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Saravia J, Nualart D, Paschke K, Pontigo JP, Navarro JM, Vargas-Chacoff L. Temperature and immune challenges modulate the transcription of genes of the ubiquitin and apoptosis pathways in two high-latitude Notothenioid fish across the Antarctic Polar Front. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2024; 50:1429-1443. [PMID: 38658493 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-024-01348-z] [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: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Thermal variations due to global climate change are expected to modify the distributions of marine ectotherms, with potential pathogen translocations. This is of particular concern at high latitudes where cold-adapted stenothermal fish such as the Notothenioids occur. However, little is known about the combined effects of thermal fluctuations and immune challenges on the balance between cell damage and repair processes in these fish. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of thermal variation on specific genes involved in the ubiquitination and apoptosis pathways in two congeneric Notothenioid species, subjected to simulated bacterial and viral infections. Adult fish of Harpagifer bispinis and Harpagifer antarcticus were collected from Punta Arenas (Chile) and King George Island (Antarctica), respectively, and distributed as follows: injected with PBS (control), LPS (2.5 mg/kg) or Poly I:C (2 mg/kg) and then submitted to 2, 5 and 8 °C. After 1 week, samples of gills, liver and spleen were taken to evaluate the expression by real-time PCR of specific genes involved in ubiquitination (E3-ligase enzyme) and apoptosis (BAX and SMAC/DIABLO). Gene expression was tissue-dependent and increased with increasing temperature in the gills and liver while showing an opposite pattern in the spleen. Studying a pair of sister species that occur across the Antarctic Polar Front can help us understand the particular pressures of intertidal lifestyles and the effect of temperature in combination with biological stressors on cell damage and repair capacity in a changing environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Saravia
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Ecología Molecular Antártica y Sub-Antártica (LAGEMAS), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
- Centro Fondap de Investigación de Altas Latitudes (Fondap IDEAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
- Millenium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems, BASE, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
| | - Daniela Nualart
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Escuela de Graduados, Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias de La Acuicultura, Universidad Austral de Chile, Puerto Montt, Chile
- Millenium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems, BASE, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Kurt Paschke
- Centro Fondap de Investigación de Altas Latitudes (Fondap IDEAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Instituto de Acuicultura, Universidad Austral de Chile, Puerto Montt, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Pontigo
- Laboratorio Institucional, Facultad de Ciencias de La Naturaleza, Universidad San Sebastián, Puerto Montt, Chile
| | - Jorge M Navarro
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Centro Fondap de Investigación de Altas Latitudes (Fondap IDEAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Luis Vargas-Chacoff
- Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
- Centro Fondap de Investigación de Altas Latitudes (Fondap IDEAL), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
- Millenium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems, BASE, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
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Zhou Z, Zhu R, Song Y, Zhang W, Sun B, Zhang Z, Yao H. Penguin-Driven Dissemination and High Enrichment of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Lake Sediments across Antarctica. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39083437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Numerous penguins can propagate pathogens with antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into Antarctica. However, the effects of penguin dissemination on the lake ARGs still have received little attention via guano deposition. Here, we have profiled ARGs in ornithogenic sediments subject to penguin guano (OLS) and nonornithogenic sediments (NOLS) from 16 lakes across Antarctica. A total of 191 ARGs were detected in all sediment samples, with a much higher abundance and diversity in OLS than in NOLS. Surprisingly, highly diverse and abundant ARGs were found in the OLS with a detection frequency of >40% and an absolute abundance of (2.34 × 109)-(4.98 × 109) copies g-1, comparable to those in coastal estuarine sediments and pig farms. The strong correlations of identified resistance genes with penguin guano input amount, environmental factors, mobile genetic elements, and bacterial community, in conjunction with network and redundancy analyses, all indicated that penguins were responsible for the dissemination and high enrichment of ARGs in lake sediments via the guano deposition, which might greatly outweigh local human-activity effects. Our results revealed that ARGs could be carried into lakes across the Antarctica through penguin migration, food chains, and guano deposition, which were closely connected with the widespread pollution of ARGs at the global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeming Zhou
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Renbin Zhu
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Yixin Song
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Wanying Zhang
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Bowen Sun
- Institute of Polar Environment & Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Polar Environment and Global Change, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zulin Zhang
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, U.K
| | - Huaiying Yao
- Research Center for Environmental Ecology and Engineering, School of Environmental Ecology and Biological Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
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3
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Zucconi L, Cavallini G, Canini F. Trends in Antarctic soil fungal research in the context of environmental changes. Braz J Microbiol 2024; 55:1625-1634. [PMID: 38652442 PMCID: PMC11153391 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01333-x] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Antarctic soils represent one of the most pristine environments on Earth, where highly adapted and often endemic microbial species withstand multiple extremes. Specifically, fungal diversity is extremely low in Antarctic soils and species distribution and diversity are still not fully characterized in the continent. Despite the unique features of this environment and the international interest in its preservation, several factors pose severe threats to the conservation of inhabiting ecosystems. In this light, we aimed to provide an overview of the effects on fungal communities of the main changes endangering the soils of the continent. Among these, the increasing human presence, both for touristic and scientific purposes, has led to increased use of fuels for transport and energy supply, which has been linked to an increase in unintentional environmental contamination. It has been reported that several fungal species have evolved cellular processes in response to these soil contamination episodes, which may be exploited for restoring contaminated areas at low temperatures. Additionally, the effects of climate change are another significant threat to Antarctic ecosystems, with the expected merging of previously isolated ecosystems and their homogenization. A possible reduction of biodiversity due to the disappearance of well-adapted, often endemic species, as well as an increase of biodiversity, due to the spreading of non-native, more competitive species have been suggested. Despite some studies describing the specialization of fungal communities and their correlation with environmental parameters, our comprehension of how soil communities may respond to these changes remains limited. The majority of studies attempting to precisely define the effects of climate change, including in situ and laboratory simulations, have mainly focused on the bacterial components of these soils, and further studies are necessary, including the other biotic components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
- National Research Council, Institute of Polar Sciences, Messina, Italy.
| | - Giorgia Cavallini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Fabiana Canini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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Giovannini M, Vieri W, Bosi E, Riccardi C, Lo Giudice A, Fani R, Fondi M, Perrin E. Functional Genomics of a Collection of Gammaproteobacteria Isolated from Antarctica. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:238. [PMID: 38921549 PMCID: PMC11205219 DOI: 10.3390/md22060238] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Antarctica, one of the most extreme environments on Earth, hosts diverse microbial communities. These microbes have evolved and adapted to survive in these hostile conditions, but knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remains limited. The Italian Collection of Antarctic Bacteria (Collezione Italiana Batteri Antartici (CIBAN)), managed by the University of Messina, represents a valuable repository of cold-adapted bacterial strains isolated from various Antarctic environments. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of 58 marine Gammaproteobacteria strains from the CIBAN collection, which were isolated during Italian expeditions from 1990 to 2005. By employing genome-scale metrics, we taxonomically characterized these strains and assigned them to four distinct genera: Pseudomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Shewanella, and Psychrobacter. Genome annotation revealed a previously untapped functional potential, including secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters and antibiotic resistance genes. Phylogenomic analyses provided evolutionary insights, while assessment of cold-shock protein presence shed light on adaptation mechanisms. Our study emphasizes the significance of CIBAN as a resource for understanding Antarctic microbial life and its biotechnological potential. The genomic data unveil new horizons for insight into bacterial existence in Antarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Giovannini
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (M.G.); (W.V.); (C.R.); (R.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Walter Vieri
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (M.G.); (W.V.); (C.R.); (R.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Emanuele Bosi
- Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences—DISTAV, University of Genoa, Corso Europa 26, I-16132 Genova, Italy;
| | - Christopher Riccardi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (M.G.); (W.V.); (C.R.); (R.F.); (M.F.)
- Quantitative and Computational Biology Department, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Angelina Lo Giudice
- Institute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council, (CNR.ISP), Spianata San Raineri 86, I-98122 Messina, Italy;
- Italian Collection of Antarctic Bacteria, National Antarctic Museum (CIBAN-MNA), I-98122 Messina, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Piazza Marina 61, I-90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Renato Fani
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (M.G.); (W.V.); (C.R.); (R.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Marco Fondi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (M.G.); (W.V.); (C.R.); (R.F.); (M.F.)
| | - Elena Perrin
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; (M.G.); (W.V.); (C.R.); (R.F.); (M.F.)
