Corrosion of iron-containing metals under sulfate-reducing conditions is an economically important problem. Microbial strains now known as Desulfovibrio vulgaris served as the model microbes in many of the foundational studies that developed existing models for the corrosion of iron-containing metals under sulfate-reducing conditions. Proposed mechanisms for corrosion by D. vulgaris include: (1) H2 consumption to accelerate the oxidation of Fe0 coupled to the reduction of protons to H2; (2) production of sulfide that combines with ferrous iron to form iron sulfide coatings that promote H2 production; (3) moribund cells release hydrogenases that catalyze Fe0 oxidation with the production of H2; (4) direct electron transfer from Fe0 to cells; and (5) flavins serving as an electron shuttle for electron transfer between Fe0 and cells. The demonstrated possibility of conducting transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of cells growing on metal surfaces suggests that similar studies on D. vulgaris corrosion biofilms can aid in identifying proteins that play an important role in corrosion. Tools for making targeted gene deletions in D. vulgaris are available for functional genetic studies. These approaches, coupled with instrumentation for the detection of low concentrations of H2, and proven techniques for evaluating putative electron shuttle function, are expected to make it possible to determine which of the proposed mechanisms for D. vulgaris corrosion are most important.

Our calculations of the global instability index (G) values for some diamond-like materials with the general formula I2-II-IV-VI4 have indicated that the structures may be unstable or incorrectly determined. To compute the G value of a given compound, the bond valence sums (BVSs) must first be calculated using a crystal structure. Two examples of compounds with high G values, based on data from the literature, are the wurtz-stannite-type dicopper cadmium silicon tetrasulfide (Cu2CdSiS4) and the stannite-type dicopper mercury tin tetrasulfide (Cu2HgSnS4), which were first reported in 1967 and 1965, respectively. In the present study, Cu2CdSiS4 and Cu2HgSnS4 were prepared by solid-state synthesis at 1000 and 900 °C, respectively. The phase purity was assessed by powder X-ray diffraction. Optical diffuse reflectance UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy was used to estimate the optical bandgaps of 2.52 and 0.83 eV for Cu2CdSiS4 and Cu2HgSnS4, respectively. The structures were solved and refined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The structure type of Cu2CdSiS4 was confirmed, where Cd2+, Si4+ and two of the three crystallographically unique S2- ions lie on a mirror plane. The structure type of Cu2HgSnS4 was also verified, where all ions lie on special positions. The S2- ion resides on a mirror plane, the Cu+ ion is situated on a fourfold rotary inversion axis and both the Hg2+ and the Sn4+ ions are located on the intersection of a fourfold rotary inversion axis, a mirror plane and a twofold rotation axis. Using the crystal structures solved and refined here, the G values were reassessed and found to be in the range that indicates reasonable strain for a stable crystal structure. This work, together with some examples gathered from the literature, shows that accurate data collected on modern instrumentation should be used to reliably calculate BVSs and G values.

In most previous studies the sensitivity of Escherichia coli outer membrane mutants to ciprofloxacin (CF) was studied by MIC method. In the present work, the early response of these mutants to CF was studied using physiological and biochemical methods and electrochemical sensors. The use of sensors made it possible to monitor dissolved oxygen, potassium and extracellular sulfide continuously directly in growing cultures in real time. In the absence of CF, no significant differences were found between the mutants deficient in porin OmpF and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the parent. The only exception was 5-6 times higher extracellular glutathione and 1.5-3 times lower intracellular glutathione in the lpcA compared to the parent and the ompF. Ciprofloxacin inhibited growth, respiration, membrane potential and K+ consumption, which was less pronounced in both mutants compared to the parent. Changes in these parameters correlated with each other, but not with survival. A reversible increase in sulfide level was observed at 3 μg ml-1 CF in the parent, at 20 μg ml-1 CF in ompF and was absent in lpcA at all concentrations. The data obtained show that the use of electrochemical sensors can provide a more complete understanding of the early response of bacteria to CF.

Biological activity at deep-sea hydrothermal chimneys is driven by chemotrophic microorganisms that metabolize chemicals from the venting high-temperature fluids. Understanding taphonomy and microbial microtextures in such environments is a necessity for micropaleontological and palaeoecological research. This study examines fossilized microorganisms and related microtextures in a recent black smoker from the Roman Ruins hydrothermal vent site, Eastern Manus Basin offshore of Papua New Guinea. Whereas the center of the examined sulfide chimney is dominated by high-temperature mineralogy (chalcopyrite and dendritic sphalerite), filamentous and coccoidal biomorphs occur in an outer, warm zone of mixing between hydrothermal fluids and seawater, which is indicated by their occurrence within colloform and botryoidal pyrite of barite-pyrite coprecipitates. Both morphotypes can be interpreted as thermophilic microorganisms based on their occurrence in a high-temperature habitat. Their separate (non-commensal) occurrence hints at sensitivities to microenvironmental conditions, which is expectable for strong temperature, pH, and redox gradients at the walls of deep-sea hydrothermal chimneys. Whereas both morphotypes experienced mild thermal overprint, taphonomic differences exist: (i) spaces left by cells in filamentous fossils are predominately filled by silica, whereas inter/extracellular features (crosswalls/septae and outer sheaths) are pyritized; (ii) coccoidal fossils show both silica- and pyrite-infilled interiors, and generally better preservation of cell walls. These different manifestations presumably relate to an interplay between microenvironmental and biological factors, potentially contrasting metabolisms, and differences in cell wall chemistries of distinct bacteria and/or archaea. A further hypothesis is that the coccoidal features represent biofilm-forming organisms, whose organic matter derivates contributed to the formation of intimately associated wavy and wrinkly carbonaceous laminations that are at least locally distinguishable from the texture of the surrounding pyrite. Hence, the presented data provide evidence that microtextures of microbiota from hydrothermal systems can have a similar significance for palaeobiological research as those from sedimentary environments.

