A versatile medium for cultivating methanogenic archaea

Stable coexistence between an archaeal virus and the dominant methanogen of the human gut

The human gut virome, which is mainly composed of bacteriophages, also includes viruses infecting archaea, yet their role remains poorly understood due to lack of isolates. Here, we characterize a temperate archaeal virus (MSTV1) infecting Methanobrevibacter smithii, the dominant methanogenic archaeon of the human gut. The MSTV1 genome is integrated in the host chromosome as a provirus which is sporadically induced, resulting in virion release. Using cryo-electron tomography, we capture several intracellular virion assembly intermediates and confirm that only a small fraction of the host population actively produces virions in vitro. Similar low frequency of induction is observed in a mouse colonization model, using mice harboring a stable consortium of 12 bacterial species (OMM12). Transcriptomic analysis suggests a regulatory lysogeny-lysis switch involving an interplay between viral proteins to maintain virus-host equilibrium, ensuring host survival and viral persistence. Thus, our study sheds light on archaeal virus-host interactions and highlights similarities with bacteriophages in establishing stable coexistence with their hosts in the gut.

Candidatus Methanosphaera massiliense sp. nov., a methanogenic archaeal species found in a human fecal sample and prevalent in pigs and red kangaroos

Methanosphaera stadtmanae was the sole Methanosphaera representative to be cultured and detected by molecular methods in the human gut microbiota, further associated with digestive and respiratory diseases, leaving unknown the actual diversity of human-associated Methanosphaera species. Here, a novel Methanosphaera species, Candidatus Methanosphaera massiliense (Ca. M. massiliense) sp. nov. was isolated by culture using a hydrogen- and carbon dioxide-free medium from one human feces sample. Ca. M. massiliense is a non-motile, 850 nm Gram-positive coccus autofluorescent at 420 nm. Whole-genome sequencing yielded a 29.7% GC content, gapless 1,785,773 bp genome sequence with an 84.5% coding ratio, encoding for alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases promoting the growth of Ca. M. massiliense without hydrogen. Screening additional mammal and human feces using a specific genome sequence-derived DNA-polymerase RT-PCR system yielded a prevalence of 22% in pigs, 12% in red kangaroos, and no detection in 149 other human samples. This study, extending the diversity of Methanosphaera in human microbiota, questions the zoonotic sources of Ca. M. massiliense and possible transfer between hosts.IMPORTANCEMethanogens are constant inhabitants in the human gut microbiota in which Methanosphaera stadtmanae was the only cultivated Methanosphaera representative. We grew Candidatus Methanosphaera massiliense sp. nov. from one human feces sample in a novel culture medium under a nitrogen atmosphere. Systematic research for methanogens in human and animal fecal samples detected Ca. M. massiliense in pig and red kangaroo feces, raising the possibility of its zoonotic acquisition. Host specificity, source of acquisition, and adaptation of methanogens should be further investigated.

Culture-based and culture-independent approach for the study of the methanogens and obligate anaerobes from different landfill sites

The landfill is a cheap way of solid waste management in developing countries. The majority of landfills are non-sanitary and work as open garbage dumping sites and pose threats to public and environmental health. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the chemistry and microbiology of landfills is imperative to develop the right policies for landfill management. In the current study, we investigated the chemistry and microbiology of three Indian landfill sites using culture-based and culture-independent molecular approaches. Our data indicate that the nature of landfills varies from site to site in terms of chemistry, pollutants, and pathogens. We also enriched and cultivated three methanogens using an optimized medium and constructed two high-quality draft genomes from enriched microbiomes using metagenome-assembled genome approaches. The phylogenomic study of one draft genome showed the highest 93% sequence similarity with members of Methanomassiliicoccaceae and was always enriched with Acholoplasma and Anaerohalosphaera lusitana. Despite all the efforts, we did not isolate it in pure culture and hypothesized that for the cultivation of some not-yet-cultured methanogen, the presence of other organisms plays an important role, and their syntrophic interaction must be discerned for its successful cultivation in the future. Co-cultivation of amino acid-degrading organisms indicates that their co-culture can assist in boosting the growth of methanogens. In addition, our data indicated that landfill leachate contains a heavy load of pollutants and treatment is a must before discharge in nature or use in irrigation or biofertilizer.

