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Claudia MV, Javiera AA, Sebastián NS, José FR, Gloria L. Interplay between desiccation and oxidative stress responses in iron-oxidizing acidophilic bacteria. J Biotechnol 2024; 383:64-72. [PMID: 38311245 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Variations in water availability represent a foremost stress factor affecting the growth and survival of microorganisms. Acidophilic bioleaching bacteria are industrially applied for releasing metals from mineral sulphides, and they are considered extremely tolerant to oxidative conditions prevailing in acidic bioleaching environments. Such processes usually are performed in heaps and thus these microorganisms are also exposed to intermittent desiccations or high osmolarity periods that reduce the water availability. However, the tolerance to water stress and the molecular basis of adaptation to it are still largely unknown. The aim of this work was to determine the cellular response to desiccation stress and establish its relationship to oxidative stress response in the acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans ATCC 23270 and Leptospirillum ferriphilum DSM 14647. Results showed that the exposure of cell cultures to desiccation (0-120 min) led to a significant reduction in cell growth, and to an increase in content in reactive oxygen species in both bacteria. However, Leptospirillum ferriphilum turned out to be more tolerant than Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. In addition, the pre-treatment of the cell cultures with compatible solutes (trehalose and ectoine), and antioxidants (glutathione and cobalamin) restored all stress parameters to levels exhibited by the control cultures. To evaluate the role of the osmotic and redox homeostasis mechanisms in coping with desiccation stress, the relative expression of a set of selected genes was approached by RT-qPCR experiments in cells exposed to desiccation for 30 min. Results showed a generalized upregulation of genes that code for mechanosensitive channels, and enzymes related to the biosynthesis of compatible solutes and oxidative stress response in both bacteria. These data suggest that acidophiles show variable tolerance to desiccation and allow to establish that water stress can trigger oxidative stress, and thus anti-oxidative protection capability can be a relevant mechanism when cells are challenged by desiccation or other anhydrobiosis states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muñoz-Villagrán Claudia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 3363, Chile
| | - Acevedo-Arbunic Javiera
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 3363, Chile
| | - Navarro-Salazar Sebastián
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 3363, Chile
| | - Fuentes-Rubio José
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 3363, Chile
| | - Levicán Gloria
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Chemistry and Biology, University of Santiago of Chile (USACH), Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 3363, Chile.
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2
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Gomes P, Valente T. Seasonal impact of acid mine drainage on water quality and potential ecological risk in an old sulfide exploitation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:21124-21135. [PMID: 38388972 PMCID: PMC10948584 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32367-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Sulfides are usually associated with deposits of metals and coal. The reactive wastes from their exploitation, typically stored in piles and tailings dams, are often the mining sector's primary source of environmental problems. The surrounding river waters can present signs of acid mine drainage, responsible for aquatic ecosystem degradation. So, the main target of the present study is to investigate the impact of this process on the water's environmental quality and potential ecological risk. The study area is located at the Iberian Pyrite Belt, in an old sulfide exploitation, closed without environmental rehabilitation measures. The results exhibit high sulfate concentrations (410,601 mg/L) and potentially toxic elements, with prominence of Fe (134,000 mg/L), overcoming many other extreme cases of AMD pollution. The Ficklin diagram exposes that most samples are classified as "high-acid, high-metal." Two of them have extreme classifications (high-acid, extreme-metal). The pH value is well below the acceptable range for the environmental quality of superficial waters (5-7), measuring at a minimum of 0.84. Regarding seasonal variability, the study showed a higher degree of contamination in dry conditions (e.g., 4,420 mg/L of Cu), while the rainy month had lower concentrations of PTE (186.8 mg/L of Cu for the same sampling point). In addition, the water does not accomplish the environmental objectives established by the EU Water Framework Directive. According to the new approach developed based on a scale adjustment, the potential ecological risk index studied indicates that most sampled sites present strong, very strong, and even extremely potential ecological risk. With a typical Mediterranean climate, the region suffers from water scarcity, predicting increasingly in the future more degrading scenarios for water environmental quality. Consequently, urgent mitigation and remediation measures are necessary to improve and preserve water quality and fulfill the objectives of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Gomes
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Pole of University of Minho, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Teresa Valente
