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Sushko V, Dressler M, Wei STS, Neubert T, Kühn L, Cherkouk A, Stumpf T, Matschiavelli N. No signs of microbial-influenced corrosion of cast iron and copper in bentonite microcosms after 400 days. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 364:143007. [PMID: 39098347 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
High-level radioactive waste needs to be safely stored for a long time in a deep geological repository by using a multi-barrier system. In this system, suitable barrier materials are selected that ideally show long-term stability to prevent early radionuclide release into the biosphere. In this study, different container matals (copper and cast iron) and pore water compositions (Opalinus Clay pore water and saline cap rock solution) were combined with Bavarian bentonite in static batch experiments to investigate microbial-influenced corrosion. The increasing concentration of iron and copper in the solution as well as detected corrosion products on the metal surface are indicative of anaerobic corrosion of the respective metals during an incubation of 400 days at 37 °C. However, although the intrinsic microbial bentonite community was stimulated with either lactate or H2, an acceleration of cast iron- and copper corrosion did not occur. Furthermore, neither corrosive bacteria nor conventional bacterial corrosion products, such as metal sulfides, were detected in any of the analyzed samples. The analyses of geochemical parameters (e.g. ferrous iron-, iron-, copper- and potassium concentrations as well as redox potentials) showed significant changes in some cast iron- and copper-containing setups, but these changes did not correlate with the microbial community structure in the respective microcosms, as confirmed by statistical analyses. Hence, the analyzed Bavarian bentonite (type B25) showed no significant contribution to cast iron and copper corrosion under the applied conditions after 400 days of incubation. From this perspective, bentonite B25 could be a suitable candidate as a geotechnical barrier in future repositories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladyslav Sushko
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Magdalena Dressler
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sean Ting-Shyang Wei
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tom Neubert
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Luise Kühn
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andrea Cherkouk
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stumpf
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Matschiavelli
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.
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2
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Löffler M, Schwab L, Dethlefsen F, Lagmöller L, Vogt C, Richnow HH. Anaerobic dihydrogen consumption of nutrient-limited aquifer sediment microbial communities examined by stable isotope analysis. ISOTOPES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH STUDIES 2024; 60:103-121. [PMID: 38344763 DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2024.2306146] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The biogeochemical consequences of dihydrogen (H2) underground storage in porous aquifers are poorly understood. Here, the effects of nutrient limitations on anaerobic H2 oxidation of an aquifer microbial community in sediment microcosms were determined in order to evaluate possible responses to high H2 partial pressures. Hydrogen isotope analyses of H2 yielded isotope depletion in all biotic setups indicating microbial H2 consumption. Carbon isotope analyses of carbon dioxide (CO2) showed isotope enrichment in all H2-supplemented biotic setups indicating H2-dependent consumption of CO2 by methanogens or homoacetogens. Homoacetogenesis was indicated by the detection of acetate and formate. Consumption of CO2 and H2 varied along the differently nutrient-amended setups, as did the onset of methane production. Plotting carbon against hydrogen isotope signatures of CH4 indicated that CH4 was produced hydrogenotrophically and fermentatively. The putative hydrogenotrophic Methanobacterium sp. was the dominant methanogen. Most abundant phylotypes belonged to typical ferric iron reducers, indicating that besides CO2, Fe(III) was an important electron acceptor. In summary, our study provides evidence for the adaptability of subsurface microbial communities under different nutrient-deficient conditions to elevated H2 partial pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Löffler
- Department Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Laura Schwab
- Department Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Frank Dethlefsen
- Department of Applied Geosciences - Aquatic Geochemistry and Hydrogeology, Institute for Geosciences, Competence Centre for Geoenergy (KGE), University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Louisa Lagmöller
- Department of Applied Geosciences - Aquatic Geochemistry and Hydrogeology, Institute for Geosciences, Competence Centre for Geoenergy (KGE), University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Carsten Vogt
- Department Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hans-Hermann Richnow
- Department Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Isodetect GmbH, Leipzig, Germany
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3
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Rolland C, Burzan N, Leupin OX, Boylan AA, Frutschi M, Wang S, Jacquemin N, Bernier-Latmani R. Microbial hydrogen sinks in the sand-bentonite backfill material for the deep geological disposal of radioactive waste. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1359677. [PMID: 38690357 PMCID: PMC11060177 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1359677] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The activity of subsurface microorganisms can be harnessed for engineering projects. For instance, the Swiss radioactive waste repository design can take advantage of indigenous microorganisms to tackle the issue of a hydrogen gas (H2) phase pressure build-up. After repository closure, it is expected that anoxic steel corrosion of waste canisters will lead to an H2 accumulation. This occurrence should be avoided to preclude damage to the structural integrity of the host rock. In the Swiss design, the repository access galleries will be back-filled, and the choice of this material provides an opportunity to select conditions for the microbially-mediated removal of excess gas. Here, we investigate the microbial sinks for H2. Four reactors containing an 80/20 (w/w) mixture of quartz sand and Wyoming bentonite were supplied with natural sulfate-rich Opalinus Clay rock porewater and with pure H2 gas for up to 108 days. Within 14 days, a decrease in the sulfate concentration was observed, indicating the activity of the sulfate-reducing bacteria detected in the reactor, e.g., from Desulfocurvibacter genus. Additionally, starting at day 28, methane was detected in the gas phase, suggesting the activity of methanogens present in the solid phase, such as the Methanosarcina genus. This work evidences the development, under in-situ relevant conditions, of a backfill microbiome capable of consuming H2 and demonstrates its potential to contribute positively to the long-term safety of a radioactive waste repository.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Rolland
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Niels Burzan
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier X. Leupin
- National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste, Wettingen, Switzerland
| | - Aislinn A. Boylan
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manon Frutschi
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Simiao Wang
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Jacquemin
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rizlan Bernier-Latmani
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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4
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Beaver RC, Vachon MA, Tully CS, Engel K, Spasov E, Binns WJ, Noël JJ, Neufeld JD. Impact of dry density and incomplete saturation on microbial growth in bentonite clay for nuclear waste storage. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae053. [PMID: 38458234 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Many countries are in the process of designing a deep geological repository (DGR) for long-term storage of used nuclear fuel. For several designs, used fuel containers will be placed belowground, with emplacement tunnels being backfilled using a combination of highly compacted powdered bentonite clay buffer boxes surrounded by a granulated "gapfill" bentonite. To limit the potential for microbiologically influenced corrosion of used fuel containers, identifying conditions that suppress microbial growth is critical for sustainable DGR design. This study investigated microbial communities in powdered and gapfill bentonite clay incubated in oxic pressure vessels at dry densities between 1.1 g cm-3 (i.e. below repository target) and 1.6 g cm-3 (i.e. at or above repository target) as a 1-year time series. RESULTS Our results showed an initial (i.e. 1 month) increase in the abundance of culturable heterotrophs associated with all dry densities <1.6 g cm-3, which reveals growth during transient low-pressure conditions associated with the bentonite saturation process. Following saturation, culturable heterotroph abundances decreased to those of starting material by the 6-month time point for all 1.4 and 1.6 g cm-3 pressure vessels, and the most probable numbers of culturable sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) remained constant for all vessels and time points. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results showed a change in microbial community composition from the starting material to the 1-month time point, after which time most samples were dominated by sequences associated with Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Cupriavidus, and Streptomyces. Similar taxa were identified as dominant members of the culture-based community composition, demonstrating that the dominant members of the clay microbial communities are viable. Members of the spore-forming Desulfosporosinus genus were the dominant SRB for both clay and culture profiles. CONCLUSIONS After initial microbial growth while bentonite was below target pressure in the early phases of saturation, microbial growth in pressure vessels with dry densities of at least 1.4 g cm-3 was eventually suppressed as bentonite neared saturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C Beaver
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Melody A Vachon
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Claire S Tully
- Department of Chemistry, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Katja Engel
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Emilie Spasov
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - W Jeffrey Binns
- Nuclear Waste Management Organization, Toronto, Ontario, M4T 2S3, Canada
| | - James J Noël
- Department of Chemistry, Western University, London, Ontario, N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Josh D Neufeld
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
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5
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Gregory SP, Mackie JRM, Barnett MJ. Radioactive waste microbiology: predicting microbial survival and activity in changing extreme environments. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2024; 48:fuae001. [PMID: 38216518 PMCID: PMC10853057 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The potential for microbial activity to occur within the engineered barrier system (EBS) of a geological disposal facility (GDF) for radioactive waste is acknowledged by waste management organizations as it could affect many aspects of the safety functions of a GDF. Microorganisms within an EBS will be exposed to changing temperature, pH, radiation, salinity, saturation, and availability of nutrient and energy sources, which can limit microbial survival and activity. Some of the limiting conditions are incorporated into GDF designs for safety reasons, including the high pH of cementitious repositories, the limited pore space of bentonite-based repositories, or the high salinity of GDFs in evaporitic geologies. Other environmental conditions such as elevated radiation, temperature, and desiccation, arise as a result of the presence of high heat generating waste (HHGW). Here, we present a comprehensive review of how environmental conditions in the EBS may limit microbial activity, covering HHGW and lower heat generating waste (LHGW) in a range of geological environments. We present data from the literature on the currently recognized limits to life for each of the environmental conditions described above, and nutrient availability to establish the potential for life in these environments. Using examples where each variable has been modelled for a particular GDF, we outline the times and locations when that variable can be expected to limit microbial activity. Finally, we show how this information for multiple variables can be used to improve our understanding of the potential for microbial activity to occur within the EBS of a GDF and, more broadly, to understand microbial life in changing environments exposed to multiple extreme conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Gregory
- British Geological Survey, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica R M Mackie
- British Geological Survey, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, United Kingdom
| | - Megan J Barnett
- British Geological Survey, Nicker Hill, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, United Kingdom
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6
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Keller NS, Lüders K, Hornbruch G, Birnstengel S, Vogt C, Ebert M, Kallies R, Dahmke A, Richnow HH. Rapid Consumption of Dihydrogen Injected into a Shallow Aquifer by Ecophysiologically Different Microbes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:333-341. [PMID: 38117480 PMCID: PMC10785757 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The envisaged future dihydrogen (H2) economy requires a H2 gas grid as well as large deep underground stores. However, the consequences of an unintended spread of H2 through leaky pipes, wells, or subterranean gas migrations on groundwater resources and their ecosystems are poorly understood. Therefore, we emulated a short-term leakage incident by injecting gaseous H2 into a shallow aquifer at the TestUM test site and monitored the subsequent biogeochemical processes in the groundwater system. At elevated H2 concentrations, an increase in acetate concentrations and a decrease in microbial α-diversity with a concomitant change in microbial β-diversity were observed. Additionally, microbial H2 oxidation was indicated by temporally higher abundances of taxa known for aerobic or anaerobic H2 oxidation. After H2 concentrations diminished below the detection limit, α- and β-diversity approached baseline values. In summary, the emulated H2 leakage resulted in a temporally limited change of the groundwater microbiome and associated geochemical conditions due to the intermediate growth of H2 consumers. The results confirm the general assumption that H2, being an excellent energy and electron source for many microorganisms, is quickly microbiologically consumed in the environment after a leakage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina S. Keller
- Department
of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre
for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Klas Lüders
- Department
of Applied Geosciences - Aquatic Geochemistry and Hydrogeology, Institute for Geosciences, Competence Centre for Geoenergy
(KGE), 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Götz Hornbruch
- Department
of Applied Geosciences - Aquatic Geochemistry and Hydrogeology, Institute for Geosciences, Competence Centre for Geoenergy
(KGE), 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Susann Birnstengel
- Department
of Monitoring & Exploration Technologies, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carsten Vogt
- Department
of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre
for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Markus Ebert
- Department
of Applied Geosciences - Aquatic Geochemistry and Hydrogeology, Institute for Geosciences, Competence Centre for Geoenergy
(KGE), 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - René Kallies
- Department
of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz
Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andreas Dahmke
- Department
of Applied Geosciences - Aquatic Geochemistry and Hydrogeology, Institute for Geosciences, Competence Centre for Geoenergy
(KGE), 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Hans H. Richnow