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de Menezes GCA, Lopes FAC, Santos KCR, Silva MC, Convey P, Câmara PEAS, Rosa LH. Fungal diversity present in snow sampled in summer in the north-west Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, Maritime Antarctica, assessed using metabarcoding. Extremophiles 2024; 28:23. [PMID: 38575688 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-024-01338-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
We assessed the fungal diversity present in snow sampled during summer in the north-west Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, maritime Antarctica using a metabarcoding approach. A total of 586,693 fungal DNA reads were obtained and assigned to 203 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). The dominant phylum was Ascomycota, followed by Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, Chytridiomycota and Mucoromycota. Penicillium sp., Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Coniochaeta sp., Aspergillus sp., Antarctomyces sp., Phenoliferia sp., Cryolevonia sp., Camptobasidiaceae sp., Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Bannozyma yamatoana were assessed as abundant taxa. The snow fungal diversity indices were high but varied across the different locations sampled. Of the fungal ASVs detected, only 28 were present all sampling locations. The 116 fungal genera detected in the snow were dominated by saprotrophic taxa, followed by symbiotrophic and pathotrophic. Our data indicate that, despite the low temperature and oligotrophic conditions, snow can host a richer mycobiome than previously reported through traditional culturing studies. The snow mycobiome includes a complex diversity dominated by cosmopolitan, cold-adapted, psychrophilic and endemic taxa. While saprophytes dominate this community, a range of other functional groups are present.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabyano A C Lopes
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Brazil
| | - Karita C R Santos
- Laboratório de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Palmas, Brazil
| | - Micheline C Silva
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC), Puerto Williams, Chile
| | - Paulo E A S Câmara
- Departamento de Botânica, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Fungos, Algas e Plantas, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Luiz H Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Spry JA, Siegel B, Bakermans C, Beaty DW, Bell MS, Benardini JN, Bonaccorsi R, Castro-Wallace SL, Coil DA, Coustenis A, Doran PT, Fenton L, Fidler DP, Glass B, Hoffman SJ, Karouia F, Levine JS, Lupisella ML, Martin-Torres J, Mogul R, Olsson-Francis K, Ortega-Ugalde S, Patel MR, Pearce DA, Race MS, Regberg AB, Rettberg P, Rummel JD, Sato KY, Schuerger AC, Sefton-Nash E, Sharkey M, Singh NK, Sinibaldi S, Stabekis P, Stoker CR, Venkateswaran KJ, Zimmerman RR, Zorzano-Mier MP. Planetary Protection Knowledge Gap Closure Enabling Crewed Missions to Mars. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:230-274. [PMID: 38507695 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2023.0092] [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: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
As focus for exploration of Mars transitions from current robotic explorers to development of crewed missions, it remains important to protect the integrity of scientific investigations at Mars, as well as protect the Earth's biosphere from any potential harmful effects from returned martian material. This is the discipline of planetary protection, and the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) maintains the consensus international policy and guidelines on how this is implemented. Based on National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and European Space Agency (ESA) studies that began in 2001, COSPAR adopted principles and guidelines for human missions to Mars in 2008. At that point, it was clear that to move from those qualitative provisions, a great deal of work and interaction with spacecraft designers would be necessary to generate meaningful quantitative recommendations that could embody the intent of the Outer Space Treaty (Article IX) in the design of such missions. Beginning in 2016, COSPAR then sponsored a multiyear interdisciplinary meeting series to address planetary protection "knowledge gaps" (KGs) with the intent of adapting and extending the current robotic mission-focused Planetary Protection Policy to support the design and implementation of crewed and hybrid exploration missions. This article describes the outcome of the interdisciplinary COSPAR meeting series, to describe and address these KGs, as well as identify potential paths to gap closure. It includes the background scientific basis for each topic area and knowledge updates since the meeting series ended. In particular, credible solutions for KG closure are described for the three topic areas of (1) microbial monitoring of spacecraft and crew health; (2) natural transport (and survival) of terrestrial microbial contamination at Mars, and (3) the technology and operation of spacecraft systems for contamination control. The article includes a KG data table on these topic areas, which is intended to be a point of departure for making future progress in developing an end-to-end planetary protection requirements implementation solution for a crewed mission to Mars. Overall, the workshop series has provided evidence of the feasibility of planetary protection implementation for a crewed Mars mission, given (1) the establishment of needed zoning, emission, transport, and survival parameters for terrestrial biological contamination and (2) the creation of an accepted risk-based compliance approach for adoption by spacefaring actors including national space agencies and commercial/nongovernment organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Corien Bakermans
- Department of Biology, Penn. State University (Altoona), Altoona, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David W Beaty
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | | | - Rosalba Bonaccorsi
- SETI Institute, Mountain View, California, USA
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | | | - David A Coil
- School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | | | - Peter T Doran
- Department of Geology & Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Lori Fenton
- SETI Institute, Mountain View, California, USA
| | - David P Fidler
- Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Brian Glass
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | | | - Fathi Karouia
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - Joel S Levine
- College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Javier Martin-Torres
- School of Geoscience, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Armilla, Spain
| | - Rakesh Mogul
- California Polytechnic (Pomona), Pomona, California, USA
| | - Karen Olsson-Francis
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | | | - Manish R Patel
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - David A Pearce
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - John D Rummel
- Friday Harbor Associates LLC, Friday Harbor, Washington, USA
| | | | - Andrew C Schuerger
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Merritt Island, Florida, USA
| | | | - Matthew Sharkey
- US Department of Health & Human Services, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Nitin K Singh
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | | | - Carol R Stoker
- NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
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Doytchinov VV, Peykov S, Dimov SG. Study of the Bacterial, Fungal, and Archaeal Communities Structures near the Bulgarian Antarctic Research Base "St. Kliment Ohridski" on Livingston Island, Antarctica. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:278. [PMID: 38398787 PMCID: PMC10890693 DOI: 10.3390/life14020278] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
As belonging to one of the most isolated continents on our planet, the microbial composition of different environments in Antarctica could hold a plethora of undiscovered species with the potential for biotechnological applications. This manuscript delineates our discoveries after an expedition to the Bulgarian Antarctic Base "St. Kliment Ohridski" situated on Livingston Island, Antarctica. Amplicon-based metagenomics targeting the 16S rRNA genes and ITS2 region were employed to assess the metagenomes of the bacterial, fungal, and archaeal communities across diverse sites within and proximal to the research station. The predominant bacterial assemblages identified included Oxyphotobacteria, Bacteroidia, Gammaprotobacteria, and Alphaprotobacteria. A substantial proportion of cyanobacteria reads were attributed to a singular uncultured taxon within the family Leptolyngbyaceae. The bacterial profile of a lagoon near the base exhibited indications of penguin activity, characterized by a higher abundance of Clostridia, similar to lithotelm samples from Hannah Pt. Although most fungal reads in the samples could not be identified at the species level, noteworthy genera, namely Betamyces and Tetracladium, were identified. Archaeal abundance was negligible, with prevalent groups including Woesearchaeales, Nitrosarchaeum, Candidatus Nitrosopumilus, and Marine Group II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesselin V Doytchinov
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Slavil Peykov
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Svetoslav G Dimov
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
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8
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Benitez HA, Salinas C, Hernández J, Contador Mejías T, Kim S, Maturana CS, Rebolledo L, Pérez LM, Câmara PEAS, Alves Ferreira V, Lobos I, Piñeiro A, Convey P. An outsider on the Antarctic Peninsula: A new record of the non-native moth Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10838. [PMID: 38322004 PMCID: PMC10844584 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
We report the first record of the microlepidopteran Plodia interpunctella beyond the South Shetland Islands at the Chilean Yelcho scientific station (64°52'33.1428″ S; 63°35'1.9572″ W), Doumer Island, close to the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is notable that P. interpunctella, a globally distributed stored product pest species, exhibits a remarkable capacity for prolonged viability within food storage facilities. The dual challenges of food transportation and storage in the context of Antarctica's challenging operational conditions may have facilitated P. interpunctella's initial arrival to the Antarctic region. Non-perishable food items, such as grains, flour and rice, provide practical options for the bulk food transportation and storage required in the long-term operation of Antarctic research stations. The presence of P. interpunctella in Antarctica, even if restricted to synanthropic environments within buildings, is a clear threat to Antarctic biodiversity, not only through being an invasive species itself but also as a potential vector for other non-native species (bacteria, acari, between others.), which could carry diseases to the native species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo A. Benitez
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC)Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de MagallanesPuerto WilliamsChile
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Morfometría Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del MauleUniversidad Católica del MauleTalcaChile
| | - Carla Salinas
- Departamento CientíficoInstituto Antártico ChilenoPunta ArenasChile
| | - Jordan Hernández
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC)Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de MagallanesPuerto WilliamsChile
- Programa de Doctorado en Salud Ecosistémica, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del MauleUniversidad Católica del MauleTalcaChile
| | - Tamara Contador Mejías
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC)Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de MagallanesPuerto WilliamsChile
- Núcleo Milenio de Salmónidos Invasores (INVASAL)ConcepciónChile
| | - Sanghee Kim
- Division of Life SciencesKorea Polar Research InstituteIncheonKorea
| | - Claudia S. Maturana
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC)Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de MagallanesPuerto WilliamsChile
| | - Lorena Rebolledo
- Departamento CientíficoInstituto Antártico ChilenoPunta ArenasChile
| | - Laura M. Pérez
- Departamento de Física, FACIUniversidad de TarapacáAricaChile
| | | | | | - Isabel Lobos
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Morfometría Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del MauleUniversidad Católica del MauleTalcaChile
| | - Alejandro Piñeiro
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Laboratorio de Ecología y Morfometría Evolutiva, Centro de Investigación de Estudios Avanzados del MauleUniversidad Católica del MauleTalcaChile
| | - Peter Convey
- Millennium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE)SantiagoChile
- Cape Horn International Center (CHIC)Centro Universitario Cabo de Hornos, Universidad de MagallanesPuerto WilliamsChile
- British Antarctic Survey (BAS)Natural Environment Research CouncilCambridgeUK
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of JohannesburgAuckland ParkSouth Africa
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9
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Heinrichs ME, Piedade GJ, Popa O, Sommers P, Trubl G, Weissenbach J, Rahlff J. Breaking the Ice: A Review of Phages in Polar Ecosystems. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2738:31-71. [PMID: 37966591 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3549-0_3] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect and replicate within bacterial hosts, playing a significant role in regulating microbial populations and ecosystem dynamics. However, phages from extreme environments such as polar regions remain relatively understudied due to challenges such as restricted ecosystem access and low biomass. Understanding the diversity, structure, and functions of polar phages is crucial for advancing our knowledge of the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of these environments. In this review, we will explore the current state of knowledge on phages from the Arctic and Antarctic, focusing on insights gained from -omic studies, phage isolation, and virus-like particle abundance data. Metagenomic studies of polar environments have revealed a high diversity of phages with unique genetic characteristics, providing insights into their evolutionary and ecological roles. Phage isolation studies have identified novel phage-host interactions and contributed to the discovery of new phage species. Virus-like particle abundance and lysis rate data, on the other hand, have highlighted the importance of phages in regulating bacterial populations and nutrient cycling in polar environments. Overall, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge about polar phages, and by synthesizing these different sources of information, we can better understand the diversity, dynamics, and functions of polar phages in the context of ongoing climate change, which will help to predict how polar ecosystems and residing phages may respond to future environmental perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Elena Heinrichs
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Gonçalo J Piedade
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, 't Horntje, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ovidiu Popa
- Institute of Quantitative and Theoretical Biology Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Gareth Trubl
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Julia Weissenbach
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Janina Rahlff
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
- Aero-Aquatic Virus Research Group, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
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Leihy RI, Peake L, Clarke DA, Chown SL, McGeoch MA. Introduced and invasive alien species of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean Islands. Sci Data 2023; 10:200. [PMID: 37041141 PMCID: PMC10090047 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02113-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Open data on biological invasions are particularly critical in regions that are co-governed and/or where multiple independent parties have responsibility for preventing and controlling invasive alien species. The Antarctic is one such region where, in spite of multiple examples of invasion policy and management success, open, centralised data are not yet available. This dataset provides current and comprehensive information available on the identity, localities, establishment, eradication status, dates of introduction, habitat, and evidence of impact of known introduced and invasive alien species for the terrestrial and freshwater Antarctic and Southern Ocean region. It includes 3066 records for 1204 taxa and 36 individual localities. The evidence indicates that close to half of these species are not having an invasive impact, and that ~ 13% of records are of species considered locally invasive. The data are provided using current biodiversity and invasive alien species data and terminology standards. They provide a baseline for updating and maintaining the foundational knowledge needed to halt the rapidly growing risk of biological invasion in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel I Leihy
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia.