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Pole of University of Minho, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
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3
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Price A, Macey MC, Pearson VK, Schwenzer SP, Ramkissoon NK, Olsson-Francis K. Oligotrophic Growth of Nitrate-Dependent Fe 2+-Oxidising Microorganisms Under Simulated Early Martian Conditions. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:800219. [PMID: 35418959 PMCID: PMC8997339 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.800219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrate-dependent Fe2+ oxidation (NDFO) is a microbially mediated process observed in many anaerobic, low-nutrient (oligotrophic) neutral-alkaline environments on Earth, which describes oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ in tandem with microbial nitrate reduction. Evidence suggests that similar environments existed on Mars during the Noachian epoch (4.1-3.7 Ga) and in periodic, localised environments more recently, indicating that NDFO metabolism could have played a role in a potential early martian biosphere. In this paper, three NDFO microorganisms, Acidovorax sp. strain BoFeN1, Pseudogulbenkiania sp. strain 2002 and Paracoccus sp. strain KS1, were assessed for their ability to grow oligotrophically in simulated martian brines and in a minimal medium with olivine as a solid Fe2+ source. These simulant-derived media were developed from modelled fluids based on the geochemistry of Mars sample locations at Rocknest (contemporary Mars soil), Paso Robles (sulphur-rich soil), Haematite Slope (haematite-rich soil) and a Shergottite meteorite (common basalt). The Shergottite medium was able to support growth of all three organisms, while the contemporary Mars medium supported growth of Acidovorax sp. strain BoFeN1 and Pseudogulbenkiania sp. strain 2002; however, growth was not accompanied by significant Fe2+ oxidation. Each of the strains was also able to grow in oligotrophic minimal media with olivine as the sole Fe2+ source. Biomineralised cells of Pseudogulbenkiania sp. strain 2002 were identified on the surface of the olivine, representing a potential biosignature for NDFO microorganisms in martian samples. The results suggest that NDFO microorganisms could have thrived in early martian groundwaters under oligotrophic conditions, depending on the local lithology. This can guide missions in identifying palaeoenvironments of interest for biosignature detection. Indeed, biomineralised cells identified on the olivine surface provide a previously unexplored mechanism for the preservation of morphological biosignatures in the martian geological record.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Price
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Michael C. Macey
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria K. Pearson
- School of Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne P. Schwenzer
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Nisha K. Ramkissoon
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Olsson-Francis
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
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4
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Sánchez-Andrea I, van der Graaf CM, Hornung B, Bale NJ, Jarzembowska M, Sousa DZ, Rijpstra WIC, Sinninghe Damsté JS, Stams AJM. Acetate Degradation at Low pH by the Moderately Acidophilic Sulfate Reducer Acididesulfobacillus acetoxydans gen. nov. sp. nov. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:816605. [PMID: 35391737 PMCID: PMC8982180 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.816605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In acid drainage environments, biosulfidogenesis by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) attenuates the extreme conditions by enabling the precipitation of metals as their sulfides, and the neutralization of acidity through proton consumption. So far, only a handful of moderately acidophilic SRB species have been described, most of which are merely acidotolerant. Here, a novel species within a novel genus of moderately acidophilic SRB is described, Acididesulfobacillus acetoxydans gen. nov. sp. nov. strain INE, able to grow at pH 3.8. Bioreactor studies with strain INE at optimum (5.0) and low (3.9) pH for growth showed that strain INE alkalinized its environment, and that this was more pronounced at lower pH. These studies also showed the capacity of strain INE to completely oxidize organic acids to CO2, which is uncommon among acidophilic SRB. Since organic acids are mainly in their protonated form at low pH, which increases their toxicity, their complete oxidation may be an acid stress resistance mechanism. Comparative proteogenomic and membrane lipid analysis further indicated that the presence of saturated ether-bound lipids in the membrane, and their relative increase at lower pH, was a protection mechanism against acid stress. Interestingly, other canonical acid stress resistance mechanisms, such as a Donnan potential and increased active charge transport, did not appear to be active.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Sánchez-Andrea
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Irene Sánchez-Andrea,
| | | | - Bastian Hornung
- Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Nicole J. Bale
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, Netherlands
| | - Monika Jarzembowska
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Diana Z. Sousa
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - W. Irene C. Rijpstra
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, Netherlands
| | - Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, Netherlands
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Alfons J. M. Stams
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
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5
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Abramov SM, Straub D, Tejada J, Grimm L, Schädler F, Bulaev A, Thorwarth H, Amils R, Kappler A, Kleindienst S. Biogeochemical Niches of Fe-Cycling Communities Influencing Heavy Metal Transport along the Rio Tinto, Spain. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0229021. [PMID: 34910570 PMCID: PMC8863065 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02290-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In the mining-impacted Rio Tinto, Spain, Fe-cycling microorganisms influence the transport of heavy metals (HMs) into the Atlantic Ocean. However, it remains largely unknown how spatial and temporal hydrogeochemical gradients along the Rio Tinto shape the composition of Fe-cycling microbial communities and how this in turn affects HM mobility. Using a combination of DNA- and RNA-based 16S rRNA (gene) amplicon sequencing and hydrogeochemical analyses, we explored the impact of pH, Fe(III), Fe(II), and Cl- on Fe-cycling microorganisms. We showed that the water column at the acidic (pH 2.2) middle course of the river was colonized by Fe(II) oxidizers affiliated with Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum. At the upper estuary, daily fluctuations of pH (2.7 to 3.7) and Cl- (6.9 to 16.6 g/L) contributed to the establishment of a unique microbial community, including Fe(II) oxidizers belonging to Acidihalobacter, Marinobacter, and Mariprofundus, identified at this site. Furthermore, DNA- and RNA-based profiles of the benthic community suggested that acidophilic and neutrophilic Fe(II) oxidizers (e.g., Acidihalobacter, Marinobacter, and Mariprofundus), Fe(III) reducers (e.g., Thermoanaerobaculum), and sulfate-reducing bacteria drive the Fe cycle in the estuarine sediments. RNA-based relative abundances of Leptospirillum at the middle course as well as abundances of Acidihalobacter and Mariprofundus at the upper estuary were higher than DNA-based results, suggesting a potentially higher level of activity of these taxa. Based on our findings, we propose a model of how tidal water affects the composition and activity of the Fe-cycling taxa, playing an important role in the transport of HMs (e.g., As, Cd, Cr, and Pb) along the Rio Tinto. IMPORTANCE The estuary of the Rio Tinto is a unique environment in which extremely acidic, heavy metal-rich, and especially iron-rich river water is mixed with seawater. Due to the mixing events, the estuarine water is characterized by a low pH, almost seawater salinity, and high concentrations of bioavailable iron. The unusual hydrogeochemistry maintains unique microbial communities in the estuarine water and in the sediment. These communities include halotolerant iron-oxidizing microorganisms which typically inhabit acidic saline environments and marine iron-oxidizing microorganisms which, in contrast, are not typically found in acidic environments. Furthermore, highly saline estuarine water favored the prosperity of acidophilic heterotrophs, typically inhabiting brackish and saline environments. The Rio Tinto estuarine sediment harbors a diverse microbial community with both acidophilic and neutrophilic members that can mediate the iron cycle and, in turn, can directly impact the mobility and transport of heavy metals in the Rio Tinto estuary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey M. Abramov
- Microbial Ecology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Geomicrobiology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Daniel Straub
- Microbial Ecology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Quantitative Biology Center, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Julian Tejada
- University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg, Rottenburg am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Lars Grimm
- Geomicrobiology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Franziska Schädler
- Microbial Ecology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Geomicrobiology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Aleksandr Bulaev
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Harald Thorwarth
- University of Applied Forest Sciences Rottenburg, Rottenburg am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Centre for Molecular Biology Severo Ochoa, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Andreas Kappler
- Geomicrobiology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence EXC 2124, Controlling Microbes to Fight Infection, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Sara Kleindienst
- Microbial Ecology, Center for Applied Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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6
