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Sajjad W, Ali B, Niu H, Ilahi N, Rafiq M, Bahadur A, Banerjee A, Kang S. High prevalence of antibiotic-resistant and metal-tolerant cultivable bacteria in remote glacier environment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 239:117444. [PMID: 37858689 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Studies of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) have mainly originated from anthropic-influenced environments, with limited information from pristine environments. Remote cold environments are major reservoirs of ARB and have been determined in polar regions; however, their abundance in non-polar cold habitats is underexplored. This study evaluated antibiotics and metals resistance profiles, prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and metals tolerance genes (MTGs) in 38 ARB isolated from the glacier debris and meltwater from Baishui Glacier No 1, China. Molecular identification displayed Proteobacteria (39.3%) predominant in debris, while meltwater was dominated by Actinobacteria (30%) and Proteobacteria (30%). Bacterial isolates exhibited multiple antibiotic resistance index values > 0.2. Gram-negative bacteria displayed higher resistance to antibiotics and metals than Gram-positive. PCR amplification exhibited distinct ARGs in bacteria dominated by β-lactam genes blaCTX-M (21.1-71.1%), blaACC (21.1-60.5%), tetracycline-resistant gene tetA (21.1-60.5%), and sulfonamide-resistant gene sulI (18.4-52.6%). Moreover, different MTGs were reported in bacterial isolates, including mercury-resistant merA (21.1-63.2%), copper-resistant copB (18.4-57.9%), chromium-resistant chrA (15.8-44.7%) and arsenic-resistant arsB (10.5-44.7%). This highlights the co-selection and co-occurrence of MTGs and ARGs in remote glacier environments. Different bacteria shared same ARGs, signifying horizontal gene transfer between species. Strong positive correlation among ARGs and MTGs was reported. Metals tolerance range exhibited that Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria clustered distinctly. Gram-negative bacteria were significantly tolerant to metals. Amino acid sequences of blaACC,blaCTX-M,blaSHV,blaampC,qnrA, sulI, tetA and blaTEM revealed variations. This study presents promising ARB, harboring ARGs with variations in amino acid sequences, highlighting the need to assess the transcriptome study of glacier bacteria conferring ARGs and MTGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasim Sajjad
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Barkat Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Hewen Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; National Field Science Observation and Research Station of Yulong Snow Mountain Cryosphere and Sustainable Development, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Nikhat Ilahi
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Engineering and Management Sciences, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Ali Bahadur
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Abhishek Banerjee
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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Napoli A, Coleine C, Ulrich NJ, Moeller R, Billi D, Selbmann L. Snow Surface Microbial Diversity at the Detection Limit within the Vicinity of the Concordia Station, Antarctica. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 13:life13010113. [PMID: 36676062 PMCID: PMC9863605 DOI: 10.3390/life13010113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The Concordia Research Station provides a unique location for preparatory activities for future human journey to Mars, to explore microbial diversity at subzero temperatures, and monitor the dissemination of human-associated microorganisms within the pristine surrounding environment. Amplicon sequencing was leveraged to investigate the microbial diversity of surface snow samples collected monthly over a two-year period, at three distances from the Station (10, 500, and 1000 m). Even when the extracted total DNA was below the detection limit, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was successfully performed on all samples, while 18S rRNA was amplified on 19 samples out of 51. No significant relationships were observed between microbial diversity and seasonality (summer or winter) or distance from the Concordia base. This suggested that if present, the anthropogenic impact should have been below the detectable limit. While harboring low microbial diversity, the surface snow samples were characterized by heterogeneous microbiomes. Ultimately, our study corroborated the use of DNA sequencing-based techniques for revealing microbial presence in remote and hostile environments, with implications for Planetary Protection during space missions and for life-detection in astrobiology relevant targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Napoli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Ph.D. Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
| | - Nikea J. Ulrich
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Ralf Moeller
- Aerospace Microbiology Research Group, Radiation Biology Department, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), 28359 Cologne, Germany
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (BRSU), 53359 Rheinbach, Germany
- Correspondence: (R.M.); (D.B.)
| | - Daniela Billi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (R.M.); (D.B.)
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy
- Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), 16128 Genoa, Italy
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3
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Cultivable bacteria in the supraglacial lake formed after a glacial lake outburst flood in northern Pakistan. Int Microbiol 2022; 26:309-325. [PMID: 36484912 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-022-00306-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recently, a supraglacial lake formed as a result of a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in the Dook Pal Glacier. Lake debris and meltwater samples were collected from the supraglacial lake to determine bacterial diversity. Geochemical analyses of samples showed free amino acids (FAAs), anions, cations, and heavy metals. Comparable viable bacterial counts were observed in meltwater and debris samples. Using R2A media, a total of 52 bacterial isolates were identified: 40 from debris and 12 from meltwater. The relative abundance of Gram-positive (80.8%) bacteria was greater than Gram-negative (19.2%). Molecular identification of these isolates revealed that meltwater was dominated by Firmicutes (41.6%) and Proteobacteria (41.6%), while lake debris was dominated by Firmicutes (65.0%). The isolates belonged to 14 genera with the greatest relative abundance in Bacillus. Tolerance level of isolates to salts was high. Most of the Gram-positive bacteria were eurypsychrophiles, while most of the Gram-negative bacteria were stenopsychrophiles. Gram-negative bacteria displayed a higher minimum inhibitory concentration of selected heavy metals and antibiotics than Gram-positive. This first-ever study of culturable bacteria from a freshly formed supraglacial lake improves our understanding of the bacterial diversity and antibiotic resistance released from the glaciers as a result of GLOF.
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4
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Glaciers as microbial habitats: current knowledge and implication. J Microbiol 2022; 60:767-779. [DOI: 10.1007/s12275-022-2275-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Winkel M, Trivedi CB, Mourot R, Bradley JA, Vieth-Hillebrand A, Benning LG. Seasonality of Glacial Snow and Ice Microbial Communities. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:876848. [PMID: 35651494 PMCID: PMC9149292 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.876848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Blooms of microalgae on glaciers and ice sheets are amplifying surface ice melting rates, which are already affected by climate change. Most studies on glacial microorganisms (including snow and glacier ice algae) have so far focused on the spring and summer melt season, leading to a temporal bias, and a knowledge gap in our understanding of the variations in microbial diversity, productivity, and physiology on glacier surfaces year-round. Here, we investigated the microbial communities from Icelandic glacier surface snow and bare ice habitats, with sampling spanning two consecutive years and carried out in both winter and two summer seasons. We evaluated the seasonal differences in microbial community composition using Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and ITS marker genes and correlating them with geochemical signals in the snow and ice. During summer, Chloromonas, Chlainomonas, Raphidonema, and Hydrurus dominated surface snow algal communities, while Ancylonema and Mesotaenium dominated the surface bare ice habitats. In winter, algae could not be detected, and the community composition was dominated by bacteria and fungi. The dominant bacterial taxa found in both winter and summer samples were Bacteriodetes, Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria. The winter bacterial communities showed high similarities to airborne and fresh snow bacteria reported in other studies. This points toward the importance of dry and wet deposition as a wintertime source of microorganisms to the glacier surface. Winter samples were also richer in nutrients than summer samples, except for dissolved organic carbon-which was highest in summer snow and ice samples with blooming microalgae, suggesting that nutrients are accumulated during winter but primarily used by the microbial communities in the summer. Overall, our study shows that glacial snow and ice microbial communities are highly variable on a seasonal basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Winkel
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christopher B Trivedi
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Rey Mourot
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - James A Bradley
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany.,School of Geography, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrea Vieth-Hillebrand
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Liane G Benning
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany.,Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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6
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Host-Associated Phages Disperse across the Extraterrestrial Analogue Antarctica. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0031522. [PMID: 35499326 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00315-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme Antarctic conditions provide one of the closest analogues of extraterrestrial environments. Since air and snow samples, especially from polar regions, yield DNA amounts in the lower picogram range, binning of prokaryotic genomes is challenging and renders studying the dispersal of biological entities across these environments difficult. Here, we hypothesized that dispersal of host-associated bacteriophages (adsorbed, replicating, or prophages) across the Antarctic continent can be tracked via their genetic signatures, aiding our understanding of virus and host dispersal across long distances. Phage genome fragments (PGFs) reconstructed from surface snow metagenomes of three Antarctic stations were assigned to four host genomes, mainly Betaproteobacteria, including Ralstonia spp. We reconstructed the complete genome of a temperate phage with nearly complete alignment to a prophage in the reference genome of Ralstonia pickettii 12D. PGFs from different stations were related to each other at the genus level and matched similar hosts. Metagenomic read mapping and nucleotide polymorphism analysis revealed a wide dispersal of highly identical PGFs, 13 of which were detected in seawater from the Western Antarctic Peninsula at a distance of 5,338 km from the snow sampling stations. Our results suggest that host-associated phages, especially of Ralstonia sp., disperse over long distances despite the harsh conditions of the Antarctic continent. Given that 14 phages associated with two R. pickettii draft genomes isolated from space equipment were identified, we conclude that Ralstonia phages are ideal mobile genetic elements to track dispersal and contamination in ecosystems relevant for astrobiology. IMPORTANCE Host-associated phages of the bacterium Ralstonia identified in snow samples can be used to track microbial dispersal over thousands of kilometers across the Antarctic continent, which functions as an extraterrestrial analogue because of its harsh environmental conditions. Due to the presence of these bacteria carrying genome-integrated prophages on space-related equipment and the potential for dispersal of host-associated phages demonstrated here, our work has implications for planetary protection, a discipline in astrobiology interested in preventing contamination of celestial bodies with alien biomolecules or forms of life.
