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Qian Y, Liu X, Hu P, Gao L, Gu JD. Identifying the major metabolic potentials of microbial-driven carbon, nitrogen and sulfur cycling on stone cultural heritage worldwide. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176757. [PMID: 39378943 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2024] [Revised: 10/02/2024] [Accepted: 10/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
Microbial activities and biochemical reactions are responsible for the biodeterioration of stone cultural heritage, but information on microbial metabolic potentials remains elusive. Here we profiled microbial community signatures and its functional traits on stone cultural heritage from different climate zones globally using sequencing datasets available publicly. Bacterial community on stone cultural heritage shows a significant separation between BSk (cold semi-arid climate) and Cfb (temperate oceanic climate) with Aw (tropical savanna climate) as a transition region. Importantly, the ubiquity of ammonia oxidizers and nitrite oxidizers on stone cultural heritage under different climates supports the active production and accumulation of nitrates while ammonia/ammonium can be supplied by dinitrogen fixation and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), together with the hydrolysis of urea, arginine, formamide and cyanate. Sulfate accumulation on stone cultural heritage is mainly resulted from the microbial-driven transformation of organosulfur and thiosulfate, with little dissimilatory reduction of sulfate. Pseudorhodoplanes was identified and reported in elemental sulfur turnover for the first time. Notably, carbon sequestration via the reductive tricarboxylic acid (rTCA) cycle and an incomplete 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutynate (HP/HB) cycle other than the Calvin Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle is also significant on stone cultural heritage under relatively humid climate. These results advance our understanding of microbial metabolic potentials and their genetical partitioning patterns on stone cultural heritage of different climate zones globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youfen Qian
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel; Environmental Science and Engineering Research Group, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China
| | - Xiaobo Liu
- School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, 200 Xiaolingwei Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210094, China
| | - Pengfei Hu
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel; Environmental Science and Engineering Research Group, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China
| | - Lin Gao
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel; Environmental Science and Engineering Research Group, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China
| | - Ji-Dong Gu
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel; Environmental Science and Engineering Research Group, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials and Technologies for Energy Conversion, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, China.
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Havlena ZE, Hose LD, DuChene HR, Baker GM, Powell JD, Labrado AL, Brunner B, Jones DS. Origin and modern microbial ecology of secondary mineral deposits in Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, NV, USA. GEOBIOLOGY 2024; 22:e12594. [PMID: 38700397 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Lehman Caves is an extensively decorated high desert cave that represents one of the main tourist attractions in Great Basin National Park, Nevada. Although traditionally considered a water table cave, recent studies identified abundant speleogenetic features consistent with a hypogenic and, potentially, sulfuric acid origin. Here, we characterized white mineral deposits in the Gypsum Annex (GA) passage to determine whether these secondary deposits represent biogenic minerals formed during sulfuric acid corrosion and explored microbial communities associated with these and other mineral deposits throughout the cave. Powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD), scanning electron microscopy with electron dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and electron microprobe analyses (EPMA) showed that, while most white mineral deposits from the GA contain gypsum, they also contain abundant calcite, silica, and other phases. Gypsum and carbonate-associated sulfate isotopic values of these deposits are variable, with δ34SV-CDT between +9.7‰ and +26.1‰, and do not reflect depleted values typically associated with replacement gypsum formed during sulfuric acid speleogenesis. Petrographic observations show that the sulfates likely co-precipitated with carbonate and SiO2 phases. Taken together, these data suggest that the deposits resulted from later-stage meteoric events and not during an initial episode of sulfuric acid speleogenesis. Most sedimentary and mineral deposits in Lehman Caves have very low microbial biomass, with the exception of select areas along the main tour route that have been impacted by tourist traffic. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that microbial communities in GA sediments are distinct from those in other parts of the cave. The microbial communities that inhabit these oligotrophic secondary mineral deposits include OTUs related to known ammonia-oxidizing Nitrosococcales and Thaumarchaeota, as well as common soil taxa such as Acidobacteriota and Proteobacteria. This study reveals microbial and mineralogical diversity in a previously understudied cave and expands our understanding of the geomicrobiology of desert hypogene cave systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoë E Havlena
- Earth and Environmental Science, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, USA
| | - Louise D Hose
- Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | | | | | - J Douglas Powell
- Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Ely Ranger District, Nevada, USA
| | - Amanda L Labrado
- The Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin Brunner
- Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences, The University of Texas El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel S Jones
- 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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Zhang Z, Liu T, Li X, Ye Q, Bangash HI, Zheng J, Peng N. Metagenome-assembled genomes reveal carbohydrate degradation and element metabolism of microorganisms inhabiting Tengchong hot springs, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117144. [PMID: 37716381 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117144] [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: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
A hot spring is a distinctive aquatic environment that provides an excellent system to investigate microorganisms and their function in elemental cycling processes. Previous studies of terrestrial hot springs have been mostly focused on the microbial community, one special phylum or category, or genes involved in a particular metabolic step, while little is known about the overall functional metabolic profiles of microorganisms inhabiting the terrestrial hot springs. Here, we analyzed the microbial community structure and their functional genes based on metagenomic sequencing of six selected hot springs with different temperature and pH conditions. We sequenced a total of 11 samples from six hot springs and constructed 162 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) with completeness above 70% and contamination lower than 10%. Crenarchaeota, Euryarchaeota and Aquificae were found to be the dominant phyla. Functional annotation revealed that bacteria encode versatile carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZYmes) for the degradation of complex polysaccharides, while archaea tend to assimilate C1 compounds through carbon fixation. Under nitrogen-deficient conditions, there were correspondingly fewer genes involved in nitrogen metabolism, while abundant and diverse set of genes participating in sulfur metabolism, particularly those associated with sulfide oxidation and thiosulfate disproportionation. In summary, archaea and bacteria residing in the hot springs display distinct carbon metabolism fate, while sharing the common energy preference through sulfur metabolism. Overall, this research contributes to a better comprehension of biogeochemistry of terrestrial hot springs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhufeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xudong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Hina Iqbal Bangash
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinshui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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Alibaglouei M, Trutschel LR, Rowe AR, Sackett JD. Complete genome sequence of Halomonas sp. strain M1, a thiosulfate-oxidizing bacterium isolated from a hyperalkaline serpentinizing system, Ney Springs. Microbiol Resour Announc 2023; 12:e0050823. [PMID: 37906025 PMCID: PMC10652883 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00508-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the full genome sequence of Halomonas sp. strain M1, isolated from a continental high pH serpentinizing spring in northern California, USA. The 3.7 Mb genome has a G + C content of 54.13%, encodes 3,354 protein-coding genes, and provides insights into the metabolic potential for sulfur oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Alibaglouei
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Leah R. Trutschel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Annette R. Rowe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Joshua D. Sackett
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Rempfert KR, Kraus EA, Nothaft DB, Dildar N, Spear JR, Sepúlveda J, Templeton AS. Intact polar lipidome and membrane adaptations of microbial communities inhabiting serpentinite-hosted fluids. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1198786. [PMID: 38029177 PMCID: PMC10667739 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1198786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The generation of hydrogen and reduced carbon compounds during serpentinization provides sustained energy for microorganisms on Earth, and possibly on other extraterrestrial bodies (e.g., Mars, icy satellites). However, the geochemical conditions that arise from water-rock reaction also challenge the known limits of microbial physiology, such as hyperalkaline pH, limited electron acceptors and inorganic carbon. Because cell membranes act as a primary barrier between a cell and its environment, lipids are a vital component in microbial acclimation to challenging physicochemical conditions. To probe the diversity of cell membrane lipids produced in serpentinizing settings and identify membrane adaptations to this environment, we conducted the first comprehensive intact polar lipid (IPL) biomarker survey of microbial communities inhabiting the subsurface at a terrestrial site of serpentinization. We used an expansive, custom environmental lipid database that expands the application of targeted and untargeted lipodomics in the study of microbial and biogeochemical processes. IPLs extracted from serpentinite-hosted fluid communities were comprised of >90% isoprenoidal and non-isoprenoidal diether glycolipids likely produced by archaeal methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Phospholipids only constituted ~1% of the intact polar lipidome. In addition to abundant diether glycolipids, betaine and trimethylated-ornithine aminolipids and glycosphingolipids were also detected, indicating pervasive membrane modifications in response to phosphate limitation. The carbon oxidation state of IPL backbones was positively correlated with the reduction potential of fluids, which may signify an energy conservation strategy for lipid synthesis. Together, these data suggest microorganisms inhabiting serpentinites possess a unique combination of membrane adaptations that allow for their survival in polyextreme environments. The persistence of IPLs in fluids beyond the presence of their source organisms, as indicated by 16S rRNA genes and transcripts, is promising for the detection of extinct life in serpentinizing settings through lipid biomarker signatures. These data contribute new insights into the complexity of lipid structures generated in actively serpentinizing environments and provide valuable context to aid in the reconstruction of past microbial activity from fossil lipid records of terrestrial serpentinites and the search for biosignatures elsewhere in our solar system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin R. Rempfert
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Emily A. Kraus
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Daniel B. Nothaft
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Nadia Dildar
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - John R. Spear
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
- Department of Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Julio Sepúlveda
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Alexis S. Templeton
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
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Trutschel LR, Rowe AR, Sackett JD. Complete genome sequence of Roseinatronobacter sp. strain S2, a chemolithoheterotroph isolated from a pH 12 serpentinizing system. Microbiol Resour Announc 2023; 12:e0028823. [PMID: 37584560 PMCID: PMC10508151 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00288-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we report the complete genome sequence for Roseinatronobacter sp. S2, a sulfur-oxidizing heterotroph isolated from a serpentinizing system in Northern California. The S2 genome is 4.4 Mb and contains 4,570 protein-encoding genes. This organism contains the genes necessary for sulfur species oxidation and complete ethylmalonyl and pentose phosphate pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah R. Trutschel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Annette R. Rowe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Joshua D. Sackett
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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Putman LI, Schaerer LG, Wu R, Kulas DG, Zolghadr A, Ong RG, Shonnard DR, Techtmann SM. Deconstructed Plastic Substrate Preferences of Microbial Populations from the Natural Environment. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0036223. [PMID: 37260392 PMCID: PMC10433879 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00362-23] [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: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Over half of the world's plastic waste is landfilled, where it is estimated to take hundreds of years to degrade. Given the continued use and disposal of plastic products, it is vital that we develop fast and effective ways to utilize plastic waste. Here, we explore the potential of tandem chemical and biological processing to process various plastics quickly and effectively. Four samples of compost or sediment were used to set up enrichment cultures grown on mixtures of compounds, including disodium terephthalate and terephthalic acid (monomers of polyethylene terephthalate), compounds derived from the chemical deconstruction of polycarbonate, and pyrolysis oil derived from high-density polyethylene plastics. Established enrichment communities were also grown on individual substrates to investigate the substrate preferences of different taxa. Biomass harvested from the cultures was characterized using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. These data reveal low-diversity microbial communities structured by differences in culture inoculum, culture substrate source plastic type, and time. Microbial populations from the classes Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acidobacteriae were significantly enriched when grown on substrates derived from high-density polyethylene and polycarbonate. The metagenomic data contain abundant aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon degradation genes relevant to the biodegradation of deconstructed plastic substrates used here. We show that microbial populations from diverse environments are capable of growth on substrates derived from the chemical deconstruction or pyrolysis of multiple plastic types and that paired chemical and biological processing of plastics should be further developed for industrial applications to manage plastic waste. IMPORTANCE The durability and impermeable nature of plastics have made them a popular material for numerous applications, but these same qualities make plastics difficult to dispose of, resulting in massive amounts of accumulated plastic waste in landfills and the natural environment. Since plastic use and disposal are projected to increase in the future, novel methods to effectively break down and dispose of current and future plastic waste are desperately needed. We show that the products of chemical deconstruction or pyrolysis of plastic can successfully sustain the growth of low-diversity microbial communities. These communities were enriched from multiple environmental sources and are capable of degrading complex xenobiotic carbon compounds. This study demonstrates that tandem chemical and biological processing can be used to degrade multiple types of plastics over a relatively short period of time and may be a future avenue for the mitigation of rapidly accumulating plastic waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay I. Putman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA
| | - Laura G. Schaerer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA
| | - Ruochen Wu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel G. Kulas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA
| | - Ali Zolghadr
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA
| | - Rebecca G. Ong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA
| | - David R. Shonnard
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA
| | - Stephen M. Techtmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan, USA
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He Y, Pan J, Huang D, Sanford RA, Peng S, Wei N, Sun W, Shi L, Jiang Z, Jiang Y, Hu Y, Li S, Li Y, Li M, Dong Y. Distinct microbial structure and metabolic potential shaped by significant environmental gradient impacted by ferrous slag weathering. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108067. [PMID: 37393724 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108067] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Alkaline ferrous slags pose global environmental issues and long-term risks to ambient environments. To explore the under-investigated microbial structure and biogeochemistry in such unique ecosystems, combined geochemical, microbial, ecological and metagenomic analyses were performed in the areas adjacent to a ferrous slag disposal plant in Sichuan, China. Different levels of exposure to ultrabasic slag leachate had resulted in a significant geochemical gradient of pH (8.0-12.4), electric potential (-126.9 to 437.9 mV), total organic carbon (TOC, 1.5-17.3 mg/L), and total nitrogen (TN, 0.17-1.01 mg/L). Distinct microbial communities were observed depending on their exposure to the strongly alkaline leachate. High pH and Ca2+ concentrations were associated with low microbial diversity and enrichment of bacterial classes Gamma-proteobacteria and Deinococci in the microbial communities exposed to the leachate. Combined metagenomic analyses of 4 leachate-unimpacted and 2-impacted microbial communities led to the assembly of one Serpentinomonas pangenome and 81 phylogenetically diversified metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). The prevailing taxa in the leachate-impacted habitats (e.g., Serpentinomonas and Meiothermus spp.) were phylogenetically related to those in active serpentinizing ecosystems, suggesting the analogous processes between the man-made and natural systems. More importantly, they accounted for significant abundance of most functional genes associated with environmental adaptation and major element cycling. Their metabolic potential (e.g., cation/H+ antiporters, carbon fixation on lithospheric carbon source, and respiration coupling sulfur oxidization and oxygen or nitrate reduction) may support these taxa to survive and prosper in these unique geochemical niches. This study provides fundamental understandings of the adaptive strategies of microorganisms in response to the strong environmental perturbation by alkali tailings. It also contributes to a better comprehension of how to remediate environments affected by alkaline industrial material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu He
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, China
| | - Jie Pan
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, Shenzhen University, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, China
| | - Dongmei Huang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, China; Yejin Geological Team of Hubei Geological Bureau, China
| | - Robert A Sanford
- Department of Earth Science & Environmental Change, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Shuming Peng
- Institute of Ecological Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, China
| | - Na Wei
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Weimin Sun
- Guangdong Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Science, Guangdong, China
| | - Liang Shi
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, China; State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China
| | - Zhou Jiang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, China
| | - Yongguang Jiang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, China
| | - Yidan Hu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, China
| | - Shuyi Li
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, China
| | - Yongzhe Li
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, China
| | - Meng Li
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, Shenzhen University, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, China.
| | - Yiran Dong
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, China; State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Wetland Evolution and Ecology Restoration, China.
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Zhang D, Li X, Wu Y, Xu X, Liu Y, Shi B, Peng Y, Dai D, Sha Z, Zheng J. Microbe-driven elemental cycling enables microbial adaptation to deep-sea ferromanganese nodule sediment fields. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:160. [PMID: 37491386 PMCID: PMC10367259 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01601-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ferromanganese nodule-bearing deep-sea sediments cover vast areas of the ocean floor, representing a distinctive habitat in the abyss. These sediments harbor unique conditions characterized by high iron concentration and low degradable nutrient levels, which pose challenges to the survival and growth of most microorganisms. While the microbial diversity in ferromanganese nodule-associated sediments has been surveyed several times, little is known about the functional capacities of the communities adapted to these unique habitats. RESULTS Seven sediment samples collected adjacent to ferromanganese nodules from the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone (CCFZ) in the eastern Pacific Ocean were subjected to metagenomic analysis. As a result, 179 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed and assigned to 21 bacterial phyla and 1 archaeal phylum, with 88.8% of the MAGs remaining unclassified at the species level. The main mechanisms of resistance to heavy metals for microorganisms in sediments included oxidation (Mn), reduction (Cr and Hg), efflux (Pb), synergy of reduction and efflux (As), and synergy of oxidation and efflux (Cu). Iron, which had the highest content among all metallic elements, may occur mainly as Fe(III) that potentially functioned as an electron acceptor. We found that microorganisms with a diverse array of CAZymes did not exhibit higher community abundance. Instead, microorganisms mainly obtained energy from oxidation of metal (e.g., Mn(II)) and sulfur compounds using oxygen or nitrate as an electron acceptor. Chemolithoautotrophic organisms (Thaumarchaeota and Nitrospirota phyla) were found to be potential manganese oxidizers. The functional profile analysis of the dominant microorganisms further indicated that utilization of inorganic nutrients by redox reactions (rather than organic nutrient metabolism) is a major adaptive strategy used by microorganisms to support their survival in the ferromanganese nodule sediments. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a comprehensive metagenomic analysis of microbes inhabiting metal-rich ferromanganese nodule sediments. Our results reveal extensive redundancy across taxa for pathways of metal resistance and transformation, the highly diverse mechanisms used by microbes to obtain nutrition, and their participation in various element cycles in these unique environments. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dechao Zhang
- Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Geology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xudong Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yuehong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, 310012, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xuewei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, Ministry of Natural Resources & Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, 310012, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanxia Liu
- Laboratory for Marine Geology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Benze Shi
- Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China
- Laboratory for Marine Geology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yujie Peng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Dadong Dai
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zhongli Sha
- Qingdao Key Laboratory of Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Geology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Jinshui Zheng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Agricultural Bioinformatics, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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10
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Popall RM, Postec A, Lecoeuvre A, Quéméneur M, Erauso G. Metabolic challenges and key players in serpentinite-hosted microbial ecosystems. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1197823. [PMID: 37555067 PMCID: PMC10404738 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1197823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Serpentinite-hosted systems are amongst the most challenging environments for life on Earth. Serpentinization, a geochemical alteration of exposed ultramafic rock, produces hydrothermal fluids enriched in abiotically derived hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), and small organic molecules. The hyperalkaline pH of these fluids poses a great challenge for metabolic energy and nutrient acquisition, curbing the cellular membrane potential and limiting electron acceptor, carbon, and phosphorous availability. Nevertheless, serpentinization supports the growth of diverse microbial communities whose metabolic make-up might shed light on the beginning of life on Earth and potentially elsewhere. Here, we outline current hypotheses on metabolic energy production, carbon fixation, and nutrient acquisition in serpentinizing environments. A taxonomic survey is performed for each important metabolic function, highlighting potential key players such as H2 and CH4 cycling Serpentinimonas, Hydrogenophaga, Methanobacteriales, Methanosarcinales, and novel candidate phyla. Methodological biases of the available data and future approaches are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Gaël Erauso
- Aix-Marseille Univ, Univ Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO, Marseille, France
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11
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Zavarzina DG, Merkel AY, Klyukina AA, Elizarov IM, Pikhtereva VA, Rusakov VS, Chistyakova NI, Ziganshin RH, Maslov AA, Gavrilov SN. Iron or sulfur respiration-an adaptive choice determining the fitness of a natronophilic bacterium Dethiobacter alkaliphilus in geochemically contrasting environments. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1108245. [PMID: 37520367 PMCID: PMC10376724 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1108245] [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: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Haloalkaliphilic microorganisms are double extremophiles functioning optimally at high salinity and pH. Their typical habitats are soda lakes, geologically ancient yet widespread ecosystems supposed to harbor relict microbial communities. We compared metabolic features and their determinants in two strains of the natronophilic species Dethiobacter alkaliphilus, the only cultured representative of the class "Dethiobacteria" (Bacillota). The strains of D. alkaliphilus were previously isolated from geographically remote Mongolian and Kenyan soda lakes. The type strain AHT1T was described as a facultative chemolithoautotrophic sulfidogen reducing or disproportionating sulfur or thiosulfate, while strain Z-1002 was isolated as a chemolithoautotrophic iron reducer. Here, we uncovered the iron reducing ability of strain AHT1T and the ability of strain Z-1002 for thiosulfate reduction and anaerobic Fe(II) oxidation. Key catabolic processes sustaining the growth of both D. alkaliphilus strains appeared to fit the geochemical settings of two contrasting natural alkaline environments, sulfur-enriched soda lakes and iron-enriched serpentinites. This hypothesis was supported by a meta-analysis of Dethiobacterial genomes and by the enrichment of a novel phylotype from a subsurface alkaline aquifer under Fe(III)-reducing conditions. Genome analysis revealed multiheme c-type cytochromes to be the most probable determinants of iron and sulfur redox transformations in D. alkaliphilus. Phylogeny reconstruction showed that all the respiratory processes in this organism are likely provided by evolutionarily related early forms of unconventional octaheme tetrathionate and sulfite reductases and their structural analogs, OmhA/OcwA Fe(III)-reductases. Several phylogenetically related determinants of anaerobic Fe(II) oxidation were identified in the Z-1002 genome, and the oxidation process was experimentally demonstrated. Proteomic profiling revealed two distinct sets of multiheme cytochromes upregulated in iron(III)- or thiosulfate-respiring cells and the cytochromes peculiar for Fe(II) oxidizing cells. We suggest that maintaining high variation in multiheme cytochromes is an effective adaptive strategy to occupy geochemically contrasting alkaline environments. We propose that sulfur-enriched soda lakes could be secondary habitats for D. alkaliphilus compared to Fe-rich serpentinites, and that the ongoing evolution of Dethiobacterales could retrace the evolutionary path that may have occurred in prokaryotes at a turning point in the biosphere's history, when the intensification of the sulfur cycle outweighed the global significance of the iron cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria G. Zavarzina
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Yu Merkel
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandra A. Klyukina
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan M. Elizarov
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valeria A. Pikhtereva
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Rustam H. Ziganshin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexey A. Maslov
- Faculty of Geology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey N. Gavrilov
- Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, FRC Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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12
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Dick JM, Meng D. Community- and genome-based evidence for a shaping influence of redox potential on bacterial protein evolution. mSystems 2023; 8:e0001423. [PMID: 37289197 PMCID: PMC10308962 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00014-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite deep interest in how environments shape microbial communities, whether redox conditions influence the sequence composition of genomes is not well known. We predicted that the carbon oxidation state (ZC) of protein sequences would be positively correlated with redox potential (Eh). To test this prediction, we used taxonomic classifications for 68 publicly available 16S rRNA gene sequence data sets to estimate the abundances of archaeal and bacterial genomes in river & seawater, lake & pond, geothermal, hyperalkaline, groundwater, sediment, and soil environments. Locally, ZC of community reference proteomes (i.e., all the protein sequences in each genome, weighted by taxonomic abundances but not by protein abundances) is positively correlated with Eh corrected to pH 7 (Eh7) for the majority of data sets for bacterial communities in each type of environment, and global-scale correlations are positive for bacterial communities in all environments. In contrast, archaeal communities show approximately equal frequencies of positive and negative correlations in individual data sets, and a positive pan-environmental correlation for archaea only emerges after limiting the analysis to samples with reported oxygen concentrations. These results provide empirical evidence that geochemistry modulates genome evolution and may have distinct effects on bacteria and archaea. IMPORTANCE The identification of environmental factors that influence the elemental composition of proteins has implications for understanding microbial evolution and biogeography. Millions of years of genome evolution may provide a route for protein sequences to attain incomplete equilibrium with their chemical environment. We developed new tests of this chemical adaptation hypothesis by analyzing trends of the carbon oxidation state of community reference proteomes for microbial communities in local- and global-scale redox gradients. The results provide evidence for widespread environmental shaping of the elemental composition of protein sequences at the community level and establish a rationale for using thermodynamic models as a window into geochemical effects on microbial community assembly and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M. Dick
- Key Laboratory of Metallogenic Prediction of Nonferrous Metals and Geological Environment Monitoring of Ministry of Education, School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Delong Meng
- Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
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13
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Seyler LM, Kraus EA, McLean C, Spear JR, Templeton AS, Schrenk MO. An untargeted exometabolomics approach to characterize dissolved organic matter in groundwater of the Samail Ophiolite. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1093372. [PMID: 36970670 PMCID: PMC10033605 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1093372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The process of serpentinization supports life on Earth and gives rise to the habitability of other worlds in our Solar System. While numerous studies have provided clues to the survival strategies of microbial communities in serpentinizing environments on the modern Earth, characterizing microbial activity in such environments remains challenging due to low biomass and extreme conditions. Here, we used an untargeted metabolomics approach to characterize dissolved organic matter in groundwater in the Samail Ophiolite, the largest and best characterized example of actively serpentinizing uplifted ocean crust and mantle. We found that dissolved organic matter composition is strongly correlated with both fluid type and microbial community composition, and that the fluids that were most influenced by serpentinization contained the greatest number of unique compounds, none of which could be identified using the current metabolite databases. Using metabolomics in conjunction with metagenomic data, we detected numerous products and intermediates of microbial metabolic processes and identified potential biosignatures of microbial activity, including pigments, porphyrins, quinones, fatty acids, and metabolites involved in methanogenesis. Metabolomics techniques like the ones used in this study may be used to further our understanding of life in serpentinizing environments, and aid in the identification of biosignatures that can be used to search for life in serpentinizing systems on other worlds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M. Seyler
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Biology Program, School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ, United States
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, Seattle, WA, United States
- *Correspondence: Lauren M. Seyler,
| | - Emily A. Kraus
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Craig McLean
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - John R. Spear
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Alexis S. Templeton
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Matthew O. Schrenk
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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14
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Mullis MM, Selwyn JD, Kevorkian R, Tague ED, Castro HF, Campagna SR, Lloyd KG, Reese BK. Microbial survival mechanisms within serpentinizing Mariana forearc sediments. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:6985003. [PMID: 36631299 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine deep subsurface sediment is often a microbial environment under energy-limited conditions. However, microbial life has been found to persist and even thrive in deep subsurface environments. The Mariana forearc represents an ideal location for determining how microbial life can withstand extreme conditions including pH 10-12.5 and depleted nutrients. The International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 366 to the Mariana Convergent Margin sampled three serpentinizing seamounts located along the Mariana forearc chain with elevated concentrations of methane, hydrogen, and sulfide. Across all three seamount summits, the most abundant transcripts were for cellular maintenance such as cell wall and membrane repair, and the most abundant metabolic pathways were the Entner-Doudoroff pathway and tricarboxylic acid cycle. At flank samples, sulfur cycling involving taurine assimilation dominated the metatranscriptomes. The in situ activity of these pathways was supported by the detection of their metabolic intermediates. All samples had transcripts from all three domains of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, dominated by Burkholderiales, Deinococcales, and Pseudomonales, as well as the fungal group Opisthokonta. All samples contained transcripts for aerobic methane oxidation (pmoABC) and denitrification (nirKS). The Mariana forearc microbial communities show activity not only consistent with basic survival mechanisms, but also coupled metabolic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Mullis
- Life Sciences Department, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States.,Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Mobile, AL, United States
| | - Jason D Selwyn
- Life Sciences Department, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, United States
| | - Richard Kevorkian
- Microbiology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Eric D Tague
- Microbiology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Hector F Castro
- Microbiology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.,Chemistry Department, UTK Biological and Small Molecule Mass Spectrometry Core, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Shawn R Campagna
- Microbiology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States.,Chemistry Department, UTK Biological and Small Molecule Mass Spectrometry Core, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Karen G Lloyd
- Microbiology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - Brandi Kiel Reese
- Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Mobile, AL, United States.,Marine Sciences Department, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, United States
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15
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Rempfert KR, Nothaft DB, Kraus EA, Asamoto CK, Evans RD, Spear JR, Matter JM, Kopf SH, Templeton AS. Subsurface biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen in the actively serpentinizing Samail Ophiolite, Oman. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1139633. [PMID: 37152731 PMCID: PMC10160414 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1139633] [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: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for life. N compounds such as ammonium ( NH 4 + ) may act as electron donors, while nitrate ( NO 3 - ) and nitrite ( NO 2 - ) may serve as electron acceptors to support energy metabolism. However, little is known regarding the availability and forms of N in subsurface ecosystems, particularly in serpentinite-hosted settings where hydrogen (H2) generated through water-rock reactions promotes habitable conditions for microbial life. Here, we analyzed N and oxygen (O) isotope composition to investigate the source, abundance, and cycling of N species within the Samail Ophiolite of Oman. The dominant dissolved N species was dependent on the fluid type, with Mg2+- HCO 3 - type fluids comprised mostly of NO 3 - , and Ca2+-OH- fluids comprised primarily of ammonia (NH3). We infer that fixed N is introduced to the serpentinite aquifer as NO 3 - . High concentrations of NO 3 - (>100 μM) with a relict meteoric oxygen isotopic composition (δ18O ~ 22‰, Δ17O ~ 6‰) were observed in shallow aquifer fluids, indicative of NO 3 - sourced from atmospheric deposition (rainwater NO 3 - : δ18O of 53.7‰, Δ17O of 16.8‰) mixed with NO 3 - produced in situ through nitrification (estimated endmember δ18O and Δ17O of ~0‰). Conversely, highly reacted hyperalkaline fluids had high concentrations of NH3 (>100 μM) with little NO 3 - detectable. We interpret that NH3 in hyperalkaline fluids is a product of NO 3 - reduction. The proportionality of the O and N isotope fractionation (18ε / 15ε) measured in Samail Ophiolite NO 3 - was close to unity (18ε / 15ε ~ 1), which is consistent with dissimilatory NO 3 - reduction with a membrane-bound reductase (NarG); however, abiotic reduction processes may also be occurring. The presence of genes commonly involved in N reduction processes (narG, napA, nrfA) in the metagenomes of biomass sourced from aquifer fluids supports potential biological involvement in the consumption of NO 3 - . Production of NH 4 + as the end-product of NO 3 - reduction via dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) could retain N in the subsurface and fuel nitrification in the oxygenated near surface. Elevated bioavailable N in all sampled fluids indicates that N is not likely limiting as a nutrient in serpentinites of the Samail Ophiolite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin R. Rempfert
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
- *Correspondence: Kaitlin R. Rempfert
| | - Daniel B. Nothaft
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Emily A. Kraus
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Ciara K. Asamoto
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - R. Dave Evans
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - John R. Spear
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
- Quantitative Biosciences and Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Juerg M. Matter
- National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastian H. Kopf
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Alexis S. Templeton
