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Peter EK, Jaeger C, Lisec J, Peters RS, Mourot R, Rossel PE, Tranter M, Anesio AM, Benning LG. Endometabolic profiling of pigmented glacier ice algae: the impact of sample processing. Metabolomics 2024; 20:98. [PMID: 39123092 PMCID: PMC11315761 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-024-02147-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Glacier ice algae, mainly Ancylonema alaskanum and Ancylonema nordenskiöldi, bloom on Greenland Ice Sheet bare ice surfaces. They significantly decrease surface albedo due to their purple-brown pigmentation, thus increasing melt. Little is known about their metabolic adaptation and factors controlling algal growth dynamics and pigment formation. A challenge in obtaining such data is the necessity of melting samples, which delays preservation and introduces bias to metabolomic analysis. There is a need to evaluate the physiological response of algae to melting and establish consistent sample processing strategies for metabolomics of ice microbial communities. OBJECTIVES To address the impact of sample melting procedure on metabolic characterization and establish a processing and analytical workflow for endometabolic profiling of glacier ice algae. METHODS We employed untargeted, high-resolution mass spectrometry and tested the effect of sample melt temperature (10, 15, 20 °C) and processing delay (up to 49 h) on the metabolome and lipidome, and complemented this approach with cell counts (FlowCam), photophysiological analysis (PAM) and diversity characterization. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION We putatively identified 804 metabolites, with glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids and fatty acyls being the most prominent superclasses (> 50% of identified metabolites). Among the polar metabolome, carbohydrates and amino acid-derivatives were the most abundant. We show that 8% of the metabolome is affected by melt duration, with a pronounced decrease in betaine membrane lipids and pigment precursors, and an increase in phospholipids. Controlled fast melting at 10 °C resulted in the highest consistency, and is our recommendation for future supraglacial metabolomics studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa K Peter
- German Research Centre for Geosciences - GFZ, 14473, Potsdam, Germany.
- Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Carsten Jaeger
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Lisec
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), 12489, Berlin, Germany
| | - R Sven Peters
- German Research Centre for Geosciences - GFZ, 14473, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Rey Mourot
- German Research Centre for Geosciences - GFZ, 14473, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pamela E Rossel
- German Research Centre for Geosciences - GFZ, 14473, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Martyn Tranter
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Liane G Benning
- German Research Centre for Geosciences - GFZ, 14473, Potsdam, Germany.
- Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 12249, Berlin, Germany.
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2
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Beard DB, Baccolo G, Clason CC, Millward GE, Łokas E, Di Stefano E, Rangecroft S, Sala D, Wachniew P, Blake WH. Accumulation of Environmental Radioactivity on the Surface of a High Arctic Ice Cap (Flade Isblink, NE Greenland). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39105719 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Under climatic warming, glaciers are becoming a secondary source of atmospheric contaminants originally released into the environment decades ago. This phenomenon has been well-documented for glaciers near emission sources. However, less is known about polar ice sheets and ice caps. Radionuclides are one of the contaminants that can be remobilised through ice melting and accumulate in cryoconite material on the surface of glaciers. To understand the cycling of radionuclides in polar glacial contexts, we evaluate the radioactivity of cryoconite samples from Flade Isblink, a High Arctic ice cap in northeast Greenland. The measured radioactivity is among the highest reported across the High Arctic and the highest from Greenland. The high variability observed among the samples is explained by considering the different macroscopic features of single cryoconite deposits. The radioactivity source is compatible with the stratospheric reservoir established during atmospheric nuclear tests and with weapons-grade fissile fuel, likely originating from Novaya Zemlya proving grounds. This study shows that the ability of cryoconite to accumulate radioactivity in remote areas is undisputed, highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of the remobilisation of radioactive species in polar glacial contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan B Beard
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K
| | - Giovanni Baccolo
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
- Oeschger Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | | | - Geoffrey E Millward
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K
| | - Edyta Łokas
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków 31342, Poland
| | - Elena Di Stefano
- Physics Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano 20126, Italy
| | | | - Dariusz Sala
- Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków 31342, Poland
| | - Przemysław Wachniew
- Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Krakow, Kraków 30059, Poland
| | - William H Blake
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K
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Gladkov GV, Kimeklis AK, Tembotov RK, Ivanov MN, Andronov EE, Abakumov EV. Linking the composition of cryoconite prokaryotic communities in the Arctic, Antarctic, and Central Caucasus with their chemical characteristics. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15838. [PMID: 38982048 PMCID: PMC11233692 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64452-3] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryoconites are the deposits on the surface of glaciers that create specific ecological niches for the development of microorganism communities. The sediment material can vary in origin, structure, and nutrient content, creating local variations in the growth conditions. An additional factor of variability is the location of the glaciers, as they are found in different climatic zones in the high mountain regions and closer to the poles. Here, using the analysis of amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, we studied the taxonomic composition of the prokaryotic communities from glaciers from remote regions, including the Arctic (Mushketova on the Severnaya Zemlya, IGAN in Polar Ural), Antarctic (Pimpirev on the Livingstone Island) and Central Caucasus (Skhelda and Garabashi) and connected it with the variation of the physicochemical characteristics of the substrate: pH, carbon, nitrogen, macro- and microelements. The cryoconite microbiomes were comprised of specific for this environment phyla (mostly Pseudomonadota, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, Acidobacteriota, and Actinobacteriota), but each glacier had a unique taxonomic imprint. The core microbiome between regions was composed of only a few ASVs, among which the most likely globally distributed ones attributed to Polaromonas sp., Rhodoferax sp., Cryobacterium sp., and Hymenobacter frigidus. The WGSNA defined clusters of co-occurring ASVs between microbiomes, that significantly change their abundance corresponding with the variation of chemical parameters of cryoconites, but do not fully coincide with their regional separation. Thus, our work demonstrates that the chemical characteristics of the sediment material can explain the variation in the cryoconite prokaryotic community which is not always linked to geographic isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grigory V Gladkov
- Department of Applied Ecology, St. Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, 199034
- Laboratory of Microbiological Monitoring and Bioremediation of Soils, All-Russian Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Pushkin, Russia, 196608
| | - Anastasiia K Kimeklis
- Department of Applied Ecology, St. Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, 199034
- Laboratory of Microbiological Monitoring and Bioremediation of Soils, All-Russian Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Pushkin, Russia, 196608
| | - Rustam Kh Tembotov
- Department of Applied Ecology, St. Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, 199034
- Tembotov Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nalchik, Russia, 360051
| | - Mikhail N Ivanov
- Department of Cryolithology and Glaciology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, Russia, 119991
| | - Evgeny E Andronov
- Laboratory of Microbiological Monitoring and Bioremediation of Soils, All-Russian Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Pushkin, Russia, 196608
- V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, Moscow, Russia, 119017
| | - Evgeny V Abakumov
- Department of Applied Ecology, St. Petersburg State University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, 199034.
- Laboratory of Microbiological Monitoring and Bioremediation of Soils, All-Russian Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology, Pushkin, Russia, 196608.
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Hassan S, Mushtaq M, Ganiee SA, Zaman M, Yaseen A, Shah AJ, Ganai BA. Microbial oases in the ice: A state-of-the-art review on cryoconite holes as diversity hotspots and their scientific connotations. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118963. [PMID: 38640991 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Cryoconite holes, small meltwater pools on the surface of glaciers and ice sheets, represent extremely cold ecosystems teeming with diverse microbial life. Cryoconite holes exhibit greater susceptibility to the impacts of climate change, underlining the imperative nature of investigating microbial communities as an essential module of polar and alpine ecosystem monitoring efforts. Microbes in cryoconite holes play a critical role in nutrient cycling and can produce bioactive compounds, holding promise for industrial and pharmaceutical innovation. Understanding microbial diversity in these delicate ecosystems is essential for effective conservation strategies. Therefore, this review discusses the microbial diversity in these extreme environments, aiming to unveil the complexity of their microbial communities. The current study envisages that cryoconite holes as distinctive ecosystems encompass a multitude of taxonomically diverse and functionally adaptable microorganisms that exhibit a rich microbial diversity and possess intricate ecological functions. By investigating microbial diversity and ecological functions of cryoconite holes, this study aims to contribute valuable insights into the broader field of environmental microbiology and enhance further understanding of these ecosystems. This review seeks to provide a holistic overview regarding the formation, evolution, characterization, and molecular adaptations of cryoconite holes. Furthermore, future research directions and challenges underlining the need for long-term monitoring, and ethical considerations in preserving these pristine environments are also provided. Addressing these challenges and resolutely pursuing future research directions promises to enrich our comprehension of microbial diversity within cryoconite holes, revealing the broader ecological and biogeochemical implications. The inferences derived from the present study will provide researchers, ecologists, and policymakers with a profound understanding of the significance and utility of cryoconite holes in unveiling the microbial diversity and its potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahnawaz Hassan
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India.
| | - Misba Mushtaq
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Shahid Ahmad Ganiee
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Muzafar Zaman
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Aarif Yaseen
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Abdul Jalil Shah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Bashir Ahmad Ganai
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India.
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Sharavin DY, Belyaeva PG. Biotechnological potential of psychrotolerant methylobacteria isolated from biotopes of Antarctic oases. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:323. [PMID: 38907777 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04056-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Ten strains of psychrotolerant methylotrophic bacteria were isolated from the samples collected in Larsemann and Bunger Hills (Antarctica). Most of the isolates are assigned to the genus Pseudomonas, representatives of the genera Janthinobacterium, Massilia, Methylotenera and Flavobacterium were also found. Majority of isolates were able to grow on a wide range of sugars, methylamines and other substrates. Optimal growth temperatures for the isolated strains varied from 6 °C to 28 °C. The optimal concentration of NaCl was 0.5-2.0%. The optimal pH values of the medium were 6-7. It was found that three strains synthesized indole-3-acetic acid on a medium with L-tryptophan reaching 11-12 μg/ml. The values of intracellular carbohydrates in several strains exceeded 50 μg/ml. Presence of calcium-dependent and lanthanum-dependent methanol dehydrogenase have been shown for some isolates. Strains xBan7, xBan20, xBan37, xBan49, xPrg27, xPrg48, xPrg51 showed the presence of free amino acids. Bioprospection of Earth cryosphere for such microorganisms has a potential in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Yuryevich Sharavin
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms (IEGM), 13, Golev st., Perm, 614081, Russia.
| | - Polina Gennadievna Belyaeva
- Laboratory of Cellular Immunology and Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms (IEGM), 13, Golev st., Perm, 614081, Russia
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6
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Sanyal A, Antony R, Samui G, Thamban M. Autotrophy to Heterotrophy: Shift in Bacterial Functions During the Melt Season in Antarctic Cryoconite Holes. J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s12275-024-00140-1. [PMID: 38814540 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-024-00140-1] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Microbes residing in cryoconite holes (debris, water, and nutrient-rich ecosystems) on the glacier surface actively participate in carbon and nutrient cycling. Not much is known about how these communities and their functions change during the summer melt-season when intense ablation and runoff alter the influx and outflux of nutrients and microbes. Here, we use high-throughput-amplicon sequencing, predictive metabolic tools and Phenotype MicroArray techniques to track changes in bacterial communities and functions in cryoconite holes in a coastal Antarctic site and the surrounding fjord, during the summer season. The bacterial diversity in cryoconite hole meltwater was predominantly composed of heterotrophs (Proteobacteria) throughout the season. The associated functional potentials were related to heterotrophic-assimilatory and -dissimilatory pathways. Autotrophic Cyanobacterial lineages dominated the debris community at the beginning and end of summer, while heterotrophic Bacteroidota- and Proteobacteria-related phyla increased during the peak melt period. Predictive functional analyses based on taxonomy show a shift from predominantly phototrophy-related functions to heterotrophic assimilatory pathways as the melt-season progressed. This shift from autotrophic to heterotrophic communities within cryoconite holes can affect carbon drawdown and nutrient liberation from the glacier surface during the summer. In addition, the flushing out and export of cryoconite hole communities to the fjord could influence the biogeochemical dynamics of the fjord ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aritri Sanyal
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Goa, 403804, India.
