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Valentin-Alvarado LE, Fakra SC, Probst AJ, Giska JR, Jaffe AL, Oltrogge LM, West-Roberts J, Rowland J, Manga M, Savage DF, Greening C, Baker BJ, Banfield JF. Autotrophic biofilms sustained by deeply sourced groundwater host diverse bacteria implicated in sulfur and hydrogen metabolism. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:15. [PMID: 38273328 PMCID: PMC10811913 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01704-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biofilms in sulfide-rich springs present intricate microbial communities that play pivotal roles in biogeochemical cycling. We studied chemoautotrophically based biofilms that host diverse CPR bacteria and grow in sulfide-rich springs to investigate microbial controls on biogeochemical cycling. RESULTS Sulfide springs biofilms were investigated using bulk geochemical analysis, genome-resolved metagenomics, and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) at room temperature and 87 K. Chemolithotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, including Thiothrix and Beggiatoa, dominate the biofilms, which also contain CPR Gracilibacteria, Absconditabacteria, Saccharibacteria, Peregrinibacteria, Berkelbacteria, Microgenomates, and Parcubacteria. STXM imaging revealed ultra-small cells near the surfaces of filamentous bacteria that may be CPR bacterial episymbionts. STXM and NEXAFS spectroscopy at carbon K and sulfur L2,3 edges show that filamentous bacteria contain protein-encapsulated spherical elemental sulfur granules, indicating that they are sulfur oxidizers, likely Thiothrix. Berkelbacteria and Moranbacteria in the same biofilm sample are predicted to have a novel electron bifurcating group 3b [NiFe]-hydrogenase, putatively a sulfhydrogenase, potentially linked to sulfur metabolism via redox cofactors. This complex could potentially contribute to symbioses, for example, with sulfur-oxidizing bacteria such as Thiothrix that is based on cryptic sulfur cycling. One Doudnabacteria genome encodes adjacent sulfur dioxygenase and rhodanese genes that may convert thiosulfate to sulfite. We find similar conserved genomic architecture associated with CPR bacteria from other sulfur-rich subsurface ecosystems. CONCLUSIONS Our combined metagenomic, geochemical, spectromicroscopic, and structural bioinformatics analyses of biofilms growing in sulfide-rich springs revealed consortia that contain CPR bacteria and sulfur-oxidizing Proteobacteria, including Thiothrix, and bacteria from a new family within Beggiatoales. We infer roles for CPR bacteria in sulfur and hydrogen cycling. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis E Valentin-Alvarado
- Graduate Group in Microbiology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sirine C Fakra
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Alexander J Probst
- Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry,, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jonathan R Giska
- Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Cleaner Air Oregon Program, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, USA
| | - Alexander L Jaffe
- Graduate Group in Microbiology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Luke M Oltrogge
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Jacob West-Roberts
- Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Joel Rowland
- Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Earth and Env. Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Michael Manga
- Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - David F Savage
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Brett J Baker
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, USA
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Marine Science, University of Texas, Austin, USA.
- Energy Geoscience Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Kurokawa M, Higashi K, Yoshida K, Sato T, Maruyama S, Mori H, Kurokawa K. Metagenomic Thermometer. DNA Res 2023; 30:dsad024. [PMID: 37940329 PMCID: PMC10660216 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsad024] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Various microorganisms exist in environments, and each of them has its optimal growth temperature (OGT). The relationship between genomic information and OGT of each species has long been studied, and one such study revealed that OGT of prokaryotes can be accurately predicted based on the fraction of seven amino acids (IVYWREL) among all encoded amino-acid sequences in its genome. Extending this discovery, we developed a 'Metagenomic Thermometer' as a means of predicting environmental temperature based on metagenomic sequences. Temperature prediction of diverse environments using publicly available metagenomic data revealed that the Metagenomic Thermometer can predict environmental temperatures with small temperature changes and little influx of microorganisms from other environments. The accuracy of the Metagenomic Thermometer was also confirmed by a demonstration experiment using an artificial hot water canal. The Metagenomic Thermometer was also applied to human gut metagenomic samples, yielding a reasonably accurate value for human body temperature. The result further suggests that deep body temperature determines the dominant lineage of the gut community. Metagenomic Thermometer provides a new insight into temperature-driven community assembly based on amino-acid composition rather than microbial taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaomi Kurokawa
- Genome Evolution Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Koichi Higashi
- Genome Evolution Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Department of Biological Information, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yoshida
- Department of Biological Information, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Sato
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
| | - Shigenori Maruyama
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Mori
- Genome Evolution Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Genome Diversity Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Department of Biological Information, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Ken Kurokawa
- Genome Evolution Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
- Department of Biological Information, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-8551, Japan
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3
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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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Nosalova L, Mekadim C, Mrazek J, Pristas P. Thiothrix and Sulfurovum genera dominate bacterial mats in Slovak cold sulfur springs. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2023; 18:72. [PMID: 37730677 PMCID: PMC10512639 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00527-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Microbiota of sulfur-rich environments has been extensively studied due to the biotechnological potential of sulfur bacteria, or as a model of ancient life. Cold terrestrial sulfur springs are less studied compared to sulfur-oxidizing microbiota of hydrothermal vents, volcanic environments, or soda lakes. Despite that, several studies suggested that sulfur springs harbor diverse microbial communities because of the unique geochemical conditions of upwelling waters. In this study, the microbiota of five terrestrial sulfur springs was examined using a 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. The clear dominance of the Proteobacteria and Campylobacterota phyla of cold sulfur springs microbiota was observed. Contrary to that, the microbiota of the hot sulfur spring was dominated by the Aquificota and Firmicutes phylum respectively. Sulfur-oxidizing genera constituted a dominant part of the microbial populations with the Thiothrix and Sulfurovum genera identified as the core microbiota of cold sulfur terrestrial springs in Slovakia. Additionally, the study emphasizes that sulfur springs in Slovakia support unique, poorly characterized bacterial communities of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Nosalova
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Srobarova 2, Kosice, 041 54, Slovakia
| | - Chahrazed Mekadim
- Laboratory of Anaerobic Microbiology, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska, Prague, 1083, 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Mrazek
- Laboratory of Anaerobic Microbiology, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska, Prague, 1083, 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Pristas
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Srobarova 2, Kosice, 041 54, Slovakia.
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Soltesovej 4-6, Kosice, 040 01, Slovakia.
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5
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Magnuson E, Altshuler I, Freyria NJ, Leveille RJ, Whyte LG. Sulfur-cycling chemolithoautotrophic microbial community dominates a cold, anoxic, hypersaline Arctic spring. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:203. [PMID: 37697305 PMCID: PMC10494364 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01628-5] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gypsum Hill Spring, located in Nunavut in the Canadian High Arctic, is a rare example of a cold saline spring arising through thick permafrost. It perennially discharges cold (~ 7 °C), hypersaline (7-8% salinity), anoxic (~ 0.04 ppm O2), and highly reducing (~ - 430 mV) brines rich in sulfate (2.2 g.L-1) and sulfide (9.5 ppm), making Gypsum Hill an analog to putative sulfate-rich briny habitats on extraterrestrial bodies such as Mars. RESULTS Genome-resolved metagenomics and metatranscriptomics were utilized to describe an active microbial community containing novel metagenome-assembled genomes and dominated by sulfur-cycling Desulfobacterota and Gammaproteobacteria. Sulfate reduction was dominated by hydrogen-oxidizing chemolithoautotrophic Desulfovibrionaceae sp. and was identified in phyla not typically associated with sulfate reduction in novel lineages of Spirochaetota and Bacteroidota. Highly abundant and active sulfur-reducing Desulfuromusa sp. highly transcribed non-coding RNAs associated with transcriptional regulation, showing potential evidence of putative metabolic flexibility in response to substrate availability. Despite low oxygen availability, sulfide oxidation was primarily attributed to aerobic chemolithoautotrophic Halothiobacillaceae. Low abundance and transcription of photoautotrophs indicated sulfur-based chemolithoautotrophy drives primary productivity even during periods of constant illumination. CONCLUSIONS We identified a rare surficial chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-cycling microbial community active in a unique anoxic, cold, hypersaline Arctic spring. We detected Mars-relevant metabolisms including hydrogenotrophic sulfate reduction, sulfur reduction, and sulfide oxidation, which indicate the potential for microbial life in analogous S-rich brines on past and present Mars. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisse Magnuson
- Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC Canada
| | - Ianina Altshuler
- MACE Laboratory, ALPOLE, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nastasia J. Freyria
- Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC Canada
| | - Richard J. Leveille
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
- Geosciences Department, John Abbott College, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC Canada
| | - Lyle G. Whyte
- Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC Canada
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6
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Nosalova L, Kiskova J, Fecskeova LK, Piknova M, Pristas P. Bacterial Community Structure of Two Cold Sulfur Springs in Slovakia (Central Europe). Curr Microbiol 2023; 80:145. [PMID: 36949342 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-023-03251-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, especially those from hot springs, have attracted the attention of microbiologists for more than 150 years. In contrast, the microbial diversity of cold sulfur springs remains largely unrecognized. Culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches were used to study the diversity of sulfur-oxidizing bacterial communities in two cold sulfur springs in Slovakia. Geological conditions and resulting spring water chemistry appear to be major factors influencing the composition of the sulfur-oxidizing bacterial community. Bacterial communities in both springs were found to be dominated by Proteobacteria with Epsilonproteobacteria being prevalent in the high-salinity Stankovany spring and Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria in the low-salinity Jovsa spring. Limited overlap was found between culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches with multiple taxa of cultivated sulfur-oxidizing bacteria not being detected by the culture-independent metagenomics approach. Moreover, four cultivated bacterial isolates could represent novel taxa based on the low similarity of their 16S rRNA gene sequence (similarity lower than 98%) to sequences of known bacteria. Our study supports the current view that multiple approaches are required to assess the bacterial diversity in natural habitats and indicates that sulfur springs in Slovakia harbor unique, yet-undescribed microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Nosalova
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Srobarova 2, 041 54, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Jana Kiskova
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Srobarova 2, 041 54, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Livia Kolesar Fecskeova
- Associated Tissue Bank, Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11, Kosice, Slovakia
| | - Maria Piknova
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Srobarova 2, 041 54, Kosice, Slovakia.
| | - Peter Pristas
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Srobarova 2, 041 54, Kosice, Slovakia
- Institute of Animal Physiology, Centre of Biosciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Soltesovej 4-6, 040 01, Kosice, Slovakia
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Mitrović M, Kostešić E, Marković T, Selak L, Hausmann B, Pjevac P, Orlić S. Microbial community composition and hydrochemistry of underexplored geothermal waters in Croatia. Syst Appl Microbiol 2022; 45:126359. [PMID: 36150364 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2022.126359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
In Croatia, a variety of geothermal springs with a wide temperature range and varied hydrochemical conditions exist, and they may harbor different niches for the distribution of microbial communities. In this study, 19 different sites, mainly located in central and eastern Croatia, were selected for primary characterization of spring hydrochemistry and microbial community composition. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, it was found that the bacterial communities that dominated most geothermal waters were related to Proteobacteria and Campylobacteria, while most archaeal sequences were related to Crenarchaeota. At the genus level, the prokaryotic community was highly site-specific and was often dominated by a single genus, including sites dominated by Hydrogenophilus, Sulfuricurvum, Sulfurovum, Thiofaba and Nitrospira, while the most abundant archaeal genera were affiliated to the ammonia-oxidizing archaea, Candidatus Nitrosotenuis and Candidatus Nitrososphaera. Whereas the microbial communities were overall highly location-specific, temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrate, total nitrogen, sulfate and hydrogen sulfide, as well as dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, were the abiotic factors that significantly affected microbial community composition. Furthermore, an aquifer-type effect was observed in the community composition, but there was no pronounced seasonal variability for geothermal spring communities (i.e. the community structure was mainly stable during the three seasons sampled). These results surprisingly pointed to stable and geographically unique microbial communities that were adapted to different geothermal water environments throughout Croatia. Knowing which microbial communities are present in these extreme habitats is essential for future research. They will allow us to explore further the microbial metabolisms prevailing at these geothermal sites that have high potential for biotechnological uses, as well as the establishment of the links between microbial community structure and the physicochemical environment of geothermal waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Mitrović
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division of Materials Chemistry, Laboratory for Precipitation Processes, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ema Kostešić
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division of Materials Chemistry, Laboratory for Precipitation Processes, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tamara Marković
- Croatian Geological Survey, Milan Sachs 2 Street, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lorena Selak
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division of Materials Chemistry, Laboratory for Precipitation Processes, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Bela Hausmann
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Petra Pjevac
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria; University of Vienna, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Divison of Microbial Ecology, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sandi Orlić
- Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division of Materials Chemistry, Laboratory for Precipitation Processes, Bijenička cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; Center of Excellence for Science and Technology-Integration of Mediterranean Region (STIM), Split, Croatia.
