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Cubillos CF, Aguilar P, Moreira D, Bertolino P, Iniesto M, Dorador C, López-García P. Exploring the prokaryote-eukaryote interplay in microbial mats from an Andean athalassohaline wetland. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0007224. [PMID: 38456669 PMCID: PMC10986560 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00072-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial community assembly results from the interaction between biotic and abiotic factors. However, environmental selection is thought to predominantly shape communities in extreme ecosystems. Salar de Huasco, situated in the high-altitude Andean Altiplano, represents a poly-extreme ecosystem displaying spatial gradients of physicochemical conditions. To disentangle the influence of abiotic and biotic factors, we studied prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities from microbial mats and underlying sediments across contrasting areas of this athalassohaline ecosystem. The prokaryotic communities were primarily composed of bacteria, notably including a significant proportion of photosynthetic organisms like Cyanobacteria and anoxygenic photosynthetic members of Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria and Chloroflexi. Additionally, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Deltaproteobacteria were abundantly represented. Among eukaryotes, photosynthetic organisms (Ochrophyta and Archaeplastida) were predominant, alongside relatively abundant ciliates, cercozoans, and flagellated fungi. Salinity emerged as a key driver for the assembly of prokaryotic communities. Collectively, abiotic factors influenced both prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities, particularly those of algae. However, prokaryotic communities strongly correlated with photosynthetic eukaryotes, suggesting a pivotal role of biotic interactions in shaping these communities. Co-occurrence networks suggested potential interactions between different organisms, such as diatoms with specific photosynthetic and heterotrophic bacteria or with protist predators, indicating influences beyond environmental selection. While some associations may be explained by environmental preferences, the robust biotic correlations, alongside insights from other ecosystems and experimental studies, suggest that symbiotic and trophic interactions significantly shape microbial mat and sediment microbial communities in this athalassohaline ecosystem.IMPORTANCEHow biotic and abiotic factors influence microbial community assembly is still poorly defined. Here, we explore their influence on prokaryotic and eukaryotic community assembly within microbial mats and sediments of an Andean high-altitude polyextreme wetland system. We show that, in addition to abiotic elements, mutual interactions exist between prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities. Notably, photosynthetic eukaryotes exhibit a strong correlation with prokaryotic communities, specifically diatoms with certain bacteria and other protists. Our findings underscore the significance of biotic interactions in community assembly and emphasize the necessity of considering the complete microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina F. Cubillos
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Pablo Aguilar
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana, Instituto Antofagasta and Centro de Bioingeniería y Biotecnología (CeBiB), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
- Millennium Nucleus of Austral Invasive Salmonids - INVASAL, Concepción, Chile
| | - David Moreira
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Paola Bertolino
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Miguel Iniesto
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Cristina Dorador
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana, Instituto Antofagasta and Centro de Bioingeniería y Biotecnología (CeBiB), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
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2
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Reverdy A, Hathaway D, Jha J, Michaels G, Sullivan J, McAdoo DD, Riquelme C, Chai Y, Godoy-Carter V. Insights into the diversity and survival strategies of soil bacterial isolates from the Atacama Desert. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1335989. [PMID: 38516016 PMCID: PMC10955380 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1335989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The Atacama Desert, the driest, with the highest radiation, and one of the most ancient deserts in the world, is a hostile environment for life. We have a collection of 74 unique bacterial isolates after cultivation and confirmation by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Pigmentation, biofilm formation, antimicrobial production against Escherichia coli MG1655 and Staphylococcus aureus HG003, and antibiotic resistance were assessed on these isolates. We found that approximately a third of the colonies produced pigments, 80% of isolates formed biofilms, many isolates produce growth inhibiting activities against E. coli and/or S. aureus, and many were resistant to antibiotics. The functional characterization of these isolates gives us insight into the adaptive bacterial strategies in harsh environments and enables us to learn about their possible use in agriculture, healthcare, or biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jessica Jha
- Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | | | - Daniela Diaz McAdoo
- Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Carlos Riquelme
- Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Yunrong Chai
- Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
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3
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Runzheimer K, Lozano C, Boy D, Boy J, Godoy R, Matus FJ, Engel D, Pavletic B, Leuko S, Armengaud J, Moeller R. Exploring Andean High-Altitude Lake Extremophiles through Advanced Proteotyping. J Proteome Res 2024; 23:891-904. [PMID: 38377575 PMCID: PMC10913102 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Quickly identifying and characterizing isolates from extreme environments is currently challenging while very important to explore the Earth's biodiversity. As these isolates may, in principle, be distantly related to known species, techniques are needed to reliably identify the branch of life to which they belong. Proteotyping these environmental isolates by tandem mass spectrometry offers a rapid and cost-effective option for their identification using their peptide profiles. In this study, we document the first high-throughput proteotyping approach for environmental extremophilic and halophilic isolates. Microorganisms were isolated from samples originating from high-altitude Andean lakes (3700-4300 m a.s.l.) in the Chilean Altiplano, which represent environments on Earth that resemble conditions on other planets. A total of 66 microorganisms were cultivated and identified by proteotyping and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Both the approaches revealed the same genus identification for all isolates except for three isolates possibly representing not yet taxonomically characterized organisms based on their peptidomes. Proteotyping was able to indicate the presence of two potentially new genera from the families of Paracoccaceae and Chromatiaceae/Alteromonadaceae, which have been overlooked by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing approach only. The paper highlights that proteotyping has the potential to discover undescribed microorganisms from extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Runzheimer
- Department
of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace
Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Clément Lozano
- Département
Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), CEA,
INRAE, SPI, Université, Paris-Saclay, F-30200 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Diana Boy
- Institute
of Microbiology, Leibniz University Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jens Boy
- Institute
of Soil Science, Leibniz University Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany
| | - Roberto Godoy
- Instituto
de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Universidad
Austral de Chile, 509000 Valdivia, Chile
| | - Francisco J. Matus
- Laboratory
of Conservation and Dynamics of Volcanic Soils, Department of Chemical
Sciences and Natural Resources, Universidad
de La Frontera, 4811230 Temuco, Chile
- Network
for Extreme Environmental Research (NEXER), Universidad de La Frontera, 4811230 Temuco, Chile
| | - Denise Engel
- Department
of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace
Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Bruno Pavletic
- Department
of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace
Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Stefan Leuko
- Department
of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace
Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147 Cologne, Germany
| | - Jean Armengaud
- Département
Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), CEA,
INRAE, SPI, Université, Paris-Saclay, F-30200 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Department
of Radiation Biology, Institute of Aerospace
Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 51147 Cologne, Germany
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4
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Veloso M, Waldisperg A, Arros P, Berríos-Pastén C, Acosta J, Colque H, Varas MA, Allende ML, Orellana LH, Marcoleta AE. Diversity, Taxonomic Novelty, and Encoded Functions of Salar de Ascotán Microbiota, as Revealed by Metagenome-Assembled Genomes. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2819. [PMID: 38004830 PMCID: PMC10673233 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Salar de Ascotán is a high-altitude arsenic-rich salt flat exposed to high ultraviolet radiation in the Atacama Desert, Chile. It hosts unique endemic flora and fauna and is an essential habitat for migratory birds, making it an important site for conservation and protection. However, there is limited information on the resident microbiota's diversity, genomic features, metabolic potential, and molecular mechanisms that enable it to thrive in this extreme environment. We used long- and short-read metagenomics to investigate the microbial communities in Ascotán's water, sediment, and soil. Bacteria predominated, mainly Pseudomonadota, Acidobacteriota, and Bacteroidota, with a remarkable diversity of archaea in the soil. Following hybrid assembly, we recovered high-quality bacterial (101) and archaeal (6) metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), including representatives of two putative novel families of Patescibacteria and Pseudomonadota and two novel orders from the archaeal classes Halobacteriota and Thermoplasmata. We found different metabolic capabilities across distinct lineages and a widespread presence of genes related to stress response, DNA repair, and resistance to arsenic and other metals. These results highlight the remarkable diversity and taxonomic novelty of the Salar de Ascotán microbiota and its rich functional repertoire, making it able to resist different harsh conditions. The highly complete MAGs described here could serve future studies and bioprospection efforts focused on salt flat extremophiles, and contribute to enriching databases with microbial genome data from underrepresented regions of our planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Veloso
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Angie Waldisperg
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Patricio Arros
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Camilo Berríos-Pastén
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Joaquín Acosta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Hazajem Colque
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Macarena A. Varas
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
- Millenium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile;
| | - Miguel L. Allende
- Millenium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile;
| | - Luis H. Orellana
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstr. 1, D-28359 Bremen, Germany;
| | - Andrés E. Marcoleta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
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5
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Bourhane Z, Cagnon C, Castañeda C, Rodríguez-Ochoa R, Álvaro-Fuentes J, Cravo-Laureau C, Duran R. Vertical organization of microbial communities in Salineta hypersaline wetland, Spain. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:869907. [PMID: 36778872 PMCID: PMC9911865 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.869907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities inhabiting hypersaline wetlands, well adapted to the environmental fluctuations due to flooding and desiccation events, play a key role in the biogeochemical cycles, ensuring ecosystem service. To better understand the ecosystem functioning, we studied soil microbial communities of Salineta wetland (NE Spain) in dry and wet seasons in three different landscape stations representing situations characteristic of ephemeral saline lakes: S1 soil usually submerged, S2 soil intermittently flooded, and S3 soil with halophytes. Microbial community composition was determined according to different redox layers by 16S rRNA gene barcoding. We observed reversed redox gradient, negative at the surface and positive in depth, which was identified by PERMANOVA as the main factor explaining microbial distribution. The Pseudomonadota, Gemmatimonadota, Bacteroidota, Desulfobacterota, and Halobacteriota phyla were dominant in all stations. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) revealed that the upper soil surface layer was characterized by the predominance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) affiliated to strictly or facultative anaerobic halophilic bacteria and archaea while the subsurface soil layer was dominated by an OTU affiliated to Roseibaca, an aerobic alkali-tolerant bacterium. In addition, the potential functional capabilities, inferred by PICRUSt2 analysis, involved in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles were similar in all samples, irrespective of the redox stratification, suggesting functional redundancy. Our findings show microbial community changes according to water flooding conditions, which represent useful information for biomonitoring and management of these wetlands whose extreme aridity and salinity conditions are exposed to irreversible changes due to human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeina Bourhane
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
| | - Christine Cagnon
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
| | | | - Rafael Rodríguez-Ochoa
- Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Ciencias del Suelo, Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | | | | | - Robert Duran
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
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6
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Oehlert AM, Suosaari EP, Kong T, Piggot AM, Maizel D, Lascu I, Demergasso C, Chong Díaz G, Reid RP. Physical, chemical, and microbial feedbacks controlling brine geochemistry and lake morphology in polyextreme salar environments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 836:155378. [PMID: 35489513 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Despite the harsh environmental conditions in the world's oldest and driest desert, some salt flat or 'salar' environments in the Atacama Desert host standing bodies of water known as saline lakes. Evaporite minerals deposited within saline lakes result from the equilibrium of environmental, sedimentological, and biogeochemical processes that occur in the salar; consequently, these minerals are sensitive records of human activities and ecological, evolutionary, and geological changes. The objective of this study was to evaluate feedbacks between physical, chemical, and microbial processes that culminate in distinct trends in brine chemistry, saline lake morphology, and associated evaporite sediments. Using samples from the Puquios of the Salar de Llamara, Atacama Desert, northern Chile, an analysis of spatial gradients and vertical stratification of lake elemental chemistry and mineral saturation indices were integrated with a comprehensive analysis of lake morphology, including depth, slope gradient, substrate type, and mineralogy. Lake waters ranged from saline to hypersaline, and exhibited normal, well mixed and inverse stratification patterns, and results suggest a correlation with lake morphology in the Salar de Llamara. Saline to hypersaline lakes (>150 mS/cm) with stratified brines tended to have crystalline substrate and deep (>35 cm) and steep-sided lake morphologies, while unstratified lakes with lower electrical conductivity (<90 mS/cm and microbial substrates had gentle slopes and characteristically shallow depths (<30 cm). Differences in minor element chemistry (Mn and Sr) between saline lakes were observed on scales of meters to kilometers, and result in different accessory mineral assemblages. Quantification of the physical, chemical, and microbial feedbacks that produce the observed heterogeneity in these ecosystems provides key insight into the geochemical composition and lake morphology of saline lakes in extreme environments around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Oehlert
