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Rabelo NG, Gonçalves VN, Carvalho MA, Scheffler SM, Santiago G, Sucerquia PA, Oliveira FS, Campos LP, Lopes FAC, Santos KCR, Silva MC, Convey P, Câmara PEAS, Rosa LH. Endolithic Fungal Diversity in Antarctic Oligocene Rock Samples Explored Using DNA Metabarcoding. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:414. [PMID: 38927294 PMCID: PMC11200754 DOI: 10.3390/biology13060414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated the fungal diversity present associated with cores of Oligocene rocks using a DNA metabarcoding approach. We detected 940,969 DNA reads grouped into 198 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) representing the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota, Mucoromycota, Rozellomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Monoblepharomycota, Zoopagomycota, Aphelidiomycota (Fungi) and the fungal-like Oomycota (Stramenopila), in rank abundance order. Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., Cladosporium sp., Aspergillaceae sp. and Diaporthaceae sp. were assessed to be dominant taxa, with 22 fungal ASVs displaying intermediate abundance and 170 being minor components of the assigned fungal diversity. The data obtained displayed high diversity indices, while rarefaction indicated that the majority of the diversity was detected. However, the diversity indices varied between the cores analysed. The endolithic fungal community detected using a metabarcoding approach in the Oligocene rock samples examined contains a rich and complex mycobiome comprising taxa with different lifestyles, comparable with the diversity reported in recent studies of a range of Antarctic habitats. Due to the high fungal diversity detected, our results suggest the necessity of further research to develop strategies to isolate these fungi in culture for evolutionary, physiological, and biogeochemical studies, and to assess their potential role in biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natana G. Rabelo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (N.G.R.); (V.N.G.)
| | - Vívian N. Gonçalves
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (N.G.R.); (V.N.G.)
| | - Marcelo A. Carvalho
- Departamento de Geologia e Paleontologia, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20940-040, Brazil; (M.A.C.); (S.M.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Sandro M. Scheffler
- Departamento de Geologia e Paleontologia, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20940-040, Brazil; (M.A.C.); (S.M.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Gustavo Santiago
- Departamento de Geologia e Paleontologia, Museu Nacional, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20940-040, Brazil; (M.A.C.); (S.M.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Paula A. Sucerquia
- Departmento de Geologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50740-540, Brazil;
| | - Fabio S. Oliveira
- Departamento de Geografia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (F.S.O.); (L.P.C.)
| | - Larissa P. Campos
- Departamento de Geografia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (F.S.O.); (L.P.C.)
| | - Fabyano A. C. Lopes
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Porto Nacional 77500-000, Brazil; (F.A.C.L.); (K.C.R.S.)
| | - Karita C. R. Santos
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Porto Nacional 77500-000, Brazil; (F.A.C.L.); (K.C.R.S.)
| | - Micheline C. Silva
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70297-400, Brazil; (M.C.S.)
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK;
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Las Palmeras 3425, Santiago 8320000, Chile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Puerto Williams 6350000, Chile
| | - Paulo E. A. S. Câmara
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília 70297-400, Brazil; (M.C.S.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Fungos, Algas e Plantas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz H. Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (N.G.R.); (V.N.G.)
