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Sanjurjo-Sánchez J, Alves C, Freire-Lista DM. Biomineral deposits and coatings on stone monuments as biodeterioration fingerprints. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168846. [PMID: 38036142 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Biominerals deposition processes, also called biomineralisation, are intimately related to biodeterioration on stone surfaces. They include complex processes not always completely well understood. The study of biominerals implies the identification of organisms, their molecular mechanisms, and organism/rock/atmosphere interactions. Sampling restrictions of monument stones difficult the biominerals study and the in situ demonstrating of biodeterioration processes. Multidisciplinary works are required to understand the whole process. Thus, studies in heritage buildings have taken advantage of previous knowledge acquired thanks to laboratory experiments, investigations carried out on rock outcrops and within caves from some years ago. With the extrapolation of such knowledge to heritage buildings and the advances in laboratory techniques, there has been a huge increase of knowledge regarding biomineralisation and biodeterioration processes in stone monuments during the last 20 years. These advances have opened new debates about the implications on conservation interventions, and the organism's role in stone conservation and decay. This is a review of the existing studies of biominerals formation, biodeterioration on laboratory experiments, rocks, caves, and their application to building stones of monuments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Alves
- LandS/Lab2PT-Landscapes, Heritage and Territory Laboratory (FCT-UIDB/04509/2020) and Earth Sciences Department/School of Sciences, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - David M Freire-Lista
- Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Escola de Ciências da Vida e do Ambiente, Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; Centro de Geociências, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
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2
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Mugnai G, Borruso L, Wu YL, Gallinaro M, Cappitelli F, Zerboni A, Villa F. Ecological strategies of bacterial communities in prehistoric stone wall paintings across weathering gradients: A case study from the Borana zone in southern Ethiopia. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:168026. [PMID: 37907101 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Rock art paintings represent fragile ecosystems supporting complex microbial communities tuned to the lithic substrate and climatic conditions. The composition and activity of these microbial communities associated with different weathering patterns affecting rock art sites remain unexplored. This study aimed to explore how bacterial communities adapt their ecological strategies based on substrate weathering, while also examining the role of their metabolic pathways in either biodeterioration or bioprotection of the underlying stone. SEM-EDS investigations coupled with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and PICRUSt2 analysis were applied on different weathered surfaces that affect southern Ethiopian rock paintings to investigate the relationships between the current stone microbiome and weathering patterns. The findings revealed that samples experiencing low and high weathering reached a climax stage characterized by stable microenvironments and limited resources. This condition favored K-strategist microorganisms, leading to reduced α-biodiversity and a community with a positive or neutral impact on the substrate. In contrast, moderately-weathered samples displayed diverse microhabitats, resulting in the prevalence of r-strategist bacteria, increased α-biodiversity, and the presence of specialist microorganisms. Moreover, the bacterial communities in moderately-weathered samples demonstrated the highest potential for carbon fixation, stress responses, and complete nitrogen and sulfur cycles. This bacterial community also showed the potential to negatively impact the underlying substrate. This research provided valuable insights into the little-understood ecology of bacterial communities inhabiting deteriorated surfaces, shedding light on the potential role of these microorganisms in the sustainable conservation of rock art.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianmarco Mugnai
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno, 74, I-06121 Perugia (PG), IT, Italy.
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Piazza Universitá 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Ying-Li Wu
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra "A. Desio", Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Marina Gallinaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Antichità, Università di Roma La Sapienza, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Andrea Zerboni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra "A. Desio", Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Federica Villa
- Dipartimento di Scienze per gli Alimenti, la Nutrizione e l'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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A Multi-Analytical Approach to Infer Mineral–Microbial Interactions Applied to Petroglyph Sites in the Negev Desert of Israel. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12146936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Petroglyph sites exist all over the world. They are one of the earliest forms of mankind’s expression and a precursor to art. Despite their outstanding value, comprehensive research on conservation and preservation of rock art is minimal, especially as related to biodeterioration. For this reason, the main objective of this study was to explore the factors involved in the degradation of petroglyph sites in the Negev desert of Israel, with a focus on biodegradation processes. Through the use of culture-independent microbiological methods (metagenomics), we characterized the microbiomes of the samples, finding they were dominated by bacterial communities, in particular taxa of Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria, with resistance to radiation and desiccation. By means of XRF and Raman spectroscopies, we defined the composition of the stone (calcite and quartz) and the dark crust (clay minerals with Mn and Fe oxides), unveiling the presence of carotenoids, indicative of biological colonization. Optical microscopy and SEM–EDX analyses on thin sections highlighted patterns of weathering, possibly connected to the presence of biodeteriorative microorganisms that leach the calcareous matrix from the bedrock and mobilize metal cations from the black varnish for metabolic processes, slowly weathering it.
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Harmon RS, Khashchevskaya D, Morency M, Owen LA, Jennings M, Knott JR, Dortch JM. Analysis of Rock Varnish from the Mojave Desert by Handheld Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26175200. [PMID: 34500634 PMCID: PMC8433696 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a form of optical emission spectroscopy that can be used for the rapid analysis of geological materials in the field under ambient environmental conditions. We describe here the innovative use of handheld LIBS for the in situ analysis of rock varnish. This thinly laminated and compositionally complex veneer forms slowly over time on rock surfaces in dryland regions and is particularly abundant across the Mojave Desert climatic region of east-central California (USA). Following the depth profiling examination of a varnished clast from colluvial gravel in Death Valley in the laboratory, our in situ analysis of rock varnish and visually similar coatings on rock surfaces was undertaken in the Owens and Deep Spring valleys in two contexts, element detection/identification and microchemical mapping. Emission peaks were recognized in the LIBS spectra for the nine elements most abundant in rock varnish-Mn, Fe, Si, Al, Na, Mg, K, Ca and Ba, as well as for H, Li, C, O, Ti, V, Sr and Rb. Focused follow-up laboratory and field studies will help understand rock varnish formation and its utility for weathering and chronological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell S. Harmon
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (D.K.); (M.M.); (L.A.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-919-588-0613
| | - Daria Khashchevskaya
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (D.K.); (M.M.); (L.A.O.)
| | - Michelle Morency
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (D.K.); (M.M.); (L.A.O.)
| | - Lewis A. Owen
- Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA; (D.K.); (M.M.); (L.A.O.)
| | | | - Jeffrey R. Knott
- Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA;
| | - Jason M. Dortch
- Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40508, USA;
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Shining light on photosynthetic microbes and manganese-enriched rock varnish. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2109436118. [PMID: 34183441 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2109436118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Abstract
Rock varnish is a prominent feature of desert landscapes and the canvas for many prehistoric petroglyphs. How it forms—and, in particular, the basis for its extremely high manganese content—has been an enduring mystery. The work presented here establishes a biological mechanism for this manganese enrichment, underpinned by an apparent antioxidant strategy that enables microbes to survive in the harsh environments where varnish forms. The understanding that varnish is the residue of life using manganese to thrive in the desert illustrates that, even in extremely stark environments, the imprint of life is omnipresent on the landscape. Desert varnish is a dark rock coating that forms in arid environments worldwide. It is highly and selectively enriched in manganese, the mechanism for which has been a long-standing geological mystery. We collected varnish samples from diverse sites across the western United States, examined them in petrographic thin section using microscale chemical imaging techniques, and investigated the associated microbial communities using 16S amplicon and shotgun metagenomic DNA sequencing. Our analyses described a material governed by sunlight, water, and manganese redox cycling that hosts an unusually aerobic microbial ecosystem characterized by a remarkable abundance of photosynthetic Cyanobacteria in the genus Chroococcidiopsis as the major autotrophic constituent. We then showed that diverse Cyanobacteria, including the relevant Chroococcidiopsis taxon, accumulate extraordinary amounts of intracellular manganese—over two orders of magnitude higher manganese content than other cells. The speciation of this manganese determined by advanced paramagnetic resonance techniques suggested that the Cyanobacteria use it as a catalytic antioxidant—a valuable adaptation for coping with the substantial oxidative stress present in this environment. Taken together, these results indicated that the manganese enrichment in varnish is related to its specific uptake and use by likely founding members of varnish microbial communities.
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Nir I, Barak H, Kramarsky-Winter E, Kushmaro A, de Los Ríos A. Microscopic and biomolecular complementary approaches to characterize bioweathering processes at petroglyph sites from the Negev Desert, Israel. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:967-980. [PMID: 34110072 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the Negev Desert highlands, thousands of ancient petroglyphs sites are susceptible to deterioration processes that may result in the loss of this unique rock art. Therefore, the overarching goal of the current study was to characterize the composition, diversity and effects of microbial colonization of the rocks to find ways of protecting these unique treasures. The spatial organization of the microbial colonizers and their relationships with the lithic substrate were analysed using scanning electron microscopy. This approach revealed extensive epilithic and endolithic colonization and close microbial-mineral interactions. Shotgun sequencing analysis revealed various taxa from the archaea, bacteria and some eukaryotes. Metagenomic coding sequences (CDS) of these microbial lithobionts exhibited specific metabolic pathways involved in the rock elements' cycles and uptake processes. Thus, our results provide evidence for the potential participation of the microorganisms colonizing these rocks during different solubilization and mineralization processes. These damaging actions may contribute to the deterioration of this extraordinary rock art and thus threaten this valuable heritage. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing, in conjunction with the in situ scanning electron microscopy study, can thus be considered an effective strategy to understand the complexity of the weathering processes occurring at petroglyph sites and other cultural heritage assets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irit Nir
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Hana Barak
- Unit of Environmental Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Esti Kramarsky-Winter
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva, 8410501, Israel
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Be'er Sheva, 8410501, Israel.,The Ilse Katz Center for Meso and Nanoscale Science and Technology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Asunción de Los Ríos
- Department of Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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Duncan TR, Werner-Washburne M, Northup DE. DIVERSITY OF SIDEROPHORE-PRODUCING BACTERIAL CULTURES FROM CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK (CCNP) CAVES, CARLSBAD, NEW MEXICO. JOURNAL OF CAVE AND KARST STUDIES : THE NATIONAL SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 2021; 83:29-43. [PMID: 34556971 PMCID: PMC8455092 DOI: 10.4311/2019es0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Siderophores are microbially-produced ferric iron chelators. They are essential for microbial survival, but their presence and function for cave microorganisms have not been extensively studied. Cave environments are nutrient-limited and previous evidence suggests siderophore usage in carbonate caves. We hypothesize that siderophores are likely used as a mechanism in caves to obtain critical nutrients such as iron. Cave bacteria were collected from Long-term parent cultures (LT PC) or Short-term parent cultures (ST PC) inoculated with ferromanganese deposits (FMD) and carbonate secondary minerals from Lechuguilla and Spider caves in Carlsbad Caverns National Park (CCNP), NM. LT PC were incubated for 10-11 years to identify potential chemolithoheterotrophic cultures able to survive in nutrient-limited conditions. ST PC were incubated for 1-3 days to identify a broader diversity of cave isolates. A total of 170 LT and ST cultures,18 pure and 152 mixed, were collected and used to classify siderophore production and type and to identify siderophore producers. Siderophore production was slow to develop (>10 days) in LT cultures with a greater number of weak siderophore producers in comparison to the ST cultures that produced siderophores in <10 days, with a majority of strong siderophore producers. Overall, 64% of the total cultures were siderophore producers, which the majority preferred hydroxamate siderophores. Siderophore producers were classified into Proteobacteria (Alpha-, Beta-, or Gamma-), Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes phyla using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our study supports our hypothesis that cave bacteria have the capability to produce siderophores in the subsurface to obtain critical ferric iron.
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Ngolong Ngea GL, Yang Q, Tchabo W, Castoria R, Zhang X, Zhang H. Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides LB7 isolated from apple surface inhibits P. expansum in vitro and reduces patulin in fruit juices. Int J Food Microbiol 2020; 339:109025. [PMID: 33360297 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2020.109025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
This research aimed to isolate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from apple surface and to reveal their potential to inhibit the growth of Penicillium expansum. Besides, their ability to detoxify fruit juices contaminated with mycotoxin patulin, produced by this fungi, was also studied. The isolation was performed on a typical MRS medium under ambient conditions. The molecular identification of the strains was done by sequencing the 16S rRNA genes. Antifungal activities of the isolated strains have been evaluated using dual agar plate assay protocol. A total of 11 LAB isolates was obtained from apples. These isolates showed phenotypic traits consistent with the genera of LAB. They have been identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides and Weissella paramesenteroides. Among them, the strain LB7 showed exciting inhibitory activities in vitro against P. expansum. LB7 also successfully detoxified homemade and commercial fruit juices contaminated with patulin. Further research will bring the application prospects of these LABs in food biocontrol and biopreservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Legrand Ngolong Ngea
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Institute of Fisheries Sciences, University of Douala, Douala 24157, Cameroon
| | - Qiya Yang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - William Tchabo
- School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China; Department of Food Science and Nutrition, National Advanced School of Agro-Industrial Sciences (ENSAI), University of Ngaoundere, PO Box 455, Ngaoundere, Cameroon
| | - Raffaello Castoria
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Università degli Studi del Molise, via Francesco de Sanctis snc, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
| | - Xiaoyun Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Hongyin Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
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Margalho LP, Jorge GP, Noleto DAP, Silva CE, Abreu JS, Piran MVF, Brocchi M, Sant'Ana AS. Biopreservation and probiotic potential of a large set of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Brazilian artisanal cheeses: From screening to in product approach. Microbiol Res 2020; 242:126622. [PMID: 33099234 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The increasing interest in products with functional properties has encouraged the search for new lactic acid bacteria (LAB) present in natural sources, as traditional fermented foods. In this study, a large set of wild LAB isolates (n = 220) from Brazilian artisanal cheeses (BAC) were assessed for their probiotic and biopreservation potential. First, the rational selection was performed. From the tested isolates, 92 (41.8 %) were resistant to low pH (2 and 3). These isolates were submitted to bile salt (0.4 % Oxgall powder) resistance, and 22 were selected and submitted to adhesion assays. The autoaggregation values ranged from 68.5-99% and were considered moderate to high (20-70 %). Hydrophobicity values varied significantly between LAB (5.0-64.3%), and seven isolates presented values higher than 40 %. All selected LAB (n=22) were capable of adhering to Caco-2 (> 70 %) cells, and none isolate displayed any tested gene for biogenic amine production. Most isolates (18/22) showed less than 1 log CFU reduction after passage through the simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) conditions. A total of twenty isolates satisfied key in vitro criteria to be considered as probiotics. A hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was performed, and two clusters were observed, showing high variability between Lactobacillus plantarum isolates regarding adhesion properties and survival to GIT stress and one influence of the source of isolation on these properties. After screening, the antimicrobial activity of Lb. plantarum (1QB77) was tested in microcheeses in which survival of two relevant pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) was monitored along ripening and after a simulated GIT passage, concomitantly. L. plantarum (1QB77) has shown the ability to reach high counts (∼ 9 log CFU/g) at the end of ripening. This isolate was also able to reduce counts of S. aureus and L. monocytogenes in microcheeses in approx. 2.3 and 2.5 log CFU/g, respectively, until the 21st day of ripening; and about 3.2 and 3.5 log CFU/g after simulated GIT passage. Overall, the assessment of the probiotic properties of a large set of LAB was fundamental for gaining insights on the technological, functional, and potential regional traits of wild LAB isolates that can be used to develop starter cultures for tailored applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa P Margalho
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Genesy P Jorge
- Tropical Disease Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Deise A P Noleto
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Christian E Silva
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Júlia S Abreu
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos V F Piran
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Brocchi
- Tropical Disease Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Anderson S Sant'Ana
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Engineering, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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Câmara SPA, Dapkevicius A, Silva CCG, Malcata FX, L. N. Enes Dapkevicius M. Artisanal Pico cheese as reservoir of Enterococcus species possessing virulence and antibiotic resistance properties: implications for food safety. FOOD BIOTECHNOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/08905436.2019.1710844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. P. A. Câmara
- Food Technology Group, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITA-A), University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - A. Dapkevicius
- Food Technology Group, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITA-A), University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- Higher School for Technologies, University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - C. C. G. Silva
- Food Technology Group, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITA-A), University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - F. X. Malcata
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal
- LEPABE Laboratory of Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, College of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria L. N. Enes Dapkevicius
- Food Technology Group, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITA-A), University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
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12
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Esposito A, Borruso L, Rattray JE, Brusetti L, Ahmed E. Taxonomic and functional insights into rock varnish microbiome using shotgun metagenomics. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2019; 95:5626342. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiz180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACTRock varnish is a microbial habitat, characterised by thin (5–500 μm) and shiny coatings of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) oxides associated with clay minerals. This structure is well studied by geologists, and recently there have been reports about the taxonomical composition of its microbiome. In this study, we investigated the rock varnish microbiome using shotgun metagenomics together with analyses of elemental composition, lipid and small molecule biomarkers, and rock surface analyses to explore the biogeography of microbial communities and their functional features. We report taxa and encoded functions represented in metagenomes retrieved from varnish or non-varnish samples, additionally, eight nearly complete genomes have been reconstructed spanning four phyla (Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi and TM7). The functional and taxonomic analyses presented in this study provide new insights into the ecosystem dynamics and survival strategies of microbial communities inhabiting varnish and non-varnish rock surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Esposito
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology – CIBIO – University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen/Bolzano, piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Jayne E Rattray
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Lorenzo Brusetti
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen/Bolzano, piazza Università 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Engy Ahmed
- Institute of Soil Biology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Na Sádkách 7, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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13
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Seasonal diversity of the bacterial communities associated with petroglyphs sites from the Negev Desert, Israel. ANN MICROBIOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13213-019-01509-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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14
