Uranium tolerance of environmental bacteria: from molecular ecology to proteogenomics

Since soil bacteria can interact with radionuclides (RNs), thus modifying their speciation and mobility, RNs can in turn influencing bacterial communities. To better understand both processes, we employed a combination of molecular ecology and molecular microbiology. First, we explored the molecular diversity of bacteria in two understudied environments: RNs-contaminated soils from the Chernobyl exclusion zone and natural uranium-rich soils from Limoges (France). In both situations, we demonstrated that RNs and uranium greatly influence the bacterial communities and we identified specialized phylotypes that have successfully colonized these environments