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de Menezes GCA, Lopes FAC, Santos KCR, Silva MC, Convey P, Câmara PEAS, Rosa LH. Fungal diversity present in snow sampled in summer in the north-west Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, Maritime Antarctica, assessed using metabarcoding. Extremophiles 2024; 28:23. [PMID: 38575688 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-024-01338-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
We assessed the fungal diversity present in snow sampled during summer in the north-west Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, maritime Antarctica using a metabarcoding approach. A total of 586,693 fungal DNA reads were obtained and assigned to 203 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). The dominant phylum was Ascomycota, followed by Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota and Mucoromycota. Penicillium sp., Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Coniochaeta sp., Aspergillus sp., Antarctomyces sp., Phenoliferia sp., Cryolevonia sp., Camptobasidiaceae sp., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Bannozyma yamatoana were assessed as abundant taxa. The snow fungal diversity indices were high but varied across the different locations sampled. Of the fungal ASVs detected, only 28 were present all sampling locations. The 116 fungal genera detected in the snow were dominated by saprotrophic taxa, followed by symbiotrophic and pathotrophic. Our data indicate that, despite the low temperature and oligotrophic conditions, snow can host a richer mycobiome than previously reported through traditional culturing studies. The snow mycobiome includes a complex diversity dominated by cosmopolitan, cold-adapted, psychrophilic and endemic taxa. While saprophytes dominate this community, a range of other functional groups are present.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabyano A C Lopes
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Brazil
| | - Karita C R Santos
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Brazil
| | - Micheline C Silva
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Puerto Williams, Chile
| | - Paulo E A S Câmara
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Fungos, Algas e Plantas, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Luiz H Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Afonso Kessler de Andrade G, de Vargas MVM, Goulart SNB, Bernardes BM, Bezerra JDP, Lemos RPM, de Carvalho Victoria F, de Albuquerque MP. Screening of endophytic fungi from Antarctic mosses: Potential production for L-asparaginase free of glutaminase and urease activity. J Biotechnol 2023; 377:1-12. [PMID: 37806388 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Studies involving endophytic fungi aim to identify organisms inhabiting extreme and relatively unexplored environments, as these fungi possess unique characteristics and uncommon biochemical pathways that enable them to produce compounds with biotechnological potential. Among various enzymes, L-Asparaginase is employed in the treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. In this study, we identified endophytic fungi from Sanionia uncinata and Polytrichastrum alpinum collected on King George Island in Antarctica. The fungi were categorized into morphological groups based on their characteristics, molecularly identified, and assessed for L-Asparaginase (L-ASNase) enzyme production. Subsequently, production optimization was conducted. A total of 161 endophytes were isolated from 504 moss gametophytes, with 107 originating from P. alpinum and 54 from S. uncinata. These isolates were categorized into 31 morphotypes. Fungi exhibiting high enzyme production were identified molecularly. Among them, nine identified isolates belonged to the genera Aspergillus, Collariella, Diaporthe, Epicoccum, Peroneutypa, Xylaria, and Trametes. Three of these isolates were identified at the species level through multigene phylogeny, namely Epicoccum nigrum, Collariella virescens, and Peroneutypa scoparia. All 31 fungi were subjected to solid media testing for L-ASNase enzyme production, with 22 isolates demonstrating production capability, and 13 of them produced L-ASNase free from Urease and Glutaminase. The isolates displaying solid media production underwent further testing in liquid media, all of which exhibited enzyme production ranging from 0.75 to 1.29 U g-1. Notably, the three fungi identified at the species level were the highest producers of the enzyme (1.29, 1.17, and 1.13 U g-1). The production of these fungi was optimized using the Taguchi method, resulting in production values ranging from 0.687 to 2.461 U g-1. In conclusion, our findings indicate that Antarctic moss endophytic fungi exhibit significant potential for the production of the anti-leukemic enzyme L-ASNase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Afonso Kessler de Andrade
- Núcleo de Estudos da Vegetação Antártica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Rua Aluízio Barros Macedo, s/n. BR 290 - Km 423, São Gabriel, RS 97300-930, Brazil
| | - Maria Victória Magalhães de Vargas
- Núcleo de Estudos da Vegetação Antártica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Rua Aluízio Barros Macedo, s/n. BR 290 - Km 423, São Gabriel, RS 97300-930, Brazil
| | - Sara Navarrete Bohi Goulart
- EcoHealth Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, 2500 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79409, United States
| | - Bruna Mota Bernardes
- Núcleo de Estudos da Vegetação Antártica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Rua Aluízio Barros Macedo, s/n. BR 290 - Km 423, São Gabriel, RS 97300-930, Brazil
| | - Jadson D P Bezerra
- Laboratório de Micologia, Departamento de Biociências e Tecnologia, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Rafael Plá Matielo Lemos
- Núcleo de Estudos da Vegetação Antártica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Rua Aluízio Barros Macedo, s/n. BR 290 - Km 423, São Gabriel, RS 97300-930, Brazil
| | - Filipe de Carvalho Victoria
- Núcleo de Estudos da Vegetação Antártica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Rua Aluízio Barros Macedo, s/n. BR 290 - Km 423, São Gabriel, RS 97300-930, Brazil.
