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Wilson LA, Melville JN, Pedroso MM, Krco S, Hoelzle R, Zaugg J, Southam G, Virdis B, Evans P, Supper J, Harmer JR, Tyson G, Clark A, Schenk G, Bernhardt PV. Kinetic, electrochemical and spectral characterization of bacterial and archaeal rusticyanins; unexpected stability issues and consequences for applications in biotechnology. J Inorg Biochem 2024; 256:112539. [PMID: 38593609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Motivated by the ambition to establish an enzyme-driven bioleaching pathway for copper extraction, properties of the Type-1 copper protein rusticyanin from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (AfR) were compared with those from an ancestral form of this enzyme (N0) and an archaeal enzyme identified in Ferroplasma acidiphilum (FaR). While both N0 and FaR show redox potentials similar to that of AfR their electron transport rates were significantly slower. The lack of a correlation between the redox potentials and electron transfer rates indicates that AfR and its associated electron transfer chain evolved to specifically facilitate the efficient conversion of the energy of iron oxidation to ATP formation. In F. acidiphilum this pathway is not as efficient unless it is up-regulated by an as of yet unknown mechanism. In addition, while the electrochemical properties of AfR were consistent with previous data, previously unreported behavior was found leading to a form that is associated with a partially unfolded form of the protein. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) response of AfR immobilized onto an electrode showed limited stability, which may be connected to the presence of the partially unfolded state of this protein. Insights gained in this study may thus inform the engineering of optimized rusticyanin variants for bioleaching processes as well as enzyme-catalyzed solubilization of copper-containing ores such as chalcopyrite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam A Wilson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jamie N Melville
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Marcelo M Pedroso
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Stefan Krco
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Robert Hoelzle
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Julian Zaugg
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Gordon Southam
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Bernardino Virdis
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Paul Evans
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jenna Supper
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jeffrey R Harmer
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Gene Tyson
- Centre for Microbiome Research, Queensland University of Technology, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Alice Clark
- Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Gerhard Schenk
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Paul V Bernhardt
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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2
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Arisan D, Moya-Beltrán A, Rojas-Villalobos C, Issotta F, Castro M, Ulloa R, Chiacchiarini PA, Díez B, Martín AJM, Ñancucheo I, Giaveno A, Johnson DB, Quatrini R. Acidithiobacillia class members originating at sites within the Pacific Ring of Fire and other tectonically active locations and description of the novel genus ' Igneacidithiobacillus'. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1360268. [PMID: 38633703 PMCID: PMC11021618 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1360268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have expanded the genomic contours of the Acidithiobacillia, highlighting important lacunae in our comprehension of the phylogenetic space occupied by certain lineages of the class. One such lineage is 'Igneacidithiobacillus', a novel genus-level taxon, represented by 'Igneacidithiobacillus copahuensis' VAN18-1T as its type species, along with two other uncultivated metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) originating from geothermally active sites across the Pacific Ring of Fire. In this study, we investigate the genetic and genomic diversity, and the distribution patterns of several uncharacterized Acidithiobacillia class strains and sequence clones, which are ascribed to the same 16S rRNA gene sequence clade. By digging deeper into this data and contributing to novel MAGs emerging from environmental studies in tectonically active locations, the description of this novel genus has been consolidated. Using state-of-the-art genomic taxonomy methods, we added to already recognized taxa, an additional four novel Candidate (Ca.) species, including 'Ca. Igneacidithiobacillus chanchocoensis' (mCHCt20-1TS), 'Igneacidithiobacillus siniensis' (S30A2T), 'Ca. Igneacidithiobacillus taupoensis' (TVZ-G3 TS), and 'Ca. Igneacidithiobacillus waiarikiensis' (TVZ-G4 TS). Analysis of published data on the isolation, enrichment, cultivation, and preliminary microbiological characterization of several of these unassigned or misassigned strains, along with the type species of the genus, plus the recoverable environmental data from metagenomic studies, allowed us to identify habitat preferences of these taxa. Commonalities and lineage-specific adaptations of the seven species of the genus were derived from pangenome analysis and comparative genomic metabolic reconstruction. The findings emerging from this study lay the groundwork for further research on the ecology, evolution, and biotechnological potential of the novel genus 'Igneacidithiobacillus'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilanaz Arisan
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana Moya-Beltrán
- Departamento de Informática y Computación, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Rojas-Villalobos
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Issotta
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Biological Sciences Faculty, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CGR), Santiago, Chile
| | - Matías Castro
- Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía (IMO), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Ricardo Ulloa
- PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Facultad de Ingeniería, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Patricia A. Chiacchiarini
- PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Facultad de Ingeniería, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - Beatriz Díez
- Biological Sciences Faculty, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CGR), Santiago, Chile
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR), Santiago, Chile
| | - Alberto J. M. Martín
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Iván Ñancucheo
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur, Concepción, Chile
| | - Alejandra Giaveno
- PROBIEN (CCT Patagonia Confluencia-CONICET, UNCo), Facultad de Ingeniería, Departamento de Química, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, Neuquén, Argentina
| | - D. Barrie Johnson
- College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
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3
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Sepúlveda-Rebolledo P, González-Rosales C, Dopson M, Pérez-Rueda E, Holmes DS, Valdés JH. Comparative genomics sheds light on transcription factor-mediated regulation in the extreme acidophilic Acidithiobacillia representatives. Res Microbiol 2024; 175:104135. [PMID: 37678513 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Extreme acidophiles thrive in acidic environments, confront a multitude of challenges, and demonstrate remarkable adaptability in their metabolism to cope with the ever-changing environmental fluctuations, which encompass variations in temperature, pH levels, and the availability of electron acceptors and donors. The survival and proliferation of members within the Acidithiobacillia class rely on the deployment of transcriptional regulatory systems linked to essential physiological traits. The study of these transcriptional regulatory systems provides valuable insights into critical processes, such as energy metabolism and nutrient assimilation, and how they integrate into major genetic-metabolic circuits. In this study, we examined the transcriptional regulatory repertoires and potential interactions of forty-three Acidithiobacillia complete and draft genomes, encompassing nine species. To investigate the function and diversity of Transcription Factors (TFs) and their DNA Binding Sites (DBSs), we conducted a genome-wide comparative analysis, which allowed us to identify these regulatory elements in representatives of Acidithiobacillia. We classified TFs into gene families and compared their occurrence among all representatives, revealing conservation patterns across the class. The results identified conserved regulators for several pathways, including iron and sulfur oxidation, the main pathways for energy acquisition, providing new evidence for viable regulatory interactions and branch-specific conservation in Acidithiobacillia. The identification of TFs and DBSs not only corroborates existing experimental information for selected species, but also introduces novel candidates for experimental validation. Moreover, these promising candidates have the potential for further extension to new representatives within the class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Sepúlveda-Rebolledo
- Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática and PhD. Program on Integrative Genomics, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago (8580745), Chile.
| | - Carolina González-Rosales
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago (8580638), Chile; Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Mark Dopson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Ernesto Pérez-Rueda
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Académica del Estado de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.
| | - David S Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago (8580638), Chile; Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago (7510156), Chile.
| | - Jorge H Valdés
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago (8370146), Chile.