- Department of Marine Geosciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
| | - Erica P Suosaari
- Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA
| | - Tianshu Kong
- Department of Marine Geosciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Alan M Piggot
- Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL 33156, USA; AP Research Inc, Miami, FL 33157, USA
| | - Daniela Maizel
- Department of Marine Geosciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - Ioan Lascu
- Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA
| | - Cecilia Demergasso
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Guillermo Chong Díaz
- Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - R Pamela Reid
- Department of Marine Geosciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA; Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL 33156, USA
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7
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Santini TC, Gramenz L, Southam G, Zammit C. Microbial Community Structure Is Most Strongly Associated With Geographical Distance and pH in Salt Lake Sediments. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:920056. [PMID: 35756015 PMCID: PMC9221066 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.920056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Salt lakes are globally significant microbial habitats, hosting substantial novel microbial diversity and functional capacity. Extremes of salinity and pH both pose major challenges for survival of microbial life in terrestrial and aquatic environments, and are frequently cited as primary influences on microbial diversity across a wide variety of environments. However, few studies have attempted to identify spatial and geochemical contributions to microbial community composition, functional capacity, and environmental tolerances in salt lakes, limiting exploration of novel halophilic and halotolerant microbial species and their potential biotechnological applications. Here, we collected sediment samples from 16 salt lakes at pH values that ranged from pH 4 to 9, distributed across 48,000 km2 of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton in southwestern Australia to identify associations between environmental factors and microbial community composition, and used a high throughput culturing approach to identify the limits of salt and pH tolerance during iron and sulfur oxidation in these microbial communities. Geographical distance between lakes was the primary contributor to variation in microbial community composition, with pH identified as the most important geochemical contributor to variation in microbial community composition. Microbial community composition split into two clear groups by pH: Bacillota dominated microbial communities in acidic saline lakes, whereas Euryarchaeota dominated microbial communities in alkaline saline lakes. Iron oxidation was observed at salinities up to 160 g L-1 NaCl at pH values as low as pH 1.5, and sulfur oxidation was observed at salinities up to 160 g L-1 NaCl between pH values 2-10, more than doubling previously observed tolerances to NaCl salinity amongst cultivable iron and sulfur oxidizers at these extreme pH values. OTU level diversity in the salt lake microbial communities emerged as the major indicator of iron- and sulfur-oxidizing capacity and environmental tolerances to extremes of pH and salinity. Overall, when bioprospecting for novel microbial functional capacity and environmental tolerances, our study supports sampling from remote, previously unexplored, and maximally distant locations, and prioritizing for OTU level diversity rather than present geochemical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talitha C. Santini
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Lucy Gramenz
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Gordon Southam
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Carla Zammit
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
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8
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Saccò M, White NE, Harrod C, Salazar G, Aguilar P, Cubillos CF, Meredith K, Baxter BK, Oren A, Anufriieva E, Shadrin N, Marambio-Alfaro Y, Bravo-Naranjo V, Allentoft ME. Salt to conserve: a review on the ecology and preservation of hypersaline ecosystems. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:2828-2850. [PMID: 34747117 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
When it comes to the investigation of key ecosystems in the world, we often omit salt from the ecological recipe. In fact, despite occupying almost half of the volume of inland waters and providing crucial services to humanity and nature, inland saline ecosystems are often overlooked in discussions regarding the preservation of global aquatic resources of our planet. As a result, our knowledge of the biological and geochemical dynamics shaping these environments remains incomplete and we are hesitant in framing effective protective strategies against the increasing natural and anthropogenic threats faced by such habitats. Hypersaline lakes, water bodies where the concentration of salt exceeds 35 g/l, occur mainly in arid and semiarid areas resulting from hydrological imbalances triggering the accumulation of salts over time. Often considered the 'exotic siblings' within the family of inland waters, these ecosystems host some of the most extremophile communities worldwide and provide essential habitats for waterbirds and many other organisms in already water-stressed regions. These systems are often highlighted as natural laboratories, ideal for addressing central ecological questions due to their relatively low complexity and simple food web structures. However, recent studies on the biogeochemical mechanisms framing hypersaline communities have challenged this archetype, arguing that newly discovered highly diverse communities are characterised by specific trophic interactions shaped by high levels of specialisation. The main goal of this review is to explore our current understanding of the ecological dynamics of hypersaline ecosystems by addressing four main research questions: (i) why are hypersaline lakes unique from a biological and geochemical perspective; (ii) which biota inhabit these ecosystems and how have they adapted to the high salt conditions; (iii) how do we protect biodiversity from increasing natural and anthropogenic threats; and (iv) which scientific tools will help us preserve hypersaline ecosystems in the future? First, we focus on the ecological characterisation of hypersaline ecosystems, illustrate hydrogeochemical dynamics regulating such environments, and outline key ecoregions supporting hypersaline systems across the globe. Second, we depict the diversity and functional aspects of key taxa found in hypersaline lakes, from microorganisms to plants, invertebrates, waterbirds and upper trophic levels. Next, we describe ecosystem services and discuss possible conservation guidelines. Finally, we outline how cutting-edge technologies can provide new insights into the study of hypersaline ecology. Overall, this review sheds further light onto these understudied ecosystems, largely unrecognised as important sources of unique biological and functional diversity. We provide perspectives for key future research avenues, and advocate that the conservation of hypersaline lakes should not be taken with 'a grain of salt'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Saccò
- Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Lab, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Nicole E White
- Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Lab, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Chris Harrod
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad de Antofagasta, Avenida Angamos 601, Antofagasta, Chile.,Núcleo Milenio INVASAL, Concepción, 3349001, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Salazar
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad de Antofagasta, Avenida Angamos 601, Antofagasta, Chile.,Núcleo Milenio INVASAL, Concepción, 3349001, Chile
| | - Pablo Aguilar
- Núcleo Milenio INVASAL, Concepción, 3349001, Chile.,Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Avenida Angamos 601, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Carolina F Cubillos
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Avenida Angamos 601, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Karina Meredith
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Locked Bag 2001, Kirrawee DC, NSW, 2232, Australia
| | - Bonnie K Baxter
- Great Salt Lake Institute, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT, 84105, U.S.A
| | - Aharon Oren
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Institute of Life Sciences, the Edmond J. Safra Campus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Elena Anufriieva
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 Nakhimov Avenue 2, Sevastopol, 299011, Russia
| | - Nickolai Shadrin
- A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 Nakhimov Avenue 2, Sevastopol, 299011, Russia
| | - Yeri Marambio-Alfaro
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales Alexander von Humboldt, Universidad de Antofagasta, Avenida Angamos 601, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Víctor Bravo-Naranjo
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Serena, Benavente 980, La Serena, Coquimbo, Chile
| | - Morten E Allentoft
- Trace and Environmental DNA (TrEnD) Lab, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.,Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, Copenhagen, Denmark
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9
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Castro-Severyn J, Pardo-Esté C, Mendez KN, Fortt J, Marquez S, Molina F, Castro-Nallar E, Remonsellez F, Saavedra CP. Living to the High Extreme: Unraveling the Composition, Structure, and Functional Insights of Bacterial Communities Thriving in the Arsenic-Rich Salar de Huasco Altiplanic Ecosystem. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0044421. [PMID: 34190603 PMCID: PMC8552739 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00444-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities inhabiting extreme environments such as Salar de Huasco (SH) in northern Chile are adapted to thrive while exposed to several abiotic pressures and the presence of toxic elements such as arsenic (As). Hence, we aimed to uncover the role of As in shaping bacterial composition, structure, and functional potential in five different sites in this altiplanic wetland using a shotgun metagenomic approach. The sites exhibit wide gradients of As (9 to 321 mg/kg), and our results showed highly diverse communities and a clear dominance exerted by the Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla. Functional potential analyses show broadly convergent patterns, contrasting with their great taxonomic variability. As-related metabolism, as well as other functional categories such as those related to the CH4 and S cycles, differs among the five communities. Particularly, we found that the distribution and abundance of As-related genes increase as the As concentration rises. Approximately 75% of the detected genes for As metabolism belong to expulsion mechanisms; arsJ and arsP pumps are related to sites with higher As concentrations and are present almost exclusively in Proteobacteria. Furthermore, taxonomic diversity and functional potential are reflected in the 12 reconstructed high-quality metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) belonging to the Bacteroidetes (5), Proteobacteria (5), Cyanobacteria (1), and Gemmatimonadetes (1) phyla. We conclude that SH microbial communities are diverse and possess a broad genetic repertoire to thrive under extreme conditions, including increasing concentrations of highly toxic As. Finally, this environment represents a reservoir of unknown and undescribed microorganisms, with great metabolic versatility, which needs further study. IMPORTANCE As microbial communities inhabiting extreme environments are fundamental for maintaining ecosystems, many studies concerning composition, functionality, and interactions have been carried out. However, much is still unknown. Here, we sampled microbial communities in the Salar de Huasco, an extreme environment subjected to several abiotic stresses (high UV radiation, salinity and arsenic; low pressure and temperatures). We found that although microbes are taxonomically diverse, functional potential seems to have an important degree of convergence, suggesting high levels of adaptation. Particularly, arsenic metabolism showed differences associated with increasing concentrations of the metalloid throughout the area, and it effectively exerts a significant pressure over these organisms. Thus, the significance of this research is that we describe highly specialized communities thriving in little-explored environments subjected to several pressures, considered analogous of early Earth and other planets, that have the potential for unraveling technologies to face the repercussions of climate change in many areas of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Castro-Severyn
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada y Extremófilos, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Coral Pardo-Esté
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada y Extremófilos, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Katterinne N. Mendez
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jonathan Fortt
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada y Extremófilos, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Sebastian Marquez
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Franck Molina
- Sys2Diag, UMR9005 CNRS ALCEDIAG, Montpellier, France
| | - Eduardo Castro-Nallar
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Remonsellez
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Aplicada y Extremófilos, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
- Centro de Investigación Tecnológica del Agua en el Desierto-CEITSAZA, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Claudia P. Saavedra
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
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10
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Reid RP, Oehlert AM, Suosaari EP, Demergasso C, Chong G, Escudero LV, Piggot AM, Lascu I, Palma AT. Electrical conductivity as a driver of biological and geological spatial heterogeneity in the Puquios, Salar de Llamara, Atacama Desert, Chile. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12769. [PMID: 34140571 PMCID: PMC8211675 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92105-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Reputed to be the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert in the Central Andes of Northern Chile is an extreme environment with high UV radiation, wide temperature variation, and minimum precipitation. Scarce lagoons associated with salt flats (salars) in this desert are the surface expression of shallow groundwater; these ponds serve as refugia for life and often host microbial communities associated with evaporitic mineral deposition. Results based on multidisciplinary field campaigns and associated laboratory examination of samples collected from the Puquios of the Salar de Llamara in the Atacama Desert during austral summer provide unprecedented detail regarding the spatial heterogeneity of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of these salar environments. Four main lagoons ('Puquios') and more than 400 smaller ponds occur within an area less than 5 km2, and are characterized by high variability in electrical conductivity, benthic and planktonic biota, microbiota, lagoon bottom type, and style of mineral deposition. Results suggest that electrical conductivity is a driving force of system heterogeneity. Such spatial heterogeneity within the Puquios is likely to be expanded with temporal observations incorporating expected seasonal changes in electrical conductivity. The complexity of these Andean ecosystems may be key to their ability to persist in extreme environments at the edge of habitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- R P Reid
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33149, USA.
- Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL, 33156, USA.
| | - A M Oehlert
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
- Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL, 33156, USA
| | - E P Suosaari
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
- Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL, 33156, USA
- Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 20560, USA
| | - C Demergasso
- Centro de Biotecnología , Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - G Chong
- Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas , Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - L V Escudero
- Centro de Biotecnología , Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - A M Piggot
- Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL, 33156, USA
- AP Research Inc., Miami, FL, 33157, USA
| | - I Lascu
- Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 20560, USA
| | - A T Palma
- FisioAqua, Las Condes , 7550024, Santiago, Chile
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11
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Saona LA, Soria M, Durán-Toro V, Wörmer L, Milucka J, Castro-Nallar E, Meneses C, Contreras M, Farías ME. Phosphate-Arsenic Interactions in Halophilic Microorganisms of the Microbial Mat from Laguna Tebenquiche: from the Microenvironment to the Genomes. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2021; 81:941-953. [PMID: 33388944 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-020-01673-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is a metalloid present in the earth's crust and widely distributed in the environment. Due to its high concentrations in the Andean valleys and its chemical similarity with phosphorus (P), its biological role in Andean Microbial Ecosystems (AMEs) has begun to be studied. The AMEs are home to extremophilic microbial communities that form microbial mats, evaporites, and microbialites inhabiting Andean lakes, puquios, or salt flats. In this work, we characterize the biological role of As and the effect of phosphate in AMEs from the Laguna Tebenquiche (Atacama Desert, Chile). Using micro X-ray fluorescence, the distribution of As in microbial mat samples was mapped. Taxonomic and inferred functional profiles were obtained from enriched cultures of microbial mats incubated under As stress and different phosphate conditions. Additionally, representative microorganisms highly resistant to As and able to grow under low phosphate concentration were isolated and studied physiologically. Finally, the genomes of the isolated Salicola sp. and Halorubrum sp. were sequenced to analyze genes related to both phosphate metabolism and As resistance. The results revealed As as a key component of the microbial mat ecosystem: (i) As was distributed across all sections of the microbial mat and represented a significant weight percentage of the mat (0.17 %) in comparison with P (0.40%); (ii) Low phosphate concentration drastically changed the microbial community in microbial mat samples incubated under high salinity and high As concentrations; (iii) Archaea and Bacteria isolated from the microbial mat were highly resistant to arsenate (up to 500 mM), even under low phosphate concentration; (iv) The genomes of the two isolates were predicted to contain key genes in As metabolism (aioAB and arsC/acr3) and the genes predicted to encode the phosphate-specific transport operon (pstSCAB-phoU) are next to the arsC gene, suggesting a functional relationship between these two elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Saona
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas (LIMLA), Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI), CCT, CONICET, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
| | - M Soria
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas (LIMLA), Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI), CCT, CONICET, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - V Durán-Toro
- Hydrothermal Geomicrobiology Group, MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - L Wörmer
- Organic Geochemistry Group, MARUM-Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Str. 8, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - J Milucka
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstrasse 1, 28359, Bremen, Germany
| | - E Castro-Nallar
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - C Meneses
- Centro de Biotecnología Vegetal (CBV), FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - M Contreras
- Centro de Ecología Aplicada, Santiago, Chile
| | - M E Farías
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas (LIMLA), Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI), CCT, CONICET, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina.
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12
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Schiwitza S, Gutsche L, Freches E, Arndt H, Nitsche F. Extended divergence estimates and species descriptions of new craspedid choanoflagellates from the Atacama Desert, Northern Chile. Eur J Protistol 2021; 79:125798. [PMID: 33984646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2021.125798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In contrast to previous perspectives, hypersaline environments have been proven to harbour a variety of potentially highly adapted microorganisms, in particular unicellular eukaryotes. The isolated, hypersaline waterbodies in the Atacama Desert, Northern Chile are exposed to high UV radiation and deposition of toxic heavy metals, making them of great interest regarding studies on speciation and evolutionary processes. In the past two years, among a variety of other protist species, five new species of heterotrophic choanoflagellates were described and analysed from this area, showing an adaptation to a broad range of salinities. Morphological data alone does not allow for species delineation within craspedid species, additional molecular data is essential for modern taxonomy. In addition, molecular clock analyses pointed towards a strong selection force of the extreme environmental conditions. Within this study, we describe three additional craspedid choanoflagellate species, isolated from different aquatic environments. Phylogenetic analyses show two distinct clades of choanoflagellates from the Atacama, suggesting two independent invasions of at least two ancestral marine species, and, as indicated by our new data, a possible dispersal by Andean aquifers. The extended molecular clock analysis based on transcriptomic data of choanoflagellate strains from the Salar de Llamará, a hypersaline basin within the Central Depression of the Atacama Desert, reflects colonisation and divergence events which correspond to geological data of the paleohydrology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Schiwitza
- University of Cologne, Cologne Biocenter, Institute of Zoology, General Ecology, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Lennart Gutsche
- University of Cologne, Cologne Biocenter, Institute of Zoology, General Ecology, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Eric Freches
- University of Cologne, Cologne Biocenter, Institute of Zoology, General Ecology, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Hartmut Arndt
- University of Cologne, Cologne Biocenter, Institute of Zoology, General Ecology, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Frank Nitsche
- University of Cologne, Cologne Biocenter, Institute of Zoology, General Ecology, Zuelpicher Str. 47b, D-50674 Cologne, Germany.
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13
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Martínez JM, Escudero C, Rodríguez N, Rubin S, Amils R. Subsurface and surface halophile communities of the chaotropic Salar de Uyuni. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:3987-4001. [PMID: 33511754 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Salar de Uyuni (SdU) is the biggest athalosaline environment on Earth, holding a high percentage of the known world Li reserves. Due to its hypersalinity, temperature and humidity fluctuations, high exposure to UV radiation, and its elevated concentration of chaotropic agents like MgCl2 , LiCl and NaBr, SdU is considered a polyextreme environment. Here, we report the prokaryotic abundance and diversity of 46 samples obtained in different seasons and geographical areas. The identified bacterial community was found to be more heterogeneous than the archaeal community, with both communities varying geographically. A seasonal difference has been detected for archaea. Salinibacter, Halonotius and Halorubrum were the most abundant genera in Salar de Uyuni. Different unclassified archaea were also detected. In addition, the diversity of two subsurface samples obtained at 20 and 80 m depth was evaluated and compared with the surface data, generating an evolutionary record of a multilayer hypersaline ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Martínez
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CBMSO, CSIC-UAM), Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain
| | - Cristina Escudero
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz, 28055, Spain
| | - Nuria Rodríguez
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz, 28055, Spain
| | - Sergio Rubin
- Université Catholique de Louvain, Earth and Life Institute, Georges Lamaitre Center for Earth and Climate Research, Gante, Belgium.,Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas, CNIB, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CBMSO, CSIC-UAM), Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz, 28055, Spain
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14
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Kurth D, Elias D, Rasuk MC, Contreras M, Farías ME. Carbon fixation and rhodopsin systems in microbial mats from hypersaline lakes Brava and Tebenquiche, Salar de Atacama, Chile. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246656. [PMID: 33561170 PMCID: PMC7872239 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, molecular diversity of two hypersaline microbial mats was compared by Whole Genome Shotgun (WGS) sequencing of environmental DNA from the mats. Brava and Tebenquiche are lakes in the Salar de Atacama, Chile, where microbial communities are growing in extreme conditions, including high salinity, high solar irradiance, and high levels of toxic metals and metaloids. Evaporation creates hypersaline conditions in these lakes and mineral precipitation is a characteristic geomicrobiological feature of these benthic ecosystems. The mat from Brava was more rich and diverse, with a higher number of different taxa and with species more evenly distributed. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were the most abundant, including ~75% of total sequences. At the genus level, the most abundant sequences were affilitated to anoxygenic phototropic and cyanobacterial genera. In Tebenquiche mats, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes covered ~70% of the sequences, and 13% of the sequences were affiliated to Salinibacter genus, thus addressing the lower diversity. Regardless of the differences at the taxonomic level, functionally the two mats were similar. Thus, similar roles could be fulfilled by different organisms. Carbon fixation through the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway was well represented in these datasets, and also in other mats from Andean lakes. In spite of presenting less taxonomic diversity, Tebenquiche mats showed increased abundance and variety of rhodopsin genes. Comparison with other metagenomes allowed identifying xantorhodopsins as hallmark genes not only from Brava and Tebenquiche mats, but also for other mats developing at high altitudes in similar environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kurth
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas (LIMLA), Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI), CCT, CONICET, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Dario Elias
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos, Oro Verde, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - María Cecilia Rasuk
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas (LIMLA), Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI), CCT, CONICET, Tucumán, Argentina
| | | | - María Eugenia Farías
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas (LIMLA), Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (PROIMI), CCT, CONICET, Tucumán, Argentina
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15
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Marín S, Cabestrero O, Demergasso C, Olivares S, Zetola V, Vera M. An indigenous bacterium with enhanced performance of microbially-induced Ca-carbonate biomineralization under extreme alkaline conditions for concrete and soil-improvement industries. Acta Biomater 2021; 120:304-317. [PMID: 33212232 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The advantages of microbial induced carbonate mineralization for soil-stabilization and building-material industries are under extensive investigation. The pH is one of the influential parameters on the desired calcium carbonate mineralization due to the resulting textures of this mineral. Moreover, the decrease in microbial growth under the extreme alkaline environment compatible with the sustainability of concrete has been the bottleneck for an effective application of Microbial Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) in the concrete industry. Microbial consortia have shown more robustness in their resistance to environmental fluctuations than pure cultures. In addition, microorganisms obtained from alkaline environments could facilitate their adaptation to extreme alkalinity. The aim of this study was to obtain urease producing bacteria (UPB) able to maintain a high MICP performance under extremely alkaline conditions compatible with concrete by adapting native microorganisms obtained from extreme environments. The growth performance, urease activity, strength of the generated biocement, and CaCO3 mineralogy were compared with the best-performer urease-producing bacteria (UPB), S. pasteurii DSMZ 33. The native bacteria presented a similar performance in growth and urease activity than S. pasteurii under extreme alkaline conditions (pH 12.5). However, the generated biocement of native Sporosarcina sp. achieved 461 % more unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and 120 % more CaCO3 content than the biocement generated by S. pasteurii DSMZ 33. The careful adaptation process performed in this study for native UPB and S. pasteurii DSMZ 33 is an interesting approach with promising and projectable results for future engineering and biotechnological applications. These results have important implications for the design of engineering solutions involving MICP. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: A consolidated and strong biocement was generated by a native species obtained from extreme ecosystems in an effort of bioprospecting to enhance the performance of biotechnological solutions for geotechnical applications in the concrete and soil-improvement industries. Biocement generated by the native species was stronger than the generated by one of the best-described biocementation performers. This native species was able to actively growing and do perform microbial-induced-carbonate-mineralization under extreme alkalinity conditions after a careful laboratory adaptation process. The native species presented unique and differentiating traits that gave it a better adaptability and biocementation performance. The same occurs with a priceless microbial diversity inhabiting little explored and unprotected extreme ecosystems. Extreme environments house a fascinating biodiversity with potential value for ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Marín
- Centro de Biotecnología Profesor Alberto Ruiz - CBAR, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
| | - Oscar Cabestrero
- Centro de Biotecnología Profesor Alberto Ruiz - CBAR, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
| | - Cecilia Demergasso
- Centro de Biotecnología Profesor Alberto Ruiz - CBAR, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
| | - Sarah Olivares
- Centro de Biotecnología Profesor Alberto Ruiz - CBAR, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
| | - Vicente Zetola
- Departamento de Gestión de la Construcción, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
| | - María Vera
- Centro de Biotecnología Profesor Alberto Ruiz - CBAR, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile; Departamento de Gestión de la Construcción, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile.
