Diversity and spatial distribution of metalreducing bacterial assemblages in groundwaters of different redox conditions Authors Gian M. Luna Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Antonio Dell’Anno Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Cinzia Corinaldesi Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Monica Armeni EcoTechSystems Ltd, Ancona, Italy Roberto Danovaro Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Keywords: Geobacteraceae, metal-reducing bacteria, manganese-iron in aquifers, groundwater Abstract The spatial distribution and diversity of metal-reducing bacterial assemblages belonging to Geobacteraceae were studied in groundwaters with different physicochemical characteristics by means of terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) molecular fingerprinting, as applied to the 16S rRNA gene. The physicochemical conditions of these environments were unfavorable to support active-metal-reducing processes. The highest diversity of Geobacteraceae was observed in groundwater samples characterized by the highest dissolved Fe and Mn concentrations. T-RFLP analyses revealed major differences in the Geobacteraceae ribotype diversity and community composition of the groundwater samples as well as a considerable variability and spatial turnover of Geobacteraceae assemblages. Results from this work suggest that changes in the physicochemical characteristics of the aquifer deeply influence the richness and community structure of Geobacteraceae, even in those systems in which metal-reduction processes are not dominant. [Int Microbiol 2009; 12(3):153-159] Author Biographies Gian M. Luna, Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Antonio Dell’Anno, Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Cinzia Corinaldesi, Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Monica Armeni, EcoTechSystems Ltd, Ancona, Italy EcoTechSystems Ltd, Ancona, Italy Roberto Danovaro, Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Biology Section, Faculty of Science, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy Downloads PDF Published 2010-01-14 Issue Vol. 12 No. 3 (2009) Section Research Articles License Submission of a manuscript to International Microbiology implies: that the work described has not been published before, including publication in the World Wide Web (except in the form of an Abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, or thesis); that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere; that all the coauthors have agreed to its publication. 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