Tianbao reservoir in southern China (surrounded by Eucalyptus plantation) serves as a source of drinking water for the inhabitants. However, the reservoir water experiences black water (BW) of which the cause remains unclear. In this study, field observation and simulated laboratory experiment were conducted to understand the cause of the BW. The diffusive gradient in thin-film (DGT) device monitored the spatial changes in concentration of iron (Fe2+), manganese (Mn2+), sulfide (S2-), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) at the SWI. The planar optode (PO) showed that hypoxia contributed immensely to the high positive fluxes Fe2+, Mn2+, and S2- measured, which co-precipitated to form black materials (FeS and MnS) at the SWI. The co-precipitation between Fe-S and Mn-S was supported by their significant positive correlation (Fe-S: r > 0.05, p < 0.05, Mn-S: r > 0.2, p < 0.05). Significant reduction (p < 0.05) in tannins concentration from November (strong thermal stratification) to December (weak thermal stratification) indicated that Fe2+ and tannins reacted during the mixing of reservoir water in December due to weak stratification. The simulated experiment confirmed that fresh Eucalyptus leaves produces a significant (p < 0.05) amount of tannins during hypoxia and reacts with Fe2+ to produce black water. A high positive correlation (r > 0.8) between Fe2+ and DOC demonstrated that Fe2+ and DOC combined and contributed to the reservoir water blackening. The study provides a better understanding on the impact of Eucalyptus plantation on water quality and provide guidance for scientific planting of Eucalyptus plantation in reservoir basins in southern China to ensure safe drinking water.

Experimental evolution studies using cyanobacteria as model organisms are scarce despite the role of cyanobacteria in the evolution of photosynthesis. Three different experimental evolution approaches have been applied to shed light on the sulfide adaptation process, which played a key role in the evolution of this group. We used a Microcystis aeruginosa sulfide-sensitive strain, unable to grow above ~0.1 mM, and an Oscillatoria sp. strain, isolated from a sulfureous spa (~0.2 mM total sulfide). First, performing a fluctuation analysis design using the spa waters as selective agent, we proved that M. aeruginosa was able to adapt to this sulfide level by rare spontaneous mutations. Second, applying a ratchet protocol, we tested if the limit of adaptation to sulfide of the two taxa was dependent on their initial sulfide tolerance, finding that M. aeruginosa adapted to 0.4 mM sulfide, and Oscillatoria sp. to ~2 mM sulfide, twice it highest tolerance level. Third, using an evolutionary rescue approach, we observed that both speed of exposure to increasing sulfide concentrations (deterioration rate) and populations\' genetic variation determined the survival of M. aeruginosa at lethal sulfide levels, with a higher dependence on genetic diversity. In conclusion, sulfide adaptation of sensitive cyanobacterial strains is possible by rare spontaneous mutations and the adaptation limits depend on the sulfide level present in strain\'s original habitat. The high genetic diversity of a sulfide-sensitive strain, even at fast environmental deterioration rates, could increase its possibility of survival even to a severe sulfide stress.

In this study, we investigated the interaction between selenite and either Fe((II))aq or S((-II))aq in solution, and the results were used to investigate the interaction between Se((IV))aq and FeS in suspension. The reaction products were characterized by a combination of methods (SEM, XRD and XAS) and the reaction mechanisms were identified. In a first experiment, Se((IV))aq was reduced to Se((0)) by interaction with Fe((II))aq which was oxidized to Fe((III)), but the reaction was only partial. Subsequently, some Fe((III)) produced akaganeite (β-FeOOH) and the release of proton during that reaction decreased the pH. The pH decrease changed the Se speciation in solution which hindered further Se((IV)) reduction by Fe((II))aq. In a second experiment, Se((IV))aq was quantitatively reduced to Se((0)) by S((-II))aq and the reaction was fast. Two sulfide species were needed to reduce one Se((IV)), and the observed pH increase was due to a proton consumption. For both experiments, experimental results are consistent with expectations based on the oxidation reduction potential of the various species. Upon interaction with FeS, Se((IV))aq was reduced to Se((0)) and minute amounts of pyrite were detected, a consequence of partial mackinawite oxidation at surface sulfur sites. These results are of prime importance with respect to safe deep disposal of nuclear waste which contains the long-lived radionuclide (79)Se. This study shows that after release of (79)Se((IV)) upon nuclear waste matrix corrosion, selenite can be reduced in the near field to low soluble Se((0)) by interaction with Fe((II))aq and/or S((-II))aq species. Because the solubility of Se((0)) species is significantly lower than that of Se((IV)), selenium will become much less (bio)available and its migration out of deep HLW repositories may be drastically hindered.