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Fagliarone C, Fernandez BG, Di Stefano G, Mosca C, Billi D. Insights into the chaotropic tolerance of the desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. 029 (Chroococcidiopsales, Cyanobacteria). JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2024; 60:185-194. [PMID: 38156502 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The mechanism of perchlorate resistance of the desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 029 was investigated by assessing whether the pathways associated with its desiccation tolerance might play a role against the destabilizing effects of this chaotropic agent. During 3 weeks of growth in the presence of 2.4 mM perchlorate, an upregulation of trehalose and sucrose biosynthetic pathways was detected. This suggested that in response to the water stress triggered by perchlorate salts, these two compatible solutes play a role in the stabilization of macromolecules and membranes as they do in response to dehydration. During the perchlorate exposure, the production of oxidizing species was observed by using an oxidant-sensing fluorochrome and determining the expression of the antioxidant defense genes, namely superoxide dismutases and catalases, while the presence of oxidative DNA damage was highlighted by the over-expression of genes of the base excision repair. The involvement of desiccation-tolerance mechanisms in the perchlorate resistance of this desert cyanobacterium is interesting since, so far, chaotropic-tolerant bacteria have been identified among halophiles. Hence, it is anticipated that desert microorganisms might possess an unrevealed capability of adapting to perchlorate concentrations exceeding those naturally occurring in dry environments. Furthermore, in the endeavor of supporting future human outposts on Mars, the identified mechanisms might contribute to enhance the perchlorate resistance of microorganisms relevant for biologically driven utilization of the perchlorate-rich soil of the red planet.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beatriz Gallego Fernandez
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- PhD Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgia Di Stefano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- PhD Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Mosca
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Billi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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Rahim NAA, Mohd Sidik Merican FM, Radzi R, Omar WMW, Nor SAM, Broady P, Convey P. Unveiling the Diversity of Periphytic Cyanobacteria (Cyanophyceae) from Tropical Mangroves in Penang, Malaysia. Trop Life Sci Res 2023; 34:57-94. [PMID: 37860087 PMCID: PMC10583846 DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2023.34.3.4] [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: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are one of the most important groups of photoautotrophic organisms, contributing to carbon and nitrogen fixation in mangroves worldwide. They also play an important role in soil retention and stabilisation and contribute to high plant productivity through their secretion of plant growth-promoting substances. However, their diversity and distribution in Malaysian mangrove ecosystems have yet to be studied in detail, despite Malaysia hosting a significant element of remaining mangroves globally. In a floristic survey conducted in Penang, peninsular Malaysia, 33 morphospecies of periphytic cyanobacteria were identified and described for the first time from a mangrove ecosystem in Malaysia. Sixteen genera, comprising Aphanocapsa, Chroococcus, Chroococcidiopsis, Cyanobacterium, Desmonostoc, Geitlerinema, Leptolyngbya, Lyngbya, Microcystis, Myxosarcina, Oscillatoria, Phormidium, Pseudanabaena, Spirulina, Trichocoleus and Xenococcus, were obtained from field material growing on diverse natural and artificial substrata. Oscillatoriales was the dominant order with Phormidium the dominant genus at nine of the 15 sampling sites examined. Three of the morphospecies, Aphanocapsa cf. concharum, Xenococcus cf. pallidus and Oscillatoria pseudocurviceps, are rare and poorly known morphospecies worldwide. Chroococcus minutus, Phormidium uncinatum, P. amphigranulata, and some species of Oscillatoriales are considered as pollution indicator species. This study provides important baseline information for further investigation of the cyanobacterial microflora present in other mangrove areas around Malaysia. A complete checklist will enhance understanding of their ecological role and the potential for benefits arising from useful secondary metabolites or threats via toxin production to the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Afiqah Abdul Rahim
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | | | - Ranina Radzi
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Wan Maznah Wan Omar
- School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
| | - Siti Azizah Mohd Nor
- Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21300 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia
| | - Paul Broady
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, 20 Kirkwood Avenue, Upper Riccarton, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, United Kingdom