- School of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Goa University, Goa, 403206, India.
| | - Runa Antony
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Goa, 403804, India
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, 14473, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Gautami Samui
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Goa, 403804, India
- Department of Environmental Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411007, India
| | - Meloth Thamban
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Goa, 403804, India
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7
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Ali A, Vishnivetskaya TA, Chauhan A. Comparative analysis of prokaryotic microbiomes in high-altitude active layer soils: insights from Ladakh and global analogues using In-Silico approaches. Braz J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s42770-024-01365-3. [PMID: 38758507 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01365-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The active layer is the portion of soil overlaying the permafrost that freezes and thaws seasonally. It is a harsh habitat in which a varied and vigorous microbial population thrives. The high-altitude active layer soil in northern India is a unique and important cryo-ecosystem. However, its microbiology remains largely unexplored. It represents a unique reservoir for microbial communities with adaptability to harsh environmental conditions. In the Changthang region of Ladakh, the Tsokar area is a high-altitude permafrost-affected area situated in the southern part of Ladakh, at a height of 4530 m above sea level. Results of the comparison study with the QTP, Himalayan, Alaskan, Russian, Canadian and Polar active layers showed that the alpha diversity was significantly higher in the Ladakh and QTP active layers as the environmental condition of both the sites were similar. Moreover, the sampling site in the Ladakh region was in a thawing condition at the time of sampling which possibly provided nutrients and access to alternative nitrogen and carbon sources to the microorganisms thriving in it. Analysis of the samples suggested that the geochemical parameters and environmental conditions shape the microbial alpha diversity and community composition. Further analysis revealed that the cold-adapted methanogens were present in the Ladakh, Himalayan, Polar and Alaskan samples and absent in QTP, Russian and Canadian active layer samples. These methanogens could produce methane at slow rates in the active layer soils that could increase the atmospheric temperature owing to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Ali
- Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Sector 14, 160014, Chandigarh, India
| | | | - Archana Chauhan
- Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Sector 14, 160014, Chandigarh, India.
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8
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Zhang T, Zhang D, Lyu Z, Zhang J, Wu X, Yu Y. Effects of extreme precipitation on bacterial communities and bioaerosol composition: Dispersion in urban outdoor environments and health risks. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123406. [PMID: 38244904 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123406] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Concerns about contaminants dispersed by seasonal precipitation have grown due to their potential hazards to outdoor environments and human health. However, studies on the crucial environmental factors influencing dispersion changes in bacterial communities are limited. This research adopted four-season in situ monitoring and sequencing techniques to examine the regional distribution profiles of bioaerosols, bacterial communities, and risks associated with extreme snowfall versus rainfall events in two monsoon cities. In the early-hours of winter snowfall, airborne cultivable bioaerosol concentrations were 4.1 times higher than the reference exposure limit (500 CFU/m3). The concentration of ambient particles (2.5 μm) exceeded 24,910 particles/L (97 μg/m3), positively correlating with the prevalence of cultivable bioaerosols. These bioaerosols contained cultivable bacterial species such as pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. Bioaerosol concentrations increased by 53.0% during 50-mm snow extremes. Taxonomic analysis revealed that Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, and Veillonella were the most abundant bacterial taxa in the initial snowmelt samples during winter precipitation. However, their abundance decreased by 87.6% as snowing continued (24 h). Reduced water base cation concentration also led to a 1.15-fold increase in the Shannon index, indicating a similar yet heightened bacterial diversity. Seasonally, Pedobacter and Massilia showed higher relative abundance (25% and 18%, respectively), presenting increased bacterial transmission to the soil. Furthermore, Pseudomonas was identified in 60% of spring snowstorm samples, suggesting long-distance dispersal of pathogenic bacteria. When these atmospheric aerosol particles carrying biological entities (0.65-1.1 μm) penetrated human alveoli, the calculated hazard ratio was 0.55, which as observed in inhalation exposures. Consequently, this study underscores the risk of seasonal precipitation-enhanced ambient bacterial transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhang
- College of Civil Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, 123000, China
| | - Dingqiang Zhang
- College of Civil Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, 123000, China
| | - Zhonghang Lyu
- College of Civil Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, 123000, China
| | - Jitao Zhang
- College of Civil Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, 123000, China
| | - Xian Wu
- College of Civil Engineering, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin, 123000, China
| | - Yingxin Yu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory of City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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9
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Kachiprath B, Solomon S, Gopi J, Jayachandran PR, Thajudeen J, Sarasan M, Mohan AS, Puthumana J, Chaithanya ER, Philip R. Exploring bacterial diversity in Arctic fjord sediments: a 16S rRNA-based metabarcoding portrait. Braz J Microbiol 2024; 55:499-513. [PMID: 38175355 PMCID: PMC10920534 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-023-01217-6] [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: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The frosty polar environment houses diverse habitats mostly driven by psychrophilic and psychrotolerant microbes. Along with traditional cultivation methods, next-generation sequencing technologies have become common for exploring microbial communities from various extreme environments. Investigations on glaciers, ice sheets, ponds, lakes, etc. have revealed the existence of numerous microorganisms while details of microbial communities in the Arctic fjords remain incomplete. The current study focuses on understanding the bacterial diversity in two Arctic fjord sediments employing the 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding and its comparison with previous studies from various Arctic habitats. The study revealed that Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum from both the fjord samples followed by Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi and Chlamydiae. A significant proportion of unclassified reads derived from bacteria was also detected. Psychrobacter, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Photobacterium, Flavobacterium, Gramella and Shewanella were the major genera in both the fjord sediments. The above findings were confirmed by the comparative analysis of fjord metadata with the previously reported (secondary metadata) Arctic samples. This study demonstrated the potential of 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding in resolving bacterial composition and diversity thereby providing new in situ insights into Arctic fjord systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavya Kachiprath
- Dept. of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, 682016, India
| | - Solly Solomon
- Dept. of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, 682016, India
- Fishery Survey of India, Cochin Zonal Base, Kochangadi Road, Kochi, Kerala, 682005, India
| | - Jayanath Gopi
- Applied Research Center for Environment and Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - P R Jayachandran
- Applied Research Center for Environment and Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, 31261, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Jabir Thajudeen
- National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Government of India), Headland Sada, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, 403804, India
| | - Manomi Sarasan
- National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, 682016, India
| | - Anjali S Mohan
- Dept. of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, 682016, India
| | - Jayesh Puthumana
- National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, 682016, India
| | - E R Chaithanya
- Dept. of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, 682016, India
| | - Rosamma Philip
- Dept. of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, 682016, India.
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Mukhia S, Kumar A, Kumar R. Bacterial community distribution and functional potentials provide key insights into their role in the ecosystem functioning of a retreating Eastern Himalayan glacier. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae012. [PMID: 38305149 PMCID: PMC10876117 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae012] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Himalayan glaciers are receding at an exceptional rate, perturbing the local biome and ecosystem processes. Understanding the microbial ecology of an exclusively microbe-driven biome provides insights into their contributions to the ecosystem functioning through biogeochemical fluxes. Here, we investigated the bacterial communities and their functional potential in the retreating East Rathong Glacier (ERG) of Sikkim Himalaya. Amplicon-based taxonomic classification revealed the dominance of the phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and candidate Patescibacteria in the glacial sites. Further, eight good-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of Proteobacteria, Patescibacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Choloflexota retrieved from the metagenomes elucidated the microbial contributions to nutrient cycling. The ERG MAGs showed aerobic respiration as a primary metabolic feature, accompanied by carbon fixation and complex carbon degradation potentials. Pathways for nitrogen metabolism, chiefly dissimilatory nitrate reduction and denitrification, and a complete sulphur oxidation enzyme complex for sulphur metabolism were identified in the MAGs. We observed that DNA repair and oxidative stress response genes complemented with osmotic and periplasmic stress and protein chaperones were vital for adaptation against the intense radiation and stress conditions of the extreme Himalayan niche. Current findings elucidate the microbiome and associated functional potentials of a vulnerable glacier, emphasizing their significant ecological roles in a changing glacial ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srijana Mukhia
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 06, Palampur 176061, Himachal Pradesh, India
- Department of Microbiology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, Punjab, India
| | - Anil Kumar
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 06, Palampur 176061, Himachal Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Rakshak Kumar
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 06, Palampur 176061, Himachal Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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11
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Ren Z, Gao H. Antibiotic resistance genes in integrated surface ice, cryoconite, and glacier-fed stream in a mountain glacier in Central Asia. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 184:108482. [PMID: 38324929 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Glacier ice, cryoconite, and glacier-fed streams are interconnected features that have important implications for the dynamics and distribution of abiotic and biotic materials. However, the presence and behavior of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within these glacial environments remained largely unexplored. Addressing this gap, we hypothesized that ARGs are widely distributed and exhibit distinct yet interconnected patterns of diversity and dynamics in these glacial environments. Here, we investigated ARGs in a mountain glacier in Central Asia. A total of 944 ARGs, spanning 22 antibiotic classes, were identified, with 633 ARGs shared across all three environments. Cryoconite exhibited the highest ARG richness, followed by ice, while stream biofilm displayed the lowest value. Exploring ARG profiles, we observed a consistent pattern in terms of antibiotic class and resistance mechanism across all three environments. Beta-lactam resistance genes exhibited the highest diversity, followed by multidrug, glycopeptide, and MLS. The predominant mechanisms were antibiotic inactivation, antibiotic efflux, and target alteration. The most prevalent ARG is cls, followed by mdfA, ropB, fabI, and macB. The similarity in ARG profiles between surface ice and cryoconite samples was more pronounced than their resemblance to stream biofilm samples. The variations of ARG profiles between any pair of environments were largely contributed by turnover component. Further insights into microbial interactions revealed 2328 significant associations between 80 OTUs and 356 ARGs, indicating complex relationships. Certain OTUs, including those from the genera Polaromonas, Ferruginibacter, Hymenobacter, Phormidesmis, Novosphingobium, and Polymorphobacter, were speculated as potential hosts for a variety of ARGs. Our findings underscore the intricate dynamics of antibiotic resistance in glacial ecosystems, emphasizing the need for a holistic understanding of ARG distribution, diversity, and associations across diverse environmental compartments. This research contributes valuable insights into the potential ecological implications of antibiotic resistance dissemination in cold environments, particularly as influenced by increasing climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Hongkai Gao
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
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12
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Doting EL, Jensen MB, Peter EK, Ellegaard-Jensen L, Tranter M, Benning LG, Hansen M, Anesio AM. The exometabolome of microbial communities inhabiting bare ice surfaces on the southern Greenland Ice Sheet. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16574. [PMID: 38263628 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Microbial blooms colonize the Greenland Ice Sheet bare ice surface during the ablation season and significantly reduce its albedo. On the ice surface, microbes are exposed to high levels of irradiance, freeze-thaw cycles, and low nutrient concentrations. It is well known that microorganisms secrete metabolites to maintain homeostasis, communicate with other microorganisms, and defend themselves. Yet, the exometabolome of supraglacial microbial blooms, dominated by the pigmented glacier ice algae Ancylonema alaskanum and Ancylonema nordenskiöldii, remains thus far unstudied. Here, we use a high-resolution mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics workflow to identify metabolites in the exometabolome of microbial blooms on the surface of the southern tip of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Samples were collected every 6 h across two diurnal cycles at 5 replicate sampling sites with high similarity in community composition, in terms of orders and phyla present. Time of sampling explained 46% (permutational multivariate analysis of variance [PERMANOVA], pseudo-F = 3.7771, p = 0.001) and 27% (PERMANOVA, pseudo-F = 1.8705, p = 0.001) of variance in the exometabolome across the two diurnal cycles. Annotated metabolites included riboflavin, lumichrome, tryptophan, and azelaic acid, all of which have demonstrated roles in microbe-microbe interactions in other ecosystems and should be tested for potential roles in the development of microbial blooms on bare ice surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva L Doting
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marie B Jensen
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Elisa K Peter
- Interface Geochemistry Section, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lea Ellegaard-Jensen
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Martyn Tranter
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Liane G Benning
- Interface Geochemistry Section, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Hansen
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
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13
