ZeoBioFilms: Exploring mineral-microbe interactions on synthetic zeolites

CASTRO, M.; SMITH, R.; CUBILLAS, P.; ANDERSON, M.,; FARIAS MARIA EUGENIA; ALBARRACIN VIRGINIA H.

Moscu

Congreso; 17th International Zeolite Conference; 2013

The interaction zeolites-bacteria to form biofilms has been reported in soils (zeolite bio-fertilizer) as enhancer of plantgrowth [1] (Fig.1). The addition of untreated zeolite tuff substantially increases the plant growth since enhances themicrobial activity and water supply. That proves i) that zeolites are suitable materials to support life living at normalEarth conditions and ii) that the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) segregated by bacteria allow theirattachment to zeolite surface. Up-to-date there are not enough studies on the mechanisms of silification or dissolutionof zeolites based on microbial activity and how these EPS could modify their surfaces. Our research aims to unravel ata molecular scale these two open questions.HAAL of the South American Andes in Argentina are almost unexplored ecosystems of shallow lakes [2,3] exposed toremarkably extreme conditions and classified as model systems for the study of life on other planets: Examplesof the former are Acinetobacter strains isolated from Lake Verde (4, 400 m) with survival competence under strong UVBirradiation and modern stromatolites from Socompa Lake (3,750 m), analogues of their Precambrian counterparts forbio-geo-interaction studies related with the origin of life (Fig.2).