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MacGregor H, Fukai I, Ash K, Arkin AP, Hazen TC. Potential applications of microbial genomics in nuclear non-proliferation. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1410820. [PMID: 39360321 PMCID: PMC11445143 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1410820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
As nuclear technology evolves in response to increased demand for diversification and decarbonization of the energy sector, new and innovative approaches are needed to effectively identify and deter the proliferation of nuclear arms, while ensuring safe development of global nuclear energy resources. Preventing the use of nuclear material and technology for unsanctioned development of nuclear weapons has been a long-standing challenge for the International Atomic Energy Agency and signatories of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Environmental swipe sampling has proven to be an effective technique for characterizing clandestine proliferation activities within and around known locations of nuclear facilities and sites. However, limited tools and techniques exist for detecting nuclear proliferation in unknown locations beyond the boundaries of declared nuclear fuel cycle facilities, representing a critical gap in non-proliferation safeguards. Microbiomes, defined as "characteristic communities of microorganisms" found in specific habitats with distinct physical and chemical properties, can provide valuable information about the conditions and activities occurring in the surrounding environment. Microorganisms are known to inhabit radionuclide-contaminated sites, spent nuclear fuel storage pools, and cooling systems of water-cooled nuclear reactors, where they can cause radionuclide migration and corrosion of critical structures. Microbial transformation of radionuclides is a well-established process that has been documented in numerous field and laboratory studies. These studies helped to identify key bacterial taxa and microbially-mediated processes that directly and indirectly control the transformation, mobility, and fate of radionuclides in the environment. Expanding on this work, other studies have used microbial genomics integrated with machine learning models to successfully monitor and predict the occurrence of heavy metals, radionuclides, and other process wastes in the environment, indicating the potential role of nuclear activities in shaping microbial community structure and function. Results of this previous body of work suggest fundamental geochemical-microbial interactions occurring at nuclear fuel cycle facilities could give rise to microbiomes that are characteristic of nuclear activities. These microbiomes could provide valuable information for monitoring nuclear fuel cycle facilities, planning environmental sampling campaigns, and developing biosensor technology for the detection of undisclosed fuel cycle activities and proliferation concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isis Fukai
- Bredesen Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Kurt Ash
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Adam Paul Arkin
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Terry C. Hazen
- Bredesen Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
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2
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Zhang K, Foster L, Boothman C, Bassil NM, Pittman JK, Lloyd JR. Control of cyanobacterial growth with potassium; implications for bloom control in nuclear storage ponds. HARMFUL ALGAE 2024; 137:102654. [PMID: 39003020 DOI: 10.1016/j.hal.2024.102654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Microbial blooms have been reported in the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond at the Sellafield Nuclear Facility. The pond is kept alkaline with NaOH to minimise fuel rod corrosion, however alkali-tolerant microbial blooms dominated by the cyanobacterium Pseudanabaena catenata are able to thrive in this hostile environment. This study assessed the impact of alternative alkali-dosing regimens (KOH versus NaOH treatment) on biomass accumulation, using a P. catenata dominated mixed culture, which is representative of the pond environment. Optical density was reduced by 40-67 % with KOH treatment over the 3-month chemostat experiment. Microbial community analysis and proteomics demonstrated that the KOH-dependent inhibition of cell growth was mostly specific to P. catenata. The addition of KOH to nuclear storage ponds may therefore help control growth of this pioneer photosynthetic organism due to its sensitivity to potassium, while maintaining the high pH needed to inhibit the corrosion of stored nuclear fuel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejing Zhang
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Lynn Foster
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Christopher Boothman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Naji M Bassil
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jon K Pittman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jonathan R Lloyd
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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3