Methanobrevibacter massiliense and Pyramidobacter piscolens Co-Culture Illustrates Transkingdom Symbiosis

Among oral microbiota methanogens, Methanobrevibacter massiliense (M. massiliense) has remained less studied than the well-characterised and cultivated methanogens Methanobrevibacter oralis and Methanobrevibacter smithii. M. massiliense has been associated with different oral pathologies and was co-isolated with the Synergistetes bacterium Pyramidobacter piscolens (P. piscolens) in one case of severe periodontitis. Here, reporting on two additional necrotic pulp cases yielded the opportunity to characterise two co-cultivated M. massiliense isolates, both with P. piscolens, as non-motile, 1-2-µm-long and 0.6-0.8-µm-wide Gram-positive coccobacilli which were autofluorescent at 420 nm. The two whole genome sequences featured a 31.3% GC content, gapless 1,834,388-base-pair chromosome exhibiting an 85.9% coding ratio, encoding a formate dehydrogenase promoting M. massiliense growth without hydrogen in GG medium. These data pave the way to understanding a symbiotic, transkingdom association with P. piscolens and its role in oral pathologies.

Human associated Archaea: a neglected microbiome worth investigating

The majority of research in the field of human microbiota has predominantly focused on bacterial and fungal communities. Conversely, the human archaeome has received scant attention and remains poorly studied, despite its potential role in human diseases. Archaea have the capability to colonize various human body sites, including the gastrointestinal tract, skin, vagina, breast milk, colostrum, urinary tract, lungs, nasal and oral cavities. This colonization can occur through vertical transmission, facilitated by the transfer of breast milk or colostrum from mother to child, as well as through the consumption of dairy products, organic produce, salty foods, and fermented items. The involvement of these microorganisms in diseases, such as periodontitis, might be attributed to their production of toxic compounds and the detoxification of growth inhibitors for pathogens. However, the precise mechanisms through which these contributions occur remain incompletely understood, necessitating further studies to assess their impact on human health.

Challenges and Approaches of Culturing the Unculturable Archaea

Since Carl Woese's discovery of archaea as a third domain of life, numerous archaeal species have been discovered, yet archaeal diversity is poorly characterized. Culturing archaea is complicated, but several queries about archaeal cell biology, evolution, physiology, and diversity need to be solved by culturing and culture-dependent techniques. Increasing interest in demand for innovative culturing methods has led to various technological and methodological advances. The current review explains frequent hurdles hindering uncultured archaea isolation and discusses features for more archaeal cultivation. This review also discusses successful strategies and available media for archaeal culturing, which might be helpful for future culturing practices.

Holistic View and Novel Perspective on Ruminal and Extra-Gastrointestinal Methanogens in Cattle

Despite the extensive research conducted on ruminal methanogens and anti-methanogenic intervention strategies over the last 50 years, most of the currently researched enteric methane (CH4) abatement approaches have shown limited efficacy. This is largely because of the complex nature of animal production and the ruminal environment, host genetic variability of CH4 production, and an incomplete understanding of the role of the ruminal microbiome in enteric CH4 emissions. Recent sequencing-based studies suggest the presence of methanogenic archaea in extra-gastrointestinal tract tissues, including respiratory and reproductive tracts of cattle. While these sequencing data require further verification via culture-dependent methods, the consistent identification of methanogens with relatively greater frequency in the airway and urogenital tract of cattle, as well as increasing appreciation of the microbiome-gut-organ axis together highlight the potential interactions between ruminal and extra-gastrointestinal methanogenic communities. Thus, a traditional singular focus on ruminal methanogens may not be sufficient, and a holistic approach which takes into consideration of the transfer of methanogens between ruminal, extra-gastrointestinal, and environmental microbial communities is of necessity to develop more efficient and long-term ruminal CH4 mitigation strategies. In the present review, we provide a holistic survey of the methanogenic archaea present in different anatomical sites of cattle and discuss potential seeding sources of the ruminal methanogens.

Phylogenetically and physiologically diverse methanogenic archaea inhabit the Indian hot spring environments

Mesophilic and thermophilic methanogens belonging to the hydrogenotrophic, methylotrophic, and acetotrophic groups were isolated from Indian hot spring environments using BY and BCYT growth media. Following initial Hinf I-based PCR-RFLP screening, 70 methanogens were sequenced to ascertain their identity. These methanogens were phylogenetically and physiologically diverse and represented different taxa distributed across three physiological groups, i.e., hydrogenotrophs (53), methylotrophs (14) and acetotrophs (3). Overall, methanogens representing three families, five genera, and ten species, including two putative novel species, were recognized. The highest number and diversity of methanogens was observed at 40 ℃, dominated by Methanobacterium (10; 3 species), Methanosarcina (9; 3 species), Methanothermobacter (7; 2 species), Methanomethylovorans (5; 1 species) and Methanoculleus (3; 1 species). Both putative novel methanogen species were isolated at 40 ℃ and belonged to the genera Methanosarcina and Methanobacterium. At 55 ℃, limited diversity was observed, and resulted in the isolation of only two genera of methanogens, i.e., Methanothermobacter (28; 2 species) and Methanosarcina (4; 1 species). At 70 ℃, only members of the genus Methanothermobacter (5; 2 species) were isolated, whereas no methanogen could be cultured at 85 ℃. Ours is the first study that documents the extensive range of cultivable methanogenic archaea inhabiting hot springs across various geothermal provinces of India.

An Initial Proteomic Analysis of Biogas-Related Metabolism of Euryarchaeota Consortia in Sediments from the Santiago River, México

In this paper, sediments from the Santiago River were characterized to look for an alternative source of inoculum for biogas production. A proteomic analysis of methane-processing archaea present in these sediments was carried out. The Euryarchaeota superkingdom of archaea is responsible for methane production and methane assimilation in the environment. The Santiago River is a major river in México with great pollution and exceeded recovery capacity. Its sediments could contain nutrients and the anaerobic conditions for optimal growth of Euryarchaeota consortia. Batch bioreactor experiments were performed, and a proteomic analysis was conducted with current database information. The maximum biogas production was 266 NmL·L^-1·g VS^-1, with 33.34% of methane, and for proteomics, 3206 proteins were detected from 303 species of 69 genera. Most of them are metabolically versatile members of the genera Methanosarcina and Methanosarcinales, both with 934 and 260 proteins, respectively. These results showed a diverse euryarcheotic species with high potential to methane production. Although related proteins were found and could be feeding this metabolism through the methanol and acetyl-CoA pathways, the quality obtained from the biogas suggests that this metabolism is not the main one in carbon use, possibly the sum of several conditions including growth conditions and the pollution present in these sediments.

Culturing the Human Oral Microbiota, Updating Methodologies and Cultivation Techniques

Recent years have been marked by a paradigm shift in the study of the human microbiota, with a re-emergence of culture-dependent approaches. Numerous studies have been devoted to the human microbiota, while studies on the oral microbiota still remain limited. Indeed, various techniques described in the literature may enable an exhaustive study of the microbial composition of a complex ecosystem. In this article, we report different methodologies and culture media described in the literature that can be applied to study the oral microbiota by culture. We report on specific methodologies for targeted culture and specific culture techniques and selection methodologies for cultivating members of the three kingdoms of life commonly found in the human oral cavity, namely, eukaryota, bacteria and archaea. This bibliographic review aims to bring together the various techniques described in the literature, enabling a comprehensive study of the oral microbiota in order to demonstrate its involvement in oral health and diseases.

Culturing clinical Methanobrevibacter smithii using GG medium in a minimal anaerobe atmosphere

Methanobrevibacter smithii (M. smithii), the most prevalent and abundant gut methanogen, detoxifies hydrogen into methane and is, therefore, of paramount importance for the equilibrium of the gut microbiota. The isolation by culture of M. smithii has routinely relied upon hydrogen‑carbon dioxide-enriched, oxygen-deprived atmospheres. In this study, we developed a medium referred to as "GG", which allowed for M. smithii growth and isolation by culture in an oxygen-deprived atmosphere, with no supply of either hydrogen or carbon dioxide, making it easier to detect M. smithii by culture in clinical microbiology laboratories.

Trait biases in microbial reference genomes

Common culturing techniques and priorities bias our discovery towards specific traits that may not be representative of microbial diversity in nature. So far, these biases have not been systematically examined. To address this gap, here we use 116,884 publicly available metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs, completeness ≥80%) from 203 surveys worldwide as a culture-independent sample of bacterial and archaeal diversity, and compare these MAGs to the popular RefSeq genome database, which heavily relies on cultures. We compare the distribution of 12,454 KEGG gene orthologs (used as trait proxies) in the MAGs and RefSeq genomes, while controlling for environment type (ocean, soil, lake, bioreactor, human, and other animals). Using statistical modeling, we then determine the conditional probabilities that a species is represented in RefSeq depending on its genetic repertoire. We find that the majority of examined genes are significantly biased for or against in RefSeq. Our systematic estimates of gene prevalences across bacteria and archaea in nature and gene-specific biases in reference genomes constitutes a resource for addressing these issues in the future.

The Overlooked Microbiome-Considering Archaea and Eukaryotes Using Multiplex Nanopore-16S-/18S-rDNA-Sequencing: A Technical Report Focusing on Nasopharyngeal Microbiomes

In contrast to bacteria, microbiome analyses often neglect archaea, but also eukaryotes. This is partly because they are difficult to culture due to their demanding growth requirements, or some even have to be classified as uncultured microorganisms. Consequently, little is known about the relevance of archaea in human health and diseases. Contemporary broad availability and spread of next generation sequencing techniques now enable a stronger focus on such microorganisms, whose cultivation is difficult. However, due to the enormous evolutionary distances between bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes, the implementation of sequencing strategies for smaller laboratory scales needs to be refined to achieve as a holistic view on the microbiome as possible. Here, we present a technical approach that enables simultaneous analyses of archaeal, bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities to study their roles in development and courses of respiratory disorders. We thus applied combinatorial 16S-/18S-rDNA sequencing strategies for sequencing-library preparation. Considering the lower total microbiota density of airway surfaces, when compared with gut microbiota, we optimized the DNA purification workflow from nasopharyngeal swab specimens. As a result, we provide a protocol that allows the efficient combination of bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic libraries for nanopore-sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION devices and subsequent phylogenetic analyses. In a pilot study, this workflow allowed the identification of some environmental archaea, which were not correlated with airway microbial communities before. Moreover, we assessed the protocol's broader applicability using a set of human stool samples. We conclude that the proposed protocol provides a versatile and adaptable tool for combinatorial studies on bacterial, archaeal, and eukaryotic microbiomes on a small laboratory scale.

Methanogenic archaea in the human gastrointestinal tract

The human microbiome is strongly interwoven with human health and disease. Besides bacteria, viruses and eukaryotes, numerous archaea are located in the human gastrointestinal tract and are responsible for methane production, which can be measured in clinical methane breath analyses. Methane is an important readout for various diseases, including intestinal methanogen overgrowth. Notably, the archaea responsible for methane production are largely overlooked in human microbiome studies due to their non-bacterial biology and resulting detection issues. As such, their importance for health and disease remains largely unclear to date, in particular as not a single archaeal representative has been deemed to be pathogenic. In this Perspective, we discuss the current knowledge on the clinical relevance of methanogenic archaea. We explain the archaeal unique response to antibiotics and their negative and positive effects on human physiology, and present the current understanding of the use of methane as a diagnostic marker.

