Description
Arsenic is a ubiquitous naturally occurring element. This metalloid is highly toxic and its dispersal in the environment represents an increasing threat to the organisms living in it. Arsenic-resistant bacteria have developed strategies to resist to the stress of this metal. Arsenic-rich soils were detected in San Diego County at the Black Mountain Open Space Park. This study focuses on the characterization of the cultivable bacteria presenting As resistance properties at this site. It is hypothesized that extreme exposure to an arsenic-rich environment has contributed to the evolution of species that possess favorable traits towards As resistance. Our findings show evolutionary diversity among the isolated species. Some species presented the ability to employ As as a source of energy. Screening for As resistance gene arsC was performed and phylogenetic comparison of the 16S rRNA tree with the arsC gene tree will allow to determine HGT occurrence within the microbial community.
Characterization of Cultivatable Arsenic Resistant Bacteria from Black Mountain Open Space Park
Arsenic is a ubiquitous naturally occurring element. This metalloid is highly toxic and its dispersal in the environment represents an increasing threat to the organisms living in it. Arsenic-resistant bacteria have developed strategies to resist to the stress of this metal. Arsenic-rich soils were detected in San Diego County at the Black Mountain Open Space Park. This study focuses on the characterization of the cultivable bacteria presenting As resistance properties at this site. It is hypothesized that extreme exposure to an arsenic-rich environment has contributed to the evolution of species that possess favorable traits towards As resistance. Our findings show evolutionary diversity among the isolated species. Some species presented the ability to employ As as a source of energy. Screening for As resistance gene arsC was performed and phylogenetic comparison of the 16S rRNA tree with the arsC gene tree will allow to determine HGT occurrence within the microbial community.