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Mishra LK, Shashidhar R. CRP improves the survival and competitive fitness of Salmonella Typhimurium under starvation by controlling the cellular maintenance rate. J Bacteriol 2024:e0001024. [PMID: 39046248 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00010-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Catabolite repression is a mechanism of selectively utilizing preferred nutrient sources by redirecting the metabolic pathways. Therefore, it prevents non-essential energy expenditure by repressing the genes and proteins involved in the metabolism of other less favored nutrient sources. Catabolite repressor protein (CRP) is a chief mediator of catabolite repression in microorganisms. In this context, we investigated the role of CRP in starvation tolerance, at both cell physiology and molecular level, by comparing the growth, survival, competitive fitness, maintenance rate, and gene and protein expression of wild type (WT) and ∆crp of Salmonella Typhimurium, under nutrient-rich and minimal medium condition. The ∆crp shows slow growth upon the arrival of nutrient-limiting conditions, poor survival under prolong-starvation, and inability to compete with its counterpart WT strain in nutrient-rich [Luria broth (LB)] and glucose-supplemented M9 minimal medium. Surprisingly, we observed that the survival and competitive fitness of ∆crp are influenced by the composition of the growth medium. Consequently, compared to the glucose-supplemented M9 medium, ∆crp shows faster death and a higher maintenance rate in the LB medium. The comparative gene and protein expression studies of WT and ∆crp in LB medium show that ∆crp has partial or complete loss of repression from CRP-controlled genes, resulting in a high abundance of hundreds of proteins in ∆crp compared to WT. Subsequently, the addition of metabolizable sugar or fresh nutrients to the competing culture showed extended survival of ∆crp. Therefore, our results suggest that CRP-mediated gene repression improves starvation tolerance and competitive fitness of Salmonella Typhimurium by adapting its cellular maintenance rate to environmental conditions.IMPORTANCESalmonella Typhimurium is a master at adapting to chronic starvation conditions. However, the molecular mechanisms to adapt to such conditions are still unknown. In this context, we have evaluated the role of catabolite repressor protein (CRP), a dual transcriptional regulator, in providing survival and competitive fitness under starvation conditions. Also, it showed an association between CRP and nutrient composition. We observed that Δcrp growing on alternate carbon sources has lower survival and competitive fitness than Δcrp growing on glucose as a carbon source. We observed that this is due to the loss of repression from the glucose and CRP-controlled genes, resulting in elevated cellular metabolism (a high maintenance rate) of the Δcrp during growth in a medium having a carbon source other than glucose (e.g., Luria broth medium).
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Affiliation(s)
- L K Mishra
- Life Sciences, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
- Food Technology division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
| | - R Shashidhar
- Life Sciences, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
- Food Technology division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India
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2
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Meyer NR, Morono Y, Dekas AE. Single-cell analysis reveals an active and heterotrophic microbiome in the Guaymas Basin deep subsurface with significant inorganic carbon fixation by heterotrophs. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0044624. [PMID: 38709099 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00446-24] [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: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The marine subsurface is a long-term sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide with significant implications for climate on geologic timescales. Subsurface microbial cells can either enhance or reduce carbon sequestration in the subsurface, depending on their metabolic lifestyle. However, the activity of subsurface microbes is rarely measured. Here, we used nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS) to quantify anabolic activity in 3,203 individual cells from the thermally altered deep subsurface in the Guaymas Basin, Mexico (3-75 m below the seafloor, 0-14°C). We observed that a large majority of cells were active (83%-100%), although the rates of biomass generation were low, suggesting cellular maintenance rather than doubling. Mean single-cell activity decreased with increasing sediment depth and temperature and was most strongly correlated with porewater sulfate concentrations. Intracommunity heterogeneity in microbial activity decreased with increasing sediment depth and age. Using a dual-isotope labeling approach, we determined that all active cells analyzed were heterotrophic, deriving the majority of their cellular carbon from organic sources. However, we also detected inorganic carbon assimilation in these heterotrophic cells, likely via processes such as anaplerosis, and determined that inorganic carbon contributes at least 5% of the total biomass carbon in heterotrophs in this community. Our results demonstrate that the deep marine biosphere at Guaymas Basin is largely active and contributes to subsurface carbon cycling primarily by not only assimilating organic carbon but also fixing inorganic carbon. Heterotrophic assimilation of inorganic carbon may be a small yet significant and widespread underappreciated source of labile carbon in the global subsurface. IMPORTANCE The global subsurface is the largest reservoir of microbial life on the planet yet remains poorly characterized. The activity of life in this realm has implications for long-term elemental cycling, particularly of carbon, as well as how life survives in extreme environments. Here, we recovered cells from the deep subsurface of the Guaymas Basin and investigated the level and distribution of microbial activity, the physicochemical drivers of activity, and the relative significance of organic versus inorganic carbon to subsurface biomass. Using a sensitive single-cell assay, we found that the majority of cells are active, that activity is likely driven by the availability of energy, and that although heterotrophy is the dominant metabolism, both organic and inorganic carbon are used to generate biomass. Using a new approach, we quantified inorganic carbon assimilation by heterotrophs and highlighted the importance of this often-overlooked mode of carbon assimilation in the subsurface and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolette R Meyer
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Yuki Morono
- Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avantgarde Research (X-STAR), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Nankoku, Kochi, Japan
| | - Anne E Dekas
- Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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3
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Ren G, Ye J, Hu Q, Zhang D, Yuan Y, Zhou S. Growth of electroautotrophic microorganisms using hydrovoltaic energy through natural water evaporation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4992. [PMID: 38862519 PMCID: PMC11166942 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49429-0] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been previously shown that devices based on microbial biofilms can generate hydrovoltaic energy from water evaporation. However, the potential of hydrovoltaic energy as an energy source for microbial growth has remained unexplored. Here, we show that the electroautotrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris can directly utilize evaporation-induced hydrovoltaic electrons for growth within biofilms through extracellular electron uptake, with a strong reliance on carbon fixation coupled with nitrate reduction. We obtained similar results with two other electroautotrophic bacterial species. Although the energy conversion efficiency for microbial growth based on hydrovoltaic energy is low compared to other processes such as photosynthesis, we hypothesize that hydrovoltaic energy may potentially contribute to microbial survival and growth in energy-limited environments, given the ubiquity of microbial biofilms and water evaporation conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoping Ren
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jie Ye
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qichang Hu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yong Yuan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shungui Zhou
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.
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4
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Katayama T, Nobu MK, Imachi H, Hosogi N, Meng XY, Morinaga K, Yoshioka H, Takahashi HA, Kamagata Y, Tamaki H. A Marine Group A isolate relies on other growing bacteria for cell wall formation. Nat Microbiol 2024:10.1038/s41564-024-01717-7. [PMID: 38831032 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01717-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Most of Earth's prokaryotes live under energy limitation, yet the full breadth of strategies that enable survival under such conditions remain poorly understood. Here we report the isolation of a bacterial strain, IA91, belonging to the candidate phylum Marine Group A (SAR406 or 'Candidatus Marinimicrobia') that is unable to synthesize the central cell wall compound peptidoglycan itself. Using cultivation experiments and microscopy, we show that IA91 growth and cell shape depend on other bacteria, deriving peptidoglycan, energy and carbon from exogenous muropeptide cell wall fragments released from growing bacteria. Reliance on exogenous muropeptides is traceable to the phylum's ancestor, with evidence of vertical inheritance across several classes. This dependency may be widespread across bacteria (16 phyla) based on the absence of key peptidoglycan synthesis genes. These results suggest that uptake of exogenous cell wall components could be a relevant and potentially common survival strategy in energy-limited habitats like the deep biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiki Katayama
- Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan.
| | - Masaru K Nobu
- Bioproduction Research Institute, AIST, Tsukuba, Japan
- Institute for Extra-Cutting-Edge Science and Technology Avant-Garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Imachi
- Institute for Extra-Cutting-Edge Science and Technology Avant-Garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan
| | - Naoki Hosogi
- EM Application Department, EM Business Unit, JEOL, Ltd., Akishima, Japan
| | | | - Kana Morinaga
- Bioproduction Research Institute, AIST, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Hideyoshi Yoshioka
- Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi A Takahashi
- Research Institute of Earthquake and Volcano Geology, GSJ, AIST, Tsukuba, Japan
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Ji J, Escobar M, Cui S, Zhang W, Bao C, Su X, Wang G, Zhang S, Chen H, Chen G. Isolation and Characterization of a Low-Temperature, Cellulose-Degrading Microbial Consortium from Northeastern China. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1059. [PMID: 38930441 PMCID: PMC11205951 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The lack of efficient ways to dispose of lignocellulosic agricultural residues is a serious environmental issue. Low temperatures greatly impact the ability of organisms to degrade these wastes and convert them into nutrients. Here, we report the isolation and genomic characterization of a microbial consortium capable of degrading corn straw at low temperatures. The microorganisms isolated showed fast cellulose-degrading capabilities, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and the weight loss in corn straw. Bacteria in the consortium behaved as three diverse and functionally distinct populations, while fungi behaved as a single population in both diversity and functions overtime. The bacterial genus Pseudomonas and the fungal genus Thermoascus had prominent roles in the microbial consortium, showing significant lignocellulose waste-degrading functions. Bacteria and fungi present in the consortium contained high relative abundance of genes for membrane components, with amino acid breakdown and carbohydrate degradation being the most important metabolic pathways for bacteria, while fungi contained more genes involved in energy use, carbohydrate degradation, lipid and fatty acid decomposition, and biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyang Ji
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130022, China
- Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Maia Escobar
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130022, China
- Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Shijia Cui
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130022, China
- Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Jilin Province Hydraulic Research Institute, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Changjie Bao
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130022, China
- Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Xuhan Su
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130022, China
- Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Gang Wang
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130022, China
- Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Sitong Zhang
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130022, China
- Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Huan Chen
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130022, China
- Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Guang Chen
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130022, China
- Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
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Leavitt WD, Waldbauer J, Venceslau SS, Sim MS, Zhang L, Boidi FJ, Plummer S, Diaz JM, Pereira IAC, Bradley AS. Energy flux couples sulfur isotope fractionation to proteomic and metabolite profiles in Desulfovibrio vulgaris. GEOBIOLOGY 2024; 22:e12600. [PMID: 38725144 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12600] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Microbial sulfate reduction is central to the global carbon cycle and the redox evolution of Earth's surface. Tracking the activity of sulfate reducing microorganisms over space and time relies on a nuanced understanding of stable sulfur isotope fractionation in the context of the biochemical machinery of the metabolism. Here, we link the magnitude of stable sulfur isotopic fractionation to proteomic and metabolite profiles under different cellular energetic regimes. When energy availability is limited, cell-specific sulfate respiration rates and net sulfur isotope fractionation inversely covary. Beyond net S isotope fractionation values, we also quantified shifts in protein expression, abundances and isotopic composition of intracellular S metabolites, and lipid structures and lipid/water H isotope fractionation values. These coupled approaches reveal which protein abundances shift directly as a function of energy flux, those that vary minimally, and those that may vary independent of energy flux and likely do not contribute to shifts in S-isotope fractionation. By coupling the bulk S-isotope observations with quantitative proteomics, we provide novel constraints for metabolic isotope models. Together, these results lay the foundation for more predictive metabolic fractionation models, alongside interpretations of environmental sulfur and sulfate reducer lipid-H isotope data.
