Dataset Information

High-Level Abundances of Methanobacteriales and Syntrophobacterales May Help To Prevent Corrosion of Metal Sheet Piles.

ABSTRACT: Iron sheet piles are widely used in flood protection, dike construction, and river bank reinforcement. Their corrosion leads to gradual deterioration and often makes replacement necessary. Natural deposit layers on these sheet piles can prevent degradation and significantly increase their life span. However, little is known about the mechanisms of natural protective layer formation. Here, we studied the microbially diverse populations of corrosion-protective deposit layers on iron sheet piles at the Gouderak pumping station in Zuid-Holland, the Netherlands. Deposit layers, surrounding sediment and top sediment samples were analyzed for soil physicochemical parameters, microbially diverse populations, and metabolic potential. Methanogens appeared to be enriched 18-fold in the deposit layers. After sequencing, metagenome assembly and binning, we obtained four nearly complete draft genomes of microorganisms (Methanobacteriales, two Coriobacteriales, and Syntrophobacterales) that were highly enriched in the deposit layers, strongly indicating a potential role in corrosion protection. Coriobacteriales and Syntrophobacterales could be part of a microbial food web degrading organic matter to supply methanogenic substrates. Methane-producing Methanobacteriales could metabolize iron, which may initially lead to mild corrosion but potentially stimulates the formation of a carbonate-rich protective deposit layer in the long term. In addition, Methanobacteriales and Coriobacteriales have the potential to interact with metal surfaces via direct interspecies or extracellular electron transfer. In conclusion, our study provides valuable insights into microbial populations involved in iron corrosion protection and potentially enables the development of novel strategies for in situ screening of iron sheet piles in order to reduce risks and develop more sustainable replacement practices.IMPORTANCE Iron sheet piles are widely used to reinforce dikes and river banks. Damage due to iron corrosion poses a significant safety risk and has significant economic impact. Different groups of microorganisms are known to either stimulate or inhibit the corrosion process. Recently, natural corrosion-protective deposit layers were found on sheet piles. Analyses of the microbial composition indicated a potential role for methane-producing archaea. However, the full metabolic potential of the microbial communities within these protective layers has not been determined. The significance of this work lies in the reconstruction of the microbial food web of natural corrosion-protective layers isolated from noncorroding metal sheet piles. With this work, we provide insights into the microbiological mechanisms that potentially promote corrosion protection in freshwater ecosystems. Our findings could support the development of screening protocols to assess the integrity of iron sheet piles to decide whether replacement is required.

SUBMITTER: In 't Zandt MH

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6805082 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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High-Level Abundances of <i>Methanobacteriales</i> and <i>Syntrophobacterales</i> May Help To Prevent Corrosion of Metal Sheet Piles.

In 't Zandt Michiel H MH Kip Nardy N Frank Jeroen J Jansen Stefan S van Veen Johannes A JA Jetten Mike S M MSM Welte Cornelia U CU

Applied and environmental microbiology 20191001 20

Iron sheet piles are widely used in flood protection, dike construction, and river bank reinforcement. Their corrosion leads to gradual deterioration and often makes replacement necessary. Natural deposit layers on these sheet piles can prevent degradation and significantly increase their life span. However, little is known about the mechanisms of natural protective layer formation. Here, we studied the microbially diverse populations of corrosion-protective deposit layers on iron sheet piles at ...[more]

