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Park SI, Cho CH, Ciniglia C, Huang TY, Liu SL, Bustamante DE, Calderon MS, Mansilla A, McDermott T, Andersen RA, Yoon HS. Revised classification of the Cyanidiophyceae based on plastid genome data with descriptions of the Cavernulicolales ord. nov. and Galdieriales ord. nov. (Rhodophyta). JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:444-466. [PMID: 36792488 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Cyanidiophyceae, an extremophilic red algal class, is distributed worldwide in extreme environments. Species grow either in acidic hot environments or in dim light conditions (e.g., "cave Cyanidium"). The taxonomy and classification systems are currently based on morphological, eco-physiological, and molecular phylogenetic characters; however, previous phylogenetic results showed hidden diversity of the Cyanidiophyceae and suggested a revision of the classification system. To clarify phylogenetic relationships within this red algal class, we employ a phylogenomic approach based on 15 plastomes (10 new) and 15 mitogenomes (seven new). Our phylogenies show consistent relationships among four lineages (Galdieria, "cave Cyanidium", Cyanidium, and Cyanidioschyzon lineages). Each lineage is distinguished by organellar genome characteristics. The "cave Cyanidium" lineage is a distinct clade that diverged after the Galdieria clade but within a larger monophyletic clade that included the Cyanidium and Cyanidioschyzon lineages. Because the "cave Cyanidium" lineage is a mesophilic lineage that differs substantially from the other three thermoacidophilic lineages, we describe it as a new order (Cavernulicolales). Based on this evidence, we reclassified the Cyanidiophyceae into four orders: Cyanidiales, Cyanidioschyzonales, Cavernulicolales ord. nov., and Galdieriales ord. nov. The genetic distance among these four orders is comparable to, or greater than, the distances found between other red algal orders and subclasses. Three new genera (Cavernulicola, Gronococcus, Sciadococcus), five new species (Galdieria javensis, Galdieria phlegrea, Galdieria yellowstonensis, Gronococcus sybilensis, Sciadococcus taiwanensis), and a new nomenclatural combination (Cavernulicola chilensis) are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung In Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Chung Hyun Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Claudia Ciniglia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy
| | - Tzu-Yen Huang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Shao-Lun Liu
- Department of Life Science & Center for Ecology and Environment, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Danilo E Bustamante
- Instituto de Investigación para el Desarrollo Sustentable de Ceja de Selva (INDES-CES), Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza, Amazonas, Peru
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Chile
| | - Martha S Calderon
- Instituto de Investigación para el Desarrollo Sustentable de Ceja de Selva (INDES-CES), Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza, Amazonas, Peru
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Chile
| | - Andres Mansilla
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Chile
- Laboratorio de Macroalgas Antárticas y Subantárticas, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Timothy McDermott
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Robert A Andersen
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, University of Washington, Friday Harbor, Washington, USA
| | - Hwan Su Yoon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
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Wynne JJ, Titus TN, Agha‐Mohammadi A, Azua‐Bustos A, Boston PJ, de León P, Demirel‐Floyd C, De Waele J, Jones H, Malaska MJ, Miller AZ, Sapers HM, Sauro F, Sonderegger DL, Uckert K, Wong UY, Alexander EC, Chiao L, Cushing GE, DeDecker J, Fairén AG, Frumkin A, Harris GL, Kearney ML, Kerber L, Léveillé RJ, Manyapu K, Massironi M, Mylroie JE, Onac BP, Parazynski SE, Phillips‐Lander CM, Prettyman TH, Schulze‐Makuch D, Wagner RV, Whittaker WL, Williams KE. Fundamental Science and Engineering Questions in Planetary Cave Exploration. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. PLANETS 2022; 127:e2022JE007194. [PMID: 36582809 PMCID: PMC9787064 DOI: 10.1029/2022je007194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nearly half a century ago, two papers postulated the likelihood of lunar lava tube caves using mathematical models. Today, armed with an array of orbiting and fly-by satellites and survey instrumentation, we have now acquired cave data across our solar system-including the identification of potential cave entrances on the Moon, Mars, and at least nine other planetary bodies. These discoveries gave rise to the study of planetary caves. To help advance this field, we leveraged the expertise of an interdisciplinary group to identify a strategy to explore caves beyond Earth. Focusing primarily on astrobiology, the cave environment, geology, robotics, instrumentation, and human exploration, our goal was to produce a framework to guide this subdiscipline through at least the next decade. To do this, we first assembled a list of 198 science and engineering questions. Then, through a series of social surveys, 114 scientists and engineers winnowed down the list to the top 53 highest priority questions. This exercise resulted in identifying emerging and crucial research areas that require robust development to ultimately support a robotic mission to a planetary cave-principally the Moon and/or Mars. With the necessary financial investment and institutional support, the research and technological development required to achieve these necessary advancements over the next decade are attainable. Subsequently, we will be positioned to robotically examine lunar caves and search for evidence of life within Martian caves; in turn, this will set the stage for human exploration and potential habitation of both the lunar and Martian subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Judson Wynne