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Ren G, Yan Y, Nie Y, Lu A, Wu X, Li Y, Wang C, Ding H. Natural Extracellular Electron Transfer Between Semiconducting Minerals and Electroactive Bacterial Communities Occurred on the Rock Varnish. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:293. [PMID: 30886603 PMCID: PMC6410676 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rock varnish is a thin coating enriched with manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) oxides. The mineral composition and formation of rock varnish elicit considerable attention from geologists and microbiologists. However, limited research has been devoted to the semiconducting properties of these Fe/Mn oxides in varnish and relatively little attention is paid to the mineral-microbe interaction under sunlight. In this study, the mineral composition and the bacterial communities on varnish from the Gobi Desert in Xinjiang, China were analyzed. Results of principal components analysis and t-test indicated that more electroactive genera such as Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, Dietzia, and Pseudomonas gathered on varnish bacterial communities than on substrate rock and surrounding soils. We then explored the culture of varnish, substrate and soil samples in media and the extracellular electron transfer (EET) between bacterial communities and mineral electrodes under light/dark conditions for the first time. Orthogonal electrochemical experiments demonstrated that the most remarkable photocurrent density of 6.1 ± 0.4 μA/cm2 was observed between varnish electrode and varnish microflora. Finally, based on Raman and 16S rRNA gene-sequencing results, coculture system of birnessite and Pseudomonas (the major Mn oxide and a common electroactive bacterium in varnish) was established to study underlying mechanism. A steadily growing photocurrent (205 μA at 100 h) under light was observed with a stable birnessite after 110 h. However, only 47 μA was generated in the dark control and birnessite was reduced to Mn2+ in 13 h, suggesting that birnessite helped deliver electrons instead of serving as an electron acceptor under light. Our study demonstrated that electroactive bacterial communities were positively correlated with Fe/Mn semiconducting minerals in varnish, and diversified EET process occurred on varnish under sunlight. Overall, these phenomena may influence bacterial-community structure in natural environments over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiping Ren
- The Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mineral Environmental Function, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yingchun Yan
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Nie
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Anhuai Lu
- The Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mineral Environmental Function, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolei Wu
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Li
- The Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mineral Environmental Function, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Changqiu Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mineral Environmental Function, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongrui Ding
- The Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, Beijing Key Laboratory of Mineral Environmental Function, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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15
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Câmara SP, Dapkevicius A, Riquelme C, Elias RB, Silva C, Malcata FX, Dapkevicius M. Potential of lactic acid bacteria from Pico cheese for starter culture development. FOOD SCI TECHNOL INT 2019; 25:303-317. [PMID: 30646760 DOI: 10.1177/1082013218823129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Autochthonous lactic acid bacteria may provide a means of promoting the quality and safety of traditional fermented food products, in particular, artisanal cheeses. Pico cheese is an artisanal, dairy specialty of the Azores in risk of disappearing. Efforts to maintain its quality to the requirements of the modern markets are, thus, necessary. Lactic acid bacteria were isolated from artisanal Pico cheese, identified by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and their potential as starter cultures was evaluated by studying their acidification ability, enzymatic activities (caseinolysis, lipolysis and API-ZYM profile), diacetyl and expolysaccharide production, autolysis, antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7466, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29523, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Clostridium perfringens ATCC 8357, sensory evaluation of odour formation in milk, syneresis and firmness of the curd. Several of the studied lactic acid bacteria isolates showed interesting properties for practical application as starters in artisanal cheese production. The isolates with the highest number of positive traits and, therefore, the most promising for starter development were Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis L1C21M1, Lactobacillus paracasei L1B1E3, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides L1C1E6, Lactobacillus casei L1A1E5 and L1C1E8.
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Affiliation(s)
- S P Câmara
- 1 Food Technology Group, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITA-A), University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal.,2 Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - A Dapkevicius
- 1 Food Technology Group, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITA-A), University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal.,3 Higher School of Technologies, University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - C Riquelme
- 1 Food Technology Group, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITA-A), University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - R B Elias
- 2 Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal.,4 CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group and University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Ccg Silva
- 1 Food Technology Group, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITA-A), University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal.,2 Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - F X Malcata
- 5 LEPABE/Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal
| | - Mlne Dapkevicius
- 1 Food Technology Group, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Research and Technology (IITA-A), University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal.,2 Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Pico da Urze, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
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16
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Kimble JC, Winter AS, Spilde MN, Sinsabaugh RL, Northup DE. A potential central role of Thaumarchaeota in N-Cycling in a semi-arid environment, Fort Stanton Cave, Snowy River passage, New Mexico, USA. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2018; 94:5079639. [PMID: 30165514 PMCID: PMC6669814 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Low biomass and productivity of arid-land caves with limited availability of nitrogen (N) raises the question of how microbes acquire and cycle this essential element. Caves are ideal environments for investigating microbial functional capabilities, as they lack phototrophic activity and have near constant temperatures and high relative humidity. From the walls of Fort Stanton Cave (FSC), multicolored secondary mineral deposits of soil-like material low in fixed N, known as ferromanganese deposits (FMD), were collected. We hypothesized that within FMD samples we would find the presence of microbial N cycling genes and taxonomy related to N cycling microorganisms. Community DNA were sequenced using Illumina shotgun metagenomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results suggest a diverse N cycle encompassing several energetic pathways including nitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction and denitrification. N cycling genes associated with assimilatory nitrate reduction were also identified. Functional gene sequences and taxonomic findings suggest several bacterial and archaeal phyla potentially play a role in nitrification pathways in FSC and FMD. Thaumarchaeota, a deep-branching archaeal division, likely play an essential and possibly dominant role in the oxidation of ammonia. Our results provide genomic evidence for understanding how microbes are potentially able to acquire and cycle N in a low-nutrient subterranean environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Kimble
- Department of Biology, MSC03-2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Ara S Winter
- Department of Biology, MSC03-2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Michael N Spilde
- Institute of Meteoritics, MSC03-2050, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Robert L Sinsabaugh
- Department of Biology, MSC03-2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Diana E Northup
- Department of Biology, MSC03-2020, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
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17
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Lang-Yona N, Maier S, Macholdt DS, Müller-Germann I, Yordanova P, Rodriguez-Caballero E, Jochum KP, Al-Amri A, Andreae MO, Fröhlich-Nowoisky J, Weber B. Insights into microbial involvement in desert varnish formation retrieved from metagenomic analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2018; 10:264-271. [PMID: 29488349 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Desert varnishes are dark rock coatings observed in arid environments and might resemble Mn-rich coatings found on Martian rocks. Their formation mechanism is not fully understood and the possible microbial involvement is under debate. In this study, we applied DNA metagenomic Shotgun sequencing of varnish and surrounding soil to evaluate the composition of the microbial community and its potential metabolic function. We found that the α diversity was lower in varnish compared to soil samples (p value < 0.05), suggesting distinct populations with significantly higher abundance of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria within the varnish. Additionally, we observed increased levels of transition metal metabolic processes in varnish compared to soil samples. Nevertheless, potentially relevant enzymes for varnish formation were detected at low to insignificant levels in both niches, indicating no current direct microbial involvement in Mn oxidation. This finding is supported by quantitative genomic analysis, elemental analysis, fluorescence imaging and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. We thus conclude that the distinct microbial communities detected in desert varnish originate from settled Aeolian microbes, which colonized this nutrient-enriched niche, and discuss possible indirect contributions of microorganisms to the formation of desert varnish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naama Lang-Yona
- Multiphase Chemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefanie Maier
- Multiphase Chemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Dorothea S Macholdt
- Biogeochemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Climate Geochemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Isabell Müller-Germann
- Multiphase Chemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Petya Yordanova
- Multiphase Chemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Emilio Rodriguez-Caballero
- Multiphase Chemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Klaus P Jochum
- Climate Geochemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Abdullah Al-Amri
- Geology and Geophysics Department, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Meinrat O Andreae
- Biogeochemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Geology and Geophysics Department, King Saud University, PO Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Janine Fröhlich-Nowoisky
- Multiphase Chemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Bettina Weber
- Multiphase Chemistry Department, Hahn-Meitner-Weg 1, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
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18
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Gleeson DB, Leopold M, Smith B, Black JL. Rock-art microbiome: influences on long term preservation of historic and culturally important engravings. MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/ma18009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Burrup Peninsula in north-west Western Australia is home to one of the most substantial collections of rock engravings, or petroglyphs, in the world. These petroglyphs are carved through the dark coloured patina, commonly referred to as rock varnish, into the weathering rind of the local parent rock. Rock varnish is essentially a thin layer of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) oxides and hydroxides with embedded clay minerals, the formation of which is relatively poorly understood. It is generally considered to be a hostile environment for microorganisms due to extreme environmental conditions including low nutrient availability, lack of water, exposure to extreme ultraviolet radiation and intense seasonal and diurnal temperature fluctuations. However, despite these environmental extremes, microorganisms have been found on and in rock varnish and have been reported as playing a significant role in the formation of rock varnish. Given this, it is likely that any change in local environmental conditions will influence the types and activities of microorganisms found in and on rock varnish and associated rock art. This article focuses on the major influences on the microbiome of culturally important rock art in the Burrup Peninsula and the implications of any environmental change on the rock art itself.
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19
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Brewer TE, Fierer N. Tales from the tomb: the microbial ecology of exposed rock surfaces. Environ Microbiol 2017; 20:958-970. [PMID: 29235707 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although a broad diversity of eukaryotic and bacterial taxa reside on rock surfaces where they can influence the weathering of rocks and minerals, these communities and their contributions to mineral weathering remain poorly resolved. To build a more comprehensive understanding of the diversity, ecology and potential functional attributes of microbial communities living on rock, we sampled 149 tombstones across three continents and analysed their bacterial and eukaryotic communities via marker gene and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We found that geographic location and climate were important factors structuring the composition of these communities. Moreover, the tombstone-associated microbial communities varied as a function of rock type, with granite and limestone tombstones from the same cemeteries harbouring taxonomically distinct microbial communities. The granite and limestone-associated communities also had distinct functional attributes, with granite-associated bacteria having more genes linked to acid tolerance and chemotaxis, while bacteria on limestone were more likely to be lichen associated and have genes involved in photosynthesis and radiation resistance. Together these results indicate that rock-dwelling microbes exhibit adaptations to survive the stresses of the rock surface, differ based on location, climate and rock type, and seem pre-disposed to different ecological strategies (symbiotic versus free-living lifestyles) depending on the rock type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess E Brewer
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.,Departments of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
| | - Noah Fierer
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
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20
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Marcus DN, Pinto A, Anantharaman K, Ruberg SA, Kramer EL, Raskin L, Dick GJ. Diverse manganese(II)-oxidizing bacteria are prevalent in drinking water systems. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2017; 9:120-128. [PMID: 27935222 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) oxides are highly reactive minerals that influence the speciation, mobility, bioavailability and toxicity of a wide variety of organic and inorganic compounds. Although Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria are known to catalyze the formation of Mn oxides, little is known about the organisms responsible for Mn oxidation in situ, especially in engineered environments. Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria are important in drinking water systems, including in biofiltration and water distribution systems. Here, we used cultivation dependent and independent approaches to investigate Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria in drinking water sources, a treatment plant and associated distribution system. We isolated 29 strains of Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria and found that highly similar 16S rRNA gene sequences were present in all culture-independent datasets and dominant in the studied drinking water treatment plant. These results highlight a potentially important role for Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria in drinking water systems, where biogenic Mn oxides may affect water quality in terms of aesthetic appearance, speciation of metals and oxidation of organic and inorganic compounds. Deciphering the ecology of these organisms and the factors that regulate their Mn(II)-oxidizing activity could yield important insights into how microbial communities influence the quality of drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel N Marcus
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ameet Pinto
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karthik Anantharaman
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Steven A Ruberg
- Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Eva L Kramer
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lutgarde Raskin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gregory J Dick
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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21
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Lavoie KH, Winter AS, Read KJH, Hughes EM, Spilde MN, Northup DE. Comparison of bacterial communities from lava cave microbial mats to overlying surface soils from Lava Beds National Monument, USA. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169339. [PMID: 28199330 PMCID: PMC5310854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Subsurface habitats harbor novel diversity that has received little attention until recently. Accessible subsurface habitats include lava caves around the world that often support extensive microbial mats on ceilings and walls in a range of colors. Little is known about lava cave microbial diversity and how these subsurface mats differ from microbial communities in overlying surface soils. To investigate these differences, we analyzed bacterial 16S rDNA from 454 pyrosequencing from three colors of microbial mats (tan, white, and yellow) from seven lava caves in Lava Beds National Monument, CA, USA, and compared them with surface soil overlying each cave. The same phyla were represented in both surface soils and cave microbial mats, but the overlap in shared OTUs (operational taxonomic unit) was only 11.2%. Number of entrances per cave and temperature contributed to observed differences in diversity. In terms of species richness, diversity by mat color differed, but not significantly. Actinobacteria dominated in all cave samples, with 39% from caves and 21% from surface soils. Proteobacteria made up 30% of phyla from caves and 36% from surface soil. Other major phyla in caves were Nitrospirae (7%) followed by minor phyla (7%), compared to surface soils with Bacteroidetes (8%) and minor phyla (8%). Many of the most abundant sequences could not be identified to genus, indicating a high degree of novelty. Surface soil samples had more OTUs and greater diversity indices than cave samples. Although surface soil microbes immigrate into underlying caves, the environment selects for microbes able to live in the cave habitats, resulting in very different cave microbial communities. This study is the first comprehensive comparison of bacterial communities in lava caves with the overlying soil community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen H Lavoie
- Biology, State University of New York, College at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY, United States of America
| | - Ara S Winter
- Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Kaitlyn J H Read
- Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Evan M Hughes
- Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Michael N Spilde
- Institute of Meteoritics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
| | - Diana E Northup
- Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America