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4
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Escuti C, Véliz R, Acosta M, Echeverría-Vega A, Araya G, Ayma D, Demergasso C. The dynamics of two iron-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus strains in industrial copper sulfide heap-leaching. Res Microbiol 2024; 175:104168. [PMID: 37995889 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Several species within the Acidithiobacillus (At.) genus can derive energy from oxidizing ferrous iron and sulfur. Two bacterial strains according to their 16S rRNA gene sequences closely related to At. ferridurans and At. ferrivorans were obtained from the industrial sulfide heap leaching process at Minera Escondida (SLH), named D2 and DM, respectively. We applied statistical and data mining analyses to the abundance of At. ferridurans D2 and At. ferrivorans DM taxa in the industrial process over 16 years of operation. In addition, we performed phylogenetic analysis and genome comparison of the type strains, as well as culturing approaches with representative isolates of At. ferridurans D2 and At. ferrivorans DM taxa to understand the differential phenotypic features. Throughout the 16 years, two main operational stages were identified based on the D2 and DM taxa predominance in solution samples. The better suitability of At. ferrivorans DM to grow in a wide range of temperature and in micro-oxic environments, and to oxidize S by reducing Fe(III) revealed through culturing approaches can, in a way, explain the taxa distribution in both operational stages. The isolate At. ferridurans D2 could be considered as a specialist in aerobic sulfur oxidation, while isolate At. ferrivorans DM is a specialist in iron oxidation. In addition, the results from ore samples occasionally obtained from the industrial heap suggest that At. ferridurans D2 abundance was more related to its abundance in the solution samples than At. ferrivorans DM was. This dynamic coincides with previously obtained results in in-lab cell-mineral attaching experiments with both strains. This information increases our knowledge the ecophysiology of Acidithiobacillus and of the importance of diverse physiological traits at industrial bioleaching scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Escuti
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Av. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Roberto Véliz
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Av. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Mauricio Acosta
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Av. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile.
| | - Alex Echeverría-Vega
- Centro de Investigación en Estudios Avanzados del Maule (CIEAM), Universidad Católica del Maule, Av. San Miguel 3605, Talca, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Araya
- Département de Chimie Analytique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, 43, boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Diego Ayma
- Departamento de Matemáticas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Católica del Norte, Av. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Cecilia Demergasso
- Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Av. Angamos 0610, Antofagasta, Chile.
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5
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Degli Esposti M, Guerrero G, Rogel MA, Issotta F, Rojas-Villalobos C, Quatrini R, Martinez-Romero E. The phylogeny of Acetobacteraceae: photosynthetic traits and deranged respiratory enzymes. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0057523. [PMID: 37975678 PMCID: PMC10715153 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00575-23] [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: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Acetobacteraceae are one of the best known and most extensively studied groups of bacteria, which nowadays encompasses a variety of taxa that are very different from the vinegar-producing species defining the family. Our paper presents the most detailed phylogeny of all current taxa classified as Acetobacteraceae, for which we propose a taxonomic revision. Several of such taxa inhabit some of the most extreme environments on the planet, from the deserts of Antarctica to the Sinai desert, as well as acidic niches in volcanic sites like the one we have been studying in Patagonia. Our work documents the progressive variation of the respiratory chain in early branching Acetobacteraceae into the different respiratory chains of acidophilic taxa such as Acidocella and acetous taxa such as Acetobacter. Remarkably, several genomes retain remnants of ancestral photosynthetic traits and functional bc 1 complexes. Thus, we propose that the common ancestor of Acetobacteraceae was photosynthetic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Degli Esposti
- Center for Genomic Sciences, UNAM Campus de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Guerrero
- Center for Genomic Sciences, UNAM Campus de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Marco A. Rogel
- Center for Genomic Sciences, UNAM Campus de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Francisco Issotta
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Rojas-Villalobos
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
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6
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Wu P, Yuan Q, Cheng T, Han Y, Zhao W, Liao X, Wang L, Cai J, He Q, Guo Y, Zhang X, Lu F, Wang J, Ma H, Huang Z. Genome sequencing and metabolic network reconstruction of a novel sulfur-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus Ameehan. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1277847. [PMID: 38053556 PMCID: PMC10694236 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1277847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria play a crucial role in various processes, including mine bioleaching, biodesulfurization, and treatment of sulfur-containing wastewater. Nevertheless, the pathway involved in sulfur oxidation is highly intricate, making it complete comprehension a formidable and protracted undertaking. The mechanisms of sulfur oxidation within the Acidithiobacillus genus, along with the process of energy production, remain areas that necessitate further research and elucidation. In this study, a novel strain of sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, Acidithiobacillus Ameehan, was isolated. Several physiological characteristics of the strain Ameehan were verified and its complete genome sequence was presented in the study. Besides, the first genome-scale metabolic network model (AMEE_WP1377) was reconstructed for Acidithiobacillus Ameehan to gain a comprehensive understanding of the metabolic capacity of the strain.The characteristics of Acidithiobacillus Ameehan included morphological size and an optimal growth temperature range of 37-45°C, as well as an optimal growth pH range of pH 2.0-8.0. The microbe was found to be capable of growth when sulfur and K2O6S4 were supplied as the energy source and electron donor for CO2 fixation. Conversely, it could not utilize Na2S2O3, FeS2, and FeSO4·7H2O as the energy source or electron donor for CO2 fixation, nor could it grow using glucose or yeast extract as a carbon source. Genome annotation revealed that the strain Ameehan possessed a series of sulfur oxidizing genes that enabled it to oxidize elemental sulfur or various reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs). In addition, the bacterium also possessed carbon fixing genes involved in the incomplete Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. However, the bacterium lacked the ability to oxidize iron and fix nitrogen. By implementing a constraint-based flux analysis to predict cellular growth in the presence of 71 carbon sources, 88.7% agreement with experimental Biolog data was observed. Five sulfur oxidation pathways were discovered through model simulations. The optimal sulfur oxidation pathway had the highest ATP production rate of 14.81 mmol/gDW/h, NADH/NADPH production rate of 5.76 mmol/gDW/h, consumed 1.575 mmol/gDW/h of CO2, and 1.5 mmol/gDW/h of sulfur. Our findings provide a comprehensive outlook on the most effective cellular metabolic pathways implicated in sulfur oxidation within Acidithiobacillus Ameehan. It suggests that the OMP (outer-membrane proteins) and SQR enzymes (sulfide: quinone oxidoreductase) have a significant impact on the energy production efficiency of sulfur oxidation, which could have potential biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wu