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Jaarsma AH, Zervas A, Sipes K, Campuzano Jiménez F, Smith AC, Svendsen LV, Thøgersen MS, Stougaard P, Benning LG, Tranter M, Anesio AM. The undiscovered biosynthetic potential of the Greenland Ice Sheet microbiome. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1285791. [PMID: 38149278 PMCID: PMC10749974 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1285791] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The Greenland Ice Sheet is a biome which is mainly microbially driven. Several different niches can be found within the glacial biome for those microbes able to withstand the harsh conditions, e.g., low temperatures, low nutrient conditions, high UV radiation in summer, and contrasting long and dark winters. Eukaryotic algae can form blooms during the summer on the ice surface, interacting with communities of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Cryoconite holes and snow are also habitats with their own microbial community. Nevertheless, the microbiome of supraglacial habitats remains poorly studied, leading to a lack of representative genomes from these environments. Under-investigated extremophiles, like those living on the Greenland Ice Sheet, may provide an untapped reservoir of chemical diversity that is yet to be discovered. In this study, an inventory of the biosynthetic potential of these organisms is made, through cataloging the presence of biosynthetic gene clusters in their genomes. There were 133 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and 28 whole genomes of bacteria obtained from samples of the ice sheet surface, cryoconite, biofilm, and snow using culturing-dependent and -independent approaches. AntiSMASH and BiG-SCAPE were used to mine these genomes and subsequently analyze the resulting predicted gene clusters. Extensive sets of predicted Biosynthetic Gene Clusters (BGCs) were collected from the genome collection, with limited overlap between isolates and MAGs. Additionally, little overlap was found in the biosynthetic potential among different environments, suggesting specialization of organisms in specific habitats. The median number of BGCs per genome was significantly higher for the isolates compared to the MAGs. The most talented producers were found among Proteobacteria. We found evidence for the capacity of these microbes to produce antimicrobials, carotenoid pigments, siderophores, and osmoprotectants, indicating potential survival mechanisms to cope with extreme conditions. The majority of identified BGCs, including those in the most prevalent gene cluster families, have unknown functions, presenting a substantial potential for bioprospecting. This study underscores the diverse biosynthetic potential in Greenland Ice Sheet genomes, revealing insights into survival strategies and highlighting the need for further exploration and characterization of these untapped resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ate H. Jaarsma
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Athanasios Zervas
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Katie Sipes
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | - Peter Stougaard
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Liane G. Benning
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martyn Tranter
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
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Schuler CG, Winebrenner DP, Elam WT, Burnett J, Boles BW, Mikucki JA. Microbial Transport by a Descending Ice Melting Probe: Implications for Subglacial and Ocean World Exploration. ASTROBIOLOGY 2023; 23:1153-1164. [PMID: 37279037 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ocean Worlds beneath thick ice covers in our solar system, as well as subglacial lakes on Earth, may harbor biological systems. In both cases, thick ice covers (>100 s of meters) present significant barriers to access. Melt probes are emerging as tools for reaching and sampling these realms due to their small logistical footprint, ability to transport payloads, and ease of cleaning in the field. On Earth, glaciers are immured with various abundances of microorganisms and debris. The potential for bioloads to accumulate around and be dragged by a probe during descent has not previously been investigated. Due to the pristine nature of these environments, minimizing and understanding the risk of forward contamination and considering the potential of melt probes to act as instrument-induced special regions are essential. In this study, we examined the effect that two engineering descent strategies for melt probes have on the dragging of bioloads. We also tested the ability of a field cleaning protocol to rid a common contaminant, Bacillus. These tests were conducted in a synthetic ice block immured with bioloads using the Ice Diver melt probe. Our data suggest minimal dragging of bioloads by melt probes, but conclude that modifications for further minimization and use in special regions should be made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb G Schuler
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Dale P Winebrenner
- Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - W Timothy Elam
- Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Justin Burnett
- Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Bruce W Boles
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jill A Mikucki
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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15
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Liu Y, Jiao N, Xu Zhong K, Zang L, Zhang R, Xiao X, Shi Y, Zhang Z, Tao Y, Bai L, Gao B, Yang Y, Huang X, Ji M, Liu J, Liu P, Yao T. Diversity and function of mountain and polar supraglacial DNA viruses. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2023; 68:2418-2433. [PMID: 37739838 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.09.007] [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: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Mountain and polar glaciers cover 10% of the Earth's surface and are typically extreme environments that challenge life of all forms. Viruses are abundant and active in supraglacial ecosystems and play a crucial role in controlling the supraglacial microbial communities. However, our understanding of virus ecology on glacier surfaces and their potential impacts on downstream ecosystems remains limited. Here, we present the supraglacial virus genome (SgVG) catalog, a 15-fold expanded genomic inventory of 10,840 DNA-virus species from 38 mountain and polar glaciers, spanning habitats such as snow, ice, meltwater, and cryoconite. Supraglacial DNA-viruses were highly specific compared to viruses in other ecosystems yet exhibited low public health risks. Supraglacial viral communities were primarily constrained by habitat, with cryoconite displaying the highest viral activity levels. We observed a prevalence of lytic viruses in all habitats, especially in cryoconite, but a high level of lysogenic viruses in snow and ice. Additionally, we found that supraglacial viruses could be linked to ∼83% of obtained prokaryotic phyla/classes and possessed the genetic potential to promote metabolism and increase cold adaptation, cell mobility, and phenolic carbon use of hosts in hostile environmental conditions using diverse auxiliary metabolic genes. Our results provide the first systematic characterization of the diversity, function, and public health risks evaluation of mountain and polar supraglacial DNA viruses. This understanding of glacial viruses is crucial for function assessments and ecological modeling of glacier ecosystems, especially for the Tibetan Plateau's Mountain glaciers, which support ∼20% of the human populations on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqin Liu
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Nianzhi Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Kevin Xu Zhong
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Lin Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Xiang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yi Shi
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Zhihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Ye Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Liping Bai
- Key Laboratory of Development and Application of Rural Renewable Energy, Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bianli Gao
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yunlan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xingyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Mukan Ji
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Junzhi Liu
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Tandong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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16
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Zhang C, Ren Z. The role of subsurface ice in sustaining bacteria in continental and maritime glaciers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165324. [PMID: 37414181 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
In supraglacial environments, surface and subsurface ices are two distinct and connected microhabitats in terms of physicochemical and biological aspects. At the frontline of climate change, glaciers lose tremendous ice masses to downstream ecosystems, serving as crucial sources of both biotic and abiotic materials. In this study, we studied the disparities and relationships of microbial communities between surface and subsurface ices collected from a maritime and a continental glacier during summer. The results showed that surface ices had significantly higher nutrients and were more physiochemically different than subsurface ices. Despite lower nutrients, subsurface ices had higher alpha-diversity with more unique and enriched operational taxonomic units (OTUs) than surface ices, indicating the potential role of subsurface as a bacterial refuge. Sorensen dissimilarity between bacterial communities in surface ices and subsurface ices was mainly contributed by the turnover component, suggesting strong species replacement from surface to subsurface ices due to large environmental gradients. For different glaciers, the maritime glacier had significantly higher alpha-diversity than the continental glacier. The difference between surface and subsurface communities was more pronounced in the maritime glacier than in the continental glacier. The network analysis revealed that surface-enriched and subsurface-enriched OTUs formed independent modules, with surface-enriched OTUs having closer interconnections and greater importance in the network of the maritime glacier. This study highlights the important role of subsurface ice as a bacterial refuge and enriches our knowledge of microbial properties in glaciers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhang
- School of Engineering Technology, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China; Instrumentation and Service Center for Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Ze Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
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17
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Zhang Z, Liu Y, Zhao W, Ji M. Radiation impacts gene redundancy and biofilm regulation of cryoconite microbiomes in Northern Hemisphere glaciers. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:228. [PMID: 37848997 PMCID: PMC10583317 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01621-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glaciers harbor diverse microorganisms adapted to extreme conditions with high radiation, fluctuating temperature, and low nutrient availability. In glacial ecosystems, cryoconite granules are hotspots of microbial metabolic activity and could influences the biogeochemical cycle on glacier surface. Climate change could influence glacier dynamics by changing regional meteorological factors (e.g., radiation, precipitation, temperature, wind, and evaporation). Moreover, meteorological factors not only influence glacier dynamics but also directly or indirectly influence cryoconite microbiomes. However, the relationship of the meteorological factors and cryoconite microbiome are poorly understood. RESULTS Here, we collected 88 metagenomes from 26 glaciers distributed in the Northern Hemisphere with corresponding public meteorological data to reveal the relationship between meteorological factors and variation of cryoconite microbiome. Our results showed significant differences in taxonomic and genomic characteristics between cryoconite generalists and specialists. Additionally, we found that the biogeography of both generalists and specialists was influenced by solar radiation. Specialists with smaller genome size and lower gene redundancy were more abundant under high radiation stress, implying that streamlined genomes are more adapted to high radiation conditions. Network analysis revealed that biofilm regulation is a ubiquitous function in response to radiation stress, and hub genes were associated with the formation and dispersion of biofilms. CONCLUSION These findings enhance our understanding of glacier cryoconite microbiome variation on a hemispheric scale and indicate the response mechanisms to radiation stress, which will support forecasts of the ecological consequences of future climate change. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yongqin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Center for Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Weishu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- SJTU Yazhou Bay Institute of Deepsea Sci-Tech, Yongyou Industrial Park, Sanya, 572024, China
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Mukan Ji
- Center for Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
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18
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Jaarsma AH, Sipes K, Zervas A, Jiménez FC, Ellegaard-Jensen L, Thøgersen MS, Stougaard P, Benning LG, Tranter M, Anesio AM. Exploring microbial diversity in Greenland Ice Sheet supraglacial habitats through culturing-dependent and -independent approaches. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad119. [PMID: 37791411 PMCID: PMC10580271 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbiome of Greenland Ice Sheet supraglacial habitats is still underinvestigated, and as a result there is a lack of representative genomes from these environments. In this study, we investigated the supraglacial microbiome through a combination of culturing-dependent and -independent approaches. We explored ice, cryoconite, biofilm, and snow biodiversity to answer: (1) how microbial diversity differs between supraglacial habitats, (2) if obtained bacterial genomes reflect dominant community members, and (3) how culturing versus high throughput sequencing changes our observations of microbial diversity in supraglacial habitats. Genomes acquired through metagenomic sequencing (133 high-quality MAGs) and whole genome sequencing (73 bacterial isolates) were compared to the metagenome assemblies to investigate abundance within the total environmental DNA. Isolates obtained in this study were not dominant taxa in the habitat they were sampled from, in contrast to the obtained MAGs. We demonstrate here the advantages of using metagenome SSU rRNA genes to reflect whole-community diversity. Additionally, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept of the application of in situ culturing in a supraglacial setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ate H Jaarsma
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Katie Sipes
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Athanasios Zervas
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Lea Ellegaard-Jensen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Mariane S Thøgersen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Peter Stougaard
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Liane G Benning
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Malteserstr. 74-100, 12249 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martyn Tranter
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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19
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Malard LA, Bergk-Pinto B, Layton R, Vogel TM, Larose C, Pearce DA. Snow Microorganisms Colonise Arctic Soils Following Snow Melt. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:1661-1675. [PMID: 36939866 PMCID: PMC10497451 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02204-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Arctic soils are constantly subjected to microbial invasion from either airborne, marine, or animal sources, which may impact local microbial communities and ecosystem functioning. However, in winter, Arctic soils are isolated from outside sources other than snow, which is the sole source of microorganisms. Successful colonisation of soil by snow microorganisms depends on the ability to survive and compete of both, the invading and resident community. Using shallow shotgun metagenome sequencing and amplicon sequencing, this study monitored snow and soil microbial communities throughout snow melt to investigate the colonisation process of Arctic soils. Microbial colonisation likely occurred as all the characteristics of successful colonisation were observed. The colonising microorganisms originating from the snow were already adapted to the local environmental conditions and were subsequently subjected to many similar conditions in the Arctic soil. Furthermore, competition-related genes (e.g. motility and virulence) increased in snow samples as the snow melted. Overall, one hundred potentially successful colonisers were identified in the soil and, thus, demonstrated the deposition and growth of snow microorganisms in soils during melt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie A Malard
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Benoit Bergk-Pinto
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- BioIT, TAG (Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics) Sciensano, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rose Layton
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Timothy M Vogel
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, École Centrale de Lyon, CNRS, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - David A Pearce
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK.
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Abstract
Hypersaline waters and glacial ice are inhospitable environments that have low water activity and high concentrations of osmolytes. They are inhabited by diverse microbial communities, of which extremotolerant and extremophilic fungi are essential components. Some fungi are specialized in only one of these two environments and can thrive in conditions that are lethal to most other life-forms. Others are generalists, highly adaptable species that occur in both environments and tolerate a wide range of extremes. Both groups efficiently balance cellular osmotic pressure and ion concentration, stabilize cell membranes, remodel cell walls, and neutralize intracellular oxidative stress. Some species use unusual reproductive strategies. Further investigation of these adaptations with new methods and carefully designed experiments under ecologically relevant conditions will help predict the role of fungi in hypersaline and glacial environments affected by climate change, decipher their stress resistance mechanisms and exploit their biotechnological potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cene Gostinčar
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia; ,
| | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia; ,
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21
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Joosten ED, Hamelin J, Milferstedt K. Initial type and abundance of cyanobacteria determine morphotype development of phototrophic ecosystems. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad099. [PMID: 37653452 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad099] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Phototrophic aggregates containing filamentous cyanobacteria occur naturally, for example, as cryoconite on glaciers and microbialites in fresh or marine waters, but their formation is not fully understood. Laboratory models are now available to reproduce aggregation, that is, the formation of different morphotypes like hemispheroids, microbial mats or sphere-like aggregates we call photogranules. In the model, activated sludge as starting matrix is transformed into aggregates enclosed by a phototrophic layer of growing cyanobacteria. These cyanobacteria were either enriched from the matrix or we added them intentionally. We hypothesize that the resulting morphotype depends on the type and concentration of the added cyanobacteria. When cyanobacteria from mature photogranules were added to activated sludge, photogranulation was not observed, but microbial mats were formed. Photogranulation of sludge could be promoted when adding sufficient quantities of cyanobacterial strains that form clumps when grown as isolates. The cyanobacteria putatively responsible for photogranulation were undetectable or only present in low abundance in the final communities of photogranules, which were always dominated by mat-forming cyanobacteria. We suggest that, in a temporal succession, the ecosystem engineer initiating photogranulation eventually disappears, leaving behind its structural legacy. We conclude that understanding phototrophic aggregate formation requires considering the initial succession stages of the ecosystem development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jérôme Hamelin
- INRAE, Univ Montpellier, LBE, 102 Avenue des Etangs, 11100, Narbonne, France
| | - Kim Milferstedt
- INRAE, Univ Montpellier, LBE, 102 Avenue des Etangs, 11100, Narbonne, France
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22
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Broadwell ELM, Pickford RE, Perkins RG, Sgouridis F, Williamson CJ. Adaptation versus plastic responses to temperature, light, and nitrate availability in cultured snow algal strains. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad088. [PMID: 37553143 PMCID: PMC10481995 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad088] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Snow algal blooms are widespread, dominating low temperature, high light, and oligotrophic melting snowpacks. Here, we assessed the photophysiological and cellular stoichiometric responses of snow algal genera Chloromonas spp. and Microglena spp. in their vegetative life stage isolated from the Arctic and Antarctic to gradients in temperature (5 - 15°C), nitrate availability (1 - 10 µmol L-1), and light (50 and 500 µmol photons m-2 s-1). When grown under gradients in temperature, measured snow algal strains displayed Fv/Fm values increased by ∼115% and electron transport rates decreased by ∼50% at 5°C compared to 10 and 15°C, demonstrating how low temperatures can mimic high light impacts to photophysiology. When using carrying capacity as opposed to growth rate as a metric for determining the temperature optima, these snow algal strains can be defined as psychrophilic, with carrying capacities ∼90% higher at 5°C than warmer temperatures. All strains approached Redfield C:N stoichiometry when cultured under nutrient replete conditions regardless of temperature (5.7 ± 0.4 across all strains), whereas significant increases in C:N were apparent when strains were cultured under nitrate concentrations that reflected in situ conditions (17.8 ± 5.9). Intra-specific responses in photophysiology were apparent under high light with Chloromonas spp. more capable of acclimating to higher light intensities. These findings suggest that in situ conditions are not optimal for the studied snow algal strains, but they are able to dynamically adjust both their photochemistry and stoichiometry to acclimate to these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L M Broadwell
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel E Pickford
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, United Kingdom
| | - Rupert G Perkins
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, United Kingdom
| | - Fotis Sgouridis
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J Williamson
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, United Kingdom
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23
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Michoud G, Kohler TJ, Ezzat L, Peter H, Nattabi JK, Nalwanga R, Pramateftaki P, Styllas M, Tolosano M, De Staercke V, Schön M, Marasco R, Daffonchio D, Bourquin M, Busi SB, Battin TJ. The dark side of the moon: first insights into the microbiome structure and function of one of the last glacier-fed streams in Africa. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230329. [PMID: 37564072 PMCID: PMC10410210 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
The glaciers on Africa's 'Mountains of the Moon' (Rwenzori National Park, Uganda) are predicted to disappear within the next decades owing to climate change. Consequently, the glacier-fed streams (GFSs) that drain them will vanish, along with their resident microbial communities. Despite the relevance of microbial communities for performing ecosystem processes in equatorial GFSs, their ecology remains understudied. Here, we show that the benthic microbiome from the Mt. Stanley GFS is distinct at several levels from other GFSs. Specifically, several novel taxa were present, and usually common groups such as Chrysophytes and Polaromonas exhibited lower relative abundances compared to higher-latitude GFSs, while cyanobacteria and diatoms were more abundant. The rich primary producer community in this GFS likely results from the greater environmental stability of the Afrotropics, and accordingly, heterotrophic processes dominated in the bacterial community. Metagenomics revealed that almost all prokaryotes in the Mt. Stanley GFS are capable of organic carbon oxidation, while greater than 80% have the potential for fermentation and acetate oxidation. Our findings suggest a close coupling between photoautotrophs and other microbes in this GFS, and provide a glimpse into the future for high-latitude GFSs globally where primary production is projected to increase with ongoing glacier shrinkage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grégoire Michoud
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tyler J. Kohler
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Leïla Ezzat
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Peter
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Juliet Kigongo Nattabi
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences (ZEFs), College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Rosemary Nalwanga
- Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences (ZEFs), College of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Paraskevi Pramateftaki
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michail Styllas
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Tolosano
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent De Staercke
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martina Schön
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ramona Marasco
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Daniele Daffonchio
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Massimo Bourquin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Susheel Bhanu Busi
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Tom J. Battin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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24
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Qin Y, Wang N, Zheng L, Li Q, Wang L, Xu X, Yin X. Study of Archaeal Diversity in the Arctic Meltwater Lake Region. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1023. [PMID: 37508452 PMCID: PMC10376139 DOI: 10.3390/biology12071023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Two typical lakes formed from meltwater in the Ny-Ålesund area were taken as the study subjects in 2018. To investigate the archaeal community compositions of the two lakes, 16S rRNA genes from soil samples from the intertidal and subtidal zones of the two lakes were sequenced with high throughput. At the phylum level, the intertidal zone was dominated by Crenarchaeota and the subtidal zone was dominated by Halobacter; at the genus level, the intertidal zone was dominated by Nitrososphaeraceae_unclassified and Candidatus_Nitrocosmicus, while the subtidal zone was dominated by Methanoregula. The soil physicochemical factors pH, moisture content (MC), total organic carbon (TOC), total organic nitrogen (TON), nitrite nitrogen (NO2--N), and nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) were significantly different in the intertidal and subtidal zones of the lake. By redundancy analysis, the results indicated that NH4+-N, SiO32--Si, MC, NO3--N, and NO2--N have had highly significant effects on the archaeal diversity and distribution. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to search for hub archaea associated with physicochemical factors. The results suggested that these physicochemical factors play important roles in the diversity and structure of the archaeal community at different sites by altering the abundance of certain hub archaea. In addition, Woesearchaeales was found to be the hub archaea genus at every site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiling Qin
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Nengfei Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Li Zheng
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Qinxin Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Long Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Marine Sciences and Biological Engineering, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Xiaoyu Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China
| | - Xiaofei Yin
- First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
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25
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Cowan DA, Cary SC, DiRuggiero J, Eckardt F, Ferrari B, Hopkins DW, Lebre PH, Maggs-Kölling G, Pointing SB, Ramond JB, Tribbia D, Warren-Rhodes K. 'Follow the Water': Microbial Water Acquisition in Desert Soils. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1670. [PMID: 37512843 PMCID: PMC10386458 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071670] [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: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Water availability is the dominant driver of microbial community structure and function in desert soils. However, these habitats typically only receive very infrequent large-scale water inputs (e.g., from precipitation and/or run-off). In light of recent studies, the paradigm that desert soil microorganisms are largely dormant under xeric conditions is questionable. Gene expression profiling of microbial communities in desert soils suggests that many microbial taxa retain some metabolic functionality, even under severely xeric conditions. It, therefore, follows that other, less obvious sources of water may sustain the microbial cellular and community functionality in desert soil niches. Such sources include a range of precipitation and condensation processes, including rainfall, snow, dew, fog, and nocturnal distillation, all of which may vary quantitatively depending on the location and geomorphological characteristics of the desert ecosystem. Other more obscure sources of bioavailable water may include groundwater-derived water vapour, hydrated minerals, and metabolic hydro-genesis. Here, we explore the possible sources of bioavailable water in the context of microbial survival and function in xeric desert soils. With global climate change projected to have profound effects on both hot and cold deserts, we also explore the potential impacts of climate-induced changes in water availability on soil microbiomes in these extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don A Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - S Craig Cary
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3216, New Zealand
| | - Jocelyne DiRuggiero
- Departments of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Departments of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Frank Eckardt
- Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa
| | - Belinda Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - David W Hopkins
- Scotland's Rural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG, UK
| | - Pedro H Lebre
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | | | - Stephen B Pointing
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Jean-Baptiste Ramond
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
- Departamento Genética Molecular y Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
| | - Dana Tribbia
- School of Biotechnology and Biological Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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26