- Department
of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre
for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Isodetect
GmbH, Deutscher Platz
5b, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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7
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Beaver RC, Neufeld JD. Microbial ecology of the deep terrestrial subsurface. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae091. [PMID: 38780093 PMCID: PMC11170664 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The terrestrial subsurface hosts microbial communities that, collectively, are predicted to comprise as many microbial cells as global surface soils. Although initially thought to be associated with deposited organic matter, deep subsurface microbial communities are supported by chemolithoautotrophic primary production, with hydrogen serving as an important source of electrons. Despite recent progress, relatively little is known about the deep terrestrial subsurface compared to more commonly studied environments. Understanding the composition of deep terrestrial subsurface microbial communities and the factors that influence them is of importance because of human-associated activities including long-term storage of used nuclear fuel, carbon capture, and storage of hydrogen for use as an energy vector. In addition to identifying deep subsurface microorganisms, recent research focuses on identifying the roles of microorganisms in subsurface communities, as well as elucidating myriad interactions-syntrophic, episymbiotic, and viral-that occur among community members. In recent years, entirely new groups of microorganisms (i.e. candidate phyla radiation bacteria and Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoloarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota archaea) have been discovered in deep terrestrial subsurface environments, suggesting that much remains unknown about this biosphere. This review explores the historical context for deep terrestrial subsurface microbial ecology and highlights recent discoveries that shape current ecological understanding of this poorly explored microbial habitat. Additionally, we highlight the need for multifaceted experimental approaches to observe phenomena such as cryptic cycles, complex interactions, and episymbiosis, which may not be apparent when using single approaches in isolation, but are nonetheless critical to advancing our understanding of this deep biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C Beaver
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Josh D Neufeld
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
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8
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Wu ZH, Yang XD, Huang LY, Li SL, Xia FY, Qiu YZ, Yi XZ, Jia P, Liao B, Liang JL, Shu WS, Li JT. In situ enrichment of sulphate-reducing microbial communities with different carbon sources stimulating the acid mine drainage sediments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165584. [PMID: 37467988 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165584] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The applications of sulphate-reducing microorganisms (SRMs) in acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment systems have received extensive attention due to their ability to reduce sulphate and stabilize metal(loid)s. Despite great phylogenetic diversity of SRMs, only a few have been used in AMD treatment bioreactors. In situ enrichment could be an efficient approach to select new effective SRMs for AMD treatment. Here, we performed in situ enrichment of SRMs in highly stratified AMD sediment cores using different kinds of carbon source mixture. The dsrAB (dissimilatory sulfite reductase) genes affiliated with nine phyla (two archaeal and seven bacterial phyla) and 26 genera were enriched. Remarkably, those genes affiliated with Aciduliprofundum and Vulcanisaeta were enriched in situ in AMD-related environments for the first time, and their relative abundances were negatively correlated with pH. Furthermore, 107 dsrAB-containing metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were recovered from metagenomic datasets, with 14 phyla (two archaeal and 12 bacterial phyla) and 15 genera. The relative abundances of MAGs were positively correlated with total carbon and sulphate contents. Our findings expanded the diversity of SRMs that can be enriched in AMD sediment, and revealed the physiochemical properties that might affect the growth of SRMs, which provided guidance for AMD treatment bioreators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo-Hui Wu
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Xiao-Dan Yang
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Li-Ying Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Shi-Lin Li
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Fei-Yun Xia
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Yong-Zhi Qiu
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Xin-Zhu Yi
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Pu Jia
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Bin Liao
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China
| | - Jie-Liang Liang
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China.
| | - Wen-Sheng Shu
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
| | - Jin-Tian Li
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, PR China
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9
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Engel K, Ford SE, Binns WJ, Diomidis N, Slater GF, Neufeld JD. Stable microbial community in compacted bentonite after 5 years of exposure to natural granitic groundwater. mSphere 2023; 8:e0004823. [PMID: 37772811 PMCID: PMC10597416 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00048-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The Materials Corrosion Test (MaCoTe) at the Underground Research Laboratory in Grimsel, Switzerland, assesses the microbiology and corrosion behavior of engineered barrier components of a deep geological repository (DGR) for long-term disposal of high-level nuclear waste. Diversity and temporal changes of bentonite-associated microbial community profiles were assessed under DGR-like conditions for compacted Wyoming MX-80 bentonite (1.25 g/cm3 and 1.50 g/cm3 targeted dry densities) exposed to natural groundwater. Using culture-dependent and molecular techniques, samples taken from the outside layer of 5-year borehole modules revealed up to 66% and 23% of 16S rRNA gene sequences affiliated with Desulfosporosinus and Desulfovibrio, respectively. Putatively involved in sulfate reduction, these taxa were almost undetectable within the bentonite core. Instead, microbial profiles of the inner bentonite core were similar to uncompacted bentonite used to pack modules years earlier, and were consistent with a previously published 1-year time point, revealing no detectable microbial growth. Abundances of culturable aerobic and anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria in the uncompacted bentonite were relatively low, with less than 1,000 and 100 colony-forming units (CFUs) per gram dry weight, respectively. Nearly 5 years after emplacement, culturable heterotrophic bacterial CFUs and sulfate-reducing bacteria did not change significantly inside the bentonite core. Phospholipid fatty acid data indicated similar lipid abundance, and corresponding cell abundance estimates, for inner 5-year MaCoTe bentonite samples compared to those previously obtained for 1-year incubations. Collectively, our results provide complementary evidence for microbial stability inside highly compacted bentonite exposed to conditions that mimic engineered barrier components of a deep geological repository. IMPORTANCE The long-term safety of a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel is dependent on the performance of the engineered and natural barriers. Microbial activity can produce chemical species that can influence the corrosion of the disposal containers for used nuclear fuel. Although previous studies have evaluated the microbiology of compacted bentonite clay within subsurface environments, these have been limited to relatively short incubations (i.e., 1 year). The current study provides a unique 5-year perspective that reinforces previous findings of growth inhibition for bentonite clay exposed to in situ subsurface conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Engel
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sian E. Ford
- School of Geography & Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Greg F. Slater
- School of Geography & Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Josh D. Neufeld
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Hilpmann S, Moll H, Drobot B, Vogel M, Hübner R, Stumpf T, Cherkouk A. Europium(III) as luminescence probe for interactions of a sulfate-reducing microorganism with potentially toxic metals. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 264:115474. [PMID: 37716067 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms show a high affinity for trivalent actinides and lanthanides, which play an important role in the safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste as well as in the mining of various rare earth elements. The interaction of the lanthanide Eu(III) with the sulfate-reducing microorganism Desulfosporosinus hippei DSM 8344T, a representative of the genus Desulfosporosinus that naturally occurs in clay rock and bentonite, was investigated. Eu(III) is often used as a non-radioactive analogue for the trivalent actinides Pu(III), Am(III), and Cm(III), which contribute to a major part of the radiotoxicity of the nuclear waste. D. hippei DSM 8344T showed a weak interaction with Eu(III), most likely due to a complexation with lactate in artificial Opalinus Clay pore water. Hence, a low removal of the lanthanide from the supernatant was observed. Scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed a bioprecipitation of Eu(III) with phosphates potentially excreted from the cells. This demonstrates that the ongoing interaction mechanisms are more complex than a simple biosorption process. The bioprecipitation was also verified by luminescence spectroscopy, which showed that the formation of the Eu(III) phosphate compounds starts almost immediately after the addition of the cells. Moreover, chemical microscopy provided information on the local distribution of the different Eu(III) species in the formed cell aggregates. These results provide first insights into the interaction mechanisms of Eu(III) with sulfate-reducing bacteria and contribute to a comprehensive safety concept for a high-level radioactive waste repository, as well as to a better understanding of the fate of heavy metals (especially rare earth elements) in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Hilpmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Henry Moll
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Björn Drobot
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Manja Vogel
- VKTA - Strahlenschutz, Analytik & Entsorgung Rossendorf e. V., Dresden, Germany
| | - René Hübner
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stumpf
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Andrea Cherkouk
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany.
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11
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Mitzscherling J, Genderjahn S, Schleicher AM, Bartholomäus A, Kallmeyer J, Wagner D. Clay-associated microbial communities and their relevance for a nuclear waste repository in the Opalinus Clay rock formation. Microbiologyopen 2023; 12:e1370. [PMID: 37642485 PMCID: PMC10333725 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms are known to be natural agents of biocorrosion and mineral transformation, thereby potentially affecting the safety of deep geological repositories used for high-level nuclear waste storage. To better understand how resident microbial communities of the deep terrestrial biosphere may act on mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of insulating clays, we analyzed their structure and potential metabolic functions, as well as site-specific mineralogy and element composition from the dedicated Mont Terri underground research laboratory, Switzerland. We found that the Opalinus Clay formation is mainly colonized by Alphaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota, which are known for corrosive biofilm formation. Potential iron-reducing bacteria were predominant in comparison to methanogenic archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Despite microbial communities in Opalinus Clay being in majority homogenous, site-specific mineralogy and geochemistry conditions have selected for subcommunities that display metabolic potential for mineral dissolution and transformation. Our findings indicate that the presence of a potentially low-active mineral-associated microbial community must be further studied to prevent effects on the repository's integrity over the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Mitzscherling
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section GeomicrobiologyPotsdamGermany
| | - Steffi Genderjahn
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section GeomicrobiologyPotsdamGermany
| | - Anja M. Schleicher
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section Inorganic and Isotope GeochemistryPotsdamGermany
| | | | - Jens Kallmeyer
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section GeomicrobiologyPotsdamGermany
| | - Dirk Wagner
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section GeomicrobiologyPotsdamGermany
- Institute of GeosciencesUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
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12
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Hilpmann S, Rossberg A, Steudtner R, Drobot B, Hübner R, Bok F, Prieur D, Bauters S, Kvashnina KO, Stumpf T, Cherkouk A. Presence of uranium(V) during uranium(VI) reduction by Desulfosporosinus hippei DSM 8344 T. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162593. [PMID: 36889400 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microbial U(VI) reduction influences uranium mobility in contaminated subsurface environments and can affect the disposal of high-level radioactive waste by transforming the water-soluble U(VI) to less mobile U(IV). The reduction of U(VI) by the sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfosporosinus hippei DSM 8344T, a close phylogenetic relative to naturally occurring microorganism present in clay rock and bentonite, was investigated. D. hippei DSM 8344T showed a relatively fast removal of uranium from the supernatants in artificial Opalinus Clay pore water, but no removal in 30 mM bicarbonate solution. Combined speciation calculations and luminescence spectroscopic investigations showed the dependence of U(VI) reduction on the initial U(VI) species. Scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed uranium-containing aggregates on the cell surface and some membrane vesicles. By combining different spectroscopic techniques, including UV/Vis spectroscopy, as well as uranium M4-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure recorded in high-energy-resolution fluorescence-detection mode and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis, the partial reduction of U(VI) could be verified, whereby the formed U(IV) product has an unknown structure. Furthermore, the U M4 HERFD-XANES showed the presence of U(V) during the process. These findings offer new insights into U(VI) reduction by sulfate-reducing bacteria and contribute to a comprehensive safety concept for a repository for high-level radioactive waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Hilpmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - André Rossberg
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; Rossendorf Beamline (BM20-ROBL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France
| | - Robin Steudtner
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Björn Drobot
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - René Hübner
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Bok
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Damien Prieur
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; Rossendorf Beamline (BM20-ROBL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France
| | - Stephen Bauters
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; Rossendorf Beamline (BM20-ROBL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France
| | - Kristina O Kvashnina
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany; Rossendorf Beamline (BM20-ROBL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France
| | - Thorsten Stumpf
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
| | - Andrea Cherkouk
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, Bautzner Landstraße 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany.