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Affiliation(s)
- William D Leavitt
- Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jacob Waldbauer
- Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sofia S Venceslau
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Min Sub Sim
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Lichun Zhang
- Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Flavia Jaquelina Boidi
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra (CICTERRA), CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Sydney Plummer
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Julia M Diaz
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Inês A C Pereira
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Alexander S Bradley
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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7
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Constant T, Dobson FS, Habold C, Giroud S. Evolutionary trade-offs in dormancy phenology. eLife 2024; 12:RP89644. [PMID: 38669069 PMCID: PMC11052570 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89644] [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] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Seasonal animal dormancy is widely interpreted as a physiological response for surviving energetic challenges during the harshest times of the year (the physiological constraint hypothesis). However, there are other mutually non-exclusive hypotheses to explain the timing of animal dormancy, that is, entry into and emergence from hibernation (i.e. dormancy phenology). Survival advantages of dormancy that have been proposed are reduced risks of predation and competition (the 'life-history' hypothesis), but comparative tests across animal species are few. Using the phylogenetic comparative method applied to more than 20 hibernating mammalian species, we found support for both hypotheses as explanations for the phenology of dormancy. In accordance with the life-history hypotheses, sex differences in hibernation emergence and immergence were favored by the sex difference in reproductive effort. In addition, physiological constraint may influence the trade-off between survival and reproduction such that low temperatures and precipitation, as well as smaller body mass, influence sex differences in phenology. We also compiled initial evidence that ectotherm dormancy may be (1) less temperature dependent than previously thought and (2) associated with trade-offs consistent with the life-history hypothesis. Thus, dormancy during non-life-threatening periods that are unfavorable for reproduction may be more widespread than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo Constant
- UMR 7178, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert CURIEN, Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | - F Stephen Dobson
- UMR 7178, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert CURIEN, Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn UniversityAuburnUnited States
| | - Caroline Habold
- UMR 7178, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert CURIEN, Université de StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | - Sylvain Giroud
- Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
- Energetic Lab, Department of Biology, Northern Michigan UniversityMarquetteUnited States
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8
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Lindsay MR, D’Angelo T, Munson-McGee JH, Saidi-Mehrabad A, Devlin M, McGonigle J, Goodell E, Herring M, Lubelczyk LC, Mascena C, Brown JM, Gavelis G, Liu J, Yousavich DJ, Hamilton-Brehm SD, Hedlund BP, Lang S, Treude T, Poulton NJ, Stepanauskas R, Moser DP, Emerson D, Orcutt BN. Species-resolved, single-cell respiration rates reveal dominance of sulfate reduction in a deep continental subsurface ecosystem. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2309636121. [PMID: 38573964 PMCID: PMC11009646 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309636121] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Rates of microbial processes are fundamental to understanding the significance of microbial impacts on environmental chemical cycling. However, it is often difficult to quantify rates or to link processes to specific taxa or individual cells, especially in environments where there are few cultured representatives with known physiology. Here, we describe the use of the redox-enzyme-sensitive molecular probe RedoxSensor™ Green to measure rates of anaerobic electron transfer physiology (i.e., sulfate reduction and methanogenesis) in individual cells and link those measurements to genomic sequencing of the same single cells. We used this method to investigate microbial activity in hot, anoxic, low-biomass (~103 cells mL-1) groundwater of the Death Valley Regional Flow System, California. Combining this method with electron donor amendment experiments and metatranscriptomics confirmed that the abundant spore formers including Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator were actively reducing sulfate in this environment, most likely with acetate and hydrogen as electron donors. Using this approach, we measured environmental sulfate reduction rates at 0.14 to 26.9 fmol cell-1 h-1. Scaled to volume, this equates to a bulk environmental rate of ~103 pmol sulfate L-1 d-1, similar to potential rates determined with radiotracer methods. Despite methane in the system, there was no evidence for active microbial methanogenesis at the time of sampling. Overall, this method is a powerful tool for estimating species-resolved, single-cell rates of anaerobic metabolism in low-biomass environments while simultaneously linking genomes to phenomes at the single-cell level. We reveal active elemental cycling conducted by several species, with a large portion attributable to Ca. Desulforudis audaxviator.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Molly Devlin
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV89119
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV89154
| | - Julia McGonigle
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
| | - Elizabeth Goodell
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
- Department of Geology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH44074
| | - Melissa Herring
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
- Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA02115
| | | | | | - Julia M. Brown
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
| | - Greg Gavelis
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
| | - Jiarui Liu
- Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | - D. J. Yousavich
- Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | | | - Brian P. Hedlund
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV89154
| | - Susan Lang
- School of the Earth, Ocean and Environment, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC29208
| | - Tina Treude
- Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA90095
| | | | | | - Duane P. Moser
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV89119
| | - David Emerson
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
| | - Beth N. Orcutt
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME04544
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9
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Zhang Z, Zhang Q, Yang H, Cui L, Qian H. Mining strategies for isolating plastic-degrading microorganisms. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 346:123572. [PMID: 38369095 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123572] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Plastic waste is a growing global pollutant. Plastic degradation by microorganisms has captured attention as an earth-friendly tactic. Although the mechanisms of plastic degradation by bacteria, fungi, and algae have been explored over the past decade, a large knowledge gap still exists regarding the identification, sorting, and cultivation of efficient plastic degraders, primarily because of their uncultivability. Advances in sequencing techniques and bioinformatics have enabled the identification of microbial degraders and related enzymes and genes involved in plastic biodegradation. In this review, we provide an outline of the situation of plastic degradation and summarize the methods for effective microbial identification using multidisciplinary techniques such as multiomics, meta-analysis, and spectroscopy. This review introduces new strategies for controlling plastic pollution in an environmentally friendly manner. Using this information, highly efficient and colonizing plastic degraders can be mined via targeted sorting and cultivation. In addition, based on the recognized rules and plastic degraders, we can perform an in-depth analysis of the associated degradation mechanism, metabolic features, and interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyao Zhang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, PR China
| | - Qi Zhang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, PR China
| | - Huihui Yang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, PR China
| | - Li Cui
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, 361021, PR China
| | - Haifeng Qian
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, PR China.
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10
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Coleman T, Shin J, Silberg JJ, Shamoo Y, Atkinson JT. The Biochemical Impact of Extracting an Embedded Adenylate Kinase Domain Using Circular Permutation. Biochemistry 2024; 63:599-609. [PMID: 38357768 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Adenylate kinases (AKs) have evolved AMP-binding and lid domains that are encoded as continuous polypeptides embedded at different locations within the discontinuous polypeptide encoding the core domain. A prior study showed that AK homologues of different stabilities consistently retain cellular activity following circular permutation that splits a region with high energetic frustration within the AMP-binding domain into discontinuous fragments. Herein, we show that mesophilic and thermophilic AKs having this topological restructuring retain activity and substrate-binding characteristics of the parental AK. While permutation decreased the activity of both AK homologues at physiological temperatures, the catalytic activity of the thermophilic AK increased upon permutation when assayed >30 °C below the melting temperature of the native AK. The thermostabilities of the permuted AKs were uniformly lower than those of native AKs, and they exhibited multiphasic unfolding transitions, unlike the native AKs, which presented cooperative thermal unfolding. In addition, proteolytic digestion revealed that permutation destabilized each AK in differing manners, and mass spectrometry suggested that the new termini within the AMP-binding domain were responsible for the increased proteolysis sensitivity. These findings illustrate how changes in contact order can be used to tune enzyme activity and alter folding dynamics in multidomain enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Coleman
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, MS-140, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - John Shin
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, MS-140, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Jonathan J Silberg
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, MS-140, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, MS-362, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, MS-142, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Yousif Shamoo
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, MS-140, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Joshua T Atkinson
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, MS-140, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
- Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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11
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Thweatt JL, Harman CE, Araújo MN, Marlow JJ, Oliver GC, Sabuda MC, Sevgen S, Wilpiszeki RL. Chapter 6: The Breadth and Limits of Life on Earth. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:S124-S142. [PMID: 38498824 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Scientific ideas about the potential existence of life elsewhere in the universe are predominantly informed by knowledge about life on Earth. Over the past ∼4 billion years, life on Earth has evolved into millions of unique species. Life now inhabits nearly every environmental niche on Earth that has been explored. Despite the wide variety of species and diverse biochemistry of modern life, many features, such as energy production mechanisms and nutrient requirements, are conserved across the Tree of Life. Such conserved features help define the operational parameters required by life and therefore help direct the exploration and evaluation of habitability in extraterrestrial environments. As new diversity in the Tree of Life continues to expand, so do the known limits of life on Earth and the range of environments considered habitable elsewhere. The metabolic processes used by organisms living on the edge of habitability provide insights into the types of environments that would be most suitable to hosting extraterrestrial life, crucial for planning and developing future astrobiology missions. This chapter will introduce readers to the breadth and limits of life on Earth and show how the study of life at the extremes can inform the broader field of astrobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Thweatt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA. (Former)
| | - C E Harman
- Planetary Systems Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California, USA
| | - M N Araújo
- Biochemistry Department, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Jeffrey J Marlow
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gina C Oliver
- Department of Geology, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Mary C Sabuda
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Serhat Sevgen
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
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12
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Schaible MJ, Szeinbaum N, Bozdag GO, Chou L, Grefenstette N, Colón-Santos S, Rodriguez LE, Styczinski MJ, Thweatt JL, Todd ZR, Vázquez-Salazar A, Adams A, Araújo MN, Altair T, Borges S, Burton D, Campillo-Balderas JA, Cangi EM, Caro T, Catalano E, Chen K, Conlin PL, Cooper ZS, Fisher TM, Fos SM, Garcia A, Glaser DM, Harman CE, Hermis NY, Hooks M, Johnson-Finn K, Lehmer O, Hernández-Morales R, Hughson KHG, Jácome R, Jia TZ, Marlow JJ, McKaig J, Mierzejewski V, Muñoz-Velasco I, Nural C, Oliver GC, Penev PI, Raj CG, Roche TP, Sabuda MC, Schaible GA, Sevgen S, Sinhadc P, Steller LH, Stelmach K, Tarnas J, Tavares F, Trubl G, Vidaurri M, Vincent L, Weber JM, Weng MM, Wilpiszeki RL, Young A. Chapter 1: The Astrobiology Primer 3.0. ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:S4-S39. [PMID: 38498816 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The Astrobiology Primer 3.0 (ABP3.0) is a concise introduction to the field of astrobiology for students and others who are new to the field of astrobiology. It provides an entry into the broader materials in this supplementary issue of Astrobiology and an overview of the investigations and driving hypotheses that make up this interdisciplinary field. The content of this chapter was adapted from the other 10 articles in this supplementary issue and thus represents the contribution of all the authors who worked on these introductory articles. The content of this chapter is not exhaustive and represents the topics that the authors found to be the most important and compelling in a dynamic and changing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micah J Schaible
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nadia Szeinbaum
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - G Ozan Bozdag
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Luoth Chou
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Center for Space Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Natalie Grefenstette
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Stephanie Colón-Santos
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Laura E Rodriguez
- Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, Texas, USA
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - M J Styczinski
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jennifer L Thweatt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zoe R Todd
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alberto Vázquez-Salazar
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alyssa Adams
- Center for Space Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - M N Araújo
- Biochemistry Department, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Thiago Altair
- Institute of Chemistry of São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, Brazil
- Department of Chemistry, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Maine, USA