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Butterworth SJ, Barton F, Lloyd JR. Extremophilic microbial metabolism and radioactive waste disposal. Extremophiles 2023; 27:27. [PMID: 37839067 PMCID: PMC10577106 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-023-01312-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Decades of nuclear activities have left a legacy of hazardous radioactive waste, which must be isolated from the biosphere for over 100,000 years. The preferred option for safe waste disposal is a deep subsurface geological disposal facility (GDF). Due to the very long geological timescales required, and the complexity of materials to be disposed of (including a wide range of nutrients and electron donors/acceptors) microbial activity will likely play a pivotal role in the safe operation of these mega-facilities. A GDF environment provides many metabolic challenges to microbes that may inhabit the facility, including high temperature, pressure, radiation, alkalinity, and salinity, depending on the specific disposal concept employed. However, as our understanding of the boundaries of life is continuously challenged and expanded by the discovery of novel extremophiles in Earth's most inhospitable environments, it is becoming clear that microorganisms must be considered in GDF safety cases to ensure accurate predictions of long-term performance. This review explores extremophilic adaptations and how this knowledge can be applied to challenge our current assumptions on microbial activity in GDF environments. We conclude that regardless of concept, a GDF will consist of multiple extremes and it is of high importance to understand the limits of polyextremophiles under realistic environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jane Butterworth
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Franky Barton
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Jonathan Richard Lloyd
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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4
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Foster L, Boothman C, Harrison S, Jenkinson P, Pittman JK, Lloyd JR. Identification of algal rich microbial blooms in the Sellafield Pile Fuel Storage Pond and the application of ultrasonic treatment to control the formation of blooms. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1261801. [PMID: 37860139 PMCID: PMC10582928 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1261801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of microorganisms in a range of nuclear facilities has been known for many years. In this study the microbial community inhabiting the Pile Fuel Storage Pond (PFSP), which is a legacy open-aired facility on the Sellafield nuclear site, Cumbria, UK, was determined to help target microbial bloom management strategies in this facility. The PFSP is currently undergoing decommissioning and the development of prolonged dense microbial blooms reduces the visibility within the water. Such impairment in the pond water visibility can lead to delays in pond operations, which also has financial implications. Efforts to control the microbial population within the PFSP are ongoing, with the installation of ultrasonic treatment units. Here next generation sequencing techniques focussing on broad targets for both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms were used to identify the microbial community. On-site monitoring of photosynthetic pigments indicated when microbial blooms formed and that eukaryotic algae were most likely to be responsible for these events. The sequencing data suggested that the blooms were dominated by members of the class Chrysophyceae, a group of golden algae, while evidence of cyanobacteria and other photosynthetic bacteria was limited, further supporting eukaryotic organisms causing the blooms. The results of sequencing data from 2018 was used to inform a change in the operational settings of the ultrasonic units, while monitoring of the microbial community and photosynthetic pigments trends was extended. Since the changes were made to the ultrasonic treatment, the visibility in the pond was significantly improved, with an absence of a spring bloom in 2020 and an overall reduction in the number of days lost due to microbial blooms annually. This work extends our knowledge of the diversity of microbes able to colonise nuclear fuel storage ponds, and also suggests that sequencing data can help to optimise the performance of ultrasonic treatments, to control algal proliferation in the PFSP facility and other inhospitable engineered systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn Foster
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Boothman
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Scott Harrison
- National Nuclear Laboratory, Central Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jon K. Pittman
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R. Lloyd
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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5
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Barton F, Spencer BF, Tartèse R, Graham J, Shaw S, Morris K, Lloyd JR. The potential role of biofilms in promoting fouling formation in radioactive discharge pipelines. BIOFOULING 2023; 39:785-799. [PMID: 37877442 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2023.2269532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear facility discharge pipelines accumulate inorganic and microbial fouling and radioactive contamination, however, research investigating the mechanisms that lead to their accumulation is limited. Using the Sellafield discharge pipeline as a model system, this study utilised modified Robbins devices to investigate the potential interplay between inorganic and biological processes in supporting fouling formation and radionuclide uptake. Initial experiments showed polyelectrolytes (present in pipeline effluents), had minimal effects on fouling formation. Biofilms were, however, found to be the key component promoting fouling, leading to increased uptake of inorganic particulates and metal contaminants (Cs, Sr, Co, Eu and Ru) compared to a non-biofilm control system. Biologically-mediated uptake mechanisms were implicated in Co and Ru accumulation, with a potential bioreduced Ru species identified on the biofilm system. This research emphasised the key role of biofilms in promoting fouling in discharge pipelines, advocating for the use of biocide treatments methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franky Barton