- Department of Biological Sciences and Center for Adaptable Western LandscapesNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
| | | | | | - Armando Azua‐Bustos
- Centro de AstrobiologíaCSIC‐INTAUnidad María de MaeztuInstituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Ctra de Torrejón a AjalvirMadridSpain
- Instituto de Ciencias BiomédicasFacultad de Ciencias de la SaludUniversidad Autónoma de ChileSantiagoChile
| | | | - Pablo de León
- Human Spaceflight LaboratoryDepartment of Space StudiesUniversity of North DakotaGrand ForksNDUSA
| | | | - Jo De Waele
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Heather Jones
- Robotics InstituteCarnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburghPAUSA
| | - Michael J. Malaska
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Ana Z. Miller
- Laboratório HERCULESUniversity of ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y AgrobiologíaConsejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasSevilleSpain
| | - Haley M. Sapers
- Department of Earth and Space Science and EngineeringYork UniversityTorontoONCanada
| | - Francesco Sauro
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Derek L. Sonderegger
- Department of Mathematics and StatisticsNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
| | - Kyle Uckert
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | | | - E. Calvin Alexander
- Earth and Environmental Sciences DepartmentUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMNUSA
| | - Leroy Chiao
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringRice UniversityHoustonTXUSA
| | - Glen E. Cushing
- U.S. Geological SurveyAstrogeology Science CenterFlagstaffAZUSA
| | - John DeDecker
- Center for Mineral Resources ScienceColorado School of MinesGoldenCOUSA
| | - Alberto G. Fairén
- Centro de AstrobiologíaCSIC‐INTAUnidad María de MaeztuInstituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Ctra de Torrejón a AjalvirMadridSpain
- Department of AstronomyCornell UniversityIthacaNYUSA
| | - Amos Frumkin
- Institute of Earth SciencesThe Hebrew UniversityJerusalemIsrael
| | - Gary L. Harris
- Human Spaceflight LaboratoryDepartment of Space StudiesUniversity of North DakotaGrand ForksNDUSA
| | - Michelle L. Kearney
- Department of Astronomy and Planetary SciencesNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
| | - Laura Kerber
- Jet Propulsion LaboratoryCalifornia Institute of TechnologyPasadenaCAUSA
| | - Richard J. Léveillé
- Department of Earth and Planetary SciencesMcGill UniversityMontrealQCCanada
- Geosciences DepartmentJohn Abbott CollegeSte‐Anne‐de‐BellevueQCCanada
| | | | - Matteo Massironi
- Dipartimento di GeoscienzeUniversità degli Studi di PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - John E. Mylroie
- Department of GeosciencesMississippi State UniversityStarkvilleMSUSA
| | - Bogdan P. Onac
- School of GeosciencesUniversity of South FloridaTampaFLUSA
- Emil G. Racoviță InstituteBabeș‐Bolyai UniversityCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | | | | | | | - Dirk Schulze‐Makuch
- Astrobiology GroupCenter of Astronomy and AstrophysicsTechnische Universität BerlinBerlinGermany
- Section GeomicrobiologyGFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesPotsdamGermany
- Department of Experimental LimnologyLeibniz‐Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB)StechlinGermany
| | - Robert V. Wagner
- School of Earth and Space ExplorationArizona State UniversityTempeAZUSA
| | - William L. Whittaker
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - Kaj E. Williams
- U.S. Geological SurveyAstrogeology Science CenterFlagstaffAZUSA
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Cleaning of Phototrophic Biofilms in a Show Cave: The Case of Tesoro Cave, Spain. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12157357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Show caves have different grades of colonization by phototrophic biofilms. They may receive a varied number of visits, from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Among them, Tesoro Cave, Rincon de la Victoria, Spain, showed severe anthropic alterations, including artificial lighting. The most noticeable effect of the lighting was the growth of a dense phototrophic community of cyanobacteria, algae and bryophytes on the speleothems, walls and ground. The biofilms were dominated by the cyanobacterium Phormidium sp., the chlorophyte Myrmecia israelensis, and the rhodophyte Cyanidium sp. In many cases, the biofilms also showed an abundance of the bryophyte Eucladium verticillatum. Other cyanobacteria observed in different biofilms along the cave were: Chroococcidiopsis sp., Synechocystis sp. and Nostoc cf. edaphicum, the green microalgae Pseudococcomyxa simplex, Chlorella sp. and the diatom Diadesmis contenta. Preliminary cleaning tests on selected areas showed the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite. A physicochemical treatment involving the mechanical removal of the thickest layers of biofilms was followed by chemical treatments. In total, 94% of the surface was cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, with a subsequent treatment with sodium hypochlorite in only 1% of cases. The remaining 5% was cleaned with sodium hypochlorite in areas where the biofilms were entrapped into a calcite layer and in sandy surfaces with little physical compaction. The green biofilms from the entire cave were successfully cleaned.