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Hamilton TL, Havig JR. Addition of dissolved inorganic carbon stimulates snow algae primary productivity on glacially eroded carbonate bedrock in the Medicine Bow Mountains, WY, USA. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad056. [PMID: 37222475 PMCID: PMC10289208 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad056] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Snow is a critical component of the Earth system. High-elevation snow can persist into the spring, summer, and early fall and hosts a diverse array of life, including snow algae. Due in part to the presence of pigments, snow algae lower albedo and accelerate snow melt, which has led to increasing interest in identifying and quantifying the environmental factors that constrain their distribution. Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentration is low in supraglacial snow on Cascade stratovolcanoes, and snow algae primary productivity can be stimulated through DIC addition. Here we asked if inorganic carbon would be a limiting nutrient for snow hosted on glacially eroded carbonate bedrock, which could provide an additional source of DIC. We assayed snow algae communities for nutrient and DIC limitation on two seasonal snowfields on glacially eroded carbonate bedrock in the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming, United States. DIC stimulated snow algae primary productivity in snow with lower DIC concentration despite the presence of carbonate bedrock. Our results support the hypothesis that increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations may lead to larger and more robust snow algae blooms globally, even for sites with carbonate bedrock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trinity L Hamilton
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
- The Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Jeff R Havig
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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27
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Yamada R, Han SR, Park H, Oh TJ. Complete Genome Analysis of Subtercola sp. PAMC28395: Genomic Insights into Its Potential Role for Cold Adaptation and Biotechnological Applications. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1480. [PMID: 37374983 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061480] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study reports the complete genome sequence of Subtercola sp. PAMC28395, a strain isolated from cryoconite in Uganda. This strain possesses several active carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) genes involved in glycogen and trehalose metabolism. Additionally, two specific genes associated with α-galactosidase (GH36) and bacterial alpha-1,2-mannosidase (GH92) were identified in this strain. The presence of these genes indicates the likelihood that they can be expressed, enabling the strain to break down specific polysaccharides derived from plants or the shells of nearby crabs. The authors performed a comparative analysis of CAZyme patterns and biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in several Subtercola strains and provided annotations describing the unique characteristics of these strains. The comparative analysis of BGCs revealed that four strains, including PAMC28395, have oligosaccharide BGCs, and we confirmed that the pentose phosphate pathway was configured perfectly in the genome of PAMC28395, which may be associated with adaptation to low temperatures. Additionally, all strains contained antibiotic resistance genes, indicating a complex self-resistance system. These results suggest that PAMC28395 can adapt quickly to the cold environment and produce energy autonomously. This study provides valuable information on novel functional enzymes, particularly CAZymes, that operate at low temperatures and can be used for biotechnological applications and fundamental research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoichi Yamada
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, SunMoon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
- Bio Big Data-Based Chungnam Smart Clean Research Leader Training Program, SunMoon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
| | - So-Ra Han
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, SunMoon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
- Bio Big Data-Based Chungnam Smart Clean Research Leader Training Program, SunMoon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
- Genome-Based BioIT Convergence Institute, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Park
- Division of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Jin Oh
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, SunMoon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
- Bio Big Data-Based Chungnam Smart Clean Research Leader Training Program, SunMoon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
- Genome-Based BioIT Convergence Institute, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Biotechnology, SunMoon University, Asan 31460, Republic of Korea
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28
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Varliero G, Lebre PH, Frey B, Fountain AG, Anesio AM, Cowan DA. Glacial Water: A Dynamic Microbial Medium. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1153. [PMID: 37317127 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities and nutrient dynamics in glaciers and ice sheets continuously change as the hydrological conditions within and on the ice change. Glaciers and ice sheets can be considered bioreactors as microbiomes transform nutrients that enter these icy systems and alter the meltwater chemistry. Global warming is increasing meltwater discharge, affecting nutrient and cell export, and altering proglacial systems. In this review, we integrate the current understanding of glacial hydrology, microbial activity, and nutrient and carbon dynamics to highlight their interdependence and variability on daily and seasonal time scales, as well as their impact on proglacial environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Varliero
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Pedro H Lebre
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Beat Frey
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Andrew G Fountain
- Departments of Geology and Geography, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97212, USA
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Don A Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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29
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Bradley JA, Trivedi CB, Winkel M, Mourot R, Lutz S, Larose C, Keuschnig C, Doting E, Halbach L, Zervas A, Anesio AM, Benning LG. Active and dormant microorganisms on glacier surfaces. GEOBIOLOGY 2023; 21:244-261. [PMID: 36450703 PMCID: PMC10099831 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Glacier and ice sheet surfaces host diverse communities of microorganisms whose activity (or inactivity) influences biogeochemical cycles and ice melting. Supraglacial microbes endure various environmental extremes including resource scarcity, frequent temperature fluctuations above and below the freezing point of water, and high UV irradiance during summer followed by months of total darkness during winter. One strategy that enables microbial life to persist through environmental extremes is dormancy, which despite being prevalent among microbial communities in natural settings, has not been directly measured and quantified in glacier surface ecosystems. Here, we use a combination of metabarcoding and metatranscriptomic analyses, as well as cell-specific activity (BONCAT) incubations to assess the diversity and activity of microbial communities from glacial surfaces in Iceland and Greenland. We also present a new ecological model for glacier microorganisms and simulate physiological state-changes in the glacial microbial community under idealized (i) freezing, (ii) thawing, and (iii) freeze-thaw conditions. We show that a high proportion (>50%) of bacterial cells are translationally active in-situ on snow and ice surfaces, with Actinomycetota, Pseudomonadota, and Planctomycetota dominating the total and active community compositions, and that glacier microorganisms, even when frozen, could resume translational activity within 24 h after thawing. Our data suggest that glacial microorganisms respond rapidly to dynamic and changing conditions typical of their natural environment. We deduce that the biology and biogeochemistry of glacier surfaces are shaped by processes occurring over short (i.e., daily) timescales, and thus are susceptible to change following the expected alterations to the melt-regime of glaciers driven by climate change. A better understanding of the activity of microorganisms on glacier surfaces is critical in addressing the growing concern of climate change in Polar regions, as well as for their use as analogues to life in potentially habitable icy worlds.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A. Bradley
- Queen Mary University of LondonLondonUK
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesBerlinGermany
| | | | - Matthias Winkel
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesBerlinGermany
- Bundesanstalt für Risikobewertung (BfR)BerlinGermany
| | - Rey Mourot
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesBerlinGermany
- Freie University BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Stefanie Lutz
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesBerlinGermany
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial GenomicsUniversité de LyonEcully CedexFrance
| | | | - Eva Doting
- Environmental ScienceAarhus UniversityRoskildeDenmark
| | - Laura Halbach
- Environmental ScienceAarhus UniversityRoskildeDenmark
| | | | | | - Liane G. Benning
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesBerlinGermany
- Freie University BerlinBerlinGermany
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30
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Nawaz S, Rafiq M, Pepper IL, Betancourt WQ, Shah AA, Hasan F. Prevalence and abundance of antibiotic-resistant genes in culturable bacteria inhabiting a non-polar passu glacier, karakorum mountains range, Pakistan. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 39:94. [PMID: 36754876 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03532-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Natural pristine environments including cold habitats are thought to be the potent reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant genes and have been recurrently reported in polar glaciers' native bacteria, nevertheless, their abundance among the non-polar glaciers' inhabitant bacteria is mostly uncharted. Herein we evaluated antibiotic resistance profile, abundance of antibiotic-resistant genes plus class 1, 2, and 3 integron integrases in 65 culturable bacterial isolates retrieved from a non-polar glacier. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis identified predominantly Gram-negative 43 (66.15%) and Gram-positive 22 (33.84%) isolates. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, Gammaproteobacteria were dominant (62.79%), followed by Betaproteobacteria (18.60%) and Alphaproteobacteria (9.30%), whereas Phyla Actinobacteria (50%) and Firmicutes (40.90%) were predominant among Gram-positive. The Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method evaluated significant antibiotic resistance among the isolates. PCR amplification revealed phylum Proteobacteria predominantly carrying 21 disparate antibiotic-resistant genes like; blaAmpC 6 (100%), blaVIM-1, blaSHV and blaDHA 5 (100%) each, blaOXA-1 1 (100%), blaCMY-4 4 (100%), followed by Actinobacteria 14, Firmicutes 13 and Bacteroidetes 11. Tested isolates were negative for blaKPC, qnrA, vanA, ermA, ermB, intl2, and intl3. Predominant Gram-negative isolates had higher MAR index values, compared to Gram-positive. Alignment of protein homology sequences of antibiotic-resistant genes with references revealed amino acid variations in blaNDM-1, blaOXA-1, blaSHV, mecA, aac(6)-Ib3, tetA, tetB, sul2, qnrB, gyrA, and intI1. Promising antibiotic-resistant bacteria, harbored with numerous antibiotic-resistant genes and class 1 integron integrase with some amino acid variations detected, accentuating the mandatory focus to evaluate the intricate transcriptome analysis of glaciated bacteria conferring antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabir Nawaz
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Microbiology, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan.
| | - Ian L Pepper
- Water & Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center, University of Arizona, 2959 W. Calle Agua Nueva, 85745, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Walter Q Betancourt
- Water & Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center, University of Arizona, 2959 W. Calle Agua Nueva, 85745, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Aamer Ali Shah
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Fariha Hasan
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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31
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Liu Q, Yang LL, Xin YH. Diversity of the genus Cryobacterium and proposal of 19 novel species isolated from glaciers. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1115168. [PMID: 37020720 PMCID: PMC10067761 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1115168] [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: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial genus Cryobacterium includes at present 14 species that live in cryospheric environments. In this study, we analyzed 101 genomes of Cryobacterium with pure cultures obtained from GenBank. They could be classified into 44 species based on average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis, showing the diversity of Cryobacterium. Among these, 19 strains in our laboratory were isolated from the glacier samples in China. The pairwise ANI values of these 19 strains and known species were <95%, indicating that they represented 19 novel species. The comparative genomic analysis showed significant differences in gene content between the two groups with a maximum growth temperature (T max) of ≤ 20°C and a T max of >20°C. A comprehensive and robust phylogenetic tree, including 14 known species and 19 novel species, was constructed and showed five phylogenetic branches based on 265 concatenated single-copy gene sequences. The T max parameter had a strong phylogenetic signal, indicating that the temperature adaptation of Cryobacterium was largely through vertical transfer rather than horizontal gene transfer and was affected by selection. Furthermore, using polyphasic taxonomy combined with phylogenomic analysis, we proposed 19 novel species of the genus Cryobacterium by the following 19 names: Cryobacterium serini sp. nov., Cryobacterium lactosi sp. nov., Cryobacterium gelidum sp. nov., Cryobacterium suzukii sp. nov., Cryobacterium fucosi sp. nov., Cryobacterium frigoriphilum sp. nov., Cryobacterium cryoconiti sp. nov., Cryobacterium lyxosi sp. nov., Cryobacterium sinapicolor sp. nov., Cryobacterium sandaracinum sp. nov., Cryobacterium cheniae sp. nov., Cryobacterium shii sp. nov., Cryobacterium glucosi sp. nov., Cryobacterium algoritolerans sp. nov., Cryobacterium mannosilyticum sp. nov., Cryobacterium adonitolivorans sp. nov., Cryobacterium algoricola sp. nov., Cryobacterium tagatosivorans sp. nov., and Cryobacterium glaciale sp. nov. Overall, the taxonomy and genomic analysis can improve our knowledge of phenotypic diversity, genetic diversity, and evolutionary characteristics of Cryobacterium.
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Paudel L, Ghimire N, Han SR, Park H, Jung SH, Oh TJ. Complete genome of Nakamurella sp. PAMC28650: genomic insights into its environmental adaptation and biotechnological potential. Funct Integr Genomics 2022; 23:18. [PMID: 36564681 PMCID: PMC9789016 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-022-00937-6] [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: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the survival of bacteria in low temperature and high radiation are not yet fully understood. Nakamurella sp. PAMC28650 was isolated from a glacier of Rwenzori Mountain, Uganda, which species belonged to Nakamurella genus based on 16S rRNA phylogeny, ANI (average nucleotide identity), and BLAST Ring Image Generator (BRIG) analysis among Frankineae suborder. We conducted the whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics of Nakamurella sp. PAMC28650, to understand the genomic features pertaining to survival in cold environment, along with high UV (ultraviolet) radiation. This study highlights the role of polysaccharide in cold adaptation, mining of the UV protection-related secondary metabolites and other related to cold adaptation mechanism through different bioinformatics tools, and providing a brief overview of the genes present in DNA repair systems. Nakamurella sp. PAMC28650 contained glycogen and cellulose metabolism pathways, mycosporine-like amino acids and isorenieratene-synthesizing gene cluster, and a number of DNA repair systems. Also, the genome analysis showed osmoregulation-related genes and cold shock proteins. We infer these genomic features are linked to bacterial survival in cold and UV radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshan Paudel
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Graduate School, Sun-Moon University, Asan, 31460, Korea
| | - Nisha Ghimire
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Graduate School, Sun-Moon University, Asan, 31460, Korea
| | - So-Ra Han
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Graduate School, Sun-Moon University, Asan, 31460, Korea
| | - Hyun Park
- Division of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Sang-Hee Jung
- Department of Dental Hygiene, Gangneung Yeongdong University, Gangneung, 25521, Korea
| | - Tae-Jin Oh
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Graduate School, Sun-Moon University, Asan, 31460, Korea. .,Genome-Based Bio-IT Convergence Institute, Asan, 31460, Korea. .,Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Biotechnology, Sun-Moon University, Asan, 31460, Korea.
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Cultivable bacteria in the supraglacial lake formed after a glacial lake outburst flood in northern Pakistan. Int Microbiol 2022; 26:309-325. [PMID: 36484912 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-022-00306-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recently, a supraglacial lake formed as a result of a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in the Dook Pal Glacier. Lake debris and meltwater samples were collected from the supraglacial lake to determine bacterial diversity. Geochemical analyses of samples showed free amino acids (FAAs), anions, cations, and heavy metals. Comparable viable bacterial counts were observed in meltwater and debris samples. Using R2A media, a total of 52 bacterial isolates were identified: 40 from debris and 12 from meltwater. The relative abundance of Gram-positive (80.8%) bacteria was greater than Gram-negative (19.2%). Molecular identification of these isolates revealed that meltwater was dominated by Firmicutes (41.6%) and Proteobacteria (41.6%), while lake debris was dominated by Firmicutes (65.0%). The isolates belonged to 14 genera with the greatest relative abundance in Bacillus. Tolerance level of isolates to salts was high. Most of the Gram-positive bacteria were eurypsychrophiles, while most of the Gram-negative bacteria were stenopsychrophiles. Gram-negative bacteria displayed a higher minimum inhibitory concentration of selected heavy metals and antibiotics than Gram-positive. This first-ever study of culturable bacteria from a freshly formed supraglacial lake improves our understanding of the bacterial diversity and antibiotic resistance released from the glaciers as a result of GLOF.
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Suyal DC, Joshi D, Kumar S, Bhatt P, Narayan A, Giri K, Singh M, Soni R, Kumar R, Yadav A, Devi R, Kaur T, Kour D, Yadav AN. Himalayan Microbiomes for Agro-environmental Sustainability: Current Perspectives and Future Challenges. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 84:643-675. [PMID: 34647148 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01849-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The Himalayas are one of the most mystical, yet least studied terrains of the world. One of Earth's greatest multifaceted and diverse montane ecosystems is also one of the thirty-four global biodiversity hotspots of the world. These are supposed to have been uplifted about 60-70 million years ago and support, distinct environments, physiography, a variety of orogeny, and great biological diversity (plants, animals, and microbes). Microbes are the pioneer colonizer of the Himalayas that are involved in various bio-geological cycles and play various significant roles. The applications of Himalayan microbiomes inhabiting in lesser to greater Himalayas have been recognized. The researchers explored the applications of indigenous microbiomes in both agricultural and environmental sectors. In agriculture, microbiomes from Himalayan regions have been suggested as better biofertilizers and biopesticides for the crops growing at low temperature and mountainous areas as they help in the alleviation of cold stress and other biotic stresses. Along with alleviation of low temperature, Himalayan microbes also have the capability to enhance plant growth by availing the soluble form of nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and iron. These microbes have been recognized for producing plant growth regulators (abscisic acid, auxin, cytokinin, ethylene, and gibberellins). These microbes have been reported for bioremediating the diverse pollutants (pesticides, heavy metals, and xenobiotics) for environmental sustainability. In the current perspectives, present review provides a detailed discussion on the ecology, biodiversity, and adaptive features of the native Himalayan microbiomes in view to achieve agro-environmental sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deep Chandra Suyal
- Department of Microbiology, Akal College of Basic Sciences, Eternal University, Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Divya Joshi
- Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, Regional Office, Kashipur, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Saurabh Kumar
- Division of Crop Research, Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Pankaj Bhatt
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Arun Narayan
- Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, 2480 06, India
| | - Krishna Giri
- Rain Forest Research Institute, Jorhat, 785 010, India
| | - Manali Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Invertis Institute of Engineering and Technology (IIET), Invertis University, Bareilly, 243123, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ravindra Soni
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India
| | - Rakshak Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, India
| | - Ashok Yadav
- Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rubee Devi
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Khem Singh Gill Akal College of Agriculture, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Tanvir Kaur
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Khem Singh Gill Akal College of Agriculture, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Divjot Kour
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Khem Singh Gill Akal College of Agriculture, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Ajar Nath Yadav
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Dr. Khem Singh Gill Akal College of Agriculture, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh, India.
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Wirth J, Young M. Viruses in Subsurface Environments. Annu Rev Virol 2022; 9:99-119. [PMID: 36173700 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-093020-015957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, our knowledge of virus diversity and abundance in subsurface environments has expanded dramatically through application of quantitative metagenomic approaches. In most subsurface environments, viral diversity and abundance rival viral diversity and abundance observed in surface environments. Most of these viruses are uncharacterized in terms of their hosts and replication cycles. Analysis of accessory metabolic genes encoded by subsurface viruses indicates that they evolved to replicate within the unique features of their environments. The key question remains: What role do these viruses play in the ecology and evolution of the environments in which they replicate? Undoubtedly, as more virologists examine the role of viruses in subsurface environments, new insights will emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Wirth
- Department of Plant Science and Plant Pathology and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA;
| | - Mark Young
- Department of Plant Science and Plant Pathology and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA;
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Centurion VB, Campanaro S, Basile A, Treu L, Oliveira VM. Microbiome structure in biofilms from a volcanic island in Maritime Antarctica investigated by genome-centric metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. Microbiol Res 2022; 265:127197. [PMID: 36174355 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127197] [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: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Antarctica is the coldest and driest continent on Earth, characterized by polyextreme environmental conditions, where species adapted form complex networks of interactions. Microbial communities growing in these harsh environments can form biofilms that help the associated species to survive and thrive. A rich body of knowledge describes environmental biofilm communities; however, most studies have focused on dominant community members rather than functional complexity and metabolic potential. To overcome these limitations, the present study used genome-centric metagenomics to describe two biofilm samples subjected to different temperature collected in Deception Island, Maritime Antarctica. The results unraveled a complex biofilm microbiome represented by 180 metagenome-assembled genomes. The potential metabolic interactions were investigated using metabolic flux balance analysis and revealed that purple bacteria are the community members with the highest correlations with other bacteria. Due to their predicted mixotrophic behavior, they may play a crucial role in the microbiome, likely supporting the heterotrophic species in biofilms. Metatranscriptomics results revealed that the chaperone system and proteins counteracting ROS and toxic compounds have a major role in maintaining bacterial cell homeostasis in sediments of volcanic origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- V B Centurion
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology, and Agriculture (CPQBA), State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Paulínia, SP CEP 13081-970, Brazil; Biology Institute, State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Campinas, SP CEP 13083-862, Brazil.
| | - S Campanaro
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padua, Italy; CRIBI Biotechnology Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padua, Italy.
| | - A Basile
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padua, Italy.
| | - L Treu
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padua, Italy.
| | - V M Oliveira
- Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology, and Agriculture (CPQBA), State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Paulínia, SP CEP 13081-970, Brazil.
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Arai T, Yamauchi A, Yang Y, Singh SM, Sasaki YC, Tsuda S. Adsorption of ice-binding proteins onto whole ice crystal surfaces does not necessarily confer a high thermal hysteresis activity. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15443. [PMID: 36104389 PMCID: PMC9474881 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19803-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Many psychrophilic microorganisms synthesize ice-binding proteins (IBPs) to survive the cold. The functions of IBPs are evaluated by the effect of the proteins on the nonequilibrium water freezing-point depression, which is called “thermal hysteresis (TH)”, and the inhibitory effect of the proteins on the growth of larger ice crystals, which is called “ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI)”. To obtain mechanical insight into the two activities, we developed a modified method of ice affinity purification and extracted two new IBP isoforms from Psychromyces glacialis, an Arctic glacier fungus. One isoform was found to be an approximately 25 kDa protein (PsgIBP_S), while the other is a 28 kDa larger protein (PsgIBP_L) that forms an intermolecular dimer. Their TH activities were less than 1 °C at millimolar concentrations, implying that both isoforms are moderately active but not hyperactive IBP species. It further appeared that both isoforms exhibit high IRI activity even at submicromolar concentrations. Furthermore, the isoforms can bind to the whole surface of a hemispherical single ice crystal, although such ice-binding was generally observed for hyperactive IBP species. These results suggest that the binding ability of IBPs to whole ice crystal surfaces is deficient for hyperactivity but is crucial for significant IRI activity.