PMID: 31420342

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Project description:BackgroundThe diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients with failed metal-on-metal (MoM) bearings and corrosion reactions in hip arthroplasties can be particularly difficult, because the clinical presentation of adverse local tissue reactions may mimic that of PJI, because it can also occur concurrently with PJI, and because common laboratory tests used to diagnose PJI may be elevated in patients with MoM THAs.Questions/purposesWe sought to determine the test properties of the serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), synovial fluid white blood cell (WBC) count, and synovial fluid differential (percent polymorphonuclear cells [PMNs]) in diagnosing PJI in either MoM hips undergoing revision for a variety of indications or in non-MoM hips undergoing revision for either corrosion reaction or full-thickness wear. Additionally, we sought to describe how MoM bearings, metal debris, and corrosion reactions can confound the analysis of the synovial fluid WBC count and affect its diagnostic use for PJI.MethodsWe reviewed 150 revision hips meeting specified inclusion criteria (92 MoM total hips, 19 MoM hip resurfacings, 30 non-MoM bearings with corrosion, and nine full-thickness bearing surface wear with metallosis). In our review, we diagnosed 19 patients as infected using Musculoskeletal Infection Society (MSIS) criteria. Mean laboratory values were compared between infected and not infected patients and receiver operator characteristic curves were generated with an area under the curve (AUC) to determine test performance and optimal cutoffs.ResultsAfter excluding the inaccurate synovial fluid samples, the synovial fluid WBC count (performed accurately in 102 patients) was the best test for the diagnosis of PJI (AUC=98%, optimal cutoff 4350 WBC/μL) followed by the differential (performed accurately in 102 patients; AUC=90%, optimal cutoff 85% PMN). The ESR (performed in 131 patients) and CRP (performed in 129 patients) both had good sensitivity (83% and 94%, respectively). Patients meeting MSIS criteria for PJI had higher mean serum ESR, CRP, synovial fluid WBC count, and differential than those not meeting MSIS criteria (p<0.05 for all). An observer blinded to the MSIS diagnosis of the patient assessed the synovial fluid samples for inaccuracy secondary to metal or cellular debris. Synovial fluid sample "inaccuracy" was defined as the laboratory technician noting the presence of metal or amorpous material, fragmented cells, or clots, or the sample having some defect preventing an automated cell count from being performed. Of the 141 patients who had a synovial fluid sample initially available for review, 47 (33%) had a synovial fluid sample deemed to be inaccurate. A synovial fluid WBC count was still reported; however, 35 of these 47 hips (75%) and 11 of these 35 (31%) were falsely positive for infection.ConclusionsThe diagnosis of PJI is extremely difficult in patients with MoM bearings or corrosion and the synovial fluid WBC count can frequently be falsely positive and should be relied on only if a manual count is done and if a differential can be performed. A more aggressive approach to preoperative evaluation for PJI is recommended in these patients to allow for careful evaluation of the synovial fluid specimen, the integration of synovial fluid culture results, and repeat aspiration if necessary.Level of evidenceLevel III, diagnostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Project description:The concept that anaerobic microorganisms can directly accept electrons from Fe(0) has been controversial because direct metal-microbe electron transfer has previously only been indirectly inferred. Fe(0) oxidation was studied with Geobacter sulfurreducens strain ACL, an autotrophic strain that was previously shown to grow with electrons derived from a graphite cathode as the sole electron donor. Strain ACL grew with Fe(0) as the sole electron donor and fumarate as the electron acceptor. However, it appeared that at least a portion of the electron transfer was via H2 produced nonenzymatically from the oxidation of Fe(0) to Fe(II). H2, which accumulated in abiotic controls, was consumed during the growth of strain ACL, the cells were predominately planktonic, and genes for the uptake hydrogenase were highly expressed. Strain ACLHF was constructed to prevent growth on H2 or formate by deleting the genes for the uptake of hydrogenase and formate dehydrogenases from strain ACL. Strain ACLHF also grew with Fe(0) as the sole electron donor, but H2 accumulated in the culture, and cells heavily colonized Fe(0) surfaces with no visible planktonic growth. Transcriptomics suggested that the outer surface c-type cytochromes OmcS and OmcZ were important during growth of strain ACLHF on Fe(0). Strain ACLHF did not grow on Fe(0) if the gene for either of these cytochromes was deleted. The specific attachment of strain ACLHF to Fe(0), coupled with requirements for known extracellular electrical contacts, suggest that direct metal-microbe electron transfer is the most likely option for Fe(0) serving as an electron donor.IMPORTANCE The anaerobic corrosion of iron structures is expensive to repair and can be a safety and environmental concern. It has been known for over 100 years that the presence of anaerobic respiratory microorganisms can accelerate iron corrosion. Multiple studies have suggested that there are sulfate reducers, methanogens, and acetogens that can directly accept electrons from Fe(0) to support sulfate or carbon dioxide reduction. However, all of the strains studied can also use H2 as an electron donor for growth, which is known to be abiotically produced from Fe(0). Furthermore, no proteins definitely shown to function as extracellular electrical contacts with Fe(0) were identified. The studies described here demonstrate that direct electron transfer from Fe(0) can support anaerobic respiration. They also map out a simple genetic approach to the study of iron corrosion mechanisms in other microorganisms. A better understanding of how microorganisms promote iron corrosion is expected to lead to the development of strategies that can help reduce adverse impacts from this process.

