Manganese Oxidizing Bacteria
Cynthia McClain
HMC 2012
July 19, 2012
Mn(II)
Soluble
Mn(III,IV)
Mn-oxide/oxyhydroxide
precipitate
Most MnOx in nature
formed biotically!
Niche
Physical and chemical gradients
Manganese Oxidizing Bacteria
•Multicopper
oxidase or
peroxidase
proteins
Isolation
1. Collect water or sediment
sample (slurry)
2. Streak 100-200µl supernatant
on K media plate: MnCl2,
peptone, yeast extract
3. Incubate 1-3 weeks
4. Restreak brown colonies
5. Test with Leucoberbelin Blue
(LBB)
Experimental Results
• Different morphologies
– Color
– Size
• Positive LBB
– Soil
– Sand from mouth of Elkhorn Slough (2)
– Kirby Park oily sheen (1)
– Baby seal beach sand (1)
Movie of LBB Test
• Sand from mouth of Elkhorn Slough
Soil
Soil
Kirby Park Oily Sheen
Kirby Park Oily Sheen
Baby Seal Beach
Baby Seal Beach
Manganese Oxidizing Bacteria
• Phylogeny
• Why oxidize Mn?
• Environmental Significance
Thank you!