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7
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Life from a Snowflake: Diversity and Adaptation of Cold-Loving Bacteria among Ice Crystals. CRYSTALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst12030312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Incredible as it is, researchers have now the awareness that even the most extreme environment includes special habitats that host several forms of life. Cold environments cover different compartments of the cryosphere, as sea and freshwater ice, glaciers, snow, and permafrost. Although these are very particular environmental compartments in which various stressors coexist (i.e., freeze–thaw cycles, scarce water availability, irradiance conditions, and poorness of nutrients), diverse specialized microbial communities are harbored. This raises many intriguing questions, many of which are still unresolved. For instance, a challenging focus is to understand if microorganisms survive trapped frozen among ice crystals for long periods of time or if they indeed remain metabolically active. Likewise, a look at their site-specific diversity and at their putative geochemical activity is demanded, as well as at the equally interesting microbial activity at subzero temperatures. The production of special molecules such as strategy of adaptations, cryoprotectants, and ice crystal-controlling molecules is even more intriguing. This paper aims at reviewing all these aspects with the intent of providing a thorough overview of the main contributors in investigating the microbial life in the cryosphere, touching on the themes of diversity, adaptation, and metabolic potential.
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Fillinger L, Hürkamp K, Stumpp C, Weber N, Forster D, Hausmann B, Schultz L, Griebler C. Spatial and Annual Variation in Microbial Abundance, Community Composition, and Diversity Associated With Alpine Surface Snow. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:781904. [PMID: 34912321 PMCID: PMC8667604 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.781904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding microbial community dynamics in the alpine cryosphere is an important step toward assessing climate change impacts on these fragile ecosystems and meltwater-fed environments downstream. In this study, we analyzed microbial community composition, variation in community alpha and beta diversity, and the number of prokaryotic cells and virus-like particles (VLP) in seasonal snowpack from two consecutive years at three high altitude mountain summits along a longitudinal transect across the European Alps. Numbers of prokaryotic cells and VLP both ranged around 104 and 105 per mL of snow meltwater on average, with variation generally within one order of magnitude between sites and years. VLP-to-prokaryotic cell ratios spanned two orders of magnitude, with median values close to 1, and little variation between sites and years in the majority of cases. Estimates of microbial community alpha diversity inferred from Hill numbers revealed low contributions of common and abundant microbial taxa to the total taxon richness, and thus low community evenness. Similar to prokaryotic cell and VLP numbers, differences in alpha diversity between years and sites were generally relatively modest. In contrast, community composition displayed strong variation between sites and especially between years. Analyses of taxonomic and phylogenetic community composition showed that differences between sites within years were mainly characterized by changes in abundances of microbial taxa from similar phylogenetic clades, whereas shifts between years were due to significant phylogenetic turnover. Our findings on the spatiotemporal dynamics and magnitude of variation of microbial abundances, community diversity, and composition in surface snow may help define baseline levels to assess future impacts of climate change on the alpine cryosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Fillinger
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kerstin Hürkamp
- Institute of Radiation Medicine, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christine Stumpp
- Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Nina Weber
- Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Dominik Forster
- Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Bela Hausmann
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lotta Schultz
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Griebler
- Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
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9
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Extreme freeze-thaw cycles do not affect moss-associated nitrogen fixation across a temperature gradient, but affect nutrient loss from mosses. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2021.103796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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10
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O'Connor BRW, Fernández-Martínez MÁ, Léveillé RJ, Whyte LG. Taxonomic Characterization and Microbial Activity Determination of Cold-Adapted Microbial Communities in Lava Tube Ice Caves from Lava Beds National Monument, a High-Fidelity Mars Analogue Environment. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:613-627. [PMID: 33794669 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Martian lava tube caves resulting from a time when the planet was still volcanically active are proposed to contain deposits of water ice, a feature that may increase microbial habitability. In this study, we taxonomically characterized and directly measured metabolic activity of the microbial communities that inhabit lava tube ice from Lava Beds National Monument, an analogue environment to martian lava tubes. We investigated whether this environment was habitable to microorganisms by determining their taxonomic diversity, metabolic activity, and viability using both culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques. With 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we recovered 27 distinct phyla from both ice and ice-rock interface samples, primarily consisting of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Chloroflexi. Radiorespiration and Biolog EcoPlate assays found these microbial communities to be metabolically active at both 5°C and -5°C and able to metabolize diverse sets of heterotrophic carbon substrates at each temperature. Viable cells were predominantly cold adapted and capable of growth at 5°C (1.3 × 104 to 2.9 × 107 cells/mL), and 24 of 38 cultured isolates were capable of growth at -5°C. Furthermore, 14 of these cultured isolates, and 16 of the 20 most numerous amplicon sequences we recovered were most closely related to isolates and sequences obtained from other cryophilic environments. Given these results, lava tube ice appears to be a habitable environment, and considering the protections martian lava tubes offer to microbial communities from harsh surface conditions, similar martian caves containing ice may be capable of supporting extant, active microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brady R W O'Connor
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Richard J Léveillé
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lyle G Whyte
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill Space Institute, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
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11
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Cultivation and characterization of snowbound microorganisms from the South Pole. Extremophiles 2021; 25:159-172. [PMID: 33590336 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-021-01218-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about microbial ecosystems of interior Antarctica, if indeed such ecosystems exist. Although considerable research has assessed microorganisms indigenous to coastal regions of Antarctica, particularly their lakes, ponds, and soils, to our knowledge only one characterized bacterium, a strain of Pseudomonas, has been isolated from South Pole ice or snow. Metagenomic community analyses described in this work and elsewhere reveal that a diversity of bacteria exists in inland polar snows, yet attempts to culture and characterize these microbes from this extreme environment have been few to date. In this molecular and culture-dependent investigation of the microbiology of inland Antarctica, we enriched and isolated two new strains of bacteria and one strain of yeast (Fungi) from South Pole snow samples. The bacteria were of the genera Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas, and the yeast grouped with species of Naganishia (class Tremellocytes). In addition to phylogenetic analyses, characterization of these isolates included determinations of cell morphology, growth as a function of temperature, salinity tolerance, and carbon and energy source versatility. All organisms were found to be cold-adapted, and the yeast strain additionally showed considerable halotolerance. These descriptions expand our understanding of the diversity and metabolic activities of snowbound microorganisms of interior Antarctica.
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12
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Smirnova M, Miamin U, Kohler A, Valentovich L, Akhremchuk A, Sidarenka A, Dolgikh A, Shapaval V. Isolation and characterization of fast-growing green snow bacteria from coastal East Antarctica. Microbiologyopen 2021; 10:e1152. [PMID: 33377317 PMCID: PMC7887010 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Snow microorganisms play a significant role in climate change and affecting the snow melting rate in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. While research on algae inhabiting green and red snow has been performed extensively, bacteria dwelling in this biotope have been studied to a much lesser extent. In this study, we performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of two green snow samples collected from the coastal area of the eastern part of Antarctica and conducted genotypic and phenotypic profiling of 45 fast-growing bacteria isolated from these samples. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of two green snow samples showed that bacteria inhabiting these samples are mostly represented by families Burkholderiaceae (46.31%), Flavobacteriaceae (22.98%), and Pseudomonadaceae (17.66%). Identification of 45 fast-growing bacteria isolated from green snow was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We demonstrated that they belong to the phyla Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, and are represented by the genera Arthrobacter, Cryobacterium, Leifsonia, Salinibacterium, Paeniglutamicibacter, Rhodococcus, Polaromonas, Pseudomonas, and Psychrobacter. Nearly all bacterial isolates exhibited various growth temperatures from 4°C to 25°C, and some isolates were characterized by a high level of enzymatic activity. Phenotyping using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed a possible accumulation of intracellular polymer polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) or lipids in some isolates. The bacteria showed different lipids/PHA and protein profiles. It was shown that lipid/PHA and protein spectral regions are the most discriminative for differentiating the isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Smirnova
- Faculty of Science and TechnologyNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway
| | | | - Achim Kohler
- Faculty of Science and TechnologyNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway
| | - Leonid Valentovich
- Faculty of BiologyBelarusian State UniversityMinskBelarus
- Institute of MicrobiologyNational Academy of Sciences of BelarusMinskBelarus
| | - Artur Akhremchuk
- Institute of MicrobiologyNational Academy of Sciences of BelarusMinskBelarus
| | - Anastasiya Sidarenka
- Faculty of BiologyBelarusian State UniversityMinskBelarus
- Institute of MicrobiologyNational Academy of Sciences of BelarusMinskBelarus
| | - Andrey Dolgikh
- Institute of GeographyRussian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussia
| | - Volha Shapaval
- Faculty of Science and TechnologyNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway
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13
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Monaco P, Divino F, Naclerio G, Bucci A. Microbial community analysis with a specific statistical approach after a record breaking snowfall in Southern Italy. ANN MICROBIOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s13213-020-01604-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
Snow and ice ecosystems present unexpectedly high microbial abundance and diversity. Although arctic and alpine snow environments have been intensively investigated from a microbiological point of view, few studies have been conducted in the Apennines. Accordingly, the main purpose of this research was to analyze the microbial communities of the snow collected in two different locations of Capracotta municipality (Southern Italy) after a snowfall record occurred on March 2015 (256 cm of snow in less than 24 h).
Methods
Bacterial communities were analyzed by the Next-Generation Sequencing techniques. Furthermore, a specific statistical approach for taxonomic hierarchy data was introduced, both for the assessment of diversity within microbial communities and the comparison between different microbiotas. In general, diversity and similarity indices are more informative when computed at the lowest level of the taxonomic hierarchy, the species level. This is not the case with microbial data, for which the species level is not necessarily the most informative. Indeed, the possibility to detect a large number of unclassified records at every level of the hierarchy (even at the top) is very realistic due to both the partial knowledge about the cultivable fraction of microbial communities and limitations to taxonomic assignment connected to the quality and completeness of the 16S rRNA gene reference databases. Thus, a global approach considering information from the whole taxonomic hierarchy was adopted in order to obtain a more consistent assessment of the biodiversity.
Result
The main phyla retrieved in the investigated snow samples were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Interestingly, DNA from bacteria adapted to thrive at low temperatures, but also from microorganisms normally associated with other habitats, whose presence in the snow could be justified by wind-transport, was found. Biomolecular investigations and statistical data analysis showed relevant differences in terms of biodiversity, composition, and distribution of bacterial species between the studied snow samples.
