Paleomicrobiology to investigate copper resistance in bacteria: isolation and description of Cupriavidus necator B9 in the soil of a medieval foundry

• DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13645
• Publication Date: 2016-12-10T23:06:37Z
• Authors: David C. Gillan; Camille Van Camp; Max Mergeay; Ann Provoost; Nicolas Thomas; Laurent Vermard; Gabriel Billon; Ruddy Wattiez
• Keywords: Cupriavidus necator; Strain (injury); Gene cluster

Summary Remains of a medieval foundry were excavated by archaeologists in 2013 Verdun (France). Ancient workshops specialized brass and copper alloys found with an activity between 13th to 16th c. Levels Cu, Zn Pb reached 20000, 7000 6000 mg kg −1 (dw), respectively, several soil horizons. The objective the present work was examine microbial community this contaminated site. A total 8–22 10 6 reads obtained shotgun metagenomics four Bioinformatic analyses suggest presence complex bacterial communities dominated Proteobacteria. structure not affected metals, contrary set metal‐resistance genes. Using selective media, novel strain Cupriavidus necator (eutrophus) , B9, isolated. Its genome sequenced metal resistance gene cluster Hg genes ( merRTPCA ) followed 24 copper‐resistance actP, cusCBAF silP copK1 copH4QLOFGJH3IDCBARS copH2H1, copK2 found. This is partly homologous cop gilardii CR3 C. metallidurans CH34. Proteomics indicated that copH differentially expressed: CopH1 CopH2 mostly induced Cd while CopH4 highly expressed Cu.