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Němečková K, Mareš J, Procházková L, Culka A, Košek F, Wierzchos J, Nedbalová L, Dudák J, Tymlová V, Žemlička J, Kust A, Zima J, Nováková E, Jehlička J. Gypsum endolithic phototrophs under moderate climate (Southern Sicily): their diversity and pigment composition. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1175066. [PMID: 37485515 PMCID: PMC10359912 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1175066] [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: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we used microscopic, spectroscopic, and molecular analysis to characterize endolithic colonization in gypsum (selenites and white crystalline gypsum) from several sites in Sicily. Our results showed that the dominant microorganisms in these environments are cyanobacteria, including: Chroococcidiopsis sp., Gloeocapsopsis pleurocapsoides, Gloeocapsa compacta, and Nostoc sp., as well as orange pigmented green microalgae from the Stephanospherinia clade. Single cell and filament sequencing coupled with 16S rRNA amplicon metagenomic profiling provided new insights into the phylogenetic and taxonomic diversity of the endolithic cyanobacteria. These organisms form differently pigmented zones within the gypsum. Our metagenomic profiling also showed differences in the taxonomic composition of endoliths in different gypsum varieties. Raman spectroscopy revealed that carotenoids were the most common pigments present in the samples. Other pigments such as gloeocapsin and scytonemin were also detected in the near-surface areas, suggesting that they play a significant role in the biology of endoliths in this environment. These pigments can be used as biomarkers for basic taxonomic identification, especially in case of cyanobacteria. The findings of this study provide new insights into the diversity and distribution of phototrophic microorganisms and their pigments in gypsum in Southern Sicily. Furthemore, this study highlights the complex nature of endolithic ecosystems and the effects of gypsum varieties on these communities, providing additional information on the general bioreceptivity of these environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Němečková
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jan Mareš
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Center Algatech, Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia
| | - Lenka Procházková
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Adam Culka
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Filip Košek
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jacek Wierzchos
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbial Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Linda Nedbalová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jan Dudák
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Veronika Tymlová
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jan Žemlička
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Andreja Kust
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Jan Zima
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Eva Nováková
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Jan Jehlička
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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Aguiló-Nicolau P, Galmés J, Fais G, Capó-Bauçà S, Cao G, Iñiguez C. Singular adaptations in the carbon assimilation mechanism of the polyextremophile cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis thermalis. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2023; 156:231-245. [PMID: 36941458 PMCID: PMC10154277 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-023-01008-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria largely contribute to the biogeochemical carbon cycle fixing ~ 25% of the inorganic carbon on Earth. However, the carbon acquisition and assimilation mechanisms in Cyanobacteria are still underexplored regardless of being of great importance for shedding light on the origins of autotropism on Earth and providing new bioengineering tools for crop yield improvement. Here, we fully characterized these mechanisms from the polyextremophile cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis thermalis KOMAREK 1964/111 in comparison with the model cyanobacterial strain, Synechococcus sp. PCC6301. In particular, we analyzed the Rubisco kinetics along with the in vivo photosynthetic CO2 assimilation in response to external dissolved inorganic carbon, the effect of CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM) inhibitors on net photosynthesis and the anatomical particularities of their carboxysomes when grown under either ambient air (0.04% CO2) or 2.5% CO2-enriched air. Our results show that Rubisco from C. thermalis possess the highest specificity factor and carboxylation efficiency ever reported for Cyanobacteria, which were accompanied by a highly effective CCM, concentrating CO2 around Rubisco more than 140-times the external CO2 levels, when grown under ambient CO2 conditions. Our findings provide new insights into the Rubisco kinetics of Cyanobacteria, suggesting that improved Sc/o values can still be compatible with a fast-catalyzing enzyme. The combination of Rubisco kinetics and CCM effectiveness in C. thermalis relative to other cyanobacterial species might indicate that the co-evolution between Rubisco and CCMs in Cyanobacteria is not as constrained as in other phylogenetic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pere Aguiló-Nicolau
- Research Group on Plant Biology Under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears, INAGEA, Ctra. Valldemossa km. 7.5, 07122, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Jeroni Galmés
- Research Group on Plant Biology Under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears, INAGEA, Ctra. Valldemossa km. 7.5, 07122, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain.
