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Zheng S, Wang J, Qiao F, Cheng Z, Miao A, Yu G, Chen Z. Responses of microbial communities subjected to hydrodynamically induced disturbances in an organic contaminated site. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 352:120022. [PMID: 38198836 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120022] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Organic contaminated sites have gained significant attention as a prominent contributor to shallow groundwater contamination. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the impact of hydrodynamic effects on microbially mediated contaminant degradation at such sites. In this study, we investigated the distribution characteristics and community structure of prokaryotic microorganisms at the selected site during both wet and dry seasons, with a particular focus on their environmental adaptations. The results revealed significant seasonal variations (P < 0.05) in the α-diversity of prokaryotes within groundwater. The dry season showed more exclusive OTUs than the wet season. The response of prokaryotic metabolism to organic pollution pressure in different seasons was explored by PICRUSt2, and enzymes associated with the degradation of organic pollutants were identified based on the predicted functions. The results showed that hormesis was considered as an adaptive response of microbial communities under pollution stress. In addition, structural equation models demonstrated that groundwater level fluctuations can, directly and indirectly, affect the abundance and diversity of prokaryotes through other factors such as oxidation reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen (DO), and naphthalene (Nap). Overall, our findings imply that the taxonomic composition and functional properties of prokaryotes in groundwater in organic contaminated sites is influenced by the interaction between seasonal variations and characteristics of organic pollution. The results provide new insights into microbiological processes in groundwater systems in organic contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Zheng
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Jinguo Wang
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China.
| | - Fei Qiao
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
| | - Zhou Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Academy of Environmental Science, Guangzhou, 510045, China
| | - Aihua Miao
- China National Chemical Civil Engineering Co., Ltd, Nanjing, 210031, China
| | - Guangwen Yu
- China National Chemical Civil Engineering Co., Ltd, Nanjing, 210031, China
| | - Zhou Chen
- School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, China
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Yu F, Luo W, Xie W, Li Y, Liu Y, Ye X, Peng T, Wang H, Huang T, Hu Z. The effects of long-term hexabromocyclododecanes contamination on microbial communities in the microcosms. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 325:138412. [PMID: 36925001 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The adaptation of microbial community to the long-term contamination of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) has not been well studied. Our previous study found that the HBCDs contamination in the microcosms constructed of sediments from two different mangrove forests in 8 months resulted in serious acidification (pH2-3). This study reanalyzed previous sequencing data and compared them with data after 20 months to investigate the adaptive properties of microbial communities in the stress of HBCDs and acidification. It hypothesized that the reassembly was based on the fitness of taxa. The results indicated that eukaryotes and fungi might have better adaptive capacity to these deteriorated habitats. Eukaryotic taxa Eufallia and Syncystis, and fungal taxa Wickerhamomyces were only detected after 20 months of contamination. Moreover, eukaryotic taxa Caloneis and Nitzschia, and fungal taxa Talaromyces were dominant in most of microbial communities (14.467-95.941%). The functional compositions were sediment-dependent and more divergent than community reassemblies. Network and co-occurrence analysis suggested that acidophiles such as Acidisoma and Acidiphilium were gaining more positive relations in the long-term stress. The acidophilic taxa and genes involved in resistance to the acidification and toxicity of HBCDs were enriched, for example, bacteria Acidisoma and Acidiphilium, archaea Thermogymnomonas, and eukaryotes Nitzschia, and genes kdpC, odc1, polA, gst, and sod-2. These genes involved in oxidative stress response, energy metabolism, DNA damage repair, potassium transportation, and decarboxylation. It suggested that the microbial communities might cope with the stress from HBCDs and acidification via multiple pathways. The present research shed light on the evolution of microbial communities under the long-term stress of HBCDs contamination and acidification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yu
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wenqi Luo
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wei Xie
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuyang Li
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongjin Liu
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xueying Ye
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Tao Peng
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Tongwang Huang
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Zhong Hu
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong Province, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
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Zhang W, Mo Q, Huang Z, Sabar MA, Medunić G, Ivošević T, He H, Urynowicz M, Liu FJ, Guo H, Haider R, Ali MI, Jamal A. Contaminants from a former Croatian coal sludge dictate the structure of microbiota in the estuarine (Raša Bay) sediment and soil. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1126612. [PMID: 36846805 PMCID: PMC9947854 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1126612] [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: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Croatian superhigh-organic-sulfur Raša coal had been mined for nearly 400 years. The release of hazardous trace elements (HTEs) and toxic organic pollutants (TOPs) into the local environment by coal mining, preparation, and combustion activities has resulted in pollution. Methods In this study, the diversity and composition of microbial communities in estuarine sediment and soil samples as well as community function responses to the pollutants were investigated. Results The results showed that PAH degradation does occur following 60 years of natural attenuation, the location is still heavily polluted by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and HTEs. Microbial analyses have shown that high concentrations of PAHs have reduced the diversity and abundance of microbial communities. The pollution exerted an adverse, long-term impact on the microbial community structure and function in the brackish aquatic ecosystem. Microorganisms associated with the degradation of PAHs and sulfur-containing compounds have been enriched although the diversity and abundance of the microbial community have reduced. Fungi which are believed to be the main PAH degrader may play an important role initially, but the activity remains lower thereafter. It is the high concentrations of coal-derived PAHs, rather than HTEs, that have reduced the diversity and abundance of microbial communities and shaped the structure of the local microbiota. Discussion This study could provide a basis for the monitoring and restoration of ecosystems impacted by coal mining activities considering the expected decommission of a large number of coal plants on a global scale in the coming years due to growing global climate change concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Coal Processing and Efficient Utilization of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Qianyun Mo
- Key Laboratory of Coal Processing and Efficient Utilization of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Zaixing Huang
- Key Laboratory of Coal Processing and Efficient Utilization of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
- Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States
| | - Muhammad Adnan Sabar
- Environmental Risk Control Engineering Laboratory, Division of Environmental Design, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Gordana Medunić
- Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tatjana Ivošević
- Faculty of Maritime Studies, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Huan He
- Key Laboratory of Coal Processing and Efficient Utilization of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Michael Urynowicz
- Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States
| | - Fang-Jing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Coal Processing and Efficient Utilization of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, China
| | - Hongguang Guo
- College of Safety and Emergency Management and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
| | - Rizwan Haider
- Institute of Energy & Environmental Engineering, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Asif Jamal
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
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Sun Y, Ding A, Zhao X, Chang W, Ren L, Zhao Y, Song Z, Hao D, Liu Y, Jin N, Zhang D. Response of soil microbial communities to petroleum hydrocarbons at a multi-contaminated industrial site in Lanzhou, China. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 306:135559. [PMID: 35787883 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contamination poses threats to ecological systems and human health. Many studies have reported its negative impacts on soil microbes, but limited information is known about microbial change and response to multiple TPH contamination events. In this study, we investigated TPH contamination level, microbial community structure and functional genes at a multi-contaminated industrial site in Lanzhou, where a benzene spill accident caused the drinking water crisis in 2014. TPHs distribution in soils and groundwater indicated multiple TPH contamination events in history, and identified the spill location where high TPH level (6549 mg kg-1) and high ratio of low-molecular-weight TPHs (>80%) were observed. In contrast, TPH level was moderate (349 mg kg-1) and the proportion of low-molecular-weight TPHs was 44% in soils with a long TPH contamination history. After the spill accident, soil bacterial communities became significant diverse (p = 0.047), but the dominant microbes remained the same as Pseudomonadaceae and Comamonadaceae. The abundance of hydrocarbon-degradation related genes increased by 10-1000 folds at the site where the spill accident occurred in multi-contaminated areas and was significantly related to 2-ring PAHs. Such changes of microbial community and hydrocarbon-degradation related genes together indicated the resilience of soil indigenous microbes toward multiple contamination events. Our results proved the significant change of bacterial community and huge shift of hydrocarbon-degradation related genes after the spill accident (multiple contamination events), and provided a deep insight into microbial response at industrial sites with a long period of contamination history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiao Sun
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Aizhong Ding
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhao
- China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100038, China
| | - Wonjae Chang
- Department of Civil, Geological, and Environmental Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Liangsuo Ren
- Institute of Geography and Oceangraphy, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, 530100, China
| | - Yinjun Zhao
- Institute of Geography and Oceangraphy, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, 530100, China
| | - Ziyu Song
- BCEG Environmental Remediation LTD, Beijing, 100015, China.
| | - Di Hao
- BCEG Environmental Remediation LTD, Beijing, 100015, China.
| | - Yueqiao Liu
- Experiment and Practice Innovation Education Center, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, 519087, China.
| | - Naifu Jin
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
| | - Dayi Zhang
- College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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Abdullah Al M, Xue Y, Xiao P, Xu J, Chen H, Mo Y, Shimeta J, Yang J. Community assembly of microbial habitat generalists and specialists in urban aquatic ecosystems explained more by habitat type than pollution gradient. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 220:118693. [PMID: 35667165 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Urban freshwater ecosystems have important ecosystem functions, provide habitats for diverse microbial communities and are susceptible to multiple interconnected factors such as environmental pollution. Despite the ecological significance of bacteria and microeukaryotes, little is known about how their community assembly responds to various environmental factors across water and sediment habitats and ecological processes shaping them. Here, environmental DNA-based approaches were used to investigate the community assembly processes of bacteria and microeukaryotes (including habitat generalists and specialists) in urban water and sediment across an urban-pollution gradient in Wuhan, central China. The diversity, community composition and potential function of bacteria and microeukaryotes showed significantly stronger variation between water and sediment than across an urban pollution gradient. Although, bacterial and microeukaryotic community assemblies were dominated by strong selection processes in both water and sediment habitats, but a contrasting community assembly mechanism was identified between habitat generalists and specialists. Bacterial and microeukaryotic communities showed a greater response to physicochemical variability in water, while a strong distance-decay relationship was found in sediment. Further, cross-kingdom microbial network analysis revealed strong modular associations of bacteria and microeukaryotes, meanwhile, microeukaryotic habitat specialists might be keystone, but generalists have higher proportion of connections in the networks. This study provides significant insights into the response of bacteria and microeukaryotes to different urban pollutions between water and sediment, and the ecological processes structuring microbial community dynamics across habitat types under anthropogenic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamun Abdullah Al
- Aquatic Eco-Health Group, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinses Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xue
- Aquatic Eco-Health Group, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinses Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Peng Xiao
- Aquatic Eco-Health Group, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinses Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Jing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Huihuang Chen
- Aquatic Eco-Health Group, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinses Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuanyuan Mo
- Aquatic Eco-Health Group, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinses Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jeff Shimeta
- School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Jun Yang
- Aquatic Eco-Health Group, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinses Academy of Sciences, 1799 Jimei Road, Xiamen 361021, China.