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Curien G, Lyska D, Guglielmino E, Westhoff P, Janetzko J, Tardif M, Hallopeau C, Brugière S, Dal Bo D, Decelle J, Gallet B, Falconet D, Carone M, Remacle C, Ferro M, Weber AP, Finazzi G. Mixotrophic growth of the extremophile Galdieria sulphuraria reveals the flexibility of its carbon assimilation metabolism. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:326-338. [PMID: 33764540 PMCID: PMC8252106 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Galdieria sulphuraria is a cosmopolitan microalga found in volcanic hot springs and calderas. It grows at low pH in photoautotrophic (use of light as a source of energy) or heterotrophic (respiration as a source of energy) conditions, using an unusually broad range of organic carbon sources. Previous data suggested that G. sulphuraria cannot grow mixotrophically (simultaneously exploiting light and organic carbon as energy sources), its photosynthetic machinery being repressed by organic carbon. Here, we show that G. sulphuraria SAG21.92 thrives in photoautotrophy, heterotrophy and mixotrophy. By comparing growth, biomass production, photosynthetic and respiratory performances in these three trophic modes, we show that addition of organic carbon to cultures (mixotrophy) relieves inorganic carbon limitation of photosynthesis thanks to increased CO2 supply through respiration. This synergistic effect is lost when inorganic carbon limitation is artificially overcome by saturating photosynthesis with added external CO2 . Proteomic and metabolic profiling corroborates this conclusion suggesting that mixotrophy is an opportunistic mechanism to increase intracellular CO2 concentration under physiological conditions, boosting photosynthesis by enhancing the carboxylation activity of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (Rubisco) and decreasing photorespiration. We discuss possible implications of these findings for the ecological success of Galdieria in extreme environments and for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Curien
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale. Université Grenoble AlpesCNRSCEAINRAeGrenoble Cedex 938054France
| | - Dagmar Lyska
- Institute of Plant BiochemistryCluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS)Heinrich Heine UniversityDüsseldorf40225Germany
| | - Erika Guglielmino
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale. Université Grenoble AlpesCNRSCEAINRAeGrenoble Cedex 938054France
| | - Phillip Westhoff
- Institute of Plant BiochemistryCluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS)Heinrich Heine UniversityDüsseldorf40225Germany
| | - Janina Janetzko
- Institute of Plant BiochemistryCluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS)Heinrich Heine UniversityDüsseldorf40225Germany
| | - Marianne Tardif
- EdyP Laboratoire Biologie à Grande Echelle, Université Grenoble AlpesCEAInsermBGE U1038Grenoble Cedex 938054France
| | - Clément Hallopeau
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale. Université Grenoble AlpesCNRSCEAINRAeGrenoble Cedex 938054France
| | - Sabine Brugière
- EdyP Laboratoire Biologie à Grande Echelle, Université Grenoble AlpesCEAInsermBGE U1038Grenoble Cedex 938054France
| | - Davide Dal Bo
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale. Université Grenoble AlpesCNRSCEAINRAeGrenoble Cedex 938054France
| | - Johan Decelle
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale. Université Grenoble AlpesCNRSCEAINRAeGrenoble Cedex 938054France
| | - Benoit Gallet
- Institut de Biologie StructuraleUniversité Grenoble AlpesCNRSCEA71 Avenue des MartyrsGrenoble38044France
| | - Denis Falconet
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale. Université Grenoble AlpesCNRSCEAINRAeGrenoble Cedex 938054France
| | - Michele Carone
- Genetics and Physiology of MicroalgaeInBios/Phytosystems Research UnitUniversity of LiegeLiège4000Belgium
| | - Claire Remacle
- Genetics and Physiology of MicroalgaeInBios/Phytosystems Research UnitUniversity of LiegeLiège4000Belgium
| | - Myriam Ferro
- EdyP Laboratoire Biologie à Grande Echelle, Université Grenoble AlpesCEAInsermBGE U1038Grenoble Cedex 938054France
| | - Andreas P.M. Weber
- Institute of Plant BiochemistryCluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS)Heinrich Heine UniversityDüsseldorf40225Germany
| | - Giovanni Finazzi
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale. Université Grenoble AlpesCNRSCEAINRAeGrenoble Cedex 938054France