- College of Bioengineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Qianqian Yuan
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
- Biodesign Center, Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Tingting Cheng
- College of Bioengineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Yifan Han
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoping Liao
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
- Biodesign Center, Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Lu Wang
- College of Bioengineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingyi Cai
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
- Biodesign Center, Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Qianqian He
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Ying Guo
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoxia Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Fuping Lu
- College of Bioengineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongwu Ma
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
- Biodesign Center, Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhiyong Huang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Industrial Biological Systems and Bioprocessing Engineering, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, China
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7
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Beard S, Moya-Beltrán A, Silva-García D, Valenzuela C, Pérez-Acle T, Loyola A, Quatrini R. Pangenome-level analysis of nucleoid-associated proteins in the Acidithiobacillia class: insights into their functional roles in mobile genetic elements biology. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1271138. [PMID: 37817747 PMCID: PMC10561277 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1271138] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are relevant agents in bacterial adaptation and evolutionary diversification. Stable appropriation of these DNA elements depends on host factors, among which are the nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs). NAPs are highly abundant proteins that bind and bend DNA, altering its topology and folding, thus affecting all known cellular DNA processes from replication to expression. Even though NAP coding genes are found in most prokaryotic genomes, their functions in host chromosome biology and xenogeneic silencing are only known for a few NAP families. Less is known about the occurrence, abundance, and roles of MGE-encoded NAPs in foreign elements establishment and mobility. In this study, we used a combination of comparative genomics and phylogenetic strategies to gain insights into the diversity, distribution, and functional roles of NAPs within the class Acidithiobacillia with a special focus on their role in MGE biology. Acidithiobacillia class members are aerobic, chemolithoautotrophic, acidophilic sulfur-oxidizers, encompassing substantial genotypic diversity attributable to MGEs. Our search for NAP protein families (PFs) in more than 90 genomes of the different species that conform the class, revealed the presence of 1,197 proteins pertaining to 12 different NAP families, with differential occurrence and conservation across species. Pangenome-level analysis revealed 6 core NAP PFs that were highly conserved across the class, some of which also existed as variant forms of scattered occurrence, in addition to NAPs of taxa-restricted distribution. Core NAPs identified are reckoned as essential based on the conservation of genomic context and phylogenetic signals. In turn, various highly diversified NAPs pertaining to the flexible gene complement of the class, were found to be encoded in known plasmids or, larger integrated MGEs or, present in genomic loci associated with MGE-hallmark genes, pointing to their role in the stabilization/maintenance of these elements in strains and species with larger genomes. Both core and flexible NAPs identified proved valuable as markers, the former accurately recapitulating the phylogeny of the class, and the later, as seed in the bioinformatic identification of novel episomal and integrated mobile elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simón Beard
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana Moya-Beltrán
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Danitza Silva-García
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cesar Valenzuela
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tomás Pérez-Acle
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandra Loyola
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
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8
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Ibáñez A, Garrido-Chamorro S, Coque JJR, Barreiro C. From Genes to Bioleaching: Unraveling Sulfur Metabolism in Acidithiobacillus Genus. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1772. [PMID: 37761912 PMCID: PMC10531304 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sulfur oxidation stands as a pivotal process within the Earth's sulfur cycle, in which Acidithiobacillus species emerge as skillful sulfur-oxidizing bacteria. They are able to efficiently oxidize several reduced inorganic sulfur compounds (RISCs) under extreme conditions for their autotrophic growth. This unique characteristic has made these bacteria a useful tool in bioleaching and biological desulfurization applications. Extensive research has unraveled diverse sulfur metabolism pathways and their corresponding regulatory systems. The metabolic arsenal of the Acidithiobacillus genus includes oxidative enzymes such as: (i) elemental sulfur oxidation enzymes, like sulfur dioxygenase (SDO), sulfur oxygenase reductase (SOR), and heterodisulfide reductase (HDR-like system); (ii) enzymes involved in thiosulfate oxidation pathways, including the sulfur oxidation (Sox) system, tetrathionate hydrolase (TetH), and thiosulfate quinone oxidoreductase (TQO); (iii) sulfide oxidation enzymes, like sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQR); and (iv) sulfite oxidation pathways, such as sulfite oxidase (SOX). This review summarizes the current state of the art of sulfur metabolic processes in Acidithiobacillus species, which are key players of industrial biomining processes. Furthermore, this manuscript highlights the existing challenges and barriers to further exploring the sulfur metabolism of this peculiar extremophilic genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ibáñez
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (J.J.R.C.)
- Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACyL), Área de Investigación Agrícola, 47071 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Sonia Garrido-Chamorro
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, 24007 León, Spain;
| | - Juan J. R. Coque
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (J.J.R.C.)