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Huang Y, Li XT, Jiang Z, Liang ZL, Wang P, Liu ZH, Li LZ, Yin HQ, Jia Y, Huang ZS, Liu SJ, Jiang CY. Key Factors Governing Microbial Community in Extremely Acidic Mine Drainage (pH <3). Front Microbiol 2021; 12:761579. [PMID: 34917049 PMCID: PMC8670003 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.761579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The microbial community of acid mine drainage (AMD) fascinates researchers by their adaption and roles in shaping the environment. Molecular surveys have recently helped to enhance the understanding of the distribution, adaption strategy, and ecological function of microbial communities in extreme AMD environments. However, the interactions between the environment and microbial community of extremely acidic AMD (pH <3) from different mining areas kept unanswered questions. Here, we measured physicochemical parameters and profiled the microbial community of AMD collected from four mining areas with different mineral types to provide a better understanding of biogeochemical processes within the extremely acidic water environment. The prominent physicochemical differences across the four mining areas were in SO42−, metal ions, and temperature, and distinct microbial diversity and community assemblages were also discovered in these areas. Mg2+ and SO42− were the predominant factors determining the microbial structure and prevalence of dominant taxa in AMD. Leptospirillum, Ferroplasma, and Acidithiobacillus were abundant but showed different occurrence patterns in AMD from different mining areas. More diverse communities and functional redundancy were identified in AMD of polymetallic mining areas compared with AMD of copper mining areas. Functional prediction revealed iron, sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon metabolisms driven by microorganisms were significantly correlated with Mg2+ and SO42−, Ca2+, temperature, and Fe2+, which distinguish microbial communities of copper mine AMD from that of polymetallic mine AMD. In summary, microbial diversity, composition, and metabolic potential were mainly shaped by Mg2+ and SO42− concentrations of AMD, suggesting that the substrate concentrations may contribute to the distinct microbiological profiles of AMD from different mining areas. These findings highlight the microbial community structure in extremely acidic AMD forming by types of minerals and the interactions of physicochemical parameters and microbiology, providing more clues of the microbial ecological function and adaptation mechanisms in the extremely acidic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiu-Tong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zong-Lin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng-Hua Liu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liang-Zhi Li
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hua-Qun Yin
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Jia
- National Engineering Laboratory for Hydrometallurgical Cleaner Production Technology, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong-Sheng Huang
- Zijin Mining Group Company Limited, Fujian, China.,School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuang-Jiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng-Ying Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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7
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Bashir AK, Wink L, Duller S, Schwendner P, Cockell C, Rettberg P, Mahnert A, Beblo-Vranesevic K, Bohmeier M, Rabbow E, Gaboyer F, Westall F, Walter N, Cabezas P, Garcia-Descalzo L, Gomez F, Malki M, Amils R, Ehrenfreund P, Monaghan E, Vannier P, Marteinsson V, Erlacher A, Tanski G, Strauss J, Bashir M, Riedo A, Moissl-Eichinger C. Taxonomic and functional analyses of intact microbial communities thriving in extreme, astrobiology-relevant, anoxic sites. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:50. [PMID: 33602336 PMCID: PMC7893877 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00989-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extreme terrestrial, analogue environments are widely used models to study the limits of life and to infer habitability of extraterrestrial settings. In contrast to Earth's ecosystems, potential extraterrestrial biotopes are usually characterized by a lack of oxygen. METHODS In the MASE project (Mars Analogues for Space Exploration), we selected representative anoxic analogue environments (permafrost, salt-mine, acidic lake and river, sulfur springs) for the comprehensive analysis of their microbial communities. We assessed the microbiome profile of intact cells by propidium monoazide-based amplicon and shotgun metagenome sequencing, supplemented with an extensive cultivation effort. RESULTS The information retrieved from microbiome analyses on the intact microbial community thriving in the MASE sites, together with the isolation of 31 model microorganisms and successful binning of 15 high-quality genomes allowed us to observe principle pathways, which pinpoint specific microbial functions in the MASE sites compared to moderate environments. The microorganisms were characterized by an impressive machinery to withstand physical and chemical pressures. All levels of our analyses revealed the strong and omnipresent dependency of the microbial communities on complex organic matter. Moreover, we identified an extremotolerant cosmopolitan group of 34 poly-extremophiles thriving in all sites. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal the presence of a core microbiome and microbial taxonomic similarities between saline and acidic anoxic environments. Our work further emphasizes the importance of the environmental, terrestrial parameters for the functionality of a microbial community, but also reveals a high proportion of living microorganisms in extreme environments with a high adaptation potential within habitability borders. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Kristin Bashir
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Wink
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Stefanie Duller
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Petra Schwendner
- UK Center for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Charles Cockell
- UK Center for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Mahnert
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Maria Bohmeier
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Elke Rabbow