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Sánchez-España J, Falagán C, Ayala D, Wendt-Potthoff K. Adaptation of Coccomyxa sp. to Extremely Low Light Conditions Causes Deep Chlorophyll and Oxygen Maxima in Acidic Pit Lakes. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1218. [PMID: 32796657 PMCID: PMC7465793 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep chlorophyll maxima (DCM) and metalimnetic oxygen maxima (MOM) are outstanding biogeochemical features of acidic pit lakes (APL). However, knowledge of the eukaryotic phototrophs responsible for their formation is limited. We aimed at linking the dynamics of phototrophic communities inhabiting meromictic APL in Spain with the formation of these characteristic layers. Firstly, the dynamics of DCM and MOM and their relation to physico-chemical parameters (photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), pH, dissolved ferric iron concentration, temperature), pigments and nutrient distribution is described; secondly, the phototrophic community composition is studied through a combination of microscopy, biomolecular and "omics" tools. Phototrophic communities of the studied APL show a low diversity dominated by green microalgae, specifically Coccomyxa sp., which have been successfully adapted to the chemically harsh conditions. DCM and MOM are usually non-coincident. DCM correspond to layers where phototrophs have higher chlorophyll content per cell to cope with extremely low PAR (<1 µmol m-2 s-1), but where photosynthetic oxygen production is limited. MOM correspond to shallower waters with more light, higher phytoplankton biomass and intense photosynthetic activity, which affects both oxygen concentration and water temperature. The main drivers of DCM formation in these APL are likely the need for nutrient uptake and photo-acclimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Sánchez-España
- Spanish Geological Survey, Geochemistry and Sustainable Mining Unit, Calera 1, Tres Cantos, 28760 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Falagán
- Environmental and Sustainability Institute and Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK;
| | - Diana Ayala
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, 212 Sackett Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA;
| | - Katrin Wendt-Potthoff
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Brückstraße 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany;
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Shen J, Zerkle AL, Stueeken E, Claire MW. Nitrates as a Potential N Supply for Microbial Ecosystems in a Hyperarid Mars Analog System. Life (Basel) 2019; 9:life9040079. [PMID: 31635024 PMCID: PMC6958444 DOI: 10.3390/life9040079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrate is common in Mars sediments owing to long-term atmospheric photolysis, oxidation, and potentially, impact shock heating. The Atacama Desert in Chile, which is the driest region on Earth and rich in nitrate deposits, is used as a Mars analog in this study to explore the potential effects of high nitrate levels on growth of extremophilic ecosystems. Seven study sites sampled across an aridity gradient in the Atacama Desert were categorized into 3 clusters—hyperarid, middle, and arid sites—as defined by essential soil physical and chemical properties. Intriguingly, the distribution of nitrate concentrations in the shallow subsurface suggests that the buildup of nitrate is not solely controlled by precipitation. Correlations of nitrate with SiO2/Al2O3 and grain sizes suggest that sedimentation rates may also be important in controlling nitrate distribution. At arid sites receiving more than 10 mm/yr precipitation, rainfall shows a stronger impact on biomass than nitrate does. However, high nitrate to organic carbon ratios are generally beneficial to N assimilation, as evidenced both by soil geochemistry and enriched culturing experiments. This study suggests that even in the absence of precipitation, nitrate levels on a more recent, hyperarid Mars could be sufficiently high to benefit potentially extant Martian microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxun Shen
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Centre for Exoplanet Science, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9AL, Scotland, UK.
| | - Aubrey L Zerkle
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Centre for Exoplanet Science, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9AL, Scotland, UK.
| | - Eva Stueeken
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Centre for Exoplanet Science, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9AL, Scotland, UK.
| | - Mark W Claire
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Centre for Exoplanet Science, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9AL, Scotland, UK.
