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Shen L, Hu J, Zhang L, Wu Z, Chen L, Adhikari NP, Ji M, Chen S, Peng F, Liu Y. Genomics-based identification of a cold adapted clade in Deinococcus. BMC Biol 2024; 22:145. [PMID: 38956546 PMCID: PMC11218099 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01944-8] [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: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microbes in the cold polar and alpine environments play a critical role in feedbacks that amplify the effects of climate change. Defining the cold adapted ecotype is one of the prerequisites for understanding the response of polar and alpine microbes to climate change. RESULTS Here, we analysed 85 high-quality, de-duplicated genomes of Deinococcus, which can survive in a variety of harsh environments. By leveraging genomic and phenotypic traits with reverse ecology, we defined a cold adapted clade from eight Deinococcus strains isolated from Arctic, Antarctic and high alpine environments. Genome-wide optimization in amino acid composition and regulation and signalling enable the cold adapted clade to produce CO2 from organic matter and boost the bioavailability of mineral nitrogen. CONCLUSIONS Based primarily on in silico genomic analysis, we defined a potential cold adapted clade in Deinococcus and provided an updated view of the genomic traits and metabolic potential of Deinococcus. Our study would facilitate the understanding of microbial processes in the cold polar and alpine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China.
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Mechanism of Major Diseases, and Auhui Provincial Engineering Research Centre for Molecular Detection and Diagnostics, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China.
| | - Jiayu Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Luyao Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Zirui Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Liangzhong Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Namita Paudel Adhikari
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Center for the Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Mukan Ji
- Center for the Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Shaoxing Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Fang Peng
- China Center for Type Culture Collection (CCTCC), College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yongqin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Center for the Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
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2
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Hassan S, Mushtaq M, Ganiee SA, Zaman M, Yaseen A, Shah AJ, Ganai BA. Microbial oases in the ice: A state-of-the-art review on cryoconite holes as diversity hotspots and their scientific connotations. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118963. [PMID: 38640991 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Cryoconite holes, small meltwater pools on the surface of glaciers and ice sheets, represent extremely cold ecosystems teeming with diverse microbial life. Cryoconite holes exhibit greater susceptibility to the impacts of climate change, underlining the imperative nature of investigating microbial communities as an essential module of polar and alpine ecosystem monitoring efforts. Microbes in cryoconite holes play a critical role in nutrient cycling and can produce bioactive compounds, holding promise for industrial and pharmaceutical innovation. Understanding microbial diversity in these delicate ecosystems is essential for effective conservation strategies. Therefore, this review discusses the microbial diversity in these extreme environments, aiming to unveil the complexity of their microbial communities. The current study envisages that cryoconite holes as distinctive ecosystems encompass a multitude of taxonomically diverse and functionally adaptable microorganisms that exhibit a rich microbial diversity and possess intricate ecological functions. By investigating microbial diversity and ecological functions of cryoconite holes, this study aims to contribute valuable insights into the broader field of environmental microbiology and enhance further understanding of these ecosystems. This review seeks to provide a holistic overview regarding the formation, evolution, characterization, and molecular adaptations of cryoconite holes. Furthermore, future research directions and challenges underlining the need for long-term monitoring, and ethical considerations in preserving these pristine environments are also provided. Addressing these challenges and resolutely pursuing future research directions promises to enrich our comprehension of microbial diversity within cryoconite holes, revealing the broader ecological and biogeochemical implications. The inferences derived from the present study will provide researchers, ecologists, and policymakers with a profound understanding of the significance and utility of cryoconite holes in unveiling the microbial diversity and its potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahnawaz Hassan
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India.
| | - Misba Mushtaq
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Shahid Ahmad Ganiee
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Muzafar Zaman
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Aarif Yaseen
- Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Abdul Jalil Shah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Bashir Ahmad Ganai
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India.