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Frederic Gaboyer
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherché Scientifique (CNRS), Orléans, France
| | - Frances Westall
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherché Scientifique (CNRS), Orléans, France
| | | | | | - Laura Garcia-Descalzo
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial – Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CAB), Madrid, Spain
| | - Felipe Gomez
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial – Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CAB), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mustapha Malki
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Euan Monaghan
- Leiden Observatory, Universiteit Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Viggo Marteinsson
- MATIS, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Armin Erlacher
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - George Tanski
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Periglacial Research Unit, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jens Strauss
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Periglacial Research Unit, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mina Bashir
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Riedo
- Sackler Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Moissl-Eichinger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed, Graz, Austria
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8
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Aszalós JM, Szabó A, Felföldi T, Jurecska L, Nagy B, Borsodi AK. Effects of Active Volcanism on Bacterial Communities in the Highest-Altitude Crater Lake of Ojos del Salado (Dry Andes, Altiplano-Atacama Region). ASTROBIOLOGY 2020; 20:741-753. [PMID: 32525737 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2018.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Periglacial and volcanic environments are considered terrestrial analogs of Mars with regard to astrobiological characteristics due to their specific set of extreme features. Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano on Earth (6893 m a.s.l.), is surrounded by several craters, one of which harbors the highest known altitude lake (6480 m a.s.l.), which is influenced by a rare combination of extreme environmental factors, that is, low mean temperature, permafrost, fumarolic activity, acidity, and extreme low organic matter content. To assess the genetic diversity and ecological tolerance of bacteria, samples were taken in February 2016 from the sediments covered with acidic cold (pH 4.88, 3.8°C) and warm (pH 2.08, 40.8°C) water. As a control, a nonvolcanic high-altitude lake (at 5900 m a.s.l.) was also studied by both cultivation-based and next-generation DNA sequencing methods. Isolates from the crater lake showed tolerance toward acidic pH values, unlike isolates from the nonvolcanic lake. Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene exposed simplified, although characteristically different, bacterial communities in the warm and cold water-saturated sediments. In the fumarolic creek sediments, acidophilic iron oxidizers (Ferrithrix, Gallionella) and iron reducers (Acidiphilium) were abundant, and bacteria involved in the sulfur oxidation (Hydrogenobaculum, Thiomonas) and reduction (Desulfosporosinus) were also detected. Therefore, we propose an integrated model that addresses the potential role of bacteria in the sulfur and iron geomicrobiological cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Attila Szabó
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Felföldi
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Laura Jurecska
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balázs Nagy
- Department of Physical Geography, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea K Borsodi
- Department of Microbiology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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9
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Gomes P, Valente T, Geraldo D, Ribeiro C. Photosynthetic pigments in acid mine drainage: Seasonal patterns and associations with stressful abiotic characteristics. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 239:124774. [PMID: 31521937 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Acid mine drainage represents an extreme type of water pollution. The environments develop especial hydrochemical and ecological characteristics, such as high concentrations of acidity and low biodiversity, with dominance of acidophilic organisms. Ecological criteria are assuming increasing relevance for assessing water quality, including in acid mine drainage-affected systems. Photosynthetic pigments, like chlorophyll, could be considered in this context as they are generally used to estimate phytoplankton biomass. The present work was focused on acid mine drainage and their relationships with chlorophyll a. It was developed in the historic mine of São Domingos (Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Europe). The methodological approach comprised two sampling campaigns (October and February) to represent seasonal behaviour. The diversity of hydrological conditions was also considered through sampling sites established in the pit lake, acidic lagoons and affected stream. Hydrochemistry and chlorophyll a were analysed. The obtained results revealed very low pH values, with a minimum of 2.1. In general, hydrochemistry indicates higher concentrations of pollutants in summer. One of the sampling point, located in an acidic lagoon, stood out by highest concentrations, presenting maximum of sulfate (6564 mg/L), As (6.26 mg/L), and metals like Al (675 mg/L), Cd (1,30 mg/L), Zn (199 mg/L). These highest concentrations coincided with the maximum concentration of chlorophyll a (113 μg/L). The results suggested that the more contaminated the environment, more chlorophyll a was produced. Factor analyses emphasised the relationships between acid drainage properties and the photosynthetic activity, indicating a strong pH dependency of chlorophyll a production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Gomes
