Elemental sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification and denitritation: microbially catalyzed sulfur hydrolysis and nitrogen conversions

The hydrolysis of elemental sulfur (S0) coupled to S0-based denitrification and denitritation was investigated in batch bioassays by microbiological and modeling approaches. In the denitrification experiments, the highest obtained NO3−-N removal rate was 20.9 mg/l·d. In the experiments with the biomass enriched on NO2−, a NO2−-N removal rate of 10.7 mg/l·d was achieved even at a NO2−-N concentration as high as 240 mg/l. The Helicobacteraceae family was only observed in the biofilm attached onto the chemically-synthesized S0 particles with a relative abundance up to 37.1%, suggesting it was the hydrolytic biomass capable of S0 solubilization in the novel surface-based model. S0-driven denitrification was modeled as a two-step process in order to explicitly account for the sequential reduction of NO3− to NO2− and then to N2 by denitrifying bacteria

Detection of human-induced environmental disturbances in a show cave

Purpose: We investigated the effects of human-induced disruption in a subterranean stable environment containing valuable Palaeolithic paintings and engravings (Ardales Cave, Southern Spain) using a double analytical approach. Methods: An environmental monitoring system was installed in the cave to record temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO2) and radon (222Rn) concentrations in air. In the same stations, an aerobiological sampling was conducted to quantify the level of airborne microorganisms. Results: The combination of different methods allowed us to detect the extent of human-induced changes, confirming that these can be very hazardous in certain cave areas that should be apparently outside the scope of human disturbances, either by their remoteness to the visitor entrance or by being briefly visited. Conclusions: The detection of evident anomalies in the environmental parameters and airborne microorganism concentration in the cave area housing the high density of paintings and engravings helps to control human disturbances and supports the direct application of this double approach for cave management purposes.Peer Reviewe

Aerobiología: mecanismos de dispersión de los microorganismos en cuevas turísticas

Beca predoctoral de la Junta de Ampliación de Estudios (JAE) del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). La financiación proporcionada por los siguientes proyectos de investigación: 1) Investigación en Tecnologías para la conservación y valorización del Patrimonio Cultural (TCP) (CSD2007‐00058). Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. 2) Écologie Microbienne de la Grotte de Lascaux. Ministerio de Cultura y de la Comunicación de Francia. 3) Observatorio microbiológico de cuevas visitables: evaluación y control de comunidades fúngicas en cuevas sometidas al impacto de actividades turísticas (RNM‐5137). Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa (Junta de Andalucía).Peer reviewe

Biodeterioro de una bula de indulgencia del año 1520

1 página. Trabajo presentado a la 10ª Reunión Científica de la Red Temática de Patrimonio Histórico y Cultural, celebrada del 14-17 de octubre, 2009, en GranadaLa conservación del papel en archivos y bibliotecas es un tema de interés, ya que cuando la humedad relativa del aire supera el 65 % y el contenido en agua del papel se acerca al 10%, se dan las condiciones idóneas para el desarrollo de microorganismos en este soporte orgánico.Peer reviewe

The conservation of papal bulls from the XVth-XVIth centuries.

3 pages, 2 tables, 3 figures, 8 references. Figure 1 was kindly provided by the Historical Heritage Foundation of Castile and León. Electronic Newsletter. CSIC Thematic Network on Cultural Heritage and Network on Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, CSIC, Apartado de Correos 1052, 41080 Sevilla (Spain).The Historical Heritage Foundation of Castile and León, in cooperation with the bishopric of Segovia and the town council of Cuéllar, carried out the restoration of the church of San Esteban and its properties in Cuéllar (Segovia, Spain) (Fundación del Patrimonio Histórico de Castilla y León 2007, 2009). The four sepulchres in the presbytery were restored in 2008. Among them was that of Doña Isabel de Zuazo, the wife of Don Martín López de Córdoba Hinestrosa, an alderman of the corporation of Cuéllar.Funding from the Consolider project TCP CSD2007-00058 and Consejería de Innovación, Junta de Andalucía, PAI, are acknowledged.Peer reviewe