| | - Carlos Barreiro
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, 24007 León, Spain;
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9
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Li L, Zhou L, Jiang C, Liu Z, Meng D, Luo F, He Q, Yin H. AI-driven pan-proteome analyses reveal insights into the biohydrometallurgical properties of Acidithiobacillia. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1243987. [PMID: 37744906 PMCID: PMC10512742 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1243987] [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: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Microorganism-mediated biohydrometallurgy, a sustainable approach for metal recovery from ores, relies on the metabolic activity of acidophilic bacteria. Acidithiobacillia with sulfur/iron-oxidizing capacities are extensively studied and applied in biohydrometallurgy-related processes. However, only 14 distinct proteins from Acidithiobacillia have experimentally determined structures currently available. This significantly hampers in-depth investigations of Acidithiobacillia's structure-based biological mechanisms pertaining to its relevant biohydrometallurgical processes. To address this issue, we employed a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI)-driven approach, with a median model confidence of 0.80, to perform high-quality full-chain structure predictions on the pan-proteome (10,458 proteins) of the type strain Acidithiobacillia. Additionally, we conducted various case studies on de novo protein structural prediction, including sulfate transporter and iron oxidase, to demonstrate how accurate structure predictions and gene co-occurrence networks can contribute to the development of mechanistic insights and hypotheses regarding sulfur and iron utilization proteins. Furthermore, for the unannotated proteins that constitute 35.8% of the Acidithiobacillia proteome, we employed the deep-learning algorithm DeepFRI to make structure-based functional predictions. As a result, we successfully obtained gene ontology (GO) terms for 93.6% of these previously unknown proteins. This study has a significant impact on improving protein structure and function predictions, as well as developing state-of-the-art techniques for high-throughput analysis of large proteomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangzhi Li
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lei Zhou
- Beijing Research Institute of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy, Beijing, China
| | - Chengying Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenghua Liu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Delong Meng
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Feng Luo
- School of Computing, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Qiang He
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Huaqun Yin
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, China
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10
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Ibáñez A, Barreiro C, Diez-Galán A, Cobos R, Calvo-Peña C, Coque JJR. Molecular Identification and Acid Stress Response of an Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans Strain Isolated from Rio Tinto (Spain). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13391. [PMID: 37686204 PMCID: PMC10487802 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans is of paramount importance in the development of biomining technologies. Being widely recognized as an extreme acidophile, extensive research has been dedicated to understanding its significant role in the extraction of several ores in recent years. However, there still exist significant molecular uncertainties surrounding this species. This study focuses on developing a taxonomic assignment method based on the sequencing of the 16S-5S rRNA cluster, along with a qPCR-based technology enabling precise growth determination. Additionally, an approach to understanding its response to acid stress is explored through RT-PCR and MALDI-TOF analysis. Our findings indicate that when subjected to pH levels below 1, the cell inhibits central (carbon fixation and metabolism) and energy (sulfur metabolism) metabolism, as well as chaperone synthesis, suggesting a potential cellular collapse. Nevertheless, the secretion of ammonia is enhanced to raise the environmental pH, while fatty acid synthesis is upregulated to reinforce the cell membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ibáñez
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (A.D.-G.); (R.C.); (C.C.-P.)
- Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACYL), 47071 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Carlos Barreiro
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Alba Diez-Galán
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (A.D.-G.); (R.C.); (C.C.-P.)
| | - Rebeca Cobos
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (A.D.-G.); (R.C.); (C.C.-P.)
| | - Carla Calvo-Peña
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (A.D.-G.); (R.C.); (C.C.-P.)
| | - Juan José R. Coque
- Instituto de Investigación de la Viña y el Vino, Escuela de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, 24009 León, Spain; (A.I.); (A.D.-G.); (R.C.); (C.C.-P.)
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11
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Moya-Beltrán A, Gajdosik M, Rojas-Villalobos C, Beard S, Mandl M, Silva-García D, Johnson DB, Ramirez P, Quatrini R, Kucera J. Influence of mobile genetic elements and insertion sequences in long- and short-term adaptive processes of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strains. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10876. [PMID: 37407610 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37341-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent revision of the Acidithiobacillia class using genomic taxonomy methods has shown that, in addition to the existence of previously unrecognized genera and species, some species of the class harbor levels of divergence that are congruent with ongoing differentiation processes. In this study, we have performed a subspecies-level analysis of sequenced strains of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans to prove the existence of distinct sublineages and identify the discriminant genomic/genetic characteristics linked to these sublineages, and to shed light on the processes driving such differentiation. Differences in the genomic relatedness metrics, levels of synteny, gene content, and both integrated and episomal mobile genetic elements (MGE) repertoires support the existence of two subspecies-level taxa within A. ferrooxidans. While sublineage 2A harbors a small plasmid related to pTF5, this episomal MGE is absent in sublineage 2B strains. Likewise, clear differences in the occurrence, coverage and conservation of integrated MGEs are apparent between sublineages. Differential MGE-associated gene cargo pertained to the functional categories of energy metabolism, ion transport, cell surface modification, and defense mechanisms. Inferred functional differences have the potential to impact long-term adaptive processes and may underpin the basis of the subspecies-level differentiation uncovered within A. ferrooxidans. Genome resequencing of iron- and sulfur-adapted cultures of a selected 2A sublineage strain (CCM 4253) showed that both episomal and large integrated MGEs are conserved over twenty generations in either growth condition. In turn, active insertion sequences profoundly impact short-term adaptive processes. The ISAfe1 element was found to be highly active in sublineage 2A strain CCM 4253. Phenotypic mutations caused by the transposition of ISAfe1 into the pstC2 encoding phosphate-transport system permease protein were detected in sulfur-adapted cultures and shown to impair growth on ferrous iron upon the switch of electron donor. The phenotypic manifestation of the △pstC2 mutation, such as a loss of the ability to oxidize ferrous iron, is likely related to the inability of the mutant to secure the phosphorous availability for electron transport-linked phosphorylation coupled to iron oxidation. Depletion of the transpositional △pstC2 mutation occurred concomitantly with a shortening of the iron-oxidation lag phase at later transfers on a ferrous iron-containing medium. Therefore, the pstII operon appears to play an essential role in A. ferrooxidans when cells oxidize ferrous iron. Results highlight the influence of insertion sequences and both integrated and episomal mobile genetic elements in the short- and long-term adaptive processes of A. ferrooxidans strains under changing growth conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Moya-Beltrán
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Avenida Del Valle Norte 725, 8580702, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Martin Gajdosik
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 61137, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Camila Rojas-Villalobos
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Avenida Del Valle Norte 725, 8580702, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Simón Beard
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Avenida Del Valle Norte 725, 8580702, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, 7510157, Providencia, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Martin Mandl
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 61137, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Danitza Silva-García
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Avenida Del Valle Norte 725, 8580702, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
- Centro de Genómica y Bioinformática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Camino La Piramide 5750, 8580000, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
| | - D Barrie Johnson
- College of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, LL57 2UW, UK
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK
- Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Pablo Ramirez
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Avenida Del Valle Norte 725, 8580702, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile.
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, 7510157, Providencia, Santiago, Chile.
- Centro Científico y Tecnológico de Excelencia Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Jiri Kucera
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 61137, Brno, Czech Republic.