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ben F Spencer
- Henry Royce Institute and Department of Materials, School of Natural Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Romain Tartèse
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - James Graham
- National Nuclear Laboratory, Central Laboratory, Sellafield, Seascale, Cumbria, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Shaw
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Morris
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R Lloyd
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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6
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Petit P, Hayoun K, Alpha-Bazin B, Armengaud J, Rivasseau C. First Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria from the Core's Cooling Pool of an Operating Nuclear Reactor. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1871. [PMID: 37630434 PMCID: PMC10456712 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial life can thrive in the most inhospitable places, such as nuclear facilities with high levels of ionizing radiation. Using direct meta-analyses, we have previously highlighted the presence of bacteria belonging to twenty-five different genera in the highly radioactive water of the cooling pool of an operating nuclear reactor core. In the present study, we further characterize this specific environment by isolating and identifying some of these microorganisms and assessing their radiotolerance and their ability to decontaminate uranium. This metal is one of the major radioactive contaminants of anthropogenic origin in the environment due to the nuclear and mining industries and agricultural practices. The microorganisms isolated when sampling was performed during the reactor operation consisted mainly of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, whereas Proteobacteria were dominant when sampling was performed during the reactor shutdown. We investigated their tolerance to gamma radiation under different conditions. Most of the bacterial strains studied were able to survive 200 Gy irradiation. Some were even able to withstand 1 kGy, with four of them showing more than 10% survival at this dose. We also assessed their uranium uptake capacity. Seven strains were able to remove almost all the uranium from a 5 µM solution. Four strains displayed high efficiency in decontaminating a 50 µM uranium solution, demonstrating promising potential for use in bioremediation processes in environments contaminated by radionuclides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Petit
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IRIG, F-38000 Grenoble, France;
| | - Karim Hayoun
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, SPI, F-30200 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France; (K.H.); (B.A.-B.); (J.A.)
- Laboratoire Innovations Technologiques pour la Détection et le Diagnostic (Li2D), Université de Montpellier, F-30207 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Béatrice Alpha-Bazin
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, SPI, F-30200 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France; (K.H.); (B.A.-B.); (J.A.)
| | - Jean Armengaud
- Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, SPI, F-30200 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France; (K.H.); (B.A.-B.); (J.A.)
| | - Corinne Rivasseau
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IRIG, F-38000 Grenoble, France;
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, F-91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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7
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Zhang K, Foster L, Buchanan D, Coker VS, Pittman JK, Lloyd JR. The interplay between Cs and K in Pseudanabaena catenata; from microbial bloom control strategies to bioremediation options for radioactive waters. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130556. [PMID: 37055967 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Pseudanabaena dominates cyanobacterial blooms in the First-Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP) at a UK nuclear site. The fission product Cs is a radiologically significant radionuclide in the pond, and understanding the interactions between Cs and Pseudanabaena spp. is therefore important for determining facility management strategies, as well as improving understanding of microbiological responses to this non-essential chemical analogue of K. This study evaluated the fate of Cs following interactions with Pseudanabaena catenata, a laboratory strain most closely related to that dominating FGMSP blooms. Experiments showed that Cs (1 mM) exposure did not affect the growth of P. catenata, while a high concentration of K (5 mM) caused a significant reduction in cell yield. Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy elemental mapping identified Cs accumulation to discrete cytoplasmic locations within P. catenata cells, indicating a potential bioremediation option for Cs. Proteins related to stress responses and nutrient limitation (K, P) were stimulated by Cs treatment. Furthermore, selected K+ transport proteins were mis-regulated by Cs dosing, which indicates the importance of the K+ transport system for Cs accumulation. These findings enhance understanding of Cs fate and biological responses within Pseudanabaena blooms, and indicate that K exposure might provide a microbial bloom control strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejing Zhang