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22
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Riquelme C, Marshall Hathaway JJ, Enes Dapkevicius MDLN, Miller AZ, Kooser A, Northup DE, Jurado V, Fernandez O, Saiz-Jimenez C, Cheeptham N. Actinobacterial Diversity in Volcanic Caves and Associated Geomicrobiological Interactions. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1342. [PMID: 26696966 PMCID: PMC4673402 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Volcanic caves are filled with colorful microbial mats on the walls and ceilings. These volcanic caves are found worldwide, and studies are finding vast bacteria diversity within these caves. One group of bacteria that can be abundant in volcanic caves, as well as other caves, is Actinobacteria. As Actinobacteria are valued for their ability to produce a variety of secondary metabolites, rare and novel Actinobacteria are being sought in underexplored environments. The abundance of novel Actinobacteria in volcanic caves makes this environment an excellent location to study these bacteria. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) from several volcanic caves worldwide revealed diversity in the morphologies present. Spores, coccoid, and filamentous cells, many with hair-like or knobby extensions, were some of the microbial structures observed within the microbial mat samples. In addition, the SEM study pointed out that these features figure prominently in both constructive and destructive mineral processes. To further investigate this diversity, we conducted both Sanger sequencing and 454 pyrosequencing of the Actinobacteria in volcanic caves from four locations, two islands in the Azores, Portugal, and Hawai'i and New Mexico, USA. This comparison represents one of the largest sequencing efforts of Actinobacteria in volcanic caves to date. The diversity was shown to be dominated by Actinomycetales, but also included several newly described orders, such as Euzebyales, and Gaiellales. Sixty-two percent of the clones from the four locations shared less than 97% similarity to known sequences, and nearly 71% of the clones were singletons, supporting the commonly held belief that volcanic caves are an untapped resource for novel and rare Actinobacteria. The amplicon libraries depicted a wider view of the microbial diversity in Azorean volcanic caves revealing three additional orders, Rubrobacterales, Solirubrobacterales, and Coriobacteriales. Studies of microbial ecology in volcanic caves are still very limited. To rectify this deficiency, the results from our study help fill in the gaps in our knowledge of actinobacterial diversity and their potential roles in the volcanic cave ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Riquelme
- Food Science and Health Group (CITA-A), Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade dos Açores Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | | | - Maria de L N Enes Dapkevicius
- Food Science and Health Group (CITA-A), Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade dos Açores Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Ana Z Miller
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Sevilla, Spain
| | - Ara Kooser
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Diana E Northup
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Valme Jurado
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Cesareo Saiz-Jimenez
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Sevilla, Spain
| | - Naowarat Cheeptham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Thompson Rivers University Kamloops, BC, Canada
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23
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Riquelme C, Rigal F, Hathaway JJM, Northup DE, Spilde MN, Borges PAV, Gabriel R, Amorim IR, Dapkevicius MDLNE. Cave microbial community composition in oceanic islands: disentangling the effect of different colored mats in diversity patterns of Azorean lava caves. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2015; 91:fiv141. [PMID: 26564959 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiv141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Processes determining diversity and composition of bacterial communities in island volcanic caves are still poorly understood. Here, we characterized colored microbial mats in 14 volcanic caves from two oceanic islands of the Azores using 16S rRNA gene sequences. Factors determining community diversity (α) and composition (β) were explored, namely colored mats, caves and islands, as well as environmental and chemical characteristics of caves. Additive partitioning of diversity using OTU occurrence showed a greater influence of β-diversity between islands and caves that may relate to differences in rare OTUs (singletons and doubletons) across scales. In contrast, Shannon diversity partitioning revealed the importance of the lowest hierarchical level (α diversity, colored mat), suggesting a dominance of cosmopolitan OTUs (>1%) in most samples. Cosmopolitan OTUs included members involved in nitrogen cycling, supporting the importance of this process in Azorean caves. Environmental and chemical conditions in caves did not show any significant relationship to OTU diversity and composition. The absence of clear differences between mat colors and across scales may be explained by (1) the geological youth of the cave system (cave communities have not had enough time to diverge) or/and (2) community convergence, as the result of selection pressure in extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Riquelme
- Food Science and Health Group (CITA-A), Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, São Pedro, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores, Portugal
| | - François Rigal
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores - Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, São Pedro, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores, Portugal Environment and Microbiology Team, MELODY group, Université of Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, IPREM UMR CNRS 5254, BP 1155, 64013 Pau Cedex, France
| | - Jennifer J M Hathaway
- Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Diana E Northup
- Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Michael N Spilde
- Institute of Meteoritics, MSC03 2050, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Paulo A V Borges
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores - Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, São Pedro, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores, Portugal
| | - Rosalina Gabriel
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores - Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, São Pedro, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores, Portugal
| | - Isabel R Amorim
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores - Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, São Pedro, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores, Portugal
| | - Maria de Lurdes N E Dapkevicius
- Food Science and Health Group (CITA-A), Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, São Pedro, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores, Portugal
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Esposito A, Ahmed E, Ciccazzo S, Sikorski J, Overmann J, Holmström SJM, Brusetti L. Comparison of Rock Varnish Bacterial Communities with Surrounding Non-Varnished Rock Surfaces: Taxon-Specific Analysis and Morphological Description. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2015; 70:741-750. [PMID: 25921518 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-015-0617-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Rock varnish is a thin layer of Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides with embedded clay minerals that contain an increased Mn/Fe ratio compared to that of the Earth's crust. Even if the study of rock varnish has important implications in several fields, the composition of epilithic bacterial communities and the distribution of taxa on varnish surfaces are still not wholly described. The aim of this study was (i) to identify the bacterial taxa which show the greatest variation between varnish and non-varnish environments, collected from the same rock, and (ii) to describe the morphology of epilithic communities through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Triplicate samples of rock surfaces with varnish and triplicate samples without varnish were collected from five sites in Matsch Valley (South Tyrol, Italy). The V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was analyzed by Illumina sequencing. Fifty-five ubiquitous taxa have been examined to assess variation between varnish and non-varnish. Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Proteobacteria along with minor taxa such as Solirubrobacterales, Conexibaxter, and Rhodopila showed significant variations of abundance, diversity, or both responding to the ecology (presence/absence of varnish). Other taxa, such as the genus Edaphobacter, showed a more marked spatial variation responding to the sampling site. SEM images showed a multitude of bacterial morphologies and structures involved in the process of attachment and creation of a suitable environment for growth. The features emerging from this analysis suggest that the highly oxidative Fe and Mn-rich varnish environment favors anoxigenic autotrophy and establishment of highly specialized bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Esposito
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 1, I-39100, Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
| | - Engy Ahmed
- Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sonia Ciccazzo
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 1, I-39100, Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
| | - Johannes Sikorski
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7 B, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jörg Overmann
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstraße 7 B, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Sara J M Holmström
- Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-10691, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorenzo Brusetti
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Piazza Università 1, I-39100, Bozen-Bolzano, Italy.