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16
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Menéndez-Serra M, Ontiveros VJ, Triadó-Margarit X, Alonso D, Casamayor EO. Dynamics and ecological distributions of the Archaea microbiome from inland saline lakes (Monegros Desert, Spain). FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2020; 96:5719565. [PMID: 32006018 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We characterized the rich Archaea microbiome of shallow inland lakes (Monegros Desert, NE Spain) by 16S rRNA gene tag sequencing covering a wide salinity range (0.1%-40% w/v) along 3 years. Up to 990 operational taxonomic units (OTUs; >97% identity) were detected allocated in 14 major archaeal phyla and heterogeneously distributed along the salt gradient. Dynamics and idiosyncratic ecological distributions were uncovered for the different phyla. A high genetic richness was observed for Woesearchaeota and Pacearchaeota (>370 OTUs each), followed by Halobacteria (105), Nanohaloarchaeota (62) and Thermoplasmata (19). Overall, the distribution of genetic richness was strongly correlated with environmental niche amplitude, but not with occurrence. We unveiled high occurrence for a very rich Woesearchaeota assemblage, and an unexpected positive correlation of Pacearchaeota abundance with salinity at >15% dissolved salt content. The estimated dynamic behaviour (temporal 'turnover' rates of presence/absence data) unveiled Thaumarchaeota and Halobacteria as the most dynamic groups, and Aenigmarchaeota and Thermoplasmata as the most stable. The DPANN Pacearchaeota, Woesearchaeota, and Nanohaloarchaeota showed intermediate rates, suggesting higher resilience to environmental perturbations. A rich and dynamic Archaea microbiome was unveiled, including unseen ecological traits for relevant members of the still largely unknown DPANN group, supporting a strong ecological differentiation between Pacearchaeota and Woesearchaeota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateu Menéndez-Serra
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 17300 Blanes, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Vicente J Ontiveros
- Theoretical and Computational Ecology Group, Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 17300 Blanes, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Xavier Triadó-Margarit
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 17300 Blanes, Catalonia, Spain
| | - David Alonso
- Theoretical and Computational Ecology Group, Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 17300 Blanes, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Emilio O Casamayor
- Integrative Freshwater Ecology Group, Centre of Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 17300 Blanes, Catalonia, Spain
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17
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Tandon K, Baatar B, Chiang PW, Dashdondog N, Oyuntsetseg B, Tang SL. A Large-Scale Survey of the Bacterial Communities in Lakes of Western Mongolia with Varying Salinity Regimes. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E1729. [PMID: 33158252 PMCID: PMC7716208 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, climate change coupled with anthropogenic activities has led to monumental changes in saline lakes which are rapidly drying up across the globe and particularly in Central Asia. The landlocked country of Mongolia is rich in lakes which have remained primarily undisturbed by human impact, and many of these lakes have varying salinity regimes and are located across various geographical landscapes. In this study, we sampled 18 lakes with varying salinity regimes (hyperhaline, mesohaline, oligohaline, and polyhaline) covering 7000 km of western Mongolia and its various geographical landscapes (Gobi Desert, forests, and steppe). We identified that the bacterial communities that dominate these lakes are significantly influenced by salinity (p < 0.001) and geographical landscape (p < 0.001). Further, only five zOTUs were shared in all the lakes across the salinity regimes, providing evidence that both local and regional factors govern the community assembly and composition. Furthermore, the bacterial communities of hyperhaline lakes were significantly positively correlated with salinity (ANOVA, p < 0.001) and arsenic concentrations (ANOVA, p < 0.001), whereas bacterial communities of mesohaline and polyhaline lakes situated in forest and steppe landscapes were positively correlated with temperature (ANOVA, p < 0.001) and altitude (ANOVA, p < 0.001), respectively. Functional predictions based on the 16S rRNA gene indicated enrichment of KEGG Ontology terms related to transporters for osmoprotection and -regulation. Overall, our study provides a comprehensive view of the bacterial diversity and community composition present in these lakes, which might be lost in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kshitij Tandon
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; (K.T.); (B.B.); (P.-W.C.)
- Bioinformatics Program, Institute of Information Science, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Bayanmunkh Baatar
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; (K.T.); (B.B.); (P.-W.C.)
- School of Arts and Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia;
| | - Pei-Wen Chiang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; (K.T.); (B.B.); (P.-W.C.)
| | - Narangarvuu Dashdondog
- School of Arts and Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia;
| | - Bolormaa Oyuntsetseg
- School of Arts and Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia;
| | - Sen-Lin Tang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan; (K.T.); (B.B.); (P.-W.C.)
- Bioinformatics Program, Institute of Information Science, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
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18
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Yasmeen T, Ahmad A, Arif MS, Mubin M, Rehman K, Shahzad SM, Iqbal S, Rizwan M, Ali S, Alyemeni MN, Wijaya L. Biofilm forming rhizobacteria enhance growth and salt tolerance in sunflower plants by stimulating antioxidant enzymes activity. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2020; 156:242-256. [PMID: 32979797 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Salinity stress is one of the major environmental stresses that impose global socio-economic impacts, as well as hindering crop productivity. Halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) having potential to cope with salinity stress can be employed to counter this issue in eco-friendly way. In the present investigation, halotolerant PGPR strains, AP6 and PB5, were isolated from saline soil and characterized for their biochemical, molecular and physiological traits. Sequencing of 16 S rRNA gene and comparative analysis confirmed the taxonomic affiliation of AP6 with Bacillus licheniformis and PB5 with Pseudomonas plecoglossicida. The study was carried out in pots with different levels of induced soil salinity viz. 0, 5, 10 and 15 dSm-1 to evaluate the potential of bacterial inoculants in counteracting salinity stress in sunflower at different plant growth stages (30, 45 and 60 days after sowing). Both the bacterial inoculants were capable of producing indole acetic acid and biofilm, solubilizing inorganic rock phosphate, and also expressed ACC deaminase activity. The PGPR inoculated plants showed significantly higher fresh and dry biomass, plant height, root length and yield plant-1. Ameliorative significance of applied bacterial inoculants was also evidenced by mitigating oxidative stress through upregulation of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) antioxidant enzymes. Increase in photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange activities and nutrient uptake are crucial salt stress adaptations, which were enhanced with the inoculation of salt tolerant biofilm producing PGPR in sunflower plants. Although increase in salinity stress levels has gradually decreased the plant's output compared to non-salinized plants, the plants inoculated with PGPR confronted salinity stress in much better way than uninoculated plants. Owing to the wide action spectrum of these bacterial inoculants, it was concluded that these biofilm PGPR could serve as effective bioinoculants and salinity stress alleviator for sunflower (oil seed crop) by increasing crop productivity in marginalized agricultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahira Yasmeen
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.
| | - Aqeel Ahmad
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Saleem Arif
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Mubin
- Centre of Agricultural Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Khadija Rehman
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Sher Muhammad Shahzad
- Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, 40100, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Shahid Iqbal
- Key Laboratory for Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Centre for Mountain Futures CMF, East and Central Asia Regional Office, World Agroforestry Centre ICRAF, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, CN 650201, China
| | - Muhammad Rizwan
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Shafaqat Ali
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan; Department of Biological Sciences and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 40402, Taiwan.
| | - Mohammed Nasser Alyemeni
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Leonard Wijaya
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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19
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Physicochemical Parameters Affecting the Distribution and Diversity of the Water Column Microbial Community in the High-Altitude Andean Lake System of La Brava and La Punta. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8081181. [PMID: 32756460 PMCID: PMC7464526 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the low incidence of precipitation attributed to climate change, many high-altitude Andean lakes (HAALs) and lagoons distributed along the central Andes in South America may soon disappear. This includes La Brava–La Punta, a brackish lake system located south of the Salar de Atacama within a hyper-arid and halophytic biome in the Atacama Desert. Variations in the physicochemical parameters of the water column can induce changes in microbial community composition, which we aimed to determine. Sixteen sampling points across La Brava–La Punta were studied to assess the influence of water physicochemical properties on the aquatic microbial community, determined via 16S rRNA gene analysis. Parameters such as pH and the concentrations of silica, magnesium, calcium, salinity, and dissolved oxygen showed a more homogenous pattern in La Punta samples, whereas those from La Brava had greater variability; pH and total silica were significantly different between La Brava and La Punta. The predominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. The genera Psychroflexus (36.85%), Thiomicrospira (12.48%), and Pseudomonas (7.81%) were more abundant in La Brava, while Pseudospirillum (20.73%) and Roseovarius (17.20%) were more abundant in La Punta. Among the parameters, pH was the only statistically significant factor influencing the diversity within La Brava lake. These results complement the known microbial diversity and composition in the HAALs of the Atacama Desert.
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20
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Gajardo G, Redón S. Andean hypersaline lakes in the
Atacama Desert
, northern
Chile
: Between lithium exploitation and unique biodiversity conservation. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.94] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Gajardo
- Laboratorio de Genética, Acuicultura & Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y BiodiversidadUniversidad de Los Lagos Osorno Chile
| | - Stella Redón
- Laboratorio de Genética, Acuicultura & BiodiversidadUniversidad de Los Lagos Osorno Chile
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21
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Couto-Rodríguez RL, Montalvo-Rodríguez R. Temporal Analysis of the Microbial Community from the Crystallizer Ponds in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, Using Metagenomics. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E422. [PMID: 31159288 PMCID: PMC6627146 DOI: 10.3390/genes10060422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The Cabo Rojo solar salterns are a hypersaline environment located in a tropical climate, where conditions remain stable throughout the year. These conditions can favor the establishment of steady microbial communities. Little is known about the microbial composition that thrives in hypersaline environments in the tropics. The main goal of this study was to assess the microbial diversity present in the crystallizer ponds of Cabo Rojo, in terms of structure and metabolic processes across time using metagenomic techniques. Three samplings (December 2014, March and July 2016) were carried out, where water samples (50 L each) were filtered through a Millipore pressurized filtering system. DNA was subsequently extracted using physical-chemical methods and sequenced using paired end Illumina technologies. The sequencing effort produced three paired end libraries with a total of 111,816,040 reads, that were subsequently assembled into three metagenomes. Out of the phyla detected, the microbial diversity was dominated in all three samples by Euryarchaeota, followed by Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. However, sample MFF1 (for Muestreo Final Fraternidad) exhibited a higher diversity, with 12 prokaryotic phyla detected at 34% NaCl (w/v), when compared to samples MFF2 and MFF3, which only exhibited three phyla. Precipitation events might be one of the contributing factors to the change in the microbial community composition through time. Diversity at genus level revealed a more stable community structure, with an overwhelming dominance of the square archaeon Haloquadratum in the three metagenomes. Furthermore, functional annotation was carried out in order to detect genes related to metabolic processes, such as carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. The presence of gene sequences related to nitrogen fixation, ammonia oxidation, sulfate reduction, sulfur oxidation, and phosphate solubilization were detected. Through binning methods, four putative novel genomes were obtained, including a possible novel genus belonging to the Bacteroidetes and possible new species for the genera Natronomonas, Halomicrobium, and Haloquadratum. Using a metagenomic approach, a 3-year study has been performed in a Caribbean hypersaline environment. When compared to other salterns around the world, the Cabo Rojo salterns harbor a similar community composition, which is stable through time. Moreover, an analysis of gene composition highlights the importance of the microbial community in the biogeochemical cycles at hypersaline environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo L Couto-Rodríguez
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA.
- Biology Department, Box 9000, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR 00681, USA.
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22
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Aguilar P, Dorador C, Vila I, Sommaruga R. Bacterioplankton composition in tropical high-elevation lakes of the Andean plateau. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2019; 94:4810748. [PMID: 29346530 PMCID: PMC6018938 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
High-elevation lakes in the tropics are subject to extreme environmental fluctuations and microbes may harbor a unique genomic repertoire, but their composition and diversity are largely unknown. Here, we compared the planktonic bacterial community composition (BCC) and diversity of three tropical lakes located in the high Andean plateau (≥4400 m above sea level) during the dry and wet season. Diversity in these lakes was higher in the cool and wet season than in the warm and dry one. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) composition was significantly different among lakes and between seasons. Members of the class Opitutae, Spartobacteria, Burkholderiales and Actinobacteria were dominant, but only the hgcI clade (Actinobacteria) and the Comamonadaceae family (Burkholderiales) were shared between seasons among the three lakes. In general, a large percentage (up to 42%) of the rare OTUs was unclassified even at the family level. In one lake, a pycnocline and an anoxic water layer with high abundance of Thiocapsa sp. was found in the wet season indicating that the known polymictic thermal condition is not always given. Our study highlights the particular BCC of tropical high-elevation lakes and also how little is known about the variability in physico-chemical conditions of these ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Aguilar
- Lake and Glacier Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr 25, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Cristina Dorador
- Laboratory of Microbial Complexity and Functional Ecology, Instituto Antofagasta & Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Chile.,Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (CeBiB), Beaucheff 851 Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Irma Vila
- Departamento de Ciencias Ecológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 1058 Santiago, Chile
| | - Ruben Sommaruga
- Lake and Glacier Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Technikerstr 25, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
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23
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Halotolerant Bacterial Diversity Associated with Suaeda fruticosa (L.) Forssk. Improved Growth of Maize under Salinity Stress. AGRONOMY-BASEL 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/agronomy8080131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Halotolerant bacterial strains associated with the rhizosphere and phytoplane of Suaeda fruticosa (L.) Forssk. growing in saline habitats were isolated to mitigate the salinity stress of Zea mays L. 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed the presence of strains that belong to Gracilibacillus, Staphylococcus, Virgibacillus, Salinicoccus, Bacillus, Zhihengliuella, Brevibacterium, Oceanobacillus, Exiguobacterium, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, and Halomonas genera. Strains were screened for auxin production, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)-deaminase, and biofilm formation. Bacterial auxin production ranged from 14 to 215 µg mL−1. Moreover, several bacterial isolates were also recorded as positive for ACC-deaminase activity, phosphate solubilization, and biofilm formation. In pot trials, bacterial strains significantly mitigated the salinity stress of Z. mays seedlings. For instance, at 200 and 400 mM NaCl, a significant increase of shoot and root length (up to onefold) was recorded for Staphylococcus jettensis F-11. At 200 mM, Zhihengliuella flava F-9 (45%) and Bacillus megaterium F-58 (42%) exhibited significant improvements for fresh weight. For dry weight, S. jettensis F-11 and S. arlettae F-71 recorded up to a threefold increase at 200 mM over the respective control. The results of this study suggest that natural plant settings of saline habitats are a good source for the isolation of beneficial salt-tolerant bacteria to grow crops under saline conditions.
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24
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Abundance and diversity of prokaryotes in ephemeral hypersaline lake Chott El Jerid using Illumina Miseq sequencing, DGGE and qPCR assays. Extremophiles 2018; 22:811-823. [DOI: 10.1007/s00792-018-1040-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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25
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Oueriaghli N, Castro DJ, Llamas I, Béjar V, Martínez-Checa F. Study of Bacterial Community Composition and Correlation of Environmental Variables in Rambla Salada, a Hypersaline Environment in South-Eastern Spain. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1377. [PMID: 29977233 PMCID: PMC6021518 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied the bacterial community in Rambla Salada in three different sampling sites and in three different seasons and the effect of salinity, oxygen, and pH. All sites samples had high diversity and richness (Rr > 30). The diversity indexes and the analysis of dendrograms obtained by DGGE fingerprint after applying Pearson's and Dice's coefficient showed a strong influence of sampling season. The Pareto-Lorenz (PL) curves and Fo analysis indicated that the microbial communities were balanced and despite the changing environmental conditions, they can preserve their functionality. The main phyla detected by DGGE were Bacteroidetes (39.73%), Proteobacteria (28.43%), Firmicutes (8.23%), and Cyanobacteria (5.14%). The majority of the sequences corresponding to uncultured bacteria belonged to Bacteroidetes phylum. Within Proteobacteria, the main genera detected were Halothiobacillus and Roseovarius. The environmental factors which influenced the community in a higher degree were the salinity and oxygen. The bacteria belonging to Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria were positively influenced by salinity. Nevertheless, bacteria related to Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria classes and phylum Firmicutes showed a positive correlation with oxygen and pH but negative with salinity. The phylum Cyanobacteria were less influenced by the environmental variables. The bacterial community composition of Rambla Salada was also studied by dilution-to-extinction technique. Using this method, 354 microorganisms were isolated. The 16S sequences of 61 isolates showed that the diversity was very different to those obtained by DGGE and with those obtained previously by using classic culture techniques. The taxa identified by dilution-to-extinction were Proteobacteria (81.92%), Firmicutes (11.30%), Actinobacteria (4.52%), and Bacteroidetes (2.26%) phyla with Gammaproteobacteria as predominant class (65.7%). The main genera were: Marinobacter (38.85%), Halomonas (20.2%), and Bacillus (11.2%). Nine of the 61 identified bacteria showed less than 97% sequence identity with validly described species and may well represent new taxa. The number of bacteria in different samples, locations, and seasons were calculated by CARD-FISH, ranging from 54.3 to 78.9% of the total prokaryotic population. In conclusion, the dilution-to-extinction technique could be a complementary method to classical culture based method, but neither gets to cultivate the major taxa detected by DGGE. The bacterial community was influenced significantly by the physico-chemical parameters (specially the salinity and oxygen), the location and the season of sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahid Oueriaghli
- Microbial Exopolysacharide Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - David J. Castro
- Microbial Exopolysacharide Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Llamas
- Microbial Exopolysacharide Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Victoria Béjar
- Microbial Exopolysacharide Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Fernando Martínez-Checa
- Microbial Exopolysacharide Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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26
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A thiotrophic microbial community in an acidic brine lake in Northern Chile. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2018; 111:1403-1419. [PMID: 29748902 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-018-1087-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
The endorheic basins of the Northern Chilean Altiplano contain saline lakes and salt flats. Two of the salt flats, Gorbea and Ignorado, have high acidic brines. The causes of the local acidity have been attributed to the occurrence of volcanic native sulfur, the release of sulfuric acid by oxidation, and the low buffering capacity of the rocks in the area. Understanding the microbial community composition and available energy in this pristine ecosystem is relevant in determining the origin of the acidity and in supporting the rationale of conservation policies. Besides, a comparison between similar systems in Australia highlights key microbial components and specific ones associated with geological settings and environmental conditions. Sediment and water samples from the Salar de Gorbea were collected, physicochemical parameters measured and geochemical and molecular biological analyses performed. A low diversity microbial community was observed in brines and sediments dominated by Actinobacteria, Algae, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. Most of the constituent genera have been reported to be either sulfur oxidizing microorganisms or ones having the potential for sulfur oxidation given available genomic data and information drawn from the literature on cultured relatives. In addition, a link between sulfur oxidation and carbon fixation was observed. In contrast, to acid mine drainage communities, Gorbea microbial diversity is mainly supported by chemolithoheterotrophic, facultative chemolithoautotrophic and oligotrophic sulfur oxidizing populations indicating that microbial activity should also be considered as a causative agent of local acidity.
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27
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Dorador C, Fink P, Hengst M, Icaza G, Villalobos AS, Vejar D, Meneses D, Zadjelovic V, Burmann L, Moelzner J, Harrod C. Microbial community composition and trophic role along a marked salinity gradient in Laguna Puilar, Salar de Atacama, Chile. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 2018; 111:1361-1374. [PMID: 29744693 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-018-1091-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
The geological, hydrological and microbiological features of the Salar de Atacama, the most extensive evaporitic sedimentary basin in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, have been extensively studied. In contrast, relatively little attention has been paid to the composition and roles of microbial communities in hypersaline lakes which are a unique feature in the Salar. In the present study biochemical, chemical and molecular biological tools were used to determine the composition and roles of microbial communities in water, microbial mats and sediments along a marked salinity gradient in Laguna Puilar which is located in the "Los Flamencos" National Reserve. The bacterial communities at the sampling sites were dominated by members of the phyla Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria. Stable isotope and fatty acid analyses revealed marked variability in the composition of microbial mats at different sampling sites both horizontally (at different sites) and vertically (in the different layers). The Laguna Puilar was shown to be a microbially dominated ecosystem in which more than 60% of the fatty acids at particular sites are of bacterial origin. Our pioneering studies also suggest that the energy budgets of avian consumers (three flamingo species) and dominant invertebrates (amphipods and gastropods) use minerals as a source of energy and nutrients. Overall, the results of this study support the view that the Salar de Atacama is a heterogeneous and fragile ecosystem where small changes in environmental conditions may alter the balance of microbial communities with possible consequences at different trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Dorador
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile. .,Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Angamos 601, Antofagasta, Chile. .,Centre for Biotechnology & Bioengineering (CeBiB), Santiago, Chile.
| | - Patrick Fink
- Workgroup Aquatic Chemical Ecology, University of Cologne, Cologne Biocenter, ZülpicherStraße 47b, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Martha Hengst
- Centre for Biotechnology & Bioengineering (CeBiB), Santiago, Chile.,Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Applied Microbiology, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Icaza
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Centre for Biotechnology & Bioengineering (CeBiB), Santiago, Chile
| | - Alvaro S Villalobos
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Marine Microbiology, GEOMAR Helmholtz, Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Drina Vejar
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Centre for Biotechnology & Bioengineering (CeBiB), Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela Meneses
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Centre for Biotechnology & Bioengineering (CeBiB), Santiago, Chile
| | - Vinko Zadjelovic
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Lisa Burmann
- Workgroup Aquatic Chemical Ecology, University of Cologne, Cologne Biocenter, ZülpicherStraße 47b, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jana Moelzner
- Workgroup Aquatic Chemical Ecology, University of Cologne, Cologne Biocenter, ZülpicherStraße 47b, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Chris Harrod
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales Alexander von Humboldt, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Núcleo Milenio INVASAL, Concepción, Chile
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28
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Bull AT, Asenjo JA, Goodfellow M, Gómez-Silva B. The Atacama Desert: Technical Resources and the Growing Importance of Novel Microbial Diversity. Annu Rev Microbiol 2017; 70:215-34. [PMID: 27607552 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-102215-095236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the oldest and most arid nonpolar environment on Earth. It is a coastal desert covering approximately 180,000 km(2), and together with the greater Atacama region it comprises a dramatically wide range of ecological niches. Long known and exploited for its mineral resources, the Atacama Desert harbors a rich microbial diversity that has only recently been discovered; the great majority of it has not yet been recovered in culture or even taxonomically identified. This review traces the progress of microbiology research in the Atacama and dispels the popular view that this region is virtually devoid of life. We examine reasons for such research activity and demonstrate that microbial life is the latest recognized and least explored resource in this inspiring biome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan T Bull
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, United Kingdom;
| | - Juan A Asenjo
- Center for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile;
| | - Michael Goodfellow
- School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom;
| | - Benito Gómez-Silva
- Biochemistry Laboratory, Biomedical Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Antofagasta, Chile;
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Saghaï A, Gutiérrez-Preciado A, Deschamps P, Moreira D, Bertolino P, Ragon M, López-García P. Unveiling microbial interactions in stratified mat communities from a warm saline shallow pond. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:2405-2421. [PMID: 28489281 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Revised: 04/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Modern phototrophic microbial mats are complex communities often used as analogs of major Precambrian ecosystems. Characterizing biotic, notably metabolic, interactions among different microbial mat members is essential to gain insights into the ecology and biogeochemistry of these systems. We applied 16S/18S rRNA metabarcoding approaches to characterize the structure of archaea, bacteria and protist communities from microbial mats collected along strong physicochemical (oxygen, salinity, temperature, depth) gradients in a shallow pond at the salar de Llamara (Chile). All mats were highly diverse, including members of virtually all known high-rank eukaryotic and prokaryotic taxa but also many novel lineages. Bacterial candidate divisions accounted for almost 50% of sequences in deeper mats, while Archaea represented up to 40% of sequences in some mat layers. Molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed six novel deeply divergent archaeal groups, along abundant and diverse Pacearchaeota and Woesearchaeota. Multivariate statistical analyses showed that local environmental conditions strongly influenced community composition. Co-occurrence network structure was markedly different between surface mats located in the oxygenated zone and mats located in transition and anoxic water layers. We identified potential biotic interactions between various high- and low-rank taxa. Notably, a strong positive correlation was observed between Lokiarchaeota and the poorly known candidate bacterial division TA06.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélien Saghaï
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Ana Gutiérrez-Preciado
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Philippe Deschamps
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - David Moreira
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Paola Bertolino
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Marie Ragon
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Purificación López-García
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, AgroParisTech, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
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30
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Haferburg G, Gröning JAD, Schmidt N, Kummer NA, Erquicia JC, Schlömann M. Microbial diversity of the hypersaline and lithium-rich Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. Microbiol Res 2017; 199:19-28. [PMID: 28454706 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2017.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/25/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Salar de Uyuni, situated in the Southwest of the Bolivian Altiplano, is the largest salt flat on Earth. Brines of this athalassohaline hypersaline environment are rich in lithium and boron. Due to the ever- increasing commodity demand, the industrial exploitation of brines for metal recovery from the world's biggest lithium reservoir is likely to increase substantially in the near future. Studies on the composition of halophilic microbial communities in brines of the salar have not been published yet. Here we report for the first time on the prokaryotic diversity of four brine habitats across the salar. The brine is characterized by salinity values between 132 and 177 PSU, slightly acidic to near-neutral pH and lithium and boron concentrations of up to 2.0 and 1.4g/L, respectively. Community analysis was performed after sequencing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA genes employing the Illumina MiSeq technology. The mothur software package was used for sequence processing and data analysis. Metagenomic analysis revealed the occurrence of an exclusively archaeal community comprising 26 halobacterial genera including only recently identified genera like Halapricum, Halorubellus and Salinarchaeum. Despite the high diversity of the halobacteria-dominated community in sample P3 (Shannon-Weaver index H'=3.12 at 3% OTU cutoff) almost 40% of the Halobacteriaceae-assigned sequences could not be classified on the genus level under stringent filtering conditions. Even if the limited taxonomic resolution of the V3-V4 region for halobacteria is considered, it seems likely to discover new, hitherto undescribed genera of the family halobacteriaceae in this particular habitat of Salar de Uyuni in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Götz Haferburg
- Interdisciplinary Ecological Center, Environmental Microbiology Group, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Strasse 29, 09599 Freiberg, Germany.
| | | | - Nadja Schmidt
- Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Gustav-Zeuner-Straße 12, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
| | - Nicolai-Alexeji Kummer
- Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Gustav-Zeuner-Straße 12, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
| | | | - Michael Schlömann
- Interdisciplinary Ecological Center, Environmental Microbiology Group, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Leipziger Strasse 29, 09599 Freiberg, Germany
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31
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Fernandez AB, Rasuk MC, Visscher PT, Contreras M, Novoa F, Poire DG, Patterson MM, Ventosa A, Farias ME. Microbial Diversity in Sediment Ecosystems (Evaporites Domes, Microbial Mats, and Crusts) of Hypersaline Laguna Tebenquiche, Salar de Atacama, Chile. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1284. [PMID: 27597845 PMCID: PMC4992683 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We combined nucleic acid-based molecular methods, biogeochemical measurements, and physicochemical characteristics to investigate microbial sedimentary ecosystems of Laguna Tebenquiche, Atacama Desert, Chile. Molecular diversity, and biogeochemistry of hypersaline microbial mats, rhizome-associated concretions, and an endoevaporite were compared with: The V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by pyrosequencing to analyze the total microbial diversity (i.e., bacteria and archaea) in bulk samples, and in addition, in detail on a millimeter scale in one microbial mat and in one evaporite. Archaea were more abundant than bacteria. Euryarchaeota was one of the most abundant phyla in all samples, and particularly dominant (97% of total diversity) in the most lithified ecosystem, the evaporite. Most of the euryarchaeal OTUs could be assigned to the class Halobacteria or anaerobic and methanogenic archaea. Planctomycetes potentially also play a key role in mats and rhizome-associated concretions, notably the aerobic organoheterotroph members of the class Phycisphaerae. In addition to cyanobacteria, members of Chromatiales and possibly the candidate family Chlorotrichaceae contributed to photosynthetic carbon fixation. Other abundant uncultured taxa such as the candidate division MSBL1, the uncultured MBGB, and the phylum Acetothermia potentially play an important metabolic role in these ecosystems. Lithifying microbial mats contained calcium carbonate precipitates, whereas endoevoporites consisted of gypsum, and halite. Biogeochemical measurements revealed that based on depth profiles of O2 and sulfide, metabolic activities were much higher in the non-lithifying mat (peaking in the least lithified systems) than in lithifying mats with the lowest activity in endoevaporites. This trend in decreasing microbial activity reflects the increase in salinity, which may play an important role in the biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B Fernandez
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICET Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Maria C Rasuk
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICET Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Pieter T Visscher
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of ConnecticutGroton, CT, USA; Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South WalesSydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Daniel G Poire
- Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata-Conicet La Plata, Argentina
| | - Molly M Patterson
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut Groton, CT, USA
| | - Antonio Ventosa
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla Sevilla, Spain
| | - Maria E Farias
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICET Tucumán, Argentina
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Aszalós JM, Krett G, Anda D, Márialigeti K, Nagy B, Borsodi AK. Diversity of extremophilic bacteria in the sediment of high-altitude lakes located in the mountain desert of Ojos del Salado volcano, Dry-Andes. Extremophiles 2016; 20:603-20. [PMID: 27315168 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-016-0849-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano on Earth is surrounded by a special mountain desert with extreme aridity, great daily temperature range, intense solar radiation, and permafrost from 5000 meters above sea level. Several saline lakes and permafrost derived high-altitude lakes can be found in this area, often surrounded by fumaroles and hot springs. The aim of this study was to gain information about the bacterial communities inhabiting the sediment of high-altitude lakes of the Ojos del Salado region located between 3770 and 6500 m. Altogether 11 sediment samples from 4 different altitudes were examined with 16S rRNA gene based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and clone libraries. Members of 17 phyla or candidate divisions were detected with the dominance of Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The bacterial community composition was determined mainly by the altitude of the sampling sites; nevertheless, the extreme aridity and the active volcanism had a strong influence on it. Most of the sequences showed the highest relation to bacterial species or uncultured clones from similar extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júlia Margit Aszalós
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gergely Krett
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra Anda
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Károly Márialigeti
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Nagy
- Department of Physical Geography, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea K Borsodi
- Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C, 1117, Budapest, Hungary.
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Zhong ZP, Liu Y, Miao LL, Wang F, Chu LM, Wang JL, Liu ZP. Prokaryotic Community Structure Driven by Salinity and Ionic Concentrations in Plateau Lakes of the Tibetan Plateau. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:1846-1858. [PMID: 26746713 PMCID: PMC4784034 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03332-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The prokaryotic community composition and diversity and the distribution patterns at various taxonomic levels across gradients of salinity and physiochemical properties in the surface waters of seven plateau lakes in the Qaidam Basin, Tibetan Plateau, were evaluated using Illumina MiSeq sequencing. These lakes included Lakes Keluke (salinity, <1 g/liter), Qing (salinity, 5.5 to 6.6 g/liter), Tuosu (salinity, 24 to 35 g/liter), Dasugan (salinity, 30 to 33 g/liter), Gahai (salinity, 92 to 96 g/liter), Xiaochaidan (salinity, 94 to 99 g/liter), and Gasikule (salinity, 317 to 344 g/liter). The communities were dominated by Bacteria in lakes with salinities of <100 g/liter and by Archaea in Lake Gasikule. The clades At12OctB3 and Salinibacter, previously reported only in hypersaline environments, were found in a hyposaline lake (salinity, 5.5 to 6.6 g/liter) at an abundance of ∼1.0%, indicating their ecological plasticity. Salinity and the concentrations of the chemical ions whose concentrations covary with salinity (Mg(2+), K(+), Cl(-), Na(+), SO4 (2-), and Ca(2+)) were found to be the primary environmental factors that directly or indirectly determined the composition and diversity at the level of individual clades as well as entire prokaryotic communities. The distribution patterns of two phyla, five classes, five orders, five families, and three genera were well predicted by salinity. The variation of the prokaryotic community structure also significantly correlated with the dissolved oxygen concentration, pH, the total nitrogen concentration, and the PO4 (3-) concentration. Such correlations varied depending on the taxonomic level, demonstrating the importance of comprehensive correlation analyses at various taxonomic levels in evaluating the effects of environmental variable factors on prokaryotic community structures. Our findings clarify the distribution patterns of the prokaryotic community composition in plateau lakes at the levels of individual clades as well as whole communities along gradients of salinity and ionic concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Ping Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Li Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Min Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Shandong River Wetlands, Laiwu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Pei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Abdallah MB, Karray F, Mhiri N, Mei N, Quéméneur M, Cayol JL, Erauso G, Tholozan JL, Alazard D, Sayadi S. Prokaryotic diversity in a Tunisian hypersaline lake, Chott El Jerid. Extremophiles 2016; 20:125-38. [PMID: 26724953 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-015-0805-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Prokaryotic diversity was investigated in a Tunisian salt lake, Chott El Jerid, by quantitative real-time PCR, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting methods targeting the 16S rRNA gene and culture-dependent methods. Two different samples S1-10 and S2-10 were taken from under the salt crust of Chott El Jerid in the dry season. DGGE analysis revealed that bacterial sequences were related to Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, unclassified bacteria, and Deinococcus-Thermus phyla. Anaerobic fermentative and sulfate-reducing bacteria were also detected in this ecosystem. Within the domain archaea, all sequences were affiliated to Euryarchaeota phylum. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that 16S rRNA gene copy numbers of bacteria was 5 × 10(6) DNA copies g(-1) whereas archaea varied between 5 × 10(5) and 10(6) DNA copies g(-1) in these samples. Eight anaerobic halophilic fermentative bacterial strains were isolated and affiliated with the species Halanaerobium alcaliphilum, Halanaerobium saccharolyticum, and Sporohalobacter salinus. These data showed an abundant and diverse microbial community detected in the hypersaline thalassohaline environment of Chott El Jerid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manel Ben Abdallah
- Laboratory of Environmental Bioprocesses, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Route Sidi Mansour, km 6, BP 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia.,IRD, University of Aix-Marseille, University of Toulon, CNRS, MIO, UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Fatma Karray
- Laboratory of Environmental Bioprocesses, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Route Sidi Mansour, km 6, BP 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia. .,Laboratoire Mixte International « Contaminants et Ecosystèmes Marins Sud Méditerranéens » (LMI COSYS-Med), Sfax, Tunisia.
| | - Najla Mhiri
- Laboratory of Environmental Bioprocesses, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Route Sidi Mansour, km 6, BP 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia.,Laboratoire Mixte International « Contaminants et Ecosystèmes Marins Sud Méditerranéens » (LMI COSYS-Med), Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Nan Mei
- IRD, University of Aix-Marseille, University of Toulon, CNRS, MIO, UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Marianne Quéméneur
- IRD, University of Aix-Marseille, University of Toulon, CNRS, MIO, UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Jean-Luc Cayol
- IRD, University of Aix-Marseille, University of Toulon, CNRS, MIO, UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Gaël Erauso
- IRD, University of Aix-Marseille, University of Toulon, CNRS, MIO, UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France.,Laboratoire Mixte International « Contaminants et Ecosystèmes Marins Sud Méditerranéens » (LMI COSYS-Med), Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Jean-Luc Tholozan
- IRD, University of Aix-Marseille, University of Toulon, CNRS, MIO, UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Didier Alazard
- Laboratory of Environmental Bioprocesses, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Route Sidi Mansour, km 6, BP 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia.,IRD, University of Aix-Marseille, University of Toulon, CNRS, MIO, UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Sami Sayadi
- Laboratory of Environmental Bioprocesses, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Route Sidi Mansour, km 6, BP 1177, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia.,Laboratoire Mixte International « Contaminants et Ecosystèmes Marins Sud Méditerranéens » (LMI COSYS-Med), Sfax, Tunisia
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Albarracín VH, Gärtner W, Farias ME. Forged Under the Sun: Life and Art of Extremophiles from Andean Lakes. Photochem Photobiol 2015; 92:14-28. [PMID: 26647770 DOI: 10.1111/php.12555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
High-altitude Andean lakes (HAAL) are a treasure chest for microbiological research in South America. Their indigenous microbial communities are exposed to extremely high UV irradiation and to multiple chemical extremes (Arsenic, high salt content, alkalinity). Microbes are found both, free-living or associated into microbial mats with different degrees of mineralization and lithification, including unique modern stromatolites located at 3570 m above sea level. Characterization of these polyextremophilic microbes began only recently, employing morphological and phylogenetic methods as well as high-throughput sequencing and proteomics approach. Aside from providing a general overview on microbial communities, special attention is given to various survival strategies; HAAL's microbes present a complex system of shared genetic and physiological mechanisms (UV-resistome) based on UV photoreceptors and stress sensors with their corresponding response regulators, UV avoidance and protection strategies, damage tolerance and UV damage repair. Molecular information will be provided for what is, so far the most studied HAAL molecule, a CPD-Class I photolyase from Acinetobacter Ver3 (Laguna Verde, 4400 m). This work further proposes some strategies that make an appeal for the preservation of HAAL, a highly fragile environment that offers promising and ample research possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Helena Albarracín
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos (PROIMI), CCT, CONICET, Tucumán, Argentina.,Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Wolfgang Gärtner
- Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim, Germany
| | - María Eugenia Farias
- Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos (PROIMI), CCT, CONICET, Tucumán, Argentina
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36
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Albarracín VH, Kurth D, Ordoñez OF, Belfiore C, Luccini E, Salum GM, Piacentini RD, Farías ME. High-Up: A Remote Reservoir of Microbial Extremophiles in Central Andean Wetlands. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1404. [PMID: 26733008 PMCID: PMC4679917 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Central Andes region displays unexplored ecosystems of shallow lakes and salt flats at mean altitudes of 3700 m. Being isolated and hostile, these so-called "High-Altitude Andean Lakes" (HAAL) are pristine and have been exposed to little human influence. HAAL proved to be a rich source of microbes showing interesting adaptations to life in extreme settings (poly-extremophiles) such as alkalinity, high concentrations of arsenic and dissolved salts, intense dryness, large daily ambient thermal amplitude, and extreme solar radiation levels. This work reviews HAAL microbiodiversity, taking into account different microbial niches, such as plankton, benthos, microbial mats and microbialites. The modern stromatolites and other microbialites discovered recently at HAAL are highlighted, as they provide unique modern-though quite imperfect-analogs of environments proxy for an earlier time in Earth's history (volcanic setting and profuse hydrothermal activity, low atmospheric O2 pressure, thin ozone layer and high UV exposure). Likewise, we stress the importance of HAAL microbes as model poly-extremophiles in the study of the molecular mechanisms underlying their resistance ability against UV and toxic or deleterious chemicals using genome mining and functional genomics. In future research directions, it will be necessary to exploit the full potential of HAAL poly-extremophiles in terms of their biotechnological applications. Current projects heading this way have yielded detailed molecular information and functional proof on novel extremoenzymes: i.e., DNA repair enzymes and arsenic efflux pumps for which medical and bioremediation applications, respectively, are envisaged. But still, much effort is required to unravel novel functions for this and other molecules that dwell in a unique biological treasure despite its being hidden high up, in the remote Andes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia H. Albarracín
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICETTucumán, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de TucumánTucumán, Argentina
- Centro Integral de Microscopía Electrónica, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICETTucumán, Argentina
| | - Daniel Kurth
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICETTucumán, Argentina
| | - Omar F. Ordoñez
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICETTucumán, Argentina
| | - Carolina Belfiore
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICETTucumán, Argentina
| | - Eduardo Luccini
- CONICET Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de la Provincia de CórdobaCórdoba, Argentina
- Facultad de Química e Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica ArgentinaRosario, Argentina
| | - Graciela M. Salum
- Instituto de Física Rosario, CONICET Universidad Nacional de RosarioRosario, Argentina
- Facultad Regional Concepción del Uruguay, Universidad Tecnológica NacionalConcepción del Uruguay, Argentina
| | - Ruben D. Piacentini
- Facultad Regional Concepción del Uruguay, Universidad Tecnológica NacionalConcepción del Uruguay, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional de RosarioRosario, Argentina
| | - María E. Farías
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICETTucumán, Argentina
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37
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Almeida-Dalmet S, Sikaroodi M, Gillevet PM, Litchfield CD, Baxter BK. Temporal Study of the Microbial Diversity of the North Arm of Great Salt Lake, Utah, U.S. Microorganisms 2015; 3:310-26. [PMID: 27682091 PMCID: PMC5023243 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms3030310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Revised: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
We employed a temporal sampling approach to understand how the microbial diversity may shift in the north arm of Great Salt Lake, Utah, U.S. To determine how variations in seasonal environmental factors affect microbial communities, length heterogeneity PCR fingerprinting was performed using consensus primers for the domain Bacteria, and the haloarchaea. The archaeal fingerprints showed similarities during 2003 and 2004, but this diversity changed during the remaining two years of the study, 2005 and 2006. We also performed molecular phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA genes of the whole microbial community to characterize the taxa in the samples. Our results indicated that in the domain, Bacteria, the Salinibacter group dominated the populations in all samplings. However, in the case of Archaea, as noted by LIBSHUFF for phylogenetic relatedness analysis, many of the temporal communities were distinct from each other, and changes in community composition did not track with environmental parameters. Around 20-23 different phylotypes, as revealed by rarefaction, predominated at different periods of the year. Some phylotypes, such as Haloquadradum, were present year-round although they changed in their abundance in different samplings, which may indicate that these species are affected by biotic factors, such as nutrients or viruses, that are independent of seasonal temperature dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Almeida-Dalmet
- Microbiome Analysis Center, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, 10900 University Blvd., Manassas, VA 20110, USA.
| | - Masoumeh Sikaroodi
- Microbiome Analysis Center, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, 10900 University Blvd., Manassas, VA 20110, USA.
| | - Patrick M Gillevet
- Microbiome Analysis Center, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, 10900 University Blvd., Manassas, VA 20110, USA.
| | - Carol D Litchfield
- Microbiome Analysis Center, Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, 10900 University Blvd., Manassas, VA 20110, USA.
| | - Bonnie K Baxter
- Great Salt Lake Institute, Westminster College, 1840 South 1300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84105, USA.
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38
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Andrei AŞ, Robeson MS, Baricz A, Coman C, Muntean V, Ionescu A, Etiope G, Alexe M, Sicora CI, Podar M, Banciu HL. Contrasting taxonomic stratification of microbial communities in two hypersaline meromictic lakes. ISME JOURNAL 2015; 9:2642-56. [PMID: 25932617 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2014] [Revised: 02/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Hypersaline meromictic lakes are extreme environments in which water stratification is associated with powerful physicochemical gradients and high salt concentrations. Furthermore, their physical stability coupled with vertical water column partitioning makes them important research model systems in microbial niche differentiation and biogeochemical cycling. Here, we compare the prokaryotic assemblages from Ursu and Fara Fund hypersaline meromictic lakes (Transylvanian Basin, Romania) in relation to their limnological factors and infer their role in elemental cycling by matching taxa to known taxon-specific biogeochemical functions. To assess the composition and structure of prokaryotic communities and the environmental factors that structure them, deep-coverage small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rDNA) amplicon sequencing, community domain-specific quantitative PCR and physicochemical analyses were performed on samples collected along depth profiles. The analyses showed that the lakes harbored multiple and diverse prokaryotic communities whose distribution mirrored the water stratification patterns. Ursu Lake was found to be dominated by Bacteria and to have a greater prokaryotic diversity than Fara Fund Lake that harbored an increased cell density and was populated mostly by Archaea within oxic strata. In spite of their contrasting diversity, the microbial populations indigenous to each lake pointed to similar physiological functions within carbon degradation and sulfate reduction. Furthermore, the taxonomy results coupled with methane detection and its stable C isotope composition indicated the presence of a yet-undescribed methanogenic group in the lakes' hypersaline monimolimnion. In addition, ultrasmall uncultivated archaeal lineages were detected in the chemocline of Fara Fund Lake, where the recently proposed Nanohaloarchaeota phylum was found to thrive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian-Ştefan Andrei
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Molecular Biology Center, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Michael S Robeson
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA.,Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Andreea Baricz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences (NIRDBS), Institute of Biological Research, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cristian Coman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences (NIRDBS), Institute of Biological Research, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vasile Muntean
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Artur Ionescu
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Giuseppe Etiope
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Mircea Alexe
- Faculty of Geography, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | - Mircea Podar
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA.,Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Horia Leonard Banciu
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Molecular Biology Center, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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39
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De novo sequences of Haloquadratum walsbyi from Lake Tyrrell, Australia, reveal a variable genomic landscape. ARCHAEA-AN INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2015; 2015:875784. [PMID: 25709557 PMCID: PMC4330952 DOI: 10.1155/2015/875784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hypersaline systems near salt saturation levels represent an extreme environment, in which organisms grow and survive near the limits of life. One of the abundant members of the microbial communities in hypersaline systems is the square archaeon, Haloquadratum walsbyi. Utilizing a short-read metagenome from Lake Tyrrell, a hypersaline ecosystem in Victoria, Australia, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of H. walsbyi to better understand the extent of variation between strains/subspecies. Results revealed that previously isolated strains/subspecies do not fully describe the complete repertoire of the genomic landscape present in H. walsbyi. Rearrangements, insertions, and deletions were observed for the Lake Tyrrell derived Haloquadratum genomes and were supported by environmental de novo sequences, including shifts in the dominant genomic landscape of the two most abundant strains. Analysis pertaining to halomucins indicated that homologs for this large protein are not a feature common for all species of Haloquadratum. Further, we analyzed ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC-type transporters) for evidence of niche partitioning between different strains/subspecies. We were able to identify unique and variable transporter subunits from all five genomes analyzed and the de novo environmental sequences, suggesting that differences in nutrient and carbon source acquisition may play a role in maintaining distinct strains/subspecies.