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13
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Yue XL, Xu L, Cui L, Fu GY, Xu XW. Metagenome-based analysis of carbon-fixing microorganisms and their carbon-fixing pathways in deep-sea sediments of the southwestern Indian Ocean. Mar Genomics 2023; 70:101045. [PMID: 37245381 DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2023.101045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Carbon fixation by chemoautotrophic microorganisms in the dark ocean makes a large contribution to oceanic primary production and the global carbon cycle. In contrast to the Calvin cycle-dominated carbon-fixing pathway in the marine euphotic zone, carbon-fixing pathways and their hosts in deep-sea areas are diverse. In this study, four deep-sea sediment samples close to hydrothermal vents in the southwestern Indian Ocean were collected and processed using metagenomic analysis to investigate carbon fixation potential. Functional annotations revealed that all six carbon-fixing pathways had genes to varied degrees present in the samples. The reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle and Calvin cycle genes occurred in all samples, in contrast to the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, which previous studies found mainly in the hydrothermal area. The annotations also elucidated the chemoautotrophic microbial members associated with the six carbon-fixing pathways, and the majority of them containing key carbon fixation genes belonged to the phyla Pseudomonadota and Desulfobacterota. The binned metagenome-assembled genomes revealed that key genes for the Calvin cycle and the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle were also found in the order Rhodothermales and the family Hyphomicrobiaceae. By identifying the carbon metabolic pathways and microbial populations in the hydrothermal fields of the southwest Indian Ocean, our study sheds light on complex biogeochemical processes in deep-sea environments and lays the foundation for further in-depth investigations of carbon fixation processes in deep-sea ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Lan Yue
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, PR China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, PR China; Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, PR China
| | - Lin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, PR China; College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China
| | - Li Cui
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, PR China
| | - Ge-Yi Fu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, PR China.
| | - Xue-Wei Xu
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, PR China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Hangzhou 310012, PR China.
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14
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Ruiz-Fresneda MA, Martinez-Moreno MF, Povedano-Priego C, Morales-Hidalgo M, Jroundi F, Merroun ML. Impact of microbial processes on the safety of deep geological repositories for radioactive waste. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1134078. [PMID: 37007474 PMCID: PMC10062484 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1134078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, the increasing production of radioactive waste due to the extensive use of nuclear power is becoming a global environmental concern for society. For this reason, many countries have been considering the use of deep geological repositories (DGRs) for the safe disposal of this waste in the near future. Several DGR designs have been chemically, physically, and geologically well characterized. However, less is known about the influence of microbial processes for the safety of these disposal systems. The existence of microorganisms in many materials selected for their use as barriers for DGRs, including clay, cementitious materials, or crystalline rocks (e.g., granites), has previously been reported. The role that microbial processes could play in the metal corrosion of canisters containing radioactive waste, the transformation of clay minerals, gas production, and the mobility of the radionuclides characteristic of such residues is well known. Among the radionuclides present in radioactive waste, selenium (Se), uranium (U), and curium (Cm) are of great interest. Se and Cm are common components of the spent nuclear fuel residues, mainly as 79Se isotope (half-life 3.27 × 105 years), 247Cm (half-life: 1.6 × 107 years) and 248Cm (half-life: 3.5 × 106 years) isotopes, respectively. This review presents an up-to-date overview about how microbes occurring in the surroundings of a DGR may influence their safety, with a particular focus on the radionuclide-microbial interactions. Consequently, this paper will provide an exhaustive understanding about the influence of microorganisms in the safety of planned radioactive waste repositories, which in turn might improve their implementation and efficiency.
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15
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Soares A, Edwards A, An D, Bagnoud A, Bradley J, Barnhart E, Bomberg M, Budwill K, Caffrey SM, Fields M, Gralnick J, Kadnikov V, Momper L, Osburn M, Mu A, Moreau JW, Moser D, Purkamo L, Rassner SM, Sheik CS, Sherwood Lollar B, Toner BM, Voordouw G, Wouters K, Mitchell AC. A global perspective on bacterial diversity in the terrestrial deep subsurface. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001172. [PMID: 36748549 PMCID: PMC9993121 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
While recent efforts to catalogue Earth's microbial diversity have focused upon surface and marine habitats, 12-20 % of Earth's biomass is suggested to exist in the terrestrial deep subsurface, compared to ~1.8 % in the deep subseafloor. Metagenomic studies of the terrestrial deep subsurface have yielded a trove of divergent and functionally important microbiomes from a range of localities. However, a wider perspective of microbial diversity and its relationship to environmental conditions within the terrestrial deep subsurface is still required. Our meta-analysis reveals that terrestrial deep subsurface microbiota are dominated by Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Firmicutes, probably as a function of the diverse metabolic strategies of these taxa. Evidence was also found for a common small consortium of prevalent Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria operational taxonomic units across the localities. This implies a core terrestrial deep subsurface community, irrespective of aquifer lithology, depth and other variables, that may play an important role in colonizing and sustaining microbial habitats in the deep terrestrial subsurface. An in silico contamination-aware approach to analysing this dataset underscores the importance of downstream methods for assuring that robust conclusions can be reached from deep subsurface-derived sequencing data. Understanding the global panorama of microbial diversity and ecological dynamics in the deep terrestrial subsurface provides a first step towards understanding the role of microbes in global subsurface element and nutrient cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Soares
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences (DGES), Aberystwyth University (AU), Aberystwyth, UK
- Institute of Biology, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), AU, Aberystwyth, UK
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Present address: Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology (GAME), University of Duisburg-Essen, Campus Essen - Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - A. Edwards
- Institute of Biology, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), AU, Aberystwyth, UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), AU, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - D. An
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - A. Bagnoud
- Institut de Génie Thermique (IGT), Haute École d'Ingénierie et de Gestion du Canton de Vaud (HEIG-VD), Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland
| | - J. Bradley
- School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - E. Barnhart
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), USA, Reston, VA, USA
- Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE), Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - M. Bomberg
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland
| | | | | | - M. Fields
- Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE), Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, MSU, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - J. Gralnick
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - V. Kadnikov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
| | - L. Momper
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (DEAPS), The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - M. Osburn
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - A. Mu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Doherty Applied Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Microbiological Diagnostic Unit Public Health Laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - J. W. Moreau
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - D. Moser
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute (DRI), Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - L. Purkamo
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (SEES), University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK
- Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), Finland
| | - S. M. Rassner
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences (DGES), Aberystwyth University (AU), Aberystwyth, UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), AU, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - C. S. Sheik
- Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota, Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - B. M. Toner
- Department of Soil, Water & Climate, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis/Saint Paul, MN, USA
| | - G. Voordouw
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - K. Wouters
- Institute for Environment, Health and Safety (EHS), Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN, Mol, Belgium
| | - A. C. Mitchell
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences (DGES), Aberystwyth University (AU), Aberystwyth, UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), AU, Aberystwyth, UK
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16
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Meyer-Dombard DR, Malas J. Advances in Defining Ecosystem Functions of the Terrestrial Subsurface Biosphere. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:891528. [PMID: 35722320 PMCID: PMC9201636 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.891528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The subsurface is one of the last remaining 'uncharted territories' of Earth and is now accepted as a biosphere in its own right, at least as critical to Earth systems as the surface biosphere. The terrestrial deep biosphere is connected through a thin veneer of Earth's crust to the surface biosphere, and many subsurface biosphere ecosystems are impacted by surface topography, climate, and near surface groundwater movement and represent a transition zone (at least ephemerally). Delving below this transition zone, we can examine how microbial metabolic functions define a deep terrestrial subsurface. This review provides a survey of the most recent advances in discovering the functional and genomic diversity of the terrestrial subsurface biosphere, how microbes interact with minerals and obtain energy and carbon in the subsurface, and considers adaptations to the presented environmental extremes. We highlight the deepest subsurface studies in deep mines, deep laboratories, and boreholes in crystalline and altered host rock lithologies, with a focus on advances in understanding ecosystem functions in a holistic manner.
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17
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Bell E, Lamminmäki T, Alneberg J, Qian C, Xiong W, Hettich RL, Frutschi M, Bernier-Latmani R. Active anaerobic methane oxidation and sulfur disproportionation in the deep terrestrial subsurface. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:1583-1593. [PMID: 35173296 PMCID: PMC9123182 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01207-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microbial life is widespread in the terrestrial subsurface and present down to several kilometers depth, but the energy sources that fuel metabolism in deep oligotrophic and anoxic environments remain unclear. In the deep crystalline bedrock of the Fennoscandian Shield at Olkiluoto, Finland, opposing gradients of abiotic methane and ancient seawater-derived sulfate create a terrestrial sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ). We used chemical and isotopic data coupled to genome-resolved metaproteogenomics to demonstrate active life and, for the first time, provide direct evidence of active anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in a deep terrestrial bedrock. Proteins from Methanoperedens (formerly ANME-2d) are readily identifiable despite the low abundance (≤1%) of this genus and confirm the occurrence of AOM. This finding is supported by 13C-depleted dissolved inorganic carbon. Proteins from Desulfocapsaceae and Desulfurivibrionaceae, in addition to 34S-enriched sulfate, suggest that these organisms use inorganic sulfur compounds as both electron donor and acceptor. Zerovalent sulfur in the groundwater may derive from abiotic rock interactions, or from a non-obligate syntrophy with Methanoperedens, potentially linking methane and sulfur cycles in Olkiluoto groundwater. Finally, putative episymbionts from the candidate phyla radiation (CPR) and DPANN archaea represented a significant diversity in the groundwater (26/84 genomes) with roles in sulfur and carbon cycling. Our results highlight AOM and sulfur disproportionation as active metabolisms and show that methane and sulfur fuel microbial activity in the deep terrestrial subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Bell
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | | | - Johannes Alneberg
- Science for Life Laboratory, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-17121, Sweden
| | - Chen Qian
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA
| | - Weili Xiong
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA
| | - Robert L Hettich
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA
| | - Manon Frutschi
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - Rizlan Bernier-Latmani
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland.
