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An Anaerobic Biosensor Assay for the Detection of Mercury and Cadmium
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Biosensor for screening bacterial mercury methylation: example within the Desulfobulbaceae.

Yannick Colin1, Jérôme Gury1, Mathilde Monperrus2

  • 1Equipe Environnement et Microbiologie, IPREM UMR CNRS 5254, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, IBEAS, BP 1155, 64013 Pau Cedex, France.

Research in Microbiology
|September 28, 2017
PubMed
Summary

A novel luminescent biosensor effectively screens for methylmercury production by sulfate-reducing bacteria. This tool identified new mercury methylating strains within the Desulfobulbaceae family.

Keywords:
BiosensorDesulfobulbaceaeMethylmercurySulfate-reducing bacteria

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Biogeochemistry

Background:

  • Methylmercury is a potent neurotoxin whose environmental fate is governed by methylation and demethylation processes.
  • Sulfate-reducing bacteria are key players in mercury methylation under anoxic conditions, but identifying methylating strains is challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To validate a luminescent biosensor for screening methylmercury production in bacteria.
  • To assess the mercury methylation capacities of Desulfobulbaceae strains using the biosensor.

Main Methods:

  • Validation of a luminescent biosensor with known methylating and non-methylating Desulfovibrio strains.
  • Testing biosensor sensitivity to methylmercury under varying sulfate-reducing bacterial growth conditions, specifically sulfide concentrations.
  • Screening 21 Desulfobulbaceae strains for mercury methylation potential.

Main Results:

  • Biosensor sensitivity to methylmercury was influenced by bacterial growth conditions, with luminescence decreasing at higher sulfide concentrations (40-70% at 1-10 mM).
  • Despite sulfide interference, the biosensor detected mercury methylation potential (>4%) under simulated sulfate-reducing growth conditions.
  • Seven out of 21 tested Desulfobulbaceae strains were identified as methylmercury producers.

Conclusions:

  • The luminescent biosensor is a viable tool for detecting mercury methylation activity in bacteria.
  • Cultivation combined with biosensor technology offers a promising approach to discover novel mercury-methylating prokaryotic clades.