| | - Margéli Pereira de Albuquerque
- Núcleo de Estudos da Vegetação Antártica, Universidade Federal do Pampa, Rua Aluízio Barros Macedo, s/n. BR 290 - Km 423, São Gabriel, RS 97300-930, Brazil; Programa Antártico Brasileiro-PROANTAR, Esplanada dos Ministérios, Brasília 70055-900, Brazil
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Câmara PEAS, de Menezes GCA, Lopes FAC, da Silva Paiva T, Carvalho-Silva M, Convey P, Amorim ET, Rosa LH. Investigating non-fungal eukaryotic diversity in snow in the Antarctic Peninsula region using DNA metabarcoding. Extremophiles 2023; 28:3. [PMID: 37962679 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-023-01322-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Snow is a unique microhabitat, despite being a harsh environment, multiple life forms have adapted to survive in it. While algae, bacteria and fungi are dominant microorganisms in Antarctic snow, little is known about other organisms that may be present in this habitat. We used metabarcoding to investigate DNA sequence diversity of non-fungal eukaryotes present in snow obtained from six different sites across the Maritime Antarctica. A total of 20 taxa were assigned to obtained sequences, representing five Kingdoms (Chromista, Protozoa, Viridiplantae and Metazoa) and four phyla (Ciliophora, Cercozoa, Chlorophyta and Cnidaria). The highest diversity indices were detected in Trinity Peninsula followed by Robert Island, Arctowski Peninsula, Deception Island, King George Island and Snow Island. The most abundant assignments were to Trebouxiophyceae, followed by Chlamydomonas nivalis and Chlamidomonadales. No taxa were detected at all sites. Three potentially new records for Antarctica were detected: two Ciliophora (Aspidisca magna and Stokesia sp.) and the green algae Trebouxia potteri. Our data suggested that similarities found between the sites may be more related with snow physicochemical properties rather than geographic proximity or latitude. This study provides new insights into the diversity and distribution of eukaryotic organisms in Antarctic snow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo E A S Câmara
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70910-900, Brasil.
- Algas E Plantas, Pós Graduação Em Fungos, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianoplis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
| | - Graciéle C A de Menezes
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brasil
| | - Fabyano A C Lopes
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal Do Tocantins, Porto Nacional, Brazil
| | - Thiago da Silva Paiva
- Laboratório de Protistologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa
- Biodiversity of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
| | - Eduardo T Amorim
- Centro Nacional de Conservação da Flora/Instituto de Pesquisas Jardim Botânico Do Rio de Janeiro (CNCFlora/JBRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiz H Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brasil
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Ordóñez-Enireb E, Cucalón RV, Cárdenas D, Ordóñez N, Coello S, Elizalde P, Cárdenas WB. Antarctic fungi with antibiotic potential isolated from Fort William Point, Antarctica. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21477. [PMID: 36509821 PMCID: PMC9744802 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25911-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Antarctic continent is one of the most inhospitable places on earth, where living creatures, mostly represented by microorganisms, have specific physiological characteristics that allow them to adapt to the extreme environmental conditions. These physiological adaptations can result in the production of unique secondary metabolites with potential biotechnological applications. The current study presents a genetic and antibacterial characterization of four Antarctic fungi isolated from soil samples collected in Pedro Vicente Maldonado Scientific Station, at Fort William Point, Greenwich Island, Antarctica. Based on the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the fungi were identified as Antarctomyces sp., Thelebolus sp., Penicillium sp., and Cryptococcus gilvescens. The antibacterial activity was assessed against four clinical bacterial strains: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus, by a modified bacterial growth inhibition assay on agar plates. Results showed that C. gilvescens and Penicillium sp. have potential antibiotic activity against all bacterial strains. Interestingly, Thelebolus sp. showed potential antibiotic activity only against E. coli. In contrast, Antarctomyces sp. did not show antibiotic activity against any of the bacteria tested under our experimental conditions. This study highlights the importance of conservation of Antarctica as a source of metabolites with important biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice Ordóñez-Enireb
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Roberto V. Cucalón
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador ,grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Natural Resources Building 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820 USA
| | - Diana Cárdenas
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Nadia Ordóñez
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador ,grid.420044.60000 0004 0374 4101Biochemistry and Biosupport, Research and Development, Crop Science, Bayer AG, Monheim, Germany
| | - Santiago Coello
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Paola Elizalde
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador ,grid.25152.310000 0001 2154 235XVaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E3 Canada ,grid.25152.310000 0001 2154 235XSchool of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E5 Canada
| | - Washington B. Cárdenas
