Biomineralization of carbonates by Halomonas eurihalina in solid and liquid media with different salinities: crystal formation sequence

• Published in: Research in microbiology 1998-04, Vol.149 (4), p.277-287
• Main Authors: Rivadeneyra, M.A, Delgado, G, Ramos-Cormenzana, A, Delgado, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteriology; Bactéries halophiles; Biological and medical sciences; Biominéralisation; Carbonates; Carbonates - metabolism; Chemical Precipitation; Cristal; Crystal, Halomonas eurihalina, Biomineralization; Crystallography, X-Ray; Culture Media; Electron Probe Microanalysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gram-Negative Aerobic Rods and Cocci - drug effects; Gram-Negative Aerobic Rods and Cocci - metabolism; Gram-Negative Aerobic Rods and Cocci - ultrastructure; Halomonas eurihalina; Halophilic bacteria, Carbonates; Microbiology; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Minerals - metabolism; Miscellaneous; Osmolar Concentration; Sodium Chloride - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0923-2508; 1769-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/S0923-2508(98)80303-3

Carbonate precipitation by 20 strains of the moderately halophilic species Halomonas eurihalina in both solid and liquid media was studied. The influence of salinity and temperature on the quantity and type of crystals precipitated was also investigated. Some strains of H. eurihalina formed crystals in all conditions tested. The mineral phases precipitated were magnesium calcite, aragonite and monohydrocalcite in variable proportions depending on various factors such as the type of grpwth medium employed and its salinity. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray dispersive energy microanalysis were used to investigate the crystal formation sequence. The process of biolith formation was sequential. It started with chains or filaments of bacteria, giving way to discs which finally produced spherical forms of approximately 50 μm in diameter. We suggest a mechanism of carbonate crystal formation by H. eurihalina. La précipitation de carbonate par 20 souches de Halomonas eurihalina a étéétudiée, en milieux solide et liquide. L'influence de la salinité et de la température sur la quantité et la nature de cristaux précipités a aussi été recherchée. H. eurihalina produit ces cristaux dans toutes les conditions étudiées. Les phases minérales précipitées sont la calcite de magnésium, l'aragonite et la monohydrocalcite dans des proportions qui varient selon les milieux de culture et la salinité. La séquence de formation a étéétudiée par SEM et XDE. Le processus commence avec la formation de chaînes ou de filaments puis de disques, avec production d'une forme sphérique de 50 μm de diamètre.