A culture-based and culture-independent approach to the study of landfill leachate bacterial and archaeal communities

The landfill is a convenient and affordable method of municipal solid waste (MSW) management. Landfill leachate contains a heavy load of pollutants and pathogens. Discharge of untreated leachate is the leading cause of surface and groundwater contamination and a threat to public and environmental health. To develop an efficient leachate treatment technology, an in-depth understanding of landfill chemistry and microbiology is essential. In the present manuscript, we conducted a comparative study of three different landfill leachate samples using cultivation-based and culture-independent molecular studies. We cultivated 85 species of aerobic, anaerobic bacteria and archaea from leachate represented by a total of 200 strains using extensive culturomics approaches. Twelve out of 200 cultivated strains of bacteria showed very low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (84-98.6%) with their closest relatives and could be the potential novel taxa, the first time cultivated from leachate. Members of the six genera only have 2-5 representatives from past studies from other habitats but first time cultivated from leachate. In addition to bacteria, we also cultivated and characterized different groups of methanogenic archaea. Our chemistry data indicate that leachate is a highly stressed ecosystem with an assemblage of many toxic wastes like sulfur, zinc, mercury, chromium, etc. 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon analysis showed the dominance of (30-55%) methanogens and haloarachaea. Our data suggest that archaea are the significant regulators of leachate ecology, and more in-depth studies with multiple leachate samples are required to understand their role in leachate nutrient cycling and the development of effective leachate treatment technology.

Tracking the diversity and interaction of methanogens in the energy recovery process of a full-scale wastewater treatment plant

Methanogens have been significant for the achievement of carbon neutrality in wastewater treatment plants due to their crucial roles in the anaerobic digestion of sludge. Nevertheless, the phylogenetic diversity of methanogens and their versatile metabolism have been continuously investigated, the current scientific knowledge regarding these microbes appears inadequate and requires more evaluations. This study is considered an endeavor in which functional genes sequencing was used to reveal the diversity of methanogens in the sludge process of the wastewater treatment plant. The information obtained was substantially more than that employing 16s sequencing. The methanogenic microbial resources were appropriate to sustain a self-inoculated energy recovery with a potential ability to boost methane production. A constancy was observed in 16 S rRNA gene and mcrA gene sequencing results, where the bacterial or Methanosaeta concilii dominated community of DS (digest sludge) was distinct from the inoculum sources TS (total sludge), CTS (concentrated total sludge), and HTS (hydrolysis total sludge), indicating the independent development of DS. A quantitative cross-network was constructed by coupling the absolute quantify of 16 S rRNA and mcrA sequences. The Methanobacterium petrolearium actively interacted with bacteria in the DS community rather than the dominant species (Methanosaeta concilii). Moreover, the unclassified methanogens were identified to be significantly prevalent in all communities, suggesting that unknown methanogenic taxa might be imperative in accomplishing community functions. Collectively, the findings of this research study will shed light on the comprehensive knowledge of microbial communities, especially the methanogenic microbiota. This will further enhance the exploration of the phylogenetic diversity of methanogens and their corresponding impacts in energy recovery from wastewater treatment plants.

Microbial Community Structures and Methanogenic Functions in Wetland Peat Soils

Methane metabolism in wetlands involves diverse groups of bacteria and archaea, which are responsible for the biological decomposition of organic matter under certain anoxic conditions. Recent advances in environmental omics revealed the phylogenetic diversity of novel microbial lineages, which have not been previously placed in the traditional tree of life. The present study aimed to verify the key players in methane production, either well-known archaeal members or recently identified lineages, in peat soils collected from wetland areas in Japan. Based on an ana­lysis of microbial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and the mole­cular cloning of the functional gene, mcrA, a marker gene for methanogenesis, methanogenic archaea belonging to Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales, Methanobacteriales, and Methanomassiliicoccales were detected in anoxic peat soils, suggesting the potential of CH₄ production in this natural wetland. “Candidatus Bathyarchaeia”, archaea with vast metabolic capabilities that is widespread in anoxic environments, was abundant in subsurface peat soils (up to 96% of the archaeal community) based on microbial gene quantification by qPCR. These results emphasize the importance of discovering archaea members outside of traditional methanogenic lineages that may have significant functions in the wetland biogeochemical cycle.

Rapid identification of clinically interesting methanogens using an improved MALDI-TOF-MS assay

Methanogens, the archaea uniquely detoxifying fermentative hydrogen into methane in the digestive tract, are increasingly being detected in pathology situations, rendering their rapid identification mandatory. We improved the experimental protocol to identify broth-cultured methanogens by matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight MS (MALDI-TOF-MS). A database incorporating 34 reference spectra derived from 16 methanogen reference strains representative of eight species supported further identification of 21 Methanobrevibacter smithii and 14 Methanobrevibacter oralis isolates broth-cultured from human stool and oral fluid, respectively, with scores >2. In addition, MALDI-TOF-MS differentiated five Methanobrevibacter smithii genotypes incorporated in the study. The data reported here found MALDI-TOF-MS as a first-line identification method for methanogens recovered from microbiota and clinical samples.

Metabolic Synergy between Human Symbionts Bacteroides and Methanobrevibacter

Trophic interactions between microbes are postulated to determine whether a host microbiome is healthy or causes predisposition to disease. Two abundant taxa, the Gram-negative heterotrophic bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and the methanogenic archaeon Methanobrevibacter smithii, are proposed to have a synergistic metabolic relationship. Both organisms play vital roles in human gut health; B. thetaiotaomicron assists the host by fermenting dietary polysaccharides, whereas M. smithii consumes end-stage fermentation products and is hypothesized to relieve feedback inhibition of upstream microbes such as B. thetaiotaomicron. To study their metabolic interactions, we defined and optimized a coculture system and used software testing techniques to analyze growth under a range of conditions representing the nutrient environment of the host. We verify that B. thetaiotaomicron fermentation products are sufficient for M. smithii growth and that accumulation of fermentation products alters secretion of metabolites by B. thetaiotaomicron to benefit M. smithii. Studies suggest that B. thetaiotaomicron metabolic efficiency is greater in the absence of fermentation products or in the presence of M. smithii. Under certain conditions, B. thetaiotaomicron and M. smithii form interspecies granules consistent with behavior observed for syntrophic partnerships between microbes in soil or sediment enrichments and anaerobic digesters. Furthermore, when vitamin B12, hematin, and hydrogen gas are abundant, coculture growth is greater than the sum of growth observed for monocultures, suggesting that both organisms benefit from a synergistic mutual metabolic relationship. IMPORTANCE The human gut functions through a complex system of interactions between the host human tissue and the microbes which inhabit it. These diverse interactions are difficult to model or examine under controlled laboratory conditions. We studied the interactions between two dominant human gut microbes, B. thetaiotaomicron and M. smithii, using a seven-component culturing approach that allows the systematic examination of the metabolic complexity of this binary microbial system. By combining high-throughput methods with machine learning techniques, we were able to investigate the interactions between two dominant genera of the gut microbiome in a wide variety of environmental conditions. Our approach can be broadly applied to studying microbial interactions and may be extended to evaluate and curate computational metabolic models. The software tools developed for this study are available as user-friendly tutorials in the Department of Energy KBase.

Bacteria and Methanogens in the Human Microbiome: a Review of Syntrophic Interactions

Methanogens are microorganisms belonging to the Archaea domain and represent the primary source of biotic methane. Methanogens encode a series of enzymes which can convert secondary substrates into methane following three major methanogenesis pathways. Initially recognized as environmental microorganisms, methanogens have more recently been acknowledged as host-associated microorganisms after their detection and initial isolation in ruminants in the 1950s. Methanogens have also been co-detected with bacteria in various pathological situations, bringing their role as pathogens into question. Here, we review reported associations between methanogens and bacteria in physiological and pathological situations in order to understand the metabolic interactions explaining these associations. To do so, we describe the origin of the metabolites used for methanogenesis and highlight the central role of methanogens in the syntrophic process during carbon cycling. We then focus on the metabolic abilities of co-detected bacterial species described in the literature and infer from their genomes the probable mechanisms of their association with methanogens. The syntrophic interactions between bacteria and methanogens are paramount to gut homeostasis. Therefore, any dysbiosis affecting methanogens might impact human health. Thus, the monitoring of methanogens may be used as a bio-indicator of dysbiosis. Moreover, new therapeutic approaches can be developed based on their administration as probiotics. We thus insist on the importance of investigating methanogens in clinical microbiology.

