Nonmagnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes from low-saline, nonmarine aquatic environments and their unusual negative phototactic behavior

Multicellular magnetotactic bacteria are genetically heterogeneous consortia with metabolically differentiated cells

Consortia of multicellular magnetotactic bacteria (MMB) are currently the only known example of bacteria without a unicellular stage in their life cycle. Because of their recalcitrance to cultivation, most previous studies of MMB have been limited to microscopic observations. To study the biology of these unique organisms in more detail, we use multiple culture-independent approaches to analyze the genomics and physiology of MMB consortia at single-cell resolution. We separately sequenced the metagenomes of 22 individual MMB consortia, representing 8 new species, and quantified the genetic diversity within each MMB consortium. This revealed that, counter to conventional views, cells within MMB consortia are not clonal. Single consortia metagenomes were then used to reconstruct the species-specific metabolic potential and infer the physiological capabilities of MMB. To validate genomic predictions, we performed stable isotope probing (SIP) experiments and interrogated MMB consortia using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) combined with nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS). By coupling FISH with bioorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT), we explored their in situ activity as well as variation of protein synthesis within cells. We demonstrate that MMB consortia are mixotrophic sulfate reducers and that they exhibit metabolic differentiation between individual cells, suggesting that MMB consortia are more complex than previously thought. These findings expand our understanding of MMB diversity, ecology, genomics, and physiology, as well as offer insights into the mechanisms underpinning the multicellular nature of their unique lifestyle.

A Novel Isolate of Spherical Multicellular Magnetotactic Prokaryotes Has Two Magnetosome Gene Clusters and Synthesizes Both Magnetite and Greigite Crystals

Multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes (MMPs) are a unique group of magnetotactic bacteria that are composed of 10–100 individual cells and show coordinated swimming along magnetic field lines. MMPs produce nanometer-sized magnetite (Fe3O4) and/or greigite (Fe3S4) crystals—termed magnetosomes. Two types of magnetosome gene cluster (MGC) that regulate biomineralization of magnetite and greigite have been found. Here, we describe a dominant spherical MMP (sMMP) species collected from the intertidal sediments of Jinsha Bay, in the South China Sea. The sMMPs were 4.78 ± 0.67 μm in diameter, comprised 14–40 cells helical symmetrically, and contained bullet-shaped magnetite and irregularly shaped greigite magnetosomes. Two sets of MGCs, one putatively related to magnetite biomineralization and the other to greigite biomineralization, were identified in the genome of the sMMP, and two sets of paralogous proteins (Mam and Mad) that may function separately and independently in magnetosome biomineralization were found. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the sMMPs were affiliated with Deltaproteobacteria. This is the first direct report of two types of magnetosomes and two sets of MGCs being detected in the same sMMP. The study provides new insights into the mechanism of biomineralization of magnetosomes in MMPs, and the evolutionary origin of MGCs.

Occurrence of south- and north-seeking multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes in a coastal lagoon in the South Hemisphere

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) response to the magnetic field can be classified into north-seeking (NS) and south-seeking (SS), which usually depends on their inhabiting site in the North and South Hemisphere, respectively. However, uncommon inverted polarity was observed on both hemispheres. Here, we studied magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes (MMPs) from a coastal lagoon in Brazil collected in April and August 2014. MMPs from the first sampling period presented both magnetotactic behaviors, while MMPs collected in August/2014 were only SS. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA coding gene showed that these organisms belong to the Deltaproteobacteria class. The 16S rRNA gene sequences varied among MMPs regardless of the sampling period, and similarity values were not related to the type of magnetotactic response presented by the microorganisms. Therefore, differences in the magnetotactic behavior might result from the physiological state of MMPs, the availability of resources, or the instability of the chemical gradient in the environment. This is the first report of NS magnetotactic behavior on MMPs from the South Hemisphere.

Eco-Friendly Greener Synthesis of Nanoparticles

The exploitation of naturally obtained resources like biopolymers, plant-based extracts, microorganisms etc., offers numerous advantages of environment-friendliness and biocompatibility for various medicinal and pharmaceutical applications, whereas hazardous chemicals are not utilized for production protocol. Plant extracts based synthetic procedures have drawn consideration over conventional methods like physical and chemical procedures to synthesize nanomaterials. Greener synthesis of nanomaterials has become an area of interest because of numerous advantages such as non-hazardous, economical, and feasible methods with variety of applications in biomedicine, nanotechnology and nano-optoelectronics, etc.

