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Influence of Uranium on Bacterial Communities: A Comparison of Natural Uranium-Rich Soils with Controls

Author

Listed:
  • Laure Mondani
  • Karim Benzerara
  • Marie Carrière
  • Richard Christen
  • Yannick Mamindy-Pajany
  • Laureline Février
  • Nicolas Marmier
  • Wafa Achouak
  • Pascal Nardoux
  • Catherine Berthomieu
  • Virginie Chapon

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of uranium on the indigenous bacterial community structure in natural soils with high uranium content. Radioactive soil samples exhibiting 0.26% - 25.5% U in mass were analyzed and compared with nearby control soils containing trace uranium. EXAFS and XRD analyses of soils revealed the presence of U(VI) and uranium-phosphate mineral phases, identified as sabugalite and meta-autunite. A comparative analysis of bacterial community fingerprints using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed the presence of a complex population in both control and uranium-rich samples. However, bacterial communities inhabiting uraniferous soils exhibited specific fingerprints that were remarkably stable over time, in contrast to populations from nearby control samples. Representatives of Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, and seven others phyla were detected in DGGE bands specific to uraniferous samples. In particular, sequences related to iron-reducing bacteria such as Geobacter and Geothrix were identified concomitantly with iron-oxidizing species such as Gallionella and Sideroxydans. All together, our results demonstrate that uranium exerts a permanent high pressure on soil bacterial communities and suggest the existence of a uranium redox cycle mediated by bacteria in the soil.

Suggested Citation

  • Laure Mondani & Karim Benzerara & Marie Carrière & Richard Christen & Yannick Mamindy-Pajany & Laureline Février & Nicolas Marmier & Wafa Achouak & Pascal Nardoux & Catherine Berthomieu & Virginie Cha, 2011. "Influence of Uranium on Bacterial Communities: A Comparison of Natural Uranium-Rich Soils with Controls," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(10), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0025771
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025771
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    Cited by:

    1. Arbia Khemiri & Marie Carrière & Nicolas Bremond & Mohamed Amine Ben Mlouka & Laurent Coquet & Isabelle Llorens & Virginie Chapon & Thierry Jouenne & Pascal Cosette & Catherine Berthomieu, 2014. "Escherichia coli Response to Uranyl Exposure at Low pH and Associated Protein Regulations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(2), pages 1-9, February.

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