Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Sulfur Cycle01:22

The Sulfur Cycle

51.6K
Sulfur, an important element in the chemical makeup of proteins, is recycled through the atmosphere and aquatic and terrestrial environments. Found in the atmosphere as sulfur dioxide (SO2), sulfur is released by decaying organisms, weathered rocks, geothermal vents, volcanos, and burning fossil fuels. It is deposited into the ecosystem, cycled through the biotic community, and either released back into the atmosphere as gas or deposited in marine sediment for long-term storage and eventual...
51.6K
Sulfur Assimilation01:20

Sulfur Assimilation

259
Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to...
259
The Carbon Cycle01:14

The Carbon Cycle

43.0K
Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.
43.0K
Carbon-dioxide Fixation01:28

Carbon-dioxide Fixation

525
Carbon dioxide fixation in prokaryotes enables the assimilation of inorganic carbon into organic molecules, supporting biosynthetic pathways, sustaining ecosystems, and contributing to the global carbon cycle. It also has industrial applications in carbon capture and bioproduct synthesis. Autotrophic organisms rely on this process to utilize CO₂ as a carbon source in diverse environments.The Calvin CycleThe Calvin cycle is the most widespread carbon fixation mechanism, primarily used by...
525
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs01:15

Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

653
Chemolithotrophs are microorganisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas (H₂), ammonia (NH₃), reduced sulfur compounds (H₂S, S²⁻), and ferrous iron (Fe²⁺). Unlike heterotrophic organisms that rely on organic carbon, chemolithotrophs transfer electrons from these inorganic donors to the electron transport chain (ETC), generating a proton motive force (PMF) that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.
653
Anoxygenic Photosynthesis01:30

Anoxygenic Photosynthesis

997
Anoxygenic photosynthesis is a phototrophic process that captures light energy to drive carbon fixation without producing molecular oxygen. Unlike oxygenic photosynthesis, which utilizes water as an electron donor and releases oxygen, anoxygenic phototrophs use alternative electron donors such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), elemental sulfur (S⁰), or thiosulfate (S₂O₃²⁻). This process is carried out by diverse groups of bacteria, including purple bacteria, green...
997

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

<i>In vitro</i> transcribed circRNA as a therapeutic agent for cancer.

Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B·2026
Same author

Serum IgG, definite anti-dsDNA positivity, and advanced HBV-related liver disease: a laboratory-based retrospective study.

Clinica chimica acta; international journal of clinical chemistry·2026
Same author

Advancing proteomic discovery through optimized multi-stage scoring and deep learning-enhanced open search.

Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)·2026
Same author

Molecular characterization and correlation with β-lactam resistance of penicillin-binding protein2x, 2b, and 1a of <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> in clinical pneumococcal isolates.

Microbiology spectrum·2026
Same author

Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Deep Learning with Magnetic Resonance Background Generator Enables In Vivo Metabolite Quantification of Hepatic Encephalopathy.

IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering·2026
Same author

PolyMamba-Net: a lightweight and boundary-aware network for real-time polyp segmentation in colonoscopy.

Frontiers in medicine·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal
07:22

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal

Published on: November 10, 2023

4.1K

Active sulfur cycling in the terrestrial deep subsurface.

Emma Bell1,2, Tiina Lamminmäki3, Johannes Alneberg4

  • 1Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland. emma.bell1@ucalgary.ca.

The ISME Journal
|February 13, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Microbial sulfur cycling in deep groundwater is active, with sulfate-reducing and sulfide-oxidizing bacteria mediating processes vital for geological repository safety. This microbial activity impacts sulfide levels, crucial for understanding repository integrity.

More Related Videos

Using Flexible Gold-Titanium Reaction Cells to Simulate Pressure-Dependent Microbial Activity in the Context of Subsurface Biomining
13:11

Using Flexible Gold-Titanium Reaction Cells to Simulate Pressure-Dependent Microbial Activity in the Context of Subsurface Biomining

Published on: October 5, 2019

7.1K
Preparation of Authigenic Pyrite from Methane-bearing Sediments for In Situ Sulfur Isotope Analysis Using SIMS
09:31

Preparation of Authigenic Pyrite from Methane-bearing Sediments for In Situ Sulfur Isotope Analysis Using SIMS

Published on: August 31, 2017

8.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal
07:22

Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal

Published on: November 10, 2023

4.1K
Using Flexible Gold-Titanium Reaction Cells to Simulate Pressure-Dependent Microbial Activity in the Context of Subsurface Biomining
13:11

Using Flexible Gold-Titanium Reaction Cells to Simulate Pressure-Dependent Microbial Activity in the Context of Subsurface Biomining

Published on: October 5, 2019

7.1K
Preparation of Authigenic Pyrite from Methane-bearing Sediments for In Situ Sulfur Isotope Analysis Using SIMS
09:31

Preparation of Authigenic Pyrite from Methane-bearing Sediments for In Situ Sulfur Isotope Analysis Using SIMS

Published on: August 31, 2017

8.0K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Geochemistry
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • The deep terrestrial subsurface microbial ecosystems are poorly understood.
  • Assessing microbial metabolism, particularly sulfide generation, is critical for the safety of deep geological repositories for nuclear waste.
  • Geochemical monitoring at Olkiluoto, Finland, indicated limited microbial sulfate reduction in deep groundwater.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the microbial community and sulfur cycling in deep groundwater at Olkiluoto.
  • To determine the metabolic potential for sulfur transformations within this microbial community.
  • To evaluate the role of microbial activity in sulfide generation and its implications for repository safety.

Main Methods:

  • Genome-level examination of the microbial community.
  • Proteomic analysis to confirm active metabolic pathways.
  • Groundwater incubations to assess microbial activity and sulfide dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Microorganisms with genetic capacity for both oxidative and reductive sulfur transformations were identified.
  • Deltaproteobacteria possess genes for sulfate reduction and sulfur disproportionation.
  • Rhizobiaceae, Rhodocyclaceae, Sideroxydans, and Sulfurimonas were found to oxidize reduced sulfur compounds.
  • Proteomic data confirmed an active sulfur cycle for microbial energy and growth.
  • An active microbial community mediating a sulfur cycle, including sulfate-reducing and sulfide-oxidizing bacteria, was detected, which was previously missed by geochemical monitoring.
  • Sulfide-oxidizing bacteria demonstrated an ability to limit sulfide accumulation in groundwater incubations.

Conclusions:

  • The deep groundwater harbors an active microbial sulfur cycle involving both sulfate reducers and sulfide oxidizers.
  • Microbial sulfide oxidation acts as a significant sink for sulfide, potentially enhancing geological repository safety.
  • Understanding these microbial processes is essential for accurate safety assessments of deep geological repositories.