Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energydispersive X-ray spectrometry for quick detection of sulfuroxidizing bacteria in environmental water samples -- Journal of Oceanology and Limnology,2017,35(1):185-191

	Cite this paper:
	SUN Chengjun, JIANG Fenghua, GAO Wei, LI Xiaoyun, YU Yanzhen, YIN Xiaofei, WANG Yong, DING Haibing. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energydispersive X-ray spectrometry for quick detection of sulfuroxidizing bacteria in environmental water samples[J]. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 2017, 35(1): 185-191

Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energydispersive X-ray spectrometry for quick detection of sulfuroxidizing bacteria in environmental water samples

SUN Chengjun^1,2, JIANG Fenghua¹, GAO Wei¹, LI Xiaoyun^1,2, YU Yanzhen¹, YIN Xiaofei¹, WANG Yong³, DING Haibing^4,5

1 Marine Ecology Center, First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Qingdao 266061, China;
2 College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;
3 Qingdao Hao Ao Environmental Engineering Ltd., Qingdao 266100, China;
4 Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China;
5 Qingdao Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China

Abstract:

Detection of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria has largely been dependent on targeted gene sequencing technology or traditional cell cultivation, which usually takes from days to months to carry out. This clearly does not meet the requirements of analysis for time-sensitive samples and/or complicated environmental samples. Since energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) can be used to simultaneously detect multiple elements in a sample, including sulfur, with minimal sample treatment, this technology was applied to detect sulfur-oxidizing bacteria using their high sulfur content within the cell. This article describes the application of scanning electron microscopy imaging coupled with EDS mapping for quick detection of sulfur oxidizers in contaminated environmental water samples, with minimal sample handling. Scanning electron microscopy imaging revealed the existence of dense granules within the bacterial cells, while EDS identified large amounts of sulfur within them. EDS mapping localized the sulfur to these granules. Subsequent 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the bacteria detected in our samples belonged to the genus Chromatium, which are sulfur oxidizers. Thus, EDS mapping made it possible to identify sulfur oxidizers in environmental samples based on localized sulfur within their cells, within a short time (within 24 h of sampling). This technique has wide ranging applications for detection of sulfur bacteria in environmental water samples.

Received: 2015-06-22 Revised: 2015-08-18

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Articles by SUN Chengjun

Articles by JIANG Fenghua

Articles by GAO Wei

Articles by LI Xiaoyun

Articles by YU Yanzhen

Articles by YIN Xiaofei

Articles by WANG Yong

Articles by DING Haibing

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