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18
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Rinaldo A, Rodriguez-Iturbe I. Ecohydrology 2.0. RENDICONTI LINCEI. SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI 2022; 33:245-270. [PMID: 35673327 PMCID: PMC9165276 DOI: 10.1007/s12210-022-01071-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This paper aims at a definition of the domain of ecohydrology, a relatively new discipline borne out of an intrusion-as advertised by this Topical Collection of the Rendiconti Lincei-of hydrology and geomorphology into ecology (or vice-versa, depending on the reader's background). The study of hydrologic controls on the biota proves, in our view, significantly broader than envisioned by its original focus that was centered on the critical zone where much of the action of soil, climate and vegetation interactions takes place. In this review of related topics and contributions, we propose a reasoned broadening of perspective, in particular by firmly centering ecohydrology on the fluvial catchment as its fundamental control volume. A substantial unity of materials and methods suggests that our advocacy may be considered legitimate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Rinaldo
- Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Ecohydrology ENAC/IIE/ECHO, École Polytechinque Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Dipartimento ICEA, Università degli studi di Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe
- Department of Ocean Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX USA
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX USA
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19
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Shu WS, Huang LN. Microbial diversity in extreme environments. Nat Rev Microbiol 2022; 20:219-235. [PMID: 34754082 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-021-00648-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
A wide array of microorganisms, including many novel, phylogenetically deeply rooted taxa, survive and thrive in extreme environments. These unique and reduced-complexity ecosystems offer a tremendous opportunity for studying the structure, function and evolution of natural microbial communities. Marker gene surveys have resolved patterns and ecological drivers of these extremophile assemblages, revealing a vast uncultured microbial diversity and the often predominance of archaea in the most extreme conditions. New omics studies have uncovered linkages between community function and environmental variables, and have enabled discovery and genomic characterization of major new lineages that substantially expand microbial diversity and change the structure of the tree of life. These efforts have significantly advanced our understanding of the diversity, ecology and evolution of microorganisms populating Earth's extreme environments, and have facilitated the exploration of microbiota and processes in more complex ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Sheng Shu
- School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Li-Nan Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Murdoch RW, Chen G, Kara Murdoch F, Mack EE, Villalobos Solis MI, Hettich RL, Löffler FE. Identification and widespread environmental distribution of a gene cassette implicated in anaerobic dichloromethane degradation. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:2396-2412. [PMID: 34967079 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities and natural processes release dichloromethane (DCM, methylene chloride), a toxic chemical with substantial ozone-depleting capacity. Specialized anaerobic bacteria metabolize DCM; however, the genetic basis for this process has remained elusive. Comparative genomics of the three known anaerobic DCM-degrading bacterial species revealed a homologous gene cluster, designated the methylene chloride catabolism (mec) gene cassette, comprising 8-10 genes encoding proteins with 79.6%-99.7% amino acid identities. Functional annotation identified genes encoding a corrinoid-dependent methyltransferase system, and shotgun proteomics applied to two DCM-catabolizing cultures revealed high expression of proteins encoded on the mec gene cluster during anaerobic growth with DCM. In a DCM-contaminated groundwater plume, the abundance of mec genes strongly correlated with DCM concentrations (R2 = 0.71-0.85) indicating their potential value as process-specific bioremediation biomarkers. mec gene clusters were identified in metagenomes representing peat bogs, the deep subsurface, and marine ecosystems including oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), suggesting a capacity for DCM degradation in diverse habitats. The broad distribution of anaerobic DCM catabolic potential infers a role for DCM as an energy source in various environmental systems, and implies that the global DCM flux (i.e., the rate of formation minus the rate of consumption) might be greater than emission measurements suggest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Murdoch
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Gao Chen
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Fadime Kara Murdoch
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - E Erin Mack
- Corteva Environmental Remediation, Corteva Agriscience, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | | | - Robert L Hettich
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Frank E Löffler
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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21
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Liu H, Hu Z, Zhou M, Zhang H, Zhang X, Yue Y, Yao X, Wang J, Xi C, Zheng P, Xu X, Hu B. PM 2.5 drives bacterial functions for carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles in the atmosphere. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 295:118715. [PMID: 34933062 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118715] [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: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Airborne bacteria may absorb the substance from the atmospheric particles and play a role in biogeochemical cycling. However, these studies focused on a few culturable bacteria and the samples were usually collected from one site. The metabolic potential of a majority of airborne bacteria on a regional scale and their driving factors remain unknown. In this study, we collected particulates with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) from 8 cities that represent different regions across China and analyzed the samples via high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis, and functional database prediction. Based on the FAPROTAX database, 326 (80.69%), 191 (47.28%) and 45 (11.14%) bacterial genera are possible to conduct the pathways of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles, respectively. The pathway analysis indicated that airborne bacteria may lead to the decrease in organic carbon while the increase in ammonium and sulfate in PM2.5 samples, all of which are the important components of PM2.5. Among the 19 environmental factors studied including air pollutants, meteorological factors, and geographical conditions, PM2.5 concentration manifested the strongest correlations with the functional genes for the transformation of ammonium and sulfate. Moreover, the PM2.5 concentration rather than the sampling site will drive the distribution of functional genera. Thus, a bi-directional relationship between PM2.5 and bacterial metabolism is suggested. Our findings shed light on the potential bacterial pathway for the biogeochemical cycling in the atmosphere and the important role of PM2.5, offering a new perspective for atmospheric ecology and pollution control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; School of Civil Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Zhichao Hu
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Meng Zhou
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiaole Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Engineering (IfU), ETH Zürich, Zürich, CH-8093, Switzerland; Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Empa, Dübendorf, CH-8600, Switzerland
| | - Yang Yue
- Institute of Environmental Engineering (IfU), ETH Zürich, Zürich, CH-8093, Switzerland; Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Empa, Dübendorf, CH-8600, Switzerland
| | - Xiangwu Yao
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Institute of Environmental Engineering (IfU), ETH Zürich, Zürich, CH-8093, Switzerland; Laboratory for Advanced Analytical Technologies, Empa, Dübendorf, CH-8600, Switzerland
| | - Chuanwu Xi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA
| | - Ping Zheng
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiangyang Xu
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Baolan Hu
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Research Center for Air Pollution and Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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22
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OUP accepted manuscript. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6577122. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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23
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Takamiya H, Kouduka M, Suzuki Y. The Deep Rocky Biosphere: New Geomicrobiological Insights and Prospects. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:785743. [PMID: 34917063 PMCID: PMC8670094 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.785743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Rocks that react with liquid water are widespread but spatiotemporally limited throughout the solar system, except for Earth. Rock-forming minerals with high iron content and accessory minerals with high amounts of radioactive elements are essential to support rock-hosted microbial life by supplying organics, molecular hydrogen, and/or oxidants. Recent technological advances have broadened our understanding of the rocky biosphere, where microbial inhabitation appears to be difficult without nutrient and energy inputs from minerals. In particular, microbial proliferation in igneous rock basements has been revealed using innovative geomicrobiological techniques. These recent findings have dramatically changed our perspective on the nature and the extent of microbial life in the rocky biosphere, microbial interactions with minerals, and the influence of external factors on habitability. This study aimed to gather information from scientific and/or technological innovations, such as omics-based and single-cell level characterizations, targeting deep rocky habitats of organisms with minimal dependence on photosynthesis. By synthesizing pieces of rock-hosted life, we can explore the evo-phylogeny and ecophysiology of microbial life on Earth and the life’s potential on other planetary bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hinako Takamiya
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Japan
| | - Mariko Kouduka
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Japan
| | - Yohey Suzuki
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Japan
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24
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Shrestha R, Černoušek T, Stoulil J, Kovářová H, Sihelská K, Špánek R, Ševců A, Steinová J. Anaerobic microbial corrosion of carbon steel under conditions relevant for deep geological repository of nuclear waste. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 800:149539. [PMID: 34392220 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We examined microbial corrosion of carbon steel in synthetic bentonite pore water inoculated with natural underground water containing microorganisms over a period of 780-days under sterile and anaerobic conditions. Corrosion behaviour was determined using the mass loss method, SEM-EDS analysis and Raman spectroscopy, while qualitative and quantitative changes in the microbial community were analysed using molecular-biological tools (16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and qPCR analysis, respectively). Corrosion rates were significantly higher in the biotic environment (compared with an abiotic environment), with significant localisation of corrosion attacks of up to 1 mm arising within 12-months. Nitrate reducing bacteria, such as Pseudomonas, Brevundimonas and Methyloversatilis, dominated the microbial consortium, the high abundance of Methyloversatilis correlating with periods of highest localised corrosion penetrations, suggesting that this bacterium plays an important role in microbially influenced corrosion. Our results indicate that nitrate-reducing bacteria could represent a potential threat to waste canisters under nuclear repository conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rojina Shrestha
- Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovations, Technical University of Liberec, Bendlova 1407/7, Liberec 1 461 17, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Černoušek
- Research Center Řež, Department of Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Husinec-Řež 130 25068, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Stoulil
- University of Chemistry and Technology, Department of Metals and Corrosion Engineering, Technická 5, Prague 166 28, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Kovářová
- Research Center Řež, Department of Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Husinec-Řež 130 25068, Czech Republic
| | - Kristína Sihelská
- Research Center Řež, Department of Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Husinec-Řež 130 25068, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Špánek
- Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovations, Technical University of Liberec, Bendlova 1407/7, Liberec 1 461 17, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Ševců
- Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovations, Technical University of Liberec, Bendlova 1407/7, Liberec 1 461 17, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Steinová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, Prague 128 01, Czech Republic; Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovations, Technical University of Liberec, Bendlova 1407/7, Liberec 1 461 17, Czech Republic.