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia.
| | - Lou Peake
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Department of Environment and Genetics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - David A Clarke
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Department of Environment and Genetics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Steven L Chown
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Melodie A McGeoch
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Department of Environment and Genetics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
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Maimone NM, Junior MCP, de Oliveira LFP, Rojas-Villalta D, de Lira SP, Barrientos L, Núñez-Montero K. Metabologenomics analysis of Pseudomonas sp. So3.2b, an Antarctic strain with bioactivity against Rhizoctonia solani. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1187321. [PMID: 37213498 PMCID: PMC10192879 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1187321] [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: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Phytopathogenic fungi are a considerable concern for agriculture, as they can threaten the productivity of several crops worldwide. Meanwhile, natural microbial products are acknowledged to play an important role in modern agriculture as they comprehend a safer alternative to synthetic pesticides. Bacterial strains from underexplored environments are a promising source of bioactive metabolites. Methods We applied the OSMAC (One Strain, Many Compounds) cultivation approach, in vitro bioassays, and metabolo-genomics analyses to investigate the biochemical potential of Pseudomonas sp. So3.2b, a strain isolated from Antarctica. Crude extracts from OSMAC were analyzed through HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, molecular networking, and annotation. The antifungal potential of the extracts was confirmed against Rhizoctonia solani strains. Moreover, the whole-genome sequence was studied for biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) identification and phylogenetic comparison. Results and Discussion Molecular networking revealed that metabolite synthesis has growth media specificity, and it was reflected in bioassays results against R. solani. Bananamides, rhamnolipids, and butenolides-like molecules were annotated from the metabolome, and chemical novelty was also suggested by several unidentified compounds. Additionally, genome mining confirmed a wide variety of BGCs present in this strain, with low to no similarity with known molecules. An NRPS-encoding BGC was identified as responsible for producing the banamides-like molecules, while phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a close relationship with other rhizosphere bacteria. Therefore, by combining -omics approaches and in vitro bioassays, our study demonstrates that Pseudomonas sp. So3.2b has potential application to agriculture as a source of bioactive metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naydja Moralles Maimone
- 'Luiz de Queiroz' Superior College of Agriculture, Department of Math, Chemistry, and Statistics, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mario Cezar Pozza Junior
- 'Luiz de Queiroz' Superior College of Agriculture, Department of Math, Chemistry, and Statistics, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucianne Ferreira Paes de Oliveira
- 'Luiz de Queiroz' Superior College of Agriculture, Department of Math, Chemistry, and Statistics, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dorian Rojas-Villalta
- Biotechnology Research Center, Department of Biology, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Simone Possedente de Lira
- 'Luiz de Queiroz' Superior College of Agriculture, Department of Math, Chemistry, and Statistics, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leticia Barrientos
- Extreme Environments Biotechnology Lab, Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
- *Correspondence: Leticia Barrientos, ; Kattia Núñez-Montero,
| | - Kattia Núñez-Montero
- Facultad Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco, Chile
- *Correspondence: Leticia Barrientos, ; Kattia Núñez-Montero,
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Núñez-Montero K, Rojas-Villalta D, Barrientos L. Antarctic Sphingomonas sp. So64.6b showed evolutive divergence within its genus, including new biosynthetic gene clusters. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1007225. [DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1007225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
IntroductionThe antibiotic crisis is a major human health problem. Bioprospecting screenings suggest that proteobacteria and other extremophile microorganisms have biosynthetic potential for the production novel antimicrobial compounds. An Antarctic Sphingomonas strain (So64.6b) previously showed interesting antibiotic activity and elicitation response, then a relationship between environmental adaptations and its biosynthetic potential was hypothesized. We aimed to determine the genomic characteristics in So64.6b strain related to evolutive traits for the adaptation to the Antarctic environment that could lead to its diversity of potentially novel antibiotic metabolites.MethodsThe complete genome sequence of the Antarctic strain was obtained and mined for Biosynthetic Gene Clusters (BGCs) and other unique genes related to adaptation to extreme environments. Comparative genome analysis based on multi-locus phylogenomics, BGC phylogeny, and pangenomics were conducted within the closest genus, aiming to determine the taxonomic affiliation and differential characteristics of the Antarctic strain.Results and discussionThe Antarctic strain So64.6b showed a closest identity with Sphingomonas alpina, however containing a significant genomic difference of ortholog cluster related to degradation multiple pollutants. Strain So64.6b had a total of six BGC, which were predicted with low to no similarity with other reported clusters; three were associated with potential novel antibiotic compounds using ARTS tool. Phylogenetic and synteny analysis of a common BGC showed great diversity between Sphingomonas genus but grouping in clades according to similar isolation environments, suggesting an evolution of BGCs that could be linked to the specific ecosystems. Comparative genomic analysis also showed that Sphingomonas species isolated from extreme environments had the greatest number of predicted BGCs and a higher percentage of genetic content devoted to BGCs than the isolates from mesophilic environments. In addition, some extreme-exclusive clusters were found related to oxidative and thermal stress adaptations, while pangenome analysis showed unique resistance genes on the Antarctic strain included in genetic islands. Altogether, our results showed the unique genetic content on Antarctic strain Sphingomonas sp. So64.6, −a probable new species of this genetically divergent genus–, which could have potentially novel antibiotic compounds acquired to cope with Antarctic poly-extreme conditions.
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Malard LA, Avila-Jimenez ML, Schmale J, Cuthbertson L, Cockerton L, Pearce DA. Aerobiology over the Southern Ocean - Implications for bacterial colonization of Antarctica. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 169:107492. [PMID: 36174481 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Parts of the Antarctic are experiencing dramatic ecosystem change due to rapid and record warming, which may weaken biogeographic boundaries and modify dispersal barriers, increasing the risk of biological invasions. In this study, we collected air samples from 100 locations around the Southern Ocean to analyze bacterial biodiversity in the circumpolar air around the Antarctic continent, as understanding dispersal processes is paramount to assessing the risks of microbiological invasions. We also compared the Southern Ocean air bacterial biodiversity to non-polar ecosystems to identify the potential origin of these Southern Ocean air microorganisms. The bacterial diversity in the air had both local and global origins and presented low richness overall but high heterogeneity, compatible with a scenario whereby samples are composed of a suite of different species in very low relative abundances. Only 4% of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) were identified in both polar and non-polar air masses, suggesting that the polar air mass over the Southern Ocean can act as a selective dispersal filter. Furthermore, both microbial diversity and community structure both varied significantly with meteorological data, suggesting that regional bacterial biodiversity could be sensitive to changes in weather conditions, potentially altering the existing pattern of microbial deposition in the Antarctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie A Malard
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | | | - Julia Schmale
- Extreme Environments Research Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Sion, Switzerland
| | - Lewis Cuthbertson
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, NEwcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, United Kingdom
| | - Luke Cockerton
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, NEwcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, United Kingdom
| | - David A Pearce
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, NEwcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, United Kingdom; British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environemnt Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge BCB3 0ET, United Kingdom.
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14
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DNA metabarcoding data reveals harmful algal-bloom species undescribed previously at the northern Antarctic Peninsula region. Polar Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-022-03084-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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15
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Szopińska M, Potapowicz J, Jankowska K, Luczkiewicz A, Svahn O, Björklund E, Nannou C, Lambropoulou D, Polkowska Ż. Pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern in Admiralty Bay as a result of untreated wastewater discharge: Status and possible environmental consequences. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 835:155400. [PMID: 35469867 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Considering how the impact of human activity in Antarctica is growing, the aim of this study was to conduct the first assessment of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), other emerging contaminants (ECs), and antibiotic resistance genes present in the western shore of the Admiralty Bay region of King George Island. In total, more than 170 substances were evaluated to assess the potential environmental risks they pose to the study area. The major evaluated source of pollutants in this study is discharged untreated wastewater. The highest PPCP concentrations in wastewater were found for naproxen (2653 ngL-1), diclofenac (747 ngL-1), ketoconazole (760 ngL-1), ibuprofen (477 ngL-1) and acetaminophen (332 ngL-1). Moreover, the concentrations of benzotriazole (6340 ngL-1) and caffeine (3310 ngL-1) were also high. The Risk Quotient values indicate that azole antifungals (ketoconazole), anti-inflammatories (diclofenac, ibuprofen) and stimulants (caffeine) are the main groups responsible for the highest toxic burden. In addition, antibiotic resistance genes integrons (int 1) and sulphonamide resistance genes (sul 1-2) were detected in wastewater and seawater. These results indicate that regular monitoring of PPCPs and other ECs is of great importance in this environment. Additionally, the following mitigation strategies are suggested: (1) to create a centralised record of the medications prescribed and consumed in situ (to improve knowledge of potential contaminants without analysis); (2) to use more environmentally friendly substitutes both for pharmaceuticals and personal care products when possible (limiting consumption at the source); and (3) to apply advanced systems for wastewater treatment before discharge to the recipient (end-of-pipe technologies as a final barrier).
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Szopińska
- Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland.
