Issue 2, 2019

Analysis of bacteria stress responses to contaminants derived from shale energy extraction

Abstract

In order to survive environmental changes, bacteria have stress responses, which protect them from adverse and variable conditions. Contamination can be a source of stress and bacterial responses can serve as an indicator of environmental abnormality. In this work, the biochemical effects of toxic compounds that stem from hydraulic fracturing were measured on the whole cell-derived fatty acid and protein compositions of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus subtilis. These microorganisms were exposed to elevated levels of benzene, ethanol, propanol, toluene, and salt. These were chosen to represent significant subsurface contamination or a surface spill. The fatty acid and protein profiles for the bacteria were analyzed using gas chromatography – vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, respectively. Overall, different fatty acid and protein profiles were observed when the microorganisms were grown in the presence of the toxic compounds. The cells exhibited an increase in the saturated/unsaturated ratio and displayed the presence of branched and cyclopropane fatty acids when in the presence of common fracture fluid constituents to decrease membrane permeability which was confirmed by the analysis of produced water. This approach provides a potentially useful tool for environmental diagnosis, since proteins and fatty acids can act as a harbinger of ecological health.

Graphical abstract: Analysis of bacteria stress responses to contaminants derived from shale energy extraction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
28 јул. 2018
Accepted
08 ноем. 2018
First published
09 ноем. 2018

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2019,21, 269-278

Analysis of bacteria stress responses to contaminants derived from shale energy extraction

I. C. Santos, A. Chaumette, J. Smuts, Z. L. Hildenbrand and K. A. Schug, Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts, 2019, 21, 269 DOI: 10.1039/C8EM00338F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements