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Venkatachalam S, Jabir T, Vipindas PV, Krishnan KP. Ecological significance of Candidatus ARS69 and Gemmatimonadota in the Arctic glacier foreland ecosystems. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:128. [PMID: 38229335 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12991-6] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The Gemmatimonadota phylum has been widely detected in diverse natural environments, yet their specific ecological roles in many habitats remain poorly investigated. Similarly, the Candidatus ARS69 phylum has been identified only in a few habitats, and literature on their metabolic functions is relatively scarce. In the present study, we investigated the ecological significance of phyla Ca. ARS69 and Gemmatimonadota in the Arctic glacier foreland (GF) ecosystems through genome-resolved metagenomics. We have reconstructed the first high-quality metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) belonging to Ca. ARS69 and 12 other MAGs belonging to phylum Gemmatimonadota from the three different Arctic GF samples. We further elucidated these two groups phylogenetic lineage and their metabolic function through phylogenomic and pangenomic analysis. The analysis showed that all the reconstructed MAGs potentially belonged to novel species. The MAGs belonged to Ca. ARS69 consist about 8296 gene clusters, of which only about 8% of single-copy core genes (n = 980) were shared among them. The study also revealed the potential ecological role of Ca. ARS69 is associated with carbon fixation, denitrification, sulfite oxidation, and reduction biochemical processes in the GF ecosystems. Similarly, the study demonstrates the widespread distribution of different classes of Gemmatimonadota across wide ranges of ecosystems and their metabolic functions, including in the polar region. KEY POINTS: • Glacier foreland ecosystems act as a natural laboratory to study microbial community structure. • We have reconstructed 13 metagenome-assembled genomes from the soil samples. • All the reconstructed MAGs belonged to novel species with different metabolic processes. • Ca. ARS69 and Gemmatimonadota MAGs were found to participate in carbon fixation and denitrification processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddarthan Venkatachalam
- Arctic Ecology and Biogeochemistry Division, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, India.
| | - Thajudeen Jabir
- Arctic Ecology and Biogeochemistry Division, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, India
| | - Puthiya Veettil Vipindas
- Arctic Ecology and Biogeochemistry Division, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, India
| | - Kottekkatu Padinchati Krishnan
- Arctic Ecology and Biogeochemistry Division, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences (Govt. of India), Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, India
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2
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Pinto OHB, Oliveira RDS, Ferreira BR, Peixoto J, Sartori MRS, Quirino BF, Brunet F, Kruger RH. Microbiome associated to an H 2-emitting zone in the São Francisco basin Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:80. [PMID: 39456036 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00627-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2024] [Accepted: 10/19/2024] [Indexed: 10/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dihydrogen (H₂) natural gas is a clean and renewable energy source of significant interest in the transition to sustainable energy. Unlike conventional petroleum-based fuels, H₂ releases only water vapor upon combustion, making it a promising alternative for reducing carbon footprints in the future. However, the microbial impact on H₂ dynamics in H2-emitting zones remains unclear, as does the origin of H2 - whether it is produced at greater depths or within shallow soil layers. In the São Francisco Basin, soil hydrogen concentrations of approximately 200 ppm were identified in barren ground depressions. In this study, we investigated the microbiome associated with this area using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, with a focus on metabolic processes related to H₂ consumption and production. Soil samples were collected from two monitored (< 1 m) depths - 10 cm and 1 m - in the emission zone, which is predominantly covered with pasture vegetation, and from an adjacent area with medium and small trees. RESULTS Our findings suggest that the H2-emitting zone significantly influences the composition and function of the microbiome, with Bacillus emerging as the dominant genus. In contrast to typical Cerrado soil, we observed a higher prevalence of Actinobacteriota (∼ 40%) and Firmicutes (∼ 20%). Additionally, we identified an abundance of sporulating bacteria and taxonomic groups previously described as H2-oxidizing bacteria. CONCLUSIONS The H2-emitting zone in the São Francisco Basin presents a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of the impact of H₂ on microbial communities. This study is the first to characterize a natural H2-associated bacterial community in Cerrado soil using a culture-independent approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otávio Henrique Bezerra Pinto
- Laboratory of Enzymology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Genomics for Climate Change Research Center, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, 13083-875, Brazil
- Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, 13083-875, Brazil
| | - Rafael da Silva Oliveira
- Laboratory of Enzymology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Brendo Ramos Ferreira
- Laboratory of Enzymology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Julianna Peixoto
- Laboratory of Enzymology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Maria Regina Silveira Sartori
- Ecosystem Ecology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Ecology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Betania Ferraz Quirino
- Microbiology Graduate Program, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Fabrice Brunet
- University Grenoble Alpes, University Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, ISTerre, Grenoble, France
| | - Ricardo Henrique Kruger
- Laboratory of Enzymology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
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Xu Y, Teng Y, Dai S, Liao J, Wang X, Hu W, Guo Z, Pan X, Dong X, Luo Y. Atmospheric Trace Gas Oxidizers Contribute to Soil Carbon Fixation Driven by Key Soil Conditions in Terrestrial Ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 39443297 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c06516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2024]
Abstract
Microbial oxidizers of trace gases such as hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) are widely distributed in soil microbial communities and play a vital role in modulating biogeochemical cycles. However, the contribution of trace gas oxidizers to soil carbon fixation and the driving environmental factors remain unclear, especially on large scales. Here, we utilized biogeochemical and genome-resolved metagenomic profiling, assisted by machine learning analysis, to estimate the contributions of trace gas oxidizers to soil carbon fixation and to predict the key environmental factors driving this process in soils from five distinct ecosystems. The results showed that phylogenetically and physiologically diverse H2 and CO oxidizers and chemosynthetic carbon-fixing microbes are present in the soil in different terrestrial ecosystems. The large-scale variations in soil carbon fixation were highly positively correlated with both the abundance and the activity of H2 and CO oxidizers (p < 0.05-0.001). Furthermore, soil pH and moisture-induced shifts in the abundance of H2 and CO oxidizers partially explained the variation in soil carbon fixation (55%). The contributions of trace gas oxidizers to soil carbon fixation in the different terrestrial ecosystems were estimated to range from 1.1% to 35.0%. The estimated rate of trace gas carbon fixation varied from 0.04 to 1.56 mg kg-1 d-1. These findings reveal that atmospheric trace gas oxidizers may contribute to soil carbon fixation driven by key soil environmental factors, highlighting the non-negligible contribution of these microbes to terrestrial carbon cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfeng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ying Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shixiang Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Liao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenbo Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhiying Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xianzhang Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiyang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Yongming Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Passarini MRZ, Robayo MIG, Ottoni JR, Duarte AWF, Rosa LH. Biotechnological potential in agriculture of soil Antarctic microorganisms revealed by omics approach. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:345. [PMID: 39394504 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-04114-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 10/13/2024]
Abstract
The biotechnological potential for agricultural applications in the soil in the thawing process on Whalers Bay, Deception Island, Antarctica was evaluated using a metagenomic approach through high-throughput sequencing. Approximately 22.70% of the sequences were affiliated to the phyla of the Bacteria dominion, followed by 0.26% to the Eukarya. Proteobacteria (Bacteria) and Ascomycota (Fungi) were the most abundant phyla. Thirty-two and thirty-six bacterial and fungal genera associated with agricultural biotechnological applications were observed. Streptomyces and Pythium were the most abundant genera related to the Bacteria and Oomycota, respectively. The main agricultural application associated with bacteria was nitrogen affixation; in contrast for fungi, was associated with phytopathogenic capabilities. The present study showed the need to use metagenomic technology to understand the dynamics and possible metabolic pathways associated with the microbial communities present in the soil sample in the process of thawing recovered from the Antarctic continent, which presented potential application in processes of agro-industrial interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Rodrigo Zambrano Passarini
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Ambiental, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino- Americana, Av. Tarquίnio Joslin dos Santos, 1000 - Jd Universitário, Foz do Iguaçu, PR 85870-650, Brazil.
| | - Marahia Isabel Guevara Robayo
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Ambiental, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino- Americana, Av. Tarquίnio Joslin dos Santos, 1000 - Jd Universitário, Foz do Iguaçu, PR 85870-650, Brazil
| | - Júlia Ronzella Ottoni
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia Ambiental, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino- Americana, Av. Tarquίnio Joslin dos Santos, 1000 - Jd Universitário, Foz do Iguaçu, PR 85870-650, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Henrique Rosa
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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García-Estrada DA, Selem-Mojica N, Martínez-Hernández A, Lara-Reyna J, Dávila-Ramos S, Verdel-Aranda K. Diversity of bacterial communities in wetlands of Calakmul Biosphere Reserve: a comparative analysis between conserved and semi-urbanized zones in pre-Mayan Train era. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:376. [PMID: 39342129 PMCID: PMC11437969 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03523-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR) is known for its rich animal and plant biodiversity, yet its microbial communities remain largely unknown. The reserve does not possess permanent bodies of water; nevertheless, seasonal depressions associated with fractures create wetlands, known locally as aguadas. Given the recent construction of the Maya train that crosses the CRB, it is essential to assess the biodiversity of its microorganisms and recognize their potential as a valuable source of goods. This evaluation is pivotal in mitigating potential mismanagement of the forest ecosystem. To enhance comprehension of microbial communities, we characterized the microbiota in three different wetlands. Ag-UD1 and Ag-UD2 wetlands are located in a zone without human disturbances, while the third, Ag-SU3, is in a semi-urbanized zone. Sampling was carried out over three years (2017, 2018, and 2019), enabling the monitoring of spatiotemporal variations in bacterial community diversity. The characterization of microbiome composition was conducted using 16S rRNA metabarcoding. Concurrently, the genomic potential of select samples was examined through shotgun metagenomics. RESULTS Statistical analysis of alpha and beta diversity indices showed significant differences among the bacterial communities found in undisturbed sites Ag-UD1 and Ag-UD2 compared to Ag-SU3. However, no significant differences were observed among sites belonging to the undisturbed area. Furthermore, a comparative analysis at the zone level reveals substantial divergence among the communities, indicating that the geographic location of the samples significantly influences these patterns. The bacterial communities in the CBR wetlands predominantly consist of genera from phyla Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Proteobacteria. CONCLUSION This characterization has identified the composition of microbial communities and provided the initial overview of the metabolic capacities of the microbiomes inhabiting the aguadas across diverse conservation zones. The three sites exhibit distinct microbial compositions, suggesting that variables such as chemical composition, natural and anthropogenic disturbances, vegetation, and fauna may play a pivotal role in determining the microbial structure of the aguadas. This study establishes a foundational baseline for evaluating the impact of climatic factors and human interventions on critical environments such as wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Alberto García-Estrada
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Nelly Selem-Mojica
- Centro de Ciencias Matemáticas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
| | | | - Joel Lara-Reyna
- Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche, Sihochac, Champotón, Campeche, Mexico.
| | - Sonia Dávila-Ramos
- Centro de Investigación en Dinámica Celular, IICBA, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Karina Verdel-Aranda
- Conahcyt-Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche, Sihochac, Champotón, Campeche, Mexico.
- Present address: Tecnológico Nacional de México-Instituto Tecnológico de Chiná, Chiná, Campeche, Mexico.
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6
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Zhao Z, Amano C, Reinthaler T, Baltar F, Orellana MV, Herndl GJ. Metaproteomic analysis decodes trophic interactions of microorganisms in the dark ocean. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6411. [PMID: 39080340 PMCID: PMC11289388 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50867-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteins in the open ocean represent a significant source of organic matter, and their profiles reflect the metabolic activities of marine microorganisms. Here, by analyzing metaproteomic samples collected from the Pacific, Atlantic and Southern Ocean, we reveal size-fractionated patterns of the structure and function of the marine microbiota protein pool in the water column, particularly in the dark ocean (>200 m). Zooplankton proteins contributed three times more than algal proteins to the deep-sea community metaproteome. Gammaproteobacteria exhibited high metabolic activity in the deep-sea, contributing up to 30% of bacterial proteins. Close virus-host interactions of this taxon might explain the dominance of gammaproteobacterial proteins in the dissolved fraction. A high urease expression in nitrifiers suggested links between their dark carbon fixation and zooplankton urea production. In summary, our results uncover the taxonomic contribution of the microbiota to the oceanic protein pool, revealing protein fluxes from particles to the dissolved organic matter pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihao Zhao
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Bio-Oceanography and Marine Biology Unit, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Chie Amano
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Bio-Oceanography and Marine Biology Unit, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Reinthaler
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Bio-Oceanography and Marine Biology Unit, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Federico Baltar
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Bio-Oceanography and Marine Biology Unit, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mónica V Orellana
- Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gerhard J Herndl
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Bio-Oceanography and Marine Biology Unit, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- NIOZ, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Utrecht University, Den Burg, The Netherlands.
- Environmental & Climate Research Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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7
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Greening C, Cabotaje PR, Valentin Alvarado LE, Leung PM, Land H, Rodrigues-Oliveira T, Ponce-Toledo RI, Senger M, Klamke MA, Milton M, Lappan R, Mullen S, West-Roberts J, Mao J, Song J, Schoelmerich M, Stairs CW, Schleper C, Grinter R, Spang A, Banfield JF, Berggren G. Minimal and hybrid hydrogenases are active from archaea. Cell 2024; 187:3357-3372.e19. [PMID: 38866018 PMCID: PMC11216029 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.032] [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: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Microbial hydrogen (H2) cycling underpins the diversity and functionality of diverse anoxic ecosystems. Among the three evolutionarily distinct hydrogenase superfamilies responsible, [FeFe] hydrogenases were thought to be restricted to bacteria and eukaryotes. Here, we show that anaerobic archaea encode diverse, active, and ancient lineages of [FeFe] hydrogenases through combining analysis of existing and new genomes with extensive biochemical experiments. [FeFe] hydrogenases are encoded by genomes of nine archaeal phyla and expressed by H2-producing Asgard archaeon cultures. We report an ultraminimal hydrogenase in DPANN archaea that binds the catalytic H-cluster and produces H2. Moreover, we identify and characterize remarkable hybrid complexes formed through the fusion of [FeFe] and [NiFe] hydrogenases in ten other archaeal orders. Phylogenetic analysis and structural modeling suggest a deep evolutionary history of hybrid hydrogenases. These findings reveal new metabolic adaptations of archaea, streamlined H2 catalysts for biotechnological development, and a surprisingly intertwined evolutionary history between the two major H2-metabolizing enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia; SAEF: Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Princess R Cabotaje
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Luis E Valentin Alvarado
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
| | - Pok Man Leung
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia; SAEF: Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Henrik Land
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thiago Rodrigues-Oliveira
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Unit, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rafael I Ponce-Toledo
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Unit, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Moritz Senger
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Max A Klamke
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Michael Milton
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Rachael Lappan
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia; SAEF: Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Susan Mullen
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
| | - Jacob West-Roberts
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
| | - Jie Mao
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Jiangning Song
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Marie Schoelmerich
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
| | | | - Christa Schleper
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Unit, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rhys Grinter
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Anja Spang
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Hoorn, the Netherlands; Department of Evolutionary and Population Biology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia; Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA.
| | - Gustav Berggren
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Hu Y, Zhang H, Sun X, Zhang B, Wang Y, Rafiq A, Jia H, Liang C, An S. Impact of grassland degradation on soil multifunctionality: Linking to protozoan network complexity and stability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 929:172724. [PMID: 38663601 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Soil protozoa, as predators of microbial communities, profoundly influence multifunctionality of soils. Understanding the relationship between soil protozoa and soil multifunctionality (SMF) is crucial to unraveling the driving mechanisms of SMF. However, this relationship remains unclear, particularly in grassland ecosystems that are experiencing degradation. By employing 18S rRNA gene sequencing and network analysis, we examined the diversity, composition, and network patterns of the soil protozoan community along a well-characterized gradient of grassland degradation at four alpine sites, including two alpine meadows (Cuona and Jiuzhi) and two alpine steppes (Shuanghu and Gonghe) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Our findings showed that grassland degradation decreased SMF for 1-2 times in all four sites but increased soil protozoan diversity (Shannon index) for 13.82-298.01 % in alpine steppes. Grassland degradation-induced changes in soil protozoan composition, particularly to the Intramacronucleata with a large body size, were consistently observed across all four sites. The enhancing network complexity (average degree), stability (robustness), and cooperative relationships (positive correlation) are the responses of protozoa to grassland degradation. Further analyses revealed that the increased network complexity and stability led to a decrease in SMF by affecting microbial biomass. Overall, protozoa increase their diversity and strengthen their cooperative relationships to resist grassland degradation, and emphasize the critical role of protozoan network complexity and stability in regulating SMF. Therefore, not only protozoan diversity and composition but also their interactions should be considered in evaluating SMF responses to grassland degradation, which has important implications for predicting changes in soil function under future scenarios of anthropogenic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Hu
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Haolin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dry Land Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Xinya Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dry Land Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Bicheng Zhang
- Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, CAS & MWR, Yangling, Shannxi 712100, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yubin Wang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Anum Rafiq
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dry Land Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Hongtao Jia
- College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China
| | - Chao Liang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Shaoshan An
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dry Land Farming on Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
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9
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Bosch J, Lebre PH, Marais E, Maggs‐Kölling G, Cowan DA. Kinetics and pathways of sub-lithic microbial community (hypolithon) development. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 16:e13290. [PMID: 38923208 PMCID: PMC11194044 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Type I hypolithons are microbial communities dominated by Cyanobacteria. They adhere to the underside of semi-translucent rocks in desert pavements, providing them with a refuge from the harsh abiotic stresses found on the desert soil surface. Despite their crucial role in soil nutrient cycling, our understanding of their growth rates and community development pathways remains limited. This study aimed to quantify the dynamics of hypolithon formation in the pavements of the Namib Desert. We established replicate arrays of sterile rock tiles with varying light transmission in two areas of the Namib Desert, each with different annual precipitation regimes. These were sampled annually over 7 years, and the samples were analysed using eDNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Our findings revealed that in the zone with higher precipitation, hypolithon formation became evident in semi-translucent rocks 3 years after the arrays were set up. This coincided with a Cyanobacterial 'bloom' in the adherent microbial community in the third year. In contrast, no visible hypolithon formation was observed at the array set up in the hyper-arid zone. This study provides the first quantitative evidence of the kinetics of hypolithon development in hot desert environments, suggesting that development rates are strongly influenced by precipitation regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Bosch
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and MicrobiologyUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of SciencesCzech Academy of SciencesPrahaCzech Republic
| | - Pedro H. Lebre
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and MicrobiologyUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
| | | | | | - Don A. Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and MicrobiologyUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
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10
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Greco C, Andersen DT, Yallop ML, Barker G, Jungblut AD. Genome-resolved metagenomics reveals diverse taxa and metabolic complexity in Antarctic lake microbial structures. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16663. [PMID: 38881221 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16663] [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: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Lake Untersee, a lake in Antarctica that is perennially covered with ice, is home to unique microbial structures that are not lithified. We have evaluated the structure of the community and its metabolic potential across the pigmented upper layers and the sediment-enriched deeper layers in these pinnacle and cone-shaped microbial structures using metagenomics. These microbial structures are inhabited by distinct communities. The upper layers of the cone-shaped structures have a higher abundance of the cyanobacterial MAG Microcoleus, while the pinnacle-shaped structures have a higher abundance of Elainellacea MAG. This suggests that cyanobacteria influence the morphologies of the mats. We identified stark contrasts in the composition of the community and its metabolic potential between the upper and lower layers of the mat. The upper layers of the mat, which receive light, have an increased abundance of photosynthetic pathways. In contrast, the lower layer has an increased abundance of heterotrophic pathways. Our results also showed that Lake Untersee is the first Antarctic lake with a substantial presence of ammonia-oxidizing Nitrospiracea and amoA genes. The genomic capacity for recycling biological molecules was prevalent across metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) that cover 19 phyla. This highlights the importance of nutrient scavenging in ultra-oligotrophic environments. Overall, our study provides new insights into the formation of microbial structures and the potential metabolic complexity of Antarctic laminated microbial mats. These mats are important environments for biodiversity that drives biogeochemical cycling in polar deserts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Greco
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Department of Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
| | - Dale T Andersen
- Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute, Mountain View, California, USA
| | - Marian L Yallop
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Gary Barker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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11
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Nair GR, Kooverjee BB, de Scally S, Cowan DA, Makhalanyane TP. Changes in nutrient availability substantially alter bacteria and extracellular enzymatic activities in Antarctic soils. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae071. [PMID: 38697936 PMCID: PMC11107947 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae071] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
In polar regions, global warming has accelerated the melting of glacial and buried ice, resulting in meltwater run-off and the mobilization of surface nutrients. Yet, the short-term effects of altered nutrient regimes on the diversity and function of soil microbiota in polyextreme environments such as Antarctica, remains poorly understood. We studied these effects by constructing soil microcosms simulating augmented carbon, nitrogen, and moisture. Addition of nitrogen significantly decreased the diversity of Antarctic soil microbial assemblages, compared with other treatments. Other treatments led to a shift in the relative abundances of these microbial assemblages although the distributional patterns were random. Only nitrogen treatment appeared to lead to distinct community structural patterns, with increases in abundance of Proteobacteria (Gammaproteobateria) and a decrease in Verrucomicrobiota (Chlamydiae and Verrucomicrobiae).The effects of extracellular enzyme activities and soil parameters on changes in microbial taxa were also significant following nitrogen addition. Structural equation modeling revealed that nutrient source and extracellular enzyme activities were positive predictors of microbial diversity. Our study highlights the effect of nitrogen addition on Antarctic soil microorganisms, supporting evidence of microbial resilience to nutrient increases. In contrast with studies suggesting that these communities may be resistant to change, Antarctic soil microbiota responded rapidly to augmented nutrient regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Girish R Nair
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Bhaveni B Kooverjee
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Storme de Scally
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Don A Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
| | - Thulani P Makhalanyane
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation, School for Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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12
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Leung PM, Grinter R, Tudor-Matthew E, Lingford JP, Jimenez L, Lee HC, Milton M, Hanchapola I, Tanuwidjaya E, Kropp A, Peach HA, Carere CR, Stott MB, Schittenhelm RB, Greening C. Trace gas oxidation sustains energy needs of a thermophilic archaeon at suboptimal temperatures. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3219. [PMID: 38622143 PMCID: PMC11018855 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47324-2] [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: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Diverse aerobic bacteria use atmospheric hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) as energy sources to support growth and survival. Such trace gas oxidation is recognised as a globally significant process that serves as the main sink in the biogeochemical H2 cycle and sustains microbial biodiversity in oligotrophic ecosystems. However, it is unclear whether archaea can also use atmospheric H2. Here we show that a thermoacidophilic archaeon, Acidianus brierleyi (Thermoproteota), constitutively consumes H2 and CO to sub-atmospheric levels. Oxidation occurs across a wide range of temperatures (10 to 70 °C) and enhances ATP production during starvation-induced persistence under temperate conditions. The genome of A. brierleyi encodes a canonical CO dehydrogenase and four distinct [NiFe]-hydrogenases, which are differentially produced in response to electron donor and acceptor availability. Another archaeon, Metallosphaera sedula, can also oxidize atmospheric H2. Our results suggest that trace gas oxidation is a common trait of Sulfolobales archaea and may play a role in their survival and niche expansion, including during dispersal through temperate environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pok Man Leung
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
| | - Rhys Grinter
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Eve Tudor-Matthew
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - James P Lingford
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Luis Jimenez
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Han-Chung Lee
- Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform and Department of Biochemistry, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Michael Milton
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Iresha Hanchapola
- Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform and Department of Biochemistry, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Erwin Tanuwidjaya
- Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform and Department of Biochemistry, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Ashleigh Kropp
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Hanna A Peach
- Geomicrobiology Research Group, Department of Geothermal Sciences, Te Pū Ao | GNS Science, Wairakei, Taupō, 3377, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Carlo R Carere
- Geomicrobiology Research Group, Department of Geothermal Sciences, Te Pū Ao | GNS Science, Wairakei, Taupō, 3377, Aotearoa New Zealand
- Te Tari Pūhanga Tukanga Matū | Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Matthew B Stott
- Geomicrobiology Research Group, Department of Geothermal Sciences, Te Pū Ao | GNS Science, Wairakei, Taupō, 3377, Aotearoa New Zealand
- Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora | School of Biological Sciences, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Ralf B Schittenhelm
- Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Platform and Department of Biochemistry, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.
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13
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Han P, Tang X, Koch H, Dong X, Hou L, Wang D, Zhao Q, Li Z, Liu M, Lücker S, Shi G. Unveiling unique microbial nitrogen cycling and nitrification driver in coastal Antarctica. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3143. [PMID: 38609359 PMCID: PMC11014942 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47392-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Largely removed from anthropogenic delivery of nitrogen (N), Antarctica has notably low levels of nitrogen. Though our understanding of biological sources of ammonia have been elucidated, the microbial drivers of nitrate (NO3-) cycling in coastal Antarctica remains poorly understood. Here, we explore microbial N cycling in coastal Antarctica, unraveling the biological origin of NO3- via oxygen isotopes in soil and lake sediment, and through the reconstruction of 1968 metagenome-assembled genomes from 29 microbial phyla. Our analysis reveals the metabolic potential for microbial N2 fixation, nitrification, and denitrification, but not for anaerobic ammonium oxidation, signifying a unique microbial N-cycling dynamic. We identify the predominance of complete ammonia oxidizing (comammox) Nitrospira, capable of performing the entire nitrification process. Their adaptive strategies to the Antarctic environment likely include synthesis of trehalose for cold stress, high substrate affinity for resource utilization, and alternate metabolic pathways for nutrient-scarce conditions. We confirm the significant role of comammox Nitrospira in the autotrophic, nitrification process via 13C-DNA-based stable isotope probing. This research highlights the crucial contribution of nitrification to the N budget in coastal Antarctica, identifying comammox Nitrospira clade B as a nitrification driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Han
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Xiufeng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Hanna Koch
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Center for Health & Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, A-3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Xiyang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Lijun Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Danhe Wang
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Zhe Li
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.
- Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| | - Sebastian Lücker
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Guitao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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14
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Ortiz M. All-inclusive nitrifiers in Antarctic soils. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3144. [PMID: 38609376 PMCID: PMC11014971 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47441-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maximiliano Ortiz
- Clemson University Genomics & Bioinformatics Facility, Clemson University, Clemson, USA.
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15
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Coleine C, Albanese D, Ray AE, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Stajich JE, Williams TJ, Larsen S, Tringe S, Pennacchio C, Ferrari BC, Donati C, Selbmann L. Metagenomics untangles potential adaptations of Antarctic endolithic bacteria at the fringe of habitability. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170290. [PMID: 38244622 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Survival and growth strategies of Antarctic endolithic microbes residing in Earth's driest and coldest desert remain virtually unknown. From 109 endolithic microbiomes, 4539 metagenome-assembled genomes were generated, 49.3 % of which were novel candidate bacterial species. We present evidence that trace gas oxidation and atmospheric chemosynthesis may be the prevalent strategies supporting metabolic activity and persistence of these ecosystems at the fringe of life and the limits of habitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Davide Albanese
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Angelique E Ray
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Av. Reina Mercedes 10, E-41012 Sevilla, Spain; Unidad Asociada CSIC-UPO (BioFun), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology and Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92507, USA; Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Timothy J Williams
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Stefano Larsen
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Susannah Tringe
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Christa Pennacchio
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Belinda C Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Randwick, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Claudio Donati
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, 38098 San Michele all'Adige, Italy.
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Via al Porto Antico, 16128 Genoa, Italy
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16
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Williams TJ, Allen MA, Ray AE, Benaud N, Chelliah DS, Albanese D, Donati C, Selbmann L, Coleine C, Ferrari BC. Novel endolithic bacteria of phylum Chloroflexota reveal a myriad of potential survival strategies in the Antarctic desert. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0226423. [PMID: 38372512 PMCID: PMC10952385 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02264-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The ice-free McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are dominated by nutrient-poor mineral soil and rocky outcrops. The principal habitat for microorganisms is within rocks (endolithic). In this environment, microorganisms are provided with protection against sub-zero temperatures, rapid thermal fluctuations, extreme dryness, and ultraviolet and solar radiation. Endolithic communities include lichen, algae, fungi, and a diverse array of bacteria. Chloroflexota is among the most abundant bacterial phyla present in these communities. Among the Chloroflexota are four novel classes of bacteria, here named Candidatus Spiritibacteria class. nov. (=UBA5177), Candidatus Martimicrobia class. nov. (=UBA4733), Candidatus Tarhunnaeia class. nov. (=UBA6077), and Candidatus Uliximicrobia class. nov. (=UBA2235). We retrieved 17 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) that represent these four classes. Based on genome predictions, all these bacteria are inferred to be aerobic heterotrophs that encode enzymes for the catabolism of diverse sugars. These and other organic substrates are likely derived from lichen, algae, and fungi, as metabolites (including photosynthate), cell wall components, and extracellular matrix components. The majority of MAGs encode the capacity for trace gas oxidation using high-affinity uptake hydrogenases, which could provide energy and metabolic water required for survival and persistence. Furthermore, some MAGs encode the capacity to couple the energy generated from H2 and CO oxidation to support carbon fixation (atmospheric chemosynthesis). All encode mechanisms for the detoxification and efflux of heavy metals. Certain MAGs encode features that indicate possible interactions with other organisms, such as Tc-type toxin complexes, hemolysins, and macroglobulins.IMPORTANCEThe ice-free McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are the coldest and most hyperarid desert on Earth. It is, therefore, the closest analog to the surface of the planet Mars. Bacteria and other microorganisms survive by inhabiting airspaces within rocks (endolithic). We identify four novel classes of phylum Chloroflexota, and, based on interrogation of 17 metagenome-assembled genomes, we predict specific metabolic and physiological adaptations that facilitate the survival of these bacteria in this harsh environment-including oxidation of trace gases and the utilization of nutrients (including sugars) derived from lichen, algae, and fungi. We propose that such adaptations allow these endolithic bacteria to eke out an existence in this cold and extremely dry habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Williams
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michelle A Allen
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Angelique E Ray
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicole Benaud
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Devan S Chelliah
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Davide Albanese
- Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Claudio Donati
- Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, Viterbo, Italy
- Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Genova, Italy
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Belinda C Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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17
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Wang K, Bi B, Zhu K, Wen M, Han F. Responses of soil dissolved organic carbon properties to the desertification of desert wetlands in the Mu Us Sandy Land. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 354:120318. [PMID: 38387347 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120318] [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: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
In desert wetlands, the decline in ground water table results in desertification, triggering soil carbon and nutrient loss. However, the impacts of desertification on soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) properties which determine the turnover of soil carbon and nutrients are unclear. Here, the desertification gradient was represented by the distance from the wetland center (0∼240 m) traversing reed marshes, desert shrubs and bare sandy land in the Hongjian Nur Basin, north China. Soil DOC properties were determined by ultraviolet and fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). Results showed that soil DOC content decreased significantly from 107.23 mg kg-1 to 8.44 mg kg-1 by desertification (p < 0.05). However, the proportion of DOC to soil organic carbon (SOC) was gradually significantly increased. According to spectral parameters, microbial-derived DOC decreased from 0 to 120 m (reed marshes to desert shrubs) but increased from 120 to 240 m (desert shrubs to bare sandy lands), with a reverse hump-shaped distribution pattern. The molecular weight and aromaticity of DOC increased from 0 to 120 m but decreased from 120 to 240 m, with a hump-shaped distribution pattern. For the DOC composition, although the relative abundances of humic-acid components remained stable (p > 0.05), they were ultimately decreased by serious desertification and the amino acids became the dominant component. A similar change pattern was also found for humification index. Additionally, MBC and C:N were the two most important variables in determining the content and spectral properties, respectively. Together, these findings relationships between the soil DOC properties and desertification degree, especially the increase in DOC proportion and the decrease in humification degree, which may reduce soil C stabilization in the Hongjian Nur Basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Boyuan Bi
- Shannxi Key Laboratory of Qinling Ecological Intelligent Monitoring and Protection,School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, 710129, Shaanxi, China
| | - Kanghui Zhu
- Research Center on Soil & Water Conservation, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Miao Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Fengpeng Han
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Research Center on Soil & Water Conservation, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
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18
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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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19
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Savaglia V, Lambrechts S, Tytgat B, Vanhellemont Q, Elster J, Willems A, Wilmotte A, Verleyen E, Vyverman W. Geology defines microbiome structure and composition in nunataks and valleys of the Sør Rondane Mountains, East Antarctica. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1316633. [PMID: 38380088 PMCID: PMC10877063 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1316633] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the relation between terrestrial microorganisms and edaphic factors in the Antarctic can provide insights into their potential response to environmental changes. Here we examined the composition of bacterial and micro-eukaryotic communities using amplicon sequencing of rRNA genes in 105 soil samples from the Sør Rondane Mountains (East Antarctica), differing in bedrock or substrate type and associated physicochemical conditions. Although the two most widespread taxa (Acidobacteriota and Chlorophyta) were relatively abundant in each sample, multivariate analysis and co-occurrence networks revealed pronounced differences in community structure depending on substrate type. In moraine substrates, Actinomycetota and Cercozoa were the most abundant bacterial and eukaryotic phyla, whereas on gneiss, granite and marble substrates, Cyanobacteriota and Metazoa were the dominant bacterial and eukaryotic taxa. However, at lower taxonomic level, a distinct differentiation was observed within the Cyanobacteriota phylum depending on substrate type, with granite being dominated by the Nostocaceae family and marble by the Chroococcidiopsaceae family. Surprisingly, metazoans were relatively abundant according to the 18S rRNA dataset, even in samples from the most arid sites, such as moraines in Austkampane and Widerøefjellet ("Dry Valley"). Overall, our study shows that different substrate types support distinct microbial communities, and that mineral soil diversity is a major determinant of terrestrial microbial diversity in inland Antarctic nunataks and valleys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Savaglia