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12
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Huang S, Li H, Ma L, Liu R, Li Y, Wang H, Lu X, Huang X, Wu X, Liu X. Insertion sequence contributes to the evolution and environmental adaptation of Acidithiobacillus. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:282. [PMID: 37231368 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09372-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genus Acidithiobacillus has been widely concerned due to its superior survival and oxidation ability in acid mine drainage (AMD). However, the contribution of insertion sequence (IS) to their biological evolution and environmental adaptation is very limited. ISs are the simplest kinds of mobile genetic elements (MGEs), capable of interrupting genes, operons, or regulating the expression of genes through transposition activity. ISs could be classified into different families with their own members, possessing different copies. RESULTS In this study, the distribution and evolution of ISs, as well as the functions of the genes around ISs in 36 Acidithiobacillus genomes, were analyzed. The results showed that 248 members belonging to 23 IS families with a total of 10,652 copies were identified within the target genomes. The IS families and copy numbers among each species were significantly different, indicating that the IS distribution of Acidithiobacillus were not even. A. ferrooxidans had 166 IS members, which may develop more gene transposition strategies compared with other Acidithiobacillus spp. What's more, A. thiooxidans harbored the most IS copies, suggesting that their ISs were the most active and more likely to transpose. The ISs clustered in the phylogenetic tree approximately according to the family, which were mostly different from the evolutionary trends of their host genomes. Thus, it was suggested that the recent activity of ISs of Acidithiobacillus was not only determined by their genetic characteristics, but related with the environmental pressure. In addition, many ISs especially Tn3 and IS110 families were inserted around the regions whose functions were As/Hg/Cu/Co/Zn/Cd translocation and sulfur oxidation, implying that ISs could improve the adaptive capacities of Acidithiobacillus to the extremely acidic environment by enhancing their resistance to heavy metals and utilization of sulfur. CONCLUSIONS This study provided the genomic evidence for the contribution of IS to evolution and adaptation of Acidithiobacillus, opening novel sights into the genome plasticity of those acidophiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Huang
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, 410083, Changsha, China
| | - Huiying Li
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, 410083, Changsha, China
| | - Liyuan Ma
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, China.
| | - Rui Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiran Li
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, 410083, Changsha, China
| | - Hongmei Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaolu Lu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinping Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinhong Wu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, 410083, Changsha, China
| | - Xueduan Liu
- School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, 410083, Changsha, China
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13
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Dopson M, González-Rosales C, Holmes DS, Mykytczuk N. Eurypsychrophilic acidophiles: From (meta)genomes to low-temperature biotechnologies. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1149903. [PMID: 37007468 PMCID: PMC10050440 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1149903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Low temperature and acidic environments encompass natural milieus such as acid rock drainage in Antarctica and anthropogenic sites including drained sulfidic sediments in Scandinavia. The microorganisms inhabiting these environments include polyextremophiles that are both extreme acidophiles (defined as having an optimum growth pH < 3), and eurypsychrophiles that grow at low temperatures down to approximately 4°C but have an optimum temperature for growth above 15°C. Eurypsychrophilic acidophiles have important roles in natural biogeochemical cycling on earth and potentially on other planetary bodies and moons along with biotechnological applications in, for instance, low-temperature metal dissolution from metal sulfides. Five low-temperature acidophiles are characterized, namely, Acidithiobacillus ferriphilus, Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, “Ferrovum myxofaciens,” and Alicyclobacillus disulfidooxidans, and their characteristics are reviewed. Our understanding of characterized and environmental eurypsychrophilic acidophiles has been accelerated by the application of “omics” techniques that have aided in revealing adaptations to low pH and temperature that can be synergistic, while other adaptations are potentially antagonistic. The lack of known acidophiles that exclusively grow below 15°C may be due to the antagonistic nature of adaptations in this polyextremophile. In conclusion, this review summarizes the knowledge of eurypsychrophilic acidophiles and places the information in evolutionary, environmental, biotechnological, and exobiology perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Dopson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Mark Dopson
| | - Carolina González-Rosales
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - David S. Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastian, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nadia Mykytczuk
- Goodman School of Mines, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada
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14
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Murali R, Hemp J, Gennis RB. Evolution of quinol oxidation within the heme‑copper oxidoreductase superfamily. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOENERGETICS 2022; 1863:148907. [PMID: 35944661 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2022.148907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The heme‑copper oxidoreductase (HCO) superfamily is a large superfamily of terminal respiratory enzymes that are widely distributed across the three domains of life. The superfamily includes biochemically diverse oxygen reductases and nitric oxide reductases that are pivotal in the pathways of aerobic respiration and denitrification. The adaptation of HCOs to use quinol as the electron donor instead of cytochrome c has significant implication for the respiratory flexibility and energetic efficiency of the respiratory chains that include them. In this work, we explore the adaptation of this scaffold to two different electron donors, cytochromes c and quinols, with extensive sequence analysis of these enzymes from publicly available datasets. Our work shows that quinol oxidation evolved independently within the HCO superfamily at least seven times. Enzymes from only two of these independently evolved clades have been biochemically well-characterized. Combining structural modeling with sequence analysis, we identify putative quinol binding sites in each of the novel quinol oxidases. Our analysis of experimental and modeling data suggests that the quinol binding site appears to have evolved at the same structural position within the scaffold more than once.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjani Murali
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91106, USA.
| | - James Hemp
- Metrodora Institute, West Valley City, UT, USA 84119.