Project description:BackgroundPlasmodium vivax is a widely distributed, neglected parasite that can cause malaria and death in tropical areas. It is associated with an estimated 80-300 million cases of malaria worldwide. Brazilian tropical rain forests encompass host- and vector-rich communities, in which two hypothetical mechanisms could play a role in the dynamics of malaria transmission. The first mechanism is the dilution effect caused by presence of wild warm-blooded animals, which can act as dead-end hosts to Plasmodium parasites. The second is diffuse mosquito vector competition, in which vector and non-vector mosquito species compete for blood feeding upon a defensive host. Considering that the World Health Organization Malaria Eradication Research Agenda calls for novel strategies to eliminate malaria transmission locally, we used mathematical modeling to assess those two mechanisms in a pristine tropical rain forest, where the primary vector is present but malaria is absent.Methodology/principal findingsThe Ross-Macdonald model and a biodiversity-oriented model were parameterized using newly collected data and data from the literature. The basic reproduction number ([Formula: see text]) estimated employing Ross-Macdonald model indicated that malaria cases occur in the study location. However, no malaria cases have been reported since 1980. In contrast, the biodiversity-oriented model corroborated the absence of malaria transmission. In addition, the diffuse competition mechanism was negatively correlated with the risk of malaria transmission, which suggests a protective effect provided by the forest ecosystem. There is a non-linear, unimodal correlation between the mechanism of dead-end transmission of parasites and the risk of malaria transmission, suggesting a protective effect only under certain circumstances (e.g., a high abundance of wild warm-blooded animals).Conclusions/significanceTo achieve biological conservation and to eliminate Plasmodium parasites in human populations, the World Health Organization Malaria Eradication Research Agenda should take biodiversity issues into consideration.

Project description:Manganese (Mn) is an essential element and is required for the virulence of many pathogens. In Bacillus subtilis, Mn(II) homeostasis is regulated by MntR, a Mn(II)-responsive, DNA-binding protein. MntR serves as both a repressor of Mn(II) uptake transporters and as a transcriptional activator for expression of two cation diffusion facilitator Mn(II) efflux pumps, MneP and MneS. Mutants lacking either mntR or both mneP and mneS are extremely sensitive to Mn(II) intoxication. Using transposon mutagenesis to select suppressors of Mn(II) sensitivity, we identified YceF, a TerC family membrane protein, as capable of providing Mn(II) resistance. Another TerC paralog, YkoY, is regulated by a Mn(II)-sensing riboswitch and is partially redundant in function with YceF. YkoY is regulated in parallel with an unknown function protein YybP, also controlled by a Mn(II)-sensing riboswitch. Strains lacking between one and five of these known or putative Mn(II) tolerance proteins (MneP, MneS, YceF, YkoY, and YybP) were tested for sensitivity to Mn(II) in growth assays and for accumulation of Mn(II) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Loss of YceF and, to a lesser extent, YkoY, sensitizes cells lacking the MneP and MneS efflux transporters to Mn(II) intoxication. This sensitivity correlates with elevated intracellular Mn(II), consistent with the suggestion that TerC proteins function in Mn(II) efflux.IMPORTANCE Manganese homeostasis is primarily regulated at the level of transport. Bacillus subtilis MntR serves as a Mn(II)-activated repressor of importer genes (mntH and mntABC) and an activator of efflux genes (mneP and mneS). Elevated intracellular Mn(II) also binds to Mn-sensing riboswitches to activate transcription of yybP and ykoY, which encodes a TerC family member. Here, we demonstrate that two TerC family proteins, YceF and YkoY, help prevent Mn(II) intoxication. TerC family proteins are widespread in bacteria and may influence host-pathogen interactions, but their effects on Mn(II) homeostasis are unclear. Our results suggest that TerC proteins work by Mn(II) export under Mn(II) overload conditions to help alleviate toxicity.

Dataset Information

High-Level Abundances of Methanobacteriales and Syntrophobacterales May Help To Prevent Corrosion of Metal Sheet Piles.

Publications

High-Level Abundances of <i>Methanobacteriales</i> and <i>Syntrophobacterales</i> May Help To Prevent Corrosion of Metal Sheet Piles.

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