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Patel SN, Sonani RR, Roy D, Singh NK, Subudhi S, Pabbi S, Madamwar D. Exploring the structural aspects and therapeutic perspectives of cyanobacterial phycobiliproteins. 3 Biotech 2022; 12:224. [PMID: 35975025 PMCID: PMC9375810 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03284-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) of cyanobacteria and algae possess unique light harvesting capacity which expand the photosynthetically active region (PAR) and allow them to thrive in extreme niches where higher plants cannot. PBPs of cyanobacteria/algae vary in abundance, types, amino acid composition and in structure as a function of species and the habitat that they grow in. In the present review, the key aspects of structure, stability, and spectral properties of PBPs, and their correlation with ecological niche of cyanobacteria are discussed. Besides their role in light-harvesting, PBPs possess antioxidant, anti-aging, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be used in therapeutics. Recent developments in therapeutic applications of PBPs are reviewed with special focus on 'route of PBPs administration' and 'therapeutic potential of PBP-derived peptide and chromophores'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuti N. Patel
- P. D. Patel Institute of Applied Sciences, Charotar University of Science and Technology, CHARUSAT Campus, Changa, Anand, Gujarat 388421 India
- Post-Graduate Department of Biosciences, UGC-Centre of Advanced Study, Sardar Patel University, Satellite Campus, Vadtal Road, Bakrol, Anand, Gujarat 388315 India
- Present Address: Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Ravi R. Sonani
- Present Address: Małopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
| | - Diya Roy
- Centre for Conservation and Utilisation of Blue Green Algae (CCUBGA), Division of Microbiology, ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India
| | - Niraj Kumar Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Shree A. N. Patel PG Institute of Science and Research, Sardar Patel University, Anand, Gujarat 388001 India
- Present Address: Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Deaprtment of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382011 India
| | - Sanjukta Subudhi
- The Energy and Resources Institute Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road, New Delhi, 110003 India
| | - Sunil Pabbi
- Centre for Conservation and Utilisation of Blue Green Algae (CCUBGA), Division of Microbiology, ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012 India
| | - Datta Madamwar
- P. D. Patel Institute of Applied Sciences, Charotar University of Science and Technology, CHARUSAT Campus, Changa, Anand, Gujarat 388421 India
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Brandani J, Peter H, Busi SB, Kohler TJ, Fodelianakis S, Ezzat L, Michoud G, Bourquin M, Pramateftaki P, Roncoroni M, Lane SN, Battin TJ. Spatial patterns of benthic biofilm diversity among streams draining proglacial floodplains. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:948165. [PMID: 36003939 PMCID: PMC9393633 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.948165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glacier shrinkage opens new proglacial terrain with pronounced environmental gradients along longitudinal and lateral chronosequences. Despite the environmental harshness of the streams that drain glacier forelands, their benthic biofilms can harbor astonishing biodiversity spanning all domains of life. Here, we studied the spatial dynamics of prokaryotic and eukaryotic photoautotroph diversity within braided glacier-fed streams and tributaries draining lateral terraces predominantly fed by groundwater and snowmelt across three proglacial floodplains in the Swiss Alps. Along the lateral chronosequence, we found that benthic biofilms in tributaries develop higher biomass than those in glacier-fed streams, and that their respective diversity and community composition differed markedly. We also found spatial turnover of bacterial communities in the glacier-fed streams along the longitudinal chronosequence. These patterns along the two chronosequences seem unexpected given the close spatial proximity and connectivity of the various streams, suggesting environmental filtering as an underlying mechanism. Furthermore, our results suggest that photoautotrophic communities shape bacterial communities across the various streams, which is understandable given that algae are the major source of organic matter in proglacial streams. Overall, our findings shed new light on benthic biofilms in proglacial streams now changing at rapid pace owing to climate-induced glacier shrinkage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade Brandani
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Peter
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Susheel Bhanu Busi
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Center for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Tyler J. Kohler
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stilianos Fodelianakis
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Leila Ezzat
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Grégoire Michoud
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Massimo Bourquin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paraskevi Pramateftaki
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Roncoroni
- Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stuart N. Lane
- Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tom J. Battin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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Kaur R, Kanotra M, Sood A, Abdellatif AAH, Bhatia S, Al-Harrasi A, Aleya L, Vargas-De-La-Cruz C, Behl T. Emergence of nutriments as a nascent complementary therapy against antimicrobial resistance. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:49568-49582. [PMID: 35589902 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-20775-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
With these growing and evolving years, antimicrobial resistance has become a great subject of interest. The idea of using natural productive ways can be an effective measure against antimicrobial resistance. The growing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance indicates that advanced natural approaches are a topic of concern for fighting the resistance. Many natural products including essential oils, flavonoids, alkaloids and botanicals have been demonstrated as effective bactericidal agents. In this review, we will discuss in detail about the relevance of such natural products to tackle the problem of antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic adjuvants that aim towards non-essential bacterial targets to reduce the prevalence of resistant bacterial infections, latest bioinformatics approach towards antibacterial drug discovery along with an understanding of biogenic nanoparticles in antimicrobial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajwinder Kaur
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Patiala, Punjab, India
| | - Muskan Kanotra
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Patiala, Punjab, India
| | - Ankita Sood
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Patiala, Punjab, India
| | - Ahmed A H Abdellatif
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Saurabh Bhatia
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
- School of Health Science, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Lotfi Aleya
- Chrono-Environment Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6249, Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, Besancon, France
| | - Celia Vargas-De-La-Cruz
- Department of Pharmacology, Bromatology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru
- E-Health Research Center, Universidad de Ciencias Y Humanidades, Lima, Peru
| | - Tapan Behl
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Patiala, Punjab, India.
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41
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Liu Y, Ji M, Yu T, Zaugg J, Anesio AM, Zhang Z, Hu S, Hugenholtz P, Liu K, Liu P, Chen Y, Luo Y, Yao T. A genome and gene catalog of glacier microbiomes. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:1341-1348. [PMID: 35760913 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01367-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Glaciers represent a unique inventory of microbial genetic diversity and a record of evolution. The Tibetan Plateau contains the largest area of low-latitude glaciers and is particularly vulnerable to global warming. By sequencing 85 metagenomes and 883 cultured isolates from 21 Tibetan glaciers covering snow, ice and cryoconite habitats, we present a specialized glacier microbial genome and gene catalog to archive glacial genomic and functional diversity. This comprehensive Tibetan Glacier Genome and Gene (TG2G) catalog includes 883 genomes and 2,358 metagenome-assembled genomes, which represent 968 candidate species spanning 30 phyla. The catalog also contains over 25 million non-redundant protein-encoding genes, the utility of which is demonstrated by the exploration of secondary metabolite biosynthetic potentials, virulence factor identification and global glacier metagenome comparison. The TG2G catalog is a valuable resource that enables enhanced understanding of the structure and functions of Tibetan glacial microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqin Liu
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Mukan Ji
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tao Yu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Julian Zaugg
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Department of Environmental Science, iClimate, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Zhihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Songnian Hu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Philip Hugenholtz
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Keshao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Center for Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuying Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yingfeng Luo
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Tandong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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42
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Winkel M, Trivedi CB, Mourot R, Bradley JA, Vieth-Hillebrand A, Benning LG. Seasonality of Glacial Snow and Ice Microbial Communities. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:876848. [PMID: 35651494 PMCID: PMC9149292 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.876848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Blooms of microalgae on glaciers and ice sheets are amplifying surface ice melting rates, which are already affected by climate change. Most studies on glacial microorganisms (including snow and glacier ice algae) have so far focused on the spring and summer melt season, leading to a temporal bias, and a knowledge gap in our understanding of the variations in microbial diversity, productivity, and physiology on glacier surfaces year-round. Here, we investigated the microbial communities from Icelandic glacier surface snow and bare ice habitats, with sampling spanning two consecutive years and carried out in both winter and two summer seasons. We evaluated the seasonal differences in microbial community composition using Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and ITS marker genes and correlating them with geochemical signals in the snow and ice. During summer, Chloromonas, Chlainomonas, Raphidonema, and Hydrurus dominated surface snow algal communities, while Ancylonema and Mesotaenium dominated the surface bare ice habitats. In winter, algae could not be detected, and the community composition was dominated by bacteria and fungi. The dominant bacterial taxa found in both winter and summer samples were Bacteriodetes, Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria. The winter bacterial communities showed high similarities to airborne and fresh snow bacteria reported in other studies. This points toward the importance of dry and wet deposition as a wintertime source of microorganisms to the glacier surface. Winter samples were also richer in nutrients than summer samples, except for dissolved organic carbon-which was highest in summer snow and ice samples with blooming microalgae, suggesting that nutrients are accumulated during winter but primarily used by the microbial communities in the summer. Overall, our study shows that glacial snow and ice microbial communities are highly variable on a seasonal basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Winkel
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christopher B Trivedi
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Rey Mourot
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - James A Bradley
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany.,School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Vieth-Hillebrand
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Liane G Benning
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany.,Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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43
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Bourquin M, Busi SB, Fodelianakis S, Peter H, Washburne A, Kohler TJ, Ezzat L, Michoud G, Wilmes P, Battin TJ. The microbiome of cryospheric ecosystems. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3087. [PMID: 35655063 PMCID: PMC9163120 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30816-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The melting of the cryosphere is among the most conspicuous consequences of climate change, with impacts on microbial life and related biogeochemistry. However, we are missing a systematic understanding of microbiome structure and function across cryospheric ecosystems. Here, we present a global inventory of the microbiome from snow, ice, permafrost soils, and both coastal and freshwater ecosystems under glacier influence. Combining phylogenetic and taxonomic approaches, we find that these cryospheric ecosystems, despite their particularities, share a microbiome with representatives across the bacterial tree of life and apparent signatures of early and constrained radiation. In addition, we use metagenomic analyses to define the genetic repertoire of cryospheric bacteria. Our work provides a reference resource for future studies on climate change microbiology. The cryosphere includes those parts of Earth where water or soil is frozen, such as snow, ice, glaciers and permafrost soils. Here, the authors present a global inventory of cryospheric microbial communities and their genetic repertoires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Bourquin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Centre for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Susheel Bhanu Busi
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval, 7, avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Stilianos Fodelianakis
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Centre for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Peter
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Centre for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Tyler J Kohler
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Centre for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Leïla Ezzat
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Centre for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Grégoire Michoud
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Centre for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paul Wilmes
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Campus Belval, 7, avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.,Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 7, avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Tom J Battin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Centre for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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44
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Dang C, Wu Z, Zhang M, Li X, Sun Y, Wu R, Zheng Y, Xia Y. Microorganisms as bio-filters to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from high-altitude permafrost revealed by nanopore-based metagenomics. IMETA 2022; 1:e24. [PMID: 38868568 PMCID: PMC10989947 DOI: 10.1002/imt2.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The distinct climatic and geographical conditions make high-altitude permafrost on the Tibetan Plateau suffer more severe degradation than polar permafrost. However, the microbial responses associated with greenhouse gas production in thawing permafrost remain obscured. Here we applied nanopore-based long-read metagenomics and high-throughput RNA-seq to explore microbial functional activities within the freeze-thaw cycle in the active layers of permafrost at the Qilian Mountain. A bioinformatic framework was established to facilitate phylogenetic and functional annotation of the unassembled nanopore metagenome. By deploying this strategy, 42% more genera could be detected and 58% more genes were annotated to nitrogen and methane cycle. With the aid of such enlarged resolution, we observed vigorous aerobic methane oxidation by Methylomonas, which could serve as a bio-filter to mitigate CH4 emissions from permafrost. Such filtering effect could be further consolidated by both on-site gas phase measurement and incubation experiment that CO2 was the major form of carbon released from permafrost. Despite the increased transcriptional activities of aceticlastic methanogenesis pathways in the thawed permafrost active layer, CH4 generated during the thawing process could be effectively consumed by the microbiome. Additionally, the nitrogen metabolism in permafrost tends to be a closed cycle and active N2O consumption by the topsoil community was detected in the near-surface gas phase. Our findings reveal that although the increased thawed state facilitated the heterotrophic nitrogen and methane metabolism, effective microbial methane oxidation in the active layer could serve as a bio-filter to relieve the overall warming potentials of greenhouse gas emitted from thawed permafrost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyuan Dang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
- Laboratory of High‐Resolution Mass Spectrometry Technologies, Dalian Institute of Chemical PhysicsChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)DalianChina
| | - Ziqi Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