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3
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Robicheau BM, Tolman J, Rose S, Desai D, LaRoche J. Marine nitrogen-fixers in the Canadian Arctic Gateway are dominated by biogeographically distinct noncyanobacterial communities. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad122. [PMID: 37951299 PMCID: PMC10656255 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad122] [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: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe diazotrophs present during a 2015 GEOTRACES expedition through the Canadian Arctic Gateway (CAG) using nifH metabarcoding. In the less studied Labrador Sea, Bradyrhizobium sp. and Vitreoscilla sp. nifH variants were dominant, while in Baffin Bay, a Stutzerimonas stutzeri variant was dominant. In comparison, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) was characterized by a broader set of dominant variants belonging to Desulfobulbaceae, Desulfuromonadales, Arcobacter sp., Vibrio spp., and Sulfuriferula sp. Although dominant diazotrophs fell within known nifH clusters I and III, only a few of these variants were frequently recovered in a 5-year weekly nifH times series in the coastal NW Atlantic presented herein, notably S. stutzeri and variants belonging to Desulfobacterales and Desulfuromonadales. In addition, the majority of dominant Arctic nifH variants shared low similarity (< 92% nucleotide identities) to sequences in a global noncyanobacterial diazotroph catalog recently compiled by others. We further detected UCYN-A throughout the CAG at low-levels using quantitative-PCR assays. Temperature, depth, salinity, oxygen, and nitrate were most strongly correlated to the Arctic diazotroph diversity observed, and we found a stark division between diazotroph communities of the Labrador Sea versus Baffin Bay and the CAA, hence establishing that a previously unknown biogeographic community division can occur for diazotrophs in the CAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent M Robicheau
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Jennifer Tolman
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Sonja Rose
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Dhwani Desai
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, 5850 College Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Julie LaRoche
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 4R2, Canada
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Gokul JK, Mur LAJ, Hodson AJ, Irvine-Fynn TDL, Debbonaire AR, Takeuchi N, Edwards A. Icescape-scale metabolomics reveals cyanobacterial and topographic control of the core metabolism of the cryoconite ecosystem of an Arctic ice cap. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:2549-2563. [PMID: 37621052 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Glaciers host ecosystems comprised of biodiverse and active microbiota. Among glacial ecosystems, less is known about the ecology of ice caps since most studies focus on valley glaciers or ice sheet margins. Previously we detailed the microbiota of one such high Arctic ice cap, focusing on cryoconite as a microbe-mineral aggregate formed by cyanobacteria. Here, we employ metabolomics at the scale of an entire ice cap to reveal the major metabolic pathways prevailing in the cryoconite of Foxfonna, central Svalbard. We reveal how geophysical and biotic processes influence the metabolomes of its resident cryoconite microbiota. We observed differences in amino acid, fatty acid, and nucleotide synthesis across the cap reflecting the influence of ice topography and the cyanobacteria within cryoconite. Ice topography influences central carbohydrate metabolism and nitrogen assimilation, whereas bacterial community structure governs lipid, nucleotide, and carotenoid biosynthesis processes. The prominence of polyamine metabolism and nitrogen assimilation highlights the importance of recycling nitrogenous nutrients. To our knowledge, this study represents the first application of metabolomics across an entire ice mass, demonstrating its utility as a tool for revealing the fundamental metabolic processes essential for sustaining life in supraglacial ecosystems experiencing profound change due to Arctic climate change-driven mass loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarishma K Gokul
- Department of Life Sciences, Cledwyn Building, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Luis A J Mur
- Department of Life Sciences, Cledwyn Building, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - Andrew J Hodson
- Department of Arctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Environmental Science, Sogndal, Norway
| | | | - Aliyah R Debbonaire
- Department of Life Sciences, Cledwyn Building, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - Nozomu Takeuchi
- Department of Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Arwyn Edwards
- Department of Life Sciences, Cledwyn Building, Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Department of Arctic Biology, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
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5
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Hay MC, Mitchell AC, Soares AR, Debbonaire AR, Mogrovejo DC, Els N, Edwards A. Metagenome-assembled genomes from High Arctic glaciers highlight the vulnerability of glacier-associated microbiota and their activities to habitat loss. Microb Genom 2023; 9. [PMID: 37937832 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001131] [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] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid warming of the Arctic is threatening the demise of its glaciers and their associated ecosystems. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore and understand the diversity of genomes resident within glacial ecosystems endangered by human-induced climate change. In this study we use genome-resolved metagenomics to explore the taxonomic and functional diversity of different habitats within glacier-occupied catchments. Comparing different habitats within such catchments offers a natural experiment for understanding the effects of changing habitat extent or even loss upon Arctic microbiota. Through binning and annotation of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) we describe the spatial differences in taxon distribution and their implications for glacier-associated biogeochemical cycling. Multiple taxa associated with carbon cycling included organisms with the potential for carbon monoxide oxidation. Meanwhile, nitrogen fixation was mediated by a single taxon, although diverse taxa contribute to other nitrogen conversions. Genes for sulphur oxidation were prevalent within MAGs implying the potential capacity for sulphur cycling. Finally, we focused on cyanobacterial MAGs, and those within cryoconite, a biodiverse microbe-mineral granular aggregate responsible for darkening glacier surfaces. Although the metagenome-assembled genome of Phormidesmis priestleyi, the cyanobacterium responsible for forming Arctic cryoconite was represented with high coverage, evidence for the biosynthesis of multiple vitamins and co-factors was absent from its MAG. Our results indicate the potential for cross-feeding to sustain P. priestleyi within granular cryoconite. Taken together, genome-resolved metagenomics reveals the vulnerability of glacier-associated microbiota to the deletion of glacial habitats through the rapid warming of the Arctic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie C Hay
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences (DGES), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Present address: Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Andrew C Mitchell
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences (DGES), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - Andre R Soares
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences (DGES), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Present address: Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Aliyah R Debbonaire
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - Diana C Mogrovejo
- Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nora Els
- Department of Lake and Glacier Research, Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Arwyn Edwards
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
- Department of Arctic Biology, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, Svalbard and Jan Mayen
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6
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Zhang Z, Liu Y, Zhao W, Ji M. Radiation impacts gene redundancy and biofilm regulation of cryoconite microbiomes in Northern Hemisphere glaciers. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:228. [PMID: 37848997 PMCID: PMC10583317 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01621-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glaciers harbor diverse microorganisms adapted to extreme conditions with high radiation, fluctuating temperature, and low nutrient availability. In glacial ecosystems, cryoconite granules are hotspots of microbial metabolic activity and could influences the biogeochemical cycle on glacier surface. Climate change could influence glacier dynamics by changing regional meteorological factors (e.g., radiation, precipitation, temperature, wind, and evaporation). Moreover, meteorological factors not only influence glacier dynamics but also directly or indirectly influence cryoconite microbiomes. However, the relationship of the meteorological factors and cryoconite microbiome are poorly understood. RESULTS Here, we collected 88 metagenomes from 26 glaciers distributed in the Northern Hemisphere with corresponding public meteorological data to reveal the relationship between meteorological factors and variation of cryoconite microbiome. Our results showed significant differences in taxonomic and genomic characteristics between cryoconite generalists and specialists. Additionally, we found that the biogeography of both generalists and specialists was influenced by solar radiation. Specialists with smaller genome size and lower gene redundancy were more abundant under high radiation stress, implying that streamlined genomes are more adapted to high radiation conditions. Network analysis revealed that biofilm regulation is a ubiquitous function in response to radiation stress, and hub genes were associated with the formation and dispersion of biofilms. CONCLUSION These findings enhance our understanding of glacier cryoconite microbiome variation on a hemispheric scale and indicate the response mechanisms to radiation stress, which will support forecasts of the ecological consequences of future climate change. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yongqin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Center for Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Weishu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
- SJTU Yazhou Bay Institute of Deepsea Sci-Tech, Yongyou Industrial Park, Sanya, 572024, China
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (IC-DLI), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Mukan Ji
- Center for Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
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7
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Jaarsma AH, Sipes K, Zervas A, Jiménez FC, Ellegaard-Jensen L, Thøgersen MS, Stougaard P, Benning LG, Tranter M, Anesio AM. Exploring microbial diversity in Greenland Ice Sheet supraglacial habitats through culturing-dependent and -independent approaches. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad119. [PMID: 37791411 PMCID: PMC10580271 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbiome of Greenland Ice Sheet supraglacial habitats is still underinvestigated, and as a result there is a lack of representative genomes from these environments. In this study, we investigated the supraglacial microbiome through a combination of culturing-dependent and -independent approaches. We explored ice, cryoconite, biofilm, and snow biodiversity to answer: (1) how microbial diversity differs between supraglacial habitats, (2) if obtained bacterial genomes reflect dominant community members, and (3) how culturing versus high throughput sequencing changes our observations of microbial diversity in supraglacial habitats. Genomes acquired through metagenomic sequencing (133 high-quality MAGs) and whole genome sequencing (73 bacterial isolates) were compared to the metagenome assemblies to investigate abundance within the total environmental DNA. Isolates obtained in this study were not dominant taxa in the habitat they were sampled from, in contrast to the obtained MAGs. We demonstrate here the advantages of using metagenome SSU rRNA genes to reflect whole-community diversity. Additionally, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept of the application of in situ culturing in a supraglacial setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ate H Jaarsma