| | - Robert B Gennis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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15
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Sand W, Schippers A, Hedrich S, Vera M. Progress in bioleaching: fundamentals and mechanisms of microbial metal sulfide oxidation - part A. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:6933-6952. [PMID: 36194263 PMCID: PMC9592645 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12168-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Bioleaching of metal sulfides is performed by diverse microorganisms. The dissolution of metal sulfides occurs via two chemical pathways, either the thiosulfate or the polysulfide pathway. These are determined by the metal sulfides’ mineralogy and their acid solubility. The microbial cell enables metal sulfide dissolution via oxidation of iron(II) ions and inorganic sulfur compounds. Thereby, the metal sulfide attacking agents iron(III) ions and protons are generated. Cells are active either in a planktonic state or attached to the mineral surface, forming biofilms. This review, as an update of the previous one (Vera et al., 2013a), summarizes some recent discoveries relevant to bioleaching microorganisms, contributing to a better understanding of their lifestyle. These comprise phylogeny, chemical pathways, surface science, biochemistry of iron and sulfur metabolism, anaerobic metabolism, cell–cell communication, molecular biology, and biofilm lifestyle. Recent advances from genetic engineering applied to bioleaching microorganisms will allow in the future to better understand important aspects of their physiology, as well as to open new possibilities for synthetic biology applications of leaching microbial consortia. Key points • Leaching of metal sulfides is strongly enhanced by microorganisms • Biofilm formation and extracellular polymer production influences bioleaching • Cell interactions in mixed bioleaching cultures are key for process optimization
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Sand
- Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany. .,Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Axel Schippers
- Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR), Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabrina Hedrich
- Institute of Biosciences, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | - Mario Vera
- Instituto de Ingeniería Biológica y Médica, Escuelas de Ingeniería, Medicina y Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. .,Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Escuela de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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16
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Simona C, Venturi S, Tassi F, Simona R, Cabassi J, Capecchiacci F, Bicocchi G, Vaselli O, Morrison HG, Sogin ML, Fazi S. Geochemical and microbiological profiles in hydrothermal extreme acidic environments (Pisciarelli Spring, Campi Flegrei, Italy). FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6650346. [PMID: 35883234 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac088] [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: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although terrestrial hydrothermal systems are considered among the most fascinating environments, how their unique and extreme conditions can affect microorganisms selection and the role in biogeochemical cycles has not yet been well elucidated. A combined geochemical and microbiological exploration in waters and sediments from ten sampling points along a sharp temperature gradient (15-90 °C) within an extremely acidic hydrothermal system (Pisciarelli Spring, Campi Flegrei area, southern Italy) displayed how hydrothermal fluids influence the microbial dynamics. This area was characterized by high levels of reduced gaseous species (e.g. H2S, H2, CH4, CO), and very low pH values (<2.3). Thermodynamic calculations revealed a high microbial catabolic potential in oxidation/reduction reactions of N-, S-, and Fe-bearing species. Overall, an increase of the archaeal/bacterial abundance ratio was observed by decreasing temperature and pH values. In particular, Archaea and Bacteria were present in almost equal cell abundance (up to 1.1 × 109 and 9.3 × 108 cell/g, respectively) in the <70 °C sampling points (average pH = 2.09); on the contrary, highest temperature waters (85-90 °C; average pH = 2.26) were characterized by low abundance of archaeal cells. The high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene indicated strong differences in archaeal and bacterial communities' composition along temperature gradient. However, the microbiome in this extreme environment was mainly constituted by chemoautotrophic microorganisms that were likely involved in N-, S-, and Fe-bearing species transformations (e.g. Acidianus infernus, Ferroplasma acidarmanus, Acidithiobacillus, Sulfobacillus, Thaumarchaeota), in agreement with thermodynamic calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crognale Simona
- IRSA - CNR Water Research Institute, Via Salaria km 29.300 - CP10, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome (Italy)
| | - Stefania Venturi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy).,IGG - CNR Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy)
| | - Franco Tassi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy).,IGG - CNR Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy)
| | - Rossetti Simona
- IRSA - CNR Water Research Institute, Via Salaria km 29.300 - CP10, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome (Italy)
| | - Jacopo Cabassi
- IGG - CNR Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy)
| | - Francesco Capecchiacci
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy).,IGG - CNR Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy).,Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione di Napoli, Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Diocleziano 328, 80125 Napoli, Italy
| | - Gabriele Bicocchi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy)
| | - Orlando Vaselli
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy).,IGG - CNR Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy)
| | | | | | - Stefano Fazi
- IRSA - CNR Water Research Institute, Via Salaria km 29.300 - CP10, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome (Italy)
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17
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Sharma V, Vashishtha A, Jos ALM, Khosla A, Basu N, Yadav R, Bhatt A, Gulani A, Singh P, Lakhera S, Verma M. Phylogenomics of the Phylum Proteobacteria: Resolving the Complex Relationships. Curr Microbiol 2022; 79:224. [PMID: 35704242 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-022-02910-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Proteobacteria is one of the largest and phenotypically most diverse divisions within the domain bacteria. Due to the economic importance, this phylum demands an urgent need for a clear and scientifically sound classification system to streamline their characterization. The goal of our study was to carefully reevaluate the current system of classification and suggest changes wherein necessary. Phylogenetic trees of 84 Proteobacteria were constructed using single gene-based phylogeny involving 16S rRNA genes and protein sequences of 85 conserved genes, whole genome-based phylogenetic tree using CVtree3.0, amino acid Identity matrix tree, and concatenated tree with aforementioned conserved genes. The results of our study confirm the polyphyletic relationship between Desulfurella acetivorans, a Deltaproteobacteria with Epsilonproteobacteria. The group Syntrophobacterales was found to be polyphyletic with respect to Desulfarculus baarsii and the group Thiotrichales was found to be splitting in different phylogenetic trees. Placement of phylogenetic groups belonging to Rhodocyclales, Oceonospirilalles, and Chromatiales is controversial and requires further study and revisions. Based on our analysis, we strongly support reclassification of Magnetococcales as a separate class Etaproteobacteria. From our results, we conclude that concatenated trees of conserved proteins are a more accurate method for phylogenetic analysis, as compared to other methods used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaibhav Sharma
- Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Amit Vashishtha
- Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Arsha Liz M Jos
- Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Akshita Khosla
- Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Nirmegh Basu
- Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Rishabh Yadav
- Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Amit Bhatt
- Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Akshanshi Gulani
- Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Pushpa Singh
- Swami Shraddhanand College, University of Delhi, Alipur, New Delhi, Delhi, 110036, India
| | - Sanidhya Lakhera
- Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Mansi Verma
- Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India. .,Department of Zoology, Sri Venkateswara College, South Campus, University of Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India.
