Development of in-situ detection method for microorganisms in FIB-processed thin foils

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K18658
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 17:Earth and planetary science and related fields
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Shiraishi Fumito 広島大学, 先進理工系科学研究科(理), 准教授 (30626908)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 富岡 尚敬 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 超先鋭研究開発部門(高知コア研究所), 主任研究員 (30335418)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-07-09 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 集束イオンビーム加工 / 微生物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We conducted a study to identify microbial taxa contained in minerals such as manganese and carbonate using a scanning transmission X-ray microscope in focused ion beam (FIB) processed thin foils. As a result of exploring the detectability of DNA probes labeled with various fluorescent substances, it became clear that the one labeled with Cy3-tyramide was the most suitable among those investigated. When this method was applied to a sample simulating microorganisms living in manganese nodules, microorganisms were specifically detected.

Free Research Field

地球微生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により，鉱物中に存在している微生物様構造が微生物であるかどうか，そしてそれらがどのような分類群の微生物であるかを，集束イオンビーム加工薄膜中において高解像度に判断する手法の可能性が提示された．この手法をを確立し，マンガン団塊などの金属資源や，微生物性炭酸塩岩による石油貯留岩などに適用することで，資源等の形成に微生物がどのように関与しているのか，理解が進むと期待される．