Biological accumulation of tellurium nanorod structures via reduction of tellurite by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

The dissimilatory metal-reducing bacterium, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, reduced tellurite (Te(IV), TeO32−) to elemental tellurium under anaerobic conditions resulting in the intracellular accumulation of needle shaped crystalline Te(0) nanorods. Fatty acid analyses showed that toxic Te(IV) increased the unsaturated fatty acid composition of the lipid components of the cell membrane, implying a deconstruction of the integrity of the cellular membrane structure. The current results suggest that dissimilatory metal reducing bacteria such as S. oneidensis MR-1 may play an important role in recycling toxic tellurium elements, and may be applied as a novel selective biological filter via the accumulation of industry-applicable rare materials, Te(0) nanorods, in the cell.

► Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 reduced tellurite to elemental tellurium.
► Crystal Te(0) nanorods accumulated intracellularly.
► Te(IV) caused changes in cell membrane rigidity by shifting the compositions of lipid components.
► Shewanella may provide an alternative method for Te(0) nanorod preparation.