| | - Giacomo Fais
- Interdepartmental Centre of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Cagliari, Via San Giorgio 12, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sebastià Capó-Bauçà
- Research Group on Plant Biology Under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears, INAGEA, Ctra. Valldemossa km. 7.5, 07122, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Giacomo Cao
- Interdepartmental Centre of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Cagliari, Via San Giorgio 12, 09124, Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Via Marengo 2, 09123, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Concepción Iñiguez
- Research Group on Plant Biology Under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears, INAGEA, Ctra. Valldemossa km. 7.5, 07122, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
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Strunecký O, Ivanova AP, Mareš J. An updated classification of cyanobacterial orders and families based on phylogenomic and polyphasic analysis. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:12-51. [PMID: 36443823 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial taxonomy is facing a period of rapid changes thanks to the ease of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and established workflows for description of new taxa. Since the last comprehensive review of the cyanobacterial system in 2014 until 2021, at least 273 species in 140 genera were newly described. These taxa were mainly placed into previously defined orders and families although several new families were proposed. However, the classification of most taxa still relied on hierarchical relationships inherited from the classical morphological taxonomy. Similarly, the obviously polyphyletic orders such as Synechococcales and Oscillatoriales were left unchanged. In this study, the rising number of genomic sequences of cyanobacteria and well-described reference strains allowed us to reconstruct a robust phylogenomic tree for taxonomic purposes. A less robust but better sampled 16S rRNA gene phylogeny was mapped to the phylogenomic backbone. Based on both these phylogenies, a polyphasic classification throughout the whole phylum of Cyanobacteria was created, with ten new orders and fifteen new families. The proposed system of cyanobacterial orders and families relied on a phylogenomic tree but still employed phenotypic apomorphies where possible to make it useful for professionals in the field. It was, however, confirmed that morphological convergence of phylogenetically distant taxa was a frequent phenomenon in cyanobacteria. Moreover, the limited phylogenetic informativeness of the 16S rRNA gene, resulting in ambiguous phylogenies above the genus level, emphasized the integration of genomic data as a prerequisite for the conclusive taxonomic placement of a vast number of cyanobacterial genera in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otakar Strunecký
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, CENAKVA, Institute of Aquaculture and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Na Sádkách 1780, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Pavlovna Ivanova
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, CENAKVA, Institute of Aquaculture and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Na Sádkách 1780, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Mareš
- Biology Centre of the CAS, Institute of Hydrobiology, Na Sádkách 702/7, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Department of Botany, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Baldanta S, Arnal R, Blanco-Rivero A, Guevara G, Navarro Llorens JM. First characterization of cultivable extremophile Chroococcidiopsis isolates from a solar panel. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:982422. [PMID: 36876112 PMCID: PMC9982165 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.982422] [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: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Microorganisms colonize a wide range of natural and artificial environments. Even though most of them are unculturable in laboratory conditions, some ecosystems are ideal niches for bioprospecting extremophiles with unique properties. Up today, there are few reports concerning microbial communities found on solar panels, a widespread, artificial, extreme habitat. Microorganisms found in this habitat belong to drought-, heat- and radiation-adapted genera, including fungi, bacteria, and cyanobacteria. Methods Here we isolated and identified several cyanobacteria from a solar panel. Then, some strains isolated were characterizated for their resistance to desiccation, UV-C exposition, and their growth on a range of temperature, pH, NaCl concentration or diverse carbon and nitrogen sources. Finally, gene transfer to these isolates was evaluated using several SEVA plasmids with different replicons to assess their potential in biotechnological applications. Results and discussion This study presents the first identification and characterization of cultivable extremophile cyanobacteria from a solar panel in Valencia, Spain. The isolates are members of the genera Chroococcidiopsis, Leptolyngbya, Myxacorys, and Oculatella all genera with species commonly isolated from deserts and arid regions. Four of the isolates were selected, all of them Chroococcidiopsis, and characterized. Our results showed that all Chroococcidiopsis isolates chosen were resistant up to a year of desiccation, viable after exposition to high doses of UV-C, and capable of being transformed. Our findings revealed that a solar panel is a useful ecological niche in searching for extremophilic cyanobacteria to further study the desiccation and UV-tolerance mechanisms. We conclude that these cyanobacteria can be modified and exploited as candidates for biotechnological purposes, including astrobiology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Baldanta