| | - Joanna Potapowicz
- Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry Department, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Jankowska
- Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland
| | - Aneta Luczkiewicz
- Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland
| | - Ola Svahn
- Department of Environmental Science and Bioscience, Kristianstad University, Elmetorpsvägen 15, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden
| | - Erland Björklund
- Department of Environmental Science and Bioscience, Kristianstad University, Elmetorpsvägen 15, SE-291 88 Kristianstad, Sweden
| | - Christina Nannou
- Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, Thessaloniki GR 57001, Greece
| | - Dimitra Lambropoulou
- Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, Thessaloniki GR 57001, Greece
| | - Żaneta Polkowska
- Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry Department, 11/12 Narutowicza St., Gdansk 80-233, Poland
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Sanchez-Cid C, Keuschnig C, Torzewski K, Stachnik Ł, Kępski D, Luks B, Nawrot A, Niedzielski P, Vogel TM, Larose C. Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors Shape the Snow Microbiome and Antibiotic Resistome. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:918622. [PMID: 35783390 PMCID: PMC9245712 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.918622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Winter tourism can generate environmental pollution and affect microbial ecology in mountain ecosystems. This could stimulate the development of antibiotic resistance in snow and its dissemination through the atmosphere and through snow melting. Despite these potential impacts, the effect of winter tourism on the snow antibiotic resistome remains to be elucidated. In this study, snow samples subjected to different levels of anthropogenic activities and surrounding forest were obtained from the Sudety Mountains in Poland to evaluate the impact of winter tourism on snow bacteria using a metagenomic approach. Bacterial community composition was determined by the sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene and the composition of the antibiotic resistome was explored by metagenomic sequencing. Whereas environmental factors were the main drivers of bacterial community and antibiotic resistome composition in snow, winter tourism affected resistome composition in sites with similar environmental conditions. Several antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) showed a higher abundance in sites subjected to human activities. This is the first study to show that anthropogenic activities may influence the antibiotic resistome in alpine snow. Our results highlight the need to survey antibiotic resistance development in anthropogenically polluted sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concepcion Sanchez-Cid
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS UMR 5005 Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Écully, France
- Promega France, Charbonnières-les-Bains, France
- *Correspondence: Concepcion Sanchez-Cid,
| | - Christoph Keuschnig
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS UMR 5005 Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Écully, France
| | - Karol Torzewski
- Department of Ecology, Biogeochemistry and Environmental Protection, Institute of Botany, Wrocław University, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Łukasz Stachnik
- Institute of Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Daniel Kępski
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartłomiej Luks
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adam Nawrot
- Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- forScience Foundation, Toruń, Poland
| | - Przemysław Niedzielski
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poznań, Poland
| | - Timothy M. Vogel
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS UMR 5005 Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Écully, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS UMR 5005 Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Écully, France
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Hwengwere K, Paramel Nair H, Hughes KA, Peck LS, Clark MS, Walker CA. Antimicrobial resistance in Antarctica: is it still a pristine environment? MICROBIOME 2022; 10:71. [PMID: 35524279 PMCID: PMC9072757 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01250-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Although the rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in relation to clinical settings, is causing concern in many regions of the globe, remote, extreme environments, such as Antarctica, are thought to be relatively free from the negative impact of human activities. In fact, Antarctica is often perceived as the last pristine continent on Earth. Such remote regions, which are assumed to have very low levels of AMR due to limited human activity, represent potential model environments to understand the mechanisms and interactions underpinning the early stages of evolution, de novo development, acquisition and transmission of AMR. Antarctica, with its defined zones of human colonisation (centred around scientific research stations) and large populations of migratory birds and animals, also has great potential with regard to mapping and understanding the spread of early-stage zoonotic interactions. However, to date, studies of AMR in Antarctica are limited. Here, we survey the current literature focussing on the following: i) Dissection of human-introduced AMR versus naturally occurring AMR, based on the premise that multiple drug resistance and resistance to synthetic antibiotics not yet found in nature are the results of human contamination ii) The potential role of endemic wildlife in AMR spread There is clear evidence for greater concentrations of AMR around research stations, and although data show reverse zoonosis of the characteristic human gut bacteria to endemic wildlife, AMR within birds and seals appears to be very low, albeit on limited samplings. Furthermore, areas where there is little, to no, human activity still appear to be free from anthropogenically introduced AMR. However, a comprehensive assessment of AMR levels in Antarctica is virtually impossible on current data due to the wide variation in reporting standards and methodologies used and poor geographical coverage. Thus, future studies should engage directly with policymakers to promote the implementation of continent-wide AMR reporting standards. The development of such standards alongside a centralised reporting system would provide baseline data to feedback directly into wastewater treatment policies for the Antarctic Treaty Area to help preserve this relatively pristine environment. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Hwengwere
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT UK
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA UK
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
| | - H. Paramel Nair
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT UK
| | - K. A. Hughes
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
| | - L. S. Peck
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
| | - M. S. Clark
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET UK
| | - C. A. Walker
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1PT UK
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Wang Y, Ma L, He J, He Z, Wang M, Liu Z, Li Z, Wang L, Weng S, Guo C, He J. Environmental risk characteristics of bacterial antibiotic resistome in Antarctic krill. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 232:113289. [PMID: 35144128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are ubiquitous in nature, especially in the current era of antibiotic abuse, and their existence is a global concern. In the present study, we discovered that Antarctic krill-related culturable bacteria are resistant to β-lactam, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim based on the antibiotic efflux mechanism. In addition, the co-occurrence of ARGs with insertion sequence (IS) (tnpA, IS91) and Intl1 on the isolates and the phylogenetic analysis results of the whole-genome revealed low-frequency ARG transfer events, implying the transferability of these ARGs. These findings provide an early warning for the wide assessment of Antarctic microbiota in the spread of ARGs. Our work provides novel insights into understanding ARGs in culturable host-associated microorganisms, and their ecological risks and has important implications for future risk assessments of antibiotic resistance in extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Marine, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Lingbo Ma
- Key Laboratory of the East China Sea and Oceanic Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture, East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Shanghai 116023, PR China
| | - Jian He
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Marine, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Zhili He
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Muhua Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Marine, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Zixuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Marine, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Zhimin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Marine, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Lumin Wang
- Key Laboratory of the East China Sea and Oceanic Fishery Resources Exploitation, Ministry of Agriculture, East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Shanghai 116023, PR China
| | - Shaoping Weng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources, and Coastal Engineering and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Changjun Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Marine, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou 510275, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources, and Coastal Engineering and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou 510275, PR China.
| | - Jianguo He
- State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Marine, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou 510275, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Resources, and Coastal Engineering and Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang Road West, Guangzhou 510275, PR China.
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Syuhada NH, Merican F, Zaki S, Broady PA, Convey P, Muangmai N. Strong and widespread cycloheximide resistance in Stichococcus-like eukaryotic algal taxa. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1080. [PMID: 35058560 PMCID: PMC8776791 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05116-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study was initiated following the serendipitous discovery of a unialgal culture of a Stichococcus-like green alga (Chlorophyta) newly isolated from soil collected on Signy Island (maritime Antarctica) in growth medium supplemented with 100 µg/mL cycloheximide (CHX, a widely used antibiotic active against most eukaryotes). In order to test the generality of CHX resistance in taxa originally identified as members of Stichococcus (the detailed taxonomic relationships within this group of algae have been updated since our study took place), six strains were studied: two strains isolated from recent substrate collections from Signy Island (maritime Antarctica) ("Antarctica" 1 and "Antarctica" 2), one isolated from this island about 50 years ago ("Antarctica" 3) and single Arctic ("Arctic"), temperate ("Temperate") and tropical ("Tropical") strains. The sensitivity of each strain towards CHX was compared by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and growth rate and lag time when exposed to different CHX concentrations. All strains except "Temperate" were highly resistant to CHX (MIC > 1000 µg/mL), while "Temperate" was resistant to 62.5 µg/mL (a concentration still considerably greater than any previously reported for algae). All highly resistant strains showed no significant differences in growth rate between control and treatment (1000 µg/mL CHX) conditions. Morphological examination suggested that four strains were consistent with the description of the species Stichococcus bacillaris while the remaining two conformed to S. mirabilis. However, based on sequence analyses and the recently available phylogeny, only one strain, "Temperate", was confirmed to be S. bacillaris, while "Tropical" represents the newly erected genus Tetratostichococcus, "Antarctica 1" Tritostichococcus, and "Antarctica 2", "Antarctica 3" and "Arctic" Deuterostichococcus. Both phylogenetic and CHX sensitivity analyses suggest that CHX resistance is potentially widespread within this group of algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Hidayu Syuhada
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Faradina Merican
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia.
- National Antarctic Research Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
| | - Syazana Zaki
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Paul A Broady
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Narongrit Muangmai
- Department of Fishery Biology, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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Chignell SM, Myers ME, Howkins A, Fountain AG. Research sites get closer to field camps over time: Informing environmental management through a geospatial analysis of science in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257950. [PMID: 34735463 PMCID: PMC8568199 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As in many parts of the world, the management of environmental science research in Antarctica relies on cost-benefit analysis of negative environmental impact versus positive scientific gain. Several studies have examined the environmental impact of Antarctic field camps, but very little work looks at how the placement of these camps influences scientific research. In this study, we integrate bibliometrics, geospatial analysis, and historical research to understand the relationship between field camp placement and scientific production in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of East Antarctica. Our analysis of the scientific corpus from 1907-2016 shows that, on average, research sites have become less dispersed and closer to field camps over time. Scientific output does not necessarily correspond to the number of field camps, and constructing a field camp does not always lead to a subsequent increase in research in the local area. Our results underscore the need to consider the complex historical and spatial relationships between field camps and research sites in environmental management decision-making in Antarctica and other protected areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M. Chignell
- Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Madeline E. Myers
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Adrian Howkins
- Department of History, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew G. Fountain
- Department of Geology, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- Department of Geography, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
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21
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Li R, Qi L, Ibeanusi V, Badisa V, Brooks S, Chen G. Reduction and bacterial adsorption of dissolved mercuric ion by indigenous bacteria at the Oak Ridge Reservation site. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 280:130629. [PMID: 33940452 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury exists in various forms in the environment and the indigenous bacteria mediated processes have the potential to be used for mercury remediation. In this study, two mixed cultures of indigenous bacteria at the Oak Ridge Reservation site (i.e., ORR soil culture and ORR sediment culture) were selected to study the microbial mediated mercuric reduction under an aerobic condition as well as mercury adsorption onto bacterial surfaces. PCR analysis was performed to provide insights into the microbial community. The mercuric volatilizing experiment demonstrated the mercuric reducing capacity for both ORR cultures, in which the Pseudomonas genus was the dominating Hg0 producer. The investigation of the impact of the sole carbon source revealed the energy-dependent characteristics of the mercuric reduction in this study. Namely, the mercuric reduction was nearly not impacted by the type of carbon source but positively related to the energy that a unit amount of substrate could provide. The study also indicated that the mercury adsorption competed with the reduction. According to the fitting of the Langmuir isotherm, the ORR soil culture was found to have a higher mercury adsorption capacity (i.e., 67.5 mg Hg/g dry biomass) than the ORR sediment culture (i.e., 53.1 mg Hg/g dry biomass). The negative correlation between the reduced mercury mass and adsorbed mercury mass was identified for both ORR cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runwei Li
- School of the Environment, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32307, USA.
| | - Lin Qi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA
| | - Victor Ibeanusi
- School of the Environment, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32307, USA
| | - Veera Badisa
- School of the Environment, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL, 32307, USA
| | - Scott Brooks
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA
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Zakaria NN, Convey P, Gomez-Fuentes C, Zulkharnain A, Sabri S, Shaharuddin NA, Ahmad SA. Oil Bioremediation in the Marine Environment of Antarctica: A Review and Bibliometric Keyword Cluster Analysis. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020419. [PMID: 33671443 PMCID: PMC7922015 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioremediation of hydrocarbons has received much attention in recent decades, particularly relating to fuel and other oils. While of great relevance globally, there has recently been increasing interest in hydrocarbon bioremediation in the marine environments of Antarctica. To provide an objective assessment of the research interest in this field we used VOSviewer software to analyze publication data obtained from the ScienceDirect database covering the period 1970 to the present, but with a primary focus on the years 2000–2020. A bibliometric analysis of the database allowed identification of the co-occurrence of keywords. There was an increasing trend over time for publications relating to oil bioremediation in maritime Antarctica, including both studies on marine bioremediation and of the metabolic pathways of hydrocarbon degradation. Studies of marine anaerobic degradation remain under-represented compared to those of aerobic degradation. Emerging keywords in recent years included bioprospecting, metagenomic, bioindicator, and giving insight into changing research foci, such as increasing attention to microbial diversity. The study of microbial genomes using metagenomic approaches or whole genome studies is increasing rapidly and is likely to drive emerging fields in future, including rapid expansion of bioprospecting in diverse fields of biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Nadhirah Zakaria
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (N.A.S.)
