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Resistance of a Halobacterium salinarum isolate from a solar saltern to cadmium, lead, nickel, zinc, and copper

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Abstract

The current study focuses on the tolerance of a strain of Halobacterium salinarum isolated from Sfax solar saltern (Tunisia) towards cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) by using agar dilution methods in complex and minimal media. The results showed the least inhibitory metals based on Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) were lead (MIC = 4.5 mM), cadmium (MIC = 4 mM), and nickel (MIC = 2.5 mM) in complex medium. The MICs of these metals were more inhibitory (MIC < 2 mM) in the other tested media. The archaeal strain revealed a high sensitivity for copper and zinc, with MICs below 0.5 mM for both metals. Growth kinetics in complex and minimal media showed the strain to be more sensitive to the metals in liquid media than in solid media. The growth kinetic assays indicated the presence of selected heavy metals resulted in a lower growth rate and lower total cell mass relative to the control. Despite that cadmium and lead are nonessential and have no nutrient value, they were the most tolerated metals by H. salinarum strain. In addition, pigment intensity in the strain was inhibited by the presence of the heavy metals relative to the control.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Sfax solar saltern staff for allowing access to the ponds and assistance to carry out the sampling campaign. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the USDA over other firms or similar products not mentioned. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Laboratory of Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development “LASED”, LR17ES32, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia

    Houda Baati, Chafai Azri, Emna Ammar & Mohamed Trigui

  2. Research Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology-Microbiology and Health, LR17ES06, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia

    Mariem Siala

  3. Crop Bioprotection Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL, 61604, USA

    Christopher Dunlap

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  1. Houda Baati
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Contributions

HB isolated the strain, analysed the cultivation data, extracted pigments and wrote the manuscript, MS contributed to text preparation, EA was involved in results evaluation. CD performed the phylogenetic analysis and revised the manuscript, CA and MT conceived the idea, designed the study and supervised HB and MS. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Houda Baati.

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Baati, H., Siala, M., Azri, C. et al. Resistance of a Halobacterium salinarum isolate from a solar saltern to cadmium, lead, nickel, zinc, and copper. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 113, 1699–1711 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-020-01475-6

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