- InBioS Research Unit, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sam Lambrechts
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bjorn Tytgat
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Josef Elster
- Faculty of Science, Centre for Polar Ecology, University of South Bohemia České Budějovice and Institute of Botany, Třeboň, Czechia
| | - Anne Willems
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annick Wilmotte
- InBioS Research Unit, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Elie Verleyen
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Vyverman
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Fickling NW, Abbott CA, Brame JE, Cando‐Dumancela C, Liddicoat C, Robinson JM, Breed MF. Light-dark cycles may influence in situ soil bacterial networks and diurnally-sensitive taxa. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11018. [PMID: 38357595 PMCID: PMC10864733 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11018] [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: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Soil bacterial taxa have important functional roles in ecosystems (e.g. nutrient cycling, soil formation, plant health). Many factors influence their assembly and regulation, with land cover types (e.g. open woodlands, grasslands), land use types (e.g. nature reserves, urban green space) and plant-soil feedbacks being well-studied factors. However, changes in soil bacterial communities in situ over light-dark cycles have received little attention, despite many plants and some bacteria having endogenous circadian rhythms that could influence soil bacterial communities. We sampled surface soils in situ across 24-h light-dark cycles (at 00:00, 06:00, 12:00, 18:00) at two land cover types (remnant vegetation vs. cleared, grassy areas) and applied 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing to investigate changes in bacterial communities. We show that land cover type strongly affected soil bacterial diversity, with soils under native vegetation expressing 15.4%-16.4% lower alpha diversity but 4.9%-10.6% greater heterogeneity than soils under cleared vegetation. In addition, we report time-dependent and site-specific changes in bacterial network complexity and between 598-922 ASVs showing significant changes in relative abundance across times. Native site node degree (bacterial interactions) at the phylum level was 16.0% higher in the early morning than in the afternoon/evening. Our results demonstrate for the first time that light-dark cycles have subtle yet important effects on soil bacterial communities in situ and that land cover influences these dynamics. We provide a new view of soil microbial ecology and suggest that future studies should consider the time of day when sampling soil bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole W. Fickling
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Catherine A. Abbott
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Joel E. Brame
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | | | - Craig Liddicoat
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Jake M. Robinson
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Martin F. Breed
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
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21
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Varliero G, Lebre PH, Adams B, Chown SL, Convey P, Dennis PG, Fan D, Ferrari B, Frey B, Hogg ID, Hopkins DW, Kong W, Makhalanyane T, Matcher G, Newsham KK, Stevens MI, Weigh KV, Cowan DA. Biogeographic survey of soil bacterial communities across Antarctica. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:9. [PMID: 38212738 PMCID: PMC10785390 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01719-3] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antarctica and its unique biodiversity are increasingly at risk from the effects of global climate change and other human influences. A significant recent element underpinning strategies for Antarctic conservation has been the development of a system of Antarctic Conservation Biogeographic Regions (ACBRs). The datasets supporting this classification are, however, dominated by eukaryotic taxa, with contributions from the bacterial domain restricted to Actinomycetota and Cyanobacteriota. Nevertheless, the ice-free areas of the Antarctic continent and the sub-Antarctic islands are dominated in terms of diversity by bacteria. Our study aims to generate a comprehensive phylogenetic dataset of Antarctic bacteria with wide geographical coverage on the continent and sub-Antarctic islands, to investigate whether bacterial diversity and distribution is reflected in the current ACBRs. RESULTS Soil bacterial diversity and community composition did not fully conform with the ACBR classification. Although 19% of the variability was explained by this classification, the largest differences in bacterial community composition were between the broader continental and maritime Antarctic regions, where a degree of structural overlapping within continental and maritime bacterial communities was apparent, not fully reflecting the division into separate ACBRs. Strong divergence in soil bacterial community composition was also apparent between the Antarctic/sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic mainland. Bacterial communities were partially shaped by bioclimatic conditions, with 28% of dominant genera showing habitat preferences connected to at least one of the bioclimatic variables included in our analyses. These genera were also reported as indicator taxa for the ACBRs. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our data indicate that the current ACBR subdivision of the Antarctic continent does not fully reflect bacterial distribution and diversity in Antarctica. We observed considerable overlap in the structure of soil bacterial communities within the maritime Antarctic region and within the continental Antarctic region. Our results also suggest that bacterial communities might be impacted by regional climatic and other environmental changes. The dataset developed in this study provides a comprehensive baseline that will provide a valuable tool for biodiversity conservation efforts on the continent. Further studies are clearly required, and we emphasize the need for more extensive campaigns to systematically sample and characterize Antarctic and sub-Antarctic soil microbial communities. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilda Varliero
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Pedro H Lebre
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Byron Adams
- Department of Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
- Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Steven L Chown
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VA, 3800, Australia
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa
- Biodiversity of Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
| | - Paul G Dennis
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Dandan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Belinda Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Beat Frey
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Ian D Hogg
- School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
- Canadian High Arctic Research Station, Polar Knowledge Canada, Cambridge Bay, NU, Canada
| | - David W Hopkins
- SRUC - Scotland's Rural College, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, Scotland, UK
| | - Weidong Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Thulani Makhalanyane
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Gwynneth Matcher
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Kevin K Newsham
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Mark I Stevens
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Earth and Biological Sciences, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia
| | - Katherine V Weigh
- School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Don A Cowan
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
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Lappan R, Thakar J, Molares Moncayo L, Besser A, Bradley JA, Goordial J, Trembath-Reichert E, Greening C. The atmosphere: a transport medium or an active microbial ecosystem? THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae092. [PMID: 38804464 PMCID: PMC11214262 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae092] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The atmosphere may be Earth's largest microbial ecosystem. It is connected to all of Earth's surface ecosystems and plays an important role in microbial dispersal on local to global scales. Despite this grand scale, surprisingly little is understood about the atmosphere itself as a habitat. A key question remains unresolved: does the atmosphere simply transport microorganisms from one location to another, or does it harbour adapted, resident, and active microbial communities that overcome the physiological stressors and selection pressures the atmosphere poses to life? Advances in extreme microbiology and astrobiology continue to push our understanding of the limits of life towards ever greater extremes of temperature, pressure, salinity, irradiance, pH, and water availability. Earth's atmosphere stands as a challenging, but potentially surmountable, extreme environment to harbour living, active, resident microorganisms. Here, we confront the current understanding of the atmosphere as a microbial habitat, highlighting key advances and limitations. We pose major ecological and mechanistic questions about microbial life in the atmosphere that remain unresolved and frame the problems and technical pitfalls that have largely hindered recent developments in this space, providing evidence-based insights to drive future research in this field. New innovations supported by rigorous technical standards are needed to enable progress in understanding atmospheric microorganisms and their influence on global processes of weather, climate, nutrient cycling, biodiversity, and microbial connectivity, especially in the context of rapid global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Lappan
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jordan Thakar
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Laura Molares Moncayo
- School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
- Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
- Aix Marseille University, University of Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille 13009, France
| | - Alexi Besser
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - James A Bradley
- Aix Marseille University, University of Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille 13009, France
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline Goordial
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G2W1, Canada
| | | | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
- Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
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23
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Coleine C, Delgado-Baquerizo M, DiRuggiero J, Guirado E, Harfouche AL, Perez-Fernandez C, Singh BK, Selbmann L, Egidi E. Dryland microbiomes reveal community adaptations to desertification and climate change. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae056. [PMID: 38552152 PMCID: PMC11031246 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae056] [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: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Drylands account for 45% of the Earth's land area, supporting ~40% of the global population. These regions support some of the most extreme environments on Earth, characterized by extreme temperatures, low and variable rainfall, and low soil fertility. In these biomes, microorganisms provide vital ecosystem services and have evolved distinctive adaptation strategies to endure and flourish in the extreme. However, dryland microbiomes and the ecosystem services they provide are under threat due to intensifying desertification and climate change. In this review, we provide a synthesis of our current understanding of microbial life in drylands, emphasizing the remarkable diversity and adaptations of these communities. We then discuss anthropogenic threats, including the influence of climate change on dryland microbiomes and outline current knowledge gaps. Finally, we propose research priorities to address those gaps and safeguard the sustainability of these fragile biomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, 01100, Italy
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Sevilla, E-41012, Spain
| | - Jocelyne DiRuggiero
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, United States
| | - Emilio Guirado
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Environment Studies “Ramón Margalef”, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante E-03071, Spain
| | - Antoine L Harfouche
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest systems, University of Tuscia, Viterbo 01100, Italy
| | | | - Brajesh K Singh
- Global Centre for Land-Based Innovation, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2750, Australia
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2750, Australia
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, 01100, Italy
- Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Genoa 16128, Italy
| | - Eleonora Egidi
- Global Centre for Land-Based Innovation, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2750, Australia
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2750, Australia
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24
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Garvin ZK, Abades SR, Trefault N, Alfaro FD, Sipes K, Lloyd KG, Onstott TC. Prevalence of trace gas-oxidizing soil bacteria increases with radial distance from Polloquere hot spring within a high-elevation Andean cold desert. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae062. [PMID: 38625060 PMCID: PMC11094475 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae062] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
High-elevation arid regions harbor microbial communities reliant on metabolic niches and flexibility to survive under biologically stressful conditions, including nutrient limitation that necessitates the utilization of atmospheric trace gases as electron donors. Geothermal springs present "oases" of microbial activity, diversity, and abundance by delivering water and substrates, including reduced gases. However, it is unknown whether these springs exhibit a gradient of effects, increasing their impact on trace gas-oxidizers in the surrounding soils. We assessed whether proximity to Polloquere, a high-altitude geothermal spring in an Andean salt flat, alters the diversity and metabolic structure of nearby soil bacterial populations compared to the surrounding cold desert. Recovered DNA and metagenomic analyses indicate that the spring represents an oasis for microbes in this challenging environment, supporting greater biomass with more diverse metabolic functions in proximal soils that declines sharply with radial distance from the spring. Despite the sharp decrease in biomass, potential rates of atmospheric hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) uptake increase away from the spring. Kinetic estimates suggest this activity is due to high-affinity trace gas consumption, likely as a survival strategy for energy/carbon acquisition. These results demonstrate that Polloquere regulates a gradient of diverse microbial communities and metabolisms, culminating in increased activity of trace gas-oxidizers as the influence of the spring yields to that of the regional salt flat environment. This suggests the spring holds local importance within the context of the broader salt flat and potentially represents a model ecosystem for other geothermal systems in high-altitude desert environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary K Garvin
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
| | - Sebastián R Abades
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicole Trefault
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Fernando D Alfaro
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies, Universidad Mayor, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Katie Sipes
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Karen G Lloyd
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States
| | - Tullis C Onstott
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
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25
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Hutchinson TF, Kessler AJ, Wong WW, Hall P, Leung PM, Jirapanjawat T, Greening C, Glud RN, Cook PLM. Microorganisms oxidize glucose through distinct pathways in permeable and cohesive sediments. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae001. [PMID: 38365261 PMCID: PMC10939381 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae001] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
In marine sediments, microbial degradation of organic matter under anoxic conditions is generally thought to proceed through fermentation to volatile fatty acids, which are then oxidized to CO2 coupled to the reduction of terminal electron acceptors (e.g. nitrate, iron, manganese, and sulfate). It has been suggested that, in environments with a highly variable oxygen regime, fermentation mediated by facultative anaerobic bacteria (uncoupled to external terminal electron acceptors) becomes the dominant process. Here, we present the first direct evidence for this fermentation using a novel differentially labeled glucose isotopologue assay that distinguishes between CO2 produced from respiration and fermentation. Using this approach, we measured the relative contribution of respiration and fermentation of glucose in a range of permeable (sandy) and cohesive (muddy) sediments, as well as four bacterial isolates. Under anoxia, microbial communities adapted to high-energy sandy or bioturbated sites mediate fermentation via the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway, in a manner uncoupled from anaerobic respiration. Prolonged anoxic incubation suggests that this uncoupling lasts up to 160 h. In contrast, microbial communities in anoxic muddy sediments (smaller median grain size) generally completely oxidized 13C glucose to 13CO2, consistent with the classical redox cascade model. We also unexpectedly observed that fermentation occurred under oxic conditions in permeable sediments. These observations were further confirmed using pure cultures of four bacteria isolated from permeable sediments. Our results suggest that microbial communities adapted to variable oxygen regimes metabolize glucose (and likely other organic molecules) through fermentation uncoupled to respiration during transient anoxic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess F Hutchinson
- Water Studies, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Adam J Kessler
- School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Wei Wen Wong
- Water Studies, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Puspitaningsih Hall
- Water Studies, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Pok Man Leung
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Thanavit Jirapanjawat
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Ronnie N Glud
- University of Southern Denmark, HADAL, Nordcee and DIAS, Odense M 5230, Denmark
- Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
| | - Perran L M Cook
- Water Studies, School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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26
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Wood C, Bruinink A, Trembath-Reichert E, Wilhelm MB, Vidal C, Balaban E, McKay CP, Swan R, Swan B, Goordial J. Active microbiota persist in dry permafrost and active layer from Elephant Head, Antarctica. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycad002. [PMID: 38304082 PMCID: PMC10833075 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycad002] [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: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Dry permafrost is a challenging environment for microbial life due to cold, dry, and often oligotrophic conditions. In 2016, Elephant Head, Antarctica, was confirmed as the second site on Earth to contain dry permafrost. It is geographically distinct from the McMurdo Dry Valleys where dry permafrost has been studied previously. Here, we present the first study of the microbial activity, diversity, and functional potential of Elephant Head dry permafrost. Microbial activity was measured using radiorespiration assays with radiolabeled acetate as a carbon source at 5, 0, and -5°C. Low, but detectable, rates of microbial activity were measured in some samples at 0 and -5°C. This is distinct from previous studies of McMurdo Dry Valley dry permafrost which concluded that dry permafrost represents a cold-arid limit to life on the planet. The isolation of cold-adapted organisms from these soils, including one capable of subzero growth, further supports that the Elephant Head dry active layer and dry permafrost harbor viable microbial life, which may be active in situ. Metagenomic, 16S rRNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer and amplicon sequencing identified similar microbial communities to other Antarctic and cold environments. The Elephant Head microbial community appears to be adapted for survival in cold, dry, and oligotrophic conditions based on the presence of cold adaptation and stress response genes in the metagenomes. Together, our results show that dry permafrost environments do not exclude active microbial life at subzero temperatures, suggesting that the cold, dry soils of Mars may also not be as inhospitable as previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Wood
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Alyssa Bruinink
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Trembath-Reichert
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, 781 Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Mary Beth Wilhelm
- Space Science & Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, United States
| | - Chanel Vidal
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, 781 Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287, United States
| | - Edward Balaban
- Space Science & Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, United States
| | - Christopher P McKay
- Space Science & Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, United States
| | - Robert Swan
- 2041 Foundation, 130 Wescott Ct, Auburn, CA 95603, United States
| | - Barney Swan
- 2041 Foundation, 130 Wescott Ct, Auburn, CA 95603, United States
| | - Jackie Goordial
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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27
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Tienda S, Gutiérrez-Barranquero JA, Padilla-Roji I, Arrebola E, de Vicente A, Cazorla FM. Polyhydroxyalkanoate production by the plant beneficial rhizobacterium Pseudomonas chlororaphis PCL1606 influences survival and rhizospheric performance. Microbiol Res 2024; 278:127527. [PMID: 37863020 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas chlororaphis PCL1606 (PcPCL1606) is a model rhizobacterium used to study beneficial bacterial interactions with the plant rhizosphere. Many of its beneficial phenotypes depend on the production of the antifungal compound 2-hexyl, 5-propyl resorcinol (HPR). Transcriptomic analysis of PcPCL1606 and the deletional mutant in HPR production ΔdarB strain, assigned an additional regulatory role to HPR, and allowed the detection of differentially expressed genes during the bacterial interaction with the avocado rhizosphere. Interestingly, the putative genes phaG (PCL1606_46820) and phaI (PCL1606_56560), with a predicted role in polyhydroxyalkanoate biosynthesis, were detected to be under HPR control. Both putative genes were expressed in the HPR-producing wild-type strain, but strongly repressed in the derivative mutant ΔdarB, impaired in HPR production. Thus, a derivative mutant impaired in the phaG gene was constructed, characterized and compared with the wild-type strain PcPCL1606 and with the derivative mutant ΔdarB. The phaG mutant had strongly reduced PHA production by PcPCL1606, and displayed altered phenotypes involved in bacterial survival on the plant roots, such as tolerance to high temperature and hydrogen peroxide, and decreased root survival, in a similar way that the ΔdarB mutant. On the other hand, the phaG mutant does not have altered resistance to desiccation, motility, biofilm formation or adhesion phenotypes, as displayed by the HPR-defective ΔdarB mutant have. Interestingly, the mutant defective in PHA production also lacked a biocontrol phenotype against the soilborne pathogenic fungus Rosellinia necatrix, even when the derivative mutant still produced the antifungal HPR compound, demonstrating that the final biocontrol phenotype of PcPCL1606 first requires bacterial survival and adaptation traits to the soil and rhizosphere environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Tienda
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, Avda. Louis Pasteur 31, 29071 Málaga, Spain; Grupo de Biología y Control de Enfermedades de Plantas, Área de Protección de Cultivos, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora", IHSM-UMA-CSIC, Avda. Louis Pasteur 49, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - José Antonio Gutiérrez-Barranquero
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, Avda. Louis Pasteur 31, 29071 Málaga, Spain; Grupo de Biología y Control de Enfermedades de Plantas, Área de Protección de Cultivos, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora", IHSM-UMA-CSIC, Avda. Louis Pasteur 49, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Isabel Padilla-Roji
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, Avda. Louis Pasteur 31, 29071 Málaga, Spain; Grupo de Biología y Control de Enfermedades de Plantas, Área de Protección de Cultivos, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora", IHSM-UMA-CSIC, Avda. Louis Pasteur 49, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Eva Arrebola
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, Avda. Louis Pasteur 31, 29071 Málaga, Spain; Grupo de Biología y Control de Enfermedades de Plantas, Área de Protección de Cultivos, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora", IHSM-UMA-CSIC, Avda. Louis Pasteur 49, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Antonio de Vicente
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, Avda. Louis Pasteur 31, 29071 Málaga, Spain; Grupo de Biología y Control de Enfermedades de Plantas, Área de Protección de Cultivos, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora", IHSM-UMA-CSIC, Avda. Louis Pasteur 49, 29010 Málaga, Spain
| | - Francisco M Cazorla
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos, Avda. Louis Pasteur 31, 29071 Málaga, Spain; Grupo de Biología y Control de Enfermedades de Plantas, Área de Protección de Cultivos, Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea "La Mayora", IHSM-UMA-CSIC, Avda. Louis Pasteur 49, 29010 Málaga, Spain.
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Ray AE, Tribbia DZ, Cowan DA, Ferrari BC. Clearing the air: unraveling past and guiding future research in atmospheric chemosynthesis. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0004823. [PMID: 37914532 PMCID: PMC10732025 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00048-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMMARY Atmospheric chemosynthesis is a recently proposed form of chemoautotrophic microbial primary production. The proposed process relies on the oxidation of trace concentrations of hydrogen (≤530 ppbv), carbon monoxide (≤90 ppbv), and methane (≤1,870 ppbv) gases using high-affinity enzymes. Atmospheric hydrogen and carbon monoxide oxidation have been primarily linked to microbial growth in desert surface soils scarce in liquid water and organic nutrients, and low in photosynthetic communities. It is well established that the oxidation of trace hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases widely supports the persistence of microbial communities in a diminished metabolic state, with the former potentially providing a reliable source of metabolic water. Microbial atmospheric methane oxidation also occurs in oligotrophic desert soils and is widespread throughout copiotrophic environments, with established links to microbial growth. Despite these findings, the direct link between trace gas oxidation and carbon fixation remains disputable. Here, we review the supporting evidence, outlining major gaps in our understanding of this phenomenon, and propose approaches to validate atmospheric chemosynthesis as a primary production process. We also explore the implications of this minimalistic survival strategy in terms of nutrient cycling, climate change, aerobiology, and astrobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelique E. Ray
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Dana Z. Tribbia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Don A. Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Belinda C. Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Australian Centre for Astrobiology, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Wen Y, Zhang G, Zhang W, Liu G. Distribution patterns and functional characteristics of soil bacterial communities in desert ecosystems of northern China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167081. [PMID: 37714348 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Deserts are extremely arid environments where life is exposed to multiple environmental stresses, including low water availability, high temperatures, intense radiation environments and soil carbon and nitrogen limitation. Microorganisms have enormous potential applications due to their unique physiological adaptation mechanisms, extensive involvement in geochemical cycles and production of new antibiotics, among many other characteristics. With the increasing amount of open data provides unprecedented opportunities to further reveal bacterial biodiversity and its global role in ecosystem function. Through the collection of published high-quality sequencing data supplemented with experimental findings, we investigated the distribution characteristics and functional properties of bacteria in desert ecosystems in northern China. We show that there are significant differences in bacterial diversity among different sandy areas, and that soil properties and climatic factors are the main factors affecting bacterial diversity in desert ecosystems. The mean annual precipitation in growing season, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus had significant effects on the diversity of desert bacteria and main bacteria. Desert bacteria primarily participate in the macromolecular decomposition, phototrophy, and geochemical cycling of nitrogen. These findings deepen our understanding of the regional-scale soil microbial diversity patterns in Chinese desert ecosystems and broaden our understanding of the ecological functions carried out by bacteria in these environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wen
- Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Microbial Resources and Engineering of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gaosen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Microbial Resources and Engineering of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Microbial Resources and Engineering of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Guangxiu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Microbial Resources and Engineering of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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30
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Purcell AM, Dijkstra P, Hungate BA, McMillen K, Schwartz E, van Gestel N. Rapid growth rate responses of terrestrial bacteria to field warming on the Antarctic Peninsula. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:2290-2302. [PMID: 37872274 PMCID: PMC10689830 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01536-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Ice-free terrestrial environments of the western Antarctic Peninsula are expanding and subject to colonization by new microorganisms and plants, which control biogeochemical cycling. Measuring growth rates of microbial populations and ecosystem carbon flux is critical for understanding how terrestrial ecosystems in Antarctica will respond to future warming. We implemented a field warming experiment in early (bare soil; +2 °C) and late (peat moss-dominated; +1.2 °C) successional glacier forefield sites on the western Antarctica Peninsula. We used quantitative stable isotope probing with H218O using intact cores in situ to determine growth rate responses of bacterial taxa to short-term (1 month) warming. Warming increased the growth rates of bacterial communities at both sites, even doubling the number of taxa exhibiting significant growth at the early site. Growth responses varied among taxa. Despite that warming induced a similar response for bacterial relative growth rates overall, the warming effect on ecosystem carbon fluxes was stronger at the early successional site-likely driven by increased activity of autotrophs which switched the ecosystem from a carbon source to a carbon sink. At the late-successional site, warming caused a significant increase in growth rate of many Alphaproteobacteria, but a weaker and opposite gross ecosystem productivity response that decreased the carbon sink-indicating that the carbon flux rates were driven more strongly by the plant communities. Such changes to bacterial growth and ecosystem carbon cycling suggest that the terrestrial Antarctic Peninsula can respond fast to increases in temperature, which can have repercussions for long-term elemental cycling and carbon storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M Purcell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
| | - Paul Dijkstra
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Bruce A Hungate
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Kelly McMillen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Egbert Schwartz
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Natasja van Gestel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
- TTU Climate Center, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
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31
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Hobart KK, Greensky Z, Hernandez K, Feinberg JM, Bailey JV, Jones DS. Microbial communities from weathered outcrops of a sulfide-rich ultramafic intrusion, and implications for mine waste management. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:3512-3526. [PMID: 37667903 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16489] [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: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The Duluth Complex (DC) contains sulfide-rich magmatic intrusions that represent one of the largest known economic deposits of copper, nickel, and platinum group elements. Previous work showed that microbial communities associated with experimentally-weathered DC waste rock and tailings were dominated by uncultivated taxa and organisms not typically associated with mine waste. However, those experiments were designed for kinetic testing and do not necessarily represent the conditions expected for long-term environmental weathering. We used 16S rRNA gene methods to characterize the microbial communities present on the surfaces of naturally-weathered and historically disturbed outcrops of DC material. Rock surfaces were dominated by diverse uncultured Ktedonobacteria, Acetobacteria, and Actinobacteria, with abundant algae and other phototrophs. These communities were distinct from microbial assemblages from experimentally-weathered DC rocks, suggesting different energy and nutrient resources in environmental samples. Sulfide mineral incubations performed with and without algae showed that photosynthetic microorganisms could have an inhibitory effect on autotrophic populations, resulting in slightly lower sulfate release and differences in dominant microorganisms. The microbial assemblages from these weathered outcrops show how communities develop during weathering of sulfide-rich DC rocks and represent baseline data that could evaluate the effectiveness of future reclamation of waste produced by large-scale mining operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn K Hobart
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Institute for Rock Magnetism, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - ZhaaZhaawaanong Greensky
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kimberly Hernandez
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joshua M Feinberg
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Institute for Rock Magnetism, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jake V Bailey
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Daniel S Jones
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, USA
- National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA
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32
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Liu L, Chen Y, Shen J, Pan Y, Lin W. Metabolic versatility of soil microbial communities below the rocks of the hyperarid Dalangtan Playa. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0107223. [PMID: 37902391 PMCID: PMC10686078 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01072-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The hyperarid Dalangtan Playa in the western Qaidam Basin, northwestern China, is a unique terrestrial analog of Mars. Despite the polyextreme environments of this area, habitats below translucent rocks capable of environmental buffering could serve as refuges for microbial life. In this study, the hybrid assembly of Illumina short reads and Nanopore long reads recovered high-quality and high-continuity genomes, allowing for high-accuracy analysis and a deeper understanding of extremophiles in the sheltered soils of the Dalangtan Playa. Our findings reveal self-supporting and metabolically versatile sheltered soil communities adapted to a hyperarid and hypersaline playa, which provides implications for the search for life signals on Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxun Shen
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yongxin Pan
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Wiegand S, Sobol M, Schnepp-Pesch LK, Yan G, Iqbal S, Vollmers J, Müller JA, Kaster AK. Taxonomic Re-Classification and Expansion of the Phylum Chloroflexota Based on over 5000 Genomes and Metagenome-Assembled Genomes. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2612. [PMID: 37894270 PMCID: PMC10608941 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102612] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The phylum Chloroflexota (formerly Chloroflexi) encompasses metabolically diverse bacteria that often have high prevalence in terrestrial and aquatic habitats, some even with biotechnological application. However, there is substantial disagreement in public databases which lineage should be considered a member of the phylum and at what taxonomic level. Here, we addressed these issues through extensive phylogenomic analyses. The analyses were based on a collection of >5000 Chloroflexota genomes and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from public databases, novel environmental sites, as well as newly generated MAGs from publicly available sequence reads via an improved binning approach incorporating covariance information. Based on calculated relative evolutionary divergence, we propose that Candidatus Dormibacterota should be listed as a class (i.e., Ca. Dormibacteria) within Chloroflexota together with the classes Anaerolineae, Chloroflexia, Dehalococcoidia, Ktedonobacteria, Ca. Limnocylindria, Thermomicrobia, and two other classes containing only uncultured members. All other Chloroflexota lineages previously listed at the class rank appear to be rather orders or families in the Anaerolineae and Dehalococcoidia, which contain the vast majority of genomes and exhibited the strongest phylogenetic radiation within the phylum. Furthermore, the study suggests that a common ecophysiological capability of members of the phylum is to successfully cope with low energy fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Anne-Kristin Kaster
- Institute for Biological Interfaces (IBG 5), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany; (S.W.); (M.S.); (L.K.S.-P.); (G.Y.); (S.I.); (J.V.); (J.A.M.)
