Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE)
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/9334
At the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE), multidisciplinary research teams develop beneficial uses for microbial biofilms and find solutions to industrially relevant biofilm problems. The CBE was established at Montana State University, Bozeman, in 1990 as a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center. As part of the MSU College of Engineering, the CBE gives students a chance to get a head start on their careers by working on research teams led by world-recognized leaders in the biofilm field.
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Item Subsurface hydrocarbon degradation strategies in low- and high-sulfate coal seam communities identified with activity-based metagenomics(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2022-02) Schweitzer, Hannah D.; Smith, Heidi J.; Barnhart, Elliott P.; McKay, Luke J.; Gerlach, Robin; Cunningham, Alfred B.; Malmstrom, Rex R.; Goudeau, Danielle; Fields, Matthew W.Environmentally relevant metagenomes and BONCAT-FACS derived translationally active metagenomes from Powder River Basin coal seams were investigated to elucidate potential genes and functional groups involved in hydrocarbon degradation to methane in coal seams with high- and low-sulfate levels. An advanced subsurface environmental sampler allowed the establishment of coal-associated microbial communities under in situ conditions for metagenomic analyses from environmental and translationally active populations. Metagenomic sequencing demonstrated that biosurfactants, aerobic dioxygenases, and anaerobic phenol degradation pathways were present in active populations across the sampled coal seams. In particular, results suggested the importance of anaerobic degradation pathways under high-sulfate conditions with an emphasis on fumarate addition. Under low-sulfate conditions, a mixture of both aerobic and anaerobic pathways was observed but with a predominance of aerobic dioxygenases. The putative low-molecular-weight biosurfactant, lichysein, appeared to play a more important role compared to rhamnolipids. The methods used in this study—subsurface environmental samplers in combination with metagenomic sequencing of both total and translationally active metagenomes—offer a deeper and environmentally relevant perspective on community genetic potential from coal seams poised at different redox conditions broadening the understanding of degradation strategies for subsurface carbon.Item In Situ Enhancement and Isotopic Labeling of Biogenic Coalbed Methane(American Chemical Society, 2022-02) Barnhart, Elliott P.; Ruppert, Leslie; Hiebert, Randy; Smith, Heidi J.; Schweitzer, Hannah D.; Clark, Arthur C.; Weeks, Edwin P.; Orem, William H.; Varonka, Matthew S.; Platt, George; Shelton, Jenna L.; Davis, Katherine J.; Hyatt, Robert J.; McIntosh, Jennifer C.; Ashley, Kilian; Ono, Shuhei; Martini, Anna M.; Hackley, Keith C.; Gerlach, Robin; Spangler, Lee; Phillips, Adrienne J.; Barry, Mark; Cunningham, Alfred B.; Fields, Matthew W.Subsurface microbial (biogenic) methane production is an important part of the global carbon cycle that has resulted in natural gas accumulations in many coal beds worldwide. Laboratory studies suggest that complex carbon-containing nutrients (e.g., yeast or algae extract) can stimulate methane production, yet the effectiveness of these nutrients within coal beds is unknown. Here, we use downhole monitoring methods in combination with deuterated water (D2O) and a 200-liter injection of 0.1% yeast extract (YE) to stimulate and isotopically label newly generated methane. A total dissolved gas pressure sensor enabled real time gas measurements (641 days preinjection and for 478 days postinjection). Downhole samples, collected with subsurface environmental samplers, indicate that methane increased 132% above preinjection levels based on isotopic labeling from D2O, 108% based on pressure readings, and 183% based on methane measurements 266 days postinjection. Demonstrating that YE enhances biogenic coalbed methane production in situ using multiple novel measurement methods has immediate implications for other field-scale biogenic methane investigations, including in situ methods to detect and track microbial activities related to the methanogenic turnover of recalcitrant carbon in the subsurface.Item Addressing wellbore integrity and thief zone permeability using microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP): A field demonstration(Elsevier BV, 2020-02) Kirkland, Catherine M.; Thane, Abby; Hiebert, Randy; Hyatt, Robert; Kirksey, Jim; Cunningham, Alfred B.; Gerlach, Robin; Spangler, Lee; Philips, Adrienne J.Microbially-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is an emerging biotechnology for wellbore integrity applications including sealing defects in wellbore cement and modifying the permeability of rock formations. The goal of this field demonstration was to characterize a failed waterflood injection well and provide proof of principle that MICP can reduce permeability in the presence of oil using conventional oilfield fluid delivery methods. We compared well logs performed at the time the well was drilled with ultrasonic logs, sonic cement evaluation, and temperature logs conducted after the well failed. Analysis of these logs suggested that, rather than entering the target waterflood formation, injectate was traveling through defects in the well cement to a higher permeability sandstone