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Lynn Foster
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Dawn Buchanan
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Victoria S Coker
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jon K Pittman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jonathan R Lloyd
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
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Pible O, Petit P, Steinmetz G, Rivasseau C, Armengaud J. Taxonomical composition and functional analysis of biofilms sampled from a nuclear storage pool. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1148976. [PMID: 37125163 PMCID: PMC10133526 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1148976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sampling small amounts of biofilm from harsh environments such as the biofilm present on the walls of a radioactive material storage pool offers few analytical options if taxonomic characterization and estimation of the different biomass contributions are the objectives. Although 16S/18S rRNA amplification on extracted DNA and sequencing is the most widely applied method, its reliability in terms of quantitation has been questioned as yields can be species-dependent. Here, we propose a tandem-mass spectrometry proteotyping approach consisting of acquiring peptide data and interpreting then against a generalist database without any a priori. The peptide sequence information is transformed into useful taxonomical information that allows to obtain the different biomass contributions at different taxonomical ranks. This new methodology is applied for the first time to analyze the composition of biofilms from minute quantities of material collected from a pool used to store radioactive sources in a nuclear facility. For these biofilms, we report the identification of three genera, namely Sphingomonas, Caulobacter, and Acidovorax, and their functional characterization by metaproteomics which shows that these organisms are metabolic active. Differential expression of Gene Ontology GOslim terms between the two main microorganisms highlights their metabolic specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Pible
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Pauline Petit
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IRIG, Grenoble, France
| | - Gérard Steinmetz
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Corinne Rivasseau
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IRIG, Grenoble, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jean Armengaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
- *Correspondence: Jean Armengaud,
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Sugoro I, Pikoli MR, Rahayu DS, Puspito MJ, Shalsabilla SE, Ramadhan F, Fadila DSR, Cici A, Tetriana D, Haribowo DR, Rijal MS. Microalgae Diversity in Interim Wet Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel in Serpong, Indonesia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15377. [PMID: 36430090 PMCID: PMC9691152 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The water quality in the interim wet storage of spent fuel (ISSF) needs to be monitored due to its function as a radiation shield. Water in ISSF pools must be free from microorganisms such as microalgae that live in a radioactive environment. Moreover, particular microalgae are capable of causing corrosion to stainless steel, which is a component of ISSF. Therefore, this study aims to determine the diversity of microalgae in the ISSF and those living in a radioactive environment, which cause corrosion. The microalgae were detected using the diversity and Palmer indices. The sampling of microalgae water was carried out by vertical filtration method at eight sites of ISSF. The results show that the diversity of microalgae (H') was low due to radiation exposure in pool water, hence, only specific species can survive. The evenness (J') of the microalgae was low, causing a high dominance index (C) value. Furthermore, the dominating species, namely, Chlorella sp. (Chlorophyceae), needs to be monitored because it has gamma radioresistance capabilities and can cause the corrosion of stainless steel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irawan Sugoro
- Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta 12400, Indonesia
| | - Megga Ratnasari Pikoli
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia
| | - Dyah Sulistyani Rahayu
- Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta 12400, Indonesia
| | - Marhaeni Joko Puspito
- Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta 12400, Indonesia
| | - Syalwa Ersadiwi Shalsabilla
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia
| | - Firdaus Ramadhan
- National Institute of Science and Technology, Jakarta 12630, Indonesia
| | - Diannisa Syahwa Rahma Fadila
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia
| | - Ade Cici
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia
| | - Devita Tetriana
- Research Organization for Nuclear Energy, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta 12400, Indonesia
| | - Dinda Rama Haribowo
- Center for Integrated Laboratory, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Banten 15412, Indonesia
| | - Mohammad Syamsul Rijal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Islam Negeri Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta 15412, Indonesia
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10
