
Design an experiment for measuring the activity of sulfuroxidizing bacteria in soil. If only certain species of the sulfur oxidizers present were

To discuss:
Design an experiment to measure the activity of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in the soil. How to detect, if only certain sulfur oxidizing species present were metabolically active. How to prove the activity measurement was because of biological activity.
Introduction:
Sulfur oxidizing bacteria (for example, Thiobacillus, Thermothrix,Sulfolobus, and Thiothrix) can convert hydrogen sulfide (H2S) into sulfate (SO42) or other forms of sulfur. They can grow in various environments, for example, soil and water. MAR-FISH is a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) combined with microautoradiography (MAR). MAR-FISH can simultaneously identify microorganisms and their metabolic property.
Explanation of Solution
An experiment to measure sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from soil:
- Isolate Thiobacillus species (gram-negative bacteria) from sulfide rich soil (for example, paddy field) followed by serial dilution in water.
- Add 5 ml water containing sample (bacteria) to 50 ml thiosulfate mineral salts medium (thiosulfate MSM).
- Incubate the medium at 30°C for 7 days. The formation of turbidity and reduced pH of the thiosulfate MSM medium indicates the bacterial growth.
- Further streak plate method (onto the solid medium of thiosulfate MSM) can be used to isolate the pure culture of Thiobacilli.
- Incubate the petri plate at 30°C for 7 days.
- Screen the purified culture of Thiobacilli in the MSM consisting of Na2S but not of Na2S2O3.
- The sulfide medium used for the growth of bacteria is the sole source of energy.
- Further, Thiobacillus can be confirmed by gram-staining.
- Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, such as Thiobacillus species can be used to study.
To measure the activity of sulfur oxidizing bacteria in the soil, the radioisotope H235S should be used. The soil should be incubated with radioisotope (H235S) to know whether the sulfide oxidation occurred or not. After incubation, the presence of 35SO42- should be analyzed to prove the activity of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in the soil. The presence of 35SO42- proves that the sulfide oxidation has occurred in the test. To prove that the oxidation occurred due to biological activity, sterile the soil (medium) before the addition of labeled H2S. This is used as a control in this experiment. If the oxidation activity observed in the experiment is biological, it should be absent in the control. The MAR-FISH can be used to identify the presence of metabolically active bacteria in the soil.
MAR-FISH (microautoradiography- fluorescence in situ hybridization) technique is used to evaluate the microbial identification (phylogeny) with measurement of metabolic activities. MAR-FISH is used to assess the metabolism of a specific radiolabeled substance by microorganisms in the natural sample and also help to identify those particular microorganisms. Therefore, MAR-FISH can be used to identify the metabolism of radioisotope H235S by microorganisms in this experiment.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 19 Solutions
Brock Biology of Microorganisms (15th Edition)
- You have identified a new species of a Gram-positive bacteria. You would like to screen their genome for all proteins that are covalently linked to the cell wall. You have annotated the genome, so that you identified all the promoters, operons, and genes sequences within the operons. Using these features, what would you screen for to identify a set of candidates for proteins covalently linked to the bacterial cell wall.arrow_forwardBelow is a diagram from a genomic locus of a bacterial genome. Each arrow represents a coding region, and the arrowheads indicate its orientation in the genome. The numbers are randomly assigned. Draw the following features on the diagram, and explain your rationale for each feature: 10 12 合會會會會長 6 a) Expected transcriptions, based on known properties of bacterial genes and operons. How many proteins are encoded in each of the transcripts? b) Location of promoters (include rationale) c) Location of transcriptional terminators (include rationale) d) Locations of Shine-Dalgarno sequences (include rationale)arrow_forwardSample excuse letter in school class for the reasons of headaches and dysmenorrhea caused by menstrual cyclearrow_forward
- How do the muscles on the foot work to balance on an ice skate, specifically the triangle of balance and how does it change when balancing on an ice skate? (Refer to anatomy, be specific)arrow_forwardWhich of the following is NOT an example of passive immunization? A. Administration of tetanus toxoid B. Administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin C. Administration of rabies immunoglobulin D. Transfer of antibodies via plasma therapyarrow_forwardTranscription and Translation 1. What is the main function of transcription and translation? (2 marks) 2. How is transcription different in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells? (2 marks) 3. Explain the difference between pre-mRNA and post-transcript mRNA. (2 marks) 4. What is the function of the following: (4 marks) i. the cap ii. spliceosome iii. Poly A tail iv. termination sequence 5. What are advantages to the wobble feature of the genetic code? (2 marks) 6. Explain the difference between the: (3 marks) i. A site & P site ii. codon & anticodon iii. gene expression and gene regulation 7. Explain how the stop codon allows for termination. (1 mark) 8. In your own words, summarize the process of translation. (2 marks)arrow_forward
- In this activity you will research performance enhancers that affect the endocrine system or nervous system. You will submit a 1 page paper on one performance enhancer of your choice. Be sure to include: the specific reason for use the alleged results on improving performance how it works how it affect homeostasis and improves performance any side-effects of this substancearrow_forwardNeurons and Reflexes 1. Describe the function of the: a) dendrite b) axon c) cell body d) myelin sheath e) nodes of Ranvier f) Schwann cells g) motor neuron, interneuron and sensory neuron 2. List some simple reflexes. Explain why babies are born with simple reflexes. What are they and why are they necessary. 3. Explain why you only feel pain after a few seconds when you touch something very hot but you have already pulled your hand away. 4. What part of the brain receives sensory information? What part of the brain directs you to move your hand away? 5. In your own words describe how the axon fires.arrow_forwardMutations Here is your template DNA strand: CTT TTA TAG TAG ATA CCA CAA AGG 1. Write out the complementary mRNA that matches the DNA above. 2. Write the anticodons and the amino acid sequence. 3. Change the nucleotide in position #15 to C. 4. What type of mutation is this? 5. Repeat steps 1 & 2. 6. How has this change affected the amino acid sequence? 7. Now remove nucleotides 13 through 15. 8. Repeat steps 1 & 2. 9. What type of mutation is this? 0. Do all mutations result in a change in the amino acid sequence? 1. Are all mutations considered bad? 2. The above sequence codes for a genetic disorder called cystic fibrosis (CF). 3. When A is changed to G in position #15, the person does not have CF. When T is changed to C in position #14, the person has the disorder. How could this have originated?arrow_forward
- hoose a scientist(s) and research their contribution to our derstanding of DNA structure or replication. Write a one page port and include: their research where they studied and the time period in which they worked their experiments and results the contribution to our understanding of DNA cientists Watson & Crickarrow_forwardhoose a scientist(s) and research their contribution to our derstanding of DNA structure or replication. Write a one page port and include: their research where they studied and the time period in which they worked their experiments and results the contribution to our understanding of DNA cientists Watson & Crickarrow_forward7. Aerobic respiration of a protein that breaks down into 12 molecules of malic acid. Assume there is no other carbon source and no acetyl-CoA. NADH FADH2 OP ATP SLP ATP Total ATP Show your work using dimensional analysis here: 3arrow_forward
- Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage Learning
- BiochemistryBiochemistryISBN:9781305577206Author:Reginald H. Garrett, Charles M. GrishamPublisher:Cengage LearningConcepts of BiologyBiologyISBN:9781938168116Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James WisePublisher:OpenStax College