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25
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Vachon MA, Engel K, Beaver RC, Slater GF, Binns WJ, Neufeld JD. Fifteen shades of clay: distinct microbial community profiles obtained from bentonite samples by cultivation and direct nucleic acid extraction. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22349. [PMID: 34785699 PMCID: PMC8595889 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01072-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterizing the microbiology of swelling bentonite clays can help predict the long-term behaviour of deep geological repositories (DGRs), which are proposed as a solution for the management of used nuclear fuel worldwide. Such swelling clays represent an important component of several proposed engineered barrier system designs and, although cultivation-based assessments of bentonite clay are routinely conducted, direct nucleic acid detection from these materials has been difficult due to technical challenges. In this study, we generated direct comparisons of microbial abundance and diversity captured by cultivation and direct nucleic acid analyses using 15 reference bentonite clay samples. Regardless of clay starting material, the corresponding profiles from cultivation-based approaches were consistently associated with phylogenetically similar sulfate-reducing bacteria, denitrifiers, aerobic heterotrophs, and fermenters, demonstrating that any DGR-associated growth may be consistent, regardless of the specific bentonite clay starting material selected for its construction. Furthermore, dominant nucleic acid sequences in the as-received clay microbial profiles did not correspond with the bacteria that were enriched or isolated in culture. Few core taxa were shared among cultivation and direct nucleic acid analysis profiles, yet those in common were primarily affiliated with Streptomyces, Micrococcaceae, Bacillus, and Desulfosporosinus genera. These putative desiccation-resistant bacteria associated with diverse bentonite clay samples can serve as targets for experiments that evaluate microbial viability and growth within DGR-relevant conditions. Our data will be important for global nuclear waste management organizations, demonstrating that identifying appropriate design conditions with suitable clay swelling properties will prevent growth of the same subset of clay-associated bacteria, regardless of clay origin or processing conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody A Vachon
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Katja Engel
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Rachel C Beaver
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Greg F Slater
- School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | | | - Josh D Neufeld
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
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26
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Grigoryan AA, Jalique DR, Stroes-Gascoyne S, Wolfaardt GM, Keech PG, Korber DR. Prediction of bacterial functional diversity in clay microcosms. Heliyon 2021; 7:e08131. [PMID: 34703919 PMCID: PMC8524152 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms in clay barriers could affect the long-term performance of waste containers in future deep geological repositories (DGR) for used nuclear fuel through production of corrosive metabolites (e.g., sulfide), which is why clay materials are highly compacted: to reduce both physical space and access to water for microorganisms to grow. However, the highly compacted nature of clays and the resulting low activity or dormancy of microorganisms complicate the extraction of biomarkers (i.e., PLFA, DNA etc.) from such barriers for predictive analysis of microbial risks. In order to overcome these challenges, we have combined culture- and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing-based approaches to describe the functional diversity of microorganisms in several commercial clay products, including two different samples of Wyoming type MX-80 bentonite (Batch 1 and Batch 2), the reference clay for a future Canadian DGR, and Avonlea type Canaprill, a clay sample for comparison. Microorganisms from as-received bentonites were enriched in anoxic 10% w/v clay microcosms for three months at ambient temperature with addition of 10% hydrogen along with presumable indigenous organics and sulfate in the clay. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments indicated a high abundance of Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes (82%) in MX-80 Batch 1 incubations. Bacterial libraries from microcosms with MX-80 Batch 2 were enriched with Firmicutes (53%) and Chloroflexi (43%). Firmicutes also significantly contributed (<15%) to the bacterial community in Canaprill clay microcosm, which was dominated by Gram-negative Proteobacteria (>70%). Sequence analysis revealed presence of the bacterial families Peptostreptococcaceae, Clostridiaceae, Peptococcaceae, Bacillaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Veillonellaceae, Tissierellaceae and Planococcaceae in MX-80 Batch 1 incubations; Bacillaceae, along with unidentified bacteria of the phylum Chloroflexi, in MX-80 Batch 2 clay microcosms, and Pseudomonadaceae, Hydrogenophilaceae, Bacillaceae, Desulfobacteraceae, Desulfobulbaceae, Peptococcaceae, Pelobacteraceae, Alcaligenaceae, Rhodospirillaceae in Canaprill microcosms. Exploration of potential metabolic pathways in the bacterial communities from the clay microcosms suggested variable patterns of sulfur cycling in the different clays with the possible prevalence of bacterial sulfate-reduction in MX-80 bentonite, and probably successive sulfate-reduction/sulfur-oxidation reactions in Canaprill microcosms. Furthermore, analysis of potential metabolic pathways in the bentonite enrichments suggested that bacteria with acid-producing capabilities (i.e., fermenters and acetogens) together with sulfide-producing prokaryotes might perhaps contribute to corrosion risks in clay systems. However, the low activity or dormancy of microorganisms in highly compacted bentonites as a result of severe environmental constraints (e.g., low water activity and high swelling pressure in the confined bentonite) in situ would be expected to largely inhibit bacterial activity in highly compacted clay-based barriers in a future DGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A. Grigoryan
- Department of Food and Bioproducts Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
- Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
| | - Daphne R. Jalique
- Department of Food and Bioproducts Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
- Lallemand Inc., Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Simcha Stroes-Gascoyne
- Department of Food and Bioproducts Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Gideon M. Wolfaardt
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Darren R. Korber
- Department of Food and Bioproducts Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
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27
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Jouffret V, Miotello G, Culotta K, Ayrault S, Pible O, Armengaud J. Increasing the power of interpretation for soil metaproteomics data. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:195. [PMID: 34587999 PMCID: PMC8482631 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01139-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soil and sediment microorganisms are highly phylogenetically diverse but are currently largely under-represented in public molecular databases. Their functional characterization by means of metaproteomics is usually performed using metagenomic sequences acquired for the same sample. However, such hugely diverse metagenomic datasets are difficult to assemble; in parallel, theoretical proteomes from isolates available in generic databases are of high quality. Both these factors advocate for the use of theoretical proteomes in metaproteomics interpretation pipelines. Here, we examined a number of database construction strategies with a view to increasing the outputs of metaproteomics studies performed on soil samples. RESULTS The number of peptide-spectrum matches was found to be of comparable magnitude when using public or sample-specific metagenomics-derived databases. However, numbers were significantly increased when a combination of both types of information was used in a two-step cascaded search. Our data also indicate that the functional annotation of the metaproteomics dataset can be maximized by using a combination of both types of databases. CONCLUSIONS A two-step strategy combining sample-specific metagenome database and public databases such as the non-redundant NCBI database and a massive soil gene catalog allows maximizing the metaproteomic interpretation both in terms of ratio of assigned spectra and retrieval of function-derived information. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Jouffret
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, F-30200, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
- Laboratoire des Sciences et de l'Environnement (LSCE-IPSL), UMR 8212 (CEA/CNRS/UVSQ), CEA Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Orme des Merisiers, F-91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- Laboratoire Innovations technologiques pour la Détection et le Diagnostic (Li2D), Université de Montpellier, F-30207, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Guylaine Miotello
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, F-30200, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Karen Culotta
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, F-30200, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Sophie Ayrault
- Laboratoire des Sciences et de l'Environnement (LSCE-IPSL), UMR 8212 (CEA/CNRS/UVSQ), CEA Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, Orme des Merisiers, F-91191, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Olivier Pible
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, F-30200, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France
| | - Jean Armengaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, F-30200, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France.
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28
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Toubes‐Rodrigo M, Potgieter‐Vermaak S, Sen R, Oddsdóttir ES, Elliott D, Cook S. Active microbial ecosystem in glacier basal ice fuelled by iron and silicate comminution-derived hydrogen. Microbiologyopen 2021; 10:e1200. [PMID: 34459543 PMCID: PMC8289488 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The basal zone of glaciers is characterized by physicochemical properties that are distinct from firnified ice due to strong interactions with underlying substrate and bedrock. Basal ice (BI) ecology and the roles that the microbiota play in biogeochemical cycling, weathering, and proglacial soil formation remain poorly described. We report on basal ice geochemistry, bacterial diversity (16S rRNA gene phylogeny), and inferred ecological roles at three temperate Icelandic glaciers. We sampled three physically distinct basal ice facies (stratified, dispersed, and debris bands) and found facies dependent on biological similarities and differences; basal ice character is therefore an important sampling consideration in future studies. Based on a high abundance of silicates and Fe-containing minerals and, compared to earlier BI literature, total C was detected that could sustain the basal ice ecosystem. It was hypothesized that C-fixing chemolithotrophic bacteria, especially Fe-oxidisers and hydrogenotrophs, mutualistically support associated heterotrophic communities. Basal ice-derived rRNA gene sequences corresponding to genera known to harbor hydrogenotrophic methanogens suggest that silicate comminution-derived hydrogen can also be utilized for methanogenesis. PICRUSt-predicted metabolism suggests that methane metabolism and C-fixation pathways could be highly relevant in BI, indicating the importance of these metabolic routes. The nutrients and microbial communities release from melting basal ice may play an important role in promoting pioneering communities establishment and soil development in deglaciating forelands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Toubes‐Rodrigo
- AstrobiologyOUFaculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsThe Open UniversityMilton KeynesUK
| | - Sanja Potgieter‐Vermaak
- Department of Natural SciencesEcology and Environment Research CentreManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
| | - Robin Sen
- Department of Natural SciencesEcology and Environment Research CentreManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
| | | | - David Elliott
- Environmental Sustainability Research CentreUniversity of DerbyDerbyUK
| | - Simon Cook
- Geography and Environmental ScienceUniversity of DundeeDundeeUK
- UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and ScienceUniversity of DundeeDundeeUK
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29
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Tamisier M, Schmidt M, Vogt C, Kümmel S, Stryhanyuk H, Musat N, Richnow HH, Musat F. Iron corrosion by methanogenic archaea characterized by stable isotope effects and crust mineralogy. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:583-595. [PMID: 34190386 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Carbon and hydrogen stable isotope effects associated with methane formation by the corrosive archaeon Methanobacterium strain IM1 were determined during growth with hydrogen and iron. Isotope analyses were complemented by structural, elemental and molecular composition analyses of corrosion crusts. During growth with H2 , strain IM1 formed methane with average δ13 C of -43.5‰ and δ2 H of -370‰. Corrosive growth led to methane more depleted in 13 C, with average δ13 C ranging from -56‰ to -64‰ during the early and the late growth phase respectively. The corresponding δ2 H were less impacted by the growth phase, with average values ranging from -316 to -329‰. The stable isotope fractionation factors, α 13 C CO 2 / CH 4 , were 1.026 and 1.042 for hydrogenotrophic and corrosive growth respectively. Corrosion crusts formed by strain IM1 have a domed structure, appeared electrically conductive and were composed of siderite, calcite and iron sulfide, the latter formed by precipitation of sulfide (from culture medium) with ferrous iron generated during corrosion. Strain IM1 cells were found attached to crust surfaces and encrusted deep inside crust domes. Our results may assist to diagnose methanogens-induced corrosion in the field and suggest that intrusion of sulfide in anoxic settings may stimulate corrosion by methanogenic archaea via formation of semiconductive crusts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Tamisier
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
| | - Matthias Schmidt
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
| | - Carsten Vogt
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
| | - Steffen Kümmel
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
| | - Hryhoriy Stryhanyuk
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
| | - Niculina Musat
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
| | - Hans-Hermann Richnow
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
| | - Florin Musat
- Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
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30
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Wormald RM, Rout SP, Mayes W, Gomes H, Humphreys PN. Hydrogenotrophic Methanogenesis Under Alkaline Conditions. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:614227. [PMID: 33343555 PMCID: PMC7744349 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.614227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A cement-based geological disposal facility (GDF) is one potential option for the disposal of intermediate level radioactive wastes. The presence of both organic and metallic materials within a GDF provides the opportunity for both acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. However, for these processes to proceed, they need to adapt to the alkaline environment generated by the cementitious materials employed in backfilling and construction. Within the present study, a range of alkaline and neutral pH sediments were investigated to determine the upper pH limit and the preferred route of methane generation. In all cases, the acetoclastic route did not proceed above pH 9.0, and the hydrogenotrophic route dominated methane generation under alkaline conditions. In some alkaline sediments, acetate metabolism was coupled to hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis via syntrophic acetate oxidation, which was confirmed through inhibition studies employing fluoromethane. The absence of acetoclastic methanogenesis at alkaline pH values (>pH 9.0) is attributed to the dominance of the acetate anion over the uncharged, undissociated acid. Under these conditions, acetoclastic methanogens require an active transport system to access their substrate. The data indicate that hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis is the dominant methanogenic pathway under alkaline conditions (>pH 9.0).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M Wormald
- Department of Biological and Geographical Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
| | - Simon P Rout
- Department of Biological and Geographical Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
| | - William Mayes
- Department of Geography, Geology and Environment, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
| | - Helena Gomes
- Department of Geography, Geology and Environment, University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom.,Food, Water, Waste Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Paul N Humphreys
- Department of Biological and Geographical Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
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Kucera J, Lochman J, Bouchal P, Pakostova E, Mikulasek K, Hedrich S, Janiczek O, Mandl M, Johnson DB. A Model of Aerobic and Anaerobic Metabolism of Hydrogen in the Extremophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:610836. [PMID: 33329503 PMCID: PMC7735108 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.610836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen can serve as an electron donor for chemolithotrophic acidophiles, especially in the deep terrestrial subsurface and geothermal ecosystems. Nevertheless, the current knowledge of hydrogen utilization by mesophilic acidophiles is minimal. A multi-omics analysis was applied on Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans growing on hydrogen, and a respiratory model was proposed. In the model, [NiFe] hydrogenases oxidize hydrogen to two protons and two electrons. The electrons are used to reduce membrane-soluble ubiquinone to ubiquinol. Genetically associated iron-sulfur proteins mediate electron relay from the hydrogenases to the ubiquinone pool. Under aerobic conditions, reduced ubiquinol transfers electrons to either cytochrome aa 3 oxidase via cytochrome bc 1 complex and cytochrome c 4 or the alternate directly to cytochrome bd oxidase, resulting in proton efflux and reduction of oxygen. Under anaerobic conditions, reduced ubiquinol transfers electrons to outer membrane cytochrome c (ferrireductase) via cytochrome bc 1 complex and a cascade of electron transporters (cytochrome c 4, cytochrome c 552, rusticyanin, and high potential iron-sulfur protein), resulting in proton efflux and reduction of ferric iron. The proton gradient generated by hydrogen oxidation maintains the membrane potential and allows the generation of ATP and NADH. These results further clarify the role of extremophiles in biogeochemical processes and their impact on the composition of the deep terrestrial subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Kucera
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jan Lochman
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Pavel Bouchal
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Eva Pakostova
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | - Kamil Mikulasek
- Mendel Centre for Plant Genomics and Proteomics, Central European Institute of Technology, Brno, Czechia
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- Institute of Biosciences, Technische Universität (TU) Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Oldrich Janiczek
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Martin Mandl
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - D Barrie Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
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32
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Song D, Jiang Z, Ma T, Dong Y, Shi L. Bacterial and Archaeal Diversity and Abundance in Shallow Subsurface Clay Sediments at Jianghan Plain, China. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:572560. [PMID: 33193171 PMCID: PMC7642157 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.572560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clay layers are common in subsurface where microbial activities play an important role in impacting the biogeochemical properties of adjacent aquifers. In this study, we analyzed the community structure and abundance of bacteria and archaea in response to geochemical properties of six clay sediments at different depths in a borehole (112°34'0″E, 30°36'21″N) of Jianghan Plain (JHP), China. Our results suggested that the top two clay layers were oxic, while the remaining bottom four clay layers were anoxic. Both high-throughput sequencing and qPCR of 16S rRNA gene showed relatively high abundance of archaea (up to 60%) in three of the anoxic clay layers. Furthermore, microbial communities in these clay sediments showed distinct vertical stratification, which may be impacted by changes in concentrations of sulfate, HCl-extractable Fe2+ and total organic carbon (TOC) in the sediments. In the upper two oxic clay layers, identification of phyla Thaumarchaeota (11.2%) and Nitrosporales (1.2%) implied nitrification in these layers. In the two anoxic clay layers beneath the oxic zone, high abundances of Anaeromyxobacter, Chloroflexi bacterium RBG 16_58_14 and Deltaproteobacteria, suggested the reductions of nitrate, iron and sulfate. Remarkably, a significant portion of Bathyarchaeota (∼25%) inhabited in the bottom two anoxic clay layers, which may indicate archaeal anaerobic degradation of TOC by these organisms. The results of this study provide the first systematic understandings of microbial activities in subsurface clay layers at JHP, which may help develop microorganism-based solutions for mitigating subsurface contaminations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Song
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhou Jiang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Teng Ma
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiran Dong
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Liang Shi
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
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Liu H, Hu Z, Zhou M, Zhang H, Li Z, Zhang H, Hu J, Yao X, Lou L, Xi C, Zhu L, Xu X, Zheng P, Hu B. Airborne microorganisms exacerbate the formation of atmospheric ammonium and sulfate. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 263:114293. [PMID: 32208227 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Haze pollution is inseparable from the transformation of air pollutants especially the ammonium and sulfate. Chemical and physical processes play important roles in this transformation. However, the role of microbial processes has rarely been studied. In this report, we applied the cultivation-independent metagenomic approach to study airborne microorganisms, investigating the potential microbial-catalyzed transformation of ammonium and sulfate in PM2.5 samples. Functional genes predict that airborne microorganisms have the potential to catalyze ammonium formation but not ammonium oxidation since no ammoxidation genes were identified. We also found that the frequency of sulfate-forming genes was 1.56 times of those for sulfate-reducing genes. It was speculated that microbial metabolisms in the atmosphere could contribute to the accumulation of ammonium and sulfate. With the increase of PM2.5 concentration, the frequency of functional genes and the relative abundance of genera which involved in nitrogen and sulfur metabolisms increased. That suggested air pollution was conducive to the microbial-mediated formation of ammonium and sulfate. Overall, our results provided evidence for the possible role of microbial processes in the air pollutant transformation and brought a new perspective for studying the formation of secondary air pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Liu
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zhichao Hu
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Meng Zhou
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Huihui Zhang
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Zheng Li
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jiajie Hu
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiangwu Yao
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Liping Lou
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Chuanwu Xi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lizhong Zhu
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Xiangyang Xu
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ping Zheng
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Baolan Hu
- College of Environmental & Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Research Center for Air Pollution and Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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Casar CP, Kruger BR, Flynn TM, Masterson AL, Momper LM, Osburn MR. Mineral-hosted biofilm communities in the continental deep subsurface, Deep Mine Microbial Observatory, SD, USA. GEOBIOLOGY 2020; 18:508-522. [PMID: 32216092 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Deep subsurface biofilms are estimated to host the majority of prokaryotic life on Earth, yet fundamental aspects of their ecology remain unknown. An inherent difficulty in studying subsurface biofilms is that of sample acquisition. While samples from marine and terrestrial deep subsurface fluids have revealed abundant and diverse microbial life, limited work has described the corresponding biofilms on rock fracture and pore space surfaces. The recently established Deep Mine Microbial Observatory (DeMMO) is a long-term monitoring network at which we can explore the ecological role of biofilms in fluid-filled fractures to depths of 1.5 km. We carried out in situ cultivation experiments with single minerals representative of DeMMO host rock to explore the ecological drivers of biodiversity and biomass in biofilm communities in the continental subsurface. Coupling cell densities to thermodynamic models of putative metabolic reactions with minerals suggests a metabolic relationship between biofilms and the minerals they colonize. Our findings indicate that minerals can significantly enhance biofilm cell densities and promote selective colonization by taxa putatively capable of extracellular electron transfer. In turn, minerals can drive significant differences in biodiversity between fluid and biofilm communities. Given our findings at DeMMO, we suggest that host rock mineralogy is an important ecological driver in deep continental biospheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin P Casar
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Brittany R Kruger
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Theodore M Flynn
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Andrew L Masterson
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Lily M Momper
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Magdalena R Osburn
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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Bagnoud A, Pramateftaki P, Bogard MJ, Battin TJ, Peter H. Microbial Ecology of Methanotrophy in Streams Along a Gradient of CH 4 Availability. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:771. [PMID: 32477286 PMCID: PMC7241049 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the recognition of streams and rivers as sources of methane (CH4) to the atmosphere, the role of CH4 oxidation (MOX) in these ecosystems remains poorly understood to date. Here, we measured the kinetics of MOX in stream sediments of 14 sites to resolve the ecophysiology of CH4 oxidizing bacteria (MOB) communities. The streams cover a gradient of land cover and associated physicochemical parameter and differed in stream- and porewater CH4 concentrations. Michealis–Menten kinetic parameter of MOX, maximum reaction velocity (Vmax), and CH4 concentration at half Vmax (KS) increased with CH4 supply. KS values in the micromolar range matched the CH4 concentrations measured in shallow stream sediments and indicate that MOX is mostly driven by low-affinity MOB. 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified MOB classified as Methylococcaceae and particularly Crenothrix. Their relative abundance correlated with pmoA gene counts and MOX rates, underscoring their pivotal role as CH4 oxidizers in stream sediments. Building on the concept of enterotypes, we identify two distinct groups of co-occurring MOB. While there was no taxonomic difference among the members of each cluster, one cluster contained abundant and common MOB, whereas the other cluster contained rare operational taxonomic units (OTUs) specific to a subset of streams. These integrated analyses of changes in MOB community structure, gene abundance, and the corresponding ecosystem process contribute to a better understanding of the distal controls on MOX in streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Bagnoud
- Stream Biofilm and Ecosystem Research Laboratory, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paraskevi Pramateftaki
- Stream Biofilm and Ecosystem Research Laboratory, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthew J Bogard
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie, Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Tom J Battin
- Stream Biofilm and Ecosystem Research Laboratory, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Peter
- Stream Biofilm and Ecosystem Research Laboratory, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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36
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Active sulfur cycling in the terrestrial deep subsurface. ISME JOURNAL 2020; 14:1260-1272. [PMID: 32047278 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-0602-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The deep terrestrial subsurface remains an environment where there is limited understanding of the extant microbial metabolisms. At Olkiluoto, Finland, a deep geological repository is under construction for the final storage of spent nuclear fuel. It is therefore critical to evaluate the potential impact microbial metabolism, including sulfide generation, could have upon the safety of the repository. We investigated a deep groundwater where sulfate is present, but groundwater geochemistry suggests limited microbial sulfate-reducing activity. Examination of the microbial community at the genome-level revealed microorganisms with the metabolic capacity for both oxidative and reductive sulfur transformations. Deltaproteobacteria are shown to have the genetic capacity for sulfate reduction and possibly sulfur disproportionation, while Rhizobiaceae, Rhodocyclaceae, Sideroxydans, and Sulfurimonas oxidize reduced sulfur compounds. Further examination of the proteome confirmed an active sulfur cycle, serving for microbial energy generation and growth. Our results reveal that this sulfide-poor groundwater harbors an active microbial community of sulfate-reducing and sulfide-oxidizing bacteria, together mediating a sulfur cycle that remained undetected by geochemical monitoring alone. The ability of sulfide-oxidizing bacteria to limit the accumulation of sulfide was further demonstrated in groundwater incubations and highlights a potential sink for sulfide that could be beneficial for geological repository safety.