Conclusion
The relevance of this research lies in the expansion of knowledge about microorganisms associated with cold environments in contexts poorly investigated such as the Italian Apennines, and in the development of a global statistical approach for the assessment of biological diversity and similarity of microbial communities as an additional tool to be usefully combined with the barcoding methods.
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14
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Sajjad W, Rafiq M, Din G, Hasan F, Iqbal A, Zada S, Ali B, Hayat M, Irfan M, Kang S. Resurrection of inactive microbes and resistome present in the natural frozen world: Reality or myth? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 735:139275. [PMID: 32480145 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The present world faces a new threat of ancient microbes and resistomes that are locked in the cryosphere and now releasing upon thawing due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. The cryosphere act as the best preserving place for these microbes and resistomes that stay alive for millions of years. Current reviews extensively discussed whether the resurrection of microbes and resistomes existing in these pristine environments is true or just a hype. Release of these ancient microorganisms and naked DNA is of great concern for society as these microbes can either cause infections directly or they can interact with contemporary microorganisms and affect their fitness, survival, and mutation rate. Moreover, the contemporary microorganisms may uptake the unlocked naked DNA, which might transform non-pathogenic microorganisms into deadly antibiotic-resistant microbes. Additionally, the resurrection of glacial microorganisms can cause adverse effects on ecosystems downstream. The release of glacial pathogens and naked DNA is real and can lead to fatal outbreaks; therefore, we must prepare ourselves for the possible reemergence of diseases caused by these microbes. This study provides a scientific base for the adoption of actions by international cooperation to develop preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasim Sajjad
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Ghufranud Din
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Fariha Hasan
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Awais Iqbal
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Sahib Zada
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Barkat Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Muhammad Hayat
- Institute of Microbial Technology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao Campus, China
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- College of Dentistry, Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. USA
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, China.
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15
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Luo W, Ding H, Li H, Ji Z, Huang K, Zhao W, Yu Y, Zeng Y. Molecular diversity of the microbial community in coloured snow from the Fildes Peninsula (King George Island, Maritime Antarctica). Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02716-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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16
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Holland AT, Bergk Pinto B, Layton R, Williamson CJ, Anesio AM, Vogel TM, Larose C, Tranter M. Over Winter Microbial Processes in a Svalbard Snow Pack: An Experimental Approach. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1029. [PMID: 32547512 PMCID: PMC7273115 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Snow packs cover large expanses of Earth’s land surface, making them integral components of the cryosphere in terms of past climate and atmospheric proxies, surface albedo regulators, insulators for other Arctic environments and habitats for diverse microbial communities such as algae, bacteria and fungi. Yet, most of our current understanding of snow pack environments, specifically microbial activity and community interaction, is limited to the main microbial growing season during spring ablation. At present, little is known about microbial activity and its influence on nutrient cycling during the subfreezing temperatures and 24-h darkness of the polar winter. Here, we examined microbial dynamics in a simulated cold (−5°C), dark snow pack to determine polar winter season microbial activity and its dependence on critical nutrients. Snow collected from Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard was incubated in the dark over a 5-week period with four different nutrient additions, including glacial mineral particles, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and a combined treatment of DIN plus DIP. Data indicate a consumption of dissolved inorganic nutrients, particularly DIN, by heterotrophic communities, suggesting a potential nitrogen limitation, contradictory to phosphorus limitations found in most aquatic environments. 16S amplicon sequencing also reveal a clear difference in microbial community composition in the particulate mineral treatment compared to dissolved nutrient treatments and controls, suggesting that certain species of heterotrophs living within the snow pack are more likely to associate with particulates. Particulate phosphorus analyses indicate a potential ability of heterotrophic communities to access particulate sources of phosphorous, possibly explaining the lack of phosphorus limitation. These findings have importance for understanding microbial activity during the polar winter season and its potential influences on the abundance and bioavailability of nutrients released to surface ice and downstream environments during the ablation season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra T Holland
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Benoît Bergk Pinto
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Rose Layton
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France.,ENOVEO, Lyon, France
| | - Christopher J Williamson
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Timothy M Vogel
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Martyn Tranter
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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17
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Mohamad Nor N, Hashim NHF, Quay DHX, Mahadi NM, Illias RM, Abu Bakar FD, Murad AMA. Functional and structural analyses of an expansin-like protein from the antarctic yeast Glaciozyma antarctica PI12 reveal strategies of nutrient scavenging in the sea ice environment. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 144:231-241. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.12.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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18
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Flemming HC, Wuertz S. Bacteria and archaea on Earth and their abundance in biofilms. Nat Rev Microbiol 2020; 17:247-260. [PMID: 30760902 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-019-0158-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 670] [Impact Index Per Article: 167.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Biofilms are a form of collective life with emergent properties that confer many advantages on their inhabitants, and they represent a much higher level of organization than single cells do. However, to date, no global analysis on biofilm abundance exists. We offer a critical discussion of the definition of biofilms and compile current estimates of global cell numbers in major microbial habitats, mindful of the associated uncertainty. Most bacteria and archaea on Earth (1.2 × 1030 cells) exist in the 'big five' habitats: deep oceanic subsurface (4 × 1029), upper oceanic sediment (5 × 1028), deep continental subsurface (3 × 1029), soil (3 × 1029) and oceans (1 × 1029). The remaining habitats, including groundwater, the atmosphere, the ocean surface microlayer, humans, animals and the phyllosphere, account for fewer cells by orders of magnitude. Biofilms dominate in all habitats on the surface of the Earth, except in the oceans, accounting for ~80% of bacterial and archaeal cells. In the deep subsurface, however, they cannot always be distinguished from single sessile cells; we estimate that 20-80% of cells in the subsurface exist as biofilms. Hence, overall, 40-80% of cells on Earth reside in biofilms. We conclude that biofilms drive all biogeochemical processes and represent the main way of active bacterial and archaeal life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Curt Flemming
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Singapore, Singapore. .,Biofilm Centre, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Stefan Wuertz
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Singapore, Singapore. .,School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
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19
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Sharma Ghimire P, Tripathee L, Zhang Q, Guo J, Ram K, Huang J, Sharma CM, Kang S. Microbial mercury methylation in the cryosphere: Progress and prospects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 697:134150. [PMID: 32380618 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic heavy metals, and its cycle is mainly controlled by oxidation-reduction reactions carried out by photochemical or microbial process under suitable conditions. The deposition and accumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in various ecosystems, including the cryospheric components such as snow, meltwater, glaciers, and ice sheet, and subsequently in the food chain pose serious health concerns for living beings. Unlike the abundance of knowledge about the processes of MeHg production over land and oceans, little is known about the sources and production/degradation rate of MeHg in cryosphere systems. In addition, processes controlling the concentration of Hg and MeHg in the cryosphere remains poorly understood, and filling this scientific gap has been challenging. Therefore, it is essential to study and review the deposition and accumulation by biological, physical, and chemical mechanisms involved in Hg methylation in the cryosphere. This review attempts to address knowledge gaps in understanding processes, especially biotic and abiotic, applicable for Hg methylation in the cryosphere. First, we focus on the variability in Hg concentration and mechanisms of Hg methylation, including physical, chemical, microbial, and biological processes, and transportation in the cryosphere. Then, we elaborate on the mechanism of redox reactions and biotic and abiotic factors controlling Hg methylation and biogeochemistry of Hg in the cryosphere. We also present possible mechanisms of Hg methylation with an emphasis on microbial transformation and molecular function to understand variability in Hg concentration in the cryosphere. Recent advancements in the genetic and physicochemical mechanisms of Hg methylation are also presented. Finally, we summarize and propose a method to study the unsolved issues of Hg methylation in the cryosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakriti Sharma Ghimire
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Himalayan Environment Research Institute (HERI), Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Lekhendra Tripathee
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; Himalayan Environment Research Institute (HERI), Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | - Qianggong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kirpa Ram
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Jie Huang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chhatra Mani Sharma
- Himalayan Environment Research Institute (HERI), Kathmandu, Nepal; Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Lanzhou 730000, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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20
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Leygeber M, Lindemann D, Sachs CC, Kaganovitch E, Wiechert W, Nöh K, Kohlheyer D. Analyzing Microbial Population Heterogeneity—Expanding the Toolbox of Microfluidic Single-Cell Cultivations. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:4569-4588. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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21
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Taxonomic and functional characterization of a microbial community from a volcanic englacial ecosystem in Deception Island, Antarctica. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12158. [PMID: 31434915 PMCID: PMC6704131 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47994-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaciers are populated by a large number of microorganisms including bacteria, archaea and microeukaryotes. Several factors such as solar radiation, nutrient availability and water content greatly determine the diversity and abundance of these microbial populations, the type of metabolism and the biogeochemical cycles. Three ecosystems can be differentiated in glaciers: supraglacial, subglacial and englacial ecosystems. Firstly, the supraglacial ecosystem, sunlit and oxygenated, is predominantly populated by photoautotrophic microorganisms. Secondly, the subglacial ecosystem contains a majority of chemoautotrophs that are fed on the mineral salts of the rocks and basal soil. Lastly, the englacial ecosystem is the least studied and the one that contains the smallest number of microorganisms. However, these unknown englacial microorganisms establish a food web and appear to have an active metabolism. In order to study their metabolic potentials, samples of englacial ice were taken from an Antarctic glacier. Microorganisms were analyzed by a polyphasic approach that combines a set of -omic techniques: 16S rRNA sequencing, culturomics and metaproteomics. This combination provides key information about diversity and functions of microbial populations, especially in rare habitats. Several whole essential proteins and enzymes related to metabolism and energy production, recombination and translation were found that demonstrate the existence of cellular activity at subzero temperatures. In this way it is shown that the englacial microorganisms are not quiescent, but that they maintain an active metabolism and play an important role in the glacial microbial community.