- Metabolic Engineering Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Arnal
- Metabolic Engineering Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Amaya Blanco-Rivero
- Metabolic Engineering Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Govinda Guevara
- Metabolic Engineering Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juana María Navarro Llorens
- Metabolic Engineering Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Salty Twins: Salt-Tolerance of Terrestrial Cyanocohniella Strains (Cyanobacteria) and Description of C. rudolphia sp. nov. Point towards a Marine Origin of the Genus and Terrestrial Long Distance Dispersal Patterns. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050968. [PMID: 35630411 PMCID: PMC9144741 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to adapt to wide ranges of environmental conditions coupled with their long evolution has allowed cyanobacteria to colonize almost every habitat on Earth. Modern taxonomy tries to track not only this diversification process but also to assign individual cyanobacteria to specific niches. It was our aim to work out a potential niche concept for the genus Cyanocohniella in terms of salt tolerance. We used a strain based on the description of C. rudolphia sp. nov. isolated from a potash tailing pile (Germany) and for comparison C. crotaloides that was isolated from sandy beaches (The Netherlands). The taxonomic position of C. rudolphia sp. nov. was evaluated by phylogenetic analysis and morphological descriptions of its life cycle. Salt tolerance of C. rudolphia sp. nov. and C. crotaloides was monitored with cultivation assays in liquid medium and on sand under salt concentrations ranging from 0% to 12% (1500 mM) NaCl. Optimum growth conditions were detected for both strains at 4% (500 mM) NaCl based on morpho-anatomical and physiological criteria such as photosynthetic yield by chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements. Taking into consideration that all known strains of this genus colonize salty habitats supports our assumption that the genus might have a marine origin but also expands colonization to salty terrestrial habitats. This aspect is further discussed, including the ecological and biotechnological relevance of the data presented.
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Assessment of novel halo- and thermotolerant desert cyanobacteria for phycobiliprotein production. Process Biochem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2022.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Jung P, D’Agostino PM, Brust K, Büdel B, Lakatos M. Final Destination? Pinpointing Hyella disjuncta sp. nov. PCC 6712 (Cyanobacteria) Based on Taxonomic Aspects, Multicellularity, Nitrogen Fixation and Biosynthetic Gene Clusters. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:916. [PMID: 34575065 PMCID: PMC8472315 DOI: 10.3390/life11090916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Unicellular cyanobacteria inhabit a wide range of ecosytems and can be found throughout the phylum offering space for taxonomic confusion. One example is strain PCC 6712 that was described as Chlorogloea sp. (Nostocales) and later assigned to the genus Chroococcidiopsis (Chroococcidiopsidales). We now show that this strain belongs to the order Pleurocapsales and term it Hyella disjuncta based on morphology, genome analyses and 16S-23S ITS rRNA phylogeny. Genomic analysis indicated that H. disjuncta PCC 6712 shared about 44.7% orthologue genes with its closest relative H. patelloides. Furthermore, 12 cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) with potential bioactivity, such as a mycosporine-like amino acid BGC, were detected. Interestingly, the full set of nitrogen fixation genes was found in H. disjuncta PCC 6712 despite its inability to grow on nitrogen-free medium. A comparison of genes responsible for multicellularity was performed, indicating that most of these genes were present and related to those found in other cyanobacterial orders. This is in contrast to the formation of pseudofilaments-a main feature of the genus Hyella-which is weakly expressed in H. disjuncta PCC 6712 but prominent in Hyella patelloides LEGE 07179. Thus, our study pinpoints crucial but hidden aspects of polyphasic cyanobacterial taxonomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Jung
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Carl-Schurz-Str. 10–16, 66953 Pirmasens, Germany;
| | - Paul M. D’Agostino
