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Effects of metals on activity and community of sulfate-reducing bacterial enrichments and the discovery of a new heavy metal-resistant SRB from Santos Port sediment (São Paulo, Brazil)

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Abstract

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) can be used to remove metals from wastewater, sewage, and contaminated areas. However, metals can be toxic to this group of bacteria. Sediments from port areas present abundance of SRB and also metal contamination. Their microbial community has been exposed to metals and can be a good inoculum for isolation of metal-resistant SRB. The objective of the study was to analyze how metals influence activity and composition of sulfate-reducing bacteria. Enrichment cultures were prepared with a different metal (Zn, Cr, Cu, and Cd) range concentration tracking activity of SRB and 16S rRNA sequencing in order to access the community. The SRB activity decreased when there was an increase in the concentration of the metals tested. The highest concentration of metals precipitated were 0.2 mM of Cd, 5.4 mM of Zn, 4.5 mM of Cu, and 9.6 mM of Cr. The more toxic metals were Cd and Cu and had a greater community similarity with less SRB and more fermenters (e.g., Citrobacter and Clostridium). Meanwhile, the enrichments with less toxic metals (Cr and Zn) had more sequences affiliated to SRB genera (mainly Desulfovibrio). A new Desulfovibrio species was isolated. This type of study can be useful to understand the effects of metals in SRB communities and help to optimize wastewater treatment processes contaminated by metals. The new Desulfovibrio species may be important in future studies on bioremediation of neutral pH effluents contaminated by metals.

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Availability of data and materials

The metagenome data were submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive (SRA) (https://submit.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/subs/sra/) through BioProject number PRJNA531183. The rest of the datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Brazilian funding agency known as the Association for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) for the fellowship.

Funding

This research was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001, fellowship no. 88882.434109/2019-01.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biosciences, Institute, São Paulo State University – Rio Claro Campus (UNESP IB/RC)), Av. 24 A, 1515, Jardim Vila Bela, Rio Claro, São Paulo, 13506-900, Brazil

    Bruna Del Busso Zampieri

  2. Biological Processes Laboratory, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone, 1100, Santa Angelina, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13563-120, Brazil

    Elis Watanabe Nogueira

  3. Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University – São Paulo State´s Coast Campus (UNESP IB/CLP), Praça Infante Dom Henrique, s/n - Parque Bitaru, São Paulo, 11330-900, Brazil

    Ana Julia Fernandes Cardoso de Oliveira

  4. Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708WE, Wageningen, Netherlands

    Irene Sánchez-Andrea

  5. School of Technological Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Minas Gerais, Rodovia Aurélio Vilela, n 11.999 Cidade Universitária, Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, 37715400, Brazil

    Gunther Brucha

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Contributions

Bruna Del Busso Zampieri, Gunther Brucha, and Irene Sánchez-Andrea designed the research. Oliveira AJF organized the sampling collection. Bruna Del Busso Zampieri performed sampling. Bruna Del Busso Zampieri and Elis Watanabe Nogueira performed experimental work. Bruna Del Busso Zampieri performed data analysis and wrote the manuscript with critical revision by Gunther Brucha, Irene Sánchez-Andrea, and Ana Julia Fernandes Cardoso de Oliveira with input from all authors.

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Zampieri, B.D.B., Nogueira, E.W., de Oliveira, A.J.F.C. et al. Effects of metals on activity and community of sulfate-reducing bacterial enrichments and the discovery of a new heavy metal-resistant SRB from Santos Port sediment (São Paulo, Brazil). Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 922–935 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15418-9

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