| 1. |
- Baskar, Sushmitha, et al.
(författare)
-
Biogenic evidences of moonmilk deposition in the Mawmluh cave, Meghalaya, India
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Geomicrobiology Journal. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0149-0451 .- 1521-0529. ; 28:3, s. 252-265
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Moonmilk, a microcrystalline secondary cave deposit, actively forms on the floor of Krem Mawmluh - a limestone cave in Meghalaya, Northeastern India. Due to the abundance of micrite and calcified microbial filaments, we hypothesize that these deposits form as a result of ongoing microbial interactions. Consistent with this idea, we report electron microscopic and microbiological evidences for the biological origin of moonmilk in Krem Mawmluh. Scanning electron microscopy indicated abundant calcified microbial filaments, needle calcite, fibre calcites (micro-fibre and nano-fibre calcite crystals), biofilm and microbial filaments in the moonmilk. The total viable culturable microbes showed high population densities for microbes in the moonmilk and moonmilk pool waters. In vitro culture experiments, confirmed the capability of many of the isolated strains to precipitate calcite and some of the identified isolates belonged to the Bacillus sp. and Actinomycetes. These results clearly support the biogenic nature of the deposits.
|
|
| 2. |
- Baskar, Sushmitha, et al.
(författare)
-
Evidences for Microbial Precipitation of Calcite in Speleothems from Krem Syndai in Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, India
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Geomicrobiology Journal. - : TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC. - 0149-0451 .- 1521-0529. ; 33:10, s. 906-933
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Speleothems from Krem Syndai, Meghalaya in Northeast India were studied for their microbial diversity using 16S rDNA-based phylogenetic approach and conventional microbiological techniques along with geochemistry, mineralogy and in vitro experiments to understand participation of microorganisms in CaCO3 precipitation. Speleothems imaged by scanning electron microscopy showed round coccoid-like, sporangia-like and spinose calcified structures, numerous broken cocci shells with spotted interiors inside a calcite crystal, honeycomb long reticulate, smooth, flat, twisted, ribbon-like, tubular, beaded, microbe-mineralized filaments and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Fourier spectroscopy indicated the presence of various organic compounds. C-13 and O-18 isotopic ratios of speleothems ranged from -4.65 to -7.34 parts per thousand and -3.06 to -6.80 parts per thousand, respectively. Total number of microbial cells using SYBR Gold was high. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) indicated approximately 3x 10(5) to 5x 10(5) cells g sed(-1) in the speleothems out of which the number of microbes belonging to Eubacteria ranged from 1.8x 10(5) to 3.6x 10(5) cells, g sed(-1). FISH showed approximate to 45% active microbial cells of the total cell number in samples. DNA-based high-throughput amplicon sequencing revealed 19 bacterial phyla in the speleothem. Approximately 42% of the sequences were similar to Proteobacteria (Alphaproteobacteria: 22.4%, Betaproteobacteria: 8.9%, Gammaproteobacteria: 8.6%). Sequences similar to Nitrospiraceae (22.8%) had the highest proportion of sequences belonging to a single family. Bacterial strains isolated from the speleothems raised alkalinity and precipitated calcite in the laboratory cultures which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. These isolates belonged to Bacillus spp., Actinomycetes spp., Streptomyces spp., Pseudomonas spp., Micrococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Xanthobacter spp. and Arthrobacter spp. Overall, the results showed unequivocal evidence of bacterial fingerprints during CaCO3 precipitation in the cave.
|
|
| 3. |
- Baskar, Sushmitha, et al.
(författare)
-
Speleothems from Sahastradhara Caves in Siwalik Himalaya, India: Possible Biogenic Inputs
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Geomicrobiology Journal. - : Taylor andamp; Francis: STM, Behavioural Science and Public Health Titles. - 0149-0451 .- 1521-0529. ; 31:8, s. 664-681
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stalactites and moonmilk from Sahastradhara caves in Siwalik Himalayas were studied to understand the role of microbes in their genesis. Fourier spectroscopy in the moonmilk indicates a complex milieu of organic compounds that is unusual for inorganic formations. Stable C and O isotopes show trends in the moonmilk and stalactite, which suggest biogenic input; the geochemical inference is consistent with evidence from microscopy and laboratory-based microbial cultures. Light microscopy of moonmilk samples show the presence of a number of microbial forms similar to Cyanobacteria, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show microbial structures similar to Spirulina. The total number of microbial cells using SYBR Gold is 6.5 x 10(5) cells, g sed(-1) in moonmilk and 3.2 x 10(5) cells, g sed(-1) in stalactites. FISH indicates approximately 3.5 x 10(5) cells, g sed(-1) in moonmilk and 2 x 10(5) cells, g sed(-1) in stalactites. SEM images of the moonmilk indicate a large network of microbial filaments along with minerals, which are identified as calcite based on their x-ray diffraction pattern. In vitro laboratory cultures with pure monogenic strains isolated from the moonmilk and stalactites raise pH in the medium, which facilitate calcite precipitation. The mineral precipitating isolates were identified as: Bacillus pumilis, B. cereus, B. anthracis, B. lentus, B. sphaericus, B. circulans and Actinomycetes. The Sahastradhara moonmilk and statactites are colonized by a diverse microbial community and the isolated bacterial strains induce biomineralization on different nutrient media, supporting their biogenic origin.
|
|