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Moore RA, Azua-Bustos A, González-Silva C, Carr CE. Unveiling metabolic pathways involved in the extreme desiccation tolerance of an Atacama cyanobacterium. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15767. [PMID: 37737281 PMCID: PMC10516996 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41879-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Gloeocapsopsis dulcis strain AAB1 is an extremely xerotolerant cyanobacterium isolated from the Atacama Desert (i.e., the driest and oldest desert on Earth) that holds astrobiological significance due to its ability to biosynthesize compatible solutes at ultra-low water activities. We sequenced and assembled the G. dulcis genome de novo using a combination of long- and short-read sequencing, which resulted in high-quality consensus sequences of the chromosome and two plasmids. We leveraged the G. dulcis genome to generate a genome-scale metabolic model (iGd895) to simulate growth in silico. iGd895 represents, to our knowledge, the first genome-scale metabolic reconstruction developed for an extremely xerotolerant cyanobacterium. The model's predictive capability was assessed by comparing the in silico growth rate with in vitro growth rates of G. dulcis, in addition to the synthesis of trehalose. iGd895 allowed us to explore simulations of key metabolic processes such as essential pathways for water-stress tolerance, and significant alterations to reaction flux distribution and metabolic network reorganization resulting from water limitation. Our study provides insights into the potential metabolic strategies employed by G. dulcis, emphasizing the crucial roles of compatible solutes, metabolic water, energy conservation, and the precise regulation of reaction rates in their adaptation to water stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Moore
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 275 Ferst Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
| | - Armando Azua-Bustos
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Christopher E Carr
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 275 Ferst Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
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Mashamaite L, Lebre PH, Varliero G, Maphosa S, Ortiz M, Hogg ID, Cowan DA. Microbial diversity in Antarctic Dry Valley soils across an altitudinal gradient. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1203216. [PMID: 37555066 PMCID: PMC10406297 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1203216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valleys are geologically diverse, encompassing a wide variety of soil habitats. These environments are largely dominated by microorganisms, which drive the ecosystem services of the region. While altitude is a well-established driver of eukaryotic biodiversity in these Antarctic ice-free areas (and many non-Antarctic environments), little is known of the relationship between altitude and microbial community structure and functionality in continental Antarctica. METHODS We analysed prokaryotic and lower eukaryotic diversity from soil samples across a 684 m altitudinal transect in the lower Taylor Valley, Antarctica and performed a phylogenic characterization of soil microbial communities using short-read sequencing of the 16S rRNA and ITS marker gene amplicons. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Phylogenetic analysis showed clear altitudinal trends in soil microbial composition and structure. Cyanobacteria were more prevalent in higher altitude samples, while the highly stress resistant Chloroflexota and Deinococcota were more prevalent in lower altitude samples. We also detected a shift from Basidiomycota to Chytridiomycota with increasing altitude. Several genera associated with trace gas chemotrophy, including Rubrobacter and Ornithinicoccus, were widely distributed across the entire transect, suggesting that trace-gas chemotrophy may be an important trophic strategy for microbial survival in oligotrophic environments. The ratio of trace-gas chemotrophs to photoautotrophs was significantly higher in lower altitude samples. Co-occurrence network analysis of prokaryotic communities showed some significant differences in connectivity within the communities from different altitudinal zones, with cyanobacterial and trace-gas chemotrophy-associated taxa being identified as potential keystone taxa for soil communities at higher altitudes. By contrast, the prokaryotic network at low altitudes was dominated by heterotrophic keystone taxa, thus suggesting a clear trophic distinction between soil prokaryotic communities at different altitudes. Based on these results, we conclude that altitude is an important driver of microbial ecology in Antarctic ice-free soil habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lefentse Mashamaite
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Pedro H. Lebre
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Gilda Varliero
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Rhizosphere Processes Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Silindile Maphosa
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Max Ortiz
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Clemson University Genomics & Bioinformatics Facility, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Ian D. Hogg
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
- Canadian High Arctic Research Station, Polar Knowledge Canada, Cambridge Bay, NU, Canada
| | - Don A. Cowan
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Sawers RG. Perspective elucidating the physiology of a microbial cell: Neidhardt's Holy Grail. Mol Microbiol 2023; 120:54-59. [PMID: 36855806 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
A living microbial cell represents a system of high complexity, integration, and extreme order. All processes within that cell interconvert free energy through a multitude of interconnected metabolic reactions that help to maintain the cell in a state of low entropy, which is a characteristic of all living systems. The study of macromolecular interactions outside this cellular environment yields valuable information about the molecular function of macromolecules but represents a system in comparative disorder. Consequently, care must always be taken in interpreting the information gleaned from such studies and must be compared with how the same macromolecules function in vivo, otherwise, discrepancies can arise. The importance of combining reductionist approaches with the study of whole-cell microbial physiology is discussed regarding the long-term aim of understanding how a cell functions in its entirety. This can only be achieved by the continued development of high-resolution structural and multi-omic technologies. It is only by studying the whole cell that we can ever hope to understand how living systems function.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Gary Sawers
- Institute of Microbiology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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37
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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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Yao S, Jin T, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Chen R, Wang Q, Lv M, Hu C, Ma T, Xia W. N/S element transformation modulating lithospheric microbial communities by single-species manipulation. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:107. [PMID: 37194043 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01553-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lithospheric microbiome plays a vital role in global biogeochemical cycling, yet their mutual modulation mechanisms remain largely uncharted. Petroleum reservoirs are important lithosphere ecosystems that provide desirable resources for understanding microbial roles in element cycling. However, the strategy and mechanism of modulating indigenous microbial communities for the optimization of community structures and functions are underexplored, despite its significance in energy recovery and environmental remediation. RESULTS Here we proposed a novel selective stimulation of indigenous functional microbes by driving nitrogen and sulfur cycling in petroleum reservoirs using injections of an exogenous heterocycle-degrading strain of Pseudomonas. We defined such bacteria capable of removing and releasing organically bound sulfur and nitrogen from heterocycles as "bioredox triggers". High-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, metagenomic, and gene transcription-level analyses of extensive production water and sandstone core samples spanning the whole oil production process clarified the microbiome dynamics following the intervention. These efforts demonstrated the feasibility of in situ N/S element release and electron acceptor generation during heterocycle degradation, shifting microbiome structures and functions and increasing phylogenetic diversity and genera engaged in sulfur and nitrogen cycling, such as Desulfovibrio, Shewanella, and Sulfurospirillum. The metabolic potentials of sulfur- and nitrogen-cycling processes, particularly dissimilatory sulfate reduction and dissimilatory nitrate reduction, were elevated in reservoir microbiomes. The relative expression of genes involved in sulfate reduction (dsrA, dsrB) and nitrate reduction (napA) was upregulated by 85, 28, and 22 folds, respectively. Field trials showed significant improvements in oil properties, with a decline in asphaltenes and aromatics, hetero-element contents, and viscosity, hence facilitating the effective exploitation of heavy oil. CONCLUSIONS The interactions between microbiomes and element cycling elucidated in this study will contribute to a better understanding of microbial metabolic involvement in, and response to, biogeochemical processes in the lithosphere. The presented findings demonstrated the immense potential of our microbial modulation strategy for green and enhanced heavy oil recovery. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Yao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianzhi Jin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Chen
- Institute of Crop Germplasm and Biotechnology, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Institute of Crop Germplasm and Biotechnology, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Mingjie Lv
- Institute of Crop Germplasm and Biotechnology, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin, 300381, China
| | - Chuxiao Hu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Ma
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wenjie Xia
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, People's Republic of China.
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Xu Y, Teng Y, Wang X, Ren W, Zhao L, Luo Y, Christie P, Greening C. Endogenous biohydrogen from a rhizobium-legume association drives microbial biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyl in contaminated soil. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 176:107962. [PMID: 37196568 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Endogenous hydrogen (H2) is produced through rhizobium-legume associations in terrestrial ecosystems worldwide through dinitrogen fixation. In turn, this gas may alter rhizosphere microbial community structure and modulate biogeochemical cycles. However, very little is understood about the role that this H2 leaking to the rhizosphere plays in shaping the persistent organic pollutants degrading microbes in contaminated soils. Here, we combined DNA-stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) with metagenomics to explore how endogenous H2 from the symbiotic rhizobium-alfalfa association drives the microbial biodegradation of tetrachlorobiphenyl PCB 77 in a contaminated soil. The results showed that PCB77 biodegradation efficiency increased significantly in soils treated with endogenous H2. Based on metagenomes of 13C-enriched DNA fractions, endogenous H2 selected bacteria harboring PCB degradation genes. Functional gene annotation allowed the reconstruction of several complete pathways for PCB catabolism, with different taxa conducting successive metabolic steps of PCB metabolism. The enrichment through endogenous H2 of hydrogenotrophic Pseudomonas and Magnetospirillum encoding biphenyl oxidation genes drove PCB biodegradation. This study proves that endogenous H2 is a significant energy source for active PCB-degrading communities and suggests that elevated H2 can influence the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of the legume rhizosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfeng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Ying Teng
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Xiaomi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Wenjie Ren
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yongming Luo
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Peter Christie
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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Matthews A, Lima-Zaloumis J, Debes Ii RV, Boyer G, Trembath-Reichert E. Heterotrophic Growth Dominates in the Most Extremotolerant Extremophile Cultures. ASTROBIOLOGY 2023; 23:446-459. [PMID: 36723486 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Due to their ability to withstand "extreme" conditions, Earth's extremophilic organisms can constrain habitability windows for other planetary systems. However, there are many other considerations to microbial growth requirements beyond environmental extremes, such as nutrient availability. Here, we conduct a literature review of the most extremotolerant extremophiles in culture, since working with cultured organisms allows environmental and nutrient variables to be constrained with a high level of specificity. We generated a database that includes the isolation environment, carbon source(s) used, and growth preferences across temperature, pressure, salinity, and pH extremes. We found that the "most extreme" conditions were primarily sustained by heterotrophs, except for hyperthermophiles. These results highlight the importance of considering organic carbon availability when using extremophiles for habitability constraints. We also interrogated polyextreme potential across temperature, pressure, salinity, and pH conditions. Our findings suggest that the investigation of growth tolerance rather than growth optimum may reveal wider habitability parameters. Overall, these results highlight the potential polyextremes, environments, nutrient requirements, and additional analyses that could improve the application of cultured investigations to astrobiology questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianna Matthews
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | | | - R Vincent Debes Ii
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Grayson Boyer
- School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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Chen X, Qi X, Ren G, Chang R, Qin X, Liu G, Zhuang G, Ma A. Niche-mediated bacterial community composition in continental glacier alluvial valleys under cold and arid environments. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1120151. [PMID: 36970702 PMCID: PMC10033870 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1120151] [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: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Bacteria are an essential component of glacier-fed ecosystems and play a dominant role in driving elemental cycling in the hydrosphere and pedosphere. However, studies of bacterial community composition mechanisms and their potential ecological functions from the alluvial valley of mountain glaciers are extremely scarce under cold and arid environments. Methods Here, we analyzed the effects of major physicochemical parameters related to soil on the bacterial community compositions in an alluvial valley of the Laohugou Glacier No. 12 from the perspective of core, other, and unique taxa and explored their functional composition characteristics. Results and discussion The different characteristics of core, other, and unique taxa highlighted the conservation and difference in bacterial community composition. The bacterial community structure of the glacial alluvial valley was mainly affected by the above sea level, soil organic carbon, and water holding capacity. In addition, the most common and active carbon metabolic pathways and their spatial distribution patterns along the glacial alluvial valley were revealed by FAPTOTAX. Collectively, this study provides new insights into the comprehensive assessment of glacier-fed ecosystems in glacial meltwater ceasing or glacier disappearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianke Chen
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangning Qi
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ge Ren
- National Institute of Metrology, Beijing, China
| | - Ruiying Chang
- Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Qin
- Qilian Shan Station of Glaciology and Eco-Environment, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guohua Liu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guoqiang Zhuang
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Anzhou Ma
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Feng X, He S, Sato T, Kondo T, Uema K, Sato K, Kobayashi H. Enrichment of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria using a hybrid biological-inorganic system. J Biosci Bioeng 2023; 135:250-257. [PMID: 36650080 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2022.12.011] [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: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Hybrid biological-inorganic (HBI) systems comprising inorganic water-splitting catalysts and aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) have previously been used for CO2 conversion. In order to identify new biocatalysts for CO2 conversion, the present study used an HBI system to enrich HOB directly from environmental samples. Three sediment samples (from a brackish water pond, a beach, and a tide pool) and two activated sludge samples (from two separate sewage plants) were inoculated into HBI systems using a cobalt phosphorus (Co-P) alloy and cobalt phosphate (CoPi) as inorganic catalysts with a fixed voltage of 2.0 V. The gas composition of the reactor headspaces and electric current were monitored. An aliquot of the reactor medium was transferred to a new reactor when significant consumption of H2 and CO2 was detected. This process was repeated twice (with three reactors in operation for each sample) to enrich HOB. Increased biomass concomitant with increased H2 and CO2 consumption was observed in the third reactor, indicating enrichment of HOB. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing demonstrated enrichment of sequences related to HOB (including bacteria from Mycobacterium, Hydrogenophaga, and Xanthobacter genera) over successive sub-cultures. Finally, four different HOB belonging to the Mycobacterium, Hydrogenophaga, Xanthobacter, and Acidovorax genera were isolated from reactor media, representing potential candidates as HBI system biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Feng
