Name: microbial layers inside a winogradsky column
Uploaded: 2026-03-12T13:57:35.000Z
Duration: 1 min 27 s
Channel: JoVE

ウィノグラドスキー柱は、微生物の多様性と代謝を研究するための自己組織化型の人工微生物生態系です。ガラスの円筒の半分を有機物に富む堆積物で満たして構成されます。細かい紙を炭素源として、石膏を硫酸塩源として、炭酸カルシウムを緩衝材として加えます。柱は水で満たされ、光に当たっています。時間が経つにつれて、カラム内で異なる微生物層が発達し、酸素と硫黄の勾配が形成されます。上部ではシアノバクテリアが酸素光合成を行い、酸素を生成し、上部ゾーンを好気性に保っています。その下では、化学栄養性硫黄細菌がこの酸素を使って硫化水素を酸化します。下部無酸素ゾーンでは、紫と緑色の硫黄菌が無酸素光合成を行い、硫化水素を使って二酸化炭素を固定します。より深い無酸素層では、硫酸塩還元菌や発酵菌などの嫌気性細菌が硫酸塩を硫化水素に還元し、これが上方に拡散して硫黄酸化細菌に利用され、垂直の硫黄循環を形成します。

ウィノグラツキー柱

The Winogradsky Column

ウィノグラドスキー柱は、層別的で自己完結した環境における微生物生態学と代謝相互作用を研究するための強力なツールを提供します。この人工生態系は19世紀後半にセルゲイ・ウィノグラツキーによって開発され、自然堆積物に見られる複雑な生物地球化学的勾配を再現し、研究者が微生物の遷移や相互作用を時間をかけて観察することを可能にします。このカラムは通常、半分の部分にセルロース(例えばシュレッダー紙)、炭酸カルシウム、石膏と混合した沈殿物を充填した透明なガラス筒内で組み立てられます。セルロースは炭素源として機能し、炭酸カルシウムはpH緩衝材として働き、石膏は硫酸塩を供給します。残りのスペースは池の水で満たされ、蒸発や汚染を防ぐために柱は密閉されています。その後、光合成活動を促進するために光の中に置かれます。数週間のうちに酸素と硫黄の化学勾配が発達し、異なる微生物ゾーンの形成を促進します。最上層は光と酸素にさらされ、シアノバクテリアや藻類などの酸素性光栄養生物が優勢です。これらの生物は光エネルギーを使って二酸化炭素を固定し、副産物として酸素を生成します。そのすぐ下、微好気性帯では無色硫黄細菌が限られた酸素を使って硫化水素(H₂S)を酸化し、元素硫黄(S⁰)または硫酸塩(SO₄²⁻)を生成します。酸素が枯渇するカラムの奥深くでは、紫色の非硫黄細菌は有機基質と光に依存して成長を遂げる光異栄養症を利用します。さらに深い場所では、厳密な無酸素条件下では、紫色と緑色の硫黄細菌が無酸素光合成を行います。これらの生物はH₂Sを電子供与体として利用し、CO₂を固定し、酸素が存在しない中で一次生産に寄与します。カラムの基部では、硫酸塩還元菌(例: デスルホビブリオ 属)や発酵剤などの嫌気性細菌が有機物を分解します。硫酸塩還元体は硫酸塩を終端電子受容体として使い、H₂Sを生成します。このH₂Sは上方に拡散し、上層の硫黄酸化細菌や光合成細菌のエネルギー源として機能し、その結果、閉じたループ硫黄サイクルを維持します。ウィノグラドスキー柱は、その層別構造と動的な相互作用を通じて、微生物生態系の複雑さと相互依存性を例として示し、環境微生物学と生地球化学的循環の洞察に満ちたモデルとして機能します。

A Winogradsky column provides a powerful tool for studying microbial ecology and metabolic interactions in a stratified, self-contained environment. This ...

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Education

JoVE Core

Microbiology

微生物学

Unit

ユニット

Microbial Ecology

微生物生態学

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

主要用語と概念

microbial layers inside a winogradsky column

A Winogradsky column shows how microbial layers form in a simple, sealed ecosystem. It is a clear model for studying microbial ecology and how different metabolisms interact in sediment over time.

The setup uses a transparent glass cylinder. Half of it is filled with sediment mixed with cellulose, such as shredded paper, calcium carbonate, and gypsum. The cellulose provides a carbon source. Calcium carbonate buffers pH, and gypsum supplies sulfate. The rest of the cylinder is filled with pond water, then sealed to limit evaporation and contamination.

The column is placed in light so photosynthesis can occur. Over several weeks, oxygen and sulfur gradients develop. These chemical changes create distinct microbial zones in the sediment and water column.

The top layer, which has both light and oxygen, is dominated by oxygenic phototrophs such as cyanobacteria and algae. These organisms use light to fix carbon dioxide and release oxygen as a byproduct. Just below that, in the microaerophilic zone, colorless sulfur bacteria use the small amount of oxygen available to oxidize hydrogen sulfide, or H2S. This process can produce elemental sulfur, S0, or sulfate, SO4(2−).

Deeper in the column, oxygen becomes scarce. Purple nonsulfur bacteria live here and use photoheterotrophy, which means they use light and organic substrates for growth. Still deeper, in fully anoxic zones, purple sulfur bacteria and green sulfur bacteria carry out anoxygenic photosynthesis. They use H2S as an electron donor and fix CO2 even without oxygen.

At the base of the column, anaerobic bacteria break down organic matter. Sulfate-reducing bacteria, such as Desulfovibrio species, use sulfate as a terminal electron acceptor and produce H2S. Fermenters also help decompose the material. The H2S moves upward and becomes fuel for sulfur-oxidizing and photosynthetic bacteria, which helps sustain a closed sulfur cycle in the column.

Microbial Layers Inside a Winogradsky Column

microbial-layers-inside-a-winogradsky-column

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the winogradsky column

A Winogradsky column shows how microbial layers form in a simple, sealed ecosystem. It is a clear model for studying microbial ecology and how different metabolisms interact in sediment over time. The setup uses a transparent glass cylinder. Half of it is filled with sediment mixed with cellulose, such as shredded paper, calcium carbonate, and gypsum. The cellulose provides a carbon source. Calcium carbonate buffers pH, and gypsum supplies sulfate. The rest of the cylinder is filled with pond...

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key terms and concepts

Explore how a Winogradsky column forms distinct microbial layers, from oxygenic phototrophs at the top to sulfate reducers at the base.

Microbial Layers Inside a Winogradsky Column | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Microbiology provides an engaging introduction to the microbial world and its influence on health, industry, and the environment. This comprehensive collection covers key concepts such as microbial structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology. It introduces essential laboratory techniques and microscopy methods through visually engaging animations. Corresponding scientist-in-action videos bridge classroom concepts with real-world research and applications.

microbiology

Microbial Layers Inside a Winogradsky Column

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