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, United States
- Alexis S. Templeton
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16
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Brazelton WJ, McGonigle JM, Motamedi S, Pendleton HL, Twing KI, Miller BC, Lowe WJ, Hoffman AM, Prator CA, Chadwick GL, Anderson RE, Thomas E, Butterfield DA, Aquino KA, Früh-Green GL, Schrenk MO, Lang SQ. Metabolic Strategies Shared by Basement Residents of the Lost City Hydrothermal Field. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0092922. [PMID: 35950875 PMCID: PMC9469722 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00929-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alkaline fluids venting from chimneys of the Lost City hydrothermal field flow from a potentially vast microbial habitat within the seafloor where energy and organic molecules are released by chemical reactions within rocks uplifted from Earth's mantle. In this study, we investigated hydrothermal fluids venting from Lost City chimneys as windows into subseafloor environments where the products of geochemical reactions, such as molecular hydrogen (H2), formate, and methane, may be the only available sources of energy for biological activity. Our deep sequencing of metagenomes and metatranscriptomes from these hydrothermal fluids revealed a few key species of archaea and bacteria that are likely to play critical roles in the subseafloor microbial ecosystem. We identified a population of Thermodesulfovibrionales (belonging to phylum Nitrospirota) as a prevalent sulfate-reducing bacterium that may be responsible for much of the consumption of H2 and sulfate in Lost City fluids. Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) classified as Methanosarcinaceae and Candidatus Bipolaricaulota were also recovered from venting fluids and represent potential methanogenic and acetogenic members of the subseafloor ecosystem. These genomes share novel hydrogenases and formate dehydrogenase-like sequences that may be unique to hydrothermal environments where H2 and formate are much more abundant than carbon dioxide. The results of this study include multiple examples of metabolic strategies that appear to be advantageous in hydrothermal and subsurface alkaline environments where energy and carbon are provided by geochemical reactions. IMPORTANCE The Lost City hydrothermal field is an iconic example of a microbial ecosystem fueled by energy and carbon from Earth's mantle. Uplift of mantle rocks into the seafloor can trigger a process known as serpentinization that releases molecular hydrogen (H2) and creates unusual environmental conditions where simple organic carbon molecules are more stable than dissolved inorganic carbon. This study provides an initial glimpse into the kinds of microbes that live deep within the seafloor where serpentinization takes place, by sampling hydrothermal fluids exiting from the Lost City chimneys. The metabolic strategies that these microbes appear to be using are also shared by microbes that inhabit other sites of serpentinization, including continental subsurface environments and natural springs. Therefore, the results of this study contribute to a broader, interdisciplinary effort to understand the general principles and mechanisms by which serpentinization-associated processes can support life on Earth and perhaps other worlds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia M. McGonigle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, Maine, USA
| | - Shahrzad Motamedi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | | | - Katrina I. Twing
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Briggs C. Miller
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - William J. Lowe
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | | | - Cecilia A. Prator
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Grayson L. Chadwick
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Rika E. Anderson
- Department of Biology, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, USA
| | - Elaina Thomas
- Department of Biology, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, USA
| | - David A. Butterfield
- Joint Institute for the Study of Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Matthew O. Schrenk
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Susan Q. Lang
- School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
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17
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Comparative Metagenomics Highlight a Widespread Pathway Involved in Catabolism of Phosphonates in Marine and Terrestrial Serpentinizing Ecosystems. mSystems 2022; 7:e0032822. [PMID: 35913189 PMCID: PMC9426474 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00328-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Serpentinizing hydrothermal systems result from water circulating into the subsurface and interacting with mantle-derived rocks notably near mid-ocean ridges or continental ophiolites. Serpentinization and associated reactions produce alkaline fluids enriched in molecular hydrogen, methane, and small organic molecules that are assumed to feed microbial inhabitants. In this study, we explored the relationships linking serpentinization to associated microbial communities by comparative metagenomics of serpentinite-hosted systems, basalt-hosted vents, and hot springs. The shallow Prony bay hydrothermal field (PBHF) microbiome appeared to be more related to those of ophiolitic sites than to the Lost City hydrothermal field (LCHF) microbiome, probably because of the meteoric origin of its fluid, like terrestrial alkaline springs. This study emphasized the ubiquitous importance of a set of genes involved in the catabolism of phosphonates and highly enriched in all serpentinizing sites compared to other ecosystems. Because most of the serpentinizing systems are depleted in inorganic phosphate, the abundance of genes involved in the carbon-phosphorus lyase pathway suggests that the phosphonates constitute a source of phosphorus in these ecosystems. Additionally, hydrocarbons such as methane, released upon phosphonate catabolism, may contribute to the overall budget of organic molecules in serpentinizing systems. IMPORTANCE This first comparative metagenomic study of serpentinite-hosted environments provides an objective framework to understand the functioning of these peculiar ecosystems. We showed a taxonomic similarity between the PBHF and other terrestrial serpentinite-hosted ecosystems. At the same time, the LCHF microbial community was closer to deep basalt-hosted hydrothermal fields than continental ophiolites, despite the influence of serpentinization. This study revealed shared functional capabilities among serpentinite-hosted ecosystems in response to environmental stress, the metabolism of abundant dihydrogen, and the metabolism of phosphorus. Our results are consistent with the generalized view of serpentinite environments but provide deeper insight into the array of factors that may control microbial activities in these ecosystems. Moreover, we show that metabolism of phosphonate is widespread among alkaline serpentinizing systems and could play a crucial role in phosphorus and methane biogeochemical cycles. This study opens a new line of investigation of the metabolism of reduced phosphorus compounds in serpentinizing environments.