| | | | - Dana Burton
- Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
| | | | - Eryn M Cangi
- Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Tristan Caro
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Enrico Catalano
- Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, The BioRobotics Institute, Pisa, Italy
| | - Kimberly Chen
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Peter L Conlin
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Z S Cooper
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Theresa M Fisher
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Santiago Mestre Fos
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amanda Garcia
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - D M Glaser
- Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Chester E Harman
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ninos Y Hermis
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Department of Physics and Space Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - M Hooks
- NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - K Johnson-Finn
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - Owen Lehmer
- Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ricardo Hernández-Morales
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Kynan H G Hughson
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rodrigo Jácome
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Tony Z Jia
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jeffrey J Marlow
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jordan McKaig
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Veronica Mierzejewski
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Israel Muñoz-Velasco
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ceren Nural
- Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gina C Oliver
- Department of Geology, San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Petar I Penev
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chinmayee Govinda Raj
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Tyler P Roche
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mary C Sabuda
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - George A Schaible
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Serhat Sevgen
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Pritvik Sinhadc
- BEYOND: Center For Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University, Arizona, USA
- Dubai College, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Luke H Steller
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
| | - Kamil Stelmach
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - J Tarnas
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Frank Tavares
- Space Enabled Research Group, MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gareth Trubl
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA
| | - Monica Vidaurri
- Center for Space Sciences and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Howard University, Washington DC, USA
| | - Lena Vincent
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Jessica M Weber
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | | | | | - Amber Young
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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13
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Von Eggers JM, Wisnoski NI, Calder JW, Capo E, Groff DV, Krist AC, Shuman B. Environmental filtering governs consistent vertical zonation in sedimentary microbial communities across disconnected mountain lakes. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16607. [PMID: 38477387 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Subsurface microorganisms make up the majority of Earth's microbial biomass, but ecological processes governing surface communities may not explain community patterns at depth because of burial. Depth constrains dispersal and energy availability, and when combined with geographic isolation across landscapes, may influence community assembly. We sequenced the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria and archaea from 48 sediment cores across 36 lakes in four disconnected mountain ranges in Wyoming, USA and used null models to infer assembly processes across depth, spatial isolation, and varying environments. Although we expected strong dispersal limitations across these isolated settings, community composition was primarily shaped by environmental selection. Communities consistently shifted from domination by organisms that degrade organic matter at the surface to methanogenic, low-energy adapted taxa in deeper zones. Stochastic processes-like dispersal limitation-contributed to differences among lakes, but because these effects weakened with depth, selection processes ultimately governed subsurface microbial biogeography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M Von Eggers
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
- Program in Ecology and Evolution, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Nathan I Wisnoski
- Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA
| | - John W Calder
- Department of Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Eric Capo
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dulcinea V Groff
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Amy C Krist
- Program in Ecology and Evolution, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Bryan Shuman
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
- Program in Ecology and Evolution, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
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14
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Chin KJ, Ünal B, Sanderson M, Aboderin F, Nüsslein K. Selective trace elements significantly enhanced methane production in coal bed methane systems by stimulating microbial activity. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0350823. [PMID: 38236038 PMCID: PMC10846109 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03508-23] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Trace elements are associated with the microbial degradation of organic matter and methanogenesis, as enzymes in metabolic pathways often employ trace elements as essential cofactors. However, only a few studies investigated the effects of trace elements on the metabolic activity of microbial communities associated with biogenic coalbed methane production. We aimed to determine the effects of strategically selected trace elements on structure and function of active bacterial and methanogenic communities to stimulate methane production in subsurface coalbeds. Microcosms were established with produced water and coal from coalbed methane wells located in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming, USA. In initial pilot experiments with eight different trace elements, individual amendments of Co, Cu, and Mo lead to significantly higher methane production. Transcript levels of mcrA, the key marker gene for methanogenesis, positively correlated with increased methane production. Phylogenetic analysis of the mcrA cDNA library demonstrated compositional shifts of the active methanogenic community and increase of their diversity, particularly of hydrogenotrophic methanogens. High-throughput sequencing of cDNA obtained from 16S rRNA demonstrated active and abundant bacterial groups in response to trace element amendments. Active Acetobacterium members increased in response to Co, Cu, and Mo additions. The findings of this study yield new insights into the importance of essential trace elements on the metabolic activity of microbial communities involved in subsurface coalbed methane and provide a better understanding of how microbial community composition is shaped by trace elements.IMPORTANCEMicrobial life in the deep subsurface of coal beds is limited by nutrient replenishment. While coal bed microbial communities are surrounded by carbon sources, we hypothesized that other nutrients such as trace elements needed as cofactors for enzymes are missing. Amendment of selected trace elements resulted in compositional shifts of the active methanogenic and bacterial communities and correlated with higher transcript levels of mcrA. The findings of this study yield new insights to not only identify possible limitations of microbes by replenishment of trace elements within their specific hydrological placement but also into the importance of essential trace elements for the metabolic activity of microbial communities involved in subsurface coalbed methane production and provides a better understanding of how microbial community composition is shaped by trace elements. Furthermore, this finding might help to revive already spent coal bed methane well systems with the ultimate goal to stimulate methane production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuk-Jeong Chin
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Burcu Ünal
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Environmental Engineering, RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - Michael Sanderson
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Feranmi Aboderin
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Klaus Nüsslein
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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15
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Flamholz AI, Goyal A, Fischer WW, Newman DK, Phillips R. The proteome is a terminal electron acceptor. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.31.578293. [PMID: 38352589 PMCID: PMC10862836 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.31.578293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Microbial metabolism is impressively flexible, enabling growth even when available nutrients differ greatly from biomass in redox state. E. coli, for example, rearranges its physiology to grow on reduced and oxidized carbon sources through several forms of fermentation and respiration. To understand the limits on and evolutionary consequences of metabolic flexibility, we developed a mathematical model coupling redox chemistry with principles of cellular resource allocation. Our integrated model clarifies key phenomena, including demonstrating that autotrophs grow slower than heterotrophs because of constraints imposed by intracellular production of reduced carbon. Our model further indicates that growth is improved by adapting the redox state of biomass to nutrients, revealing an unexpected mode of evolution where proteins accumulate mutations benefiting organismal redox balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avi I. Flamholz
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125
| | - Akshit Goyal
- Physics of Living Systems, Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cambridge, MA 02139
- International Centre for Theoretical Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research; Bengaluru 560089
| | - Woodward W. Fischer
- Division of Geological & Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125
| | - Dianne K. Newman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125
- Division of Geological & Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125
| | - Rob Phillips
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125
- Department of Physics, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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16
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Rothman DH. Slow closure of Earth's carbon cycle. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2310998121. [PMID: 38241442 PMCID: PMC10823250 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2310998121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Carbon near the Earth's surface cycles between the production and consumption of organic carbon; the former sequesters carbon dioxide while the latter releases it. Microbes attempt to close the loop, but the longer organic matter survives, the slower microbial degradation becomes. This aging effect leaves observable quantitative signatures: Organic matter decays at rates that are inversely proportional to its age, while microbial populations and concentrations of organic carbon in ocean sediments decrease at distinct powers of age. Yet mechanisms that predict this collective organization remain unknown. Here, I show that these and other observations follow from the assumption that the decay of organic matter is limited by progressively rare extreme fluctuations in the energy available to microbes for decomposition. The theory successfully predicts not only observed scaling exponents but also a previously unobserved scaling regime that emerges when microbes subsist on the minimum energy flux required for survival. The resulting picture suggests that the carbon cycle's age-dependent dynamics are analogous to the slow approach to equilibrium in disordered systems. The impact of these slow dynamics is profound: They preclude complete oxidation of organic carbon in sediments, thereby freeing molecular oxygen to accumulate in the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H Rothman
- Lorenz Center, Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
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17
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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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18
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Hoehler TM, Amend JP, Jørgensen BB, Orphan VJ, Lever MA. Editorial: Studies on life at the energetic edge - from laboratory experiments to field-based investigations, volume II. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1351761. [PMID: 38249447 PMCID: PMC10797740 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1351761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tori M. Hoehler
- Exobiology Branch, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, United States
| | - Jan P. Amend
- Department of Earth Sciences and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Victoria J. Orphan
- Department of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Mark A. Lever
- Marine Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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19
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Montévil M. Mathematical Modeling in the Study of Organisms and Their Parts. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2745:105-119. [PMID: 38060182 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3577-3_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Mathematical modeling is a very powerful tool to understand natural phenomena. Such a tool carries its own assumptions and should always be used critically. In this chapter we highlight the key ingredients and steps of modeling and focus on their biological interpretation. Particularly, we discuss the role of theoretical principles in writing models. We also highlight the meaning and interpretation of equations. The main aim of this chapter is to facilitate the interaction between biologists and mathematical modelers. We focus on the case of cell proliferation and motility in the context of multicellular organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maël Montévil
- Centre Cavaillès, République des savoirs UAR 3608, ÉNS-PSL and CNRS, Paris, France
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20
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Hu J, Wang J, Li X, Zhao J, Liu W, Zhu C. Efficient nitrogen removal and substrate usage in integrated fixed-film activated sludge-anammox system under seasonal temperature variation. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 391:129946. [PMID: 37907120 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
To elucidate how integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) system favors nitrogen removal performance under seasonal temperature variations, two push-flow reactors were operated with and without carriers under the same operating conditions. The results show that the IFAS system had significant advantages in shock response and low temperature adaptation, with a nitrogen removal rate of 0.37-0.53 kg-N(m3·d)-1 at the temperature of 8-12 °C. Anammox bacteria on carriers were almost unaffected by temperature variation, and its nitrogen removal contribution rate stabilized at 55 % in the IFAS system. The Haldane model reveals that the specific anammox activity in the IFAS system was 28 % to 49 % higher than that in the control system at 13 °C. Candidatus_Jettenia, with the highest abundance of 45 %, was the dominant species in the IFAS system and preferred to attach to the carriers. This study provides a feasible scheme for the application of anammox process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntong Hu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China
| | - Jianfang Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China; National Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Urban Domestic Wastewater Resource Utilization Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Treatment Technology and Material, Suzhou 215009, PR China; Tianping College, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China.