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22
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Domine F. Should We Not Further Study the Impact of Microbial Activity on Snow and Polar Atmospheric Chemistry? Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7080260. [PMID: 31416183 PMCID: PMC6723259 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7080260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Since 1999, atmospheric and snow chemists have shown that snow is a very active photochemical reactor that releases reactive gaseous species to the atmosphere including nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, aldehydes, halocarbons, carboxylic acids and mercury. Snow photochemistry therefore affects the formation of ozone, a potent greenhouse gas, and of aerosols, which affect the radiative budget of the planet and, therefore, its climate. In parallel, microbiologists have investigated microbes in snow, identified and quantified species, and sometimes discussed their nutrient supplies and metabolism, implicitly acknowledging that microbes could modify snow chemical composition. However, it is only in the past 10 years that a small number of studies have revealed that microbial activity in cold snow (< 0 °C, in the absence of significant amounts of liquid water) could lead to the release of nitrogen oxides, halocarbons, and mercury into the atmosphere. I argue here that microbes may have a significant effect on snow and atmospheric composition, especially during the polar night when photochemistry is shut off. Collaborative studies between microbiologists and snow and atmospheric chemists are needed to investigate this little-explored field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Domine
- Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, Université Laval (Canada) and CNRS-INSU (France), Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
- Centre d'Études Nordiques (CEN), Department of Chemistry and Department of Geography, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.
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23
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Qiu D, Huang L, Liu X, Lin S. Flourishing deep-sea AAP bacteria detected by flow cytometric sorting and molecular analysis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218753. [PMID: 31216335 PMCID: PMC6583994 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigmented bacteria cells, including aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria, contribute significantly to secondary production and aquatic carbon cycling but their distribution in the deep sea is still not well understood, especially in the South China Sea. In this study, microscopic, flow cytometric, and molecular analyses were carried out to investigate the abundance and diversity of AAP bacteria at seven stations in the South China Sea. The results revealed the existence of bacteriochlorophyll-containing bacteria below 500 m from two of seven stations. Flow cytometric analysis detected red and infra-red fluorescence under blue (488 nm) light excitation from fluorescent cells. Blue light-excited red fluorescence of these cells from the 1000 m depth at station E403 were verified using epifluorescence microscopy. Based on fluorescence and side scatter features, fluorescent cells were sorted and subjected to molecular analysis. DNA was extracted from these sorted cells from both stations for PCR amplification using 16S rDNA primers. Sequencing of the PCR products showed that the sorted cells from the 1000 m depth at station E403 belonged to the genus Porphyrobacter. The cell population sorted from 500 m at station E703 contained Sphingomonas and a Methylobacterium-like taxon. All these three taxa belong to aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic alpha-proteobacteria. Using flow cytometric analysis, we found that the abundance of Porphyrobacter sp. at 1000 m was 2.71–2.95×104 cells mL-1 whereas cell counts of Sphingomonas sp. and Methylobacterium at 500 m were about 3.75–4.12×105 cells mL-1. These results indicate that albeit not ubiquitous in deep water, bacteriochlorophyll-containing bacteria can be abundant in the deep-sea aphotic zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dajun Qiu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Liangmin Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Senjie Lin
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut, United States of America
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24
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Paun VI, Icaza G, Lavin P, Marin C, Tudorache A, Perşoiu A, Dorador C, Purcarea C. Total and Potentially Active Bacterial Communities Entrapped in a Late Glacial Through Holocene Ice Core From Scarisoara Ice Cave, Romania. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1193. [PMID: 31244788 PMCID: PMC6563852 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the icy-habitat microbiome is likely limited by a lack of reliable data on microorganisms inhabiting underground ice that has accumulated inside caves. To characterize how environmental variation impacts cave ice microbial community structure, we determined the composition of total and potentially active bacterial communities along a 13,000-year-old ice core from Scarisoara cave (Romania) through 16S rRNA gene Illumina sequencing. An average of 2,546 prokaryotic gDNA operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 585 cDNA OTUs were identified across the perennial cave ice block and analyzed in relation to the geochemical composition of ice layers. The total microbial community and the putative active fraction displayed dissimilar taxa profiles. The ice-contained microbiome was dominated by Actinobacteria with a variable representation of Proteobacteria, while the putative active microbial community was equally shared between Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. Accordingly, a major presence of Cryobacterium, Lysinomonas, Pedobacter, and Aeromicrobium phylotypes homologous to psychrotrophic and psychrophilic bacteria from various cold environments were noted in the total community, while the prevalent putative active bacteria belonged to Clostridium, Pseudomonas, Janthinobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, and Massilia genera. Variation in the microbial cell density of ice strata with the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and the strong correlation of DOC and silicon concentrations revealed a major impact of depositional processes on microbial abundance throughout the ice block. Post-depositional processes appeared to occur mostly during the 4,000–7,000 years BP interval. A major bacterial composition shift was observed in 4,500–5,000-year-old ice, leading to a high representation of Beta- and Deltaproteobacteria in the potentially active community in response to the increased concentrations of DOC and major chemical elements. Estimated metabolic rates suggested the presence of a viable microbial community within the cave ice block, characterized by a maintenance metabolism in most strata and growth capacity in those ice deposits with high microbial abundance and DOC content. This first survey of microbial distribution in perennial cave ice formed since the Last Glacial period revealed a complex potentially active community, highlighting major shifts in community composition associated with geochemical changes that took place during climatic events that occurred about 5,000 years ago, with putative formation of photosynthetic biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria I Paun
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Gonzalo Icaza
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Paris Lavin
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Constantin Marin
- Laboratory of Hydrogeochemistry, "Emil Racovita" Institute of Speleology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alin Tudorache
- Laboratory of Hydrogeochemistry, "Emil Racovita" Institute of Speleology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Aurel Perşoiu
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Bucharest, Romania.,"Emil Racovita" Institute of Speleology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.,Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
| | - Cristina Dorador
- Laboratorio de Complejidad Microbiana y Ecología Funcional, Instituto Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile.,Departamento de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Recursos Biológicos, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Cristina Purcarea
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Bucharest, Romania
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25
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Malard LA, Šabacká M, Magiopoulos I, Mowlem M, Hodson A, Tranter M, Siegert MJ, Pearce DA. Spatial Variability of Antarctic Surface Snow Bacterial Communities. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:461. [PMID: 30972032 PMCID: PMC6443967 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It was once a long-held view that the Antarctic was a pristine environment with low biomass, low biodiversity and low rates of microbial activity. However, as the intensity of scientific investigation has increased, so these views have started to change. In particular, the role and impact of human activity toward indigenous microbial communities has started to come under more intense scrutiny. During the Subglacial Lake Ellsworth exploration campaign in December 2012, a microbiological survey was conducted to determine the extent and likelihood of exogenous input into the subglacial lake system during the hot-water drilling process. Snow was collected from the surface to represent that used for melt water production for hot-water drilling. The results of this study showed that snow used to provide melt water differed in its microbiological composition from that of the surrounding area and raised the question of how the biogeography of snow-borne microorganisms might influence the potential outcome of scientific analyses. In this study, we investigated the biogeography of microorganisms in snow around a series of Antarctic logistic hubs, where human activity was clearly apparent, and from which scientific investigations have been undertaken. A change in microbial community structure with geographical location was apparent and, notably, a decrease in alpha diversity at more remote southern latitudes. Soil-related microorganisms dominated microbial assemblages suggesting terrestrial input, most likely from long-range aeolian transport into continental Antarctica. We also observed that relic DNA was not a major issue when assessing snow samples. Overall, our observations might have profound implications for future scientific activities in Antarctica, such as the need to establish "no-go" protected areas, the need for better characterization of field sites and improved protocols for sterilization and verification of ice drilling equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie A. Malard
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University at Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Marie Šabacká
- Centre for Polar Ecology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Iordanis Magiopoulos
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Heraklion, Greece
- Ocean Technology and Engineering Group, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Mowlem
- Ocean Technology and Engineering Group, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Andy Hodson
- Arctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway
| | - Martyn Tranter
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J. Siegert
- Grantham Institute, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Pearce
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University at Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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26
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Maccario L, Carpenter SD, Deming JW, Vogel TM, Larose C. Sources and selection of snow-specific microbial communities in a Greenlandic sea ice snow cover. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2290. [PMID: 30783153 PMCID: PMC6381142 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38744-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea ice and its snow cover are critical for global processes including climate regulation and biogeochemical cycles. Despite an increase in studies focused on snow microorganisms, the ecology of snow inhabitants remains unclear. In this study, we investigated sources and selection of a snowpack-specific microbial community by comparing metagenomes from samples collected in a Greenlandic fjord within a vertical profile including atmosphere, snowpack with four distinct layers of snow, sea ice brine and seawater. Microbial communities in all snow layers derived from mixed sources, both marine and terrestrial, and were more similar to atmospheric communities than to sea ice or seawater communities. The surface snow metagenomes were characterized by the occurrence of genes involved in photochemical stress resistance, primary production and metabolism of diverse carbon sources. The basal saline snow layer that was in direct contact with the sea ice surface harbored a higher abundance of cells than the overlying snow layers, with a predominance of Alteromonadales and a higher relative abundance of marine representatives. However, the overall taxonomic structure of the saline layer was more similar to that of other snow layers and the atmosphere than to underlying sea ice and seawater. The expulsion of relatively nutrient-rich sea ice brine into basal snow might have stimulated the growth of copiotrophic psychro- and halotolerant snow members. Our study indicates that the size, composition and function of snowpack microbial communities over sea ice were influenced primarily by atmospheric deposition and inflow of sea ice brine and that they form a snow-specific assemblage reflecting the particular environmental conditions of the snowpack habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorrie Maccario
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Écully, France.
- Microbiology Section, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Jody W Deming
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Timothy M Vogel
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Écully, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS, École Centrale de Lyon, Écully, France
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27
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Honeyman AS, Day ML, Spear JR. Regional fresh snowfall microbiology and chemistry are driven by geography in storm-tracked events, Colorado, USA. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5961. [PMID: 30498637 PMCID: PMC6252068 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Snowfall is a global phenomenon highly integrated with hydrology and ecology. Forays into studying bioaerosols and their dependence on aeolian movement are largely constrained to either precipitation-independent analyses or in silico models. Though snowpack and glacial microbiological studies have been conducted, little is known about the biological component of meteoric snow. Through culture-independent phylogenetic and geochemical analyses, we show that the geographical location at which snow precipitates determines snowfall’s geochemical and microbiological composition. Storm-tracking, furthermore, can be used as a valuable environmental indicator to trace down what factors are influencing bioaerosols. We estimate annual aeolian snowfall deposits of up to ∼10 kg of bacterial/archaeal biomass per hectare along our study area of the eastern Front Range in Colorado. The dominant kinds of microbiota captured in an analysis of seven snow events at two different locations, one urban, one rural, across the winter of 2016/2017 included phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria, though a multitude of different kinds of organisms were found in both. Taxonomically, Bacteroidetes were more abundant in Golden (urban plain) snow while Proteobacteria were more common in Sunshine (rural mountain) samples. Chemically, Golden snowfall was positively correlated with some metals and anions. The work also hints at better informing the “everything is everywhere” hypotheses of the microbial world and that atmospheric transport of microbiota is not only common, but is capable of disseminating vast amounts of microbiota of different physiologies and genetics that then affect ecosystems globally. Snowfall, we conclude, is a significant repository of microbiological material with strong implications for both ecosystem genetic flux and general bio-aerosol theory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria L Day
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
| | - John R Spear
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA
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28
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Thakur V, Kumar V, Kumar S, Singh D. Diverse culturable bacterial communities with cellulolytic potential revealed from pristine habitat in Indian trans-Himalaya. Can J Microbiol 2018; 64:798-808. [DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2017-0754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Pangi–Chamba Himalaya (PCH) region is very pristine, unique, and virgin niche for bioresource exploration. In the current study, for the first time, the bacterial diversity of this region was investigated for potential cellulose degraders. A total of 454 pure bacterial isolates were obtained from diverse sites in the PCH region, and 111 isolates were further selected for 16S rDNA characterization based on ARDRA grouping. The identified bacteria belonged to 28 genera representing four phyla: Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Pseudomonas was most abundant genus, followed by Bacillus, Geobacillus, Arthrobacter, Paenibacillus, and Flavobacterium. In addition, six putative novel bacteria (based on 16S rDNA sequence similarity) and thermophiles from non-thermogenic sites were also reported for the first time. Screening for cellulose degradation ability on carboxymethyl cellulose plates revealed that 70.92% of bacteria were cellulolytic. The current study reports diverse bacterial genera (Arthrobacter, Paenibacillus, Chryseobacterium, Pedobacter, Streptomyces, Agromyces, Flavobacterium, and Pseudomonas) with high capacity for cellulose hydrolysis and cellulolytic functionality at wide pH and temperature not previously reported in the literature. Diverse bacterial genera with high cellulolytic activity in broad pH and temperature range provide opportunity to develop a bioprocess for efficient pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass, which is currently being investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Thakur
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Dharam Singh
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR – Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 6, Palampur-176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India
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Redeker KR, Chong JPJ, Aguion A, Hodson A, Pearce DA. Microbial metabolism directly affects trace gases in (sub) polar snowpacks. J R Soc Interface 2018; 14:rsif.2017.0729. [PMID: 29263129 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Concentrations of trace gases trapped in ice are considered to develop uniquely from direct snow/atmosphere interactions at the time of contact. This assumption relies upon limited or no biological, chemical or physical transformations occurring during transition from snow to firn to ice; a process that can take decades to complete. Here, we present the first evidence of environmental alteration due to in situ microbial metabolism of trace gases (methyl halides and dimethyl sulfide) in polar snow. We collected evidence for ongoing microbial metabolism from an Arctic and an Antarctic location during different years. Methyl iodide production in the snowpack decreased significantly after exposure to enhanced UV radiation. Our results also show large variations in the production and consumption of other methyl halides, including methyl bromide and methyl chloride, used in climate interpretations. These results suggest that this long-neglected microbial activity could constitute a potential source of error in climate history interpretations, by introducing a so far unappreciated source of bias in the quantification of atmospheric-derived trace gases trapped within the polar ice caps.
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Affiliation(s)
- K R Redeker
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, North Yorkshire, UK
| | - J P J Chong
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, North Yorkshire, UK
| | - A Aguion
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, North Yorkshire, UK
| | - A Hodson
- Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Arctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard, Svalbard, Norway
| | - D A Pearce
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE66 1UG, UK
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30
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Wei H, Peng C, Yang B, Song H, Li Q, Jiang L, Wei G, Wang K, Wang H, Liu S, Liu X, Chen D, Li Y, Wang M. Contrasting Soil Bacterial Community, Diversity, and Function in Two Forests in China. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1693. [PMID: 30108560 PMCID: PMC6080587 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria are the highest abundant microorganisms in the soil. To investigate bacteria community structures, diversity, and functions, contrasting them in four different seasons all the year round with/within two different forest type soils of China. We analyzed soil bacterial community based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing via Illumina HiSeq platform at a temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest (Baotianman, BTM) and a tropical rainforest (Jianfengling, JFL). We obtained 51,137 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and classified them into 44 phyla and 556 known genera, 18.2% of which had a relative abundance >1%. The composition in each phylum was similar between the two forest sites. Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria were the most abundant phyla in the soil samples between the two forest sites. The Shannon index did not significantly differ among the four seasons at BTM or JFL and was higher at BTM than JFL in each season. The bacteria community at both BTM and JFL showed two significant (P < 0.05) predicted functions related to carbon cycle (anoxygenic photoautotrophy sulfur oxidizing and anoxygenic photoautotrophy) and three significant (P < 0.05) predicted functions related to nitrogen cycle (nitrous denitrificaton, nitrite denitrification, and nitrous oxide denitrification). We provide the basis on how changes in bacterial community composition and diversity leading to differences in carbon and nitrogen cycles at the two forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Wei
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Medical College, Baoji Vocational Technology College, Baoji, China
| | - Changhui Peng
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Départment des Sciences Biologiques, Institut des Sciences de l'Environnement, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Bin Yang
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Hanxiong Song
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Quan Li
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Gang Wei
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Kefeng Wang
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Shirong Liu
- Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment and Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojing Liu
- Baotianman Natural Reserve Administration, Neixiang, China
| | - Dexiang Chen
- Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yide Li
- Research Institute of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Center for Ecological Forecasting and Global Change, College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Institute for Peat and Mire Research, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
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31
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Santibáñez PA, Maselli OJ, Greenwood MC, Grieman MM, Saltzman ES, McConnell JR, Priscu JC. Prokaryotes in the WAIS Divide ice core reflect source and transport changes between Last Glacial Maximum and the early Holocene. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2018; 24:2182-2197. [PMID: 29322639 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We present the first long-term, highly resolved prokaryotic cell concentration record obtained from a polar ice core. This record, obtained from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide (WD) ice core, spanned from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the early Holocene (EH) and showed distinct fluctuations in prokaryotic cell concentration coincident with major climatic states. The time series also revealed a ~1,500-year periodicity with greater amplitude during the Last Deglaciation (LDG). Higher prokaryotic cell concentration and lower variability occurred during the LGM and EH than during the LDG. A sevenfold decrease in prokaryotic cell concentration coincided with the LGM/LDG transition and the global 19 ka meltwater pulse. Statistical models revealed significant relationships between the prokaryotic cell record and tracers of both marine (sea-salt sodium [ssNa]) and burning emissions (black carbon [BC]). Collectively, these models, together with visual observations and methanosulfidic acid (MSA) measurements, indicated that the temporal variability in concentration of airborne prokaryotic cells reflected changes in marine/sea-ice regional environments of the WAIS. Our data revealed that variations in source and transport were the most likely processes producing the significant temporal variations in WD prokaryotic cell concentrations. This record provided strong evidence that airborne prokaryotic cell deposition differed during the LGM, LDG, and EH, and that these changes in cell densities could be explained by different environmental conditions during each of these climatic periods. Our observations provide the first ice-core time series evidence for a prokaryotic response to long-term climatic and environmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela A Santibáñez
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH), Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Olivia J Maselli
- Desert Research Institute, Nevada System of Higher Education, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Mark C Greenwood
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Mackenzie M Grieman
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Eric S Saltzman
- Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Joseph R McConnell
- Desert Research Institute, Nevada System of Higher Education, Reno, NV, USA
| | - John C Priscu
- Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
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32
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Abed RMM, Kohls K, Leloup J, de Beer D. Abundance and diversity of aerobic heterotrophic microorganisms and their interaction with cyanobacteria in the oxic layer of an intertidal hypersaline cyanobacterial mat. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2017; 94:4757060. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fix183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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33
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Shen L, Liu Y, Wang N, Jiao N, Xu B, Liu X. Variation with depth of the abundance, diversity and pigmentation of culturable bacteria in a deep ice core from the Yuzhufeng Glacier, Tibetan Plateau. Extremophiles 2017; 22:29-38. [PMID: 29071425 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-017-0973-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested that the cryosphere is a new biome uniquely dominated by microorganisms, although the ecological characteristics of these cold-adapted bacteria are not well understood. We investigated the vertical variation with depth of the proportion of pigmented bacteria recovered from an ice core drilled in the Yuzhufeng Glacier, Tibetan Plateau. A total of 25,449 colonies were obtained from 1250 ice core sections. Colonies grew on only one-third of the inoculated Petri dishes, indicating that although the ice core harbored abundant culturable bacteria, bacteria could not be isolated from every section. Four phyla and 19 genera were obtained; Proteobacteria formed the dominant cluster, followed by Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. The proportion of pigmented bacteria increased with depth from 79 to 95% and yellow-colored colonies predominated throughout the ice core, making up 47% of all the colonies. Pigments including α- and β-carotene, diatoxanthin, peridinin, zea/lutein, butanoyloxy, fucoxanthin and fucoxanthin were detected in representative colonies with α-carotene being the dominant carotenoid. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest resolution study of culturable bacteria in a deep ice core reported to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Shen
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yongqin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, China. .,College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Ninglian Wang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, China.,Shanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Nianzhi Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Baiqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Kathmandu Center for Research and Education, CAS-TU, Beijing, China
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34
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Madigan MT, Kempher ML, Bender KS, Sullivan P, Matthew Sattley W, Dohnalkova AC, Joye SB. Characterization of a cold-active bacterium isolated from the South Pole "Ice Tunnel". Extremophiles 2017; 21:891-901. [PMID: 28681112 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-017-0950-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Extremely cold microbial habitats on Earth (those below -30 °C) are rare and have not been surveyed for microbes as extensively as environments in the 0 to -20 °C range. Using cryoprotected growth media incubated at -5 °C, we enriched a cold-active Pseudomonas species from -50 °C ice collected from a utility tunnel for wastewater pipes under Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica. The isolate, strain UC-1, is related to other cold-active Pseudomonas species, most notably P. psychrophila, and grew at -5 °C to +34-37 °C; growth of UC-1 at +3 °C was significantly faster than at +34 °C. Strain UC-1 synthesized a surface exopolymer and high levels of unsaturated fatty acids under cold growth conditions. A 16S rRNA gene diversity screen of the ice sample that yielded strain UC-1 revealed over 1200 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) distributed across eight major classes of Bacteria. Many of the OTUs were Clostridia and Bacteriodia and some of these were probably of wastewater origin. However, a significant fraction of the OTUs were Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria of likely environmental origin. Our results shed light on the lower temperature limits to life and the possible existence of functional microbial communities in ultra-cold environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Madigan
- Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA.