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40
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Yakimov MM, La Cono V, Spada GL, Bortoluzzi G, Messina E, Smedile F, Arcadi E, Borghini M, Ferrer M, Schmitt-Kopplin P, Hertkorn N, Cray JA, Hallsworth JE, Golyshin PN, Giuliano L. Microbial community of the deep-sea brine LakeKryosseawater-brine interface is active below the chaotropicity limit of life as revealed by recovery of mRNA. Environ Microbiol 2015; 17:364-82. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Violetta La Cono
- CNR; Institute for Coastal Marine Environment; Messina 98122 Italy
| | - Gina L. Spada
- CNR; Institute for Coastal Marine Environment; Messina 98122 Italy
| | | | - Enzo Messina
- CNR; Institute for Coastal Marine Environment; Messina 98122 Italy
| | | | - Erika Arcadi
- CNR; Institute for Coastal Marine Environment; Messina 98122 Italy
| | | | | | - Phillippe Schmitt-Kopplin
- Analytical BioGeoChemistry; Helmholtz Zentrum München; German Research Center for Environmental Health; Neuherberg Germany
- Analytical Food Chemistry; Technische Universität München; Freising-Weihenstephan Germany
| | - Norbert Hertkorn
- Analytical BioGeoChemistry; Helmholtz Zentrum München; German Research Center for Environmental Health; Neuherberg Germany
| | - Jonathan A. Cray
- Institute for Global Food Security; School of Biological Sciences; MBC; Queen's University Belfast; Belfast BT9 7BL Northern Ireland
| | - John E. Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security; School of Biological Sciences; MBC; Queen's University Belfast; Belfast BT9 7BL Northern Ireland
| | - Peter N. Golyshin
- School of Biological Sciences; Bangor University; Bangor Gwynedd LL57 2UW UK
| | - Laura Giuliano
- CNR; Institute for Coastal Marine Environment; Messina 98122 Italy
- Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM); MC 98000 Monaco
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41
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Wang J, Wang F, Chu L, Wang H, Zhong Z, Liu Z, Gao J, Duan H. High genetic diversity and novelty in eukaryotic plankton assemblages inhabiting saline lakes in the Qaidam basin. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112812. [PMID: 25401703 PMCID: PMC4234628 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Saline lakes are intriguing ecosystems harboring extremely productive microbial communities in spite of their extreme environmental conditions. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the genetic diversity (18S rRNA gene) of the planktonic microbial eukaryotes (nano- and picoeukaryotes) in six different inland saline lakes located in the Qaidam Basin. The novelty level are high, with about 11.23% of the whole dataset showing <90% identity to any previously reported sequence in GenBank. At least 4 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in mesosaline lakes, while up to eighteen OTUs in hypersaline lakes show very low CCM and CEM scores, indicating that these sequences are highly distantly related to any existing sequence. Most of the 18S rRNA gene sequence reads obtained in investigated mesosaline lakes is closely related to Holozoa group (48.13%), whereas Stramenopiles (26.65%) and Alveolates (10.84%) are the next most common groups. Hypersaline lakes in the Qaidam Basin are also dominated by Holozoa group, accounting for 26.65% of the total number of sequence reads. Notably, Chlorophyta group are only found in high abundance in Lake Gasikule (28.00%), whereas less represented in other hypersaline lakes such as Gahai (0.50%) and Xiaochaidan (1.15%). Further analysis show that the compositions of planktonic eukaryotic assemblages are also most variable between different sampling sites in the same lake. Out of the parameters, four show significant correlation to this CCA: altitude, calcium, sodium and potassium concentrations. Overall, this study shows important gaps in the current knowledge about planktonic microbial eukaryotes inhabiting Qaidam Basin (hyper) saline water bodies. The identified diversity and novelty patterns among eukaryotic plankton assemblages in saline lake are of great importance for understanding and interpreting their ecology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, China
- Institute of Shandong River Wetlands, Laiwu, China
| | - Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Limin Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, China
- College of Hydrology and Water Resource, Hohai University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiping Zhong
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhipei Liu
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Comparison of Artemia–bacteria associations in brines, laboratory cultures and the gut environment: a study based on Chilean hypersaline environments. Extremophiles 2014; 19:135-47. [DOI: 10.1007/s00792-014-0694-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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43
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Comparison of bacterial diversity from solar salterns and a simulated laboratory study. ANN MICROBIOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s13213-014-0944-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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44
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Zhang L, Gao G, Tang X, Shao K. Can the freshwater bacterial communities shift to the “marine-like” taxa? J Basic Microbiol 2014; 54:1264-72. [DOI: 10.1002/jobm.201300818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2013] [Accepted: 03/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing; China
| | - Guang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing China
| | - Xiangming Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing China
| | - Keqiang Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Nanjing China
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45
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Máthé I, Borsodi AK, Tóth EM, Felföldi T, Jurecska L, Krett G, Kelemen Z, Elekes E, Barkács K, Márialigeti K. Vertical physico-chemical gradients with distinct microbial communities in the hypersaline and heliothermal Lake Ursu (Sovata, Romania). Extremophiles 2014; 18:501-14. [DOI: 10.1007/s00792-014-0633-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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46
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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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47
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Farías ME, Contreras M, Rasuk MC, Kurth D, Flores MR, Poiré DG, Novoa F, Visscher PT. Characterization of bacterial diversity associated with microbial mats, gypsum evaporites and carbonate microbialites in thalassic wetlands: Tebenquiche and La Brava, Salar de Atacama, Chile. Extremophiles 2014; 18:311-29. [DOI: 10.1007/s00792-013-0617-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/05/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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48
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Paraneeiswaran A, Shukla SK, Subba Rao T, Prashanth K. Removal of toxic Co-EDTA complex by a halophilic solar-salt-pan isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa SPB-1. CHEMOSPHERE 2014; 95:503-510. [PMID: 24183626 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.09.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2013] [Revised: 09/12/2013] [Accepted: 09/26/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a promising bioremediation approach was developed to remove [Co(III)-EDTA](-) complex that is generated during the waste management process. Though several studies have been reported on bioremediation of cobalt, the removal of [Co(III)-EDTA](-) complex has not been tested. A [Co(III)-EDTA](-) resistant bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa SPB-1 was isolated from the solar-salt-pan and physical parameters were optimized for its growth. The various studies showed that the removal of [Co(III)-EDTA](-) from the bulk liquid was due to the adsorption of the complex by the biomass. Using absorption/desorption isotherm over a range of pH (1-8), the maximum adsorption of [Co(III)-EDTA](-) was found to be at pH 7.0 and maximum desorption from the biomass occurred at pH 1.0, thus rendering an ion exchange property to P. aeruginosa SPB-1 biomass. P. aeruginosa SPB-1 biomass could be used as bio-resin that showed 80.4±3.27% adsorption capacity up to fourth cycle and the biomass was viable till the ninth cycle with 10.5±7.3% adsorption. Radiation tolerance potential i.e. D10 value for the strain was found to be ~300 Gy, which suggests the potential use of the bacterium in bioremediation of moderately active nuclear waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Paraneeiswaran
- Departartment of Biotechnology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
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49
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Dillon JG, Carlin M, Gutierrez A, Nguyen V, McLain N. Patterns of microbial diversity along a salinity gradient in the Guerrero Negro solar saltern, Baja CA Sur, Mexico. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:399. [PMID: 24391633 PMCID: PMC3868825 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The goal of this study was to use environmental sequencing of 16S rRNA and bop genes to compare the diversity of planktonic bacteria and archaea across ponds with increasing salinity in the Exportadora de Sal (ESSA) evaporative saltern in Guerrero Negro, Baja CA S., Mexico. We hypothesized that diverse communities of heterotrophic bacteria and archaea would be found in the ESSA ponds, but that bacterial diversity would decrease relative to archaea at the highest salinities. Archaeal 16S rRNA diversity was higher in Ponds 11 and 12 (370 and 380 g l(-1) total salts, respectively) compared to Pond 9 (180 g l(-1) total salts). Both Pond 11 and 12 communities had high representation (47 and 45% of clones, respectively) by Haloquadratum walsbyi-like (99% similarity) lineages. The archaeal community in Pond 9 was dominated (79%) by a single uncultured phylotype with 99% similarity to sequences recovered from the Sfax saltern in Tunisia. This pattern was mirrored in bop gene diversity with greater numbers of highly supported phylotypes including many Haloquadratum-like sequences from the two highest salinity ponds. In Pond 9, most bop sequences, were not closely related to sequences in databases. Bacterial 16S rRNA diversity was higher than archaeal in both Pond 9 and Pond 12 samples, but not Pond 11, where a non-Salinibacter lineage within the Bacteroidetes >98% similar to environmental clones recovered from Lake Tuz in Turkey and a saltern in Chula Vista, CA was most abundant (69% of community). This OTU was also the most abundant in Pond 12, but only represented 14% of clones in the more diverse pond. The most abundant OTU in Pond 9 (33% of community) was 99% similar to an uncultured gammaproteobacterial clone from the Salton Sea. Results suggest that the communities of saltern bacteria and archaea vary even in ponds with similar salinity and further investigation into the ecology of diverse, uncultured halophile communities is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse G Dillon
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Mark Carlin
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Abraham Gutierrez
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Vivian Nguyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Nathan McLain
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University Long Beach, CA, USA
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50
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Seasonal fluctuations in ionic concentrations drive microbial succession in a hypersaline lake community. ISME JOURNAL 2013; 8:979-90. [PMID: 24335829 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2013.221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 11/10/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Microbial community succession was examined over a two-year period using spatially and temporally coordinated water chemistry measurements, metagenomic sequencing, phylogenetic binning and de novo metagenomic assembly in the extreme hypersaline habitat of Lake Tyrrell, Victoria, Australia. Relative abundances of Haloquadratum-related sequences were positively correlated with co-varying concentrations of potassium, magnesium and sulfate, but not sodium, chloride or calcium ions, while relative abundances of Halorubrum, Haloarcula, Halonotius, Halobaculum and Salinibacter-related sequences correlated negatively with Haloquadratum and these same ionic factors. Nanohaloarchaea and Halorhabdus-related sequence abundances were inversely correlated with each other, but not other taxonomic groups. These data, along with predicted gene functions from nearly-complete assembled population metagenomes, suggest different ecological phenotypes for Nanohaloarchaea and Halorhabdus-related strains versus other community members. Nucleotide percent G+C compositions were consistently lower in community metagenomic reads from summer versus winter samples. The same seasonal G+C trends were observed within taxonomically binned read subsets from each of seven different genus-level archaeal groups. Relative seasonal abundances were also linked to percent G+C for assembled population genomes. Together, these data suggest that extreme ionic conditions may exert selective pressure on archaeal populations at the level of genomic nucleotide composition, thus contributing to seasonal successional processes. Despite the unavailability of cultured representatives for most of the organisms identified in this study, effective coordination of physical and biological measurements has enabled discovery and quantification of unexpected taxon-specific, environmentally mediated factors influencing microbial community structure.
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