layer above the target formation. Sporosarcina pasteurii cultures and urea-calcium media were delivered 2290 ft (698 m) below ground surface using a 3.75 gal (14.2 L) slickline dump bailer to promote mineralization in the undesired flow paths. By Day 6 and after 25 inoculum and 49 calcium media injections, the injectivity [gpm/psi] had decreased by approximately 70%. This demonstration shows that 1) common well logs can be used to identify scenarios where MICP can be employed to reduce system permeability, remediate leakage pathways, and improve waterflood efficiency, and 2) MICP can occur in the presence of hydrocarbons.Item Kinetics of Calcite Precipitation by Ureolytic Bacteria under Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions(2019-05) Mitchell, Andrew C.; Espinosa-Ortiz, Erika J.; Parks, Stacy L.; Phillips, Adrienne J.; Cunningham, Alfred B.; Gerlach, RobinThe kinetics of urea hydrolysis (ureolysis) and induced calcium carbonate (CaCO3) precipitation for engineering use in the subsurface was investigated under aerobic conditions using Sporosarcina pasteurii (ATCC strain 11859) as well as Bacillus sphaericus strains 21776 and 21787. All bacterial strains showed ureolytic activity inducing CaCO3 precipitation aerobically. Rate constants not normalized to biomass demonstrated slightly higher-rate coefficients for both ureolysis (kurea) and CaCO3 precipitation (kprecip) for B. sphaericus 21776 (kurea=0.10±0.03 h−1, kprecip=0.60±0.34 h−1) compared to S. pasteurii (kurea=0.07±0.02 h−1, kprecip=0.25±0.02 h−1), though these differences were not statistically significantly different. B. sphaericus 21787 showed little ureolytic activity but was still capable of inducing some CaCO3 precipitation. Cell growth appeared to be inhibited during the period of CaCO3 precipitation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images suggest this is due to the encasement of cells and was reflected in lower kurea values observed in the presence of dissolved Ca. However, biomass regrowth could be observed after CaCO3 precipitation ceased, which suggests that ureolysis-induced CaCO3 precipitation is not necessarily lethal for the entire population. The kinetics of ureolysis and CaCO3 precipitation with S. pasteurii was further analyzed under anaerobic conditions. Rate coefficients obtained in anaerobic environments were comparable to those under aerobic conditions; however, no cell growth was observed under anaerobic conditions with NO−3, SO2−4 or Fe3+ as potential terminal electron acceptors. These data suggest that the initial rates of ureolysis and ureolysis-induced CaCO3 precipitation are not significantly affected by the absence of oxygen but that long-term ureolytic activity might require the addition of suitable electron acceptors. Variations in the ureolytic capabilities and associated rates of CaCO3 precipitation between strains must be fully considered in subsurface engineering strategies that utilize microbial amendments.Item The role of (bio)surfactant sorption in promoting the bioavailability of nutrients localized at the solid-water interface(1999) Jordan, Ryan N.; Nichols, E. P.; Cunningham, Alfred B.Bioavailability is herein defined as the accessibility of a substrate by a microorganism. Further, bioavailability is governed by (1) the substrate concentration that the cell membrane “sees,” (i.e., the “directly bioavailable” pool) as well as (2) the rate of mass transfer from potentially bioavailable (e.g., nonaqueous) phases to the directly bioavailable (e.g., aqueous) phase. Mechanisms by which sorbed (bio)surfactants influence these two processes are discussed. We propose the hypothesis that the sorption of (bio)surfactants at the solid-liquid interface is partially responsible for the increased bioavailability of surface-bound nutrients, and offer this as a basis for suggesting the development of engineered in-situ bioremediation technologies that take advantage of low (bio)surfactant concentrations. In addition, other industrial systems where bioavailability phenomena should be considered are addressed.Item Mobilization of a broad host range plasmid from pseudomonas putida to an established biofilm of bacillus azotoformans part ii: modeling(1998-02) Beaudoin, D. L.; Bryers, James D.; Cunningham, Alfred B.; Peretti, Steven W.A strain of Pseudomonas putida that harbors plasmids RK2 and pDLB101 was exposed to a pure culture biofilm of Bacillus azotoformans grown in a rotating annular reactor. Transfer of the RK2 mobilizable pDLB101 plasmid to B. azotoformans was monitored over a 4-day period. Experimental results demonstrated that the broad host range, RSF1010 derivative pDLB101 was transferred to and expressed by B. azotoformans. In the companion article to this work, the rate of plasmid transfer was quantified as a function of the limiting nutrient, succinate, and as a function of the mechanism of transfer. A biofilm process simulation program (AQUASIM) was modified to analyze resultant experimental data. Although the AQUASIM package was not designed to simulate or predict genetic events in biofilms, modification of the rate process dynamics allowed successful modeling of plasmid transfer. For the narrow range of substrate concentrations used in these experiments, nutrient level had only a slight effect on the rate and extent of plasmid transfer in biofilms. However, further simulations using AQUASIM revealed that under nutrient poor conditions, the number of transconjugants appearing in the biofilm was limited.Item Mobilization of a broad host range plasmid