| | - Xingran Li
- Tianping College, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China
| | - Junjie Zhao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China
| | - Wanting Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China
| | - Chen Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, PR China
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21
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Rafiq M, Hassan N, Rehman M, Hayat M, Nadeem G, Hassan F, Iqbal N, Ali H, Zada S, Kang Y, Sajjad W, Jamal M. Challenges and Approaches of Culturing the Unculturable Archaea. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1499. [PMID: 38132325 PMCID: PMC10740628 DOI: 10.3390/biology12121499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Since Carl Woese's discovery of archaea as a third domain of life, numerous archaeal species have been discovered, yet archaeal diversity is poorly characterized. Culturing archaea is complicated, but several queries about archaeal cell biology, evolution, physiology, and diversity need to be solved by culturing and culture-dependent techniques. Increasing interest in demand for innovative culturing methods has led to various technological and methodological advances. The current review explains frequent hurdles hindering uncultured archaea isolation and discusses features for more archaeal cultivation. This review also discusses successful strategies and available media for archaeal culturing, which might be helpful for future culturing practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta 87100, Pakistan
- FF Institute (Huzhou) Co., Ltd., Huzhou 313000, China
| | - Noor Hassan
- Industrial Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering-College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Maliha Rehman
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta 87100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Hayat
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan 266101, China
| | - Gullasht Nadeem
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta 87100, Pakistan
| | - Farwa Hassan
- Industrial Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering-College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Naveed Iqbal
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta 87100, Pakistan
- The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Karachi 74800, Pakistan
| | - Hazrat Ali
- Industrial Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering-College, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Sahib Zada
- Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Yingqian Kang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education of Guizhou, Guiyang 550025, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Wasim Sajjad
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Rawalpindi 46000, Pakistan
| | - Muhsin Jamal
- Department of Microbiology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Garden Campus, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
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22
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Mara P, Geller-McGrath D, Edgcomb V, Beaudoin D, Morono Y, Teske A. Metagenomic profiles of archaea and bacteria within thermal and geochemical gradients of the Guaymas Basin deep subsurface. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7768. [PMID: 38012208 PMCID: PMC10681998 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43296-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies of microbial communities in subseafloor sediments reported that microbial abundance and diversity decrease with sediment depth and age, and microbes dominating at depth tend to be a subset of the local seafloor community. However, the existence of geographically widespread, subsurface-adapted specialists is also possible. Here, we use metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses of the hydrothermally heated, sediment layers of Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California, Mexico) to examine the distribution and activity patterns of bacteria and archaea along thermal, geochemical and cell count gradients. We find that the composition and distribution of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), dominated by numerous lineages of Chloroflexota and Thermoproteota, correlate with biogeochemical parameters as long as temperatures remain moderate, but downcore increasing temperatures beyond ca. 45 ºC override other factors. Consistently, MAG size and diversity decrease with increasing temperature, indicating a downcore winnowing of the subsurface biosphere. By contrast, specific archaeal MAGs within the Thermoproteota and Hadarchaeota increase in relative abundance and in recruitment of transcriptome reads towards deeper, hotter sediments, marking the transition towards a specialized deep, hot biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi Mara
- Geology and Geophysics Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - David Geller-McGrath
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Virginia Edgcomb
- Geology and Geophysics Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - David Beaudoin
- Geology and Geophysics Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Yuki Morono
- Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avantgarde Research (X-STAR), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Monobe, Nankoku, Kochi, Japan
| | - Andreas Teske
- Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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23
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Halevy I, Fike DA, Pasquier V, Bryant RN, Wenk CB, Turchyn AV, Johnston DT, Claypool GE. Sedimentary parameters control the sulfur isotope composition of marine pyrite. Science 2023; 382:946-951. [PMID: 37995229 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh1215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Reconstructions of coupled carbon, oxygen, and sulfur cycles rely heavily on sedimentary pyrite sulfur isotope compositions (δ34Spyr). With a model of sediment diagenesis, paired with global datasets of sedimentary parameters, we show that the wide range of δ34Spyr (~100 per mil) in modern marine sediments arises from geographic patterns in the relative rates of diffusion, burial, and microbial reduction of sulfate. By contrast, the microbial sulfur isotope fractionation remains large and relatively uniform. Over Earth history, the effect of increasing seawater sulfate and oxygen concentrations on sulfate and sulfide transport and reaction may explain the corresponding increase observed in the δ34S offset between sulfate and pyrite. More subtle variations may be related to changes in depositional environments associated with sea level fluctuations and supercontinent cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Halevy
- Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - D A Fike
- Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA
| | - V Pasquier
- Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - R N Bryant
- Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA
- Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - C B Wenk
- Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - A V Turchyn
- Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK
| | - D T Johnston
- Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - G E Claypool
- 8910 West Jewell Avenue, Unit 209, Lakewood, CO 80232, USA
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24
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Jiang JP, Leng S, Liao YF, Liu X, Li DX, Chu C, Yu XY, Liu CH. The potential role of subseafloor fungi in driving the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen under anaerobic conditions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 897:165374. [PMID: 37422230 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165374] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Fungi represent the dominant eukaryotic group of organisms in anoxic marine sedimentary ecosystems, ranging from a few centimeters to ~ 2.5 km below seafloor. However, little is known about how fungi can colonize anaerobic subseafloor environments for tens of millions of years and whether they play a role in elemental biogeochemical cycles. Based on metabolite detection, isotope tracer and gene analysis, we examined the anaerobic nitrogen conversion pathways of 19 fungal species (40 strains) isolated from1.3 to 2.5 km coal-bearing sediments below seafloor. Our results show for the first time that almost all fungi possess anaerobic denitrification, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), and nitrification pathways, but not anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). Moreover, the distribution of fungi with different nitrogen-conversion abilities in subseafloor sediments was mainly determined by in situ temperature, CaCO3, and inorganic carbon contents. These findings suggest that fungi have multiple nitrogen transformation processes to cope with their requirements for a variety of nitrogen sources in nutrient deficient anaerobic subseafloor sedimentary environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Peng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shuang Leng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yi-Fan Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Dong-Xu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Chen Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiang-Yang Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality, Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base of Ministry of Science and Technology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.