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Barton F, Shaw S, Morris K, Graham J, Lloyd JR. Impact and control of fouling in radioactive environments. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2022.104215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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11
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Purkis JM, Bardos RP, Graham J, Cundy AB. Developing field-scale, gentle remediation options for nuclear sites contaminated with 137Cs and 90Sr: The role of Nature-Based Solutions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 308:114620. [PMID: 35149404 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The remediation of contaminated land using plants, bacteria and fungi has been widely examined, especially in laboratory or greenhouse systems where conditions are precisely controlled. However, in real systems at the field scale conditions are much more variable and often produce different outcomes, which must be fully examined if 'gentle remediation options', or GROs, are to be more widely implemented, and their associated benefits (beyond risk-management) realized. These secondary benefits can be significant if GROs are applied correctly, and can include significant biodiversity enhancements. Here, we assess recent developments in the field-scale application of GROs for the remediation of two model contaminants for nuclear site remediation (90Sr and 137Cs), their risk management efficiency, directions for future application and research, and barriers to their further implementation at scale. We also discuss how wider benefits, such as biodiversity enhancements, water filtration etc. can be maximized at the field-scale by intelligent application of these approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie M Purkis
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
| | - R Paul Bardos
- Centre for Aquatic Environments, University of Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4AT, UK; r3 Environmental Technology Ltd., Reading, United Kingdom
| | - James Graham
- National Nuclear Laboratory, Sellafield, Cumbria, CA20 1PG, UK
| | - Andrew B Cundy
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom.
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12
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Foster C, Shaw S, Neill TS, Bryan N, Sherriff N, Natrajan LS, Wilson H, Lopez-Odriozola L, Rigby B, Haigh SJ, Zou YC, Harrison R, Morris K. Hydrotalcite Colloidal Stability and Interactions with Uranium(VI) at Neutral to Alkaline pH. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:2576-2589. [PMID: 35166554 PMCID: PMC9098172 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c03179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In the United Kingdom, decommissioning of legacy spent fuel storage facilities involves the retrieval of radioactive sludges that have formed as a result of corrosion of Magnox nuclear fuel. Retrieval of sludges may re-suspend a colloidal fraction of the sludge, thereby potentially enhancing the mobility of radionuclides including uranium. The colloidal properties of the layered double hydroxide (LDH) phase hydrotalcite, a key product of Magnox fuel corrosion, and its interactions with U(VI) are of interest. This is because colloidal hydrotalcite is a potential transport vector for U(VI) under the neutral-to-alkaline conditions characteristic of the legacy storage facilities and other nuclear decommissioning scenarios. Here, a multi-technique approach was used to investigate the colloidal stability of hydrotalcite and the U(VI) sorption mechanism(s) across pH 7-11.5 and with variable U(VI) surface loadings (0.01-1 wt %). Overall, hydrotalcite was found to form stable colloidal suspensions between pH 7 and 11.5, with some evidence for Mg2+ leaching from hydrotalcite colloids at pH ≤ 9. For systems with U present, >98% of U(VI) was removed from the solution in the presence of hydrotalcite, regardless of pH and U loading, although the sorption mode was affected by both pH and U concentrations. Under alkaline conditions, U(VI) surface precipitates formed on the colloidal hydrotalcite nanoparticle surface. Under more circumneutral conditions, Mg2+ leaching from hydrotalcite and more facile exchange of interlayer carbonate with the surrounding solution led to the formation of uranyl carbonate species (e.g., Mg(UO2(CO3)3)2-(aq)). Both X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and luminescence analysis confirmed that these negatively charged species sorbed as both outer- and inner-sphere tertiary complexes on the hydrotalcite surface. These results demonstrate that hydrotalcite can form pseudo-colloids with U(VI) under a wide range of pH conditions and have clear implications for understanding the uranium behavior in environments where hydrotalcite and other LDHs may be present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Foster
- Research
Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, Department
of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The
University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Samuel Shaw
- Research
Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, Department
of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The
University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Thomas S. Neill
- Research
Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, Department
of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The
University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Nick Bryan
- Research
Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, Department
of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The
University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
- National
Nuclear Laboratory, Chadwick
House, Warrington Road, Birchwood Park, Warrington WA3 6AE, U.K.
