Selenite Reduction to Elemental Selenium by Citrobacter Strain SE4-1 Isolated from a Stream Sediment

BACKGROUND: Selenium is an essential element for all life forms but can be toxic above certain narrow levels. Prevalent forms of selenium in oxic environment are selenium oxyanions such as selenite and selenate, which may be contaminants in soils and water bodies. Bacterial reduction of more mobile selenium species (selenite or selenate) to less mobile elemental selenium may suggest a benign solution for alleviating toxicity and bioavailability of the selenium species. METHODS AND RESULTS: A facultative anaerobic bacterium, Citrobacter strain SE4-1 was isolated from the contaminated stream sediments and found to effectively reduce selenite to elemental selenium. Aqueous phase of selenite was analyzed by inductively couple plasma spectroscopy and the precipitated sphere-shaped elemental selenium was observed by transmission electron microscopy. CONCLUSION: The bacterial strain SE4-1 isolated in this study suggests a potential role in biogeochemical cycle of selenium by the selenite reduction in the stream environment, and potentials for biotechnological applications to reduceselenium concentrations in selenium-contaminated systems such as wastewater, soil, and groundwater.

하천 퇴적토에서 분리한 Citrobacter strain SE4-1에 의한 아셀렌산염의 원소상 셀레늄으로의 환원

아셀렌산염(selenite, ${SeO_3}^{2-}$)을 환원시키는 세균 SE4-1을 복합 산업단지 내 위치한 오염된 하천 퇴적토로부터 분리하였고, 계통분석결과 이 균주는 Citrobacter freundii와 가장 유사하였다. 이 균주는 혐기적 환경에서 아셀렌산염을 원소상 셀레늄(elemental selenium, $Se^0$)으로 환원시켰고, 그 형상은 구형으로 확인되었다. 이러한 고체상의 침전은 셀레늄 산소음이온의 이동성을 줄이고 생물가용성을 줄여, 생태계 독성을 줄이는 잠재성을 제시해 줄 수 있을 것이다.