| | - Chang-Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
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25
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Bojanova DP, De Anda VY, Haghnegahdar MA, Teske AP, Ash JL, Young ED, Baker BJ, LaRowe DE, Amend JP. Well-hidden methanogenesis in deep, organic-rich sediments of Guaymas Basin. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:1828-1838. [PMID: 37596411 PMCID: PMC10579335 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01485-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Deep marine sediments (>1mbsf) harbor ~26% of microbial biomass and are the largest reservoir of methane on Earth. Yet, the deep subsurface biosphere and controls on its contribution to methane production remain underexplored. Here, we use a multidisciplinary approach to examine methanogenesis in sediments (down to 295 mbsf) from sites with varying degrees of thermal alteration (none, past, current) at Guaymas Basin (Gulf of California) for the first time. Traditional (13C/12C and D/H) and multiply substituted (13CH3D and 12CH2D2) methane isotope measurements reveal significant proportions of microbial methane at all sites, with the largest signal at the site with past alteration. With depth, relative microbial methane decreases at differing rates between sites. Gibbs energy calculations confirm methanogenesis is exergonic in Guaymas sediments, with methylotrophic pathways consistently yielding more energy than the canonical hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic pathways. Yet, metagenomic sequencing and cultivation attempts indicate that methanogens are present in low abundance. We find only one methyl-coenzyme M (mcrA) sequence within the entire sequencing dataset. Also, we identify a wide diversity of methyltransferases (mtaB, mttB), but only a few sequences phylogenetically cluster with methylotrophic methanogens. Our results suggest that the microbial methane in the Guaymas subsurface was produced over geologic time by relatively small methanogen populations, which have been variably influenced by thermal sediment alteration. Higher resolution metagenomic sampling may clarify the modern methanogen community. This study highlights the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach to capture microbial influences in dynamic, deep subsurface settings like Guaymas Basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana P Bojanova
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Valerie Y De Anda
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - Andreas P Teske
- Department of Earth, Marine, and Environmental Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jeanine L Ash
- Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Edward D Young
- Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brett J Baker
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Douglas E LaRowe
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jan P Amend
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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26
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Lu M, Luo X, Jiao JJ, Li H, Kuang X, Wang X, Feng Y, Zheng C. Uncovering the processes of microbial community assembly in the near-surface sediments of a climate-sensitive glacier-fed lake. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118714. [PMID: 37542806 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118714] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Glacier-fed lakes are characterized by cold temperatures, high altitudes, and nutrient-poor conditions. Despite these challenging conditions, near-surface sediments of glacier-fed lakes harbor rich microbial communities that are critical for ecosystem functioning and serve as a bridge between aquatic ecology and the deep subsurface biosphere. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the microbial communities and their assembly processes in these sediments, which are highly vulnerable to climate change. To fill this knowledge gap, this study systematically analyzed environmental variables, microbial communities, diversity, co-occurrence relationships, and community assembly processes in the near-surface sediments of a glacier-fed lake in the Tibetan Plateau. The results revealed distinct vertical gradients in microbial diversity and subcommunities, highlighting the significant influence of selection processes and adaptive abilities on microbial communities. Specifically, specialists played a crucial role within the overall microbial communities. Microbial assembly was primarily driven by homogeneous selection, but its influence declined with increasing depth. In contrast, homogenizing dispersal showed an opposite pattern, and the bottom layer exhibited heterogeneous selection and undominated processes. These patterns of microbial assembly were primarily driven by environmental gradients, with significant contributions from processes associated to ammonium and organic matter deposition, as well as chemical precipitation in response to a warming climate. This study enhances our understanding of the microbial communities and assembly processes in the near-surface sediments of glacier-fed lakes and sheds light on geo-microbiological processes in climate-sensitive lacustrine sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiqing Lu
- Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xin Luo
- Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiu Jimmy Jiao
- Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Hailong Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xingxing Kuang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xuejing Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yuqing Feng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Chunmiao Zheng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil and Groundwater Pollution Control, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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27
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Wang C, Kuzyakov Y. Energy use efficiency of soil microorganisms: Driven by carbon recycling and reduction. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:6170-6187. [PMID: 37646316 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Carbon use efficiency (CUE) is being intensively applied to quantify carbon (C) cycling processes from microbial cell to global scales. Energy use efficiency (EUE) is at least as important as the CUE because (i) microorganisms use organic C mainly as an energy source and not as elemental C per se, and (ii) microbial growth and maintenance are limited by energy, but not by C as a structural element. We conceptualize and review the importance of EUE by soil microorganisms and focus on (i) the energy content in organic compounds depending on the nominal oxidation state of carbon (NOSC), (ii) approaches to assess EUE, (iii) similarities and differences between CUE and EUE, and (iv) discuss mechanisms responsible for lower EUE compared to CUE. The energy content per C atom (enthalpy of combustion, the total energy stored in a compound) in organic compounds is very closely (R2 = 0.98) positively related to NOSC and increases by 108 kJ mol-1 C per one NOSC unit. For the first time we assessed the NOSC of microbial biomass in soil (-0.52) and calculated the corresponding energy content of -510 kJ mol-1 C. We linked CUE and EUE considering the NOSC of microbial biomass and element compositions of substrates utilized by microorganisms. The mean microbial EUE (0.32-0.35) is 18% lower than CUE (0.41) using glucose as a substrate. This definitely indicates that microbial growth is limited by energy relative to C. Based on the comparison of a broad range of processes of C and energy utilization for cell growth and maintenance, as well as database of experimental CUE from various compounds, we clearly explained five mechanisms and main factors why EUE is lower than CUE. The two main mechanisms behind lower EUE versus CUE are: (i) microbial recycling: C can be microbially recycled, whereas energy is always utilized only once, and (ii) chemical reduction of organic and inorganic compounds: Energy is used for reduction, which is ongoing without C utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqun Wang
- Biogeochemistry of Agroecosystems, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Yakov Kuzyakov
- Department of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, Department of Agricultural Soil Science, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
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28
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Huang Q, Zhang H, Zhang L, Xu B. Bacterial microbiota in different types of processed meat products: diversity, adaptation, and co-occurrence. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2023:1-16. [PMID: 37905560 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2023.2272770] [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] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
As a double-edged sword, some bacterial microbes can improve the quality and shelf life of meat products, but others mainly responsible for deterioration of the safety and quality of meat products. This review aims to present a landscape of the bacterial microbiota in different types of processed meat products. After demonstrating a panoramic view of the bacterial genera in meat products, the diversity of bacterial microbiota was evaluated in two dimensions, namely different types of processed meat products and different meats. Then, the influence of environmental factors on bacterial communities was evaluated according to the storage temperature, packaging conditions, and sterilization methods. Furthermore, microbes are not independent. To explore interactions among those genera, co-occurrence patterns were examined. In these respects, this review highlighted the recent advances in fundamental principles that underlie the environmental adaption tricks and why some species tend to occur together frequently, such as metabolic cross-feeding, co-aggregate at microscale, and the intercellular signaling system. Further investigations are required to unveil the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern microbial community systems, ultimately contributing to developing new strategies to harness beneficial microorganisms and control harmful microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianli Huang
- Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
| | - Baocai Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Bio-process, Ministry of Education, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, China
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29
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Butterworth SJ, Barton F, Lloyd JR. Extremophilic microbial metabolism and radioactive waste disposal. Extremophiles 2023; 27:27. [PMID: 37839067 PMCID: PMC10577106 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-023-01312-4] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Decades of nuclear activities have left a legacy of hazardous radioactive waste, which must be isolated from the biosphere for over 100,000 years. The preferred option for safe waste disposal is a deep subsurface geological disposal facility (GDF). Due to the very long geological timescales required, and the complexity of materials to be disposed of (including a wide range of nutrients and electron donors/acceptors) microbial activity will likely play a pivotal role in the safe operation of these mega-facilities. A GDF environment provides many metabolic challenges to microbes that may inhabit the facility, including high temperature, pressure, radiation, alkalinity, and salinity, depending on the specific disposal concept employed. However, as our understanding of the boundaries of life is continuously challenged and expanded by the discovery of novel extremophiles in Earth's most inhospitable environments, it is becoming clear that microorganisms must be considered in GDF safety cases to ensure accurate predictions of long-term performance. This review explores extremophilic adaptations and how this knowledge can be applied to challenge our current assumptions on microbial activity in GDF environments. We conclude that regardless of concept, a GDF will consist of multiple extremes and it is of high importance to understand the limits of polyextremophiles under realistic environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jane Butterworth
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Franky Barton
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Jonathan Richard Lloyd
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Research Centre for Radwaste Disposal and Williamson Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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30
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Sun J, Feng Y, Zheng R, Kong L, Wu X, Zhang K, Zhou J, Liu S. Chameleon-like Anammox Bacteria for Surface Color Change after Suffering Starvation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:15087-15098. [PMID: 37754765 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria are often exposed to long-term starvation during transportation and storage, during which a series of enzymes and metabolic pathways are activated to ensure survival. However, why the surface color of the bacteria changes during starvation is still not well-known. In this study, we found black anammox consortia suffering from long-term starvation contained 0.86 mmol gVSS-1 cytochrome c, which had no significant discrepancy compared with the red anammox consortia (P > 0.05), indicating cytochrome c was not the key issue for chromaticity change. Conversely, we found that under starvation conditions cysteine degradation is an important metabolic pathway for the blackening of the anammox consortia for H2S production. In particular, anammox bacteria contain large amounts of iron-rich nanoparticles, cytochrome c, and other iron-sulfur clusters that are converted to produce free iron. H2S combines with free iron in bacteria to form Fe-S compounds, which eventually exist stably as FeS2, mainly in the extracellular space. Interestingly, FeS2 could be oxidized by air aeration, which makes the consortia turn red again. The unique self-protection mechanism makes the whole consortia appear black, avoiding inhibition by high concentrations of H2S and achieving Fe storage. This study expands the understanding of the metabolites of anammox bacteria as well as the bacterial survival mechanism during starvation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingqi Sun
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yiming Feng
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ru Zheng
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Lingrui Kong
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiaogang Wu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Kuo Zhang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jianhang Zhou
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Sitong Liu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing 100871, China
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31
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Seto M, Kondoh M. Microbial redox cycling enhances ecosystem thermodynamic efficiency and productivity. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:1714-1725. [PMID: 37458207 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14287] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Microbial life in low-energy ecosystems relies on individual energy conservation, optimizing energy use in response to interspecific competition and mutualistic interspecific syntrophy. Our study proposes a novel community-level strategy for increasing energy use efficiency. By utilizing an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction network model that represents microbial redox metabolic interactions, we investigated multiple species-level competition and cooperation within the network. Our results suggest that microbial functional diversity allows for metabolic handoffs, which in turn leads to increased energy use efficiency. Furthermore, the mutualistic division of labour and the resulting complexity of redox pathways actively drive material cycling, further promoting energy exploitation. Our findings reveal the potential of self-organized ecological interactions to develop efficient energy utilization strategies, with important implications for microbial ecosystem functioning and the co-evolution of life and Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayumi Seto
- Department of Chemistry, Biology, and Environmental Sciences, Nara Women's University, Nara, Japan
| | - Michio Kondoh
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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32
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George AB, Wang T, Maslov S. Functional convergence in slow-growing microbial communities arises from thermodynamic constraints. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:1482-1494. [PMID: 37380829 PMCID: PMC10432562 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01455-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The dynamics of microbial communities is complex, determined by competition for metabolic substrates and cross-feeding of byproducts. Species in the community grow by harvesting energy from chemical reactions that transform substrates to products. In many anoxic environments, these reactions are close to thermodynamic equilibrium and growth is slow. To understand the community structure in these energy-limited environments, we developed a microbial community consumer-resource model incorporating energetic and thermodynamic constraints on an interconnected metabolic network. The central element of the model is product inhibition, meaning that microbial growth may be limited not only by depletion of metabolic substrates but also by accumulation of products. We demonstrate that these additional constraints on microbial growth cause a convergence in the structure and function of the community metabolic network-independent of species composition and biochemical details-providing a possible explanation for convergence of community function despite taxonomic variation observed in many natural and industrial environments. Furthermore, we discovered that the structure of community metabolic network is governed by the thermodynamic principle of maximum free energy dissipation. Our results predict the decrease of functional convergence in faster growing communities, which we validate by analyzing experimental data from anaerobic digesters. Overall, the work demonstrates how universal thermodynamic principles may constrain community metabolism and explain observed functional convergence in microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish B George
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Tong Wang
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sergei Maslov
