poland |
| topic | heavy metals soil pollution microorganisms cadmium zinc copper |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/13/3/45 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT annakatarzynajarosławiecka theeffectofheavymetalsonmicrobialcommunitiesinindustrialsoilintheareaofpiekaryslaskieandbukownopoland AT zofiapiotrowskaseget theeffectofheavymetalsonmicrobialcommunitiesinindustrialsoilintheareaofpiekaryslaskieandbukownopoland AT annakatarzynajarosławiecka effectofheavymetalsonmicrobialcommunitiesinindustrialsoilintheareaofpiekaryslaskieandbukownopoland AT zofiapiotrowskaseget effectofheavymetalsonmicrobialcommunitiesinindustrialsoilintheareaofpiekaryslaskieandbukownopoland |