Nano-Sized Iron Sulfide: Structure, Synthesis, Properties, and Biomedical Applications

Nano-sized iron sulfides have attracted intense research interest due to the variety of their types, structures, and physicochemical properties. In particular, nano-sized iron sulfides exhibit enzyme-like activity by mimicking natural enzymes that depend on an iron-sulfur cluster as cofactor, extending their potential for applications in biomedicine. The present review principally summarizes the synthesis, properties and applications in biomedical fields, demonstrating that nano-sized iron sulfides have considerable potential for improving human health and quality of life.

Intracellular amorphous Ca-carbonate and magnetite biomineralization by a magnetotactic bacterium affiliated to the Alphaproteobacteria

Bacteria synthesize a wide range of intracellular submicrometer-sized inorganic precipitates of diverse chemical compositions and structures, called biominerals. Their occurrences, functions and ultrastructures are not yet fully described despite great advances in our knowledge of microbial diversity. Here, we report bacteria inhabiting the sediments and water column of the permanently stratified ferruginous Lake Pavin, that have the peculiarity to biomineralize both intracellular magnetic particles and calcium carbonate granules. Based on an ultrastructural characterization using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM), we showed that the calcium carbonate granules are amorphous and contained within membrane-delimited vesicles. Single-cell sorting, correlative fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and molecular typing of populations inhabiting sediments affiliated these bacteria to a new genus of the Alphaproteobacteria. The partially assembled genome sequence of a representative isolate revealed an atypical structure of the magnetosome gene cluster while geochemical analyses indicate that calcium carbonate production is an active process that costs energy to the cell to maintain an environment suitable for their formation. This discovery further expands the diversity of organisms capable of intracellular Ca-carbonate biomineralization. If the role of such biomineralization is still unclear, cell behaviour suggests that it may participate to cell motility in aquatic habitats as magnetite biomineralization does.

Diversity and Characterization of Multicellular Magnetotactic Prokaryotes From Coral Reef Habitats of the Paracel Islands, South China Sea

While multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes (MMPs) are ubiquitous in marine environments, the diversity of MMPs in sediments of coral reef ecosystems has rarely been reported. In this study, we made an investigation on the diversity and characteristics of MMPs in sediments at 11 stations in coral reef habitats of the Paracel Islands. The results showed that MMPs were present at nine stations, with spherical mulberry-like MMPs (s-MMPs) found at all stations and ellipsoidal pineapple-like MMPs (e-MMPs) found at seven stations. The maximum abundance of MMPs was 6 ind./cm³. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of one e-MMP species and five s-MMP species including two species of a new genus. The results indicate that coral reef habitats of the Paracel Islands have a high diversity of MMPs that bio-mineralize multiple intracellular chains of iron crystals and play important role in iron cycling in such oligotrophic environment. These observations provide new perspective of the diversity of MMPs in general and expand knowledge of the occurrence of MMPs in coral reef habitats.

Seasonal changes in the vertical distribution of two types of multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes in the sediment of Lake Yuehu, China

There are two genetically distinct morphological types of multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes (MMPs) in the intertidal zone of Lake Yuehu (China): ellipsoidal MMPs (eMMPs) and spherical MMPs (sMMPs). We studied the vertical distribution of both types of MMPs in the sediment at Lake Yuehu during 1 year. Both types of MMPs were observed at sediment depths ranging from 1 to 34 cm, depending on the seasons. The eMMPs distributed at depths of 2-34 cm during spring, 1-11 cm during summer, 2-21 cm during autumn and 9-32 cm during winter. The eMMP species Candidatus Magnetananas rongchenensis, with magnetite magnetosomes, dominated at all distribution depths. These results suggested that Ca. M. rongchenensis migrated vertically during four seasons. The vertical profiles of oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in Lake Yuehu changed seasonally, and these changes coincided with the seasonal distribution of MMPs, suggesting that the ORP affected the vertical distribution of MMPs. In addition, high concentrations of ammonium and silicate were associated with low abundances of MMPs.

Ultrastructure of ellipsoidal magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes depicts their complex assemblage and cellular polarity in the context of magnetotaxis

Magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes (MMPs) consist of unique microorganisms formed by genetically identical Gram-negative bacterial that live as a single individual capable of producing magnetic nano-particles called magnetosomes. Two distinct morphotypes of MMPs are known: spherical MMPs (sMMPs) and ellipsoidal MMPs (eMMPs). sMMPs have been extensively characterized, but less information exists for eMMPs. Here, we report the ultrastructure and organization as well as gene clusters responsible for magnetosome and flagella biosynthesis in the magnetite magnetosome producer eMMP Candidatus Magnetananas rongchenensis. Transmission electron microscopy and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) 3D reconstruction reveal that cells with a conspicuous core-periphery polarity were organized around a central space. Magnetosomes were organized in multiple chains aligned along the periphery of each cell. In the partially sequenced genome, magnetite-related mamAB gene and mad gene clusters were identified. Two cell morphologies were detected: irregular elliptical conical 'frustum-like' (IECF) cells and H-shaped cells. IECF cells merge to form H-shaped cells indicating a more complex structure and possibly a distinct evolutionary position of eMMPs when compared with sMMPs considering multicellularity.