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK;
| | - Claudio Gomez-Fuentes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Magallanes, Avda, Bulnes 01855, Chile;
- Center for Research and Antarctic Environmental Monitoring (CIMAA), Universidad de Magallanes, Avda, Bulnes 01855, Chile
| | - Azham Zulkharnain
- Department of Bioscience and Engineering, College of Systems Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, 307 Fukasaku, Minuma-ku, Saitama 337-8570, Japan;
| | - Suriana Sabri
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Noor Azmi Shaharuddin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (N.A.S.)
| | - Siti Aqlima Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (N.A.S.)
- Center for Research and Antarctic Environmental Monitoring (CIMAA), Universidad de Magallanes, Avda, Bulnes 01855, Chile
- National Antarctic Research Centre, B303 Level 3, Block B, IPS Building, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Correspondence:
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23
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Jack CN, Petipas RH, Cheeke TE, Rowland JL, Friesen ML. Microbial Inoculants: Silver Bullet or Microbial Jurassic Park? Trends Microbiol 2020; 29:299-308. [PMID: 33309525 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The appeal of using microbial inoculants to mediate plant traits and productivity in managed ecosystems has increased over the past decade, because microbes represent an alternative to fertilizers, pesticides, and direct genetic modification of plants. Using microbes bypasses many societal and environmental concerns because microbial products are considered a more sustainable and benign technology. In our desire to harness the power of plant-microbial symbioses, are we ignoring the possibility of precipitating microbial invasions, potentially setting ourselves up for a microbial Jurassic Park? Here, we outline potential negative consequences of microbial invasions and describe a set of practices (Testing, Regulation, Engineering, and Eradication, TREE) based on the four stages of invasion to prevent microbial inoculants from becoming invasive. We aim to stimulate discussion about best practices to proactively prevent microbial invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandra N Jack
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
| | - Renee H Petipas
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Tanya E Cheeke
- Department of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Richland, WA 99354, USA
| | - Jennifer L Rowland
- AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow hosted by United States Department of Agriculture- APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine, Riverdale, MD 20737, USA
| | - Maren L Friesen
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA; Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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Enterococci from Wild Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) as an Indicator of Marine Ecosystem Health and Human Impact. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.01662-20. [PMID: 32737129 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01662-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococci are commensals that proliferated as animals crawled ashore hundreds of millions of years ago. They are also leading causes of multidrug-resistant hospital-acquired infections. While most studies are driven by clinical interest, comparatively little is known about enterococci in the wild or the effect of human activity on them. Pharmaceutical pollution and runoff from other human activities are encroaching widely into natural habitats. To assess their reach into remote habitats, we investigated the identity, genetic relatedness, and presence of specific traits among 172 enterococcal isolates from wild Magellanic penguins. Four enterococcal species, 18 lineage groups, and different colonization patterns were identified. One Enterococcus faecalis lineage, sequence type 475 (ST475), was isolated from three different penguins, making it of special interest. Its genome was compared to those of other E. faecalis sequence types (ST116 and ST242) recovered from Magellanic penguins, as well as to an existing phylogeny of E. faecalis isolated from diverse origins over the past 100 years. No penguin-derived E. faecalis strains were closely related to dominant clinical lineages. Most possessed intact CRISPR defenses, few mobile elements, and antibiotic resistances limited to those intrinsic to the species and lacked pathogenic features conveyed by mobile elements. Interestingly, plasmids were identified in penguin isolates that also had been reported for other marine mammals. Enterococci isolated from penguins showed limited anthropogenic impact, indicating that they are likely representative of those naturally circulating in the ecosystem inhabited by the penguins. These findings establish an important baseline for detecting the encroachment of human activity into remote planetary environments.IMPORTANCE Enterococci are host-associated microbes that have an unusually broad range, from the built hospital environment to the guts of insects and other animals in remote locations. Despite their occurrence in the guts of animals for hundreds of millions of years, we know little about the properties that confer this range or how anthropogenic activities may be introducing new selective forces. Magellanic penguins live at the periphery of human habitation. It was of interest to examine enterococci from these animals for the presence of antibiotic resistance and other markers reflective of anthropogenic selection. Diverse enterococcal lineages found discount the existence of a single well-adapted intrinsic penguin-specific species. Instead, they appear to be influenced by a carnivorous lifestyle and enterococci present in the coastal sea life consumed. These results indicate that currently, the penguin habitat remains relatively free of pollutants that select for adaptation to human-derived stressors.
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25
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Antarctica’s wilderness fails to capture continent’s biodiversity. Nature 2020; 583:567-571. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2506-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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26
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Mykhailenko A, Utevsky A, Solodiankin O, Zlenko O, Maiboroda O, Bolotin V, Blaxland J, Gerilovych A. First record of Serratia marcescens from Adelie and Gentoo penguin faeces collected in the Wilhelm Archipelago, Graham Land, West Antarctica. Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02682-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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27
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Els N, Greilinger M, Reisecker M, Tignat-Perrier R, Baumann-Stanzer K, Kasper-Giebl A, Sattler B, Larose C. Comparison of Bacterial and Fungal Composition and Their Chemical Interaction in Free Tropospheric Air and Snow Over an Entire Winter Season at Mount Sonnblick, Austria. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:980. [PMID: 32508790 PMCID: PMC7251065 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the interactions of air and snow over one entire winter accumulation period as well as the importance of chemical markers in a pristine free-tropospheric environment to explain variation in a microbiological dataset. To overcome the limitations of short term bioaerosol sampling, we sampled the atmosphere continuously onto quartzfiber air filters using a DIGITEL high volume PM10 sampler. The bacterial and fungal communities, sequenced using Illumina MiSeq, as well as the chemical components of the atmosphere were compared to those of a late season snow profile. Results reveal strong dynamics in the composition of bacterial and fungal communities in air and snow. In fall the two compartments were similar, suggesting a strong interaction between them. The overlap diminished as the season progressed due to an evolution within the snowpack throughout winter and spring. Certain bacterial and fungal genera were only detected in air samples, which implies that a distinct air microbiome might exist. These organisms are likely not incorporated in clouds and thus not precipitated or scavenged in snow. Although snow appears to be seeded by the atmosphere, both air and snow showed differing bacterial and fungal communities and chemical composition. Season and alpha diversity were major drivers for microbial variability in snow and air, and only a few chemical markers were identified as important in explaining microbial diversity. Air microbial community variation was more related to chemical markers than snow microbial composition. For air microbial communities Cl–, TC/OC, SO42–, Mg2+, and Fe/Al, all compounds related to dust or anthropogenic activities, were identified as related to bacterial variability while dust related Ca2+ was significant in snow. The only common driver for snow and air was SO42–, a tracer for anthropogenic sources. The occurrence of chemical compounds was coupled with boundary layer injections in the free troposphere (FT). Boundary layer injections also caused the observed variations in community composition and chemistry between the two compartments. Long-term monitoring is required for a more valid insight in post-depositional selection in snow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Els
- Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marion Greilinger
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria.,Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik (ZAMG), Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Reisecker
- Avalanche Warning Service Tyrol, Department of Civil Protection, Federal State Government of Tyrol, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Romie Tignat-Perrier
- Environmental Microbial Genomics Group, Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Écully, France
| | | | - Anne Kasper-Giebl
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Birgit Sattler
- Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics Group, Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, Écully, France
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Antibiotic resistance in bacterial isolates from freshwater samples in Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3145. [PMID: 32081909 PMCID: PMC7035346 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60035-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropic activity in Antarctica has been increasing considerably in recent years, which could have an important impact on the local microbiota affecting multiple features, including the bacterial resistome. As such, our study focused on determining the antibiotic-resistance patterns and antibiotic-resistance genes of bacteria recovered from freshwater samples collected in areas of Antarctica under different degrees of human influence. Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing and PCR. The isolates collected from regions of high human intervention were resistant to several antibiotic groups, and were mainly associated with the presence of genes encoding aminoglycosides-modifying enzymes (AMEs) and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). Moreover, these isolates were resistant to synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs, in contrast with those recovered from zones with low human intervention, which resulted highly susceptible to antibiotics. On the other hand, we observed that zone A, under human influence, presented a higher richness and diversity of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in comparison with zones B and C, which have low human activity. Our results suggest that human activity has an impact on the local microbiota, in which strains recovered from zones under anthropic influence were considerably more resistant than those collected from remote regions.
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29
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Sharma Ghimire P, Tripathee L, Zhang Q, Guo J, Ram K, Huang J, Sharma CM, Kang S. Microbial mercury methylation in the cryosphere: Progress and prospects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 697:134150. [PMID: 32380618 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic heavy metals, and its cycle is mainly controlled by oxidation-reduction reactions carried out by photochemical or microbial process under suitable conditions. The deposition and accumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in various ecosystems, including the cryospheric components such as snow, meltwater, glaciers, and ice sheet, and subsequently in the food chain pose serious health concerns for living beings. Unlike the abundance of knowledge about the processes of MeHg production over land and oceans, little is known about the sources and production/degradation rate of MeHg in cryosphere systems. In addition, processes controlling the concentration of Hg and MeHg in the cryosphere remains poorly understood, and filling this scientific gap has been challenging. Therefore, it is essential to study and review the deposition and accumulation by biological, physical, and chemical mechanisms involved in Hg methylation in the cryosphere. This review attempts to address knowledge gaps in understanding processes, especially biotic and abiotic, applicable for Hg methylation in the cryosphere. First, we focus on the variability in Hg concentration and mechanisms of Hg methylation, including physical, chemical, microbial, and biological processes, and transportation in the cryosphere. Then, we elaborate on the mechanism of redox reactions and biotic and abiotic factors controlling Hg methylation and biogeochemistry of Hg in the cryosphere. We also present possible mechanisms of Hg methylation with an emphasis on microbial transformation and molecular function to understand variability in Hg concentration in the cryosphere. Recent advancements in the genetic and physicochemical mechanisms of Hg methylation are also presented. Finally, we summarize and propose a method to study the unsolved issues of Hg methylation in the cryosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakriti Sharma Ghimire
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Himalayan Environment Research Institute (HERI), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Lekhendra Tripathee
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Himalayan Environment Research Institute (HERI), Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | - Qianggong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kirpa Ram
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Jie Huang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chhatra Mani Sharma
- Himalayan Environment Research Institute (HERI), Kathmandu, Nepal; Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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30
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Convey P, Peck LS. Antarctic environmental change and biological responses. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaaz0888. [PMID: 31807713 PMCID: PMC6881164 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz0888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean are facing complex environmental change. Their native biota has adapted to the region's extreme conditions over many millions of years. This unique biota is now challenged by environmental change and the direct impacts of human activity. The terrestrial biota is characterized by considerable physiological and ecological flexibility and is expected to show increases in productivity, population sizes and ranges of individual species, and community complexity. However, the establishment of non-native organisms in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems may present an even greater threat than climate change itself. In the marine environment, much more limited response flexibility means that even small levels of warming are threatening. Changing sea ice has large impacts on ecosystem processes, while ocean acidification and coastal freshening are expected to have major impacts.