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Katie Sipes
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Athanasios Zervas
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Lea Ellegaard-Jensen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Mariane S Thøgersen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Peter Stougaard
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Liane G Benning
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Malteserstr. 74-100, 12249 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martyn Tranter
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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Girard C, Vincent WF, Culley AI. Arctic bacterial diversity and connectivity in the coastal margin of the Last Ice Area. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:105. [PMID: 37752298 PMCID: PMC10522646 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00313-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Arctic climate change is leading to sea-ice attrition in the Last Ice Area along the northern coast of Canada and Greenland, but less attention has been given to the associated land-based ecosystems. Here we evaluated bacterial community structure in a hydrologically coupled cryo-ecosystem in the region: Thores Glacier, proglacial Thores Lake, and its outlet to the sea. Deep amplicon sequencing revealed that Polaromonas was ubiquitous, but differed genetically among diverse niches. Surface glacier-ice was dominated by Cyanobacteria, while the perennially ice-capped, well-mixed water column of Thores Lake had a unique assemblage of Chloroflexi, Actinobacteriota, and Planctomycetota. Species richness increased downstream, but glacier microbes were little detected in the lake, suggesting strong taxonomic sorting. Ongoing climate change and the retreat of Thores Glacier would lead to complete drainage and loss of the lake microbial ecosystem, indicating the extreme vulnerability of diverse cryohabitats and unique microbiomes in the Last Ice coastal margin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Girard
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique & Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Centre d'études nordiques (CEN), Québec, QC, Canada.
- Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en limnologie et en écologie aquatique (GRIL), Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Département des sciences fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), Chicoutimi, QC, Canada.
| | - Warwick F Vincent
- Centre d'études nordiques (CEN), Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de biologie & Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Alexander I Culley
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique & Institut de biologie intégrative et des systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre d'études nordiques (CEN), Québec, QC, Canada
- Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
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9
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Chen L, Hong T, Wu Z, Song W, Chen SX, Liu Y, Shen L. Genomic analyses reveal a low-temperature adapted clade in Halorubrum, a widespread haloarchaeon across global hypersaline environments. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:508. [PMID: 37653415 PMCID: PMC10468875 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09597-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cold-adapted archaea have diverse ecological roles in a wide range of low-temperature environments. Improving our knowledge of the genomic features that enable psychrophiles to grow in cold environments helps us to understand their adaptive responses. However, samples from typical cold regions such as the remote Arctic and Antarctic are rare, and the limited number of high-quality genomes available leaves us with little data on genomic traits that are statistically associated with cold environmental conditions. RESULTS In this study, we examined the haloarchaeal genus Halorubrum and defined a new clade that represents six isolates from polar and deep earth environments ('PD group' hereafter). The genomic G + C content and amino acid composition of this group distinguishes it from other Halorubrum and the trends are consistent with the established genomic optimization of psychrophiles. The cold adaptation of the PD group was further supported by observations of increased flexibility of proteins encoded across the genome and the findings of a growth test. CONCLUSIONS The PD group Halorubrum exhibited denser genome packing, which confers higher metabolic potential with constant genome size, relative to the reference group, resulting in significant differences in carbon, nitrogen and sulfur metabolic patterns. The most marked feature was the enrichment of genes involved in sulfur cycling, especially the production of sulfite from organic sulfur-containing compounds. Our study provides an updated view of the genomic traits and metabolic potential of Halorubrum and expands the range of sources of cold-adapted haloarchaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangzhong Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Enzymology and Mechanism of Major Diseases, and Auhui Provincial Engineering Research Centre for Molecular Detection and Diagnostics, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Tao Hong
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Zirui Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Weizhi Song
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Shaoxing X Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China.
| | - Yongqin Liu
- Center for the Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China.
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System Science, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085, Beijing, China.
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10
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Jungblut AD, Velazquez D, Cirés S, Kleinteich J, Kottekkatu Padinchati K, Sattler B, Comte J. Editorial: Digitizing frozen earth—revealing microbial diversity and physiology in the cryobiosphere through “omics” tools, volume II. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1013398. [PMID: 36246289 PMCID: PMC9563005 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1013398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anne D. Jungblut
- Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Velazquez
- Biology Department, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Samuel Cirés
- Biology Department, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Birgit Sattler
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Austrian Polar Research Institute, Vienna, Austria
- Birgit Sattler
| | - Jérôme Comte
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Centre d'Études Nordiques (CEN), Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jérôme Comte
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Edwards A, Soares A, Debbonaire A, Edwards Rassner SM. Before you go: a packing list for portable DNA sequencing of microbiomes and metagenomes. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2022; 168. [PMID: 35802409 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Arwyn Edwards
- Institute of Biology, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK.,Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - André Soares
- Institute of Biology, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK.,Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK.,Department of Geography and Earth Sciences (DGES), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK.,Present address: Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology (GAME), University of Duisburg-Essen, Campus Essen - Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Universitätsstr. 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Aliyah Debbonaire
- Institute of Biology, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK.,Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
| | - Sara Maria Edwards Rassner
- Institute of Biology, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK.,Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology (iCEM), Aberystwyth University, Wales, UK
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Scheel M, Zervas A, Jacobsen CS, Christensen TR. Microbial Community Changes in 26,500-Year-Old Thawing Permafrost. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:787146. [PMID: 35401488 PMCID: PMC8988141 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.787146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Northern permafrost soils store more than half of the global soil carbon. Frozen for at least two consecutive years, but often for millennia, permafrost temperatures have increased drastically in the last decades. The resulting thermal erosion leads not only to gradual thaw, resulting in an increase of seasonally thawing soil thickness, but also to abrupt thaw events, such as sudden collapses of the soil surface. These could affect 20% of the permafrost zone and half of its organic carbon, increasing accessibility for deeper rooting vegetation and microbial decomposition into greenhouse gases. Knowledge gaps include the impact of permafrost thaw on the soil microfauna as well as key taxa to change the microbial mineralization of ancient permafrost carbon stocks during erosion. Here, we present the first sequencing study of an abrupt permafrost erosion microbiome in Northeast Greenland, where a thermal erosion gully collapsed in the summer of 2018, leading to the thawing of 26,500-year-old permafrost material. We investigated which soil parameters (pH, soil carbon content, age and moisture, organic and mineral horizons, and permafrost layers) most significantly drove changes of taxonomic diversity and the abundance of soil microorganisms in two consecutive years of intense erosion. Sequencing of the prokaryotic 16S rRNA and fungal ITS2 gene regions at finely scaled depth increments revealed decreasing alpha diversity with depth, soil age, and pH. The most significant drivers of variation were found in the soil age, horizons, and permafrost layer for prokaryotic and fungal beta diversity. Permafrost was mainly dominated by Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, with Polaromonas identified as the most abundant taxon. Thawed permafrost samples indicated increased abundance of several copiotrophic phyla, such as Bacteroidia, suggesting alterations of carbon utilization pathways within eroding permafrost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Scheel
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Athanasios Zervas
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Torben R. Christensen
- Department of Ecoscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
- Oulanka Research Station, Oulu University, Oulu, Finland
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13
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Murakami T, Takeuchi N, Mori H, Hirose Y, Edwards A, Irvine-Fynn T, Li Z, Ishii S, Segawa T. Metagenomics reveals global-scale contrasts in nitrogen cycling and cyanobacterial light-harvesting mechanisms in glacier cryoconite. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:50. [PMID: 35317857 PMCID: PMC8941735 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01238-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryoconite granules are mineral-microbial aggregates found on glacier surfaces worldwide and are hotspots of biogeochemical reactions in glacier ecosystems. However, despite their importance within glacier ecosystems, the geographical diversity of taxonomic assemblages and metabolic potential of cryoconite communities around the globe remain unclear. In particular, the genomic content of cryoconite communities on Asia's high mountain glaciers, which represent a substantial portion of Earth's ice masses, has rarely been reported. Therefore, in this study, to elucidate the taxonomic and ecological diversities of cryoconite bacterial consortia on a global scale, we conducted shotgun metagenomic sequencing of cryoconite acquired from a range of geographical areas comprising Polar (Arctic and Antarctic) and Asian alpine regions. RESULTS Our metagenomic data indicate that compositions of both bacterial taxa and functional genes are particularly distinctive for Asian cryoconite. Read abundance of the genes responsible for denitrification was significantly more abundant in Asian cryoconite than the Polar cryoconite, implying that denitrification is more enhanced in Asian glaciers. The taxonomic composition of Cyanobacteria, the key primary producers in cryoconite communities, also differs between the Polar and Asian samples. Analyses on the metagenome-assembled genomes and fluorescence emission spectra reveal that Asian cryoconite is dominated by multiple cyanobacterial lineages possessing phycoerythrin, a green light-harvesting component for photosynthesis. In contrast, Polar cryoconite is dominated by a single cyanobacterial species Phormidesmis priestleyi that does not possess phycoerythrin. These findings suggest that the assemblage of cryoconite bacterial communities respond to regional- or glacier-specific physicochemical conditions, such as the availability of nutrients (e.g., nitrate and dissolved organic carbon) and light (i.e., incident shortwave radiation). CONCLUSIONS Our genome-resolved metagenomics provides the first characterization of the taxonomic and metabolic diversities of cryoconite from contrasting geographical areas, highlighted by the distinct light-harvesting approaches of Cyanobacteria and nitrogen utilization between Polar and Asian cryoconite, and implies the existence of environmental controls on the assemblage of cryoconite communities. These findings deepen our understanding of the biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles of glacier ecosystems, which are susceptible to ongoing climate change and glacier decline, on a global scale. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Murakami