from pseudomonas putida to an established biofilm of bacillus azotoformans part i: experiments(1998-02) Beaudoin, D. L.; Bryers, James D.; Cunningham, Alfred B.; Peretti, Steven W.A strain of Pseudomonas putida harboring plasmids RK2 and pDLB101 was exposed to a pure culture biofilm of Bacillus azotoformans grown in a rotating annular reactor under three different concentrations of the limiting nutrient, succinate. Experimental results demonstrated that the broad host range RSF1010 derivative pDLB101 was transferred to and expressed by B. azotoformans. At the lower concentrations, donor mediated plasmid transfer increased with increasing nutrient levels, but the highest nutrient concentration yielded the lowest rate of donor to recipient plasmid transfer. For transconjugant initiated transfer, the rate of transfer increased with increasing nutrient concentrations for all cases. At the lower nutrient concentrations, the frequency of plasmid transfer was higher between donors and recipients than between transconjugants and recipients. The reverse was true at the highest succinate concentration. The rates and frequencies of plasmid transfer by mobilization were compared to gene exchange by retrotransfer. The initial rate of retrotransfer was slower than mobilization, but then increased dramatically. Retrotransfer produced a plasmid transfer frequency more than an order of magnitude higher than simple mobilization.Item The effect of bacterial injury on toluene degradation and respiration rates in vapor phase bioreactors(1997) Jones, Warren L.; Mirpuri, Rajesh G.; Lewandowski, Zbigniew; Cunningham, Alfred B.The effects of prolonged toluene exposure and degradation on bacterial cultures of Pseudomonas putida 54G were investigated in three reactor systems: a batch suspended culture system, a bench-scale flat plate biofilm reactor, and a bench-scale packed column reactor. Humidified air containing 150 ppmv (toluene limiting) to 750 ppmv (oxygen limiting) toluene vapor was the sole source of carbon and energy supplied to these systems. Results from the suspended batch culture experiments were used to develop rate expressions and kinetic parameters for loss of culturability and of toluene degradative capacity. Experiments in the flat plate reactor were carried out to examine the effects of injury on biofilm structure and function. The packed column studies were performed under conditions relevant to field application, and confirmed results from the other two studies - that decreased culturability on toluene media correlated with decreased specific toluene degradation rate, particularly at higher toluene concentration.Item Predictive model for toluene degradation and microbial phenotypic profiles in flat plate vapor phase bioreactor(1997-06) Mirpuri, Rajesh G.; Sharp, Robert R.; Lewandowski, Zbigniew; Cunningham, Alfred B.A predictive model has been developed to describe degradation of toluene in a flat-plate vapor phase bioreactor (VPBR). The VPBR model incorporates kinetic, stoichiometric, injury, and irreversible loss coefficients from suspended culture studies for toluene degradation by P. putida 54G and measured values of Henry's law constant and boundary layer thickness at the gas-liquid and liquid-biofilm interface. The model is used to estimate the performance of the reactor with respect to toluene degradation and to predict profiles of toluene concentration and bacterial physiological state within the biofilm. These results have been compared with experimentally determined values from a flat plate VPBR under electron acceptor and electron donor limiting conditions. The model accurately predicts toluene concentrations in the vapor phase and toluene degradation rate by adjusting only three parameters: biomass density and rates of death and endogenous decay. Qualitatively, the model also predicts gradients in the physiological state cells in the biofilm. This model provides a rational design for predicting an upper limit of toluene degradation capability in a VPBR and is currently being tested to assess applications for predicting performance of bench and pilot-scale column reactors.Item Evaluation of a coupled mass transport-biofilm process model using dissolved oxygen microsensors(1995) Cunningham, Alfred B.; Visser, Ernest Jay; Lewandowski, Zbigniew; Abrahamson, Michael T.A 2-dimensional model has been developed which couples hydrodynamics, solute transport and reaction in a steady state biofilm system of irregular geometry under laminar flow. Biofilm thickness is initially specified over the domain and remains constant during the simulations. The Navier-Stokes equations are coupled with advection-diffusion-reaction equations describing oxygen transport and solved using finite differences. This model facilitates computational investigation of fluid velocity and solute concentration distributions in proximity to the fluid-biofilm interface. Model evaluation has been carried out using dissolved oxygen profiles measured by microsensors in a rectangular open channel with a 300 μm (approximate) artificial biofilm composed of alginate gel with an 8×1010 cells/ml concentration of Ps. aeruginosa cells. Significant variability in dissolved oxygen profile shape was observed at three locations on the artificial biofilm. Model simulations of these experiments facilitated a direct comparison between observed and computed values of dissolved oxygen concentration in the vicinity of the fluid-biofilm interface. Simulated profiles agreed closely with measured profiles at all three locations.