Manganese Oxidizing BacteriaCynthia McClain

HMC 2012July 19, 2012

Mn(II) Mn(III,IV)Soluble Mn-oxide/oxyhydroxide

precipitate

Most MnOx in nature formed biotically!

Niche

Physical and chemical gradients

Manganese Oxidizing Bacteria

•Multicopper oxidase or peroxidase proteins

Isolation

1. Collect water or sediment sample (slurry)

2. Streak 100-200µl supernatant on K media plate: MnCl2, peptone, yeast extract

3. Incubate 1-3 weeks4. Restreak brown colonies5. Test with Leucoberbelin Blue

(LBB)

Experimental Results

• Different morphologies– Color– Size

• Positive LBB– Soil – Sand from mouth of Elkhorn Slough (2)– Kirby Park oily sheen (1)– Baby seal beach sand (1)

Movie of LBB Test

• Sand from mouth of Elkhorn Slough

Soil

Soil

Kirby Park Oily Sheen

Kirby Park Oily Sheen

Baby Seal Beach

Baby Seal Beach

Manganese Oxidizing Bacteria

• Phylogeny• Why oxidize Mn?• Environmental Significance

Thank you!