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Taxonomic and functional trait-based approaches suggest that aerobic and anaerobic soil microorganisms allow the natural attenuation of oil from natural seeps. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7245. [PMID: 35508504 PMCID: PMC9068923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10850-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural attenuation, involving microbial adaptation, helps mitigating the effect of oil contamination of surface soils. We hypothesized that in soils under fluctuating conditions and receiving oil from seeps, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as well as fungi could coexist to efficiently degrade hydrocarbons and prevent the spread of pollution. Microbial community diversity was studied in soil longitudinal and depth gradients contaminated with petroleum seeps for at least a century. Hydrocarbon contamination was high just next to the petroleum seeps but this level drastically lowered from 2 m distance and beyond. Fungal abundance and alpha-diversity indices were constant along the gradients. Bacterial abundance was constant but alpha-diversity indices were lower next to the oil seeps. Hydrocarbon contamination was the main driver of microbial community assemblage. 281 bacterial OTUs were identified as indicator taxa, tolerant to hydrocarbon, potentially involved in hydrocarbon-degradation or benefiting from the degradation by-products. These taxa belonging to lineages of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, have specific functional traits indicating the development of a complex community adapted to the biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons and to fluctuating conditions. Fungi are less impacted by oil contamination but few taxa should contribute to the metabolic complementary within the microbial consortia forming an efficient barrier against petroleum dissemination.
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Field Test of In Situ Groundwater Treatment Applying Oxygen Diffusion and Bioaugmentation Methods in an Area with Sustained Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) Contaminant Flow. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14020192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Contamination of groundwater by petroleum hydrocarbons is a widespread environmental problem in many regions. Contamination of unsaturated and saturated zones could also pose a significant risk to human health. The main purpose of the study was to assess the efficiency of biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in situ, in an area with loam and sandy loam soils, and to identify features and characteristics related to groundwater treatment in an area with a persistent flow of pollutants. We used methods of biostimulation (oxygen as stimulatory supplement) and bioaugmentation to improve water quality. Oxygen was added to the groundwater by diffusion through silicone tubing. The efficiency of groundwater treatment was determined by detailed monitoring. Implementation of the applied measure resulted in an average reduction in TPH concentration of 73.1% compared with the initial average concentration (4.33 mg/L), and in the local area, TPH content was reduced by 95.5%. The authors hope that this paper will contribute to a better understanding of the topic of groundwater treatment by in situ biodegradation of TPH. Further studies on this topic are particularly needed to provide more data and details on the efficiency of groundwater treatment under adverse geological conditions.
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Di Lorenzo T, Cifoni M, Baratti M, Pieraccini G, Di Marzio WD, Galassi DMP. Four scenarios of environmental risk of diclofenac in European groundwater ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 287:117315. [PMID: 34000671 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater is the largest source of liquid freshwater on Earth. Groundwater ecosystems harbor a rich biodiversity, mainly consisting of microbes and invertebrates that provide substantial ecological services. Despite its importance, groundwater is affected by several anthropic pressures, including pollution from pharmaceutical compounds. Diclofenac is the non-steroidal drug most widely detected in freshwaters, both in surface waters (e.g., rivers, streams, lakes etc.) and groundwaters. Unlike surface waters, the environmental risk of diclofenac in European groundwaters has not yet been assessed by the competent Authorities. The environmental risk assessment refers to the analysis of the potential risk that a chemical compound poses to a given environment by comparing its measured environmental concentrations to its predicted no-effect concentration. In this study, we explored four environmental risk scenarios in European groundwaters using different methodologies. We obtained diverse risk expectations, some indicative of a moderately diffuse environmental risk for concentrations of diclofenac ≥42 ng/L and others indicative of a widespread environmental risk for concentrations ≥5 ng/L. The difference among the four scenarios mainly related to the methods of calculating the predicted no-effect concentration of diclofenac. We discussed the four scenarios in order to identify the most realistic risk expectations posed by diclofenac to European groundwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Di Lorenzo
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems of the National Research Council of Italy (IRET-CNR), Via Madonna Del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy; "Emil Racovita" Institute of Speleology, Romanian Academy, Clinicilor 5, Cluj Napoca, 400006, Romania.
| | - M Cifoni
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems of the National Research Council of Italy (IRET-CNR), Via Madonna Del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - M Baratti
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources of the National Research Council of Italy (IBBR-CNR), Via Madonna Del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - G Pieraccini
- Mass Spectrometry Center, University of Florence, Via U. Schiff 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - W D Di Marzio
- Programa de Investigación en Ecotoxicología, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional de Luján - Comisión Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas CONICET, Ruta 5 y Avenida Constitución, 6700, Luján, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - D M P Galassi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 1, Coppito, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
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Li D, Sharp JO, Drewes JE. Microbial genetic potential for xenobiotic metabolism increases with depth during biofiltration. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:2058-2069. [PMID: 33084698 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00254b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Water infiltration into the subsurface can result in pronounced biogeochemical depth gradients. In this study, we assess metabolic potential and properties of the subsurface microbiome during water infiltration by analyzing sediments from spatially-segmented columns. Past work in these laboratory set-ups demonstrated that removal efficiencies of trace organic pollutants were enhanced by limited availability of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) associated with higher humic ratios and deeper sediment regions. Distinct differences were observed in the microbial community when contrasting shallow versus deeper profile sediments. Metagenomic analyses revealed that shallow sediments contained an enriched potential for bacterial growth and division processes. In contrast, deeper sediments harbored a significant increase in genes associated with the metabolism of secondary metabolites and the biotransformation of xenobiotic water pollutants. Metatranscripts further supported this trend, with increased potential for metabolic attributes associated with the biotransformation of xenobiotics and antibiotic resistance within deeper sediments. Furthermore, increasing ratios of humics in feed solutions correlated to enhanced expression of genes associated with xenobiotic biodegradation. These results provide genetic support for the interplay of dissolved organic carbon limitation and enhanced trace organic biotransformation by the subsurface microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Li
- NSF Engineering Research Center ReNUWIt, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
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Hidalgo KJ, Sierra-Garcia IN, Dellagnezze BM, de Oliveira VM. Metagenomic Insights Into the Mechanisms for Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Oil Supply Chain. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:561506. [PMID: 33072021 PMCID: PMC7530279 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.561506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Petroleum is a very complex and diverse organic mixture. Its composition depends on reservoir location and in situ conditions and changes once crude oil is spilled into the environment, making the characteristics associated with every spill unique. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common components of the crude oil and constitute a group of persistent organic pollutants. Due to their highly hydrophobic, and their low solubility tend to accumulate in soil and sediment. The process by which oil is sourced and made available for use is referred to as the oil supply chain and involves three parts: (1) upstream, (2) midstream and (3) downstream activities. As consequence from oil supply chain activities, crude oils are subjected to biodeterioration, acidification and souring, and oil spills are frequently reported affecting not only the environment, but also the economy and human resources. Different bioremediation techniques based on microbial metabolism, such as natural attenuation, bioaugmentation, biostimulation are promising approaches to minimize the environmental impact of oil spills. The rate and efficiency of this process depend on multiple factors, like pH, oxygen content, temperature, availability and concentration of the pollutants and diversity and structure of the microbial community present in the affected (contaminated) area. Emerging approaches, such as (meta-)taxonomics and (meta-)genomics bring new insights into the molecular mechanisms of PAH microbial degradation at both single species and community levels in oil reservoirs and groundwater/seawater spills. We have scrutinized the microbiological aspects of biodegradation of PAHs naturally occurring in oil upstream activities (exploration and production), and crude oil and/or by-products spills in midstream (transport and storage) and downstream (refining and distribution) activities. This work addresses PAH biodegradation in different stages of oil supply chain affecting diverse environments (groundwater, seawater, oil reservoir) focusing on genes and pathways as well as key players involved in this process. In depth understanding of the biodegradation process will provide/improve knowledge for optimizing and monitoring bioremediation in oil spills cases and/or to impair the degradation in reservoirs avoiding deterioration of crude oil quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J. Hidalgo
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Isabel N. Sierra-Garcia
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia, Brazil
- Biology Department & Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bruna M. Dellagnezze
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia, Brazil
| | - Valéria Maia de Oliveira
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia, Brazil
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Im J, Rizzo CB, de Barros FPJ. Resilience of groundwater systems in the presence of Bisphenol A under uncertainty. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 727:138363. [PMID: 32498202 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Assessing the health risks associated with emerging contaminants in groundwater systems is a complex issue that has been receiving increased attention in indirect potable reuse applications. Among several emerging contaminants, our study focuses on developing a numerical model that aims to compute the transport characteristics of Bisphenol A (BPA) in a 3D spatially heterogeneous aquifer under uncertainty. Traditional approaches that characterize the health risk of BPA to humans rely on the monotonic dose-response (MDR) relationship with a regulatory dose limit. Recent public health studies indicate that BPA can cause endocrine-related health effects in specific low dose ranges, which requires the consideration of the non-monotonic dose-response (NMDR) model. This work investigates the impact of different BPA DR models (i.e., monotonic vs. non-monotonic) on the resilience of the aquifer against BPA contamination in the presence of hydrogeological heterogeneity. For the resilience estimation, a systematic stochastic methodology linking risk characterization to aquifer resilience is established. Our results show the importance of the interplay between the DR models and aquifer heterogeneity on controlling the uncertainty of the resilience loss RL (d) at a specified environmentally sensitive target. In the increased level of aquifer heterogeneity, the uncertainty bounds are higher for RL estimated through the NMDR model as opposed to the MDR model. Moreover, RL is controlled by η (-), the ratio of the volumetric flow rate at the source zone to the average flow rate at the background aquifer. In a risk management perspective, the consideration of the NMDR model needs to be emphasized due to its impact on the uncertainty of RL. A critical case is when the land use of a contamination site indicates a large number of the vulnerable population to endocrine-related health effects. In this case, η as an indicator of aquifer resilience can reduce the uncertainty of RL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwoo Im
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Southern California, Kaprielian Hall 224B, 3620 South Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Calogero B Rizzo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Southern California, Kaprielian Hall 224B, 3620 South Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Felipe P J de Barros
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Southern California, Kaprielian Hall 224B, 3620 South Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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12
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Physiological Profiling and Functional Diversity of Groundwater Microbial Communities in a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Area. WATER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/w11122624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The disposal of municipal solid wastes in landfills represents a major threat for aquifer environments at the global scale. The aim of this study was to explore how groundwater geochemical characteristics can influence the microbial community functioning and the potential degradation patterns of selected organic substrates in response to different levels of landfill-induced alterations. Groundwaters collected from a landfill area were monitored by assessing major physical-chemical parameters and the microbiological contamination levels (total coliforms and fecal indicators—Colilert-18). The aquatic microbial community was further characterized by flow cytometry and Biolog EcoPlatesTM assay. Three groundwater conditions (i.e., pristine, mixed, and altered) were identified according to their distinct geochemical profiles. The altered groundwaters showed relatively higher values of organic matter concentration and total cell counts, along with the presence of fecal indicator bacteria, in comparison to samples from pristine and mixed conditions. The kinetic profiles of the Biolog substrate degradation showed that the microbial community thriving in altered conditions was relatively more efficient in metabolizing a larger number of organic substrates, including those with complex molecular structures. We concluded that the assessment of physiological profiling and functional diversity at the microbial community level could represent a supportive tool to understand the potential consequences of the organic contamination of impacted aquifers, thus complementing the current strategies for groundwater management.
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13
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The Spatial Distribution of the Microbial Community in a Contaminated Aquitard below an Industrial Zone. WATER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/w11102128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The industrial complex Neot Hovav, in Israel, is situated above an anaerobic fractured chalk aquitard, which is polluted by a wide variety of hazardous organic compounds. These include volatile and non-volatile, halogenated, organic compounds. In this study, we characterized the indigenous bacterial population in 17 boreholes of the groundwater environment, while observing the spatial variations in the population and structure as a function of distance from the polluting source. In addition, the de-halogenating potential of the microbial groundwater population was tested through a series of lab microcosm experiments, thus exemplifying the potential and limitations for bioremediation of the site. In all samples, the dominant phylum was Proteobacteria. In the production plant area, the non-obligatory organo-halide respiring bacteria (OHRB) Firmicutes Phylum was also detected in the polluted water, in abundancies of up to 16 %. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis of the microbial community structure in the groundwater exhibited clusters of distinct populations following the location in the industrial complex and distance from the polluting source. Dehalogenation of halogenated ethylene was demonstrated in contrast to the persistence of brominated alcohols. Persistence is likely due to the chemical characteristics of brominated alcohols, and not because of the absence of active de-halogenating bacteria.
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14
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Di Lorenzo T, Di Marzio WD, Fiasca B, Galassi DMP, Korbel K, Iepure S, Pereira JL, Reboleira ASPS, Schmidt SI, Hose GC. Recommendations for ecotoxicity testing with stygobiotic species in the framework of groundwater environmental risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 681:292-304. [PMID: 31103666 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
As a consequence of the growing global dependence on groundwater resources, environmental risk assessments (ERA) for groundwater are increasingly required and, with that, ecotoxicological studies with groundwater fauna (stygofauna). However, the literature on the ecotoxicological studies with stygobiotic species (i.e. species that complete their life cycle exclusively in groundwater) has not expanded significantly since the first paper published in this field. The limitations regarding the use of stygobiotic species for ecotoxicological testing are clear and consistent across the globe; stygobiotic species are often 1) naturally present in low numbers, 2) difficult to collect, and 3) difficult to culture under laboratory conditions. This paper reviews the methods used in ecotoxicological studies performed with stygobiotic species, and provides ten recommendations for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) for such tests. The recommendations focused on the following 10 points: 1) the taxonomic identification, the life stage/size and gender of the test organisms; 2) collection methodology of the organisms, including collection location, conditions and methods; 3) holding and acclimation conditions in the laboratory; 4) exposure conditions such as test set up and exposure time, number of replicates and densities of organisms in tests and in test vessels; 5) range-finding test set up and schedule; 6) final test design, including details of controls and treatments, and replication options; 7) incubation conditions, specifying temperature, pH and oxygenation levels throughout the test; 8) test duration; 9) observations and endpoints; 10) test validity criteria and compliance. The recommendations were developed for the purpose of supporting future short-term ecotoxicological testing with stygofauna through providing consistency in the protocols. A discussion of the potential implications for groundwater managers and decision-makers committed to ERA for groundwater is included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Di Lorenzo
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET-CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Walter Dario Di Marzio
- Programa de Investigación en Ecotoxicología, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Nacional de Luján - Comisión Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas CONICET, Argentina
| | - Barbara Fiasca
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 1, Coppito 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Diana Maria Paola Galassi
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 1, Coppito 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Kathryn Korbel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2019, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sanda Iepure
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, José Beltrán 15 Martínez, 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain; University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Biology, Department of Genetics and Biosystematics, Wita Stwosza 59, 17 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Joana Luísa Pereira
- Department of Biology & CESAM - Centre for Environmental and Marines Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana Sofia P S Reboleira
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Susanne I Schmidt
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Na Sádkách 7, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Grant C Hose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2019, Sydney, Australia
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15
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Soo RM, Hemp J, Hugenholtz P. Evolution of photosynthesis and aerobic respiration in the cyanobacteria. Free Radic Biol Med 2019; 140:200-205. [PMID: 30930297 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
For well over a hundred years, members of the bacterial phylum Cyanobacteria have been considered strictly photosynthetic microorganisms, reflected in their classification as "blue-green algae" in the botanical code. Recently, genomes recovered from environmental sequencing surveys representing two major uncultured basal lineages (classes) of Cyanobacteria have been found to completely lack photosynthetic and CO2 fixation genes. The most likely explanation for this finding is that oxygenic photosynthesis was not an ancestral feature of the Cyanobacteria, and rather originated following divergence of the primary lines of descent. Here we describe recent findings on the evolution of aerobic respiration in the non-photosynthetic cyanobacterial classes, and how this has been interpreted by researchers interested in the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rochelle M Soo
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
| | - James Hemp
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Philip Hugenholtz
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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16
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Paterson JS, Smith RJ, McKerral JC, Dann LM, Launer E, Goonan P, Kleinig T, Fuhrman JA, Mitchell JG. A hydrocarbon-contaminated aquifer reveals a Piggyback-the-Persistent viral strategy. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2019; 95:5533318. [PMID: 31314089 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiz116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Subsurface environments hold the largest reservoir of microbes in the biosphere. They play essential roles in transforming nutrients, degrading contaminants and recycling organic matter. Here, we propose a previously unrecognised fundamental microbial process that influences aquifer bioremediation dynamics and that applies to all microbial communities. In contrast to previous models, our proposed Piggyback-the-Persistent (PtP) mechanism occurs when viruses become more dominated by those exhibiting temperate rather than lytic lifestyles driven by persistent chemicals (in our case chlorinated-hydrocarbon pollutants) that provide long-term carbon sources and that refocus the aquifer carbon cycle, thus altering the microbial community. In this ultra-oligotrophic system, the virus:microbial ratio (VMR) ranges from below the detection limit of 0.0001 to 0.6, well below the common aquatic range of 3-10. Shortest-average-path network analysis revealed VMR and trichlorethene (TCE) as nodes through which ecosystem information and biomass most efficiently pass. Novel network rearrangement revealed a hierarchy of Kill-the-Winner (KtW), Piggyback-the-Winner (PtW) and PtP nodes. We propose that KtW, PtW and PtP occur simultaneously as competing strategies, with their relative importance depending on conditions at a particular time and location with unusual nutrient sources, such as TCE, appearing to contribute to a shift in this balance between viral mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S Paterson
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Renee J Smith
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.,College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Jody C McKerral
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Lisa M Dann
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Elise Launer
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Peter Goonan
- South Australia Environment Protection Authority, GPO Box 2607, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Tavis Kleinig
- South Australia Environment Protection Authority, GPO Box 2607, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Jed A Fuhrman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - James G Mitchell
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
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17
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Dynamics of Hydrology and Anaerobic Hydrocarbon Degrader Communities in A Tar-Oil Contaminated Aquifer. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7020046. [PMID: 30744114 PMCID: PMC6406676 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7020046] [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: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aquifers are typically perceived as rather stable habitats, characterized by low biogeochemical and microbial community dynamics. Upon contamination, aquifers shift to a perturbed ecological status, in which specialized populations of contaminant degraders establish and mediate aquifer restoration. However, the ecological controls of such degrader populations, and possible feedbacks between hydraulic and microbial habitat components, remain poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence of such couplings, via 4 years of annual sampling of groundwater and sediments across a high-resolution depth-transect of a hydrocarbon plume. Specialized anaerobic degrader populations are known to be established at the reactive fringes of the plume. Here, we show that fluctuations of the groundwater table were paralleled by pronounced dynamics of biogeochemical processes, pollutant degradation, and plume microbiota. Importantly, a switching in maximal relative abundance between dominant degrader populations within the Desulfobulbaceae and Desulfosporosinus spp. was observed after hydraulic dynamics. Thus, functional redundancy amongst anaerobic hydrocarbon degraders could have been relevant in sustaining biodegradation processes after hydraulic fluctuations. These findings contribute to an improved ecological perspective of contaminant plumes as a dynamic microbial habitat, with implications for both monitoring and remediation strategies in situ.
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18
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Wilhelm RC, Hanson BT, Chandra S, Madsen E. Community dynamics and functional characteristics of naphthalene-degrading populations in contaminated surface sediments and hypoxic/anoxic groundwater. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:3543-3559. [PMID: 30051558 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Earlier research on the biogeochemical factors affecting natural attenuation in coal-tar contaminated groundwater, at South Glens Falls, NY, revealed the importance of anaerobic metabolism and trophic interactions between degrader and bacterivore populations. Field-based characterizations of both phenomena have proven challenging, but advances in stable isotope probing (SIP), single-cell imaging and shotgun metagenomics now provide cultivation-independent tools for their study. We tracked carbon from 13 C-labelled naphthalene through microbial populations in contaminated surface sediments over 6 days using respiration assays, secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging and shotgun metagenomics to disentangle the contaminant-based trophic web. Contaminant-exposed communities in hypoxic/anoxic groundwater were contrasted with those from oxic surface sediments to identify putative features of anaerobic catabolism of naphthalene. In total, six bacteria were responsible for naphthalene degradation. Cupriavidus, Ralstonia and Sphingomonas predominated at the earliest stages of SIP incubations and were succeeded in later stages by Stenotrophomonas and Rhodococcus. Metagenome-assembled genomes provided evidence for the ecological and functional characteristics underlying these temporal shifts. Identical species of Stenotrophomonas and Rhodococcus were abundant in the most contaminated, anoxic groundwater. Apparent increases in bacterivorous protozoa were observed following exposure to naphthalene, though insignificant amounts of carbon were transferred between bacterial degraders and populations of secondary feeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland C Wilhelm
- Soil and Crop Sciences, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Buck T Hanson
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Subhash Chandra
- Cornell SIMS Laboratory, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Eugene Madsen
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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19
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Herzyk A, Fillinger L, Larentis M, Qiu S, Maloszewski P, Hünniger M, Schmidt SI, Stumpp C, Marozava S, Knappett PSK, Elsner M, Meckenstock R, Lueders T, Griebler C. Response and recovery of a pristine groundwater ecosystem impacted by toluene contamination - A meso-scale indoor aquifer experiment. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2017; 207:17-30. [PMID: 29128133 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities are the driving force behind the degradation of contaminants like aromatic hydrocarbons in groundwater ecosystems. However, little is known about the response of native microbial communities to contamination in pristine environments as well as their potential to recover from a contamination event. Here, we used an indoor aquifer mesocosm filled with sandy quaternary calciferous sediment that was continuously fed with pristine groundwater to study the response, resistance and resilience of microbial communities to toluene contamination over a period of almost two years, comprising 132days of toluene exposure followed by nearly 600days of recovery. We observed an unexpectedly high intrinsic potential for toluene degradation, starting within the first two weeks after the first exposure. The contamination led to a shift from oxic to anoxic, primarily nitrate-reducing conditions as well as marked cell growth inside the contaminant plume. Depth-resolved community fingerprinting revealed a low resistance of the native microbial community to the perturbation induced by the exposure to toluene. Distinct populations that were dominated by a small number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) rapidly emerged inside the plume and at the plume fringes, partially replacing the original community. During the recovery period physico-chemical conditions were restored to the pristine state within about 35days, whereas the recovery of the biological parameters was much slower and the community composition inside the former plume area had not recovered to the original state by the end of the experiment. These results demonstrate the low resilience of sediment-associated groundwater microbial communities to organic pollution and underline that recovery of groundwater ecosystems cannot be assessed solely by physico-chemical parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Herzyk
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Lucas Fillinger
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Michael Larentis
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Shiran Qiu
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Piotr Maloszewski
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Marko Hünniger
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Susanne I Schmidt
- University of Koblenz-Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, Landau, Germany
| | - Christine Stumpp
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Sviatlana Marozava
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Peter S K Knappett
- Texas A&M University, College of Geosciences, Department of Geology & Geophysics, College Station, Texas, United States
| | - Martin Elsner
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany; Technical University of Munich, Chair of Analytical Chemistry and Water Chemistry, Munich, Germany
| | - Rainer Meckenstock
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany; University of Duisburg-Essen, Biofilm Centre, Aquatic Microbiology, Essen, Germany
| | - Tillmann Lueders
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christian Griebler
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany.
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20
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Assessment of environmental risks to groundwater ecosystems related to use of veterinary medicinal products. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2017; 88:303-309. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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21
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Benzene Degradation by a Variovorax Species within a Coal Tar-Contaminated Groundwater Microbial Community. Appl Environ Microbiol 2017; 83:AEM.02658-16. [PMID: 27913419 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02658-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Investigations of environmental microbial communities are crucial for the discovery of populations capable of degrading hazardous compounds and may lead to improved bioremediation strategies. The goal of this study was to identify microorganisms responsible for aerobic benzene degradation in coal tar-contaminated groundwater. Benzene degradation was monitored in laboratory incubations of well waters using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Stable isotope probing (SIP) experiments using [13C]benzene enabled us to obtain 13C-labled community DNA. From this, 16S rRNA clone libraries identified Gammaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria as the active benzene-metabolizing microbial populations. Subsequent cultivation experiments yielded nine bacterial isolates that grew in the presence of benzene; five were confirmed in laboratory cultures to grow on benzene. The isolated benzene-degrading organisms were genotypically similar (>97% 16S rRNA gene nucleotide identities) to the organisms identified in SIP experiments. One isolate, Variovorax MAK3, was further investigated for the expression of a putative aromatic ring-hydroxylating dioxygenase (RHD) hypothesized to be involved in benzene degradation. Microcosm experiments using Variovorax MAK3 revealed a 10-fold increase in RHD (Vapar_5383) expression, establishing a link between this gene and benzene degradation. Furthermore, the addition of Variovorax MAK3 to microcosms prepared from site waters accelerated community benzene degradation and correspondingly increased RHD gene expression. In microcosms using uninoculated groundwater, quantitative (q)PCR assays (with 16S rRNA and RDH genes) showed that Variovorax was present and responsive to added benzene. These data demonstrate how the convergence of cultivation-dependent and -independent techniques can boost understandings of active populations and functional genes in complex benzene-degrading microbial communities. IMPORTANCE Benzene is a human carcinogen whose presence in contaminated groundwater drives environmental cleanup efforts. Although the aerobic biodegradation of benzene has long been established, knowledge of the identity of the microorganisms in complex naturally occurring microbial communities responsible for benzene biodegradation has evaded scientific inquiry for many decades. Here, we applied a molecular biology technique known as stable isotope probing (SIP) to the microbial communities residing in contaminated groundwater samples to identify the community members active in benzene biodegradation. We complemented this approach by isolating and growing in the laboratory a bacterium representative of the bacteria found using SIP. Further characterization of the isolated bacterium enabled us to track the expression of a key gene that attacks benzene both in pure cultures of the bacterium and in the naturally occurring groundwater microbial community. This work advances information regarding the documentation of microbial processes, especially the populations and genes that contribute to bioremediation.
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22
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Nawaz A, Purahong W, Lehmann R, Herrmann M, Küsel K, Totsche KU, Buscot F, Wubet T. Superimposed Pristine Limestone Aquifers with Marked Hydrochemical Differences Exhibit Distinct Fungal Communities. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:666. [PMID: 27242696 PMCID: PMC4860458 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi are one important group of eukaryotic microorganisms in a diverse range of ecosystems, but their diversity in groundwater ecosystems is largely unknown. We used DNA-based pyro-tag sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA gene to investigate the presence and community structure of fungi at different sampling sites of two superimposed limestone aquifers ranging from 8.5 to 84 m depth in the newly established Hainich Critical Zone Exploratory (Hainich CZE). We detected a diversity of fungal OTUs in groundwater samples of all sampling sites. The relative percentage abundance of Basidiomycota was higher in the upper aquifer assemblage, whilst Ascomycota dominated the lower one. In parallel to differences in the hydrochemistry we found distinct fungal communities at all sampling sites. Classification into functional groups revealed an overwhelming majority of saprotrophs. Finding taxa common to all analyzed groundwater sites, point to a groundwater specific fungal microbiome. The presence of different functional groups and, in particular plant and cattle pathogens that are not typical of subsurface habitats, suggests links between the surface and subsurface biogeosphere due to rapid transportation across the fracture networks typical of karstic regions during recharge episodes. However, further studies including sampling series extended in both time and space are necessary to confirm this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Nawaz
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Soil EcologyHalle (Saale), Germany; Department of Biology, University of LeipzigLeipzig, Germany
| | - Witoon Purahong
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Soil Ecology Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Robert Lehmann
- Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena Jena, Germany
| | - Martina Herrmann
- Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena Jena, Germany
| | - Kirsten Küsel
- Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University JenaJena, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigLeipzig, Germany
| | - Kai U Totsche
- Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena Jena, Germany
| | - François Buscot
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Soil EcologyHalle (Saale), Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigLeipzig, Germany
| | - Tesfaye Wubet
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Soil EcologyHalle (Saale), Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-LeipzigLeipzig, Germany
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23
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Ben Maamar S, Aquilina L, Quaiser A, Pauwels H, Michon-Coudouel S, Vergnaud-Ayraud V, Labasque T, Roques C, Abbott BW, Dufresne A. Groundwater Isolation Governs Chemistry and Microbial Community Structure along Hydrologic Flowpaths. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1457. [PMID: 26733990 PMCID: PMC4686674 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study deals with the effects of hydrodynamic functioning of hard-rock aquifers on microbial communities. In hard-rock aquifers, the heterogeneous hydrologic circulation strongly constrains groundwater residence time, hydrochemistry, and nutrient supply. Here, residence time and a wide range of environmental factors were used to test the influence of groundwater circulation on active microbial community composition, assessed by high throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA. Groundwater of different ages was sampled along hydrogeologic paths or loops, in three contrasting hard-rock aquifers in Brittany (France). Microbial community composition was driven by groundwater residence time and hydrogeologic loop position. In recent groundwater, in the upper section of the aquifers or in their recharge zone, surface water inputs caused high nitrate concentration and the predominance of putative denitrifiers. Although denitrification does not seem to fully decrease nitrate concentrations due to low dissolved organic carbon concentrations, nitrate input has a major effect on microbial communities. The occurrence of taxa possibly associated with the application of organic fertilizers was also noticed. In ancient isolated groundwater, an ecosystem based on Fe(II)/Fe(III) and S/SO4 redox cycling was observed down to several 100 of meters below the surface. In this depth section, microbial communities were dominated by iron oxidizing bacteria belonging to Gallionellaceae. The latter were associated to old groundwater with high Fe concentrations mixed to a small but not null percentage of recent groundwater inducing oxygen concentrations below 2.5 mg/L. These two types of microbial community were observed in the three sites, independently of site geology and aquifer geometry, indicating hydrogeologic circulation exercises a major control on microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Ben Maamar
- OSUR-UMR 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueRennes, France; OSUR-UMR 6118 Géosciences, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueRennes, France; BRGM, Laboratory DepartmentOrléans, France
| | - Luc Aquilina
- OSUR-UMR 6118 Géosciences, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Rennes, France
| | - Achim Quaiser
- OSUR-UMR 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Rennes, France
| | | | - Sophie Michon-Coudouel
- OSUR-UMS 3343, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Rennes, France
| | - Virginie Vergnaud-Ayraud
- OSUR-UMR 6118 Géosciences, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Rennes, France
| | - Thierry Labasque
- OSUR-UMR 6118 Géosciences, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Rennes, France
| | - Clément Roques
- OSUR-UMR 6118 Géosciences, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Rennes, France
| | - Benjamin W Abbott
- OSUR-UMS 3343, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Rennes, France
| | - Alexis Dufresne
- OSUR-UMR 6553 ECOBIO, Université de Rennes 1 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Rennes, France
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Han Y, Perner M. The globally widespread genus Sulfurimonas: versatile energy metabolisms and adaptations to redox clines. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:989. [PMID: 26441918 PMCID: PMC4584964 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Sulfurimonas species are commonly isolated from sulfidic habitats and numerous 16S rRNA sequences related to Sulfurimonas species have been identified in chemically distinct environments, such as hydrothermal deep-sea vents, marine sediments, the ocean's water column, and terrestrial habitats. In some of these habitats, Sulfurimonas have been demonstrated to play an important role in chemoautotrophic processes. Sulfurimonas species can grow with a variety of electron donors and acceptors, which may contribute to their widespread distribution. Multiple copies of one type of enzyme (e.g., sulfide:quinone reductases and hydrogenases) may play a pivotal role in Sulfurimonas' flexibility to colonize disparate environments. Many of these genes appear to have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer which has promoted adaptations to the distinct habitats. Here we summarize Sulfurimonas' versatile energy metabolisms and link their physiological properties to their global distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mirjam Perner
- Molecular Biology of Microbial Consortia, Biocenter Klein Flottbek, University of HamburgHamburg, Germany
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Ma J, Nossa CW, Alvarez PJJ. Groundwater ecosystem resilience to organic contaminations: microbial and geochemical dynamics throughout the 5-year life cycle of a surrogate ethanol blend fuel plume. WATER RESEARCH 2015; 80:119-129. [PMID: 25996759 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Revised: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The capacity of groundwater ecosystem to recover from contamination by organic chemicals is a vital concern for environmental scientists. A pilot-scale aquifer system was used to investigate the long-term dynamics of contaminants, groundwater geochemistry, and microbial community structure (by 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing and quantitative real-time PCR) throughout the 5-year life cycle of a surrogate ethanol blend fuel plume (10% ethanol + 50 mg/L benzene + 50 mg/L toluene). Two-year continuous ethanol-blended release significantly changed the groundwater geochemistry (resulted in anaerobic, low pH, and organotrophic conditions) and increased bacterial and archaeal populations by 82- and 314-fold respectively. Various anaerobic heterotrophs (fermenters, acetogens, methanogens, and hydrocarbon degraders) were enriched. Two years after the release was shut off, all contaminants and their degradation byproducts disappeared and groundwater geochemistry completely restored to the pre-release states (aerobic, neutral pH, and oligotrophic). Bacterial and archaeal populations declined by 18- and 45-fold respectively (relative to the time of shut off). Microbial community structure reverted towards the pre-release states and alpha diversity indices rebounded, suggesting the resilience of microbial community to ethanol blend releases. We also found shifts from O2-sensitive methanogens (e.g., Methanobacterium) to methanogens that are not so sensitive to O2 (e.g., Methanosarcina and Methanocella), which is likely to contribute to the persistence of methanogens and methane generation following the source removal. Overall, the rapid disappearance of contaminants and their metabolites, rebound of geochemical footprints, and resilience of microbial community unequivocally document the natural capacity of groundwater ecosystem to attenuate and recover from a large volume of catastrophic spill of ethanol-based biofuel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Lab of Oil & Gas Pollution Control, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
| | | | - Pedro J J Alvarez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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Brannen-Donnelly K, Engel AS. Bacterial diversity differences along an epigenic cave stream reveal evidence of community dynamics, succession, and stability. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:729. [PMID: 26257715 PMCID: PMC4508600 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Unchanging physicochemical conditions and nutrient sources over long periods of time in cave and karst subsurface habitats, particularly aquifers, can support stable ecosystems, termed autochthonous microbial endokarst communities (AMEC). AMEC existence is unknown for other karst settings, such as epigenic cave streams. Conceptually, AMEC should not form in streams due to faster turnover rates and seasonal disturbances that have the capacity to transport large quantities of water and sediment and to change allochthonous nutrient and organic matter sources. Our goal was to investigate whether AMEC could form and persist in hydrologically active, epigenic cave streams. We analyzed bacterial diversity from cave water, sediments, and artificial substrates (Bio-Traps®) placed in the cave at upstream and downstream locations. Distinct communities existed for the water, sediments, and Bio-Trap® samplers. Throughout the study period, a subset of community members persisted in the water, regardless of hydrological disturbances. Stable habitat conditions based on flow regimes resulted in more than one contemporaneous, stable community throughout the epigenic cave stream. However, evidence for AMEC was insufficient for the cave water or sediments. Community succession, specifically as predictable exogenous heterotrophic microbial community succession, was evident from decreases in community richness from the Bio-Traps®, a peak in Bio-Trap® community biomass, and from changes in the composition of Bio-Trap® communities. The planktonic community was compositionally similar to Bio-Trap® initial colonizers, but the downstream Bio-Trap® community became more similar to the sediment community at the same location. These results can help in understanding the diversity of planktonic and attached microbial communities from karst, as well as microbial community dynamics, stability, and succession during disturbance or contamination responses over time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Annette S Engel
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN, USA
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Meckenstock RU, Elsner M, Griebler C, Lueders T, Stumpp C, Aamand J, Agathos SN, Albrechtsen HJ, Bastiaens L, Bjerg PL, Boon N, Dejonghe W, Huang WE, Schmidt SI, Smolders E, Sørensen SR, Springael D, van Breukelen BM. Biodegradation: Updating the concepts of control for microbial cleanup in contaminated aquifers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:7073-81. [PMID: 26000605 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Biodegradation is one of the most favored and sustainable means of removing organic pollutants from contaminated aquifers but the major steering factors are still surprisingly poorly understood. Growing evidence questions some of the established concepts for control of biodegradation. Here, we critically discuss classical concepts such as the thermodynamic redox zonation, or the use of steady state transport scenarios for assessing biodegradation rates. Furthermore, we discuss if the absence of specific degrader populations can explain poor biodegradation. We propose updated perspectives on the controls of biodegradation in contaminant plumes. These include the plume fringe concept, transport limitations, and transient conditions as currently underestimated processes affecting biodegradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer U Meckenstock
- †University of Duisburg-Essen, Biofilm Centre, Universitätsstrasse 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Martin Elsner
- ○Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christian Griebler
- ○Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Tillmann Lueders
- ○Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christine Stumpp
- ○Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Jens Aamand
- ‡Department of Geochemistry, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Spiros N Agathos
- §Laboratory of Bioengineering; Earth and Life Institute (ELI); Université Catholique de Louvain; Place Croix du Sud 2, L7.05.19, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Hans-Jørgen Albrechtsen
- ∥Department of Environmental Engineering, Miljoevej, building 113, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Leen Bastiaens
- ⊥Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Poul L Bjerg
- ∥Department of Environmental Engineering, Miljoevej, building 113, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nico Boon
- ∇University of Gent, LabMET, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Winnie Dejonghe
- ⊥Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Wei E Huang
- ◆Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne I Schmidt
- ¶CSB Centre for Systems Biology, School of Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Erik Smolders
- ∞Division Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sebastian R Sørensen
- ‡Department of Geochemistry, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Øster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Dirk Springael
- ∞Division Soil and Water Management, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Boris M van Breukelen
- #Department of Earth Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Hanson BT, Madsen EL. In situ expression of nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation proteins by Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera co-occurring with expressed anammox proteins in a contaminated aquifer. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2015; 7:252-264. [PMID: 25403415 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2014] [Revised: 11/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Deciphering the in situ activities of microorganisms is essential for understanding the biogeochemical processes occurring in complex environments. Here, we used environmental metaproteomics to obtain information about the identity of subsurface microbial populations in coal tar-contaminated groundwater and the metabolic processes they catalyze. Metaproteomic libraries (two shotgun and seven slices from one SDS-PAGE gel) were generated from replicate samples of microbial biomass. Peptide fragment analysis using nano-liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS)/MS of the three protein pools generated a total of 95,725 mass spectra. When analyzed using mascot v.2.3.02 and searched against the NCBInr bacterial database [confidence interval 99% (P < 0.01)], a total of 1,270 proteins had at least two peptide matches. Replication of identified proteins across the three libraries was low (3.3%); however, in each library, the most frequently identified protein host was Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera (15, 12 and 62 proteins for each shotgun and the gel-slice library respectively). Remarkably, eight of the nine proteins in the nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation pathway were found. Additionally, 39 proteins were matched to known anammox bacteria including hydroxylamine and hydrazine oxidase. Metaproteomics thus revealed a microbial population, closely related to Ca. Methylomirabilis oxyfera, actively engaged in nitrite-dependent anaerobic methane oxidation and likely competing for nitrite with anammox bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buck T Hanson
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Wing Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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Watanabe T, Kojima H, Fukui M. Complete genomes of freshwater sulfur oxidizers Sulfuricella denitrificans skB26 and Sulfuritalea hydrogenivorans sk43H: genetic insights into the sulfur oxidation pathway of betaproteobacteria. Syst Appl Microbiol 2014; 37:387-95. [PMID: 25017294 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2014.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Revised: 05/02/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite detailed studies of marine sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, our knowledge concerning their counterparts in freshwater lake ecosystems is limited. Genome sequencing of the freshwater sulfur-oxidizing betaproteobacteria Sulfuricella denitrificans skB26 and Sulfuritalea hydrogenivorans sk43H have been completed. Strain skB26 possessed a circular plasmid of 86.6-kbp in addition to its chromosome, and an approximate 18-kbp region of the plasmid was occupied by an arxA-like operon, encoding a new clade of anaerobic arsenite oxidase. Multilocus sequence analysis showed that strain skB26 could not be assigned to any existing order; thus a novel order, Sulfuricellales, is proposed. The genomes of strains skB26 and sk43H were examined, focusing on the composition and the phylogeny of genes involved in the oxidation of inorganic sulfur compounds. Strains skB26 and sk43H shared a common pathway, which consisted of Sqr, SoxEF, SoxXYZAB, Dsr proteins, AprBA, Sat, and SoeABC. Comparative genomics of betaproteobacterial sulfur oxidizers showed that this pathway was also shared by the freshwater sulfur oxidizers Thiobacillus denitrificans and Sideroxydans lithotrophicus. It also revealed the presence of a conserved gene cluster, which was located immediately upstream of the betaproteobacterial dsr operon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Watanabe