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Rummel JD, Beaty DW, Jones MA, Bakermans C, Barlow NG, Boston PJ, Chevrier VF, Clark BC, de Vera JPP, Gough RV, Hallsworth JE, Head JW, Hipkin VJ, Kieft TL, McEwen AS, Mellon MT, Mikucki JA, Nicholson WL, Omelon CR, Peterson R, Roden EE, Sherwood Lollar B, Tanaka KL, Viola D, Wray JJ. A new analysis of Mars "Special Regions": findings of the second MEPAG Special Regions Science Analysis Group (SR-SAG2). ASTROBIOLOGY 2014; 14:887-968. [PMID: 25401393 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2014.1227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
A committee of the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) has reviewed and updated the description of Special Regions on Mars as places where terrestrial organisms might replicate (per the COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy). This review and update was conducted by an international team (SR-SAG2) drawn from both the biological science and Mars exploration communities, focused on understanding when and where Special Regions could occur. The study applied recently available data about martian environments and about terrestrial organisms, building on a previous analysis of Mars Special Regions (2006) undertaken by a similar team. Since then, a new body of highly relevant information has been generated from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (launched in 2005) and Phoenix (2007) and data from Mars Express and the twin Mars Exploration Rovers (all 2003). Results have also been gleaned from the Mars Science Laboratory (launched in 2011). In addition to Mars data, there is a considerable body of new data regarding the known environmental limits to life on Earth-including the potential for terrestrial microbial life to survive and replicate under martian environmental conditions. The SR-SAG2 analysis has included an examination of new Mars models relevant to natural environmental variation in water activity and temperature; a review and reconsideration of the current parameters used to define Special Regions; and updated maps and descriptions of the martian environments recommended for treatment as "Uncertain" or "Special" as natural features or those potentially formed by the influence of future landed spacecraft. Significant changes in our knowledge of the capabilities of terrestrial organisms and the existence of possibly habitable martian environments have led to a new appreciation of where Mars Special Regions may be identified and protected. The SR-SAG also considered the impact of Special Regions on potential future human missions to Mars, both as locations of potential resources and as places that should not be inadvertently contaminated by human activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Rummel
- 1 Department of Biology, East Carolina University , Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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26
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Marnocha CL, Dixon JC. Endolithic bacterial communities in rock coatings from Kärkevagge, Swedish Lapland. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2014; 90:533-42. [DOI: 10.1111/1574-6941.12415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Revised: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - John C. Dixon
- Department of Geosciences; University of Arkansas; Fayetteville AR USA
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27
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MARSHALL HATHAWAY JENNIFERJ, GARCIA MATTHEWG, BALASCH MONICAMOYA, SPILDE MICHAELN, STONE FREDD, DAPKEVICIUS MARIADELURDESNE, AMORIM ISABELR, GABRIEL ROSALINA, BORGES PAULOAV, NORTHUP DIANAE. Comparison of Bacterial Diversity in Azorean and Hawai'ian Lava Cave Microbial Mats. GEOMICROBIOLOGY JOURNAL 2014; 31:205-220. [PMID: 26924866 PMCID: PMC4765387 DOI: 10.1080/01490451.2013.777491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, lava caves host colorful microbial mats. However, little is known about the diversity of these microorganisms, or what role they may play in the subsurface ecosystem. White and yellow microbial mats were collected from four lava caves each on the Azorean island of Terceira and the Big Island of Hawai'i, to compare the bacterial diversity found in lava caves from two widely separated archipelagos in two different oceans at different latitudes. Scanning electron microscopy of mat samples showed striking similarities between Terceira and Hawai'ian microbial morphologies. 16S rRNA gene clone libraries were constructed to determine the diversity within these lava caves. Fifteen bacterial phyla were found across the samples, with more Actinobacteria clones in Hawai'ian communities and greater numbers of Acidobacteria clones in Terceira communities. Bacterial diversity in the subsurface was correlated with a set of factors. Geographical location was the major contributor to differences in community composition (at the OTU level), together with differences in the amounts of organic carbon, nitrogen and copper available in the lava rock that forms the cave. These results reveal, for the first time, the similarity among the extensive bacterial diversity found in lava caves in two geographically separate locations and contribute to the current debate on the nature of microbial biogeography.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - MATTHEW G. GARCIA
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - MONICA MOYA BALASCH
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - MICHAEL N. SPILDE
- Institute of Meteoritics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - FRED D. STONE
- University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawai’i and Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawai’i, USA
| | - MARIA DE LURDES N. E. DAPKEVICIUS
- Food Technology Group, CITA-A, Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d’Ávila, São Pedro, Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Portugal
| | - ISABEL R. AMORIM
- Food Technology Group, CITA-A, Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d’Ávila, São Pedro, Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Portugal
- Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CITA-A) and Portuguese Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research and Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d’Ávila, São Pedro, Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Portugal
| | - ROSALINA GABRIEL
- Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CITA-A) and Portuguese Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research and Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d’Ávila, São Pedro, Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Portugal
| | - PAULO A. V. BORGES
- Azorean Biodiversity Group (GBA, CITA-A) and Portuguese Platform for Enhancing Ecological Research and Sustainability (PEERS), Universidade dos Açores, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Rua Capitão João d’Ávila, São Pedro, Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Portugal
| | - DIANA E. NORTHUP
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
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28