- Department of Technical Biochemistry, Technical University of Dresden, Bergstr. 66, 01069 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Katharina Brust
- Department of Ecology, University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin Schrödinger Str. 14, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany;
| | - Burkhard Büdel
- Department of Plant Ecology and Systematics, University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schrödinger Str. 52, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany;
| | - Michael Lakatos
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Carl-Schurz-Str. 10–16, 66953 Pirmasens, Germany;
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10
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Abstract
Concrete is an extreme but common environment and is home to microbial communities adapted to alkaline, saline, and oligotrophic conditions. Microbes inside the concrete that makes up buildings or roads have received little attention despite their ubiquity and capacity to interact with the concrete. Because concrete is a composite of materials which have their own microbial communities, we hypothesized that the microbial communities of concrete reflect those of the concrete components and that these communities change as the concrete ages. Here, we used a 16S amplicon study to show how microbial communities change over 2 years of outdoor weathering in two sets of concrete cylinders, one prone to the concrete-degrading alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and the other having the risk of the ASR mitigated. After identifying and removing taxa that were likely laboratory or reagent contaminants, we found that precursor materials, particularly the large aggregate (gravel), were the probable source of ∼50 to 60% of the bacteria observed in the first cylinders from each series. Overall, community diversity decreased over 2 years, with temporarily increased diversity in warmer summer months. We found that most of the concrete microbiome was composed of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, although community composition changed seasonally and over multiyear time scales and was likely influenced by environmental deposition. Although the community composition between the two series was not significantly different overall, several taxa, including Arcobacter, Modestobacter, Salinicoccus, Rheinheimera, Lawsonella, and Bryobacter, appear to be associated with ASR. IMPORTANCE Concrete is the most-used building material in the world and a biologically extreme environment, with a microbiome composed of bacteria that likely come from concrete precursor materials, aerosols, and environmental deposition. These microbes, though seeded from a variety of materials, are all subject to desiccation, heating, starvation, high salinity, and very high pH. Microbes that survive and even thrive under these conditions can potentially either degrade concrete or contribute to its repair. Thus, understanding which microbes survive in concrete, under what conditions, and for how long has potential implications for biorepair of concrete. Further, methodological pipelines for analyzing concrete microbial communities can be applied to concrete from a variety of structures or with different types of damage to identify bioindicator species that can be used for structural health monitoring and service life prediction.
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Super-Earths, M Dwarfs, and Photosynthetic Organisms: Habitability in the Lab. Life (Basel) 2020; 11:life11010010. [PMID: 33374408 PMCID: PMC7823553 DOI: 10.3390/life11010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In a few years, space telescopes will investigate our Galaxy to detect evidence of life, mainly by observing rocky planets. In the last decade, the observation of exoplanet atmospheres and the theoretical works on biosignature gasses have experienced a considerable acceleration. The most attractive feature of the realm of exoplanets is that 40% of M dwarfs host super-Earths with a minimum mass between 1 and 30 Earth masses, orbital periods shorter than 50 days, and radii between those of the Earth and Neptune (1–3.8 R⊕). Moreover, the recent finding of cyanobacteria able to use far-red (FR) light for oxygenic photosynthesis due to the synthesis of chlorophylls d and f, extending in vivo light absorption up to 750 nm, suggests the possibility of exotic photosynthesis in planets around M dwarfs. Using innovative laboratory instrumentation, we exposed different cyanobacteria to an M dwarf star simulated irradiation, comparing their responses to those under solar and FR simulated lights. As expected, in FR light, only the cyanobacteria able to synthesize chlorophyll d and f could grow. Surprisingly, all strains, both able or unable to use FR light, grew and photosynthesized under the M dwarf generated spectrum in a similar way to the solar light and much more efficiently than under the FR one. Our findings highlight the importance of simulating both the visible and FR light components of an M dwarf spectrum to correctly evaluate the photosynthetic performances of oxygenic organisms exposed under such an exotic light condition.