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
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Zhang T, Yan D, Ji Z, Chen X, Yu L. A comprehensive assessment of fungal communities in various habitats from an ice-free area of maritime Antarctica: diversity, distribution, and ecological trait. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2022; 17:54. [PMID: 36380397 PMCID: PMC9667611 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-022-00450-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the ice-free area of maritime Antarctica, fungi are the essential functioning group in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Until now, no study has been conducted to comprehensively assess fungal communities in various habitats in Antarctica. We aimed to characterize fungal communities in the eleven habitats (i.e., soil, seawater, vascular plant, dung, moss, marine alga, lichen, green alga, freshwater, feather) in the Fildes Region (maritime Antarctica) using next-generation sequencing. RESULTS A total of 12 known phyla, 37 known classes, 85 known orders, 164 known families, 313 known genera, and 320 known species were detected. Habitat specificity rather than habitat overlap determined the composition of fungal communities, suggesting that, although fungal communities were connected by dispersal at the local scale, the environmental filter is a key factor driving fungal assemblages in the ice-free Antarctica. Furthermore, 20 fungal guilds and 6 growth forms were detected. Many significant differences in the functional guild (e.g., lichenized, algal parasite, litter saprotroph) and growth form (e.g., yeast, filamentous mycelium, thallus photosynthetic) existed among different habitat types. CONCLUSION The present study reveals the high diversity of fungal communities in the eleven ice-free Antarctic habitats and elucidates the ecological traits of fungal communities in this unique ice-free area of maritime Antarctica. The findings will help advance our understanding of fungal diversity and their ecological roles with respect to habitats on a neighbourhood scale in the ice-free area of maritime Antarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Zhang
- China Pharmaceutical Culture Collection, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Dong Yan
- Xinxiang Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Biology, Department of Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongqiang Ji
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiufei Chen
- China Pharmaceutical Culture Collection, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Liyan Yu
- China Pharmaceutical Culture Collection, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Doytchinov VV, Dimov SG. Microbial Community Composition of the Antarctic Ecosystems: Review of the Bacteria, Fungi, and Archaea Identified through an NGS-Based Metagenomics Approach. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12060916. [PMID: 35743947 PMCID: PMC9228076 DOI: 10.3390/life12060916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Antarctica represents a unique environment, both due to the extreme meteorological and geological conditions that govern it and the relative isolation from human influences that have kept its environment largely undisturbed. However, recent trends in climate change dictate an unavoidable change in the global biodiversity as a whole, and pristine environments, such as Antarctica, allow us to study and monitor more closely the effects of the human impact. Additionally, due to its inaccessibility, Antarctica contains a plethora of yet uncultured and unidentified microorganisms with great potential for useful biological activities and production of metabolites, such as novel antibiotics, proteins, pigments, etc. In recent years, amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) has allowed for a fast and thorough examination of microbial communities to accelerate the efforts of unknown species identification. For these reasons, in this review, we present an overview of the archaea, bacteria, and fungi present on the Antarctic continent and the surrounding area (maritime Antarctica, sub-Antarctica, Southern Sea, etc.) that have recently been identified using amplicon-based NGS methods.
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Rosa LH, de Menezes GCA, Pinto OHB, Convey P, Carvalho-Silva M, Simões JC, Rosa CA, Câmara PEAS. Fungal diversity in seasonal snow of Martel Inlet, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, assessed using DNA metabarcoding. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03014-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Abstract
Walker Glacier near the northern coast of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian High Arctic (terrestrial margin of the ‘Last Ice Area’) is undergoing rapid ice attrition in response to climate change. We applied culture and molecular methods to investigate fungal diversity at the terminus of this glacier. Analysis of the mycoflora composition showed that the Walker Glacier isolates separated into two clusters: the surface of the glacier ice and the glacier foreland. The recently exposed sediments of the foreland had a lower fungal diversity and different species from those on the ice, with the exception of five species that occurred in both habitats. This loss of glacial ice in the Arctic is therefore resulting in the loss of habitats for cold-dwelling fungal species. Fungal diversity is a potentially rich biological resource of glacial ecosystems, with unique taxa. The rapid loss of these glacial habitats underscores the urgency for genomic surveys of fungal diversity in the High Arctic, and the need for further isolation of strains as well as cryopreservation of environmental micro-biome samples for future research and conservation.
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