- ICT, Institute of Earth Sciences, Pole of University of Minho, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Teresa Valente
- ICT, Institute of Earth Sciences, Pole of University of Minho, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Dulce Geraldo
- Chemistry Center, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Catarina Ribeiro
- Chemistry Center, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
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10
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Fomchenko NV, Muravyov MI. Two-step biohydrometallurgical technology of copper-zinc concentrate processing as an opportunity to reduce negative impacts on the environment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 226:270-277. [PMID: 30121463 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Polymetallic concentrates obtained during ore beneficiation pose a significant problem for the mining and metallurgy industry due to an increase in load on subsequent comminution steps and a high loss of metals in slag during smelting. Storage of such slag can lead to pollution of groundwater due to weathering. Biohydrometallurgy is an option for the processing of sulfidic raw materials that has a low impact on the environment. Processing of sulfidic concentrates of copper-zinc ore via bioleaching techniques was studied in this paper. Three mixed microbial cultures of acidophilic microorganisms were enriched from industrial mining sites: two autotrophic mesophilic cultures containing Acidithiobacillus ferroxidans and Leptospirillum spp. (grown at 30 and 35 °C), and a mixotrophic moderate thermophilic culture containing Sulfobacillus thermotolerans, Leptospirillum ferriphilum, as well as the archaea Ferroplasma acidiphilum and Acidiplasma spp. (grown at 40 °C). The autotrophic microbial culture growing at 30 °C was used to generate an iron-containing biosolution for ferric leaching of a copper-zinc concentrate. Zinc and iron extracted into solution faster than copper during high-temperature (80 °C) ferric leaching of the concentrate due to galvanic interactions between minerals, redox conditions of the medium, and differences between mineral oxidation mechanisms. Weight loss of the leach residue was 34.0%, with relative copper content increased by 1.0%, zinc content decreased by 6.18%, and iron content decreased by 15.1%. Biooxidation of ferrous iron in the pregnant leach solution by three microbial cultures was also studied. The most effective culture was moderate thermophilic. The results of studies on the bioregeneration of leaching solutions are relevant to the development of a two-step biohydrometallurgical technology for processing of copper-zinc concentrate with a closed cycle of technological flows. The ferrous iron biooxidation rate by the moderate thermophilic culture reached 20 g L-1 day-1. The leach residue obtained can be considered a high-grade copper concentrate able to be processed via smelting. This bioleaching process would make it possible to reduce pollution of groundwater by some toxic metals stored in slags. An environmentally friendly technology flow sheet for copper-zinc sulfidic ore processing using two-step bioleaching treatment was proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya V Fomchenko
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Ave., 33, Bld. 2, Moscow, 119071, Russia.
| | - Maxim I Muravyov
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Ave., 33, Bld. 2, Moscow, 119071, Russia
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11
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Puyol D, Batstone DJ, Hülsen T, Astals S, Peces M, Krömer JO. Resource Recovery from Wastewater by Biological Technologies: Opportunities, Challenges, and Prospects. Front Microbiol 2017; 7:2106. [PMID: 28111567 PMCID: PMC5216025 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.02106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Limits in resource availability are driving a change in current societal production systems, changing the focus from residues treatment, such as wastewater treatment, toward resource recovery. Biotechnological processes offer an economic and versatile way to concentrate and transform resources from waste/wastewater into valuable products, which is a prerequisite for the technological development of a cradle-to-cradle bio-based economy. This review identifies emerging technologies that enable resource recovery across the wastewater treatment cycle. As such, bioenergy in the form of biohydrogen (by photo and dark fermentation processes) and biogas (during anaerobic digestion processes) have been classic targets, whereby, direct transformation of lipidic biomass into biodiesel also gained attention. This concept is similar to previous biofuel concepts, but more sustainable, as third generation biofuels and other resources can be produced from waste biomass. The production of high value biopolymers (e.g., for bioplastics manufacturing) from organic acids, hydrogen, and methane is another option for carbon recovery. The recovery of carbon and nutrients can be achieved by organic fertilizer production, or single cell protein generation (depending on the source) which may be utilized as feed, feed additives, next generation fertilizers, or even as probiotics. Additionlly, chemical oxidation-reduction and bioelectrochemical systems can recover inorganics or synthesize organic products beyond the natural microbial metabolism. Anticipating the next generation of wastewater treatment plants driven by biological recovery technologies, this review is focused on the generation and re-synthesis of energetic resources and key resources to be recycled as raw materials in a cradle-to-cradle economy concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Puyol