| | - Megan L Kempher
- Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
| | - Kelly S Bender
- Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Paul Sullivan
- United States Antarctic Program, Amundsen-Scott Station, Antarctica
| | - W Matthew Sattley
- Division of Natural Sciences, Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN, 46953, USA
| | | | - Samantha B Joye
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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Garcia-Lopez E, Cid C. Glaciers and Ice Sheets As Analog Environments of Potentially Habitable Icy Worlds. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1407. [PMID: 28804477 PMCID: PMC5532398 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Icy worlds in the solar system and beyond have attracted a remarkable attention as possible habitats for life. The current consideration about whether life exists beyond Earth is based on our knowledge of life in terrestrial cold environments. On Earth, glaciers and ice sheets have been considered uninhabited for a long time as they seemed too hostile to harbor life. However, these environments are unique biomes dominated by microbial communities which maintain active biochemical routes. Thanks to techniques such as microscopy and more recently DNA sequencing methods, a great biodiversity of prokaryote and eukaryote microorganisms have been discovered. These microorganisms are adapted to a harsh environment, in which the most extreme features are the lack of liquid water, extremely cold temperatures, high solar radiation and nutrient shortage. Here we compare the environmental characteristics of icy worlds, and the environmental characteristics of terrestrial glaciers and ice sheets in order to address some interesting questions: (i) which are the characteristics of habitability known for the frozen worlds, and which could be compatible with life, (ii) what are the environmental characteristics of terrestrial glaciers and ice sheets that can be life-limiting, (iii) What are the microbial communities of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms that can live in them, and (iv) taking into account these observations, could any of these planets or satellites meet the conditions of habitability? In this review, the icy worlds are considered from the point of view of astrobiological exploration. With the aim of determining whether icy worlds could be potentially habitable, they have been compared with the environmental features of glaciers and ice sheets on Earth. We also reviewed some field and laboratory investigations about microorganisms that live in analog environments of icy worlds, where they are not only viable but also metabolically active.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristina Cid
- Microbial Evolution Laboratory, Centro de Astrobiología (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas-Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial)Madrid, Spain
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Rafiq M, Hayat M, Anesio AM, Jamil SUU, Hassan N, Shah AA, Hasan F. Recovery of metallo-tolerant and antibiotic resistant psychrophilic bacteria from Siachen glacier, Pakistan. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178180. [PMID: 28746396 PMCID: PMC5528264 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cultureable bacterial diversity of previously unexplored Siachen glacier, Pakistan, was studied. Out of 50 isolates 33 (66%) were Gram negative and 17 (34%) Gram positive. About half of the isolates were pigment producers and were able to grow at 4-37°C. 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed Gram negative bacteria dominated by Proteobacteria (especially γ-proteobacteria and β-proteobacteria) and Flavobacteria. The genus Pseudomonas (51.51%, 17) was dominant among γ- proteobacteria. β-proteobacteria constituted 4 (12.12%) Alcaligenes and 4 (12.12%) Janthinobacterium strains. Among Gram positive bacteria, phylum Actinobacteria, Rhodococcus (23.52%, 4) and Arthrobacter (23.52%, 4) were the dominating genra. Other bacteria belonged to Phylum Firmicutes with representative genus Carnobacterium (11.76%, 2) and 4 isolates represented 4 genera Bacillus, Lysinibacillus, Staphylococcus and Planomicrobium. Most of the Gram negative bacteria were moderate halophiles, while most of the Gram positives were extreme halophiles and were able to grow up to 6.12 M of NaCl. More than 2/3 of the isolates showed antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant S. aureus, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterococcus faecium, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus and ATCC strains. Gram positive bacteria (94.11%) were more resistant to heavy metals as compared to Gram negative (78.79%) and showed maximum tolerance against iron and least tolerance against mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Department of Microbiology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Hayat
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Alexandre M. Anesio
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Syed Umair Ullah Jamil
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Noor Hassan
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Aamer Ali Shah
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Fariha Hasan
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
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Weiland-Bräuer N, Fischer MA, Schramm KW, Schmitz RA. Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)-Degrading Potential of Microbes Present in a Cryoconite of Jamtalferner Glacier. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1105. [PMID: 28663747 PMCID: PMC5471330 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aiming to comprehensively survey the potential pollution of an alpine cryoconite (Jamtalferner glacier, Austria), and its bacterial community structure along with its biodegrading potential, first chemical analyses of persistent organic pollutants, explicitly polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), revealed a significant contamination. In total, 18 PCB congeners were detected by high resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with a mean concentration of 0.8 ng/g dry weight; 16 PAHs with an average concentration of 1,400 ng/g; and 26 out of 29 OCPs with a mean concentration of 2.4 ng/g. Second, the microbial composition was studied using 16S amplicon sequencing. The analysis revealed high abundances of Proteobacteria (66%), the majority representing α-Proteobacteria (87%); as well as Cyanobacteria (32%), however high diversity was due to 11 low abundant phyla comprising 75 genera. Biodegrading potential of cryoconite bacteria was further analyzed using enrichment cultures (microcosms) with PCB mixture Aroclor 1242. 16S rDNA analysis taxonomically classified 37 different biofilm-forming and PCB-degrading bacteria, represented by Pseudomonas, Shigella, Subtercola, Chitinophaga, and Janthinobacterium species. Overall, the combination of culture-dependent and culture-independent methods identified degrading bacteria that can be potential candidates to develop novel bioremediation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Weiland-Bräuer
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielKiel, Germany
| | - Martin A. Fischer
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielKiel, Germany
| | - Karl-Werner Schramm
- Molecular EXposomics, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München GmbHNeuherberg, Germany
| | - Ruth A. Schmitz
- Institute for General Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielKiel, Germany
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38
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Concentrations and Size Distributions of Bacteria-Containing Particles over Oceans from China to the Arctic Ocean. ATMOSPHERE 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos8050082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Kashuba E, Dmitriev AA, Kamal SM, Melefors O, Griva G, Römling U, Ernberg I, Kashuba V, Brouchkov A. Ancient permafrost staphylococci carry antibiotic resistance genes. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 2017; 28:1345574. [PMID: 28959177 PMCID: PMC5614383 DOI: 10.1080/16512235.2017.1345574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Background: Permafrost preserves a variety of viable ancient microorganisms. Some of them can be cultivated after being kept at subzero temperatures for thousands or even millions of years. Objective: To cultivate bacterial strains from permafrost. Design: We isolated and cultivated two bacterial strains from permafrost that was obtained at Mammoth Mountain in Siberia and attributed to the Middle Miocene. Bacterial genomic DNA was sequenced with 40-60× coverage and high-quality contigs were assembled. The first strain was assigned to Staphylococcus warneri species (designated MMP1) and the second one to Staphylococcus hominis species (designated MMP2), based on the classification of 16S ribosomal RNA genes and genomic sequences. Results: Genomic sequence analysis revealed the close relation of the isolated ancient bacteria to the modern bacteria of this species. Moreover, several genes associated with resistance to different groups of antibiotics were found in the S. hominis MMP2 genome. Conclusions: These findings supports a hypothesis that antibiotic resistance has an ancient origin. The enrichment of cultivated bacterial communities with ancient permafrost strains is essential for the analysis of bacterial evolution and antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Kashuba
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Laboratory of Cancer Genetics, R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and Radiobiology, NASU, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Alexey A Dmitriev
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Shady Mansour Kamal
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Pharmaceutical Industries, Future University in Egypt, New Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ojar Melefors
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gennady Griva
- Siberian Branch of RAS, Institute of the Earth Cryosphere, Tyumen, Russia
| | - Ute Römling
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ingemar Ernberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Kashuba
- Department of Molecular Oncogenetics, Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, NASU, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Anatoli Brouchkov
- Faculty of Geology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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40
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Domagal-Goldman SD, Wright KE, Adamala K, Arina de la Rubia L, Bond J, Dartnell LR, Goldman AD, Lynch K, Naud ME, Paulino-Lima IG, Singer K, Walther-Antonio M, Abrevaya XC, Anderson R, Arney G, Atri D, Azúa-Bustos A, Bowman JS, Brazelton WJ, Brennecka GA, Carns R, Chopra A, Colangelo-Lillis J, Crockett CJ, DeMarines J, Frank EA, Frantz C, de la Fuente E, Galante D, Glass J, Gleeson D, Glein CR, Goldblatt C, Horak R, Horodyskyj L, Kaçar B, Kereszturi A, Knowles E, Mayeur P, McGlynn S, Miguel Y, Montgomery M, Neish C, Noack L, Rugheimer S, Stüeken EE, Tamez-Hidalgo P, Imari Walker S, Wong T. The Astrobiology Primer v2.0. ASTROBIOLOGY 2016; 16:561-653. [PMID: 27532777 PMCID: PMC5008114 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2015.1460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shawn D Domagal-Goldman
- 1 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center , Greenbelt, Maryland, USA
- 2 Virtual Planetary Laboratory , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Katherine E Wright
- 3 University of Colorado at Boulder , Colorado, USA
- 4 Present address: UK Space Agency, UK
| | - Katarzyna Adamala
- 5 Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Jade Bond
- 7 Department of Physics, University of New South Wales , Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Kennda Lynch
- 10 Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana , Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Marie-Eve Naud
- 11 Institute for research on exoplanets (iREx) , Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
| | - Ivan G Paulino-Lima
- 12 Universities Space Research Association , Mountain View, California, USA
- 13 Blue Marble Space Institute of Science , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kelsi Singer
- 14 Southwest Research Institute , Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Ximena C Abrevaya
- 16 Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio (IAFE) , UBA-CONICET, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rika Anderson
- 17 Department of Biology, Carleton College , Northfield, Minnesota, USA
| | - Giada Arney
- 18 University of Washington Astronomy Department and Astrobiology Program , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Dimitra Atri
- 13 Blue Marble Space Institute of Science , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Jeff S Bowman
- 19 Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University , Palisades, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Regina Carns
- 22 Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Aditya Chopra
- 23 Planetary Science Institute, Research School of Earth Sciences, Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, The Australian National University , Canberra, Australia
| | - Jesse Colangelo-Lillis
- 24 Earth and Planetary Science, McGill University , and the McGill Space Institute, Montréal, Canada
| | | | - Julia DeMarines
- 13 Blue Marble Space Institute of Science , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Carie Frantz
- 27 Department of Geosciences, Weber State University , Ogden, Utah, USA
| | - Eduardo de la Fuente
- 28 IAM-Departamento de Fisica, CUCEI , Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México
| | - Douglas Galante
- 29 Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory , Campinas, Brazil
| | - Jennifer Glass