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37
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Bhushan A, Egli PJ, Peters EE, Freeman MF, Piel J. Genome mining- and synthetic biology-enabled production of hypermodified peptides. Nat Chem 2019; 11:931-939. [PMID: 31501509 PMCID: PMC6763334 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-019-0323-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The polytheonamides are among the most complex and biosynthetically distinctive natural products known to date. These potent peptide cytotoxins are derived from a ribosomal precursor processed by 49 mostly non-canonical posttranslational modifications. As the producer is a 'microbial dark matter' bacterium only distantly related to any cultivated organism, >70-step chemical syntheses have been developed to access these unique compounds. Here, we mined prokaryotic diversity to establish a synthetic platform based on the new host Microvirgula aerodenitrificans that produces hypermodified peptides within two days. Using this system, we generated the aeronamides, new polytheonamide-type compounds with near-picomolar cytotoxicity. Aeronamides, as well as the polygeonamides produced from deep-rock biosphere DNA, contain the highest numbers of D-amino acids in known biomolecules. With increasing bacterial genomes being sequenced, similar host mining strategies might become feasible to access further elusive natural products from uncultivated life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agneya Bhushan
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Eike E Peters
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael F Freeman
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics and BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, St Paul, MN, USA
| | - Jörn Piel
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Zorz JK, Sharp C, Kleiner M, Gordon PMK, Pon RT, Dong X, Strous M. A shared core microbiome in soda lakes separated by large distances. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4230. [PMID: 31530813 PMCID: PMC6748926 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12195-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In alkaline soda lakes, concentrated dissolved carbonates establish productive phototrophic microbial mats. Here we show how microbial phototrophs and autotrophs contribute to this exceptional productivity. Amplicon and shotgun DNA sequencing data of microbial mats from four Canadian soda lakes indicate the presence of > 2,000 species of Bacteria and Eukaryotes. We recover metagenome-assembled-genomes for a core microbiome of < 100 abundant bacteria, present in all four lakes. Most of these are related to microbes previously detected in sediments of Asian alkaline lakes, showing that common selection principles drive community assembly from a globally distributed reservoir of alkaliphile biodiversity. Detection of > 7,000 proteins show how phototrophic populations allocate resources to specific processes and occupy complementary niches. Carbon fixation proceeds by the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle, in Cyanobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and, surprisingly, Gemmatimonadetes. Our study provides insight into soda lake ecology, as well as a template to guide efforts to engineer biotechnology for carbon dioxide conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackie K Zorz
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Christine Sharp
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Manuel Kleiner
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Paul M K Gordon
- Centre for Health Genomics and Informatics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Richard T Pon
- Centre for Health Genomics and Informatics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 2T9, Canada
| | - Xiaoli Dong
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Marc Strous
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada
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Matschiavelli N, Kluge S, Podlech C, Standhaft D, Grathoff G, Ikeda-Ohno A, Warr LN, Chukharkina A, Arnold T, Cherkouk A. The Year-Long Development of Microorganisms in Uncompacted Bavarian Bentonite Slurries at 30 and 60 °C. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:10514-10524. [PMID: 31369249 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the multibarrier concept for the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW), bentonite is proposed as a potential barrier and buffer material for sealing the space between the steel canister containing the HLW and the surrounding host rock. In order to broaden the spectra of appropriate bentonites, we investigated the metabolic activity and diversity of naturally occurring microorganisms as well as their time-dependent evolution within the industrial B25 Bavarian bentonite under repository-relevant conditions. We conducted anaerobic microcosm experiments containing the B25 bentonite and a synthetic Opalinus Clay pore water solution, which were incubated for one year at 30 and 60 °C. Metabolic activity was only stimulated by the addition of lactate, acetate, or H2. The majority of lactate- and H2-containing microcosms at 30 °C were dominated by strictly anaerobic, sulfate-reducing, and spore-forming microorganisms. The subsequent generation of hydrogen sulfide led to the formation of iron-sulfur precipitations. Independent from the availability of substrates, thermophilic bacteria dominated microcosms that were incubated at 60 °C. However, in the respective microcosms, no significant metabolic activity occurred, and there was no change in the analyzed biogeochemical parameters. Our findings show that indigenous microorganisms of B25 bentonite evolve in a temperature- and substrate-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Matschiavelli
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , Institute of Resource Ecology , Bautzner Landstraße 400 , 01328 Dresden , Germany
| | - Sindy Kluge
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , Institute of Resource Ecology , Bautzner Landstraße 400 , 01328 Dresden , Germany
| | - Carolin Podlech
- University of Greifswald , Institute of Geography and Geology , Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Straße 17a , 17487 Greifswald , Germany
| | - Daniel Standhaft
- University of Greifswald , Institute of Geography and Geology , Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Straße 17a , 17487 Greifswald , Germany
| | - Georg Grathoff
- University of Greifswald , Institute of Geography and Geology , Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Straße 17a , 17487 Greifswald , Germany
| | - Atsushi Ikeda-Ohno
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , Institute of Resource Ecology , Bautzner Landstraße 400 , 01328 Dresden , Germany
| | - Laurence N Warr
- University of Greifswald , Institute of Geography and Geology , Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Straße 17a , 17487 Greifswald , Germany
| | | | - Thuro Arnold
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , Institute of Resource Ecology , Bautzner Landstraße 400 , 01328 Dresden , Germany
| | - Andrea Cherkouk
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf , Institute of Resource Ecology , Bautzner Landstraße 400 , 01328 Dresden , Germany
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Heyer R, Schallert K, Büdel A, Zoun R, Dorl S, Behne A, Kohrs F, Püttker S, Siewert C, Muth T, Saake G, Reichl U, Benndorf D. A Robust and Universal Metaproteomics Workflow for Research Studies and Routine Diagnostics Within 24 h Using Phenol Extraction, FASP Digest, and the MetaProteomeAnalyzer. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1883. [PMID: 31474963 PMCID: PMC6707425 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The investigation of microbial proteins by mass spectrometry (metaproteomics) is a key technology for simultaneously assessing the taxonomic composition and the functionality of microbial communities in medical, environmental, and biotechnological applications. We present an improved metaproteomics workflow using an updated sample preparation and a new version of the MetaProteomeAnalyzer software for data analysis. High resolution by multidimensional separation (GeLC, MudPIT) was sacrificed to aim at fast analysis of a broad range of different samples in less than 24 h. The improved workflow generated at least two times as many protein identifications than our previous workflow, and a drastic increase of taxonomic and functional annotations. Improvements of all aspects of the workflow, particularly the speed, are first steps toward potential routine clinical diagnostics (i.e., fecal samples) and analysis of technical and environmental samples. The MetaProteomeAnalyzer is provided to the scientific community as a central remote server solution at www.mpa.ovgu.de.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Heyer
- Bioprocess Engineering, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Kay Schallert
- Bioprocess Engineering, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Anja Büdel
- Bioprocess Engineering, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Roman Zoun
- Database Research Group, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dorl
- Bioinformatics Research Group, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Hagenberg, Austria
| | | | - Fabian Kohrs
- Bioprocess Engineering, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Püttker
- Bioprocess Engineering, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Corina Siewert
- Bioprocess Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Thilo Muth
- Bioinformatics Unit (MF 1), Department for Methods Development and Research Infrastructure, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gunter Saake
- Database Research Group, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Udo Reichl
- Bioprocess Engineering, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Bioprocess Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Benndorf
- Bioprocess Engineering, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Bioprocess Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
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Statistical Analysis of Community RNA Transcripts between Organic Carbon and Geogas-Fed Continental Deep Biosphere Groundwaters. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.01470-19. [PMID: 31409677 PMCID: PMC6692508 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01470-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite being separated from the photosynthesis-driven surface by both distance and time, the deep biosphere is an important driver for the earth’s carbon and energy cycles. However, due to the difficulties in gaining access and low cell numbers, robust statistical omics studies have not been carried out, and this limits the conclusions that can be drawn. This study benchmarks the use of two separate sampling systems and demonstrates that they provide statistically similar RNA transcript profiles, importantly validating several previously published studies. The generated data are analyzed to identify statistically valid differences in active microbial community members and metabolic processes. The results highlight contrasting taxa and growth strategies in the modern marine waters that are influenced by recent infiltration of Baltic Sea water versus the hydrogen- and carbon dioxide-fed, extremely oligotrophic, thoroughly mixed water. Life in water-filled bedrock fissures in the continental deep biosphere is broadly constrained by energy and nutrient availability. Although these communities are alive, robust studies comparing active populations and metabolic processes across deep aquifers are lacking. This study analyzed three oligotrophic Fennoscandian Shield groundwaters, two “modern marine” waters that are replenished with organic carbon from the Baltic Sea and are likely less than 20 years old (171.3 and 415.4 m below sea level) and an extremely oligotrophic “thoroughly mixed” water (448.8 m below sea level) of unknown age that is composed of very old saline and marine waters. Cells were captured either using a sampling device that rapidly fixed RNA under in situ conditions or by filtering flowing groundwater over an extended period before fixation. Comparison of metatranscriptomes between the methods showed statistically similar transcript profiles for the respective water types, and they were analyzed as biological replicates. Study of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA confirmed active populations from all three domains of life, with many potentially novel unclassified populations present. Statistically supported differences between communities included heterotrophic sulfate-reducing bacteria in the modern marine water at 171.3 m below sea level that has a higher organic carbon content than do largely autotrophic populations in the H2- and CO2-fed thoroughly mixed water. While this modern marine water had signatures of methanogenesis, syntrophic populations were predominantly in the thoroughly mixed water. The study provides a first statistical evaluation of differences in the active microbial communities in groundwaters differentially fed by organic carbon or “geogases.”
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42
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Temporal changes of geochemistry and microbial community in low and intermediate level waste (LILW) repository, South Korea. ANN NUCL ENERGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2019.01.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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43
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Gregory SP, Barnett MJ, Field LP, Milodowski AE. Subsurface Microbial Hydrogen Cycling: Natural Occurrence and Implications for Industry. Microorganisms 2019; 7:E53. [PMID: 30769950 PMCID: PMC6407114 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7020053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen is a key energy source for subsurface microbial processes, particularly in subsurface environments with limited alternative electron donors, and environments that are not well connected to the surface. In addition to consumption of hydrogen, microbial processes such as fermentation and nitrogen fixation produce hydrogen. Hydrogen is also produced by a number of abiotic processes including radiolysis, serpentinization, graphitization, and cataclasis of silicate minerals. Both biotic and abiotically generated hydrogen may become available for consumption by microorganisms, but biotic production and consumption are usually tightly coupled. Understanding the microbiology of hydrogen cycling is relevant to subsurface engineered environments where hydrogen-cycling microorganisms are implicated in gas consumption and production and corrosion in a number of industries including carbon capture and storage, energy gas storage, and radioactive waste disposal. The same hydrogen-cycling microorganisms and processes are important in natural sites with elevated hydrogen and can provide insights into early life on Earth and life on other planets. This review draws together what is known about microbiology in natural environments with elevated hydrogen, and highlights where similar microbial populations could be of relevance to subsurface industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Gregory
- British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK.
| | - Megan J Barnett
- British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK.
| | - Lorraine P Field
- British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK.
| | - Antoni E Milodowski
- British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK.