- Group of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Experimental Sciences and Technology, King Juan Carlos UniversityMostoles, Spain
| | - Damien J. Batstone
- Advanced Water Management Centre, University of Queensland, BrisbaneQLD, Australia
- CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, ClaytonVIC, Australia
| | - Tim Hülsen
- Advanced Water Management Centre, University of Queensland, BrisbaneQLD, Australia
- CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, ClaytonVIC, Australia
| | - Sergi Astals
- Advanced Water Management Centre, University of Queensland, BrisbaneQLD, Australia
| | - Miriam Peces
- Centre for Solid Waste Bioprocessing, School of Civil Engineering, University of Queensland, BrisbaneQLD, Australia
| | - Jens O. Krömer
- Advanced Water Management Centre, University of Queensland, BrisbaneQLD, Australia
- Centre for Microbial Electrochemical Systems, University of Queensland, BrisbaneQLD, Australia
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12
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Domagal-Goldman SD, Wright KE, Adamala K, Arina de la Rubia L, Bond J, Dartnell LR, Goldman AD, Lynch K, Naud ME, Paulino-Lima IG, Singer K, Walther-Antonio M, Abrevaya XC, Anderson R, Arney G, Atri D, Azúa-Bustos A, Bowman JS, Brazelton WJ, Brennecka GA, Carns R, Chopra A, Colangelo-Lillis J, Crockett CJ, DeMarines J, Frank EA, Frantz C, de la Fuente E, Galante D, Glass J, Gleeson D, Glein CR, Goldblatt C, Horak R, Horodyskyj L, Kaçar B, Kereszturi A, Knowles E, Mayeur P, McGlynn S, Miguel Y, Montgomery M, Neish C, Noack L, Rugheimer S, Stüeken EE, Tamez-Hidalgo P, Imari Walker S, Wong T. The Astrobiology Primer v2.0. ASTROBIOLOGY 2016; 16:561-653. [PMID: 27532777 PMCID: PMC5008114 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2015.1460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shawn D Domagal-Goldman
- 1 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- 2 Virtual Planetary Laboratory , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Katherine E Wright
- 3 University of Colorado at Boulder , Colorado, USA
- 4 Present address: UK Space Agency, UK
| | - Katarzyna Adamala
- 5 Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Jade Bond
- 7 Department of Physics, University of New South Wales , Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Kennda Lynch
- 10 Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana , Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Marie-Eve Naud
- 11 Institute for research on exoplanets (iREx) , Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Ivan G Paulino-Lima
- 12 Universities Space Research Association , Mountain View, California, USA
- 13 Blue Marble Space Institute of Science , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kelsi Singer
- 14 Southwest Research Institute , Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Ximena C Abrevaya
- 16 Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio (IAFE) , UBA-CONICET, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rika Anderson
- 17 Department of Biology, Carleton College , Northfield, Minnesota, USA
| | - Giada Arney
- 18 University of Washington Astronomy Department and Astrobiology Program , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Dimitra Atri
- 13 Blue Marble Space Institute of Science , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Jeff S Bowman
- 19 Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University , Palisades, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Regina Carns
- 22 Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Aditya Chopra
- 23 Planetary Science Institute, Research School of Earth Sciences, Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Australian National University , Canberra, Australia
| | - Jesse Colangelo-Lillis
- 24 Earth and Planetary Science, McGill University , and the McGill Space Institute, Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Julia DeMarines
- 13 Blue Marble Space Institute of Science , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Carie Frantz
- 27 Department of Geosciences, Weber State University , Ogden, Utah, USA
| | - Eduardo de la Fuente
- 28 IAM-Departamento de Fisica, CUCEI , Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
| | - Douglas Galante
- 29 Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory , Campinas, Brazil
| | - Jennifer Glass
- 30 School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia , USA
| | | | | | - Colin Goldblatt
- 33 School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria , Victoria, Canada
| | - Rachel Horak
- 34 American Society for Microbiology , Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Betül Kaçar
- 36 Harvard University , Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Akos Kereszturi
- 37 Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences , Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Emily Knowles
- 38 Johnson & Wales University , Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Paul Mayeur
- 39 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute , Troy, New York, USA
| | - Shawn McGlynn