- Department of Informatics, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
- Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Nozomu Takeuchi
- Department of Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Mori
- Department of Informatics, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
- Advanced Genomics Center, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yuu Hirose
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Life Science, Toyohashi University of Technology, Aichi, Japan
| | - Arwyn Edwards
- Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Tristram Irvine-Fynn
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Environmental Microbiology, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
| | - Zhongqin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences/Tien Shan Glaciological Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Satoshi Ishii
- Department of Soil, Water and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA
- BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN USA
| | - Takahiro Segawa
- Center for Life Science Research, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
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14
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Millar JL, Bagshaw EA, Edwards A, Poniecka EA, Jungblut AD. Polar Cryoconite Associated Microbiota Is Dominated by Hemispheric Specialist Genera. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:738451. [PMID: 34899626 PMCID: PMC8660574 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.738451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryoconite holes, supraglacial depressions containing water and microbe-mineral aggregates, are known to be hotspots of microbial diversity on glacial surfaces. Cryoconite holes form in a variety of locations and conditions, which impacts both their structure and the community that inhabits them. Using high-throughput 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequencing, we have investigated the communities of a wide range of cryoconite holes from 15 locations across the Arctic and Antarctic. Around 24 bacterial and 11 eukaryotic first-rank phyla were observed in total. The various biotic niches (grazer, predator, photoautotroph, and chemotroph), are filled in every location. Significantly, there is a clear divide between the bacterial and microalgal communities of the Arctic and that of the Antarctic. We were able to determine the groups contributing to this difference and the family and genus level. Both polar regions contain a "core group" of bacteria that are present in the majority of cryoconite holes and each contribute >1% of total amplicon sequence variant (ASV) abundance. Whilst both groups contain Microbacteriaceae, the remaining members are specific to the core group of each polar region. Additionally, the microalgal communities of Arctic cryoconite holes are dominated by Chlamydomonas whereas the Antarctic cryoconite holes are dominated by Pleurastrum. Therefore cryoconite holes may be a global feature of glacier landscapes, but they are inhabited by regionally distinct microbial communities. Our results are consistent with the notion that cryoconite microbiomes are adapted to differing conditions within the cryosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin L Millar
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.,Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth A Bagshaw
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Arwyn Edwards
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, United Kingdom
| | - Ewa A Poniecka
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Anne D Jungblut
- Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
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15
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Begmatov S, Savvichev AS, Kadnikov VV, Beletsky AV, Rusanov II, Klyuvitkin AA, Novichkova EA, Mardanov AV, Pimenov NV, Ravin NV. Microbial Communities Involved in Methane, Sulfur, and Nitrogen Cycling in the Sediments of the Barents Sea. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2362. [PMID: 34835487 PMCID: PMC8625253 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A combination of physicochemical and radiotracer analysis, high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA, and particulate methane monooxygenase subunit A (pmoA) genes was used to link a microbial community profile with methane, sulfur, and nitrogen cycling processes. The objects of study were surface sediments sampled at five stations in the northern part of the Barents Sea. The methane content in the upper layers (0-5 cm) ranged from 0.2 to 2.4 µM and increased with depth (16-19 cm) to 9.5 µM. The rate of methane oxidation in the oxic upper layers varied from 2 to 23 nmol CH4 L-1 day-1 and decreased to 0.3 nmol L-1 day-1 in the anoxic zone at a depth of 16-19 cm. Sulfate reduction rates were much higher, from 0.3 to 2.8 µmol L-1 day-1. In the surface sediments, ammonia-oxidizing Nitrosopumilaceae were abundant; the subsequent oxidation of nitrite to nitrate can be carried out by Nitrospira sp. Aerobic methane oxidation could be performed by uncultured deep-sea cluster 3 of gamma-proteobacterial methanotrophs. Undetectable low levels of methanogenesis were consistent with a near complete absence of methanogens. Anaerobic methane oxidation in the deeper sediments was likely performed by ANME-2a-2b and ANME-2c archaea in consortium with sulfate-reducing Desulfobacterota. Sulfide can be oxidized by nitrate-reducing Sulfurovum sp. Thus, the sulfur cycle was linked with the anaerobic oxidation of methane and the nitrogen cycle, which included the oxidation of ammonium to nitrate in the oxic zone and denitrification coupled to the oxidation of sulfide in the deeper sediments. Methane concentrations and rates of microbial biogeochemical processes in sediments in the northern part of the Barents Sea were noticeably higher than in oligotrophic areas of the Arctic Ocean, indicating that an increase in methane concentration significantly activates microbial processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahjahon Begmatov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (S.B.); (V.V.K.); (A.V.B.); (A.V.M.)
