Lucian C. Staicu - Microbial biominerals. A colourful journey

Referent: Lucian C. Staicu

• Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hannover, Germany
• Departmemt of Bacterial Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Poland

Abstract
Microbial biomineralization is the process by which microorganisms produce crystalline or amorphous minerals. This process can be genetically controlled and tightly regulated (e.g., magnetotactic bacteria produce intracellular magnetite and greigite minerals arranged in a linear structure) or occur as a by-product of microbial metabolism (e.g., extracellular iron minerals) [1].
In addition, biomineralization can be associated with microbial respiratory processes. In this case, microorganisms couple the oxidation of organic or inorganic electron donors (e-donor) with the reduction of organic or inorganic electron acceptors (e-acceptor), resulting in a flow of electrons that generates chemical energy (ATP).
In certain cases, microbial respiration using metals and metalloids as terminal electron acceptors leads directly or indirectly to solid products such as metal sulfides (AsS, FeS), elemental selenium (Se⁰), elemental sulfur (S⁰), and iron (oxyhydr)oxides. Since it involves numerous chemical elements, biomineralization serves as a chemical hub in both the oxidative and reductive pathways of several biogeochemical cycles [2].
Apart from the fundamental aspects, the production of microbial biominerals is relevant in the context of a circular/reuse economy by recovering various soluble metals and metalloids from industrial streams as solid (bio)minerals.
This paper presents original results on the microbial biomineralization of selenium and arsenic [3] using pure cultures (Shewanella sp. O23S) and mixed microbial communities (anaerobic granular sludge).

1. Staicu LC, Paquete C, Mansor M, Cosmidis J, Kappler A (2025) Microbial respiration – A biomineral perspective. FEMS Microbiology Ecology 101, Issue 10, fiaf093.
2. Staicu LC, Barton LL (2024) Geomicrobiology: Natural and anthropogenic settings. Springer, Cham, p. 338.
3. Staicu LC et al. (2022) Interplay between arsenic and selenium biomineralization in Shewanella sp. O23S. Environmental Pollution 306, 119451.

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