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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Sun K, Yu M, Zhu XY, Xue CX, Zhang Y, Chen X, Yao P, Chen L, Fu L, Yang Z, Zhang XH. Microbial communities related to the sulfur cycle in the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0114923. [PMID: 37623326 PMCID: PMC10580873 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01149-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The Sansha Yongle Blue Hole (SYBH), the deepest blue hole in the world, is an excellent habitat for revealing biogeochemical cycles in the anaerobic environment. However, how sulfur cycling is mediated by microorganisms in the SYBH hasn't been fully understood. In this study, the water layers of the SYBH were divided into oxic zone, hypoxic zone, anoxic zone I and II, and microbial-mediated sulfur cycling in the SYBH was comprehensively interpreted. The 16S rRNA genes/transcripts analyses showed that the microbial community structures associated with the sulfur cycling in each zone had distinctive features. Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were mostly constituted by Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Campylobacterota, and Chlorobia above the anoxic zone I and sulfate-reducing bacteria were dominated by Desulfobacterota in anoxic zones. Metagenomic analyses showed that the sulfide-oxidation-related gene sqr and genes encoding the Sox system were mainly distributed in the anoxic zone I, while genes related to dissimilatory sulfate reduction and sulfur intermediate metabolite reduction were mainly distributed in the anoxic zone II, indicating different sulfur metabolic processes between these two zones. Moreover, sulfur-metabolism-related genes were identified in 81 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), indicating a high diversity of microbial communities involved in sulfur cycling. Among them, three MAGs from the candidate phyla JdFR-76 and AABM5-125-24 with genes related to dissimilatory sulfate reduction exhibited distinctive metabolic features. Our results showed unique and novel microbial populations in the SYBH sulfur cycle correlated to the sharp redox gradients, revealing complex biogeochemical processes in this extreme environment. IMPORTANCE Oxygen-deficient regions in the global ocean are expanding rapidly and affect the growth, reproduction and ecological processes of marine organisms. The anaerobic water body of about 150 m in the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole (SYBH) provided a suitable environment to study the specific microbial metabolism in anaerobic seawater. Here, we found that the vertical distributions of the total and active communities of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were different in each water layer of the SYBH according to the dissolved oxygen content. Genes related to sulfur metabolism also showed distinct stratification characteristics. Furthermore, we have obtained diverse metagenome-assembled genomes, some of which exhibit special sulfur metabolic characteristics, especially candidate phyla JdFR-76 and AABM5-125-24 were identified as potential novel SRB. The results of this study will promote further understanding of the sulfur cycle in extreme environments, as well as the environmental adaptability of microorganisms in blue holes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Sun
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Min Yu
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Zhu
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Chun-Xu Xue
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yunhui Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xing Chen
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Peng Yao
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Liang Fu
- Sansha Track Ocean Coral Reef Conservation Research Institute, Sansha, China
| | - Zuosheng Yang
- College of Marine Geosciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiao-Hua Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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Yang Z, Lian Z, Liu L, Fang B, Li W, Jiao J. Cultivation strategies for prokaryotes from extreme environments. IMETA 2023; 2:e123. [PMID: 38867929 PMCID: PMC10989778 DOI: 10.1002/imt2.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The great majority of microorganisms are as-yet-uncultivated, mostly found in extreme environments. High-throughput sequencing provides data-rich genomes from single-cell and metagenomic techniques, which has enabled researchers to obtain a glimpse of the unexpected genetic diversity of "microbial dark matter." However, cultivating microorganisms from extreme environments remains essential for dissecting and utilizing the functions of extremophiles. Here, we provide a straightforward protocol for efficiently isolating prokaryotic microorganisms from different extreme habitats (thermal, xeric, saline, alkaline, acidic, and cryogenic environments), which was established through previous successful work and our long-term experience in extremophile resource mining. We propose common processes for extremophile isolation at first and then summarize multiple cultivation strategies for recovering prokaryotic microorganisms from extreme environments and meanwhile provide specific isolation tips that are always overlooked but important. Furthermore, we propose the use of multi-omics-guided microbial cultivation approaches for culturing these as-yet-uncultivated microorganisms and two examples are provided to introduce how these approaches work. In summary, the protocol allows researchers to significantly improve the isolation efficiency of pure cultures and novel taxa, which therefore paves the way for the protection and utilization of microbial resources from extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi‐Wen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Zheng‐Han Lian
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Lan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Bao‐Zhu Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and GeographyChinese Academy of SciencesUrumqiChina
| | - Wen‐Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and GeographyChinese Academy of SciencesUrumqiChina
| | - Jian‐Yu Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life SciencesSun Yat‐Sen UniversityGuangzhouChina
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Kanaan G, Hoehler TM, Iwahana G, Deming JW. Modeled energetics of bacterial communities in ancient subzero brines. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1206641. [PMID: 37564288 PMCID: PMC10411740 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1206641] [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: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryopeg brines are isolated volumes of hypersaline water in subzero permafrost. The cryopeg system at Utqiaġvik, Alaska, is estimated to date back to 40 ka BP or earlier, a remnant of a late Pleistocene Ocean. Surprisingly, the cryopeg brines contain high concentrations of organic carbon, including extracellular polysaccharides, and high densities of bacteria. How can these physiologically extreme, old, and geologically isolated systems support such an ecosystem? This study addresses this question by examining the energetics of the Utqiaġvik cryopeg brine ecosystem. Using literature-derived assumptions and new measurements on archived borehole materials, we first estimated the quantity of organic carbon when the system formed. We then considered two bacterial growth trajectories to calculate the lower and upper bounds of the cell-specific metabolic rate of these communities. These bounds represent the first community estimates of metabolic rate in a subzero hypersaline environment. To assess the plausibility of the different growth trajectories, we developed a model of the organic carbon cycle and applied it to three borehole scenarios. We also used dissolved inorganic carbon and nitrogen measurements to independently estimate the metabolic rate. The model reconstructs the growth trajectory of the microbial community and predicts the present-day cell density and organic carbon content. Model input included measured rates of the in-situ enzymatic conversion of particulate to dissolved organic carbon under subzero brine conditions. A sensitivity analysis of model parameters was performed, revealing an interplay between growth rate, cell-specific metabolic rate, and extracellular enzyme activity. This approach allowed us to identify plausible growth trajectories consistent with the observed bacterial densities in the cryopeg brines. We found that the cell-specific metabolic rate in this system is relatively high compared to marine sediments. We attribute this finding to the need to invest energy in the production of extracellular enzymes, for generating bioavailable carbon from particulate organic carbon, and the production of extracellular polysaccharides for cryoprotection and osmoprotection. These results may be relevant to other isolated systems in the polar regions of Earth and to possible ice-bound brines on worlds such as Europa, Enceladus, and Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georges Kanaan
- School of Oceanography and Astrobiology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | - Go Iwahana
- International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, United States
| | - Jody W. Deming
- School of Oceanography and Astrobiology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Li H, Zhou H, Yang S, Dai X. Stochastic and Deterministic Assembly Processes in Seamount Microbial Communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0070123. [PMID: 37404136 PMCID: PMC10370332 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00701-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Seamounts are ubiquitous in the ocean. However, little is known about how seamount habitat features influence the local microbial community. In this study, the microbial populations of sediment cores from sampling depths of 0.1 to 35 cm from 10 seamount summit sites with a water depth of 1,850 to 3,827 m across the South China Sea (SCS) Basin were analyzed. Compared with nonseamount ecosystems, isolated seamounts function as oases for microbiomes, with average moderate to high levels of microbial abundance, richness, and diversity, and they harbor distinct microbial communities. The distinct characteristics of different seamounts provide a high level of habitat heterogeneity, resulting in the wide range of microbial community diversity observed across all seamounts. Using dormant thermospores as tracers to study the effect of dispersal by ocean currents, the observed distance-decay biogeography across different seamounts shaped simultaneously by the seamounts' naturally occurring heterogeneous habitat and the limitation of ocean current dispersal was found. We also established a framework that links initial community assembly with successional dynamics in seamounts. Seamounts provide resource-rich and dynamic environments, which leads to a dominance of stochasticity during initial community establishment in surface sediments. However, a progressive increase in deterministic environmental selection, correlated with resource depletion in subsurface sediments, leads to the selective growth of rare species of surface sediment communities in shaping the subsurface community. Overall, the study indicates that seamounts are a previously ignored oasis in the deep sea. This study also provides a case study for understanding the microbial ecology in globally widespread seamounts. IMPORTANCE Although there are approximately 25 million seamounts in the ocean, surprisingly little is known about seamount microbial ecology. We provide evidence that seamounts are island-like habitats harboring microbial communities distinct from those of nonseamount habitats, and they exhibit a distance-decay pattern. Environmental selection and dispersal limitation simultaneously shape the observed biogeography. Coupling empirical data with a null mode revealed a shift in the type and strength, which controls microbial community assembly and succession from the seamount surface to the subsurface sediments as follows: (i) community assembly is initially primarily driven by stochastic processes such as dispersal limitation, and (ii) changes in the subsurface environment progressively increase the importance of environmental selection. This case study contributes to the mechanistic understanding essential for a predictive microbial ecology of seamounts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haizhou Li
- East China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huaiyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shanshan Yang
- College of Marine Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Institute for Advanced Marine Research, China University of Geosciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institutes of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Jaussi M, Jørgensen BB, Kjeldsen KU, Lomstein BA, Pearce C, Seidenkantz MS, Røy H. Cell-specific rates of sulfate reduction and fermentation in the sub-seafloor biosphere. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1198664. [PMID: 37555068 PMCID: PMC10405931 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1198664] [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: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms in subsurface sediments live from recalcitrant organic matter deposited thousands or millions of years ago. Their catabolic activities are low, but the deep biosphere is of global importance due to its volume. The stability of deeply buried sediments provides a natural laboratory where prokaryotic communities that live in steady state with their environments can be studied over long time scales. We tested if a balance is established between the flow of energy, the microbial community size, and the basal power requirement needed to maintain cells in sediments buried meters below the sea floor. We measured rates of carbon oxidation by sulfate reduction and counted the microbial cells throughout ten carefully selected sediment cores with ages from years to millions of years. The rates of carbon oxidation were converted to power (J s-1 i.e., Watt) using the Gibbs free energy of the anaerobic oxidation of complex organic carbon. We separated energy dissipation by fermentation from sulfate reduction. Similarly, we separated the community into sulfate reducers and non-sulfate reducers based on the dsrB gene, so that sulfate reduction could be related to sulfate reducers. We found that the per-cell sulfate reduction rate was stable near 10-2 fmol C cell-1 day-1 right below the zone of bioturbation and did not decrease with increasing depth and sediment age. The corresponding power dissipation rate was 10-17 W sulfate-reducing cell-1. The cell-specific power dissipation of sulfate reducers in old sediments was similar to the slowest growing anaerobic cultures. The energy from mineralization of organic matter that was not dissipated by sulfate reduction was distributed evenly to all cells that did not possess the dsrB gene, i.e., cells operationally defined as fermenting. In contrast to sulfate reducers, the fermenting cells had decreasing catabolism as the sediment aged. A vast difference in power requirement between fermenters and sulfate reducers caused the microbial community in old sediments to consist of a minute fraction of sulfate reducers and a vast majority of fermenters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Jaussi
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | | | - Christof Pearce
- Department of Geoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Hans Røy
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Zhong S, Zhou S, Liu S, Wang J, Dang C, Chen Q, Hu J, Yang S, Deng C, Li W, Liu J, Borthwick AGL, Ni J. May microbial ecological baseline exist in continental groundwater? MICROBIOME 2023; 11:152. [PMID: 37468948 PMCID: PMC10355068 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01572-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microbes constitute almost the entire biological community in subsurface groundwater and play an important role in ecological evolution and global biogeochemical cycles. Ecological baseline as a fundamental reference with less human interference has been investigated in surface ecosystems such as soils, rivers, and ocean, but the existence of groundwater microbial ecological baseline (GMEB) is still an open question so far. RESULTS Based on high-throughput sequencing information derived from national monitoring of 733 newly constructed wells, we find that bacterial communities in pristine groundwater exhibit a significant lateral diversity gradient and gradually approach the topsoil microbial latitudinal diversity gradient with decreasing burial depth of phreatic water. Among 74 phyla dominated by Proteobacteria in groundwater, Patescibacteria act as keystone taxa that harmonize microbes in shallower aquifers and accelerate decline in bacterial diversity with increasing well-depth. Decreasing habitat niche breadth with increasing well-depth suggests a general change in the relationship among key microbes from closer cooperation in shallow to stronger competition in deep groundwater. Unlike surface-water microbes, microbial communities in pristine groundwater are predominantly shaped by deterministic processes, potentially associated with nutrient sequestration under dark and anoxic environments in aquifers. CONCLUSIONS By unveiling the biogeographic patterns and mechanisms controlling the community assembly of microbes in pristine groundwater throughout China, we firstly confirm the existence of GMEB in shallower aquifers and propose Groundwater Microbial Community Index (GMCI) to evaluate anthropogenic impact, which highlights the importance of GMEB in groundwater water security and health diagnosis. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sining Zhong
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environment Health and Regulation, Fuzhou, 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Shungui Zhou
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environment Health and Regulation, Fuzhou, 350002, People's Republic of China
| | - Shufeng Liu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiawen Wang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenyuan Dang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Chen
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinyun Hu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanqing Yang
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunfang Deng
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenpeng Li
- Center for Groundwater Monitoring, China Institute of Geo-environmental Monitoring, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Liu
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - Alistair G L Borthwick
- School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL8 4AA, UK
| | - Jinren Ni
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University; Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China.