| | - Alexander S. Savvichev
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.S.); (I.I.R.); (N.V.P.)
| | - Vitaly V. Kadnikov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (S.B.); (V.V.K.); (A.V.B.); (A.V.M.)
| | - Alexey V. Beletsky
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (S.B.); (V.V.K.); (A.V.B.); (A.V.M.)
| | - Igor I. Rusanov
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.S.); (I.I.R.); (N.V.P.)
| | - Alexey A. Klyuvitkin
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.K.); (E.A.N.)
| | - Ekaterina A. Novichkova
- Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia; (A.A.K.); (E.A.N.)
| | - Andrey V. Mardanov
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (S.B.); (V.V.K.); (A.V.B.); (A.V.M.)
| | - Nikolai V. Pimenov
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (A.S.S.); (I.I.R.); (N.V.P.)
- Il’ichev Pacific Institute of Oceanology, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690041 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Nikolai V. Ravin
- Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (S.B.); (V.V.K.); (A.V.B.); (A.V.M.)
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16
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Maggiori C, Raymond-Bouchard I, Brennan L, Touchette D, Whyte L. MinION sequencing from sea ice cryoconites leads to de novo genome reconstruction from metagenomes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21041. [PMID: 34702846 PMCID: PMC8548342 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00026-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome reconstruction from metagenomes enables detailed study of individual community members, their metabolisms, and their survival strategies. Obtaining high quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) is particularly valuable in extreme environments like sea ice cryoconites, where the native consortia are recalcitrant to culture and strong astrobiology analogues. We evaluated three separate approaches for MAG generation from Allen Bay, Nunavut sea ice cryoconites-HiSeq-only, MinION-only, and hybrid (HiSeq + MinION)-where field MinION sequencing yielded a reliable metagenome. The hybrid assembly produced longer contigs, more coding sequences, and more total MAGs, revealing a microbial community dominated by Bacteroidetes. The hybrid MAGs also had the highest completeness, lowest contamination, and highest N50. A putatively novel species of Octadecabacter is among the hybrid MAGs produced, containing the genus's only known instances of genomic potential for nitrate reduction, denitrification, sulfate reduction, and fermentation. This study shows that the inclusion of MinION reads in traditional short read datasets leads to higher quality metagenomes and MAGs for more accurate descriptions of novel microorganisms in this extreme, transient habitat and has produced the first hybrid MAGs from an extreme environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Maggiori
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21 111 Lakeshore Road, Macdonald Stewart Building, Room MS3-053, Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Isabelle Raymond-Bouchard
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21 111 Lakeshore Road, Macdonald Stewart Building, Room MS3-053, Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Laura Brennan
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21 111 Lakeshore Road, Macdonald Stewart Building, Room MS3-053, Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - David Touchette
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21 111 Lakeshore Road, Macdonald Stewart Building, Room MS3-053, Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Lyle Whyte
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, 21 111 Lakeshore Road, Macdonald Stewart Building, Room MS3-053, Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9, Canada
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17
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Shen L, Liu Y, Allen MA, Xu B, Wang N, Williams TJ, Wang F, Zhou Y, Liu Q, Cavicchioli R. Linking genomic and physiological characteristics of psychrophilic Arthrobacter to metagenomic data to explain global environmental distribution. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:136. [PMID: 34118971 PMCID: PMC8196931 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01084-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microorganisms drive critical global biogeochemical cycles and dominate the biomass in Earth's expansive cold biosphere. Determining the genomic traits that enable psychrophiles to grow in cold environments informs about their physiology and adaptive responses. However, defining important genomic traits of psychrophiles has proven difficult, with the ability to extrapolate genomic knowledge to environmental relevance proving even more difficult. RESULTS Here we examined the bacterial genus Arthrobacter and, assisted by genome sequences of new Tibetan Plateau isolates, defined a new clade, Group C, that represents isolates from polar and alpine environments. Group C had a superior ability to grow at -1°C and possessed genome G+C content, amino acid composition, predicted protein stability, and functional capacities (e.g., sulfur metabolism and mycothiol biosynthesis) that distinguished it from non-polar or alpine Group A Arthrobacter. Interrogation of nearly 1000 metagenomes identified an over-representation of Group C in Canadian permafrost communities from a simulated spring-thaw experiment, indicative of niche adaptation, and an under-representation of Group A in all polar and alpine samples, indicative of a general response to environmental temperature. CONCLUSION The findings illustrate a capacity to define genomic markers of specific taxa that potentially have value for environmental monitoring of cold environments, including environmental change arising from anthropogenic impact. More broadly, the study illustrates the challenges involved in extrapolating from genomic and physiological data to an environmental setting. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System and Resources Environment, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Yongqin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System and Resources Environment, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Center for the Pan-third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Michelle A Allen
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Baiqing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System and Resources Environment, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Ninglian Wang
- College of Urban and Environmental Science, Northwest University, Xian, 710069, China
| | - Timothy J Williams
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Feng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System and Resources Environment, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yuguang Zhou
- China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC), Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qing Liu
- China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC), Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Ricardo Cavicchioli
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
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18
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Finore I, Vigneron A, Vincent WF, Leone L, Di Donato P, Schiano Moriello A, Nicolaus B, Poli A. Novel Psychrophiles and Exopolymers from Permafrost Thaw Lake Sediments. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8091282. [PMID: 32842646 PMCID: PMC7563700 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8091282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermokarst lakes are one of the most abundant types of microbial ecosystems in the circumpolar North. These shallow basins are formed by the thawing and collapse of ice-rich permafrost, with subsequent filling by snow and ice melt. Until now, permafrost thaw lakes have received little attention for isolation of microorganisms by culture-based analysis. The discovery of novel psychrophiles and their biomolecules makes these extreme environments suitable sources for the isolation of new strains, including for potential biotechnological applications. In this study, samples of bottom sediments were collected from three permafrost thaw lakes in subarctic Québec, Canada. Their diverse microbial communities were characterized by 16S rRNA gene amplicon analysis, and subsamples were cultured for the isolation of bacterial strains. Phenotypic and genetic characterization of the isolates revealed affinities to the genera Pseudomonas, Paenibacillus, Acinetobacter,Staphylococcus and Sphingomonas. The isolates were then evaluated for their production of extracellular enzymes and exopolymers. Enzymes of potential biotechnological interest included α and β-glucosidase, α and β-maltosidase, β-xylosidase and cellobiohydrolase. One isolate, Pseudomonas extremaustralis strain 2ASCA, also showed the capability to produce, in the loosely bound cell fraction, a levan-type polysaccharide with a yield of 613 mg/L of culture, suggesting its suitability as a candidate for eco-sustainable alternatives to commercial polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Finore
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche C.N.R., Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Na), Italy; (I.F.); (L.L.); (P.D.D.); (A.S.M.); (B.N.)
| | - Adrien Vigneron
- Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) & Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.V.); (W.F.V.)
| | - Warwick F. Vincent
- Centre d’études nordiques (CEN) & Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (A.V.); (W.F.V.)
| | - Luigi Leone
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche C.N.R., Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Na), Italy; (I.F.); (L.L.); (P.D.D.); (A.S.M.); (B.N.)
| | - Paola Di Donato
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche C.N.R., Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Na), Italy; (I.F.); (L.L.); (P.D.D.); (A.S.M.); (B.N.)
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples Parthenope, Centro Direzionale, Isola C4, 80143 Naples, Italy
| | - Aniello Schiano Moriello
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche C.N.R., Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Na), Italy; (I.F.); (L.L.); (P.D.D.); (A.S.M.); (B.N.)
| | - Barbara Nicolaus
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche C.N.R., Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Na), Italy; (I.F.); (L.L.); (P.D.D.); (A.S.M.); (B.N.)
| | - Annarita Poli
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche C.N.R., Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (Na), Italy; (I.F.); (L.L.); (P.D.D.); (A.S.M.); (B.N.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0818675311
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