- 40 Earth Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology , Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yamila Miguel
- 41 Laboratoire Lagrange, UMR 7293, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis , CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | | | - Catherine Neish
- 43 Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Ontario , London, Canada
| | - Lena Noack
- 44 Royal Observatory of Belgium , Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sarah Rugheimer
- 45 Department of Astronomy, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- 46 University of St. Andrews , St. Andrews, UK
| | - Eva E Stüeken
- 47 University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
- 48 University of California , Riverside, California, USA
| | | | - Sara Imari Walker
- 13 Blue Marble Space Institute of Science , Seattle, Washington, USA
- 50 School of Earth and Space Exploration and Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Teresa Wong
- 51 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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13
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Méndez-García C, Peláez AI, Mesa V, Sánchez J, Golyshina OV, Ferrer M. Microbial diversity and metabolic networks in acid mine drainage habitats. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:475. [PMID: 26074887 PMCID: PMC4448039 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid mine drainage (AMD) emplacements are low-complexity natural systems. Low-pH conditions appear to be the main factor underlying the limited diversity of the microbial populations thriving in these environments, although temperature, ionic composition, total organic carbon, and dissolved oxygen are also considered to significantly influence their microbial life. This natural reduction in diversity driven by extreme conditions was reflected in several studies on the microbial populations inhabiting the various micro-environments present in such ecosystems. Early studies based on the physiology of the autochthonous microbiota and the growing success of omics-based methodologies have enabled a better understanding of microbial ecology and function in low-pH mine outflows; however, complementary omics-derived data should be included to completely describe their microbial ecology. Furthermore, recent updates on the distribution of eukaryotes and archaea recovered through sterile filtering (herein referred to as filterable fraction) in these environments demand their inclusion in the microbial characterization of AMD systems. In this review, we present a complete overview of the bacterial, archaeal (including filterable fraction), and eukaryotic diversity in these ecosystems, and include a thorough depiction of the metabolism and element cycling in AMD habitats. We also review different metabolic network structures at the organismal level, which is necessary to disentangle the role of each member of the AMD communities described thus far.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana I. Peláez
- Department of Functional Biology-IUBA, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain
| | - Victoria Mesa
- Department of Functional Biology-IUBA, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain
| | - Jesús Sánchez
- Department of Functional Biology-IUBA, Universidad de OviedoOviedo, Spain
| | | | - Manuel Ferrer
- Department of Applied Biocatalysis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Institute of CatalysisMadrid, Spain
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Microbial stratification in low pH oxic and suboxic macroscopic growths along an acid mine drainage. ISME JOURNAL 2014; 8:1259-74. [PMID: 24430486 PMCID: PMC4030236 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2013.242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Revised: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Macroscopic growths at geographically separated acid mine drainages (AMDs) exhibit distinct populations. Yet, local heterogeneities are poorly understood. To gain novel mechanistic insights into this, we used OMICs tools to profile microbial populations coexisting in a single pyrite gallery AMD (pH ∼2) in three distinct compartments: two from a stratified streamer (uppermost oxic and lowermost anoxic sediment-attached strata) and one from a submerged anoxic non-stratified mat biofilm. The communities colonising pyrite and those in the mature formations appear to be populated by the greatest diversity of bacteria and archaea (including ‘ARMAN' (archaeal Richmond Mine acidophilic nano-organisms)-related), as compared with the known AMD, with ∼44.9% unclassified sequences. We propose that the thick polymeric matrix may provide a safety shield against the prevailing extreme condition and also a massive carbon source, enabling non-typical acidophiles to develop more easily. Only 1 of 39 species were shared, suggesting a high metabolic heterogeneity in local microenvironments, defined by the O2 concentration, spatial location and biofilm architecture. The suboxic mats, compositionally most similar to each other, are more diverse and active for S, CO2, CH4, fatty acid and lipopolysaccharide metabolism. The oxic stratum of the streamer, displaying a higher diversity of the so-called ‘ARMAN'-related Euryarchaeota, shows a higher expression level of proteins involved in signal transduction, cell growth and N, H2, Fe, aromatic amino acids, sphingolipid and peptidoglycan metabolism. Our study is the first to highlight profound taxonomic and functional shifts in single AMD formations, as well as new microbial species and the importance of H2 in acidic suboxic macroscopic growths.
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