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31
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Malard LA, Šabacká M, Magiopoulos I, Mowlem M, Hodson A, Tranter M, Siegert MJ, Pearce DA. Spatial Variability of Antarctic Surface Snow Bacterial Communities. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:461. [PMID: 30972032 PMCID: PMC6443967 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It was once a long-held view that the Antarctic was a pristine environment with low biomass, low biodiversity and low rates of microbial activity. However, as the intensity of scientific investigation has increased, so these views have started to change. In particular, the role and impact of human activity toward indigenous microbial communities has started to come under more intense scrutiny. During the Subglacial Lake Ellsworth exploration campaign in December 2012, a microbiological survey was conducted to determine the extent and likelihood of exogenous input into the subglacial lake system during the hot-water drilling process. Snow was collected from the surface to represent that used for melt water production for hot-water drilling. The results of this study showed that snow used to provide melt water differed in its microbiological composition from that of the surrounding area and raised the question of how the biogeography of snow-borne microorganisms might influence the potential outcome of scientific analyses. In this study, we investigated the biogeography of microorganisms in snow around a series of Antarctic logistic hubs, where human activity was clearly apparent, and from which scientific investigations have been undertaken. A change in microbial community structure with geographical location was apparent and, notably, a decrease in alpha diversity at more remote southern latitudes. Soil-related microorganisms dominated microbial assemblages suggesting terrestrial input, most likely from long-range aeolian transport into continental Antarctica. We also observed that relic DNA was not a major issue when assessing snow samples. Overall, our observations might have profound implications for future scientific activities in Antarctica, such as the need to establish "no-go" protected areas, the need for better characterization of field sites and improved protocols for sterilization and verification of ice drilling equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie A. Malard
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University at Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Marie Šabacká
- Centre for Polar Ecology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Iordanis Magiopoulos
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Heraklion, Greece
- Ocean Technology and Engineering Group, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Mowlem
- Ocean Technology and Engineering Group, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Andy Hodson
- Arctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
| | - Martyn Tranter
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J. Siegert
- Grantham Institute, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Pearce
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University at Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Maccario L, Carpenter SD, Deming JW, Vogel TM, Larose C. Sources and selection of snow-specific microbial communities in a Greenlandic sea ice snow cover. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2290. [PMID: 30783153 PMCID: PMC6381142 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38744-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea ice and its snow cover are critical for global processes including climate regulation and biogeochemical cycles. Despite an increase in studies focused on snow microorganisms, the ecology of snow inhabitants remains unclear. In this study, we investigated sources and selection of a snowpack-specific microbial community by comparing metagenomes from samples collected in a Greenlandic fjord within a vertical profile including atmosphere, snowpack with four distinct layers of snow, sea ice brine and seawater. Microbial communities in all snow layers derived from mixed sources, both marine and terrestrial, and were more similar to atmospheric communities than to sea ice or seawater communities. The surface snow metagenomes were characterized by the occurrence of genes involved in photochemical stress resistance, primary production and metabolism of diverse carbon sources. The basal saline snow layer that was in direct contact with the sea ice surface harbored a higher abundance of cells than the overlying snow layers, with a predominance of Alteromonadales and a higher relative abundance of marine representatives. However, the overall taxonomic structure of the saline layer was more similar to that of other snow layers and the atmosphere than to underlying sea ice and seawater. The expulsion of relatively nutrient-rich sea ice brine into basal snow might have stimulated the growth of copiotrophic psychro- and halotolerant snow members. Our study indicates that the size, composition and function of snowpack microbial communities over sea ice were influenced primarily by atmospheric deposition and inflow of sea ice brine and that they form a snow-specific assemblage reflecting the particular environmental conditions of the snowpack habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorrie Maccario
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Écully, France.
- Microbiology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Jody W Deming
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Timothy M Vogel
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Écully, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Écully, France
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Davolos D, Pietrangeli B, Persiani AM, Maggi O. Victoriomyces antarcticus gen. nov., sp. nov., a distinct evolutionary lineage of the Cephalothecaceae (Ascomycota) based on sequence-based phylogeny and morphology. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2019; 69:1099-1110. [PMID: 30767849 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.003275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we propose a new genus, Victoriomyces, with a new species, Victoriomyces antarcticus, isolated from soil samples collected in Victoria Land, Antarctica. To determine its taxonomic status and evolutionary relationships, phylogenetic analysis was performed on DNA sequences from the nuclear 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) genes. Victoriomyces antarcticus constitutes one well-supported distinct lineage within the Cephalothecaceae (family incertae sedis in Sordariomycetes), in which the only recognised asexual morphs belong to the genus Phialemonium and to Acremonium thermophilum. Victoriomyces antarcticus can be clearly distinguished from these taxa by means of DNA sequence analysis and its morphological traits that consist in having a Metarhizium-like asexual morph, dark red-coloured disk-like structures, immature bodies and the production of an intense red pigment in the growth media. Finally, we inferred the divergence time of V. antarcticus and the Cephalothecaceae using Bayesian analysis and secondary calibration. The holotype of V. antarcticus is FBL 165. The ex-type strain has been deposited as MUT 3686T and CCF 6158T. An additional strain of the species is FBL 577. The MycoBank number is MB 823713 for the genus and MB 823714 for the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Davolos
- Department of Technological Innovations and Safety of Plants, Products and Anthropic Settlements, INAIL, Research Area, Via R. Ferruzzi 38/40 - 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Biancamaria Pietrangeli
- Department of Technological Innovations and Safety of Plants, Products and Anthropic Settlements, INAIL, Research Area, Via R. Ferruzzi 38/40 - 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Persiani
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro, 5 -00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Oriana Maggi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale A. Moro, 5 -00185 Rome, Italy
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Lambrechts S, Willems A, Tahon G. Uncovering the Uncultivated Majority in Antarctic Soils: Toward a Synergistic Approach. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:242. [PMID: 30828325 PMCID: PMC6385771 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Although Antarctica was once believed to be a sterile environment, it is now clear that the microbial communities inhabiting the Antarctic continent are surprisingly diverse. Until the beginning of the new millennium, little was known about the most abundant inhabitants of the continent: prokaryotes. From then on, however, the rising use of deep sequencing techniques has led to a better understanding of the Antarctic prokaryote diversity and provided insights in the composition of prokaryotic communities in different Antarctic environments. Although these cultivation-independent approaches can produce millions of sequences, linking these data to organisms is hindered by several problems. The largest difficulty is the lack of biological information on large parts of the microbial tree of life, arising from the fact that most microbial diversity on Earth has never been characterized in laboratory cultures. These unknown prokaryotes, also known as microbial dark matter, have been dominantly detected in all major environments on our planet. Laboratory cultures provide access to the complete genome and the means to experimentally verify genomic predictions and metabolic functions and to provide evidence of horizontal gene transfer. Without such well-documented reference data, microbial dark matter will remain a major blind spot in deep sequencing studies. Here, we review our current understanding of prokaryotic communities in Antarctic ice-free soils based on cultivation-dependent and cultivation-independent approaches. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of both approaches and how these strategies may be combined synergistically to strengthen each other and allow a more profound understanding of prokaryotic life on the frozen continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Lambrechts
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Guillaume Tahon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Hughes KA, Convey P, Pertierra LR, Vega GC, Aragón P, Olalla-Tárraga MÁ. Human-mediated dispersal of terrestrial species between Antarctic biogeographic regions: A preliminary risk assessment. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 232:73-89. [PMID: 30468960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.10.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of terrestrial biodiversity within Antarctica is complex, with 16 distinct biogeographic regions (Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions) currently recognised within the Antarctic continent, Peninsula and Scotia Arc archipelagos of the Antarctic Treaty area. Much of this diversity is endemic not only to Antarctica as a whole, but to specific regions within it. Further complexity is added by inclusion of the biodiversity found on the islands located in the Southern Ocean north of the Treaty area. Within Antarctica, scientific, logistic and tourism activities may inadvertently move organisms over potentially long distances, far beyond natural dispersal ranges. Such translocation can disrupt natural species distribution patterns and biogeography through: (1) movement of spatially restricted indigenous species to other areas of Antarctica; (2) movement of distinct populations of more generally distributed species from one area of Antarctica to another, leading to genetic homogenisation and loss of assumed local patterns of adaptation; and (3) further dispersal of introduced non-native species from one area of Antarctica to another. Species can be moved between regions in association with people and cargo, by ship, aircraft and overland travel. Movement of cargo and personnel by ship between stations located in different biogeographic regions is likely to present one of the greatest risks, particularly as coastal stations may experience similar climatic conditions, making establishment more likely. Recognising that reducing the risk of inter-regional transfer of species is a priority issue for the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, we make practical recommendations aimed at reducing this risk, including the implementation of appropriate biosecurity procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin A Hughes
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom.
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
| | - Luis R Pertierra
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Calle José Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Greta C Vega
- Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Rey Juan Carlos University, Calle Tulipán s/n, Móstoles (Madrid) 28933, Spain
| | - Pedro Aragón
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Calle José Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - Miguel Á Olalla-Tárraga
- Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Rey Juan Carlos University, Calle Tulipán s/n, Móstoles (Madrid) 28933, Spain
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Airborne Microorganisms in Antarctica: Transport, Survival and Establishment. SPRINGER POLAR SCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-02786-5_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
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Núñez-Montero K, Barrientos L. Advances in Antarctic Research for Antimicrobial Discovery: A Comprehensive Narrative Review of Bacteria from Antarctic Environments as Potential Sources of Novel Antibiotic Compounds Against Human Pathogens and Microorganisms of Industrial Importance. Antibiotics (Basel) 2018; 7:E90. [PMID: 30347637 PMCID: PMC6316688 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics7040090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has become a critical public health problem. It is also a concern for industries, since multidrug-resistant microorganisms affect the production of many agricultural and food products of economic importance. Therefore, discovering new antibiotics is crucial for controlling pathogens in both clinical and industrial spheres. Most antibiotics have resulted from bioprospecting in natural environments. Today, however, the chances of making novel discoveries of bioactive molecules from various well-known sources have dramatically diminished. Consequently, unexplored and unique environments have become more likely avenues for discovering novel antimicrobial metabolites from bacteria. Due to their extreme polar environment, Antarctic bacteria in particular have been reported as a potential source for new antimicrobial compounds. We conducted a narrative review of the literature about findings relating to the production of antimicrobial compounds by Antarctic bacteria, showing how bacterial adaptation to extreme Antarctic conditions confers the ability to produce these compounds. We highlighted the diversity of antibiotic-producing Antarctic microorganisms, including the phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes, which has led to the identification of new antibiotic molecules and supports the belief that research on Antarctic bacterial strains has important potential for biotechnology applications, while providing a better understanding of polar ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kattia Núñez-Montero
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada, Centro de Excelencia en Medicina Traslacional, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Alemania 0458, 4810296 Temuco, Chile.