Quantitative assessment of exposure to fecal contamination in urban environment across nine cities in low-income and lower-middle-income countries and a city in the United States

BACKGROUND

During 2014 to 2019, the SaniPath Exposure Assessment Tool, a standardized set of methods to evaluate risk of exposure to fecal contamination in the urban environment through multiple exposure pathways, was deployed in 45 neighborhoods in ten cities, including Accra and Kumasi, Ghana; Vellore, India; Maputo, Mozambique; Siem Reap, Cambodia; Atlanta, United States; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Lusaka, Zambia; Kampala, Uganda; Dakar, Senegal.

OBJECTIVE

Assess and compare risk of exposure to fecal contamination via multiple pathways in ten cities.

METHODS

In total, 4053 environmental samples, 4586 household surveys, 128 community surveys, and 124 school surveys were collected. E. coli concentrations were measured in environmental samples as an indicator of fecal contamination magnitude. Bayesian methods were used to estimate the distributions of fecal contamination concentration and contact frequency. Exposure to fecal contamination was estimated by the Monte Carlo method. The contamination levels of ten environmental compartments, frequency of contact with those compartments for adults and children, and estimated exposure to fecal contamination through any of the surveyed environmental pathways were compared across cities and neighborhoods.

RESULTS

Distribution of fecal contamination in the environment and human contact behavior varied by city. Universally, food pathways were the most common dominant route of exposure to fecal contamination across cities in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. Risks of fecal exposure via water pathways, such as open drains, flood water, and municipal drinking water, were site-specific and often limited to smaller geographic areas (i.e., neighborhoods) instead of larger areas (i.e., cities).

CONCLUSIONS

Knowledge of the relative contribution to fecal exposure from multiple pathways, and the environmental contamination level and frequency of contact for those "dominant pathways" could provide guidance for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programming and investments and enable local governments and municipalities to improve intervention strategies to reduce the risk of exposure to fecal contamination.

Introducing clinical nanorachaeaology: Isolation by co-culture of Nanopusillus massiliensis sp. nov

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The first ever detection in human microbiota of nanoarchaea.

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Detection and co-isolation of nanoarchaea new species in human oral microbiota.

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These data suggest the contribution of methanogens to the perinatal development of intestinal microbiota and physiology.

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Extended our knowledge of human microbiota diversity.

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Opening a new field of research in clinical microbiology here referred to as clinical nanoarchaeology.

Background

Nanoarchaeota, obligate symbiont of some environmental archaea with reduced genomes, have been described in marine thermal vent environments, yet never detected in hosts, including humans.

Methods

Here, using laboratory tools geared towards the detection of nanoarchaea including PCR-sequencing, WGS, microscopy and culture.

Results

We discovered a novel nanoarchaea, Nanopusillus massiliensis, detected in dental plate samples by specific PCR-based assays. Combining fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with scanning electron microscopy disclosed close contacts between N. massiliensis and the archaea Methanobrevibacter oralis in these samples. Culturing one sample yielded co-isolation of M. oralis and N. massiliensis with a 606,935-bp genome, with 23.6% GC encoded 16 tRNA, 3 rRNA and 942 coding DNA sequences, of which 400 were assigned to clusters of orthologous groups.

Conclusion

The discovery of N. massiliensis, made publicly available in collection, extended our knowledge of human microbiota diversity, opening a new field of research in clinical microbiology here referred to as clinical nanoarchaeology.