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Sijia He
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Taiki Sato
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Takumi Kondo
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Koyo Uema
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kozo Sato
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; Frontier Research Center for Energy and Resource (FRCER), Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Hajime Kobayashi
- Department of Systems Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan; Frontier Research Center for Energy and Resource (FRCER), Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
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Grinter R, Kropp A, Venugopal H, Senger M, Badley J, Cabotaje PR, Jia R, Duan Z, Huang P, Stripp ST, Barlow CK, Belousoff M, Shafaat HS, Cook GM, Schittenhelm RB, Vincent KA, Khalid S, Berggren G, Greening C. Structural basis for bacterial energy extraction from atmospheric hydrogen. Nature 2023; 615:541-547. [PMID: 36890228 PMCID: PMC10017518 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05781-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Diverse aerobic bacteria use atmospheric H2 as an energy source for growth and survival1. This globally significant process regulates the composition of the atmosphere, enhances soil biodiversity and drives primary production in extreme environments2,3. Atmospheric H2 oxidation is attributed to uncharacterized members of the [NiFe] hydrogenase superfamily4,5. However, it remains unresolved how these enzymes overcome the extraordinary catalytic challenge of oxidizing picomolar levels of H2 amid ambient levels of the catalytic poison O2 and how the derived electrons are transferred to the respiratory chain1. Here we determined the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Mycobacterium smegmatis hydrogenase Huc and investigated its mechanism. Huc is a highly efficient oxygen-insensitive enzyme that couples oxidation of atmospheric H2 to the hydrogenation of the respiratory electron carrier menaquinone. Huc uses narrow hydrophobic gas channels to selectively bind atmospheric H2 at the expense of O2, and 3 [3Fe-4S] clusters modulate the properties of the enzyme so that atmospheric H2 oxidation is energetically feasible. The Huc catalytic subunits form an octameric 833 kDa complex around a membrane-associated stalk, which transports and reduces menaquinone 94 Å from the membrane. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the biogeochemically and ecologically important process of atmospheric H2 oxidation, uncover a mode of energy coupling dependent on long-range quinone transport, and pave the way for the development of catalysts that oxidize H2 in ambient air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhys Grinter
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Ashleigh Kropp
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hari Venugopal
- Ramaciotti Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Moritz Senger
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jack Badley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Princess R Cabotaje
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ruyu Jia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Zehui Duan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford, UK
| | - Ping Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sven T Stripp
- Department of Physics, Experimental Molecular Biophysics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christopher K Barlow
- Department of Biochemistry, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew Belousoff
- Centre for Electron Microscopy of Membrane Proteins, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hannah S Shafaat
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Gregory M Cook
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Ralf B Schittenhelm
- Department of Biochemistry, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Monash Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kylie A Vincent
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford, UK
| | - Syma Khalid
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gustav Berggren
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- ARC Research Hub for Carbon Utilisation and Recycling, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
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Abstract
The island of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai (HTHH) in the Kingdom of Tonga was formed by Surtseyan eruptions and persisted for 7 years before being obliterated by a massive volcanic eruption on 15 January 2022. Before it was destroyed, HTHH was an unparalleled natural laboratory to study primary succession on a newly formed landmass. We characterized the microbial communities found on the surface sediments of HTHH using a combination of quantitative PCR, marker gene sequencing, and shotgun metagenomic analyses. Contrary to expectations, photosynthetic cyanobacteria were not detected in these sediments, even though they are typically dominant in the earliest stages of primary succession in other terrestrial environments. Instead, our results suggest that the early sediment communities were composed of a diverse array of bacterial taxa, including trace gas oxidizers, anoxygenic photosynthesizers, and chemolithotrophs capable of metabolizing inorganic sulfur, with these bacteria likely sourced from nearby active geothermal environments. While the destruction of HTHH makes it impossible to revisit the site to conduct in situ metabolic measurements or observe how the microbial communities might have continued to change over time, our results do suggest that the early microbial colonizers have unique origins and metabolic capabilities. IMPORTANCE The volcanic island of Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai in the Kingdom of Tonga represents a very rare example of new island formation and thus a unique opportunity to study how organisms colonize a new landmass. We found that the island was colonized by diverse microbial communities shortly after its formation in 2015, with these microbes likely originating from nearby geothermal environments. Primary succession in this system was distinct from that typically observed in other terrestrial environments, with the early microbial colonizers relying on unique metabolic strategies to survive on the surface of this newly formed island, including the capacity to generate energy via sulfur and trace gas metabolism.
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Molecular hydrogen in seawater supports growth of diverse marine bacteria. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:581-595. [PMID: 36747116 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01322-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Molecular hydrogen (H2) is an abundant and readily accessible energy source in marine systems, but it remains unknown whether marine microbial communities consume this gas. Here we use a suite of approaches to show that marine bacteria consume H2 to support growth. Genes for H2-uptake hydrogenases are prevalent in global ocean metagenomes, highly expressed in metatranscriptomes and found across eight bacterial phyla. Capacity for H2 oxidation increases with depth and decreases with oxygen concentration, suggesting that H2 is important in environments with low primary production. Biogeochemical measurements of tropical, temperate and subantarctic waters, and axenic cultures show that marine microbes consume H2 supplied at environmentally relevant concentrations, yielding enough cell-specific power to support growth in bacteria with low energy requirements. Conversely, our results indicate that oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) primarily supports survival. Altogether, H2 is a notable energy source for marine bacteria and may influence oceanic ecology and biogeochemistry.
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Ni G, Lappan R, Hernández M, Santini T, Tomkins AG, Greening C. Functional basis of primary succession: Traits of the pioneer microbes. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:171-176. [PMID: 36309943 PMCID: PMC10098604 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gaofeng Ni
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rachael Lappan
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marcela Hernández
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Talitha Santini
- School of Agriculture and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew G Tomkins
- School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.,Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Ordóñez-Enireb E, Cucalón RV, Cárdenas D, Ordóñez N, Coello S, Elizalde P, Cárdenas WB. Antarctic fungi with antibiotic potential isolated from Fort William Point, Antarctica. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21477. [PMID: 36509821 PMCID: PMC9744802 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25911-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Antarctic continent is one of the most inhospitable places on earth, where living creatures, mostly represented by microorganisms, have specific physiological characteristics that allow them to adapt to the extreme environmental conditions. These physiological adaptations can result in the production of unique secondary metabolites with potential biotechnological applications. The current study presents a genetic and antibacterial characterization of four Antarctic fungi isolated from soil samples collected in Pedro Vicente Maldonado Scientific Station, at Fort William Point, Greenwich Island, Antarctica. Based on the sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the fungi were identified as Antarctomyces sp., Thelebolus sp., Penicillium sp., and Cryptococcus gilvescens. The antibacterial activity was assessed against four clinical bacterial strains: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus, by a modified bacterial growth inhibition assay on agar plates. Results showed that C. gilvescens and Penicillium sp. have potential antibiotic activity against all bacterial strains. Interestingly, Thelebolus sp. showed potential antibiotic activity only against E. coli. In contrast, Antarctomyces sp. did not show antibiotic activity against any of the bacteria tested under our experimental conditions. This study highlights the importance of conservation of Antarctica as a source of metabolites with important biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice Ordóñez-Enireb
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Roberto V. Cucalón
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador ,grid.35403.310000 0004 1936 9991Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Natural Resources Building 607 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign, IL 61820 USA
| | - Diana Cárdenas
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Nadia Ordóñez
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador ,grid.420044.60000 0004 0374 4101Biochemistry and Biosupport, Research and Development, Crop Science, Bayer AG, Monheim, Germany
| | - Santiago Coello
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Paola Elizalde
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador ,grid.25152.310000 0001 2154 235XVaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, 120 Veterinary Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E3 Canada ,grid.25152.310000 0001 2154 235XSchool of Public Health, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N5E5 Canada
| | - Washington B. Cárdenas
- grid.442143.40000 0001 2107 1148Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil, Ecuador
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48
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Liu L, Liu H, Zhang W, Chen Y, Shen J, Li Y, Pan Y, Lin W. Microbial diversity and adaptive strategies in the Mars-like Qaidam Basin, North Tibetan Plateau, China. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 14:873-885. [PMID: 35925018 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The Qaidam Basin on the northern Tibetan Plateau, China, is one of the driest deserts at high elevations, and it has been considered a representative Mars analogue site. Despite recent advances in the diversity of microbial communities in the Qaidam Basin, our understanding of their genomic information, functional potential and adaptive strategies remains very limited. Here, we conducted a combination of physicochemical and metagenomic analyses to investigate the taxonomic composition and adaptive strategies of microbial life in the regolith across the Qaidam Basin. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene-based and metagenomic analyses both reveal that microbial communities in the Qaidam Basin are dominated by the bacterial phylum Actinobacteria. The low levels of moisture and organic carbon contents appear to have essential constraints on microbial biomass and diversity. A total of 50 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes were reconstructed and analysed. Our results reveal the potential of microorganisms to use ambient trace gases to meet energy and carbon needs in this nutrient-limited desert. Furthermore, we find that DNA repair mechanisms and protein protection are likely essential for microbial life in response to stressors of hyperaridity, intense ultraviolet radiation and tremendous temperature fluctuations in this Mars analogue. These findings shed light on the diversity and survival strategies of microbial life inhabiting Mar-like environments, which provide implications for potential life on early Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Liu
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wensi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxun Shen
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiliang Li
- Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yongxin Pan
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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49
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Chown SL. Macrophysiology for decision‐making. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. L. Chown
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia
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50
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Tian C, Lv Y, Yang Z, Zhang R, Zhu Z, Ma H, Li J, Zhang Y. Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Potential at the Initial Stage of Soil Development of the Glacial Forefields in Svalbard. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022:10.1007/s00248-022-02116-3. [PMID: 36239777 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-02116-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities have been identified as the primary inhabitants of Arctic forefields. However, the metabolic potential of microbial communities in these newly exposed soils remains underexplored due to limited access. Here, we sampled the very edge of the glacial forefield in Svalbard and performed the 16S rRNA genes and metagenomic analysis to illustrate the ecosystem characteristics. Burkholderiales and Micrococcales were the dominant bacterial groups at the initial stage of soil development of glacial forefields. 214 metagenome-assembled genomes were recovered from glacier forefield microbiome datasets, including only 2 belonging to archaea. Analysis of these metagenome-assembled genomes revealed that 41% of assembled genomes had the genetic potential to use nitrate and nitrite as electron acceptors. Metabolic pathway reconstruction for these microbes suggested versatility for sulfide and thiosulfate oxidation, H2 and CO utilization, and CO2 fixation. Our results indicate the importance of anaerobic processes in elemental cycling in the glacial forefields. Besides, a range of genes related to adaption to low temperature and other stresses were detected, which revealed the presence of diverse mechanisms of adaption to the extreme environment of Svalbard. This research provides ecological insight into the initial stage of the soil developed during the retreating of glaciers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Tian
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Polar Life and Environment Sciences, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Polar Science, MNR, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongxin Lv
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Polar Life and Environment Sciences, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhifeng Yang
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, USA
| | - Ruifeng Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Polar Life and Environment Sciences, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Polar Science, MNR, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuoyi Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Polar Life and Environment Sciences, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Polar Science, MNR, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongmei Ma
- Key Laboratory for Polar Science, MNR, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Li
- School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Polar Life and Environment Sciences, School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory for Polar Science, MNR, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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