- Núcleo Científico y Tecnológico en Biorecursos (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, 481123 Temuco, Chile.
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Escuela de Biología, Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, 30101 Cartago, Costa Rica.
| | - Leticia Barrientos
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada, Centro de Excelencia en Medicina Traslacional, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Alemania 0458, 4810296 Temuco, Chile.
- Núcleo Científico y Tecnológico en Biorecursos (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, 481123 Temuco, Chile.
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Pessi IS, Lara Y, Durieu B, Maalouf PDC, Verleyen E, Wilmotte A. Community structure and distribution of benthic cyanobacteria in Antarctic lacustrine microbial mats. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2018; 94:4935156. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Igor S Pessi
- InBioS—Centre for Protein Engineering, University of Liège, Allée du Six Août 13, B6a, Quartier Agora, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Yannick Lara
- InBioS—Centre for Protein Engineering, University of Liège, Allée du Six Août 13, B6a, Quartier Agora, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Benoit Durieu
- InBioS—Centre for Protein Engineering, University of Liège, Allée du Six Août 13, B6a, Quartier Agora, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Pedro de C Maalouf
- InBioS—Centre for Protein Engineering, University of Liège, Allée du Six Août 13, B6a, Quartier Agora, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Elie Verleyen
- Research Group Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan 281-S8, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Annick Wilmotte
- InBioS—Centre for Protein Engineering, University of Liège, Allée du Six Août 13, B6a, Quartier Agora, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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Rumpf SB, Alsos IG, Ware C. Prevention of microbial species introductions to the Arctic: The efficacy of footwear disinfection measures on cruise ships. NEOBIOTA 2018. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.37.22088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Biosecurity measures are commonly used to prevent the introduction of non-native species to natural environments globally, yet the efficacy of practices is rarely tested under operational conditions. A voluntary biosecurity measure was trialled in the Norwegian high Arctic following concern that non-native species might be transferred to the region on the footwear of travellers. Passengers aboard an expedition cruise ship disinfected their footwear with the broad spectrum disinfectant Virkon S prior to and in-between landing at sites around the remote Svalbard archipelago. The authors evaluated the efficacy of simply stepping through a disinfectant foot bath, which is the most common practice of footwear disinfection aboard expedition cruise ships in the Arctic. This was compared to a more time consuming and little-used method involving drying disinfected footwear, as proposed by other studies. The two practices were evaluated by measuring microbial growth on paired footwear samples before and after disinfection under both conditions. Step-through disinfection did not substantially reduce microbial growth on the footwear. Allowing disinfected footwear to dry, however, reduced the microbial burden significantly to lower levels. Thus, the currently adopted procedures used aboard ships are ineffective at removing microbial burden and are only effective when footwear is given more time to dry than currently granted under operational conditions. These findings underscore results from empirical research performed elsewhere and suggest the need to better relay this information to practitioners. It is suggested that footwear should minimally be wiped dry after step-through disinfection as a reasonable compromise between biosecurity and practicability.
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Van Goethem MW, Pierneef R, Bezuidt OKI, Van De Peer Y, Cowan DA, Makhalanyane TP. A reservoir of 'historical' antibiotic resistance genes in remote pristine Antarctic soils. MICROBIOME 2018; 6:40. [PMID: 29471872 PMCID: PMC5824556 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-018-0424-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil bacteria naturally produce antibiotics as a competitive mechanism, with a concomitant evolution, and exchange by horizontal gene transfer, of a range of antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Surveys of bacterial resistance elements in edaphic systems have originated primarily from human-impacted environments, with relatively little information from remote and pristine environments, where the resistome may comprise the ancestral gene diversity. METHODS We used shotgun metagenomics to assess antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) distribution in 17 pristine and remote Antarctic surface soils within the undisturbed Mackay Glacier region. We also interrogated the phylogenetic placement of ARGs compared to environmental ARG sequences and tested for the presence of horizontal gene transfer elements flanking ARGs. RESULTS In total, 177 naturally occurring ARGs were identified, most of which encoded single or multi-drug efflux pumps. Resistance mechanisms for the inactivation of aminoglycosides, chloramphenicol and β-lactam antibiotics were also common. Gram-negative bacteria harboured most ARGs (71%), with fewer genes from Gram-positive Actinobacteria and Bacilli (Firmicutes) (9%), reflecting the taxonomic composition of the soils. Strikingly, the abundance of ARGs per sample had a strong, negative correlation with species richness (r = - 0.49, P < 0.05). This result, coupled with a lack of mobile genetic elements flanking ARGs, suggests that these genes are ancient acquisitions of horizontal transfer events. CONCLUSIONS ARGs in these remote and uncontaminated soils most likely represent functional efficient historical genes that have since been vertically inherited over generations. The historical ARGs in these pristine environments carry a strong phylogenetic signal and form a monophyletic group relative to ARGs from other similar environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc W Van Goethem
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Natural Sciences Building 2, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Rian Pierneef
- Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Oliver K I Bezuidt
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Natural Sciences Building 2, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Yves Van De Peer
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Natural Sciences Building 2, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Don A Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Natural Sciences Building 2, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Thulani P Makhalanyane
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Natural Sciences Building 2, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.
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Kleinteich J, Hildebrand F, Bahram M, Voigt AY, Wood SA, Jungblut AD, Küpper FC, Quesada A, Camacho A, Pearce DA, Convey P, Vincent WF, Zarfl C, Bork P, Dietrich DR. Pole-to-Pole Connections: Similarities between Arctic and Antarctic Microbiomes and Their Vulnerability to Environmental Change. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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Higuera-Llantén S, Vásquez-Ponce F, Núñez-Gallegos M, Pavlov MS, Marshall S, Olivares-Pacheco J. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of a novel multi-antibiotic-resistant, alginate hyperproducing strain of Pseudomonas mandelii isolated in Antarctica. Polar Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-017-2206-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Lacap-Bugler DC, Lee KK, Archer S, Gillman LN, Lau MCY, Leuzinger S, Lee CK, Maki T, McKay CP, Perrott JK, de Los Rios-Murillo A, Warren-Rhodes KA, Hopkins DW, Pointing SB. Global Diversity of Desert Hypolithic Cyanobacteria. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:867. [PMID: 28559886 PMCID: PMC5432569 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Global patterns in diversity were estimated for cyanobacteria-dominated hypolithic communities that colonize ventral surfaces of quartz stones and are common in desert environments. A total of 64 hypolithic communities were recovered from deserts on every continent plus a tropical moisture sufficient location. Community diversity was estimated using a combined t-RFLP fingerprinting and high throughput sequencing approach. The t-RFLP analysis revealed desert communities were different from the single non-desert location. A striking pattern also emerged where Antarctic desert communities were clearly distinct from all other deserts. Some overlap in community similarity occurred for hot, cold and tundra deserts. A further observation was that the producer-consumer ratio displayed a significant negative correlation with growing season, such that shorter growing seasons supported communities with greater abundance of producers, and this pattern was independent of macroclimate. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA and nifH genes from four representative samples validated the t-RFLP study and revealed patterns of taxonomic and putative diazotrophic diversity for desert communities from the Taklimakan Desert, Tibetan Plateau, Canadian Arctic and Antarctic. All communities were dominated by cyanobacteria and among these 21 taxa were potentially endemic to any given desert location. Some others occurred in all but the most extreme hot and polar deserts suggesting they were relatively less well adapted to environmental stress. The t-RFLP and sequencing data revealed the two most abundant cyanobacterial taxa were Phormidium in Antarctic and Tibetan deserts and Chroococcidiopsis in hot and cold deserts. The Arctic tundra displayed a more heterogenous cyanobacterial assemblage and this was attributed to the maritime-influenced sampling location. The most abundant heterotrophic taxa were ubiquitous among samples and belonged to the Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria. Sequencing using nitrogenase gene-specific primers revealed all putative diazotrophs were Proteobacteria of the orders Burkholderiales, Rhizobiales, and Rhodospirillales. We envisage cyanobacterial carbon input to the system is accompanied by nitrogen fixation largely from non-cyanobacterial taxa. Overall the results indicate desert hypoliths worldwide are dominated by cyanobacteria and that growing season is a useful predictor of their abundance. Differences in cyanobacterial taxa encountered may reflect their adaptation to different moisture availability regimes in polar and non-polar deserts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donnabella C Lacap-Bugler
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland, New Zealand
| | - Kevin K Lee
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland, New Zealand
| | - Stephen Archer
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland, New Zealand
| | - Len N Gillman
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland, New Zealand
| | - Maggie C Y Lau
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, PrincetonNJ, USA
| | - Sebastian Leuzinger
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland, New Zealand
| | - Charles K Lee
- International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, School of Science, University of WaikatoHamilton, New Zealand
| | - Teruya Maki
- Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa UniversityKanazawa, Japan
| | - Christopher P McKay
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center, Moffett FieldCA, USA
| | - John K Perrott
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | - Stephen B Pointing
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Science, Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland, New Zealand.,Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa UniversityKanazawa, Japan
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Greve M, Mathakutha R, Steyn C, Chown SL. Terrestrial invasions on sub-Antarctic Marion and Prince Edward Islands. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.4102/abc.v47i2.2143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Background: The sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands (PEIs), South Africa’s southernmost territories have high conservation value. Despite their isolation, several alien species have established and become invasive on the PEIs. Objectives: Here we review the invasion ecology of the PEIs. Methods: We summarise what is known about the introduction of alien species, what influences their ability to establish and spread, and review their impacts. Results: Approximately 48 alien species are currently established on the PEIs, of which 26 are known to be invasive. Introduction pathways for the PEIs are fairly well understood – species have mainly been introduced with ship cargo and building material. Less is known about establishment, spread and impact of aliens. It has been estimated that less than 5% of the PEIs is covered by invasive plants, but invasive plants have attained circuminsular distributions on both PEIs. Studies on impact have primarily focussed on the effects of vertebrate invaders, of which the house mouse, which is restricted to Marion Island, probably has the greatest impact on the biodiversity of the islands. Because of the risk of alien introductions, strict biosecurity regulations govern activities at the PEIs. These are particularly aimed at stemming the introduction of alien species, and are likely to have reduced the rates of new introductions. In addition, some effort is currently being made to eradicate selected range-restricted species. However, only one species that had established and spread on the PEIs, the cat, has been successfully eradicated from the islands. Conclusion: Given the ongoing threat of introductions, and the impacts of invaders, it is essential that future invasions to the PEIs are minimised, that the islands’ management policies deal with all stages of the invasion process and that a better understanding of the risks and impacts of invasions is obtained.
