Bacterial biomineralization: new insights from Myxococcus-induced mineral precipitation - Tufas and Speleothems: Unravelling the Microbial and Physical Controls - page 44

nuclei), or their metabolic activity may be crucial for
vaterite mineralization. In the latter case, antibiotics
could help prevent these health problems.
In summary, our understanding of bacterial
mineralization has improved substantially in recent
decades. However, much more remains to be done if
we are to determine with greater precision how and
where bacterial mineralization takes place. Finally,
this research will help define the implications of
bacterial mineralization in a variety of chemical,
biological and geological processes.

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Granada, Spain.
B EN C HEKROUN , K., R ODRIGUEZ -N AVARRO , C.,
G ONZ ´ LEZ -M U ˜ OZ , M. T., A RIAS , J. M., C UL-
TRONE ,G.&R ODRIGUEZ -G ALLEGO , M. 2004.
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This work was supported by the Spanish Direcci ´ nGen-
eral de Investigaci ´ n (DGI contracts MAT2006-05411,
MAT2009-11332, CGL2006-13327-CO4-04, MARM2008-
00050084447, CGL2009-07603 and CGL2007-61489/
BOS), by the Junta de Andaluc ´ a (contract RNM3943) and
by Research Groups NMR 179, FQM 195, RNM 5212 and
BIO 103 of the Junta de Andaluc ´ a. Editing of the English
was done by Marco Bettini.

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