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18
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Kremser K, Maltschnig M, Schön H, Jandric A, Gajdosik M, Vaculovic T, Kucera J, Guebitz GM. Optimized biogenic sulfuric acid production and application in the treatment of waste incineration residues. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2022; 144:182-190. [PMID: 35378357 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2022.03.025] [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: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The biological leaching of metals from different waste streams by bacteria is intensively investigated to address metal recycling and circular economy goals. However, usually external addition of sulfuric acid is required to maintain the low pH optimum of the bacteria to ensure efficient leaching. Extremely acidophilic Acidithiobacillus spp. producing sulfuric acid and ferric iron have been investigated for several decades in the bioleaching of metal-containing ores. Their application has now been extended to the extraction of metals from artificial ores and other secondary sources. In this study, an optimized process for producing biogenic sulfuric acid from elemental sulfur by two sulfur-oxidizing species, A. thiooxidans and A. caldus and their combinations, was investigated in batch and stirred tank experiments. Using a combined culture of both species, 1.05 M and 1.4 M biogenic sulfuric acid was produced at 30 °C and 6% elemental sulfur in batch and semi continuous modes, respectively. The acid produced was then used to control the pH in a heap bioleaching system in which iron- and sulfur-oxidizing A. ferrooxidans was applied to biologically leach metals from waste incineration residuals. Metals like Cu, Ni, Al, Mn, and Zn were successfully recovered by 99, 93, 84, 77 and 68%, respectively within three weeks of heap bioleaching. Overall, a potential value recovery of incorporated metals >70% could be achieved. This highlights the potential and novelty of applying extremely acidophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria for cheap and efficient production of biogenic sulfuric acid and its use in pH control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klemens Kremser
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna BOKU, Dept. of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, Inst. of Environmental Biotechnology, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
| | - Melanie Maltschnig
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna BOKU, Dept. of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, Inst. of Environmental Biotechnology, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Herta Schön
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna BOKU, Dept. of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, Inst. of Environmental Biotechnology, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Aleksander Jandric
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna BOKU, Department of Water-Atmosphere-Environment, Institute of Waste Management, Muthgasse 107, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Gajdosik
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomas Vaculovic
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Kucera
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Georg M Guebitz
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna BOKU, Dept. of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, Inst. of Environmental Biotechnology, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 20, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria
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19
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Johnson A, Högfors-Rönnholm E, Engblom S, Österholm P, Åström M, Dopson M. Dredging and deposition of metal sulfide rich river sediments results in rapid conversion to acid sulfate soil materials. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 813:151864. [PMID: 34822903 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sediments along the Baltic Sea coast can contain considerable amounts of metal sulfides that if dredged and the spoils deposited such that they are exposed to air, can release high concentrations of acid and toxic metals into recipient water bodies. Two river estuaries in western Finland were dredged from 2013 to 2018 and the dredge spoils were deposited on land previously covered with agricultural limestone to buffer the pH and mitigate acid and metal release. In this study, the geochemistry and 16S rRNA gene amplicon based bacterial communities were investigated over time to explore whether the application of lime prevented a conversion of the dredge spoils into acid producing and metal releasing soil. The pH of the dredge spoils decreased with time indicating metal sulfide oxidation and resulted in elevated sulfate concentrations along with a concomitant release of metals. However, calculations indicated only approximately 5% of the added lime had been dissolved. The bacterial communities decreased in diversity with the lowering of the pH as taxa most similar to extremely acidophilic sulfur, and in some cases iron, oxidizing Acidithiobacillus species became the dominant characterized genus in the deposited dredge spoils as the oxidation front moved deeper. In addition, other taxa characterized as involved in oxidation of iron or sulfur were identified including Gallionella, Sulfuricurvum, and Sulfurimonas. These data suggest there was a rapid conversion of the dredge spoils to severely acidic soil similar to actual acid sulfate soil and that the lime placed on the land prior to deposition of the spoils, and later ploughed into the dry dredge spoils, was insufficient to halt this process. Hence, future dredging and deposition of dredge spoils containing metal sulfides should not only take into account the amount of lime used for buffering but also its grain size and mixing into the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Johnson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, SE-39231 Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Eva Högfors-Rönnholm
- Research and Development, Novia University of Applied Sciences, FI-65200 Vaasa, Finland.
| | - Sten Engblom
- Research and Development, Novia University of Applied Sciences, FI-65200 Vaasa, Finland.
| | - Peter Österholm
- Department of Geology and Mineralogy, Åbo Akademi University, FI-20500 Turku, Finland.
| | - Mats Åström
- Biology and Environmental Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-39231 Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Mark Dopson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, SE-39231 Kalmar, Sweden.
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20
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Bioleaching and Selective Precipitation for Metal Recovery from Basic Oxygen Furnace Slag. Processes (Basel) 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/pr10030576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Decreasing ore grades and an increasing consumption of metals has led to a shortage of important primary raw materials. Therefore, the urban mining of different deposits and anthropogenic stocks is of increasing interest. Basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag is produced in huge quantities with the so-called Linz-Donawitz process and contains up to 5.2, 0.9, 0.1, and 0.07% of Mn, Al, Cr, and V, respectively. In the present study, sulfur-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and iron- and sulfur-oxidizing Acidithiobacillus ferridurans were applied in batch and stirred tank experiments to investigate the biological extraction of metals from BOF slag. In the batch experiments, up to 96.6, 52.8, 41.6, and 29.3% of Cr, Al, Mn, and V, respectively, were recovered. The stirred tank experiments, with increasing slag concentrations from 10 to 75 g/L, resulted in higher extraction efficiencies for A. ferridurans and lower acid consumption. Selective metal precipitation was performed at pH values ranging between 2.5 and 5.0 to study the recovery of Mn, Al, Cr, and V from the biolixiviant. Selective precipitation of V and Cr was achieved at pH 4.0 from A. thiooxidans biolixiviant, while Fe and V could be selectively recovered from A. ferridurans biolixiviant at pH 3.0. This work revealed the potential of BOF slag as an artificial ore for urban mining and demonstrated that combining bioleaching and selective precipitation is an effective method for sustainable metal recovery.