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Hernández J, González-Acuña D. Anthropogenic antibiotic resistance genes mobilization to the polar regions. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2016; 6:32112. [PMID: 27938628 PMCID: PMC5149653 DOI: 10.3402/iee.v6.32112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 10/23/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic influences in the southern polar region have been rare, but lately microorganisms associated with humans have reached Antarctica, possibly from military bases, fishing boats, scientific expeditions, and/or ship-borne tourism. Studies of seawater in areas of human intervention and proximal to fresh penguin feces revealed the presence of Escherichia coli strains least resistant to antibiotics in penguins, whereas E. coli from seawater elsewhere showed resistance to one or more of the following antibiotics: ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin, and trim-sulfa. In seawater samples, bacteria were found carrying extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-type CTX-M genes in which multilocus sequencing typing (MLST) showed different sequence types (STs), previously reported in humans. In the Arctic, on the contrary, people have been present for a long time, and the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) appears to be much more wide-spread than was previously reported. Studies of E coli from Arctic birds (Bering Strait) revealed reduced susceptibility to antibiotics, but one globally spreading clone of E. coli genotype O25b-ST131, carrying genes of ESBL-type CTX-M, was identified. In the few years between sample collections in the same area, differences in resistance pattern were observed, with E. coli from birds showing resistance to a maximum of five different antibiotics. Presence of resistance-type ESBLs (TEM, SHV, and CTX-M) in E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae was also confirmed by specified PCR methods. MLST revealed that those bacteria carried STs that connect them to previously described strains in humans. In conclusion, bacteria previously related to humans could be found in relatively pristine environments, and presently human-associated, antibiotic-resistant bacteria have reached a high global level of distribution that they are now found even in the polar regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Hernández
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Clinic of Microbiology, Kalmar County Hospital, Kalmar, Sweden;
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Power ML, Samuel A, Smith JJ, Stark JS, Gillings MR, Gordon DM. Escherichia coli out in the cold: Dissemination of human-derived bacteria into the Antarctic microbiome. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 215:58-65. [PMID: 27179324 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Discharge of untreated sewage into Antarctic environments presents a risk of introducing non-native microorganisms, but until now, adverse consequences have not been conclusively identified. Here we show that sewage disposal introduces human derived Escherichia coli carrying mobile genetic elements and virulence traits with the potential to affect the diversity and evolution of native Antarctic microbial communities. We compared E. coli recovered from environmental and animal sources in Antarctica to a reference collection of E. coli from humans and non-Antarctic animals. The distribution of phylogenetic groups and frequency of 11 virulence factors amongst the Antarctic isolates were characteristic of E. coli strains more commonly associated with humans. The rapidly emerging E. coli ST131 and ST95 clones were found amongst the Antarctic isolates, and ST95 was the predominant E. coli recovered from Weddell seals. Class 1 integrons were found in 15% of the Antarctic E. coli with 4 of 5 identified gene cassette arrays containing antibiotic resistance genes matching those common in clinical contexts. Disposing untreated sewage into the Antarctic environment does disseminate non-native microorganisms, but the extent of this impact and implications for Antarctic ecosystem health are, as yet, poorly understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Power
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Angelingifta Samuel
- Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 116 Daley Road, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - James J Smith
- Queensland University of Technology, Science and Engineering Faculty, School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia; JJSC Consulting Ltd., 16 Mullacor St., Ferny Grove, QLD 4055, Australia.
| | - Jonathon S Stark
- Antarctic Conservation and Management, Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tasmania 7050, Australia.
| | - Michael R Gillings
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - David M Gordon
- Division of Evolution, Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 116 Daley Road, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
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Pearce DA, Alekhina IA, Terauds A, Wilmotte A, Quesada A, Edwards A, Dommergue A, Sattler B, Adams BJ, Magalhães C, Chu WL, Lau MCY, Cary C, Smith DJ, Wall DH, Eguren G, Matcher G, Bradley JA, de Vera JP, Elster J, Hughes KA, Cuthbertson L, Benning LG, Gunde-Cimerman N, Convey P, Hong SG, Pointing SB, Pellizari VH, Vincent WF. Aerobiology Over Antarctica - A New Initiative for Atmospheric Ecology. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:16. [PMID: 26909068 PMCID: PMC4754734 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of aerial dispersal in shaping patterns of biodiversity remains poorly understood, mainly due to a lack of coordinated efforts in gathering data at appropriate temporal and spatial scales. It has been long known that the rate of dispersal to an ecosystem can significantly influence ecosystem dynamics, and that aerial transport has been identified as an important source of biological input to remote locations. With the considerable effort devoted in recent decades to understanding atmospheric circulation in the south-polar region, a unique opportunity has emerged to investigate the atmospheric ecology of Antarctica, from regional to continental scales. This concept note identifies key questions in Antarctic microbial biogeography and the need for standardized sampling and analysis protocols to address such questions. A consortium of polar aerobiologists is established to bring together researchers with a common interest in the airborne dispersion of microbes and other propagules in the Antarctic, with opportunities for comparative studies in the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Pearce
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria UniversityNewcastle-upon-Tyne, UK; British Antarctic SurveyCambridge, UK
| | - Irina A Alekhina
- Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Aleks Terauds
- Australian Antarctic Division Kingston, TAS, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Catarina Magalhães
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto Porto, Portugal
| | - Wan-Loy Chu
- International Medical University Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Maggie C Y Lau
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Craig Cary
- University of Waikato Hamilton, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Josef Elster
- University of South BohemiaČeské Budějovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Botany of the Academy of Science of the Czech RepublicTřeboň, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Liane G Benning
- Helmholtz Centre Potsdam GFZ, German Research Centre for Geosciences Potsdam, Germany
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Cunachi AM, Fernández-Delgado M, Suárez P, Contreras M, Michelangeli F, García-Amado MA. Detection of Helicobacter DNA in different water sources and penguin feces from Greenwich, Dee and Barrientos Islands, Antarctica. Polar Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1879-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Wang NF, Zhang T, Zhang F, Wang ET, He JF, Ding H, Zhang BT, Liu J, Ran XB, Zang JY. Diversity and structure of soil bacterial communities in the Fildes Region (maritime Antarctica) as revealed by 454 pyrosequencing. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1188. [PMID: 26579095 PMCID: PMC4623505 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study assessed the diversity and composition of bacterial communities in four different soils (human-, penguin-, seal-colony impacted soils and pristine soil) in the Fildes Region (King George Island, Antarctica) using 454 pyrosequencing with bacterial-specific primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia were abundant phyla in almost all the soil samples. The four types of soils were significantly different in geochemical properties and bacterial community structure. Thermotogae, Cyanobacteria, Fibrobacteres, Deinococcus-Thermus, and Chlorobi obviously varied in their abundance among the 4 soil types. Considering all the samples together, members of the genera Gaiella, Chloracidobacterium, Nitrospira, Polaromonas, Gemmatimonas, Sphingomonas, and Chthoniobacter were found to predominate, whereas members of the genera Chamaesiphon, Herbaspirillum, Hirschia, Nevskia, Nitrosococcus, Rhodococcus, Rhodomicrobium, and Xanthomonas varied obviously in their abundance among the four soil types. Distance-based redundancy analysis revealed that pH (p < 0.01), phosphate phosphorus (p < 0.01), organic carbon (p < 0.05), and organic nitrogen (p < 0.05) were the most significant factors that correlated with the community distribution of soil bacteria. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the soil bacterial communities in human-, penguin-, and seal- colony impacted soils from ice-free areas in maritime Antarctica using high-throughput pyrosequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neng Fei Wang
- Key Lab of Marine Bioactive Substances, The First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration Qingdao, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- Polar Research Institute of China Shanghai, China
| | - En Tao Wang
- Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional Mexico, Mexico
| | - Jian Feng He
- Polar Research Institute of China Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Ding
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Qingdao University Qingdao, China
| | - Bo Tao Zhang
- Chemical Engineering Institute, Qingdao University Qingdao, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao, China
| | - Xiang Bin Ran
- Key Lab of Marine Bioactive Substances, The First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration Qingdao, China
| | - Jia Ye Zang
- Key Lab of Marine Bioactive Substances, The First Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration Qingdao, China
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50
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Chong CW, Pearce DA, Convey P. Emerging spatial patterns in Antarctic prokaryotes. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1058. [PMID: 26483777 PMCID: PMC4588704 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in knowledge of patterns of biogeography in terrestrial eukaryotic organisms have led to a fundamental paradigm shift in understanding of the controls and history of life on land in Antarctica, and its interactions over the long term with the glaciological and geological processes that have shaped the continent. However, while it has long been recognized that the terrestrial ecosystems of Antarctica are dominated by microbes and their processes, knowledge of microbial diversity and distributions has lagged far behind that of the macroscopic eukaryote organisms. Increasing human contact with and activity in the continent is leading to risks of biological contamination and change in a region whose isolation has protected it for millions of years at least; these risks may be particularly acute for microbial communities which have, as yet, received scant recognition and attention. Even a matter apparently as straightforward as Protected Area designation in Antarctica requires robust biodiversity data which, in most parts of the continent, remain almost completely unavailable. A range of important contributing factors mean that it is now timely to reconsider the state of knowledge of Antarctic terrestrial prokaryotes. Rapid advances in molecular biological approaches are increasingly demonstrating that bacterial diversity in Antarctica may be far greater than previously thought, and that there is overlap in the environmental controls affecting both Antarctic prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities. Bacterial dispersal mechanisms and colonization patterns remain largely unaddressed, although evidence for regional evolutionary differentiation is rapidly accruing and, with this, there is increasing appreciation of patterns in regional bacterial biogeography in this large part of the globe. In this review, we set out to describe the state of knowledge of Antarctic prokaryote diversity patterns, drawing analogy with those of eukaryote groups where appropriate. Based on our synthesis, it is clear that spatial patterns of Antarctic prokaryotes can be unique at local scales, while the limited evidence available to date supports the group exhibiting overall regional biogeographical patterns similar to the eukaryotes. We further consider the applicability of the concept of “functional redundancy” for the Antarctic microbial community and highlight the requirements for proper consideration of their important and distinctive roles in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Wie Chong
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia ; National Antarctic Research Center, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
| | - David A Pearce
- National Antarctic Research Center, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia ; Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne UK ; University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen Norway ; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge UK
| | - Peter Convey
- National Antarctic Research Center, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia ; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge UK
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