Novel species and expanded distribution of ellipsoidal multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes

Multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes (MMPs) are a peculiar group of magnetotactic bacteria, each comprising approximately 10-100 cells of the same phylotype. Two morphotypes of MMP have been identified, including several species of globally distributed spherical mulberry-like MMPs (s-MMPs), and two species of ellipsoidal pineapple-like MMPs (e-MMPs) from China (Qingdao and Rongcheng cities). We recently collected e-MMPs from Mediterranean Sea sediments (Six-Fours-les-Plages) and Drummond Island, in the South China Sea. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the MMPs from Six-Fours-les-Plages and the previously reported e-MMP Candidatus Magnetananas rongchenensis have 98.5% sequence identity and are the same species, while the MMPs from Drummond Island appear to be a novel species, having > 7.1% sequence divergence from the most closely related e-MMP, Candidatus Magnetananas tsingtaoensis. Identification of the novel species expands the distribution of e-MMPs to Tropical Zone. Comparison of nine physical and chemical parameters revealed that sand grain size and the content of inorganic nitrogen (nitrate, ammonium and nitrite) in the sediments from Rongcheng City and Six-Fours-les-Plages were similar, and lower than found for sediments from the other two sampling sites. The results of the study reveal broad diversity and wide distribution of e-MMPs.

Temporal distributions and environmental adaptations of two types of multicellular magnetotactic prokaryote in the sediments of Lake Yuehu, China

Two morphotypes (spherical and ellipsoidal) of multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes (MMPs) have been reported from the sediments of Lake Yuehu, China. Here, their temporal distributions and their relationships with biogeochemical parameters are studied. Samples were collected at approximately 2-week intervals from two sites (A and B) during the period September 2012 to December 2013. The abundance of MMPs was high in summer and autumn, but low in winter and spring. Furthermore, the peaks in the numbers of the two types of MMPs were sequential, with the highest concentration of the spherical MMPs occurring prior to that of the ellipsoidal MMPs. This may be related to different optimal growth temperatures for the two types. Although the two types of MMP coexisted at both sites, their numbers were different; at most times, spherical MMPs dominated at site A, whereas ellipsoidal MMPs dominated at site B. Geochemical analysis revealed that the environmental conditions at site A varied more than at site B. Compared with the widely distributed spherical MMPs, ellipsoidal MMPs seemed to prefer more stable habitats. This is the first report of the temporal distribution of ellipsoidal MMPs in sediments, suggesting that their environmental adaptations differ from those of spherical MMPs.

On the evolution of bacterial multicellularity

Multicellularity is one of the most prevalent evolutionary innovations and nowhere is this more apparent than in the bacterial world, which contains many examples of multicellular organisms in a surprising array of forms. Due to their experimental accessibility and the large and diverse genomic data available, bacteria enable us to probe fundamental aspects of the origins of multicellularity. Here we discuss examples of multicellular behaviors in bacteria, the selective pressures that may have led to their evolution, possible origins and intermediate stages, and whether the ubiquity of apparently convergent multicellular forms argues for its inevitability.

A novel species of ellipsoidal multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes from Lake Yuehu in China

Two morphotypes of multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes (MMPs) have been identified: spherical (several species) and ellipsoidal (previously one species). Here, we report novel ellipsoidal MMPs that are ∼ 10 × 8 μm in size, and composed of about 86 cells arranged in six to eight interlaced circles. Each MMP was composed of cells that synthesized either bullet-shaped magnetite magnetosomes alone, or both bullet-shaped magnetite and rectangular greigite magnetosomes. They showed north-seeking magnetotaxis, ping-pong motility and negative phototaxis at a velocity up to 300 μm s(-1) . During reproduction, they divided along either their long- or short-body axes. For genetic analysis, we sorted the ellipsoidal MMPs with micromanipulation and amplified their genomes using multiple displacement amplification. We sequenced the 16S rRNA gene and found 6.9% sequence divergence from that of ellipsoidal MMPs, Candidatus Magnetananas tsingtaoensis and > 8.3% divergence from those of spherical MMPs. Therefore, the novel MMPs belong to different species and genus compared with the currently known ellipsoidal and spherical MMPs respectively. The novel MMPs display a morphological cell differentiation, implying a potential division of labour. These findings provide new insights into the diversity of MMPs in general, and contribute to our understanding of the evolution of multicellularity among prokaryotes.