| | - Nick Sherriff
- National
Nuclear Laboratory, Chadwick
House, Warrington Road, Birchwood Park, Warrington WA3 6AE, U.K.
| | - Louise S. Natrajan
- Centre
for Radiochemistry Research, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Hannah Wilson
- Centre
for Radiochemistry Research, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Laura Lopez-Odriozola
- Centre
for Radiochemistry Research, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Bruce Rigby
- Sellafield
Ltd., Hinton House, Birchwood Park Avenue, Risley, Warrington, Cheshire WA3
6GR, U.K.
| | - Sarah J. Haigh
- Department
of Materials, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Yi-Chao Zou
- Department
of Materials, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Robert Harrison
- Nuclear
Fuel
Centre of Excellence, Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil
Engineering, The University of Manchester, Sackville Street, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
| | - Katherine Morris
- Research
Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, Department
of Earth & Environmental Sciences, The
University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K.
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13
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Van Eesbeeck V, Props R, Mysara M, Petit PCM, Rivasseau C, Armengaud J, Monsieurs P, Mahillon J, Leys N. Cyclical Patterns Affect Microbial Dynamics in the Water Basin of a Nuclear Research Reactor. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:744115. [PMID: 34721343 PMCID: PMC8555696 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.744115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The BR2 nuclear research reactor in Mol, Belgium, runs in successive phases of operation (cycles) and shutdown, whereby a water basin surrounding the reactor vessel undergoes periodic changes in physico-chemical parameters such as flow rate, temperature, and radiation. The aim of this study was to explore the microbial community in this unique environment and to investigate its long-term dynamics using a 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing approach. Results from two sampling campaigns spanning several months showed a clear shift in community profiles: cycles were mostly dominated by two Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) assigned to unclassified Gammaproteobacterium and Pelomonas, whereas shutdowns were dominated by an OTU assigned to Methylobacterium. Although 1 year apart, both campaigns showed similar results, indicating that the system remained stable over this 2-year period. The community shifts were linked with changes in physico-chemical parameters by Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) and correlation analyses. In addition, radiation was hypothesized to cause a decrease in cell number, whereas temperature had the opposite effect. Chemoautotrophic use of H2 and dead cell recycling are proposed to be used as a strategies for nutrient retrieval in this extremely oligotrophic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Van Eesbeeck
- Microbiology Unit, Environment, Health and Safety Department, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol, Belgium.,Food and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Earth and Life Institute, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Ruben Props
- Microbiology Unit, Environment, Health and Safety Department, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol, Belgium.,Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mohamed Mysara
- Microbiology Unit, Environment, Health and Safety Department, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol, Belgium
| | - Pauline C M Petit
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Corinne Rivasseau
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Jean Armengaud
- Technological Innovations for Detection and Diagnosis Laboratory, CEA, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Pieter Monsieurs
- Protozoology Research Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITG), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jacques Mahillon
- Food and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Earth and Life Institute, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Natalie Leys
- Microbiology Unit, Environment, Health and Safety Department, Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK CEN), Mol, Belgium
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14
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Predicting degradation of organic molecules in cementitious media. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2021.103888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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15