- The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
| | - Hisaya Kojima
- The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Manabu Fukui
- The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
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30
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Current developments in groundwater ecology—from biodiversity to ecosystem function and services. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2014; 27:159-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2014.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Revised: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Hong JK, Kim HJ, Cho JC. Novel PCR primers for the archaeal phylum Thaumarchaeota designed based on the comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. PLoS One 2014; 9:e96197. [PMID: 24805255 PMCID: PMC4013054 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on comparative phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences deposited in an RDP database, we constructed a local database of thaumarchaeotal 16S rRNA gene sequences and developed a novel PCR primer specific for the archaeal phylum Thaumarchaeota. Among 9,727 quality-filtered (chimeral-checked, size >1.2 kb) archaeal sequences downloaded from the RDP database, 1,549 thaumarchaeotal sequences were identified and included in our local database. In our study, Thaumarchaeota included archaeal groups MG-I, SAGMCG-I, SCG, FSCG, RC, and HWCG-III, forming a monophyletic group in the phylogenetic tree. Cluster analysis revealed 114 phylotypes for Thaumarchaeota. The majority of the phylotypes (66.7%) belonged to the MG-I and SCG, which together contained most (93.9%) of the thaumarchaeotal sequences in our local database. A phylum-directed primer was designed from a consensus sequence of the phylotype sequences, and the primer's specificity was evaluated for coverage and tolerance both in silico and empirically. The phylum-directed primer, designated THAUM-494, showed >90% coverage for Thaumarchaeota and <1% tolerance to non-target taxa, indicating high specificity. To validate this result experimentally, PCRs were performed with THAUM-494 in combination with a universal archaeal primer (ARC917R or 1017FAR) and DNAs from five environmental samples to construct clone libraries. THAUM-494 showed a satisfactory specificity in empirical studies, as expected from the in silico results. Phylogenetic analysis of 859 cloned sequences obtained from 10 clone libraries revealed that >95% of the amplified sequences belonged to Thaumarchaeota. The most frequently sampled thaumarchaeotal subgroups in our samples were SCG, MG-I, and SAGMCG-I. To our knowledge, THAUM-494 is the first phylum-level primer for Thaumarchaeota. Furthermore, the high coverage and low tolerance of THAUM-494 will make it a potentially valuable tool in understanding the phylogenetic diversity and ecological niche of Thaumarchaeota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Kyung Hong
- Institute of Environmental Sciences and Department of Environmental Sciences, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yong-In, Korea
| | - Hye-Jin Kim
- Institute of Environmental Sciences and Department of Environmental Sciences, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yong-In, Korea
| | - Jae-Chang Cho
- Institute of Environmental Sciences and Department of Environmental Sciences, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Yong-In, Korea
- * E-mail:
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Kojima H, Watanabe T, Iwata T, Fukui M. Identification of major planktonic sulfur oxidizers in stratified freshwater lake. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93877. [PMID: 24695535 PMCID: PMC3973623 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Planktonic sulfur oxidizers are important constituents of ecosystems in stratified water bodies, and contribute to sulfide detoxification. In contrast to marine environments, taxonomic identities of major planktonic sulfur oxidizers in freshwater lakes still remain largely unknown. Bacterioplankton community structure was analyzed in a stratified freshwater lake, Lake Mizugaki in Japan. In the clone libraries of 16S rRNA gene, clones very closely related to a sulfur oxidizer isolated from this lake, Sulfuritalea hydrogenivorans, were detected in deep anoxic water, and occupied up to 12.5% in each library of different water depth. Assemblages of planktonic sulfur oxidizers were specifically analyzed by constructing clone libraries of genes involved in sulfur oxidation, aprA, dsrA, soxB and sqr. In the libraries, clones related to betaproteobacteria were detected with high frequencies, including the close relatives of Sulfuritalea hydrogenivorans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisaya Kojima
- The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Tomohiro Watanabe
- The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tomoya Iwata
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, Japan
| | - Manabu Fukui
- The Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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Nielsen MB, Kjeldsen KU, Lever MA, Ingvorsen K. Survival of prokaryotes in a polluted waste dump during remediation by alkaline hydrolysis. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2014; 23:404-418. [PMID: 24532314 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-014-1205-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A combination of culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques was used to characterize bacterial and archaeal communities in a highly polluted waste dump and to assess the effect of remediation by alkaline hydrolysis on these communities. This waste dump (Breakwater 42), located in Denmark, contains approximately 100 different toxic compounds including large amounts of organophosphorous pesticides such as parathions. The alkaline hydrolysis (12 months at pH >12) decimated bacterial and archaeal abundances, as estimated by 16S rRNA gene-based qPCR, from 2.1 × 10(4) and 2.9 × 10(3) gene copies per gram wet soil respectively to below the detection limit of the qPCR assay. Clone libraries constructed from PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments showed a significant reduction in bacterial diversity as a result of the alkaline hydrolysis, with preferential survival of Betaproteobacteria, which increased in relative abundance from 0 to 48 %. Many of the bacterial clone sequences and the 27 isolates were related to known xenobiotic degraders. An archaeal clone library from a non-hydrolyzed sample showed the presence of three main clusters, two representing methanogens and one representing marine aerobic ammonia oxidizers. Isolation of alkalitolerant bacterial pure cultures from the hydrolyzed soil confirmed that although alkaline hydrolysis severely reduces microbial community diversity and size certain bacteria survive a prolonged alkaline hydrolysis process. Some of the isolates from the hydrolyzed soil were capable of growing at high pH (pH 10.0) in synthetic media indicating that they could become active in in situ biodegradation upon hydrolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Bank Nielsen
- Department of Bioscience, Microbiology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Building 1540, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark,
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Intrinsic potential for immediate biodegradation of toluene in a pristine, energy-limited aquifer. Biodegradation 2013; 25:325-36. [PMID: 24062165 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-013-9663-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2013] [Accepted: 08/26/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Pristine and energy-limited aquifers are considered to have a low resistance and resilience towards organic pollution. An experiment in an indoor aquifer system revealed an unexpected high intrinsic potential for the attenuation of a short-term toluene contamination. A 30 h pulse of 486 mg of toluene, used as a model contaminant, and deuterated water (D2O) through an initially pristine, oxic, and organic carbon poor sandy aquifer revealed an immediate aerobic toluene degradation potential. Based on contaminant and tracer break-through curves, as well as mass balance analyses and reactive transport modelling, a contaminant removal of 40 % over a transport distance of only 4.2 m in less than one week of travel time was obtained. The mean first-order degradation rate constant was λ = 0.178 day(-1), corresponding to a half-life time constant T1/2 of 3.87 days. Toluene-specific stable carbon isotope analysis independently proved that the contaminant mass removal can be attributed to microbial biodegradation. Since average doubling times of indigenous bacterial communities were in the range of months to years, the aerobic biodegradation potential observed is assumed to be present and active in the pristine, energy-limited groundwater ecosystems at any time. Follow-up experiments and field studies will help to quantify the immediate natural attenuation potential of aquifers for selected priority contaminants and will try to identify the key-degraders within the autochthonous microbial communities.
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Rizoulis A, Elliott DR, Rolfe SA, Thornton SF, Banwart SA, Pickup RW, Scholes JD. Diversity of planktonic and attached bacterial communities in a phenol-contaminated sandstone aquifer. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2013; 66:84-95. [PMID: 23640275 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-013-0233-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2012] [Accepted: 04/14/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Polluted aquifers contain indigenous microbial communities with the potential for in situ bioremediation. However, the effect of hydrogeochemical gradients on in situ microbial communities (especially at the plume fringe, where natural attenuation is higher) is still not clear. In this study, we used culture-independent techniques to investigate the diversity of in situ planktonic and attached bacterial communities in a phenol-contaminated sandstone aquifer. Within the upper and lower plume fringes, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles indicated that planktonic community structure was influenced by the steep hydrogeochemical gradient of the plume rather than the spatial location in the aquifer. Under the same hydrogeochemical conditions (in the lower plume fringe, 30 m below ground level), 16S rRNA gene cloning and sequencing showed that planktonic and attached bacterial communities differed markedly and that the attached community was more diverse. The 16S rRNA gene phylogeny also suggested that a phylogenetically diverse bacterial community operated at this depth (30 mbgl), with biodegradation of phenolic compounds by nitrate-reducing Azoarcus and Acidovorax strains potentially being an important process. The presence of acetogenic and sulphate-reducing bacteria only in the planktonic clone library indicates that some natural attenuation processes may occur preferentially in one of the two growth phases (attached or planktonic). Therefore, this study has provided a better understanding of the microbial ecology of this phenol-contaminated aquifer, and it highlights the need for investigating both planktonic and attached microbial communities when assessing the potential for natural attenuation in contaminated aquifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Rizoulis
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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Daae FL, Økland I, Dahle H, Jørgensen SL, Thorseth IH, Pedersen RB. Microbial life associated with low-temperature alteration of ultramafic rocks in the Leka ophiolite complex. GEOBIOLOGY 2013; 11:318-339. [PMID: 23551703 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Water-rock interactions in ultramafic lithosphere generate reduced chemical species such as hydrogen that can fuel subsurface microbial communities. Sampling of this environment is expensive and technically demanding. However, highly accessible, uplifted oceanic lithospheres emplaced onto continental margins (ophiolites) are potential model systems for studies of the subsurface biosphere in ultramafic rocks. Here, we describe a microbiological investigation of partially serpentinized dunite from the Leka ophiolite (Norway). We analysed samples of mineral coatings on subsurface fracture surfaces from different depths (10-160 cm) and groundwater from a 50-m-deep borehole that penetrates several major fracture zones in the rock. The samples are suggested to represent subsurface habitats ranging from highly anaerobic to aerobic conditions. Water from a surface pond was analysed for comparison. To explore the microbial diversity and to make assessments about potential metabolisms, the samples were analysed by microscopy, construction of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene clone libraries, culturing and quantitative-PCR. Different microbial communities were observed in the groundwater, the fracture-coating material and the surface water, indicating that distinct microbial ecosystems exist in the rock. Close relatives of hydrogen-oxidizing Hydrogenophaga dominated (30% of the bacterial clones) in the oxic groundwater, indicating that microbial communities in ultramafic rocks at Leka could partially be driven by H2 produced by low-temperature water-rock reactions. Heterotrophic organisms, including close relatives of hydrocarbon degraders possibly feeding on products from Fischer-Tropsch-type reactions, dominated in the fracture-coating material. Putative hydrogen-, ammonia-, manganese- and iron-oxidizers were also detected in fracture coatings and the groundwater. The microbial communities reflect the existence of different subsurface redox conditions generated by differences in fracture size and distribution, and mixing of fluids. The particularly dense microbial communities in the shallow fracture coatings seem to be fuelled by both photosynthesis and oxidation of reduced chemical species produced by water-rock reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- F L Daae
- Department of Biology, Centre for Geobiology, Bergen, Norway.