Ecology, diversity, and evolution of magnetotactic bacteria

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are widespread, motile, diverse prokaryotes that biomineralize a unique organelle called the magnetosome. Magnetosomes consist of a nano-sized crystal of a magnetic iron mineral that is enveloped by a lipid bilayer membrane. In cells of almost all MTB, magnetosomes are organized as a well-ordered chain. The magnetosome chain causes the cell to behave like a motile, miniature compass needle where the cell aligns and swims parallel to magnetic field lines. MTB are found in almost all types of aquatic environments, where they can account for an important part of the bacterial biomass. The genes responsible for magnetosome biomineralization are organized as clusters in the genomes of MTB, in some as a magnetosome genomic island. The functions of a number of magnetosome genes and their associated proteins in magnetosome synthesis and construction of the magnetosome chain have now been elucidated. The origin of magnetotaxis appears to be monophyletic; that is, it developed in a common ancestor to all MTB, although horizontal gene transfer of magnetosome genes also appears to play a role in their distribution. The purpose of this review, based on recent progress in this field, is focused on the diversity and the ecology of the MTB and also the evolution and transfer of the molecular determinants involved in magnetosome formation.

Deciphering unusual uncultured magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes through genomics

Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis (Ca. M. multicellularis) is a member of a group of uncultured magnetotactic prokaryotes that possesses a unique multicellular morphology. To better understand this organism's physiology, we used a genomic approach through pyrosequencing. Genomic data analysis corroborates previous structural studies and reveals the proteins that are likely involved in multicellular morphogenesis of this microorganism. Interestingly, some detected protein sequences that might be involved in cell adhesion are homologues to phylogenetically unrelated filamentous multicellular bacteria proteins, suggesting their contribution in the early development of multicellular organization in Bacteria. Genes related to the behavior of Ca. M. multicellularis (chemo-, photo- and magnetotaxis) and its metabolic capabilities were analyzed. On the basis of the genomic-physiologic information, enrichment media were tested. One medium supported chemoorganoheterotrophic growth of Ca. M. multicellularis and allowed the microorganisms to maintain their multicellular morphology and cell cycle, confirming for the first time that the entire life cycle of the MMP occurs in a multicellular form. Because Ca. M. multicellularis has a unique multicellular life style, its cultivation is an important achievement for further studies regarding the multicellular evolution in prokaryotes.

Evolution of the bacterial organelle responsible for magnetotaxis

There are few examples of protein- and lipid-bounded organelles in bacteria that are encoded by conserved gene clusters and lead to a specific function. The magnetosome chain represents one of these rare examples and is responsible for magnetotaxis in magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), a behavior thought to aid in finding their optimal growth conditions. The origin and evolution of the magnetotaxis is still a matter of debate. Recent breakthroughs in isolation, cultivation, single-cell separation, and whole-genome sequencing have generated abundant data that give new insights into the biodiversity and evolution of MTB.

Magnetotactic bacteria from extreme environments

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) represent a diverse collection of motile prokaryotes that biomineralize intracellular, membrane-bounded, tens-of-nanometer-sized crystals of a magnetic mineral called magnetosomes. Magnetosome minerals consist of either magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) and cause cells to align along the Earth's geomagnetic field lines as they swim, a trait called magnetotaxis. MTB are known to mainly inhabit the oxic-anoxic interface (OAI) in water columns or sediments of aquatic habitats and it is currently thought that magnetosomes function as a means of making chemotaxis more efficient in locating and maintaining an optimal position for growth and survival at the OAI. Known cultured and uncultured MTB are phylogenetically associated with the Alpha-, Gamma- and Deltaproteobacteria classes of the phylum Proteobacteria, the Nitrospirae phylum and the candidate division OP3, part of the Planctomycetes-Verrucomicrobia-Chlamydiae (PVC) bacterial superphylum. MTB are generally thought to be ubiquitous in aquatic environments as they are cosmopolitan in distribution and have been found in every continent although for years MTB were thought to be restricted to habitats with pH values near neutral and at ambient temperature. Recently, however, moderate thermophilic and alkaliphilic MTB have been described including: an uncultured, moderately thermophilic magnetotactic bacterium present in hot springs in northern Nevada with a probable upper growth limit of about 63 °C; and several strains of obligately alkaliphilic MTB isolated in pure culture from different aquatic habitats in California, including the hypersaline, extremely alkaline Mono Lake, with an optimal growth pH of >9.0.