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of All Material Fluxes in River Ecosystems, Beijing, 100871, People's Republic of China.
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Viegas J. Profile of Bo Barker Jørgensen. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2309067120. [PMID: 37364128 PMCID: PMC10319029 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2309067120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
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40
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Sawers RG. Perspective elucidating the physiology of a microbial cell: Neidhardt's Holy Grail. Mol Microbiol 2023; 120:54-59. [PMID: 36855806 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
A living microbial cell represents a system of high complexity, integration, and extreme order. All processes within that cell interconvert free energy through a multitude of interconnected metabolic reactions that help to maintain the cell in a state of low entropy, which is a characteristic of all living systems. The study of macromolecular interactions outside this cellular environment yields valuable information about the molecular function of macromolecules but represents a system in comparative disorder. Consequently, care must always be taken in interpreting the information gleaned from such studies and must be compared with how the same macromolecules function in vivo, otherwise, discrepancies can arise. The importance of combining reductionist approaches with the study of whole-cell microbial physiology is discussed regarding the long-term aim of understanding how a cell functions in its entirety. This can only be achieved by the continued development of high-resolution structural and multi-omic technologies. It is only by studying the whole cell that we can ever hope to understand how living systems function.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Gary Sawers
- Institute of Microbiology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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Gonzalez JM, Aranda B. Microbial Growth under Limiting Conditions-Future Perspectives. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1641. [PMID: 37512814 PMCID: PMC10383181 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms rule the functioning of our planet and each one of the individual macroscopic living creature. Nevertheless, microbial activity and growth status have always been challenging tasks to determine both in situ and in vivo. Microbial activity is generally related to growth, and the growth rate is a result of the availability of nutrients under adequate or adverse conditions faced by microbial cells in a changing environment. Most studies on microorganisms have been carried out under optimum or near-optimum growth conditions, but scarce information is available about microorganisms at slow-growing states (i.e., near-zero growth and maintenance metabolism). This study aims to better understand microorganisms under growth-limiting conditions. This is expected to provide new perspectives on the functions and relevance of the microbial world. This is because (i) microorganisms in nature frequently face conditions of severe growth limitation, (ii) microorganisms activate singular pathways (mostly genes remaining to be functionally annotated), resulting in a broad range of secondary metabolites, and (iii) the response of microorganisms to slow-growth conditions remains to be understood, including persistence strategies, gene expression, and cell differentiation both within clonal populations and due to the complexity of the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Gonzalez
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, IRNAS-CSIC, E-41012 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Beatriz Aranda
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, IRNAS-CSIC, E-41012 Sevilla, Spain
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Hallsworth JE, Udaondo Z, Pedrós‐Alió C, Höfer J, Benison KC, Lloyd KG, Cordero RJB, de Campos CBL, Yakimov MM, Amils R. Scientific novelty beyond the experiment. Microb Biotechnol 2023; 16:1131-1173. [PMID: 36786388 PMCID: PMC10221578 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Practical experiments drive important scientific discoveries in biology, but theory-based research studies also contribute novel-sometimes paradigm-changing-findings. Here, we appraise the roles of theory-based approaches focusing on the experiment-dominated wet-biology research areas of microbial growth and survival, cell physiology, host-pathogen interactions, and competitive or symbiotic interactions. Additional examples relate to analyses of genome-sequence data, climate change and planetary health, habitability, and astrobiology. We assess the importance of thought at each step of the research process; the roles of natural philosophy, and inconsistencies in logic and language, as drivers of scientific progress; the value of thought experiments; the use and limitations of artificial intelligence technologies, including their potential for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research; and other instances when theory is the most-direct and most-scientifically robust route to scientific novelty including the development of techniques for practical experimentation or fieldwork. We highlight the intrinsic need for human engagement in scientific innovation, an issue pertinent to the ongoing controversy over papers authored using/authored by artificial intelligence (such as the large language model/chatbot ChatGPT). Other issues discussed are the way in which aspects of language can bias thinking towards the spatial rather than the temporal (and how this biased thinking can lead to skewed scientific terminology); receptivity to research that is non-mainstream; and the importance of theory-based science in education and epistemology. Whereas we briefly highlight classic works (those by Oakes Ames, Francis H.C. Crick and James D. Watson, Charles R. Darwin, Albert Einstein, James E. Lovelock, Lynn Margulis, Gilbert Ryle, Erwin R.J.A. Schrödinger, Alan M. Turing, and others), the focus is on microbiology studies that are more-recent, discussing these in the context of the scientific process and the types of scientific novelty that they represent. These include several studies carried out during the 2020 to 2022 lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic when access to research laboratories was disallowed (or limited). We interviewed the authors of some of the featured microbiology-related papers and-although we ourselves are involved in laboratory experiments and practical fieldwork-also drew from our own research experiences showing that such studies can not only produce new scientific findings but can also transcend barriers between disciplines, act counter to scientific reductionism, integrate biological data across different timescales and levels of complexity, and circumvent constraints imposed by practical techniques. In relation to urgent research needs, we believe that climate change and other global challenges may require approaches beyond the experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E. Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological SciencesQueen's University BelfastBelfastUK
| | - Zulema Udaondo
- Department of Biomedical InformaticsUniversity of Arkansas for Medical SciencesLittle RockArkansasUSA
| | - Carlos Pedrós‐Alió
- Department of Systems BiologyCentro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Juan Höfer
- Escuela de Ciencias del MarPontificia Universidad Católica de ValparaísoValparaísoChile
| | - Kathleen C. Benison
- Department of Geology and GeographyWest Virginia UniversityMorgantownWest VirginiaUSA
| | - Karen G. Lloyd
- Microbiology DepartmentUniversity of TennesseeKnoxvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Radamés J. B. Cordero
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and ImmunologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Claudia B. L. de Campos
- Institute of Science and TechnologyUniversidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP)São José dos CamposSPBrazil
| | | | - Ricardo Amils
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC‐UAM)Nicolás Cabrera n° 1, Universidad Autónoma de MadridMadridSpain
- Department of Planetology and HabitabilityCentro de Astrobiología (INTA‐CSIC)Torrejón de ArdozSpain
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Barbosa A, Miranda S, Azevedo NF, Cerqueira L, Azevedo AS. Imaging biofilms using fluorescence in situ hybridization: seeing is believing. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1195803. [PMID: 37284501 PMCID: PMC10239779 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1195803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are complex structures with an intricate relationship between the resident microorganisms, the extracellular matrix, and the surrounding environment. Interest in biofilms is growing exponentially given its ubiquity in so diverse fields such as healthcare, environmental and industry. Molecular techniques (e.g., next-generation sequencing, RNA-seq) have been used to study biofilm properties. However, these techniques disrupt the spatial structure of biofilms; therefore, they do not allow to observe the location/position of biofilm components (e.g., cells, genes, metabolites), which is particularly relevant to explore and study the interactions and functions of microorganisms. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has been arguably the most widely used method for an in situ analysis of spatial distribution of biofilms. In this review, an overview on different FISH variants already applied on biofilm studies (e.g., CLASI-FISH, BONCAT-FISH, HiPR-FISH, seq-FISH) will be explored. In combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy, these variants emerged as a powerful approach to visualize, quantify and locate microorganisms, genes, and metabolites inside biofilms. Finally, we discuss new possible research directions for the development of robust and accurate FISH-based approaches that will allow to dig deeper into the biofilm structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Barbosa
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sónia Miranda
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP-Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno F. Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Laura Cerqueira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia S. Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP-Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Kundu K, Van Landuyt J, Mattelin V, Martin B, Neyts M, Parmentier K, Boon N. Enhanced removal of warfare agent tri-nitro-toluene by a Methylophaga-dominated microbiome. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 190:114866. [PMID: 37001405 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114866] [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: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Historical exposure of the marine environment to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) happened due to the dumping of left-over munitions. Despite significant research on TNT decontamination, the potential of marine microbiome for TNT degradation remains only little explored. In this study, TNT degradation experiments were conducted with sediment located near the World War I munition dumpsite - Paardenmarkt in the Belgian part of North Sea. A slow removal was observed using TNT as sole source of C and N, which could be enhanced by adding methanol. Degradation was reflected in nitro-reduced metabolites and microbial growth. 16S Illumina sequencing analysis revealed several enriched genera that used TNT as a sole source of C and N - Colwellia, Thalossospira, and Methylophaga. Addition of methanol resulted in increased abundance of Methylophaga, which corresponded to the rapid removal of TNT. Methanol enhanced the degradation by providing additional energy and establishing syntrophic association between methanol-utilizing and TNT-utilizing bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kankana Kundu
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Josefien Van Landuyt
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Valérie Mattelin
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bram Martin
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marijke Neyts
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science (RBIN), 3de en 23ste Linieregimentsplein, 8400 Oostende, Belgium
| | - Koen Parmentier
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science (RBIN), 3de en 23ste Linieregimentsplein, 8400 Oostende, Belgium
| | - Nico Boon
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Centre for Advanced Process Technology for Urban Resource recovery (CAPTURE), Ghent, Belgium.