| | - Miao Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
| | - Xiang Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo‐Omics, Department of Ocean Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
| | - Yuqin Sun
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo‐Omics, Department of Ocean Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water‐Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
| | - Ren'an Wu
- Laboratory of High‐Resolution Mass Spectrometry Technologies, Dalian Institute of Chemical PhysicsChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)DalianChina
| | - Yan Zheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo‐Omics, Department of Ocean Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Integrated Surface Water‐Groundwater Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
| | - Yu Xia
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo‐Omics, Department of Ocean Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
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45
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Kohler TJ, Fodelianakis S, Michoud G, Ezzat L, Bourquin M, Peter H, Busi SB, Pramateftaki P, Deluigi N, Styllas M, Tolosano M, de Staercke V, Schön M, Brandani J, Marasco R, Daffonchio D, Wilmes P, Battin TJ. Glacier shrinkage will accelerate downstream decomposition of organic matter and alters microbiome structure and function. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:3846-3859. [PMID: 35320603 PMCID: PMC9323552 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The shrinking of glaciers is among the most iconic consequences of climate change. Despite this, the downstream consequences for ecosystem processes and related microbiome structure and function remain poorly understood. Here, using a space-for-time substitution approach across 101 glacier-fed streams (GFSs) from six major regions worldwide, we investigated how glacier shrinkage is likely to impact the organic matter (OM) decomposition rates of benthic biofilms. To do this, we measured the activities of five common extracellular enzymes and estimated decomposition rates by using enzyme allocation equations based on stoichiometry. We found decomposition rates to average 0.0129 (% d-1 ), and that decreases in glacier influence (estimated by percent glacier catchment coverage, turbidity, and a glacier index) accelerates decomposition rates. To explore mechanisms behind these relationships, we further compared decomposition rates with biofilm and stream water characteristics. We found that chlorophyll-a, temperature, and stream water N:P together explained 61% of the variability in decomposition. Algal biomass, which is also increasing with glacier shrinkage, showed a particularly strong relationship with decomposition, likely indicating their importance in contributing labile organic compounds to these carbon-poor habitats. We also found high relative abundances of chytrid fungi in GFS sediments, which putatively parasitize these algae, promoting decomposition through a fungal shunt. Exploring the biofilm microbiome, we then sought to identify bacterial phylogenetic clades significantly associated with decomposition, and found numerous positively (e.g., Saprospiraceae) and negatively (e.g., Nitrospira) related clades. Lastly, using metagenomics, we found evidence of different bacterial classes possessing different proportions of EEA-encoding genes, potentially informing some of the microbial associations with decomposition rates. Our results, therefore, present new mechanistic insights into OM decomposition in GFSs by demonstrating that an algal-based "green food web" is likely to increase in importance in the future and will promote important biogeochemical shifts in these streams as glaciers vanish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J. Kohler
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Stilianos Fodelianakis
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Grégoire Michoud
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Leïla Ezzat
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Massimo Bourquin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Hannes Peter
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Susheel Bhanu Busi
- Systems Ecology Research GroupLuxembourg Centre for Systems BiomedicineUniversity of LuxembourgEsch‐sur‐AlzetteLuxembourg
| | - Paraskevi Pramateftaki
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Nicola Deluigi
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Michail Styllas
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Matteo Tolosano
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Vincent de Staercke
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Martina Schön
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Jade Brandani
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Ramona Marasco
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Daniele Daffonchio
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Paul Wilmes
- Systems Ecology Research GroupLuxembourg Centre for Systems BiomedicineUniversity of LuxembourgEsch‐sur‐AlzetteLuxembourg
| | - Tom J. Battin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Alpine and Polar Environmental Research Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)LausanneSwitzerland
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46
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Garcia-Lopez E, Ruiz-Blas F, Sanchez-Casanova S, Peña Perez S, Martin-Cerezo ML, Cid C. Microbial Communities in Volcanic Glacier Ecosystems. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:825632. [PMID: 35547132 PMCID: PMC9084427 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.825632] [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: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaciers constitute a polyextremophilic environment characterized by low temperatures, high solar radiation, a lack of nutrients, and low water availability. However, glaciers located in volcanic regions have special characteristics, since the volcanic foci provide them with heat and nutrients that allow the growth of microbial communities highly adapted to this environment. Most of the studies on these glacial ecosystems have been carried out in volcanic environments in the northern hemisphere, including Iceland and the Pacific Northwest. To better know, the microbial diversity of the underexplored glacial ecosystems and to check what their specific characteristics were, we studied the structure of bacterial communities living in volcanic glaciers in Deception Island, Antarctica, and in the Kamchatka peninsula. In addition to geographic coordinates, many other glacier environmental factors (like volcanic activity, altitude, temperature, pH, or ice chemical composition) that can influence the diversity and distribution of microbial communities were considered in this study. Finally, using their taxonomic assignments, an attempt was made to compare how different or similar are the biogeochemical cycles in which these microbiomes are involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Garcia-Lopez
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiologia (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | - Fatima Ruiz-Blas
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiologia (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | | | - Sonia Peña Perez
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiologia (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| | | | - Cristina Cid
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiologia (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
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47
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Busi SB, Bourquin M, Fodelianakis S, Michoud G, Kohler TJ, Peter H, Pramateftaki P, Styllas M, Tolosano M, De Staercke V, Schön M, de Nies L, Marasco R, Daffonchio D, Ezzat L, Wilmes P, Battin TJ. Genomic and metabolic adaptations of biofilms to ecological windows of opportunity in glacier-fed streams. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2168. [PMID: 35444202 PMCID: PMC9021309 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29914-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In glacier-fed streams, ecological windows of opportunity allow complex microbial biofilms to develop and transiently form the basis of the food web, thereby controlling key ecosystem processes. Using metagenome-assembled genomes, we unravel strategies that allow biofilms to seize this opportunity in an ecosystem otherwise characterized by harsh environmental conditions. We observe a diverse microbiome spanning the entire tree of life including a rich virome. Various co-existing energy acquisition pathways point to diverse niches and the exploitation of available resources, likely fostering the establishment of complex biofilms during windows of opportunity. The wide occurrence of rhodopsins, besides chlorophyll, highlights the role of solar energy capture in these biofilms while internal carbon and nutrient cycling between photoautotrophs and heterotrophs may help overcome constraints imposed by oligotrophy in these habitats. Mechanisms potentially protecting bacteria against low temperatures and high UV-radiation are also revealed and the selective pressure of this environment is further highlighted by a phylogenomic analysis differentiating important components of the glacier-fed stream microbiome from other ecosystems. Our findings reveal key genomic underpinnings of adaptive traits contributing to the success of complex biofilms to exploit environmental opportunities in glacier-fed streams, which are now rapidly changing owing to global warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susheel Bhanu Busi
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Massimo Bourquin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stilianos Fodelianakis
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Grégoire Michoud
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tyler J Kohler
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Peter
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paraskevi Pramateftaki
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michail Styllas
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Tolosano
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vincent De Staercke
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Martina Schön
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laura de Nies
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Ramona Marasco
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Daniele Daffonchio
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Leïla Ezzat
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Paul Wilmes
- Systems Ecology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Tom J Battin
- River Ecosystems Laboratory, Center for Alpine and Polar Environmental Research (ALPOLE), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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48
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Ren Z, Gao H, Luo W, Elser JJ. Bacterial communities in surface and basal ice of a glacier terminus in the headwaters of Yangtze River on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2022; 17:12. [PMID: 35346386 PMCID: PMC8962558 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-022-00408-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND On the front lines of climate change, glacier termini play crucial roles in linking glaciers and downstream ecosystems during glacier retreat. However, we lack a clear understanding of biological processes that occur in surface and basal ice at glacier termini. METHODS Here, we studied the bacterial communities in surface ice and basal ice (the bottom layer) of a glacier terminus in the Yangtze River Source, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. RESULTS Surface and basal ice harbored distinct bacterial communities but shared some core taxa. Surface ice communities had a higher α-diversity than those in basal ice and were dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Cyanobacteria while basal ice was dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The bacterial communities were also substantially different in functional potential. Genes associated with functional categories of cellular processes and metabolism were significantly enriched in surface ice, while genes connected to environmental information processing were enriched in basal ice. In terms of biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, bacterial communities in surface ice were enriched for genes connected to aerobic carbon fixation, aerobic respiration, denitrification, nitrogen assimilation, nitrogen mineralization, sulfur mineralization, alkaline phosphatase, and polyphosphate kinase. In contrast, bacterial communities in basal ice were enriched for genes involved in anaerobic carbon fixation, fermentation, nitrate reduction, 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid pathway, G3P transporter, glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase, and exopolyphosphatase. Structural equation modeling showed that total nitrogen and environmental carbon:phosphorus were positively while environmental nitrogen:phosphorus was negatively associated with taxonomic β-diversity which itself was strongly associated with functional β-diversity of bacterial communities. CONCLUSIONS This study furthers our understanding of biogeochemical cycling of the mountain cryosphere by revealing the genetic potential of the bacterial communities in surface and basal ice at the glacier terminus, providing new insights into glacial ecology as well as the influences of glacier retreat on downstream systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Ren
- Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, 519087, China.
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
| | - Hongkai Gao
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
- School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Wei Luo
- Polar Research Institute of China, Ministry of Natural Resources, Shanghai, 200136, China
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - James J Elser
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, 59860, USA
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49
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Mondini A, Anwar MZ, Ellegaard-Jensen L, Lavin P, Jacobsen CS, Purcarea C. Heat Shock Response of the Active Microbiome From Perennial Cave Ice. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:809076. [PMID: 35360653 PMCID: PMC8960993 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.809076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ice caves constitute the newly investigated frozen and secluded model habitats for evaluating the resilience of ice-entrapped microbiomes in response to climate changes. This survey identified the total and active prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities from millennium-old ice accumulated in Scarisoara cave (Romania) using Illumina shotgun sequencing of the ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA)-based functional analysis of the metatranscriptome. Also, the response of active microbiome to heat shock treatment mimicking the environmental shift during ice melting was evaluated at both the taxonomic and metabolic levels. The putatively active microbial community was dominated by bacterial taxa belonging to Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, which are highly resilient to thermal variations, while the scarcely present archaea belonging to Methanomicrobia was majorly affected by heat shock. Among eukaryotes, the fungal rRNA community was shared between the resilient Chytridiomycota and Blastocladiomycota, and the more sensitive Ascomycota and Basidiomycota taxa. A complex microeukaryotic community highly represented by Tardigrada and Rotifera (Metazoa), Ciliophora and Cercozoa (Protozoa), and Chlorophyta (Plantae) was evidenced for the first time in this habitat. This community showed a quick reaction to heat shock, followed by a partial recovery after prolonged incubation at 4°C due to possible predation processes on the prokaryotic cluster. Analysis of mRNA differential gene expression revealed the presence of an active microbiome in the perennial ice from the Scarisoara cave and associated molecular mechanisms for coping with temperature variations by the upregulation of genes involved in enzyme recovery, energy storage, carbon and nitrogen regulation, and cell motility. This first report on the active microbiome embedded in perennial ice from caves and its response to temperature stress provided a glimpse into the impact of glaciers melting and the resilience mechanisms in this habitat, contributing to the knowledge on the functional role of active microbes in frozen environments and their response to climatic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Mondini
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Muhammad Zohaib Anwar
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, RISØ Campus, Roskilde, Denmark
- Center for Infectious Disease Genomics and One Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Lea Ellegaard-Jensen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, RISØ Campus, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Paris Lavin
- Centre of Biotechnology and Bioengineering (CeBiB), Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Carsten Suhr Jacobsen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, RISØ Campus, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Cristina Purcarea
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Bucharest, Romania
- *Correspondence: Cristina Purcarea,
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Abstract
The glaciers in China have an important role as one of the most climate-sensitive constituents of the Tibetan Plateau which is known as the Asian Water Tower. Although the cryosphere is one of the most extreme environments for organisms, the soils of the glacier foreland harbor surprisingly rich microbiomes. A large amount of accelerated glacier retreat accompanied by global warming will not only raise the sea level, but it will also lead to the massive release of a considerable amount of carbon stored in these glaciers. The responses of glacier microbiomes could alter the biogeochemical cycle of carbon and have a complex impact on climate change. Thus, understanding present-day and future glacier microbiome changes is crucial to assess the feedback on climate change and the impacts on ecosystems. To this end, we discuss here the diversity and biogeochemical functions of the microbiomes in Chinese mountain glacier ecosystems.
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