Monophyletic origin of magnetotaxis and the first magnetosomes

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), the transfer of genetic material other than by descent, is thought to have played significant roles in the evolution and distribution of genes in prokaryotes. These include those responsible for the ability of motile, aquatic magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) to align and swim along magnetic field lines and the biomineralization of magnetosomes that are responsible for this behaviour. There is some genomic evidence that HGT might be responsible for the distribution of magnetosome genes in different phylogenetic groups of bacteria. For example, in the genomes of a number of MTB, magnetosome genes are present as clusters within a larger structure known as the magnetosome genomic island surrounded by mobile elements such as insertion sequences and transposases as well as tRNA genes. Despite this, there is no strong direct proof of HGT between these organisms. Here we show that a phylogenetic tree based on magnetosome protein amino acid sequences from a number of MTB was congruent with the tree based on the organisms' 16S rRNA gene sequences. This shows that evolution and divergence of these proteins and the 16S rRNA gene occurred similarly. This suggests that magnetotaxis originated monophyletically in the Proteobacteria phylum and implies that the common ancestor of all Proteobacteria was magnetotactic.

Swimming behaviour of the multicellular magnetotactic prokaryote 'Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis' under applied magnetic fields and ultraviolet light

Magnetotactic bacteria move by rotating their flagella and concomitantly are aligned to magnetic fields because they present magnetosomes, which are intracellular organelles composed by membrane-bound magnetic crystals. This results in magnetotaxis, which is swimming along magnetic field lines. Magnetotactic bacteria are morphologically diverse, including cocci, rods, spirilla and multicellular forms known as magnetotactic multicellular prokaryotes (MMPs). 'Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis' is presently the best known MMP. Here we describe the helical trajectories performed by these microorganisms as they swim forward, as well as their response to UV light. We measured the radius of the trajectory, time period and translational velocity (velocity along the helix axis), which enabled the calculation of other trajectory parameters such as pitch, tangential velocity (velocity along the helix path), angular frequency, and theta angle (the angle between the helix path and the helix axis). The data revealed that 'Ca. M. multicellularis' swims along elongated helical trajectories with diameters approaching the diameter of the microorganism. In addition, we observed that 'Ca. M. multicellularis' responds to UV laser pulses by swimming backwards, returning to forward swimming several seconds after the UV laser pulse. UV light from a fluorescence microscope showed a similar effect. Thus, phototaxis is used in addition to magnetotaxis in this microorganism.

Multicellular photo-magnetotactic bacteria

Multicellular magnetotactic bacteria (MMB) are unique microorganisms typically comprised of 10-40 bacterial cells arranged around a central acellular compartment. Their life cycle has no known unicellular stage and division occurs by separation of a single MMB aggregate into two identical offspring. In this study, South-seeking multicellular magnetotactic bacteria (ssMMB) were enriched from a New England salt marsh. When exposed to light, ssMMB reversed their magnetotactic behaviour to become North-seeking. The exposure time needed to generate the reversal response varied with light wavelength and intensity. Extensive exposure to light appeared to be lethal. This is the first report of a Northern hemisphere MMB displaying South-seeking behaviour and the first time a MMB is found to exhibit photo-magnetotaxis. We suggest that this mechanism enables ssMMB to optimize their location with regard to chemical gradients and light intensities, and propose a model to explain the peculiar balance between photo- and magnetotaxis.

Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles by Microorganisms and Their Applications

The development of eco-friendly technologies in material synthesis is of considerable importance to expand their biological applications. Nowadays, a variety of inorganic nanoparticles with well-defined chemical composition, size, and morphology have been synthesized by using different microorganisms, and their applications in many cutting-edge technological areas have been explored. This paper highlights the recent developments of the biosynthesis of inorganic nanoparticles including metallic nanoparticles, oxide nanoparticles, sulfide nanoparticles, and other typical nanoparticles. Different formation mechanisms of these nanoparticles will be discussed as well. The conditions to control the size/shape and stability of particles are summarized. The applications of these biosynthesized nanoparticles in a wide spectrum of potential areas are presented including targeted drug delivery, cancer treatment, gene therapy and DNA analysis, antibacterial agents, biosensors, enhancing reaction rates, separation science, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The current limitations and future prospects for the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles by microorganisms are discussed.