Spatial and temporal changes of bacterial communities inhabiting the well waters of Harkány Spa

In this study, changes in the bacterial community composition of the well waters of Harkány Spa were examined. Physical and chemical properties of mixing subsurface cold and thermal karst waters were correlated to shifts in bacterial community structures analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and principal component analysis (PCA). In addition, mineral components of the pellets were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Samples from the effluent waters of Büdöstapolca I and II, Matty and Thermal VI wells were taken seasonally in 2007 and 2008. The comparison of the results of DGGE and PCA analyses showed that bacterial communities from the Büdöstapolca wells were distinct from those of Matty and Thermal VI, but seasonal changes were not detected. According to the phylogenetic analysis of the excised DGGE bands, presence of chemolithotrophic Proteobacteria (Thiobacillus, Thiothrix, and distant relatives of Sulfurospirillum) were typical in the Büdöstapolca wells, while members of Actinobacteria (Plantibacter, Actinobacterium, Microbacterium) and Firmicutes (Planococcus) were characteristic to the Matty and Thermal VI wells. In the pellets pyrite framboid crystals were observed by electron microscopy, which are minerals known to be biologically induced by dissimilatory iron- and sulfur (sulfate)-reducing bacteria.