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Pousti M, Zarabadi MP, Abbaszadeh Amirdehi M, Paquet-Mercier F, Greener J. Microfluidic bioanalytical flow cells for biofilm studies: a review. Analyst 2019; 144:68-86. [PMID: 30394455 DOI: 10.1039/c8an01526k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are among the oldest and most prevalent multicellular life forms on Earth and are increasingly relevant in research areas related to industrial fouling, medicine and biotechnology. The main hurdles to obtaining definitive experimental results include time-varying biofilm properties, structural and chemical heterogeneity, and especially their strong sensitivity to environmental cues. Therefore, in addition to judicious choice of measurement tools, a well-designed biofilm study requires strict control over experimental conditions, more so than most chemical studies. Due to excellent control over a host of physiochemical parameters, microfluidic flow cells have become indispensable in microbiological studies. Not surprisingly, the number of lab-on-chip studies focusing on biofilms and other microbiological systems with expanded analytical capabilities has expanded rapidly in the past decade. In this paper, we comprehensively review the current state of microfluidic bioanalytical research applied to bacterial biofilms and offer a perspective on new approaches that are expected to drive continued advances in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Pousti
- Département de chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec G1 V 0A6, Canada
| | - Mir Pouyan Zarabadi
- Département de chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec G1 V 0A6, Canada
| | - Mehran Abbaszadeh Amirdehi
- Département de chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec G1 V 0A6, Canada
| | - François Paquet-Mercier
- Département de chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec G1 V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jesse Greener
- Département de chimie, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec G1 V 0A6, Canada and CHU de Quebec Research Centre, Laval University, 10 rue de l'Espinay, Quebec City, (QC) G1L 3L5, Canada
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8
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Iovinella M, Eren A, Pinto G, Pollio A, Davis SJ, Cennamo P, Ciniglia C. Cryptic dispersal of Cyanidiophytina (Rhodophyta) in non-acidic environments from Turkey. Extremophiles 2018; 22:713-723. [PMID: 29779132 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-018-1031-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Cyanidiophytina are a group of polyextremophilic red algae with a worldwide, but discontinuous colonization. They are restricted to widely dispersed hot springs, geothermal habitats, and also some human-altered environments. Cyanidiophytina are predominant where pH is prohibitive for the majority of eukaryotes (pH 0.5-3). Turkey is characterized by areas rich in volcanic activity separated by non-volcanic areas. Here we show that Cyanidiophycean populations are present in thermal baths located around Turkey on neutral/alkaline soils. All known genera and species within Cyanidiophytina were detected in Turkey, including Galdieria phlegrea, recorded up to now only in Italian Phlegrean Fields. By phylogenetic analyses, Turkish G. sulphuraria strains are monophyletic with Italian and Icelandic strains, and with Russian G. daedala strains. G. maxima from Turkey clustered with Icelandic, Kamchatka, and Japanese populations. The discovery of Cyanidiophytina in non-acidic Turkish soils raises new questions about the ecological boundaries of these extremophilic algae. This aids in the understanding of the dispersal abilities and distribution patterns of this ecologically and evolutionarily interesting group of algae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ayla Eren
- Biomedical Engineering Faculty, University of Sakarya, Sakarya, Turkey
| | - Gabriele Pinto
- Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonino Pollio
- Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Seth J Davis
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK
| | - Paola Cennamo
- Faculty of Letters, Università degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa, Naples, Italy
| | - Claudia Ciniglia
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Caserta, Italy.
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Azua-Bustos A, González-Silva C, Corsini G. The Hyperarid Core of the Atacama Desert, an Extremely Dry and Carbon Deprived Habitat of Potential Interest for the Field of Carbon Science. Front Microbiol 2017. [PMID: 28642741 PMCID: PMC5463503 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest and oldest desert on Earth, also considered one of the best Mars analog models. Here, several heterotrophic microbial communities have been discovered in its driest regions, with the ones present in the soil subsurface being one of the most interesting due to its existence in a habitat with almost no water available and almost undetectable organic carbon sources. Our recent discovery of the driest site of the Atacama known to date (and the heterotrophic microbial species that are able to survive in this site) reaffirms the opportunity to better characterize the physiological and molecular mechanisms that these species use to detect, mobilize, incorporate and use carbon under these extremely harsh conditions. Here we summarize what has been reported up to date on the organic carbon concentrations in different sites of the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert, proposing that due to the meager amounts of carbon and extremely dry conditions, the microbial communities of the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert may be of interest for the field of carbon science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Azua-Bustos
- Centro de Astrobiología (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial)Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de ChileSantiago, Chile
| | | | - Gino Corsini
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de ChileSantiago, Chile
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Hays LE, Graham HV, Des Marais DJ, Hausrath EM, Horgan B, McCollom TM, Parenteau MN, Potter-McIntyre SL, Williams AJ, Lynch KL. Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments. ASTROBIOLOGY 2017; 17:363-400. [PMID: 28177270 PMCID: PMC5478115 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2016.1627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