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Zhou A, Xie S, Zhang Y, Chuan J, Tang H, Li X, Zhang L, Xu G, Zou J. Interaction of environmental eukaryotic microorganisms and fungi in the pond-cultured carps: new insights into the potential pathogenic fungi in the freshwater aquaculture. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:38839-38854. [PMID: 33745047 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13231-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The quality and safety of the aquatic products have gradually become the focus of global attention. In this study, the environmental eukaryotic and fungi communities in pond-cultured grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) and the koi carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) were investigated. For comparative analysis, the alpha diversity shows that the environmental microbial abundance in the koi carp groups were higher than that in the grass carp groups, while beta diversity reveals that the differences of the microbial community composition and structures in the grass carp groups were significantly higher than those in the koi carp groups. Meanwhile, the environmental microbial diversity of grass carp groups was higher than that of koi carp groups at phylum level, but showed no significant difference at genus level. Additionally, the dominant total phyla were Opisthokonta, Stramenopiles plusAlveolates plusRhizaria, Archaeplastida, Cryptophyceae, and Centrohelida for the 18S rRNA gene and Ciliophora, Chlorophyta, and Ascomycota for the ITS2 rRNA gene in both of the two carp groups. Additionally, annotation analysis showed that the biomarkers in the grass carp groups are significantly higher than those of the koi carp groups. Furthermore, the functional prediction of Funguild showed significant difference in outputs, while similarity in trophic modes and guild types between the two carp groups. Meanwhile, the total relative abundances of animal pathogen, fungal parasite, and plant pathogen were extremely similar between the two carp groups. Surprisingly, one pathogenic fungus of genus Fusarium was identified in both the environments of two carp groups based on filtered operational taxonomic unit tables. Overall, this is the first robust report to understand the characteristics of environmental eukaryotic microorganisms and fungi in the edible and ornamental carps. Our results also provide the basic data for the prevention of fungal diseases and the healthy culture of the carps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiguo Zhou
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 93 Mount Edward Road, Charlottetown, PEI C1A 5 T1, Canada
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Shaolin Xie
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Departments of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Jiacheng Chuan
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 93 Mount Edward Road, Charlottetown, PEI C1A 5 T1, Canada
| | - Huijuan Tang
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 93 Mount Edward Road, Charlottetown, PEI C1A 5 T1, Canada
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China
| | - Guohuan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510070, China.
| | - Jixing Zou
- Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province and Hong Kong Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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16
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Ruiz-Lopez S, Foster L, Boothman C, Cole N, Morris K, Lloyd JR. Identification of a Stable Hydrogen-Driven Microbiome in a Highly Radioactive Storage Facility on the Sellafield Site. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:587556. [PMID: 33329459 PMCID: PMC7732693 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.587556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of nuclear power has been a significant part of the United Kingdom’s energy portfolio with the Sellafield site being used for power production and more recently reprocessing and decommissioning of spent nuclear fuel activities. Before being reprocessed, spent nuclear fuel is stored in water ponds with significant levels of background radioactivity and in high alkalinity (to minimize fuel corrosion). Despite these challenging conditions, the presence of microbial communities has been detected. To gain further insight into the microbial communities present in extreme environments, an indoor, hyper-alkaline, oligotrophic, and radioactive spent fuel storage pond (INP) located on the Sellafield site was analyzed. Water samples were collected from sample points within the INP complex, and also the purge water feeding tank (FT) that supplies water to the pond, and were screened for the presence of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes to inform sequencing requirements over a period of 30 months. Only 16S rRNA genes were successfully amplified for sequencing, suggesting that the microbial communities in the INP were dominated by prokaryotes. Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) analysis targeting 16S rRNA genes suggested that bacterial cells in the order of 104–106 mL–1 were present in the samples, with loadings rising with time. Next generation Illumina MiSeq sequencing was performed to identify the dominant microorganisms at eight sampling times. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis suggested that 70% and 91% from of the OTUs samples, from the FT and INP respectively, belonged to the phylum Proteobacteria, mainly from the alpha and beta subclasses. The remaining OTUs were assigned primarily to the phyla Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and, Cyanobacteria. Overall the most abundant genera identified were Hydrogenophaga, Curvibacter, Porphyrobacter, Rhodoferax, Polaromonas, Sediminibacterium, Roseococcus, and Sphingomonas. The presence of organisms most closely related to Hydrogenophaga species in the INP areas, suggests the metabolism of hydrogen as an energy source, most likely linked to hydrolysis of water caused by the stored fuel. Isolation of axenic cultures using a range of minimal and rich media was also attempted, but only relatively minor components (from the phylum Bacteroidetes) of the pond water communities were obtained, emphasizing the importance of DNA-based, not culture-dependent techniques, for assessing the microbiome of nuclear facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon Ruiz-Lopez