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12
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Urrejola C, von Dassow P, van den Engh G, Salas L, Mullineaux CW, Vicuña R, Sánchez-Baracaldo P. Loss of Filamentous Multicellularity in Cyanobacteria: the Extremophile Gloeocapsopsis sp. Strain UTEX B3054 Retained Multicellular Features at the Genomic and Behavioral Levels. J Bacteriol 2020; 202:e00514-19. [PMID: 32253342 PMCID: PMC7253616 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00514-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Multicellularity in Cyanobacteria played a key role in their habitat expansion, contributing to the Great Oxidation Event around 2.45 billion to 2.32 billion years ago. Evolutionary studies have indicated that some unicellular cyanobacteria emerged from multicellular ancestors, yet little is known about how the emergence of new unicellular morphotypes from multicellular ancestors occurred. Our results give new insights into the evolutionary reversion from which the Gloeocapsopsis lineage emerged. Flow cytometry and microscopy results revealed morphological plasticity involving the patterned formation of multicellular morphotypes sensitive to environmental stimuli. Genomic analyses unveiled the presence of multicellularity-associated genes in its genome. Calcein-fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments confirmed that Gloeocapsopsis sp. strain UTEX B3054 carries out cell-to-cell communication in multicellular morphotypes but at slower time scales than filamentous cyanobacteria. Although traditionally classified as unicellular, our results suggest that Gloeocapsopsis displays facultative multicellularity, a condition that may have conferred ecological advantages for thriving as an extremophile for more than 1.6 billion years.IMPORTANCECyanobacteria are among the few prokaryotes that evolved multicellularity. The early emergence of multicellularity in Cyanobacteria (2.5 billion years ago) entails that some unicellular cyanobacteria reverted from multicellular ancestors. We tested this evolutionary hypothesis by studying the unicellular strain Gloeocapsopsis sp. UTEX B3054 using flow cytometry, genomics, and cell-to-cell communication experiments. We demonstrate the existence of a well-defined patterned organization of cells in clusters during growth, which might change triggered by environmental stimuli. Moreover, we found genomic signatures of multicellularity in the Gloeocapsopsis genome, giving new insights into the evolutionary history of a cyanobacterial lineage that has thrived in extreme environments since the early Earth. The potential benefits in terms of resource acquisition and the ecological relevance of this transient behavior are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Urrejola
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Peter von Dassow
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Instituto Milenio de Oceanografía, Concepción, Chile
- UMI3614 Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, CNRS-UPMC Sorbonne Universités, PUCCh, UACH, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
| | | | - Loreto Salas
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Conrad W Mullineaux
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rafael Vicuña
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Kashyap Jagadeesh M, Rao Valluri S, Kari V, Kubska K, Kaczmarek Ł. Indexing Exoplanets with Physical Conditions Potentially Suitable for Rock-Dependent Extremophiles. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:life10020010. [PMID: 31991857 PMCID: PMC7175269 DOI: 10.3390/life10020010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for different life forms elsewhere in the universe is a fascinating area of research in astrophysics and astrobiology. Currently, according to the NASA Exoplanet Archive database, 3876 exoplanets have been discovered. The Earth Similarity Index (ESI) is defined as the geometric mean of radius, density, escape velocity, and surface temperature and ranges from 0 (dissimilar to Earth) to 1 (similar to Earth). The ESI was created to index exoplanets on the basis of their similarity to Earth. In this paper, we examined rocky exoplanets whose physical conditions are potentially suitable for the survival of rock-dependent extremophiles, such as the cyanobacteria Chroococcidiopsis and the lichen Acarospora. The Rock Similarity Index (RSI) is first introduced and then applied to 1659 rocky exoplanets. The RSI represents a measure for Earth-like planets on which physical conditions are potentially suitable for rocky extremophiles that can survive in Earth-like extreme habitats (i.e., hot deserts and cold, frozen lands).
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhu Kashyap Jagadeesh
- Department of Physics, Christ (Deemed to be university), Bengaluru, Karnataka 560029, India
- Correspondence:
| | - Sagarika Rao Valluri
- Department of Electronics and Communication, RNSIT, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560098, India;
| | - Vani Kari
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, Mysuru, Karnataka 570006, India;
| | - Katarzyna Kubska
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, Poznań 61-614, Poland; (K.K.)
| | - Łukasz Kaczmarek
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, Poznań 61-614, Poland; (K.K.)