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Caro TA, McFarlin J, Jech S, Fierer N, Kopf S. Hydrogen stable isotope probing of lipids demonstrates slow rates of microbial growth in soil. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2211625120. [PMID: 37036980 PMCID: PMC10120080 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211625120] [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: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The rate at which microorganisms grow and reproduce is fundamental to our understanding of microbial physiology and ecology. While soil microbiologists routinely quantify soil microbial biomass levels and the growth rates of individual taxa in culture, there is a limited understanding of how quickly microbes actually grow in soil. For this work, we posed the simple question: what are the growth rates of soil microorganisms? In this study, we measure these rates in three distinct soil environments using hydrogen-stable isotope probing of lipids with 2H-enriched water. This technique provides a taxa-agnostic quantification of in situ microbial growth from the degree of 2H enrichment of intact polar lipid compounds ascribed to bacteria and fungi. We find that growth rates in soil are quite slow and correspond to average generation times of 14 to 45 d but are also highly variable at the compound-specific level (4 to 402 d), suggesting differential growth rates among community subsets. We observe that low-biomass microbial communities exhibit more rapid growth rates than high-biomass communities, highlighting that biomass quantity alone does not predict microbial productivity in soil. Furthermore, within a given soil, the rates at which specific lipids are being synthesized do not relate to their quantity, suggesting a general decoupling of microbial abundance and growth in soil microbiomes. More generally, we demonstrate the utility of lipid-stable isotope probing for measuring microbial growth rates in soil and highlight the importance of measuring growth rates to complement more standard analyses of soil microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan A. Caro
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO80309
| | - Jamie McFarlin
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY82071
| | - Sierra Jech
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO80309
| | - Noah Fierer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO80309
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO80309
| | - Sebastian Kopf
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO80309
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Takano S, Takahashi H, Yama Y, Miyazaki R, Furusawa C, Tsuru S. Inference of transcriptome signatures of Escherichia coli in long-term stationary phase. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5647. [PMID: 37024648 PMCID: PMC10079935 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32525-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
"Non-growing" is a dominant life form of microorganisms in nature, where available nutrients and resources are limited. In laboratory culture systems, Escherichia coli can survive for years under starvation, denoted as long-term stationary phase, where a small fraction of cells manages to survive by recycling resources released from nonviable cells. Although the physiology by which viable cells in long-term stationary phase adapt to prolonged starvation is of great interest, their genome-wide response has not been fully understood. In this study, we analyzed transcriptional profiles of cells exposed to the supernatant of 30-day long-term stationary phase culture and found that their transcriptome profiles displayed several similar responses to those of cells in the 16-h short-term stationary phase. Nevertheless, our results revealed that cells in long-term stationary phase supernatant exhibit higher expressions of stress-response genes such as phage shock proteins (psp), and lower expressions of growth-related genes such as ribosomal proteins than those in the short-term stationary phase. We confirmed that the mutant lacking the psp operon showed lower survival and growth rate in the long-term stationary phase culture. This study identified transcriptional responses for stress-resistant physiology in the long-term stationary phase environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sotaro Takano
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (NIMS), Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Hiromi Takahashi
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshie Yama
- Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryo Miyazaki
- Bioproduction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- Computational Bio Big Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), AIST, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chikara Furusawa
- Graduate School of Science, Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Center for Biosystem Dynamics Research, RIKEN, Kobe, Japan
| | - Saburo Tsuru
- Graduate School of Science, Universal Biology Institute, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Cai L, Weinbauer MG, Xie L, Zhang R. The smallest in the deepest: the enigmatic role of viruses in the deep biosphere. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwad009. [PMID: 36960220 PMCID: PMC10029852 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
It is commonly recognized that viruses control the composition, metabolism, and evolutionary trajectories of prokaryotic communities, with resulting vital feedback on ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling in a wide range of ecosystems. Although the deep biosphere has been estimated to be the largest reservoir for viruses and their prokaryotic hosts, the biology and ecology of viruses therein remain poorly understood. The deep virosphere is an enigmatic field of study in which many critical questions are still to be answered. Is the deep virosphere simply a repository for deeply preserved, non-functioning virus particles? Or are deep viruses infectious agents that can readily infect suitable hosts and subsequently shape microbial populations and nutrient cycling? Can the cellular content released by viral lysis, and even the organic structures of virions themselves, serve as the source of bioavailable nutrients for microbial activity in the deep biosphere as in other ecosystems? In this review, we synthesize our current knowledge of viruses in the deep biosphere and seek to identify topics with the potential for substantial discoveries in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Markus G Weinbauer
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Université Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV), Villefranche BP28, France
| | - Le Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Tang M, Zhou J, Zhang T. The microbial dark matter and "wanted list" in worldwide wastewater treatment plants. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:59. [PMID: 36973807 PMCID: PMC10045942 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01503-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are one of the largest biotechnology applications in the world and are of critical importance to modern urban societies. An accurate evaluation of the microbial dark matter (MDM, microorganisms whose genomes remain uncharacterized) proportions in WWTPs is of great value, while there is no such research yet. This study conducted a global meta-analysis of MDM in WWTPs with 317,542 prokaryotic genomes from the Genome Taxonomy Database and proposed a "wanted list" for priority targets in further investigations of activated sludge. RESULTS Compared with the Earth Microbiome Project data, WWTPs had relatively lower genome-sequenced proportions of prokaryotes than other ecosystems, such as the animal related environments. Analysis showed that the median proportions of the genome-sequenced cells and taxa (100% identity and 100% coverage in 16S rRNA gene region) in WWTPs reached 56.3% and 34.5% for activated sludge, 48.6% and 28.5% for aerobic biofilm, and 48.3% and 28.5% for anaerobic digestion sludge, respectively. This result meant MDM had high proportions in WWTPs. Besides, all of the samples were occupied by a few predominant taxa, and the majority of the sequenced genomes were from pure cultures. The global-scale "wanted list" for activated sludge contained four phyla that have few representatives and 71 operational taxonomic units with the majority of them having no genome or isolate yet. Finally, several genome mining methods were verified to successfully recover genomes from activated sludge such as hybrid assembly of the second- and third-generation sequencing. CONCLUSIONS This work elucidated the proportion of MDM in WWTPs, defined the "wanted list" of activated sludge for future investigations, and certified potential genome recovery methods. The proposed methodology of this study can be applied to other ecosystems and improve understanding of ecosystem structure across diverse habitats. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yulin Wang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mingxi Tang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jizhong Zhou
- Institute for Environmental Genomics, Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, and School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Tong Zhang
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, China.
- Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China.
- Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China.
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Yang Y, Pan H, Li X, Luo W, Bharti B. Applications of two-dimensional ion chromatography for analytes determination in environmental matrix: A review. J Chromatogr A 2023; 1694:463908. [PMID: 36913814 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2023.463908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Ion chromatography (IC) has grown in usage rapidly since its first introduction in 1975. However, IC is still sometimes unable to separate target analytes from coexisting components well with identical elution time, due to the limited resolution and column capacity, especially in the presence of high-level salt matrix. These limitations hence drive IC to develop two-dimensional IC (2D-IC). In this review, we capture the 2D-IC applications in environmental samples via the perspective of coupling different IC columns, which aim to summarize where these 2D-IC methods fit in. In sequence, we firstly review the principles of 2D-IC and emphasize one-pump column-switching IC (OPCS IC) because it is a simplified 2D-IC that only uses one set of IC system. We then compare typical 2D-IC and OPCS IC performances in terms of application scope, method detection limit, drawbacks, and expectations. Finally, we propose some challenges of current methods and opportunities for future research. For instance, it is challenging to couple anion exchange column and capillary column in OPCS IC due to the incompatibility between flow path dimensions and suppressor; coupling ion exclusion column and mixed-bed column may be promising to simultaneously determine anions and cations in weak acids or salts. The details of this study may help practitioners to better understand and implement 2D-IC methods and meanwhile motivate researchers to fill in the knowledge gap in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Prevention and Control, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), 518055, PR. China.
| | - Huimei Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Prevention and Control, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), 518055, PR. China
| | - Xiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Prevention and Control, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), 518055, PR. China
| | - Wang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Prevention and Control, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), 518055, PR. China
| | - Bandna Bharti
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Organic Pollution Prevention and Control, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), 518055, PR. China; Department of Chemistry, DAV University, Jalandhar, Punjab 144001, India
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50
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Deng S. The origin of genetic and metabolic systems: Evolutionary structuralinsights. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14466. [PMID: 36967965 PMCID: PMC10036676 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA is derived from reverse transcription and its origin is related to reverse transcriptase, DNA polymerase and integrase. The gene structure originated from the evolution of the first RNA polymerase. Thus, an explanation of the origin of the genetic system must also explain the evolution of these enzymes. This paper proposes a polymer structure model, termed the stable complex evolution model, which explains the evolution of enzymes and functional molecules. Enzymes evolved their functions by forming locally tightly packed complexes with specific substrates. A metabolic reaction can therefore be considered to be the result of adaptive evolution in this way when a certain essential molecule is lacking in a cell. The evolution of the primitive genetic and metabolic systems was thus coordinated and synchronized. According to the stable complex model, almost all functional molecules establish binding affinity and specific recognition through complementary interactions, and functional molecules therefore have the nature of being auto-reactive. This is thermodynamically favorable and leads to functional duplication and self-organization. Therefore, it can be speculated that biological systems have a certain tendency to maintain functional stability or are influenced by an inherent selective power. The evolution of dormant bacteria may support this hypothesis, and inherent selectivity can be unified with natural selection at the molecular level.
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