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18
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Meyer-Dombard DR, Malas J. Advances in Defining Ecosystem Functions of the Terrestrial Subsurface Biosphere. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:891528. [PMID: 35722320 PMCID: PMC9201636 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.891528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The subsurface is one of the last remaining 'uncharted territories' of Earth and is now accepted as a biosphere in its own right, at least as critical to Earth systems as the surface biosphere. The terrestrial deep biosphere is connected through a thin veneer of Earth's crust to the surface biosphere, and many subsurface biosphere ecosystems are impacted by surface topography, climate, and near surface groundwater movement and represent a transition zone (at least ephemerally). Delving below this transition zone, we can examine how microbial metabolic functions define a deep terrestrial subsurface. This review provides a survey of the most recent advances in discovering the functional and genomic diversity of the terrestrial subsurface biosphere, how microbes interact with minerals and obtain energy and carbon in the subsurface, and considers adaptations to the presented environmental extremes. We highlight the deepest subsurface studies in deep mines, deep laboratories, and boreholes in crystalline and altered host rock lithologies, with a focus on advances in understanding ecosystem functions in a holistic manner.
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Microbial Communities in a Serpentinizing Aquifer Are Assembled through Strong Concurrent Dispersal Limitation and Selection. mSystems 2021; 6:e0030021. [PMID: 34519519 PMCID: PMC8547479 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00300-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, our appreciation of the extent of habitable environments in Earth’s subsurface has greatly expanded, as has our understanding of the biodiversity contained within. Most studies have relied on single sampling points, rather than considering the long-term dynamics of subsurface environments and their microbial populations. One such habitat are aquifers associated with the aqueous alteration of ultramafic rocks through a process known as serpentinization. Ecological modeling performed on a multiyear time series of microbiology, hydrology, and geochemistry in an ultrabasic aquifer within the Coast Range Ophiolite reveals that community assembly is governed by undominated assembly (i.e., neither stochastic [random] nor deterministic [selective] processes alone govern assembly). Controls on community assembly were further assessed by characterizing aquifer hydrogeology and microbial community adaptations to the environment. These analyses show that low permeability rocks in the aquifer restrict the transmission of microbial populations between closely situated wells. Alpha and beta diversity measures and metagenomic and metatranscriptomic data from microbial communities indicate that high pH and low dissolved inorganic carbon levels impose strong environmental selection on microbial communities within individual wells. Here, we find that the interaction between strong selection imposed by extreme pH and enhanced ecological drift due to dispersal limitation imposed by slow fluid flow results in the undominated assembly signal observed throughout the site. Strong environmental selection paired with extremely low dispersal in the subsurface results in low diversity microbial communities that are well adapted to extreme pH conditions and subject to enhanced stochasticity introduced by ecological drift over time. IMPORTANCE Microbial communities existing under extreme or stressful conditions have long been thought to be structured primarily by deterministic processes. The application of macroecology theory and modeling to microbial communities in recent years has spurred assessment of assembly processes in microbial communities, revealing that both stochastic and deterministic processes are at play to different extents within natural environments. We show that low diversity microbial communities in a hard-rock serpentinizing aquifer are assembled under the influence of strong selective processes imposed by high pH and enhanced ecological drift that occurs as the result of dispersal limitation due to the slow movement of water in the low permeability aquifer. This study demonstrates the important roles that both selection and dispersal limitation play in terrestrial serpentinites, where extreme pH assembles a microbial metacommunity well adapted to alkaline conditions and dispersal limitation drives compositional differences in microbial community composition between local communities in the subsurface.
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20
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Tang Q, Sheng Y, Li C, Wang W, Liu X. Simultaneous removal of nitrate and sulfate using an up-flow three-dimensional biofilm electrode reactor: Performance and microbial response. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2020; 318:124096. [PMID: 32932117 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nitrate removal from low carbon water is a problem in the water treatment, especially in the presence of high sulfate. In this work, an up-flow three-dimensional biofilm electrode reactor (3D-BER) was established to remove nitrate and sulfate from low organic carbon water. Results indicated that sulfate negatively affected nitrate removal. Moreover, high electric current and short hydraulic retention time deteriorated the performance of nitrate and sulfate removal. When the influent of SO42- was 150 mg/L, the removal efficiency of NO3--N and SO42- was 88.49 ± 4.5% and 29.35 ± 5.5%, respectively. The high-throughput sequencing revealed that denitrifying bacteria dominated in the lower part of the reactor while sulfate reducing bacteria dominated in the upper part of the reactor. It was speculated that oxidation products of sulfide could serve as supplementary electron donors to enhance nitrate removal in the 3D-BER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Tang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanqing Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China.
| | - Changyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Xiaozhu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Zone Environmental Processes, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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