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21
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González-Rosales C, Vergara E, Dopson M, Valdés JH, Holmes DS. Integrative Genomics Sheds Light on Evolutionary Forces Shaping the Acidithiobacillia Class Acidophilic Lifestyle. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:822229. [PMID: 35242113 PMCID: PMC8886135 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.822229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Extreme acidophiles thrive in environments rich in protons (pH values <3) and often high levels of dissolved heavy metals. They are distributed across the three domains of the Tree of Life including members of the Proteobacteria. The Acidithiobacillia class is formed by the neutrophilic genus Thermithiobacillus along with the extremely acidophilic genera Fervidacidithiobacillus, Igneacidithiobacillus, Ambacidithiobacillus, and Acidithiobacillus. Phylogenomic reconstruction revealed a division in the Acidithiobacillia class correlating with the different pH optima that suggested that the acidophilic genera evolved from an ancestral neutrophile within the Acidithiobacillia. Genes and mechanisms denominated as "first line of defense" were key to explaining the Acidithiobacillia acidophilic lifestyle including preventing proton influx that allows the cell to maintain a near-neutral cytoplasmic pH and differ from the neutrophilic Acidithiobacillia ancestors that lacked these systems. Additional differences between the neutrophilic and acidophilic Acidithiobacillia included the higher number of gene copies in the acidophilic genera coding for "second line of defense" systems that neutralize and/or expel protons from cell. Gain of genes such as hopanoid biosynthesis involved in membrane stabilization at low pH and the functional redundancy for generating an internal positive membrane potential revealed the transition from neutrophilic properties to a new acidophilic lifestyle by shaping the Acidithiobacillaceae genomic structure. The presence of a pool of accessory genes with functional redundancy provides the opportunity to "hedge bet" in rapidly changing acidic environments. Although a core of mechanisms for acid resistance was inherited vertically from an inferred neutrophilic ancestor, the majority of mechanisms, especially those potentially involved in resistance to extremely low pH, were obtained from other extreme acidophiles by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina González-Rosales
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eva Vergara
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mark Dopson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Jorge H Valdés
- Center for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - David S Holmes
- Center for Bioinformatics and Genome Biology, Centro Ciencia & Vida, Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
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22
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Santos AL, Dybowska A, Schofield PF, Herrington RJ, Cibin G, Johnson DB. Chromium (VI) Inhibition of Low pH Bioleaching of Limonitic Nickel-Cobalt Ore. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:802991. [PMID: 35087502 PMCID: PMC8787160 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.802991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Limonitic layers of the regolith, which are often stockpiled as waste materials at laterite mines, commonly contain significant concentrations of valuable base metals, such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese. There is currently considerable demand for these transition metals, and this is projected to continue to increase (alongside their commodity values) during the next few decades, due in the most part to their use in battery and renewable technologies. Limonite bioprocessing is an emerging technology that often uses acidophilic prokaryotes to catalyse the oxidation of zero-valent sulphur coupled to the reduction of Fe (III) and Mn (IV) minerals, resulting in the release of target metals. Chromium-bearing minerals, such as chromite, where the metal is present as Cr (III), are widespread in laterite deposits. However, there are also reports that the more oxidised and more biotoxic form of this metal [Cr (VI)] may be present in some limonites, formed by the oxidation of Cr (III) by manganese (IV) oxides. Bioleaching experiments carried out in laboratory-scale reactors using limonites from a laterite mine in New Caledonia found that solid densities of ∼10% w/v resulted in complete inhibition of iron reduction by acidophiles, which is a critical reaction in the reductive dissolution process. Further investigations found this to be due to the release of Cr (VI) in the acidic liquors. X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy analysis of the limonites used found that between 3.1 and 8.0% of the total chromium in the three limonite samples used in experiments was present in the raw materials as Cr (VI). Microbial inhibition due to Cr (VI) could be eliminated either by adding limonite incrementally or by the addition of ferrous iron, which reduces Cr (VI) to less toxic Cr (III), resulting in rates of extraction of cobalt (the main target metal in the experiments) of >90%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Laura Santos
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - D Barrie Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom.,Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
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23
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Jung H, Inaba Y, Banta S. Genetic engineering of the acidophilic chemolithoautotroph Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:677-692. [PMID: 34794837 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
There are several natural and anthropomorphic environments where iron- and/or sulfur-oxidizing bacteria thrive in extremely acidic conditions. These acidophilic chemolithautotrophs play important roles in biogeochemical iron and sulfur cycles, are critical catalysts for industrial metal bioleaching operations, and have underexplored potential in future biotechnological applications. However, their unique growth conditions complicate the development of genetic techniques. Over the past few decades genetic tools have been successfully developed for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, which serves as a model organism that exhibits both iron- and sulfur-oxidizing capabilities. Conjugal transfer of plasmids has enabled gene overexpression, gene knockouts, and some preliminary metabolic engineering. We highlight the development of genetic systems and recent genetic engineering of A. ferrooxidans, and discuss future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejung Jung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Yuta Inaba
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA.
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24
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Moya-Beltrán A, Makarova KS, Acuña LG, Wolf YI, Covarrubias PC, Shmakov SA, Silva C, Tolstoy I, Johnson DB, Koonin EV, Quatrini R. Evolution of Type IV CRISPR-Cas Systems: Insights from CRISPR Loci in Integrative Conjugative Elements of Acidithiobacillia. CRISPR J 2021; 4:656-672. [PMID: 34582696 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2021.0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Type IV CRISPR-Cas are a distinct variety of highly derived CRISPR-Cas systems that appear to have evolved from type III systems through the loss of the target-cleaving nuclease and partial deterioration of the large subunit of the effector complex. All known type IV CRISPR-Cas systems are encoded on plasmids, integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs), or prophages, and are thought to contribute to competition between these elements, although the mechanistic details of their function remain unknown. There is a clear parallel between the compositions and likely origin of type IV and type I systems recruited by Tn7-like transposons and mediating RNA-guided transposition. We investigated the diversity and evolutionary relationships of type IV systems, with a focus on those in Acidithiobacillia, where this variety of CRISPR is particularly abundant and always found on ICEs. Our analysis revealed remarkable evolutionary plasticity of type IV CRISPR-Cas systems, with adaptation and ancillary genes originating from different ancestral CRISPR-Cas varieties, and extensive gene shuffling within the type IV loci. The adaptation module and the CRISPR array apparently were lost in the type IV ancestor but were subsequently recaptured by type IV systems on several independent occasions. We demonstrate a high level of heterogeneity among the repeats with type IV CRISPR arrays, which far exceed the heterogeneity of any other known CRISPR repeats and suggest a unique adaptation mechanism. The spacers in the type IV arrays, for which protospacers could be identified, match plasmid genes, in particular those encoding the conjugation apparatus components. Both the biochemical mechanism of type IV CRISPR-Cas function and their role in the competition among mobile genetic elements remain to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Moya-Beltrán
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile.,ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Kira S Makarova
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lillian G Acuña
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Yuri I Wolf
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paulo C Covarrubias
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sergey A Shmakov
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cristian Silva
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Igor Tolstoy
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - D Barrie Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile.,Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom; and Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile.,ANID-Millennium Science Initiative Program, Millennium Nucleus in the Biology of the Intestinal Microbiota, Santiago, Chile; Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile.,Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
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25
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Li M, Wen J. Recent progress in the application of omics technologies in the study of bio-mining microorganisms from extreme environments. Microb Cell Fact 2021; 20:178. [PMID: 34496835 PMCID: PMC8425152 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-021-01671-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Bio-mining microorganisms are a key factor affecting the metal recovery rate of bio-leaching, which inevitably produces an extremely acidic environment. As a powerful tool for exploring the adaptive mechanisms of microorganisms in extreme environments, omics technologies can greatly aid our understanding of bio-mining microorganisms and their communities on the gene, mRNA, and protein levels. These omics technologies have their own advantages in exploring microbial diversity, adaptive evolution, changes in metabolic characteristics, and resistance mechanisms of single strains or their communities to extreme environments. These technologies can also be used to discover potential new genes, enzymes, metabolites, metabolic pathways, and species. In addition, integrated multi-omics analysis can link information at different biomolecular levels, thereby obtaining more accurate and complete global adaptation mechanisms of bio-mining microorganisms. This review introduces the current status and future trends in the application of omics technologies in the study of bio-mining microorganisms and their communities in extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Li
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Frontier Science Center of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianping Wen
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China. .,Frontier Science Center of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
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