Novel pathway for microbial FE(III) reduction: electron shuttling through naturally occurring thiols

The g-proteobacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 reduces a wide range of terminal electron acceptors, including solid Fe(III) oxides. Pathways for Fe(III) oxide reduction by S. oneidensis include non-reductive (organic ligand-promoted) solubilization reactions, and either direct enzymatic, or indirect electron shuttling pathways. Results of the present study expand the spectrum of electron acceptors reduced by S. oneidensis to include the naturally occurring disulfide compounds cystine, oxidized glutathione, dithiodiglycolate, dithoidiproponiate and cystamine. Subsequent electron shuttling experiments demonstrated that S. oneidensis employs the reduced (thiol) form of the disulfide compounds (cysteine, reduced glutathione, mercaptoacetate, mercaptopropionate, and 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoate, cystamine) as electron shuttles to transfer electrons to extracellular Fe(III) oxides. The results of the present study indicate that microbial disulfide reduction may represent an important electron-shuttling pathway for electron transfer to Fe(III) oxides in anaerobic marine and freshwater environments.Ph.D

Mechanisms of Microbiological Corrosion Employing Iron-Reducing Bacteria

Iron-reducing bacteria (IRB) seek to unravel iron corrosion for oil and gas steel pipeline failure. IRB continued to be dominating the microbiological corrosion of iron structures in steel by deteriorating steel surface via Fe(III) reduction. The mechanisms by IRB mediate Fe(III) reduction into Fe(II) for bacterial respiration to contribute to iron steel corrosion. However, the complexity of corrosion is not fully comprehended. It remains controversial due to the corrosion mechanisms proposed by IRB that may induce or inhibit corrosion when engaged with microbial biofilm. In this brief review, understanding microbiological corrosion mechanisms associated with IRB interactions may better understand microbiological corrosion and derive corrosion control