- 30 School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia , USA
| | | | | | - Colin Goldblatt
- 33 School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria , Victoria, Canada
| | - Rachel Horak
- 34 American Society for Microbiology , Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Betül Kaçar
- 36 Harvard University , Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Akos Kereszturi
- 37 Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences , Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Emily Knowles
- 38 Johnson & Wales University , Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Paul Mayeur
- 39 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute , Troy, New York, USA
| | - Shawn McGlynn
- 40 Earth Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology , Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yamila Miguel
- 41 Laboratoire Lagrange, UMR 7293, Université Nice Sophia Antipolis , CNRS, Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | | | - Catherine Neish
- 43 Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Western Ontario , London, Canada
| | - Lena Noack
- 44 Royal Observatory of Belgium , Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sarah Rugheimer
- 45 Department of Astronomy, Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- 46 University of St. Andrews , St. Andrews, UK
| | - Eva E Stüeken
- 47 University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
- 48 University of California , Riverside, California, USA
| | | | - Sara Imari Walker
- 13 Blue Marble Space Institute of Science , Seattle, Washington, USA
- 50 School of Earth and Space Exploration and Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Teresa Wong
- 51 Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis , St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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41
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Microbial communities associated with Antarctic snow pack and their biogeochemical implications. Microbiol Res 2016; 192:192-202. [PMID: 27664737 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2016.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Snow ecosystems represent a large part of the Earth's biosphere and harbour diverse microbial communities. Despite our increased knowledge of snow microbial communities, the question remains as to their functional potential, particularly with respect to their role in adapting to and modifying the specific snow environment. In this work, we investigated the diversity and functional capabilities of microorganisms from 3 regions of East Antarctica, with respect to compounds present in snow and tested whether their functional signature reflected the snow environment. A diverse assemblage of bacteria (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Deinococcus-Thermus, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia), archaea (Euryarchaeota), and eukarya (Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, Cryptomycota and Rhizaria) were detected through culture-dependent and -independent methods. Although microbial communities observed in the three snow samples were distinctly different, all isolates tested produced one or more of the following enzymes: lipase, protease, amylase, β-galactosidase, cellulase, and/or lignin modifying enzyme. This indicates that the snow pack microbes have the capacity to degrade organic compounds found in Antarctic snow (proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, lignin), thus highlighting their potential to be involved in snow chemistry.
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42
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Nikrad MP, Kerkhof LJ, Häggblom MM. The subzero microbiome: microbial activity in frozen and thawing soils. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw081. [PMID: 27106051 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Most of the Earth's biosphere is characterized by low temperatures (<5°C) and cold-adapted microorganisms are widespread. These psychrophiles have evolved a complex range of adaptations of all cellular constituents to counteract the potentially deleterious effects of low kinetic energy environments and the freezing of water. Microbial life continues into the subzero temperature range, and this activity contributes to carbon and nitrogen flux in and out of ecosystems, ultimately affecting global processes. Microbial responses to climate warming and, in particular, thawing of frozen soils are not yet well understood, although the threat of microbial contribution to positive feedback of carbon flux is substantial. To date, several studies have examined microbial community dynamics in frozen soils and permafrost due to changing environmental conditions, and some have undertaken the complicated task of characterizing microbial functional groups and how their activity changes with changing conditions, either in situ or by isolating and characterizing macromolecules. With increasing temperature and wetter conditions microbial activity of key microbes and subsequent efflux of greenhouse gases also increase. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of microbial activity in seasonally frozen soils and permafrost. With a more detailed understanding of the microbiological activities in these vulnerable soil ecosystems, we can begin to predict and model future expectations for carbon release and climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lee J Kerkhof
- Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
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43
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Lopatina A, Medvedeva S, Shmakov S, Logacheva MD, Krylenkov V, Severinov K. Metagenomic Analysis of Bacterial Communities of Antarctic Surface Snow. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:398. [PMID: 27064693 PMCID: PMC4814470 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The diversity of bacteria present in surface snow around four Russian stations in Eastern Antarctica was studied by high throughput sequencing of amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Considerable class- and genus-level variation between the samples was revealed indicating a presence of inter-site diversity of bacteria in Antarctic snow. Flavobacterium was a major genus in one sampling site and was also detected in other sites. The diversity of flavobacterial type II-C CRISPR spacers in the samples was investigated by metagenome sequencing. Thousands of unique spacers were revealed with less than 35% overlap between the sampling sites, indicating an enormous natural variety of flavobacterial CRISPR spacers and, by extension, high level of adaptive activity of the corresponding CRISPR-Cas system. None of the spacers matched known spacers of flavobacterial isolates from the Northern hemisphere. Moreover, the percentage of spacers with matches with Antarctic metagenomic sequences obtained in this work was significantly higher than with sequences from much larger publically available environmental metagenomic database. The results indicate that despite the overall very high level of diversity, Antarctic Flavobacteria comprise a separate pool that experiences pressures from mobile genetic elements different from those present in other parts of the world. The results also establish analysis of metagenomic CRISPR spacer content as a powerful tool to study bacterial populations diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lopatina
- Department of Molecular Genetics of Cell, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of SciencesMoscow, Russia; Department of Molecular Genetics of Microorganisms, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of SciencesMoscow, Russia; Research Complex of "Nanobiotechnology", Saint-Petersburg State Polytechnical UniversitySaint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sofia Medvedeva
- Department of Molecular Genetics of Microorganisms, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of SciencesMoscow, Russia; Center for Data-Intensive Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and TechnologySkolkovo, Russia
| | - Sergey Shmakov
- Center for Data-Intensive Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology Skolkovo, Russia
| | - Maria D Logacheva
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University Moscow, Russia
| | - Vjacheslav Krylenkov
- Department of Botany, Saint-Petersburg State University Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Konstantin Severinov
- Department of Molecular Genetics of Cell, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of SciencesMoscow, Russia; Research Complex of "Nanobiotechnology", Saint-Petersburg State Polytechnical UniversitySaint-Petersburg, Russia; Center for Data-Intensive Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and TechnologySkolkovo, Russia
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44
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Pearce DA, Magiopoulos I, Mowlem M, Tranter M, Holt G, Woodward J, Siegert MJ. Microbiology: lessons from a first attempt at Lake Ellsworth. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2016; 374:rsta.2014.0291. [PMID: 26667906 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2014.0291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
During the attempt to directly access, measure and sample Subglacial Lake Ellsworth in 2012-2013, we conducted microbiological analyses of the drilling equipment, scientific instrumentation, field camp and natural surroundings. From these studies, a number of lessons can be learned about the cleanliness of deep Antarctic subglacial lake access leading to, in particular, knowledge of the limitations of some of the most basic relevant microbiological principles. Here, we focus on five of the core challenges faced and describe how cleanliness and sterilization were implemented in the field. In the light of our field experiences, we consider how effective these actions were, and what can be learnt for future subglacial exploration missions. The five areas covered are: (i) field camp environment and activities, (ii) the engineering processes surrounding the hot water drilling, (iii) sample handling, including recovery, stability and preservation, (iv) clean access methodologies and removal of sample material, and (v) the biodiversity and distribution of bacteria around the Antarctic. Comparisons are made between the microbiology of the Lake Ellsworth field site and other Antarctic systems, including the lakes on Signy Island, and on the Antarctic Peninsula at Lake Hodgson. Ongoing research to better define and characterize the behaviour of natural and introduced microbial populations in response to deep-ice drilling is also discussed. We recommend that future access programmes: (i) assess each specific local environment in enhanced detail due to the potential for local contamination, (ii) consider the sterility of the access in more detail, specifically focusing on single cell colonization and the introduction of new species through contamination of pre-existing microbial communities, (iii) consider experimental bias in methodological approaches, (iv) undertake in situ biodiversity detection to mitigate risk of non-sample return and post-sample contamination, and (v) address the critical question of how important these microbes are in the functioning of Antarctic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Pearce
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Northumbria, Ellison Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK Department of Arctic Biology, University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen 9171, Norway
| | - I Magiopoulos
- National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - M Mowlem
- National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - M Tranter
- Centre for Glaciology, University of Bristol, 12 Berkeley Square, University Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1SS, UK
| | - G Holt
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Northumbria, Ellison Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - J Woodward
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Northumbria, Ellison Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - M J Siegert
- Grantham Institute and Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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45
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Zhao Y, Wu F, Yang W, Tan B, He W. Variations in bacterial communities during foliar litter decomposition in the winter and growing seasons in an alpine forest of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Can J Microbiol 2015; 62:35-48. [PMID: 26606037 DOI: 10.1139/cjm-2015-0448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial communities are the primary engineers during litter decomposition and related material cycling, and they can be strongly controlled by seasonal changes in temperature and other environmental factors. However, limited information is available on changes in the bacterial community from winter to the growing season as litter decomposition proceeds in cold climates. Here, we investigated the abundance and structure of bacterial communities using real-time quantitative PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) during a 2-year field study of the decomposition of litter of 4 species in the winter and growing seasons of an alpine forest of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. The abundance of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was relatively high during decomposition of cypress and birch litter in the first winter, but for the other litters 16S rRNA abundance during both winters was significantly lower than during the following growing season. A large number of bands were observed on the DGGE gels, and their intensities and number from the winter samples were lower than those from the growing season during the 2-year decomposition experiment. Eighty-nine sequences from the bands of bacteria that had been cut from the DGGE gels were affiliated with 10 distinct classes of bacteria and an unknown group. A redundancy analysis indicated that the moisture, mass loss, and elemental content (e.g., C, N, and P) of the litter significantly affected the bacterial communities. Collectively, the results suggest that uneven seasonal changes in climate regulate bacterial communities and other decomposers, thus affecting their contribution to litter decomposition processes in the alpine forest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeyi Zhao