This review of material relevant to the Conference on Biosignature Preservation and Detection in Mars Analog Environments summarizes the meeting materials and discussions and is further expanded upon by detailed references to the published literature. From this diverse source material, there is a detailed discussion on the habitability and biosignature preservation potential of five primary analog environments: hydrothermal spring systems, subaqueous environments, subaerial environments, subsurface environments, and iron-rich systems. Within the context of exploring past habitable environments on Mars, challenges common to all of these key environments are laid out, followed by a focused discussion for each environment regarding challenges to orbital and ground-based observations and sample selection. This leads into a short section on how these challenges could influence our strategies and priorities for the astrobiological exploration of Mars. Finally, a listing of urgent needs and future research highlights key elements such as development of instrumentation as well as continued exploration into how Mars may have evolved differently from Earth and what that might mean for biosignature preservation and detection. Key Words: Biosignature preservation-Biosignature detection-Mars analog environments-Conference report-Astrobiological exploration. Astrobiology 17, 363-400.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay E. Hays
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
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Paulino-Lima IG, Fujishima K, Navarrete JU, Galante D, Rodrigues F, Azua-Bustos A, Rothschild LJ. Extremely high UV-C radiation resistant microorganisms from desert environments with different manganese concentrations. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2016; 163:327-36. [PMID: 27614243 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2016.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Desiccation resistance and a high intracellular Mn/Fe ratio contribute to ionizing radiation resistance of Deinococcus radiodurans. We hypothesized that this was a general phenomenon and thus developed a strategy to search for highly radiation-resistant organisms based on their natural environment. While desiccation is a typical feature of deserts, the correlation between radiation resistance and the intracellular Mn/Fe ratio of indigenous microorganisms or the Mn/Fe ratio of the environment, has not yet been described. UV-C radiation is highly damaging to biomolecules including DNA. It was used in this study as a selective tool because of its relevance to early life on earth, high altitude aerobiology and the search for life beyond Earth. Surface soil samples were collected from the Sonoran Desert, Arizona (USA), from the Atacama Desert in Chile and from a manganese mine in northern Argentina. Microbial isolates were selected after exposure to UV-C irradiation and growth. The isolates comprised 28 genera grouped within six phyla, which we ranked according to their resistance to UV-C irradiation. Survival curves were performed for the most resistant isolates and correlated with their intracellular Mn/Fe ratio, which was determined by ICP-MS. Five percent of the isolates were highly resistant, including one more resistant than D. radiodurans, a bacterium generally considered the most radiation-resistant organism, thus used as a model for radiation resistance studies. No correlation was observed between the occurrence of resistant microorganisms and the Mn/Fe ratio in the soil samples. However, all resistant isolates showed an intracellular Mn/Fe ratio much higher than the sensitive isolates. Our findings could represent a new front in efforts to harness mechanisms of UV-C radiation resistance from extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kosuke Fujishima
- University Affiliated Research Center, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035-0001, USA
| | - Jesica Urbina Navarrete
- University Affiliated Research Center, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035-0001, USA
| | - Douglas Galante
- Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, Campinas, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Fabio Rodrigues
- Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Armando Azua-Bustos
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, UniversidadAutónoma de Chile, Santiago, 8910060, Chile
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The Snotty and the Stringy: Energy for Subsurface Life in Caves. THEIR WORLD: A DIVERSITY OF MICROBIAL ENVIRONMENTS 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-28071-4_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Sakurai T, Aoki M, Ju X, Ueda T, Nakamura Y, Fujiwara S, Umemura T, Tsuzuki M, Minoda A. Profiling of lipid and glycogen accumulations under different growth conditions in the sulfothermophilic red alga Galdieria sulphuraria. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2016; 200:861-866. [PMID: 26595665 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Revised: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The unicellular red alga Galdieria sulphuraria grows efficiently and produces a large amount of biomass in acidic conditions at high temperatures. It has great potential to produce biofuels and other beneficial compounds without becoming contaminated with other organisms. In G. sulphuraria, biomass measurements and glycogen and lipid analyses demonstrated that the amounts and compositions of glycogen and lipids differed when cells were grown under autotrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic conditions. Maximum biomass production was obtained in the mixotrophic culture. High amounts of glycogen were obtained in the mixotrophic cultures, while the amounts of neutral lipids were similar between mixotrophic and heterotrophic cultures. The amounts of neutral lipids were highest in red algae, including thermophiles. Glycogen structure and fatty acids compositions largely depended on the growth conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Sakurai
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Motohide Aoki
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Xiaohui Ju
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaragi 305-8572, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Ueda
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Yasunori Nakamura
- Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Akita 010-0195, Japan
| | - Shoko Fujiwara
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Tomonari Umemura
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | - Mikio Tsuzuki
- School of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan; Japan Science and Technology Agency, CREST, 5 Sanbancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0075, Japan
| | - Ayumi Minoda
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaragi 305-8572, Japan.