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester (UoM), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn Foster
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester (UoM), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Boothman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester (UoM), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Cole
- Sellafield Ltd., Warrington, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Morris
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester (UoM), Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R Lloyd
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester (UoM), Manchester, United Kingdom
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17
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Bassil NM, Small JS, Lloyd JR. Enhanced microbial degradation of irradiated cellulose under hyperalkaline conditions. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2020; 96:fiaa102. [PMID: 32459307 PMCID: PMC7329180 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Intermediate-level radioactive waste includes cellulosic materials, which under the hyperalkaline conditions expected in a cementitious geological disposal facility (GDF) will undergo abiotic hydrolysis forming a variety of soluble organic species. Isosaccharinic acid (ISA) is a notable hydrolysis product, being a strong metal complexant that may enhance the transport of radionuclides to the biosphere. This study showed that irradiation with 1 MGy of γ-radiation under hyperalkaline conditions enhanced the rate of ISA production from the alkali hydrolysis of cellulose, indicating that radionuclide mobilisation to the biosphere may occur faster than previously anticipated. However, irradiation also made the cellulose fibres more available for microbial degradation and fermentation of the degradation products, producing acidity that inhibited ISA production via alkali hydrolysis. The production of hydrogen gas as a fermentation product was noted, and this was associated with a substantial increase in the relative abundance of hydrogen-oxidising bacteria. Taken together, these results expand our conceptual understanding of the mechanisms involved in ISA production, accumulation and biodegradation in a biogeochemically active cementitious GDF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naji M Bassil
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Joe S Small
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- National Nuclear Laboratory, Chadwick House, Birchwood Park, Warrington WA3 6AE, UK
| | - Jonathan R Lloyd
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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18
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Foster L, Muhamadali H, Boothman C, Sigee D, Pittman JK, Goodacre R, Morris K, Lloyd JR. Radiation Tolerance of Pseudanabaena catenata, a Cyanobacterium Relevant to the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:515. [PMID: 32318035 PMCID: PMC7154117 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently a species of Pseudanabaena was identified as the dominant photosynthetic organism during a bloom event in a high pH (pH ∼11.4), radioactive spent nuclear fuel pond (SNFP) at the Sellafield Ltd., United Kingdom facility. The metabolic response of a laboratory culture containing the cyanobacterium Pseudanabaena catenata, a relative of the major photosynthetic microorganism found in the SNFP, to X-ray irradiation was studied to identify potential survival strategies used to support colonization of radioactive environments. Growth was monitored and the metabolic fingerprints of the cultures, during irradiation and throughout the post-irradiation recovery period, were determined using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. A dose of 95 Gy delivered over 5 days did not significantly affect growth of P. catenata, as determined by turbidity measurements and cell counts. Multivariate statistical analysis of the FT-IR spectral data revealed metabolic variation during the post-irradiation recovery period, with increased polysaccharide and decreased amide spectral intensities. Increases in polysaccharides were confirmed by complementary analytical methods including total carbohydrate assays and calcofluor white staining. This observed increased production of polysaccharides is of significance, since this could have an impact on the fate of the radionuclide inventory in the pond via biosorption of cationic radionuclides, and may also impact on downstream processes through biofilm formation and biofouling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn Foster
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Howbeer Muhamadali
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Boothman
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - David Sigee
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jon K. Pittman
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Royston Goodacre
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Morris
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan R. Lloyd
- Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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