The Effect of Heavy Metals on Microbial Communities in Industrial Soil in the Area of Piekary Śląskie and Bukowno (Poland)

The aim of this study was to determine the activity and structure microbial communities in soils contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). To achieve goal, soil samples were taken from two sites (i.e., Piekary Śląskie Bukowno) Poland. A wide range methods applied, including: total metal-tolerant culturable bacteria enumeration; community analysis using phospholipid fatty acid method (PLFA); denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE); metabolic BIOLOG EcoPlateTM. Our studies showed that HMs negatively affected polluted soils. Apart contamination HMs, other parameters like pH water also impacted growth. Metal-tolerant bacterial strains isolated, identified tested for presence genes encoding HM tolerance polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology. Contamination areas found lead development metallotolerant multiple tolerances toward Zn, Ni, Cd Cu. Different (e.g., czcA, cadA nccA) efflux pumps detected within isolated bacteria. Culturable belonged Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria Bacteroidetes genera. Among non-culturable samples, a significant fraction phyla, such as Gemmatimonadetes Acidobacteria, be present all studied In addition, Chloroflexi genus Śląskie, while Firmicutes Bukowno.