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Bowker MA, Belnap J, Büdel B, Sannier C, Pietrasiak N, Eldridge DJ, Rivera-Aguilar V. Controls on Distribution Patterns of Biological Soil Crusts at Micro- to Global Scales. BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUSTS: AN ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE IN DRYLANDS 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-30214-0_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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Hsieh CJ, Zhan SH, Lin Y, Tang SL, Liu SL. Analysis of rbcL sequences reveals the global biodiversity, community structure, and biogeographical pattern of thermoacidophilic red algae (Cyanidiales). JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2015; 51:682-694. [PMID: 26986790 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Thermoacidophilic cyanidia (Cyanidiales) are the primary photosynthetic eukaryotes in volcanic areas. These red algae also serve as important model organisms for studying life in extreme habitats. The global biodiversity and community structure of Cyanidiales remain unclear despite previous sampling efforts. Here, we surveyed the Cyanidiales biodiversity in the Tatun Volcano Group (TVG) area in Taiwan using environmental DNA sequencing. We generated 174 rbcL sequences from eight samples from four regions in the TVG area, and combined them with 239 publicly available rbcL sequences collected worldwide. Species delimita-tion using this large rbcL data set suggested at least 20 Cyanidiales OTUs (operational taxono-mic units) worldwide, almost three times the presently recognized seven species. Results from environmental DNA showed that OTUs in the TVG area were divided into three groups: (i) dominant in hot springs with 92%-99% sequence identity to Galdieria maxima; (ii) largely distributed in drier and more acidic microhabitats with 99% identity to G. partita; and (iii) primarily distributed in cooler microhabitats and lacking identity to known cyanidia species (a novel Cyanidiales lineage). In both global and individual area analyses, we observed greater species diversity in non-aquatic than aquatic habitats. Community structure analysis showed high similarity between the TVG community and West Pacific-Iceland communities, reflecting their geographic proximity to each other. Our study is the first examination of the global species diversity and biogeographic affinity of cyanidia. Additionally, our data illuminate the influence of microhabitat type on Cyanidiales diversity and highlight intriguing questions for future ecological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Jung Hsieh
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan
| | - Shing Hei Zhan
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
| | - Yiching Lin
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan
| | - Sen-Lin Tang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Lun Liu
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, 40704, Taiwan
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Azua-Bustos A, Caro-Lara L, Vicuña R. Discovery and microbial content of the driest site of the hyperarid Atacama Desert, Chile. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2015; 7:388-94. [PMID: 25545388 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2014] [Revised: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The Atacama Desert is the driest and oldest desert on Earth. Eleven years ago, the Yungay region was established as the driest site of this hyperarid desert and also close to the dry limit for life on Earth. Since then, much has been published about the extraordinary characteristics of this site and its pertinence as a Mars analogue model. However, as a result of a more systematic search in the Atacama here, we describe a new site, María Elena South (MES), which is much drier than Yungay. The mean atmospheric relative humidity (RH) at MES was 17.3%, with the RH of its soils remaining at a constant 14% at the depth of 1 m, a value that matches the lowest RH measurements taken by the Mars Science Laboratory at Gale Crater. Remarkably, we found a number of viable bacterial species in the soil profile at MES using a combination of molecular dependent and independent methods, unveiling the presence of life in the driest place on the Atacama Desert reported to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Azua-Bustos
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Rafael Vicuña
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Biotechnological applications derived from microorganisms of the Atacama Desert. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:909312. [PMID: 25147824 PMCID: PMC4132489 DOI: 10.1155/2014/909312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Revised: 06/29/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The Atacama Desert in Chile is well known for being the driest and oldest desert on Earth. For these same reasons, it is also considered a good analog model of the planet Mars. Only a few decades ago, it was thought that this was a sterile place, but in the past years fascinating adaptations have been reported in the members of the three domains of life: low water availability, high UV radiation, high salinity, and other environmental stresses. However, the biotechnological applications derived from the basic understanding and characterization of these species, with the notable exception of copper bioleaching, are still in its infancy, thus offering an immense potential for future development.
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Robinson CK, Wierzchos J, Black C, Crits-Christoph A, Ma B, Ravel J, Ascaso C, Artieda O, Valea S, Roldán M, Gómez-Silva B, DiRuggiero J. Microbial diversity and the presence of algae in halite endolithic communities are correlated to atmospheric moisture in the hyper-arid zone of the Atacama Desert. Environ Microbiol 2014; 17:299-315. [PMID: 24372972 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The Atacama Desert is one of the oldest and driest deserts in the world, and its hyper-arid core is described as 'the most barren region imaginable'. We used a combination of high-throughput sequencing and microscopy methods to characterize the endolithic microbial assemblages of halite pinnacles (salt rocks) collected in several hyper-arid areas of the desert. We found communities dominated by archaea that relied on a single phylotype of Halothece cyanobacteria for primary production. A few other phylotypes of salt-adapted bacteria and archaea, including Salinibacter, Halorhabdus, and Halococcus were major components of the halite communities, indicating specific adaptations to the unique halite environments. Multivariate statistical analyses of diversity metrics clearly separated the halite communities from that of the surrounding soil in the Yungay area. These analyses also revealed distribution patterns of halite communities correlated with atmospheric moisture. Microbial endolithic communities from halites exposed to coastal fogs and high relative humidity were more diverse; their archaeal and bacterial assemblages were accompanied by a novel algae related to oceanic picoplankton of the Mamiellales. In contrast, we did not find any algae in the Yungay pinnacles, suggesting that the environmental conditions in this habitat might be too extreme for eukaryotic photosynthetic life.