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14
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Herrmann AJ, Gehringer MM. An investigation into the effects of increasing salinity on photosynthesis in freshwater unicellular cyanobacteria during the late Archaean. GEOBIOLOGY 2019; 17:343-359. [PMID: 30874335 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The oldest species of bacteria capable of oxygenic photosynthesis today are the freshwater Cyanobacteria Gloeobacter spp., belonging to the class Oxyphotobacteria. Several modern molecular evolutionary studies support the freshwater origin of cyanobacteria during the Archaean and their subsequent acquisition of salt tolerance mechanisms necessary for their expansion into the marine environment. This study investigated the effect of a sudden washout event from a freshwater location into either a brackish or marine environment on the photosynthetic efficiency of two unicellular freshwater cyanobacteria: the salt-tolerant Chroococcidiopsis thermalis PCC7203 and the cyanobacterial phylogenetic root species, Gloeobacter violaceus PCC7421. Strains were cultured under present atmospheric levels (PAL) of CO2 or an atmosphere containing elevated levels of CO2 and reduced O2 (eCO2 rO2 ) in simulated shallow water or terrestrial environmental conditions. Both strains exhibited a reduction in growth rates and gross photosynthesis, accompanied by significant reductions in chlorophyll a content, in brackish water, with only C. thermalis able to grow at marine salinity levels. While the experimental atmosphere caused a significant increase in gross photosynthesis rates in both strains, it did not increase their growth rates, nor the amount of O2 released. The differences in growth responses to increasing salinities could be attributed to genetic differences, with C. thermalis carrying additional genes for trehalose synthesis. This study demonstrates that, if cyanobacteria did evolve in a freshwater environment, they would have been capable of withstanding a sudden washout into increasingly saline environments. Both C. thermalis and G. violaceus continued to grow and photosynthesise, albeit at diminished rates, in brackish water, thereby providing a route for the evolution of open ocean-dwelling strains, necessary for the oxygenation of the Earth's atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achim J Herrmann
- Department of Microbiology, Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Michelle M Gehringer
- Department of Microbiology, Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
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15
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Villanueva CD, Hašler P, Dvořák P, Poulíčková A, Casamatta DA. Brasilonema lichenoides sp. nov. and Chroococcidiopsis lichenoides sp. nov. (Cyanobacteria): two novel cyanobacterial constituents isolated from a tripartite lichen of headstones. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2018; 54:224-233. [PMID: 29377146 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Cyanolichens are an assemblage of fungi and cyanobacteria from diverse, cosmopolitan habitats. Typically composed of a single species of cyanobacterium, with or without another eukaryotic alga, here we present two novel cyanobionts isolated from an undescribed tripartite lichen. This endolithic lichen was isolated from a granite cemetery tombstone from Jacksonville, FL, and contains two potentially nitrogen-fixing cyanobionts. Employing a total evidence approach, we characterized the cyanobionts using molecular (the 16S rDNA and ITS gene region), morphological, and ecological data. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two novel taxa: Brasilonema lichenoides and Chroococcidiopsis lichenoides, both of which fell within well-supported clades. To our knowledge, this represents the first instance of a tripartite lichen with two cyanobacterial and no eukaryotic members. These types of lichens may well represent an unexplored reservoir of cyanobacterial diversity. The specific epithets are proposed under the provisions of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea D Villanueva
- Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, USA
| | - Petr Hašler
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, CZ-771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Dvořák
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, CZ-771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Aloisie Poulíčková
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, CZ-771 46, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Dale A Casamatta
- Department of Biology, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, USA
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Rippin M, Borchhardt N, Williams L, Colesie C, Jung P, Büdel B, Karsten U, Becker B. Genus richness of microalgae and Cyanobacteria in biological soil crusts from Svalbard and Livingston Island: morphological versus molecular approaches. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-018-2252-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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17