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Teng Y, Xu Y, Wang X, Christie P. Function of Biohydrogen Metabolism and Related Microbial Communities in Environmental Bioremediation. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:106. [PMID: 30837956 PMCID: PMC6383490 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen (H2) metabolism has attracted considerable interest because the activities of H2-producing and consuming microbes shape the global H2 cycle and may have vital relationships with the global cycling of other elements. There are many pathways of microbial H2 emission and consumption which may affect the structure and function of microbial communities. A wide range of microbial groups employ H2 as an electron donor to catalyze the reduction of pollutants such as organohalides, azo compounds, and trace metals. Syntrophy coupled mutualistic interaction between H2-producing and H2-consuming microorganisms can transfer H2 and be accompanied by the removal of toxic compounds. Moreover, hydrogenases have been gradually recognized to have a key role in the progress of pollutant degradation. This paper reviews recent advances in elucidating role of H2 metabolism involved in syntrophy and hydrogenases in environmental bioremediation. Further investigations should focus on the application of bioenergy in bioremediation to make microbiological H2 metabolism a promising remediation strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Teng
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Yongfeng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China.,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Peter Christie
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
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45
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Yu H, Susanti D, McGlynn SE, Skennerton CT, Chourey K, Iyer R, Scheller S, Tavormina PL, Hettich RL, Mukhopadhyay B, Orphan VJ. Comparative Genomics and Proteomic Analysis of Assimilatory Sulfate Reduction Pathways in Anaerobic Methanotrophic Archaea. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2917. [PMID: 30559729 PMCID: PMC6286981 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Sulfate is the predominant electron acceptor for anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in marine sediments. This process is carried out by a syntrophic consortium of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) and sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) through an energy conservation mechanism that is still poorly understood. It was previously hypothesized that ANME alone could couple methane oxidation to dissimilatory sulfate reduction, but a genetic and biochemical basis for this proposal has not been identified. Using comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses, we found the genetic capacity in ANME and related methanogenic archaea for sulfate reduction, including sulfate adenylyltransferase, APS kinase, APS/PAPS reductase and two different sulfite reductases. Based on characterized homologs and the lack of associated energy conserving complexes, the sulfate reduction pathways in ANME are likely used for assimilation but not dissimilation of sulfate. Environmental metaproteomic analysis confirmed the expression of 6 proteins in the sulfate assimilation pathway of ANME. The highest expressed proteins related to sulfate assimilation were two sulfite reductases, namely assimilatory-type low-molecular-weight sulfite reductase (alSir) and a divergent group of coenzyme F420-dependent sulfite reductase (Group II Fsr). In methane seep sediment microcosm experiments, however, sulfite and zero-valent sulfur amendments were inhibitory to ANME-2a/2c while growth in their syntrophic SRB partner was not observed. Combined with our genomic and metaproteomic results, the passage of sulfur species by ANME as metabolic intermediates for their SRB partners is unlikely. Instead, our findings point to a possible niche for ANME to assimilate inorganic sulfur compounds more oxidized than sulfide in anoxic marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yu
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States.,Ronald and Maxine Linde Center for Global Environmental Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Dwi Susanti
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Shawn E McGlynn
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Connor T Skennerton
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Karuna Chourey
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Ramsunder Iyer
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States.,Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Silvan Scheller
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Patricia L Tavormina
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Robert L Hettich
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Biswarup Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.,Biocomplexity Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.,Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Victoria J Orphan
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
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46
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Metatranscriptomes Reveal That All Three Domains of Life Are Active but Are Dominated by Bacteria in the Fennoscandian Crystalline Granitic Continental Deep Biosphere. mBio 2018; 9:mBio.01792-18. [PMID: 30459191 PMCID: PMC6247080 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01792-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A newly designed sampling apparatus was used to fix RNA under in situ conditions in the deep continental biosphere and benchmarks a strategy for deep biosphere metatranscriptomic sequencing. This apparatus enabled the identification of active community members and the processes they carry out in this extremely oligotrophic environment. This work presents for the first time evidence of eukaryotic, archaeal, and bacterial activity in two deep subsurface crystalline rock groundwaters from the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory with different depths and geochemical characteristics. The findings highlight differences between organic carbon-fed shallow communities and carbon dioxide- and hydrogen-fed old saline waters. In addition, the data reveal a large portion of uncharacterized microorganisms, as well as the important role of candidate phyla in the deep biosphere, but also the disparity in microbial diversity when using standard microbial 16S rRNA gene amplification versus the large unknown portion of the community identified with unbiased metatranscriptomes. The continental subsurface is suggested to contain a significant part of the earth’s total biomass. However, due to the difficulty of sampling, the deep subsurface is still one of the least understood ecosystems. Therefore, microorganisms inhabiting this environment might profoundly influence the global nutrient and energy cycles. In this study, in situ fixed RNA transcripts from two deep continental groundwaters from the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (a Baltic Sea-influenced water with a residence time of <20 years, defined as “modern marine,” and an “old saline” groundwater with a residence time of thousands of years) were subjected to metatranscriptome sequencing. Although small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and mRNA transcripts aligned to all three domains of life, supporting activity within these community subsets, the data also suggested that the groundwaters were dominated by bacteria. Many of the SSU rRNA transcripts grouped within newly described candidate phyla or could not be mapped to known branches on the tree of life, suggesting that a large portion of the active biota in the deep biosphere remains unexplored. Despite the extremely oligotrophic conditions, mRNA transcripts revealed a diverse range of metabolic strategies that were carried out by multiple taxa in the modern marine water that is fed by organic carbon from the surface. In contrast, the carbon dioxide- and hydrogen-fed old saline water with a residence time of thousands of years predominantly showed the potential to carry out translation. This suggested these cells were active, but waiting until an energy source episodically becomes available.
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47
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Puente-Sánchez F, Arce-Rodríguez A, Oggerin M, García-Villadangos M, Moreno-Paz M, Blanco Y, Rodríguez N, Bird L, Lincoln SA, Tornos F, Prieto-Ballesteros O, Freeman KH, Pieper DH, Timmis KN, Amils R, Parro V. Viable cyanobacteria in the deep continental subsurface. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:10702-10707. [PMID: 30275328 PMCID: PMC6196553 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1808176115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are ecologically versatile microorganisms inhabiting most environments, ranging from marine systems to arid deserts. Although they possess several pathways for light-independent energy generation, until now their ecological range appeared to be restricted to environments with at least occasional exposure to sunlight. Here we present molecular, microscopic, and metagenomic evidence that cyanobacteria predominate in deep subsurface rock samples from the Iberian Pyrite Belt Mars analog (southwestern Spain). Metagenomics showed the potential for a hydrogen-based lithoautotrophic cyanobacterial metabolism. Collectively, our results suggest that they may play an important role as primary producers within the deep-Earth biosphere. Our description of this previously unknown ecological niche for cyanobacteria paves the way for models on their origin and evolution, as well as on their potential presence in current or primitive biospheres in other planetary bodies, and on the extant, primitive, and putative extraterrestrial biospheres.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Puente-Sánchez
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INTA-CSIC), 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain;
| | - Alejandro Arce-Rodríguez
- Institute of Microbiology, Technical University Braunschweig, D-38023 Braunschweig, Germany
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Group, Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Monike Oggerin
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología, INTA-CSIC, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miriam García-Villadangos
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INTA-CSIC), 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Moreno-Paz
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INTA-CSIC), 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda Blanco
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INTA-CSIC), 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nuria Rodríguez
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología, INTA-CSIC, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laurence Bird
- Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Sara A Lincoln
- Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Fernando Tornos
- Instituto de Geociencias, CSIC-Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Prieto-Ballesteros
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología, INTA-CSIC, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
| | - Katherine H Freeman
- Department of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
| | - Dietmar H Pieper
- Microbial Interactions and Processes Group, Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Kenneth N Timmis
- Institute of Microbiology, Technical University Braunschweig, D-38023 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Department of Planetology and Habitability, Centro de Astrobiología, INTA-CSIC, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Parro
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (INTA-CSIC), 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain
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48
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Bell E, Lamminmäki T, Alneberg J, Andersson AF, Qian C, Xiong W, Hettich RL, Balmer L, Frutschi M, Sommer G, Bernier-Latmani R. Biogeochemical Cycling by a Low-Diversity Microbial Community in Deep Groundwater. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2129. [PMID: 30245678 PMCID: PMC6137086 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Olkiluoto, an island on the south-west coast of Finland, will host a deep geological repository for the storage of spent nuclear fuel. Microbially induced corrosion from the generation of sulphide is therefore a concern as it could potentially compromise the longevity of the copper waste canisters. Groundwater at Olkiluoto is geochemically stratified with depth and elevated concentrations of sulphide are observed when sulphate-rich and methane-rich groundwaters mix. Particularly high sulphide is observed in methane-rich groundwater from a fracture at 530.6 mbsl, where mixing with sulphate-rich groundwater occurred as the result of an open drill hole connecting two different fractures at different depths. To determine the electron donors fuelling sulphidogenesis, we combined geochemical, isotopic, metagenomic and metaproteomic analyses. This revealed a low diversity microbial community fuelled by hydrogen and organic carbon. Sulphur and carbon isotopes of sulphate and dissolved inorganic carbon, respectively, confirmed that sulphate reduction was ongoing and that CO2 came from the degradation of organic matter. The results demonstrate the impact of introducing sulphate to a methane-rich groundwater with limited electron acceptors and provide insight into extant metabolisms in the terrestrial subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Bell
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Johannes Alneberg
- Science for Life Laboratory, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders F Andersson
- Science for Life Laboratory, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Gene Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chen Qian
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Weili Xiong
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Robert L Hettich
- Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, United States
| | - Louise Balmer
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manon Frutschi
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Guillaume Sommer
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rizlan Bernier-Latmani
- Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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49
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Magnabosco C, Timmers PHA, Lau MCY, Borgonie G, Linage-Alvarez B, Kuloyo O, Alleva R, Kieft TL, Slater GF, van Heerden E, Sherwood Lollar B, Onstott TC. Fluctuations in populations of subsurface methane oxidizers in coordination with changes in electron acceptor availability. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2018; 94:4995908. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- C Magnabosco
- Flatiron Institute Center for Computational Biology, Simons Foundation, New York, NY 10010 USA
| | - P H A Timmers
- Microbial Physiology Group, Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, 6700 The Netherlands
| | - M C Y Lau
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 USA
| | - G Borgonie
- Extreme Life Isyensya, Gentbrugge, 9050 Belgium
| | - B Linage-Alvarez
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State Bloemfontein, Free State 9300 South Africa
| | - O Kuloyo
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State Bloemfontein, Free State 9300 South Africa
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - R Alleva
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 USA
| | - T L Kieft
- Department of Biology, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM 87801 USA
| | - G F Slater
- School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - E van Heerden
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State Bloemfontein, Free State 9300 South Africa
- Biosaense Solutions, Bloemfontein, Free State 9300 South Africa
| | - B Sherwood Lollar
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1 Canada
| | - T C Onstott
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544 USA
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50
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Li Y, Jing H, Xia X, Cheung S, Suzuki K, Liu H. Metagenomic Insights Into the Microbial Community and Nutrient Cycling in the Western Subarctic Pacific Ocean. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:623. [PMID: 29670596 PMCID: PMC5894113 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The composition and metabolic functions of prokaryotic communities in the western subarctic Pacific (WSP), where strong mixing of waters from the Sea of Okhotsk and the East Kamchatka Current result in transfer to the Oyashio Current, were investigated using a shotgun metagenome sequencing approach. Functional metabolic genes related to nutrient cycling of nitrogen, sulfur, carbohydrates, iron and amino acids were differently distributed between the surface and deep waters of the WSP. Genes related to nitrogen metabolism were mainly found in deep waters, where Thaumarchaeaota, Sphingomonadales, and Pseudomonadales were closely associated and performing important roles in ammonia oxidation, assimilatory nitrate reduction, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction processes, respectively. In addition, orders affiliated to Spingobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria were crucial for sulfate reduction and abundant at 3000 m, whereas orders affiliated to Gammaproteobacteria, which harbored the most sulfate reduction genes, were abundant at 1000 m. Additionally, when compared with the East Kamchatka Current, the prokaryotes in the Oyashio Current were likely to consume more energy for synthesizing cellular components. Also, genes encoding iron transport and siderophore biosynthesis proteins were in low abundance, indicating that the iron was not a limiting factor in the Oyashio current. In contrast, in the East Kamchatka Current, prokaryotes were more likely to directly utilize the amino acids and absorb iron from the environment. Overall, our data indicated that the transformation from the East Kamchatka Current to the Oyashio Current reshapes not only the composition of microbial community, but also the function of the metabolic processes. These results extended our knowledge of the microbial composition and potential metabolism in the WSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingdong Li
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Hongmei Jing
- CAS Key Laboratory for Experimental Study Under Deep-Sea Extreme Conditions, Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Xiaomin Xia
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Shunyan Cheung
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Koji Suzuki
- Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Division of Life Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong
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