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology and Forest, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China. Collaborative Innovation Center of Ecological Security in the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China.,Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology and Forest, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China. Collaborative Innovation Center of Ecological Security in the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuzhong Wu
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology and Forest, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China. Collaborative Innovation Center of Ecological Security in the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China.,Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology and Forest, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China. Collaborative Innovation Center of Ecological Security in the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanqin Yang
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology and Forest, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China. Collaborative Innovation Center of Ecological Security in the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China.,Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology and Forest, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China. Collaborative Innovation Center of Ecological Security in the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Tan
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology and Forest, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China. Collaborative Innovation Center of Ecological Security in the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China.,Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology and Forest, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China. Collaborative Innovation Center of Ecological Security in the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei He
- Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology and Forest, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China. Collaborative Innovation Center of Ecological Security in the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China.,Long-term Research Station of Alpine Forest Ecosystems, Institute of Ecology and Forest, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China. Collaborative Innovation Center of Ecological Security in the Upper Reaches of Yangtze River, Chengdu 611130, People's Republic of China
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46
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Kumar R, Singh D, Swarnkar MK, Singh AK, Kumar S. Complete genome sequence of Arthrobacter sp. ERGS1:01, a putative novel bacterium with prospective cold active industrial enzymes, isolated from East Rathong glacier in India. J Biotechnol 2015; 214:139-40. [PMID: 26415659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2015.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We report the complete genome sequence of Arthrobacter sp. ERGS1:01, a novel bacterium which produces industrial enzymes at low temperature. East Rathong glacier in Sikkim Himalayas is untouched and unexplored for microbial diversity though it has a rich source of glaciers, alpine and meadows. Genome sequence has provided the basis for understanding its adaptation under harsh condition of Himalayan glacier, its ability to produce cold active industrial enzymes and has unlocked opportunities for microbial bioprospection from East Rathong glacier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakshak Kumar
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 06, Palampur 176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India.
| | - Dharam Singh
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 06, Palampur 176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Swarnkar
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 06, Palampur 176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Anil Kumar Singh
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 06, Palampur 176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Post Box No. 06, Palampur 176 061, Himachal Pradesh, India
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47
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Maccario L, Sanguino L, Vogel TM, Larose C. Snow and ice ecosystems: not so extreme. Res Microbiol 2015; 166:782-95. [PMID: 26408452 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Snow and ice environments cover up to 21% of the Earth's surface. They have been regarded as extreme environments because of their low temperatures, high UV irradiation, low nutrients and low water availability, and thus, their microbial activity has not been considered relevant from a global microbial ecology viewpoint. In this review, we focus on why snow and ice habitats might not be extreme from a microbiological perspective. Microorganisms interact closely with the abiotic conditions imposed by snow and ice habitats by having diverse adaptations, that include genetic resistance mechanisms, to different types of stresses in addition to inhabiting various niches where these potential stresses might be reduced. The microbial communities inhabiting snow and ice are not only abundant and taxonomically diverse, but complex in terms of their interactions. Altogether, snow and ice seem to be true ecosystems with a role in global biogeochemical cycles that has likely been underestimated. Future work should expand past resistance studies to understanding the function of these ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorrie Maccario
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Université de Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France
| | - Laura Sanguino
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Université de Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France
| | - Timothy M Vogel
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Université de Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Université de Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France.
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48
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Pesciaroli C, Barghini P, Cerfolli F, Bellisario B, Fenice M. Relationship between phylogenetic and nutritional diversity in Arctic (Kandalaksha Bay) seawater planktonic bacteria. ANN MICROBIOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s13213-015-1083-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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49
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Stibal M, Gözdereliler E, Cameron KA, Box JE, Stevens IT, Gokul JK, Schostag M, Zarsky JD, Edwards A, Irvine-Fynn TDL, Jacobsen CS. Microbial abundance in surface ice on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:225. [PMID: 25852678 PMCID: PMC4371753 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Measuring microbial abundance in glacier ice and identifying its controls is essential for a better understanding and quantification of biogeochemical processes in glacial ecosystems. However, cell enumeration of glacier ice samples is challenging due to typically low cell numbers and the presence of interfering mineral particles. We quantified for the first time the abundance of microbial cells in surface ice from geographically distinct sites on the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS), using three enumeration methods: epifluorescence microscopy (EFM), flow cytometry (FCM), and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). In addition, we reviewed published data on microbial abundance in glacier ice and tested the three methods on artificial ice samples of realistic cell (102–107 cells ml−1) and mineral particle (0.1–100 mg ml−1) concentrations, simulating a range of glacial ice types, from clean subsurface ice to surface ice to sediment-laden basal ice. We then used multivariate statistical analysis to identify factors responsible for the variation in microbial abundance on the ice sheet. EFM gave the most accurate and reproducible results of the tested methodologies, and was therefore selected as the most suitable technique for cell enumeration of ice containing dust. Cell numbers in surface ice samples, determined by EFM, ranged from ~ 2 × 103 to ~ 2 × 106 cells ml−1 while dust concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 2 mg ml−1. The lowest abundances were found in ice sampled from the accumulation area of the ice sheet and in samples affected by fresh snow; these samples may be considered as a reference point of the cell abundance of precipitants that are deposited on the ice sheet surface. Dust content was the most significant variable to explain the variation in the abundance data, which suggests a direct association between deposited dust particles and cells and/or by their provision of limited nutrients to microbial communities on the GrIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek Stibal
- Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Copenhagen, Denmark ; Center for Permafrost, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark ; Department of Ecology, Charles University in Prague Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Erkin Gözdereliler
- Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Copenhagen, Denmark ; Center for Permafrost, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karen A Cameron
- Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Copenhagen, Denmark ; Center for Permafrost, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jason E Box
- Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ian T Stevens
- Centre for Glaciology, Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth, UK
| | | | - Morten Schostag
- Center for Permafrost, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jakub D Zarsky
- Department of Ecology, Charles University in Prague Prague, Czech Republic ; Centre for Polar Ecology, University of South Bohemia České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Arwyn Edwards
- Centre for Glaciology, Aberystwyth University Aberystwyth, UK
| | | | - Carsten S Jacobsen
- Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Copenhagen, Denmark ; Center for Permafrost, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark ; Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen Copenhagen, Denmark
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Niederberger TD, Sohm JA, Gunderson TE, Parker AE, Tirindelli J, Capone DG, Carpenter EJ, Cary SC. Microbial community composition of transiently wetted Antarctic Dry Valley soils. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:9. [PMID: 25674080 PMCID: PMC4309182 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During the summer months, wet (hyporheic) soils associated with ephemeral streams and lake edges in the Antarctic Dry Valleys (DVs) become hotspots of biological activity and are hypothesized to be an important source of carbon and nitrogen for arid DV soils. Recent research in the DV has focused on the geochemistry and microbial ecology of lakes and arid soils, with substantially less information being available on hyporheic soils. Here, we determined the unique properties of hyporheic microbial communities, resolved their relationship to environmental parameters and compared them to archetypal arid DV soils. Generally, pH increased and chlorophyll a concentrations decreased along transects from wet to arid soils (9.0 to ~7.0 for pH and ~0.8 to ~5 μg/cm3 for chlorophyll a, respectively). Soil water content decreased to below ~3% in the arid soils. Community fingerprinting-based principle component analyses revealed that bacterial communities formed distinct clusters specific to arid and wet soils; however, eukaryotic communities that clustered together did not have similar soil moisture content nor did they group together based on sampling location. Collectively, rRNA pyrosequencing indicated a considerably higher abundance of Cyanobacteria in wet soils and a higher abundance of Acidobacterial, Actinobacterial, Deinococcus/Thermus, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Nitrospira, and Planctomycetes in arid soils. The two most significant differences at the genus level were Gillisia signatures present in arid soils and chloroplast signatures related to Streptophyta that were common in wet soils. Fungal dominance was observed in arid soils and Viridiplantae were more common in wet soils. This research represents an in-depth characterization of microbial communities inhabiting wet DV soils. Results indicate that the repeated wetting of hyporheic zones has a profound impact on the bacterial and eukaryotic communities inhabiting in these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jill A Sohm
- Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Troy E Gunderson
- Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alexander E Parker
- Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University Tiburon, CA, USA
| | - Joëlle Tirindelli
- Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University Tiburon, CA, USA
| | - Douglas G Capone
- Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Edward J Carpenter
- Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies, San Francisco State University Tiburon, CA, USA
| | - Stephen C Cary
- College of Marine and Earth Sciences, University of Delaware Lewes, DE, USA ; School of Science, University of Waikato Hamilton, New Zealand
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