Effects of acid mine water on injury and repair of Escherichia coli

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5929223

Wortman, A T

Pure cultures of Escherichia coli were stressed by exposure to acid mine water (AMW). Sublethally injured survivors were able to correct AM-damage but repair was significantly affected by the composition, pH, and incubation temperature of the repair broth. Resuscitation was an extensive process, requiring 3 to 4 h to complete. Optimal repair occurred at 35/sup 0/C in trypticase soy broth supplemented with 0.3% yeast extract and adjusted to pH 7.0. Protein, RNA, and lipid synthesis as well as an electrochemical gradient were required to correct AMW-injury. During repair, cells were unable to perform active transport and relied on endogenous reserves of carbon and energy. Electron micrographs revealed that the Gram-negative envelope of exposed cells was significantly altered, resulting in the loss of cytoplasm. Morphometric analyses indicated that AMW had a selective effect on E. coli with lysis more frequently observed among the smaller, younger members of the exposed population.

• OSTI ID: 5929223
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
560302* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CYTOPLASM
ESCHERICHIA COLI
INJURIES
MICROORGANISMS
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PROTEINS
RECOVERY
REPAIR
RNA
TOXICITY