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Gloeocapsopsis AAB1, an extremely desiccation-tolerant cyanobacterium isolated from the Atacama Desert. Extremophiles 2013; 18:61-74. [DOI: 10.1007/s00792-013-0592-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 10/07/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Banerjee S, Joshi SR. Insights into Cave Architecture and the Role of Bacterial Biofilm. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s40011-012-0149-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Azua-Bustos A, González-Silva C, Arenas-Fajardo C, Vicuña R. Extreme environments as potential drivers of convergent evolution by exaptation: the Atacama Desert Coastal Range case. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:426. [PMID: 23267354 PMCID: PMC3526103 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We have recently discovered a variety of unrelated phototrophic microorganisms (two microalgae and one cyanobacteria) in specialized terrestrial habitats at The Coastal Range of the Atacama Desert. Interestingly, morphological and molecular evidence suggest that these three species are all recent colonists that came from aquatic habitats. The first case is Cyanidiales inhabiting coastal caves. Cyanidiales are microalgae that are commonly found in warm acid springs, but have also been recently discovered as cave flora in Italy. The case is Dunaliella biofilms colonizing spider webs in coastal caves; Dunaliella are microalgae typically found in hypersaline habitats. The third case is Chroococcidiopsis, a genus of Cyanobacteria commonly found in deserts around the world that has also been described in warm springs. Thus, we show that the traits found in the closest ancestors of the aforementioned species (which inhabited other unrelated extreme environments) seem to be now useful for the described species in their current subaerial habitats and may likely correspond to cases of exaptations. Altogether, the Coastal Range of the Atacama Desert may be considered as a place where key steps on the colonization of land by phototrophic organisms seem to be being repeated by convergent evolution of extant microalgae and Cyanobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Azua-Bustos
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileSantiago, Chile
| | | | - Cristián Arenas-Fajardo
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileSantiago, Chile
| | - Rafael Vicuña
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChileSantiago, Chile
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Azua-Bustos A, Urrejola C, Vicuña R. Life at the dry edge: microorganisms of the Atacama Desert. FEBS Lett 2012; 586:2939-45. [PMID: 22819826 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2012.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Revised: 07/10/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The Atacama Desert, located in northern Chile, is the driest and oldest desert on Earth. Research aimed at the understanding of this unique habitat and its diverse microbial ecosystems begun only a few decades ago, mainly driven by NASA's astrobiology program. A milestone in these efforts was a paper published in 2003, when the Atacama was shown to be a proper model of Mars. From then on, studies have been focused to examine every possible niche suitable for microbial life in this extreme environment. Habitats as different as the underside of quartz rocks, fumaroles at the Andes Mountains, the inside of halite evaporates and caves of the Coastal Range, among others, have shown that life has found ingenious ways to adapt to extreme conditions such as low water availability, high salt concentration and intense UV radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Azua-Bustos
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
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Azúa-Bustos A, González-Silva C, Salas L, Palma RE, Vicuña R. A novel subaerial Dunaliella species growing on cave spiderwebs in the Atacama Desert. Extremophiles 2010; 14:443-52. [PMID: 20623153 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-010-0322-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2009] [Accepted: 06/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Strategies for life adaptation to extreme environments often lead to novel solutions. As an example of this assertion, here we describe the first species of the well-known genus of green unicellular alga Dunaliella able to thrive in a subaerial habitat. All previously reported members of this microalga are found in extremely saline aquatic environments. Strikingly, the new species was found on the walls of a cave located in the Atacama Desert (Chile). Moreover, on further inspection we noticed that it grows upon spiderwebs attached to the walls of the entrance-twilight transition zone of the cave. This peculiar growth habitat suggests that this Dunaliella species uses air moisture condensing on the spiderweb silk threads as a source of water for doing photosynthesis in the driest desert of the world. This process of adaptation recapitulates the transition that allowed land colonization by primitive plants and shows an unexpected way of expansion of the life habitability range by a microbial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Azúa-Bustos
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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