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Effects of the biogenic gold nanoparticles on microbial community structure and activities

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Abstract

This study reports the terrestrial ecotoxicity of the spherical gold nanoparticles with size of 14 ± 3 nm and the negative surface charge of −33 ± 3 mV synthesized by the biomass of Streptomyces rimosus. The impact of these gold nanoparticles on the size and structure of microbial communities in the garden soil was analyzed by the enumeration of culturable soil microorganisms and community level physiological profiles (CLPP). Treatment effects on soil enzymatic activities for β-glucosidase, urease, alkaline phosphatase, and dehydrogenase were followed. Toxicity towards soil microorganisms involved in carbon and nitrogen transformation was determined. The data obtained in this study demonstrate that the biogenic gold nanoparticles up to the concentration of 33 mg kg −1 do not affect the soil processes and can be classified as “not harmful.”

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially financed by a statutory activity subsidy from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (PMSHE) for the Faculty of Chemistry of Wrocław University of Technology, NCN grant (NN507515058). I would like to thank Marta Pacia for technical support in carrying out the experimental work and Prof. J. Sołoducho (Wrocław University of Technology) for helpful consultation on the manuscript.

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  1. Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Microbiology (A-2), Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Technology, 50-370, Wroclaw, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, Poland

    Irena Maliszewska

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Correspondence to Irena Maliszewska.

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Maliszewska, I. Effects of the biogenic gold nanoparticles on microbial community structure and activities. Ann Microbiol 66, 785–794 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-015-1158-2

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