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Simona C, Venturi S, Tassi F, Simona R, Cabassi J, Capecchiacci F, Bicocchi G, Vaselli O, Morrison HG, Sogin ML, Fazi S. Geochemical and microbiological profiles in hydrothermal extreme acidic environments (Pisciarelli Spring, Campi Flegrei, Italy). FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6650346. [PMID: 35883234 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although terrestrial hydrothermal systems are considered among the most fascinating environments, how their unique and extreme conditions can affect microorganisms selection and the role in biogeochemical cycles has not yet been well elucidated. A combined geochemical and microbiological exploration in waters and sediments from ten sampling points along a sharp temperature gradient (15-90 °C) within an extremely acidic hydrothermal system (Pisciarelli Spring, Campi Flegrei area, southern Italy) displayed how hydrothermal fluids influence the microbial dynamics. This area was characterized by high levels of reduced gaseous species (e.g. H2S, H2, CH4, CO), and very low pH values (<2.3). Thermodynamic calculations revealed a high microbial catabolic potential in oxidation/reduction reactions of N-, S-, and Fe-bearing species. Overall, an increase of the archaeal/bacterial abundance ratio was observed by decreasing temperature and pH values. In particular, Archaea and Bacteria were present in almost equal cell abundance (up to 1.1 × 109 and 9.3 × 108 cell/g, respectively) in the <70 °C sampling points (average pH = 2.09); on the contrary, highest temperature waters (85-90 °C; average pH = 2.26) were characterized by low abundance of archaeal cells. The high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene indicated strong differences in archaeal and bacterial communities' composition along temperature gradient. However, the microbiome in this extreme environment was mainly constituted by chemoautotrophic microorganisms that were likely involved in N-, S-, and Fe-bearing species transformations (e.g. Acidianus infernus, Ferroplasma acidarmanus, Acidithiobacillus, Sulfobacillus, Thaumarchaeota), in agreement with thermodynamic calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crognale Simona
- IRSA - CNR Water Research Institute, Via Salaria km 29.300 - CP10, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome (Italy)
| | - Stefania Venturi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy).,IGG - CNR Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy)
| | - Franco Tassi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy).,IGG - CNR Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy)
| | - Rossetti Simona
- IRSA - CNR Water Research Institute, Via Salaria km 29.300 - CP10, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome (Italy)
| | - Jacopo Cabassi
- IGG - CNR Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy)
| | - Francesco Capecchiacci
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy).,IGG - CNR Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy).,Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione di Napoli, Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Diocleziano 328, 80125 Napoli, Italy
| | - Gabriele Bicocchi
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy)
| | - Orlando Vaselli
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy).,IGG - CNR Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121 Florence (Italy)
| | | | | | - Stefano Fazi
- IRSA - CNR Water Research Institute, Via Salaria km 29.300 - CP10, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome (Italy)
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