Control de un brote fúngico en la cueva de Castañar de Ibor

Libro de las comunicaciones presentadas en el Congreso Español sobre Cuevas Turisticas (3. 2009. Aracena, Huelva)Peer Reviewe

Biología de la cueva

Peer Reviewe

The control of a fungal outbreak in a show cave

3 pages, 1 table, 9 references.-- Pertenece al capítulo Symposium 5: Geomicrobiology of cave and karst environments.-- Simposio celebrado del 19 al 26 de julio, 2009, en Kerrville, Texas, U.S.A.Castañar de Ibor Cave (Spain) is a low energy cave with very high microenvironmental stability throughout the annual cycle and minimum rates of energy exchange wirh the atmosphere. This show cave was discovered in 1967 and declared a Natural Monument in 1997. Lacer in 2003 the cave was opened to public visits. On 26 August 2008, the cave walls and soils appeared colonized by long, white fungal mycelia. This event was the result of an accidental input of organic matter on the afternoon of 24 August 2008. The outbreak was initiated by Mucor circinelloides and Fusarium solani.Peer Reviewe

Microorganisms involved in the formation and dissolution of carbonate deposits in spanish caves

2 pages, 1 figure, 5 references. Pertenece al capítulo Symposium 5: Geomicrobiology of cave and karst environments.-- Simposio celebrado del 19 al 26 de julio, 2009, en Kerrville, Texas, U.S.A.Microorganisms play critical roles in biogeochemical processes. In caves, carbonate deposition constitutes a common process. Although microorganisms able to induce these deposits have been previously reported, little information is available on the microorganisms involved, their activity, and the conditions required for the process to occur. This study presents results on the induction of carbonate precipitation and dissolution by microorganisms. RNA-based molecular fingerprinting procedures were used for profiling the metabolically active bacterial communities involved in the preliminary stages of moonmilk deposits. Bacteria were cultured and isolated to analyze the required conditions and nutrients inducing these depositions. Bacteria were able to differentially induce carbonate precipitation depending on the nutrients available for growth. In addition, similar microorganisms can be involved in precipitation and dissolution of carbonates mainly depending on the available nutrient sources. These results suggest the existence of an active carbon cycling process in caves dominated by microorganisms.This research was supported by CGL2006-1 1561/BTE project.Peer reviewe

The biogeochemical role of Actinobacteria in Altamira Cave, Spain

10 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables, 34 references. Cuezva, Soledad et al.--The walls and ceiling of Altamira Cave, northern Spain, are coated with different coloured spots (yellow, white and grey). Electron microscopy revealed that the grey spots are composed of bacteria and bioinduced CaCO 3 crystals. The morphology of the spots revealed a dense network of microorganisms organized in well-defined radial and dendritic divergent branches from the central area towards the exterior of the spot, which is coated with overlying spheroidal elements of CaCO 3 and CaCO 3 nest-like aggregates. Molecular analysis indicated that the grey spots were mainly formed by an unrecognized species of the genus Actinobacteria. CO 2 efflux measurements in rocks heavily covered by grey spots confirmed that bacteria-forming spots promoted uptake of the gas, which is abundant in the cave. The bacteria can use the captured CO 2 to dissolve the rock and subsequently generate crystals of CaCO 3 in periods of lower humidity and/or CO 2. A tentative model for the formation of these grey spots, supported by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy data, is proposed. © 2012 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project CGL2010-17108 BTE and Consolider programme, project CSD2007-00058. S.C. was funded by a postdoctoral fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, research programme Juan de la Cierva. E.P. was supported by a CSIC JAEPredoctoral grant. L.P. was supported by Slovenian Research Agency, research programme P1-0198. Altamira Cave Research Centre and Museum staff are thanked for their collaboration throughout the research period.Peer Reviewe