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Cuscó A, Belanger JM, Gershony L, Islas-Trejo A, Levy K, Medrano JF, Sánchez A, Oberbauer AM, Francino O. Individual signatures and environmental factors shape skin microbiota in healthy dogs. MICROBIOME 2017; 5:139. [PMID: 29029635 PMCID: PMC5640918 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-017-0355-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The individual, together with its environment, has been reported as the main force driving composition and structure of skin microbiota in healthy dogs. Therefore, one of the major concerns when analyzing canine skin microbiota is the likely influence of the environment. Despite the dense fur covering, certain skin diseases exhibit differential prevalence among skin sites, dog breeds, and individuals. RESULTS We have characterized the normal variability of dog skin microbiota in a well-controlled cohort of a large number of Golden-Labrador Retriever crossed dogs (N = 35) with similar ages, related genetic background, and a shared environment. We found that the individual drives the skin microbiota composition and structure followed by the skin site. The main bacterial classes inhabiting dog skin in this cohort are Gammaproteobacteria and Bacilli. We also detected bacteria associated to the environment on different dog skin sites that could be reflecting the different degrees of exposure of each skin site and each dog. Network analyses elucidated bacterial interactions within and between skin sites, especially in the chin, abdomen, axilla, and perianal region, with the highly shared interactions probably representing an anatomical, behavioral, or environmental component. When analyzing each skin site independently to assess host-specific factors, we found that temporality (season of birth and time spent in the kennel) affected all the skin sites and specially the inner pinna. The most abundant taxon driving this difference was Sphingomonas. We also found taxonomic differences among male and female dogs on the abdomen, axilla, and back. CONCLUSIONS We observed a large inter-individual variability and differences among skin sites. Host-specific variables, such as temporality or sex, were also shaping skin microbiota of healthy dogs, even in an environmental homogenous cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Cuscó
- Molecular Genetics Veterinary Service (SVGM), Veterinary School, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Vetgenomics, Ed Eureka, Parc de Recerca UAB, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Liza Gershony
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Alma Islas-Trejo
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Kerinne Levy
- Canine Companions for Independence, Santa Rosa, CA USA
| | - Juan F. Medrano
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA USA
| | - Armand Sánchez
- Molecular Genetics Veterinary Service (SVGM), Veterinary School, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Olga Francino
- Molecular Genetics Veterinary Service (SVGM), Veterinary School, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Covarrubias Y, Cantoral-Uriza EA, Casas-Flores JS, García-Meza JV. Thermophile mats of microalgae growing on the woody structure of a cooling tower of a thermoelectric power plant in Central Mexico. REV MEX BIODIVERS 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rmb.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Tan ELY, Mayer-Pinto M, Johnston EL, Dafforn KA. Differences in Intertidal Microbial Assemblages on Urban Structures and Natural Rocky Reef. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1276. [PMID: 26635747 PMCID: PMC4653414 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Global seascapes are increasingly modified to support high levels of human activity in the coastal zone. Modifications include the addition of defense structures and boating infrastructure, such as seawalls and marinas that replace natural habitats. Artificial structures support different macrofaunal communities to those found on natural rocky shores; however, little is known about differences in microbial community structure or function in urban seascapes. Understanding how artificial constructions in marine environments influence microbial communities is important as these assemblages contribute to many basic ecological processes. In this study, the bacterial communities of intertidal biofilms were compared between artificial structures (seawalls) and natural habitats (rocky shores) within Sydney Harbour. Plots were cleared on each type of habitat at eight locations. After 3 weeks the newly formed biofilm was sampled and the 16S rRNA gene sequenced using the Illumina Miseq platform. To account for differences in orientation and substrate material between seawalls and rocky shores that might have influenced our survey, we also deployed recruitment blocks next to the habitats at all locations for 3 weeks and then sampled and sequenced their microbial communities. Intertidal bacterial community structure sampled from plots differed between seawalls and rocky shores, but when substrate material, age and orientation were kept constant (with recruitment blocks) then bacterial communities were similar in composition and structure among habitats. This suggests that changes in bacterial communities on seawalls are not related to environmental differences between locations, but may be related to other intrinsic factors that differ between the habitats such as orientation, complexity, or predation. This is one of the first comparisons of intertidal microbial communities on natural and artificial surfaces and illustrates substantial ecological differences with potential consequences for biofilm function and the recruitment of macrofauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa L-Y Tan
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW, Australia ; Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman NSW, Australia
| | - Mariana Mayer-Pinto
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW, Australia ; Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman NSW, Australia
| | - Emma L Johnston
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW, Australia ; Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine A Dafforn
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW, Australia ; Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman NSW, Australia
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