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Holmes DE, Giloteaux L, Williams KH, Wrighton KC, Wilkins MJ, Thompson CA, Roper TJ, Long PE, Lovley DR. Enrichment of specific protozoan populations during in situ bioremediation of uranium-contaminated groundwater. THE ISME JOURNAL 2013; 7:1286-98. [PMID: 23446832 PMCID: PMC3695288 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2013.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Revised: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The importance of bacteria in the anaerobic bioremediation of groundwater polluted with organic and/or metal contaminants is well recognized and in some instances so well understood that modeling of the in situ metabolic activity of the relevant subsurface microorganisms in response to changes in subsurface geochemistry is feasible. However, a potentially significant factor influencing bacterial growth and activity in the subsurface that has not been adequately addressed is protozoan predation of the microorganisms responsible for bioremediation. In field experiments at a uranium-contaminated aquifer located in Rifle, CO, USA, acetate amendments initially promoted the growth of metal-reducing Geobacter species, followed by the growth of sulfate reducers, as observed previously. Analysis of 18S rRNA gene sequences revealed a broad diversity of sequences closely related to known bacteriovorous protozoa in the groundwater before the addition of acetate. The bloom of Geobacter species was accompanied by a specific enrichment of sequences most closely related to the ameboid flagellate, Breviata anathema, which at their peak accounted for over 80% of the sequences recovered. The abundance of Geobacter species declined following the rapid emergence of B. anathema. The subsequent growth of sulfate-reducing Peptococcaceae was accompanied by another specific enrichment of protozoa, but with sequences most similar to diplomonadid flagellates from the family Hexamitidae, which accounted for up to 100% of the sequences recovered during this phase of the bioremediation. These results suggest a prey-predator response with specific protozoa responding to increased availability of preferred prey bacteria. Thus, quantifying the influence of protozoan predation on the growth, activity and composition of the subsurface bacterial community is essential for predictive modeling of in situ uranium bioremediation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn E Holmes
- Department of Microbiology, Morrill Science Center IVN, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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Risse-Buhl U, Herrmann M, Lange P, Akob DM, Pizani N, Schönborn W, Totsche KU, Küsel K. Phagotrophic Protist Diversity in the Groundwater of a Karstified Aquifer - Morphological and Molecular Analysis. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2013; 60:467-79. [DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2012] [Revised: 03/29/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ute Risse-Buhl
- Limnology/Aquatic Geomicrobiology Research Group; Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Dornburger Straße 159 07743 Jena Thuringia Germany
| | - Martina Herrmann
- Limnology/Aquatic Geomicrobiology Research Group; Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Dornburger Straße 159 07743 Jena Thuringia Germany
| | - Patricia Lange
- Limnology/Aquatic Geomicrobiology Research Group; Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Dornburger Straße 159 07743 Jena Thuringia Germany
- Department of Hydrogeology; Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Burgweg 11 07749 Jena Thuringia Germany
| | - Denise M. Akob
- Limnology/Aquatic Geomicrobiology Research Group; Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Dornburger Straße 159 07743 Jena Thuringia Germany
| | - Natalia Pizani
- Limnology/Aquatic Geomicrobiology Research Group; Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Dornburger Straße 159 07743 Jena Thuringia Germany
| | - Wilfried Schönborn
- Limnology/Aquatic Geomicrobiology Research Group; Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Dornburger Straße 159 07743 Jena Thuringia Germany
| | - Kai Uwe Totsche
- Department of Hydrogeology; Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Burgweg 11 07749 Jena Thuringia Germany
| | - Kirsten Küsel
- Limnology/Aquatic Geomicrobiology Research Group; Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena; Dornburger Straße 159 07743 Jena Thuringia Germany
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In situ microbial metabolism of aromatic-hydrocarbon environmental pollutants. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2013; 24:474-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2012.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Li D, Alidina M, Ouf M, Sharp JO, Saikaly P, Drewes JE. Microbial community evolution during simulated managed aquifer recharge in response to different biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) concentrations. WATER RESEARCH 2013; 47:2421-2430. [PMID: 23490107 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2012] [Revised: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the evolution of the microbial community in laboratory-scale soil columns simulating the infiltration zone of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems and analogous natural aquifer sediment ecosystems. Parallel systems were supplemented with either moderate (1.1 mg/L) or low (0.5 mg/L) biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) for a period of six months during which time, spatial (1 cm, 30 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm, and 120 cm) and temporal (monthly) analyses of sediment-associated microbial community structure were analyzed. Total microbial biomass associated with sediments was positively correlated with BDOC concentration where a significant decline in BDOC was observed along the column length. Analysis of 16S rRNA genes indicated dominance by Bacteria with Archaea comprising less than 1 percent of the total community. Proteobacteria was found to be the major phylum in samples from all column depths with contributions from Betaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria. Microbial community structure at all the phylum, class and genus levels differed significantly at 1 cm between columns receiving moderate and low BDOC concentrations; in contrast strong similarities were observed both between parallel column systems and across samples from 30 to 120 cm depths. Samples from 1 cm depth of the low BDOC columns exhibited higher microbial diversity (expressed as Shannon Index) than those at 1 cm of moderate BDOC columns, and both increased from 5.4 to 5.9 at 1 cm depth to 6.7-8.3 at 30-120 cm depths. The microbial community structure reached steady state after 3-4 months since the initiation of the experiment, which also resulted in an improved DOC removal during the same time period. This study suggested that BDOC could significantly influence microbial community structure regarding both composition and diversity of artificial MAR systems and analogous natural aquifer sediment ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Li
- Water Reuse and Desalination Center (WDRC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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Ramond JB, Welz P, Tuffin M, Burton S, Cowan D. Assessment of temporal and spatial evolution of bacterial communities in a biological sand filter mesocosm treating winery wastewater. J Appl Microbiol 2013; 115:91-101. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.12203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2013] [Revised: 03/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J.-B. Ramond
- Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM); Department of Biotechnology; University of the Western Cape; Bellville Cape Town South Africa
| | - P.J. Welz
- Biocatalysis and Technical Biology (BTB) Research Group; Cape Peninsula University of Technology; Bellville Cape Town South Africa
| | - M.I. Tuffin
- Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM); Department of Biotechnology; University of the Western Cape; Bellville Cape Town South Africa
| | - S.G. Burton
- Biocatalysis and Technical Biology (BTB) Research Group; Cape Peninsula University of Technology; Bellville Cape Town South Africa
- University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
| | - D.A. Cowan
- Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics (IMBM); Department of Biotechnology; University of the Western Cape; Bellville Cape Town South Africa
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG); Department of Genetics; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
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Avramov M, Schmidt SI, Griebler C. A new bioassay for the ecotoxicological testing of VOCs on groundwater invertebrates and the effects of toluene on Niphargus inopinatus. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2013; 130-131:1-8. [PMID: 23340334 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2012.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2012] [Revised: 12/20/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A protocol was developed for testing the ecotoxicological effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on groundwater invertebrates. Test substance volatility was addressed in a "closed from start to analysis"-design. Since manifestation of toxic effects may be delayed in 'slower metabolizing' organisms such as groundwater fauna, a time-independent (TI-) approach was adopted. Toluene was used as a model substance and its toxicity to the groundwater amphipod Niphargus inopinatus was assessed as an example. The method evaluation process considered various methodological issues such as partitioning of the toxicant between the water and the gas phase (Henry equilibrium), the possible depletion of oxygen in closed test vials, as well as microbial biodegradation of the test substance. For N. inopinatus, an LC50,14 days of 46.6mgL(-1) toluene was obtained. The ultimate LC50 value was estimated at 23.3mgL(-1) toluene. No oxygen depletion occurred in the test vials and Henry equilibrium was found to be established after 6h. The new test system proposed now awaits broad practical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Avramov
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Neuherberg, Germany
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Sercu B, Jones ADG, Wu CH, Escobar MH, Serlin CL, Knapp TA, Andersen GL, Holden PA. The influence of in situ chemical oxidation on microbial community composition in groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2013; 65:39-49. [PMID: 22864851 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-012-0092-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2012] [Accepted: 07/12/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
In situ chemical oxidation with permanganate has become an accepted remedial treatment for groundwater contaminated with chlorinated solvents. This study focuses on the immediate and short-term effects of sodium permanganate (NaMnO(4)) on the indigenous subsurface microbial community composition in groundwater impacted by trichloroethylene (TCE). Planktonic and biofilm microbial communities were studied using groundwater grab samples and reticulated vitreous carbon passive samplers, respectively. Microbial community composition was analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and a high-density phylogenetic microarray (PhyloChip). Significant reductions in microbial diversity and biomass were shown during NaMnO(4) exposure, followed by recovery within several weeks after the oxidant concentrations decreased to <1 mg/L. Bray-Curtis similarities and nonmetric multidimensional scaling showed that microbial community composition before and after NaMnO(4) was similar, when taking into account the natural variation of the microbial communities. Also, 16S rRNA genes of two reductive dechlorinators (Desulfuromonas spp. and Sulfurospirillum spp.) and diverse taxa capable of cometabolic TCE oxidation were detected in similar quantities by PhyloChip across all monitoring wells, irrespective of NaMnO(4) exposure and TCE concentrations. However, minimal biodegradation of TCE was observed in this study, based on oxidized conditions, concentration patterns of chlorinated and nonchlorinated hydrocarbons, geochemistry, and spatiotemporal distribution of TCE-degrading bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram Sercu
- Earth Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-4161, USA.
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Metaproteogenomic insights beyond bacterial response to naphthalene exposure and bio-stimulation. ISME JOURNAL 2012; 7:122-36. [PMID: 22832345 PMCID: PMC3526184 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2012.82] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Microbial metabolism in aromatic-contaminated environments has important ecological implications, and obtaining a complete understanding of this process remains a relevant goal. To understand the roles of biodiversity and aromatic-mediated genetic and metabolic rearrangements, we conducted ‘OMIC' investigations in an anthropogenically influenced and polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil with (Nbs) or without (N) bio-stimulation with calcium ammonia nitrate, NH4NO3 and KH2PO4 and the commercial surfactant Iveysol, plus two naphthalene-enriched communities derived from both soils (CN2 and CN1, respectively). Using a metagenomic approach, a total of 52, 53, 14 and 12 distinct species (according to operational phylogenetic units (OPU) in our work equivalent to taxonomic species) were identified in the N, Nbs, CN1 and CN2 communities, respectively. Approximately 10 out of 95 distinct species and 238 out of 3293 clusters of orthologous groups (COGs) protein families identified were clearly stimulated under the assayed conditions, whereas only two species and 1465 COGs conformed to the common set in all of the mesocosms. Results indicated distinct biodegradation capabilities for the utilisation of potential growth-supporting aromatics, which results in bio-stimulated communities being extremely fit to naphthalene utilisation and non-stimulated communities exhibiting a greater metabolic window than previously predicted. On the basis of comparing protein expression profiles and metagenome data sets, inter-alia interactions among members were hypothesised. The utilisation of curated databases is discussed and used for first time to reconstruct ‘presumptive' degradation networks for complex microbial communities.
