Geomicrobiology 1400-226GM

Lecture: (1) Introduction to geomicrobiology –definition, history, aims and significance. (2) Earth as a natural habitat of microorganisms. (3) Microorganisms - catalysts of geochemical processes on Earth - a review of the metabolic strategies of microorganisms, so-called. geomikrobial factors; the role of microorganisms in the shaping of the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. (4) Metabolism of mineral compounds – chemolitotrophy, phototrophy, assimilative and dissimilative reduction – enzymatic interactions of microroganisms with iron, sulfur, uranium, arsenium, manganium and selenium minerals. (4) Bioweathering and biomineralization; biologically induced and controlled mineralization; enzymatic and non-enzymatic bioweathering; secondary metabolites. (5-6) Geomicrobiology of carbon – dystribution of carbon on Earth; geomicrobiology of inorganic carbon; autotrophy; carbonate mineral deposits; geomicrobiology of organic carbon (heterotrophy, methylotrophy, bioweathering of fossil organic matter, methanogenesis). (7-9) Geomicrobiology and iron, sulfur, manganese, arsenium, uranium, selenium – geochemistry and distribution of the aforementioned compounds on Earth; metabolism of minerals - chemolithotrophy, anoxygenic phototrophy, assimilative and dissimilative reduction; enzymatic and non-enzymatic interaction of microorganisms with minerals; bioweathering of sulfide minerals and arsenic minerals; biogenic sulphide minerals, carbonates, polymetallic nodules, oxides and hydroxides of iron. (10) Global metabolic pathways.

Laboratory: (1) Characteristics of taxonomic and trophic diversity of microorganisms inhabiting bioliths, copper ores, iron and arsenic and bottom sediments (microbiological mats and biofilms). (2) Isolation of microorganisms (bacteria, archaea) representing various metabolic strategies. (3) Detection and characterization of selected metabolic processes, including aerobic and anaerobic decomposition of aliphatic and aromatic fossil hydrocarbons, methanogenesis and methanotrophy, dissimilatory oxidation of reduced sulfur, iron and arsenic compounds, dissimilatory reduction of oxidized sulfur compounds, iron and arsenic, and their significance in geochemical changes. (4) Characteristics of biochemical processes based on metaproteomic analysis (identification of, among others, monooxygenases, dioxygenases, dehydrogenases, decarboxylases, oxidoreductases). (5) Identification of metabolic products of microorganisms (including methane, organic acids, alcohols, oxidized and reduced sulfur, iron and arsenic compounds) using chromatographic and spectrophotometric techniques.