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Ribeiro SC, Coelho MC, Todorov SD, Franco BDGM, Dapkevicius MLE, Silva CCG. Technological properties of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria isolated from Pico cheese an artisanal cow's milk cheese. J Appl Microbiol 2013; 116:573-85. [PMID: 24206097 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2013] [Revised: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 11/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM Evaluate technologically relevant properties from bacteriocin-producing strains to use as starter/adjunct cultures in cheese making. METHODS AND RESULTS Eight isolates obtained from Pico cheese produced in Azores (Portugal) were found to produce bacteriocins against Listeria monocytogenes and three isolates against Clostridium perfringens. They were identified as Lactococcus lactis and Enterococcus faecalis and submitted to technological tests: growth at different conditions of temperature and salt, acid production, proteolysis, lipolysis, coexistence, enzymatic profile and autolytic capacity. Safety evaluation was performed by evaluating haemolytic, gelatinase and DNase activity, resistance to antibiotics and the presence of virulence genes. Some isolates presented good technological features such as high autolytic activity, acid and diacetyl production. Lactococcus lactis was negative for all virulence genes tested and inhibit the growth of all Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates. Enterococci were positive for the presence of some virulence genes, but none of the isolates were classified as resistant to important antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS The bacteriocin-producing Lc. lactis present good potential for application in food as adjunct culture in cheese production. The study also reveals good technological features for some Enterococcus isolates. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Bacteriocin-producing strains presented important technological properties to be exploited as new adjunct culture for the dairy industry, influencing flavour development and improve safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Ribeiro
- Centro de Investigação e Tecnologias Agrárias dos Açores (CITA-A), Universidade dos Açores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
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29
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Theodorakopoulos N, Bachar D, Christen R, Alain K, Chapon V. Exploration of Deinococcus-Thermus molecular diversity by novel group-specific PCR primers. Microbiologyopen 2013; 2:862-72. [PMID: 23996915 PMCID: PMC3831646 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The deeply branching Deinococcus-Thermus lineage is recognized as one of the most extremophilic phylum of bacteria. In previous studies, the presence of Deinococcus-related bacteria in the hot arid Tunisian desert of Tataouine was demonstrated through combined molecular and culture-based approaches. Similarly, Thermus-related bacteria have been detected in Tunisian geothermal springs. The present work was conducted to explore the molecular diversity within the Deinococcus-Thermus phylum in these extreme environments. A set of specific primers was designed in silico on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, validated for the specific detection of reference strains, and used for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of metagenomic DNA retrieved from the Tataouine desert sand and Tunisian hot spring water samples. These analyses have revealed the presence of previously undescribed Deinococcus-Thermus bacterial sequences within these extreme environments. The primers designed in this study thus represent a powerful tool for the rapid detection of Deinococcus-Thermus in environmental samples and could also be applicable to clarify the biogeography of the Deinococcus-Thermus phylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Theodorakopoulos
- CEA, DSV, IBEB, SBVME, LIPM, F-13108, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France; CNRS, UMR 7265, F-13108, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France; Université d'Aix-Marseille, F-13108, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France; IRSN, PRP-ENV, SERIS, L2BT, F-13115, Saint Paul-lez-Durance, France
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30
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Lanza NL, Clegg SM, Wiens RC, McInroy RE, Newsom HE, Deans MD. Examining natural rock varnish and weathering rinds with laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for application to ChemCam on Mars. APPLIED OPTICS 2012; 51:B74-B82. [PMID: 22410929 DOI: 10.1364/ao.51.000b74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2011] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument is traveling to Mars as part of ChemCam on the Mars Science Laboratory rover. Martian rocks have weathered exteriors that obscure their bulk compositions. We examine weathered rocks with LIBS in a martian atmosphere to improve interpretations of ChemCam rock analyses on Mars. Profile data are analyzed using principal component analysis, and coatings and rinds are examined using scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. Our results show that LIBS is sensitive to minor compositional changes with depth and correctly identifies rock type even if the series of laser pulses does not penetrate to unweathered material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina L Lanza
- Institute of Meteoritics, MSC03 2050, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA.
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31
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Northup DE, Melim LA, Spilde MN, Hathaway JJM, Garcia MG, Moya M, Stone FD, Boston PJ, Dapkevicius MLNE, Riquelme C. Lava cave microbial communities within mats and secondary mineral deposits: implications for life detection on other planets. ASTROBIOLOGY 2011; 11:601-18. [PMID: 21879833 PMCID: PMC3176350 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2010.0562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2010] [Accepted: 04/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Lava caves contain a wealth of yellow, white, pink, tan, and gold-colored microbial mats; but in addition to these clearly biological mats, there are many secondary mineral deposits that are nonbiological in appearance. Secondary mineral deposits examined include an amorphous copper-silicate deposit (Hawai'i) that is blue-green in color and contains reticulated and fuzzy filament morphologies. In the Azores, lava tubes contain iron-oxide formations, a soft ooze-like coating, and pink hexagons on basaltic glass, while gold-colored deposits are found in lava caves in New Mexico and Hawai'i. A combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular techniques was used to analyze these communities. Molecular analyses of the microbial mats and secondary mineral deposits revealed a community that contains 14 phyla of bacteria across three locations: the Azores, New Mexico, and Hawai'i. Similarities exist between bacterial phyla found in microbial mats and secondary minerals, but marked differences also occur, such as the lack of Actinobacteria in two-thirds of the secondary mineral deposits. The discovery that such deposits contain abundant life can help guide our detection of life on extraterrestrial bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- D E Northup
- Biology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131, USA.
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