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45
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Dissolved organic carbon influences microbial community composition and diversity in managed aquifer recharge systems. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:6819-28. [PMID: 22798375 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01223-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This study explores microbial community structure in managed aquifer recharge (MAR) systems across both laboratory and field scales. Two field sites, the Taif River (Taif, Saudi Arabia) and South Platte River (Colorado), were selected as geographically distinct MAR systems. Samples derived from unsaturated riverbed, saturated-shallow-infiltration (depth, 1 to 2 cm), and intermediate-infiltration (depth, 10 to 50 cm) zones were collected. Complementary laboratory-scale sediment columns representing low (0.6 mg/liter) and moderate (5 mg/liter) dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations were used to further query the influence of DOC and depth on microbial assemblages. Microbial density was positively correlated with the DOC concentration, while diversity was negatively correlated at both the laboratory and field scales. Microbial communities derived from analogous sampling zones in each river were not phylogenetically significantly different on phylum, class, genus, and species levels, as determined by 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing, suggesting that geography and season exerted less sway than aqueous geochemical properties. When field-scale communities derived from the Taif and South Platte River sediments were grouped together, principal coordinate analysis revealed distinct clusters with regard to the three sample zones (unsaturated, shallow, and intermediate saturated) and, further, with respect to DOC concentration. An analogous trend as a function of depth and corresponding DOC loss was observed in column studies. Canonical correspondence analysis suggests that microbial classes Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria are positively correlated with DOC concentration. Our combined analyses at both the laboratory and field scales suggest that DOC may exert a strong influence on microbial community composition and diversity in MAR saturated zones.
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46
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Lu Z, He Z, Parisi VA, Kang S, Deng Y, Van Nostrand JD, Masoner JR, Cozzarelli IM, Suflita JM, Zhou J. GeoChip-based analysis of microbial functional gene diversity in a landfill leachate-contaminated aquifer. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2012; 46:5824-5833. [PMID: 22533634 DOI: 10.1021/es300478j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The functional gene diversity and structure of microbial communities in a shallow landfill leachate-contaminated aquifer were assessed using a comprehensive functional gene array (GeoChip 3.0). Water samples were obtained from eight wells at the same aquifer depth immediately below a municipal landfill or along the predominant downgradient groundwater flowpath. Functional gene richness and diversity immediately below the landfill and the closest well were considerably lower than those in downgradient wells. Mantel tests and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) suggested that various geochemical parameters had a significant impact on the subsurface microbial community structure. That is, leachate from the unlined landfill impacted the diversity, composition, structure, and functional potential of groundwater microbial communities as a function of groundwater pH, and concentrations of sulfate, ammonia, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Historical geochemical records indicate that all sampled wells chronically received leachate, and the increase in microbial diversity as a function of distance from the landfill is consistent with mitigation of the impact of leachate on the groundwater system by natural attenuation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenmei Lu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
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47
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Hanson BT, Yagi JM, Jeon CO, Madsen EM. Role of nitrogen fixation in the autecology of Polaromonas naphthalenivorans in contaminated sediments. Environ Microbiol 2012; 14:1544-57. [PMID: 22497673 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2012.02743.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Polaromonas naphthalenivorans strain CJ2 is a Gram-negative betaproteobacterium that was identified, using stable isotope probing in 2003, as a dominant in situ degrader of naphthalene in coal tar-contaminated sediments. The sequenced genome of strain CJ2 revealed several genes conferring nitrogen fixation within a 65.6 kb region of strain CJ2's chromosome that is absent in the genome of its closest sequenced relative Polaromonas sp. strain JS666. Laboratory growth and nitrogenase assays verified that these genes are functional, providing an alternative source of nitrogen in N-free media when using naphthalene or pyruvate as carbon sources. Knowing this, we investigated if nitrogen-fixation activity could be detected in microcosms containing sediments from the field site where strain CJ2 was isolated. Inducing nitrogen limitation with the addition of glucose or naphthalene stimulated nitrogenase activity in amended sediments, as detected using the acetylene reduction assay. With the use of fluorescence microscopy, we screened the microcosm sediments for the presence of active strain CJ2 cells using a dual-labelling approach. When we examined the carbon-amended microcosm sediments stained with both a strain CJ2-specific fluorescent in situ hybridization probe and a polyclonal fluorescently tagged antibody, we were able to detect dual-labelled active cells. In contrast, in sediments that received no carbon addition (showing no nitrogenase activity), no dual-labelled cells were detected. Furthermore, the naphthalene amendment enhanced the proportion of active strain CJ2 cells in the sediment relative to a glucose amendment. Field experiments performed in sediments where strain CJ2 was isolated showed nitrogenase activity in response to dosing with naphthalene. Dual-label fluorescence staining of these sediments showed a fivefold increase in active strain CJ2 in the sediments dosed with naphthalene over those dosed with deionized water. These experiments show that nitrogen fixation may play an important role in naphthalene biodegradation by strain CJ2 and contribute to its ecological success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Buck T Hanson
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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48
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Lin X, McKinley J, Resch CT, Kaluzny R, Lauber CL, Fredrickson J, Knight R, Konopka A. Spatial and temporal dynamics of the microbial community in the Hanford unconfined aquifer. ISME JOURNAL 2012; 6:1665-76. [PMID: 22456444 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2012.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Pyrosequencing analysis of 16S rRNA genes was used to study temporal dynamics of groundwater bacteria and archaea over 10 months within three well clusters separated by ~30 m and located 250 m from the Columbia River on the Hanford Site, WA. Each cluster contained three wells screened at different depths ranging from 10 to 17 m that differed in hydraulic conductivities. Representative samples were selected for analyses of prokaryotic 16S and eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene copy numbers. Temporal changes in community composition occurred in all nine wells over the 10-month sampling period. However, there were particularly strong effects near the top of the water table when the seasonal rise in the Columbia River caused river water intrusion at the top of the aquifer. The occurrence and disappearance of some microbial assemblages (such as Actinobacteria ACK-M1) were correlated with river water intrusion. This seasonal impact on microbial community structure was greater in the shallow saturated zone than deeper zone in the aquifer. Spatial and temporal patterns for several 16S rRNA gene operational taxonomic units associated with particular physiological functions (for example, methane oxidizers and metal reducers) suggests dynamic changes in fluxes of electron donors and acceptors over an annual cycle. In addition, temporal dynamics in eukaryotic 18S rRNA gene copies and the dominance of protozoa in 18S clone libraries suggest that bacterial community dynamics could be affected not only by the physical and chemical environment but also by top-down biological control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueju Lin
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
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49
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Enrichment and characterization of an autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing archaeon of mesophilic crenarchaeal group I.1a from an agricultural soil. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:8635-47. [PMID: 22003023 DOI: 10.1128/aem.05787-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil nitrification is an important process for agricultural productivity and environmental pollution. Though one cultivated representative of ammonia-oxidizing Archaea from soil has been described, additional representatives warrant characterization. We describe an ammonia-oxidizing archaeon (strain MY1) in a highly enriched culture derived from agricultural soil. Fluorescence in situ hybridization microscopy showed that, after 2 years of enrichment, the culture was composed of >90% archaeal cells. Clone libraries of both 16S rRNA and archaeal amoA genes featured a single sequence each. No bacterial amoA genes could be detected by PCR. A [¹³C]bicarbonate assimilation assay showed stoichiometric incorporation of ¹³C into Archaea-specific glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers. Strain MY1 falls phylogenetically within crenarchaeal group I.1a; sequence comparisons to "Candidatus Nitrosopumilus maritimus" revealed 96.9% 16S rRNA and 89.2% amoA gene similarities. Completed growth assays showed strain MY1 to be chemoautotrophic, mesophilic (optimum at 25°C), neutrophilic (optimum at pH 6.5 to 7.0), and nonhalophilic (optimum at 0.2 to 0.4% salinity). Kinetic respirometry assays showed that strain MY1's affinities for ammonia and oxygen were much higher than those of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). The yield of the greenhouse gas N₂O in the strain MY1 culture was lower but comparable to that of soil AOB. We propose that this new soil ammonia-oxidizing archaeon be designated "Candidatus Nitrosoarchaeum koreensis."
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50
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Kojima H, Fukui M. Sulfuritalea hydrogenivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a facultative autotroph isolated from a freshwater lake. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2011; 61:1651-1655. [DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.024968-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel facultatively autotrophic bacterium, designated strain sk43HT, was isolated from water of a freshwater lake in Japan. Cells of the isolate were curved rods, motile and Gram-reaction-negative. Strain sk43HT was facultatively anaerobic and autotrophic growth was observed only under anaerobic conditions. The isolate oxidized thiosulfate, elemental sulfur and hydrogen as sole energy sources for autotrophic growth and could utilize nitrate as an electron acceptor. Growth was observed at 8–32 °C (optimum 25 °C) and 6.4–7.6 (optimum pH 6.7–6.9). Optimum growth of the isolate occurred at NaCl concentrations of less than 50 mM. The G+C content of genomic DNA was around 67 mol%. The fatty acid profile of strain sk43HT when grown on acetate under aerobic conditions was characterized by the presence of C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) as the major components. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain was a member of the class Betaproteobacteria showing highest sequence similarity with Georgfuchsia toluolica G5G6T (94.7 %) and Denitratisoma oestradiolicum AcBE2-1T (94.3 %). Phylogenetic analyses were also performed using genes involved in sulfur oxidation. On the basis of its phylogenetic and phenotypic properties, strain sk43HT ( = DSM 22779T = NBRC 105852T) represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Sulfuritalea hydrogenivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisaya Kojima
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-19, Nishi-8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0819, Japan
| | - Manabu Fukui
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-19, Nishi-8, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0819, Japan
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