Methane positive small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Several studies reported a potential role of methane producing archaea in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of methane positive small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in IBS and IBD compared with controls. MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase electronic databases were searched from inception until March 2021 for case-control and prevalence studies reporting SIBO in IBS and IBD. We extracted data from published studies and calculated pooled prevalence of SIBO in IBS or IBD, odds ratios (OR), and 95% CIs, utilizing a random effects model. The final dataset included 17 independent studies assessing the prevalence of methane positive SIBO in 1,653 IBS-patients and 713 controls, and 7 studies assessing the prevalence of methane positive SIBO in 626 IBD-patients and 497 controls, all utilizing breath test for SIBO diagnosis. Prevalence of methane positive SIBO in IBS and IBD was 25.0% (95% CI 18.8-32.4) and 5.6% (95% CI 2.6-11.8), respectively. Methane positive SIBO in IBS was not increased compared to controls (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 0.8-1.7, P = .37) but was significantly more prevalent in IBS-C as compared to IBS-D (OR = 3.1, 95% CI 1.7-5.6, P = .0001). The prevalence of methane-positive SIBO in patients with IBD was 3-fold lower at 7.4% (95% CI 5.4-9.8) compared to 23.5% (95% CI 19.8-27.5) in controls. The prevalence of methane positive SIBO was significantly lower in Crohn's disease as compared to ulcerative colitis, (5.3%, 95% CI 3.0-8.5 vs. 20.2%, 95% CI 12.8-29.4). This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests methane positivity on breath testing is positively associated with IBS-C and inversely with IBD. However, the quality of evidence is low largely due to clinical heterogeneity of the studies. Thus, causality is uncertain and further studies are required.

Methanogen Abundance Thresholds Capable of Differentiating In Vitro Methane Production in Human Stool Samples

BACKGROUND

Intestinal methane (CH₄) gas production has been associated with a number of clinical conditions and may have important metabolic and physiological effects.

AIMS

In this study, taxonomic and functional gene analyses and in vitro CH₄ gas measurements were used to determine if molecular markers can potentially serve as clinical tests for colonic CH₄ production.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study involving full stool samples collected from 33 healthy individuals. In vitro CH₄ gas measurements were obtained after 2-h incubation of stool samples and used to characterize samples as CH₄ positive (CH₄+) and CH₄ negative (CH₄-; n = 10 and 23, respectively). Next, we characterized the fecal microbiota through high-throughput DNA sequencing with a particular emphasis on archaeal phylum Euryarchaeota. Finally, qPCR analyses, targeting the mcrA gene, were done to determine the ability to differentiate CH₄+ versus CH₄- samples and to delineate major methanogen species associated with CH₄ production.

RESULTS

Methanobrevibacter was found to be the most abundant methane producer and its relative abundance provides a clear distinction between CH₄+ versus CH₄- samples. Its sequencing-based relative abundance detection threshold for CH₄ production was calculated to be 0.097%. The qPCR-based detection threshold separating CH₄+ versus CH₄- samples, based on mcrA gene copies, was 5.2 × 10⁵ copies/g.

CONCLUSION

Given the decreased time-burden placed on patients, a qPCR-based test on a fecal sample can become a valuable tool in clinical assessment of CH₄ producing status.

Exploring the global vaginal microbiome and its impact on human health

Around the world, more than 175,000,000 women are diagnosed every year with gynaecological disease, in many cases contributing to high morbidity and mortality. For this reason, knowledge of the composition of the vaginal microbiome and its variations represents a real health challenge, as this is key to improving therapeutic management. This review traces the history of the poorly known vaginal microbiome and focuses on the latest findings concerning this ecosystem. Studies in the past decade have targeted complex bacterial communities within the vagina. However, due to the development of technology and the emergence of next generation sequencing (NGS), the exact definition of the vaginal microbiome has changed and can no longer be linked solely to the presence of bacteria. In order to reach a global view of the vaginal microbiome, it is essential to take into account all microorganisms that the vagina harbours, including fungi, viruses, archaea, and candidate phyla radiation. Although these communities represent only a minimal percentage of the vaginal microbiome, they may act as modifiers of its basic physiology and may play a key role in the maintenance of microbial communities, as well as metabolic and immune functions. Studies of the complex interactions between these different microorganisms have recently begun and are not yet fully understood. Results to date indicate that these microbial communities together constitute the first line of defence against infections. On the other hand, the slightest disturbance in this microbiome may lead to disease. For this reason, enhanced knowledge of these associations is critical to better identify predispositions to certain illnesses, which may open new therapeutic avenues. Currently however, only the tip of the iceberg is understood and current research on this ecosystem is revolutionising our knowledge and understanding of human health and disease.

Novel bile acid biosynthetic pathways are enriched in the microbiome of centenarians

Centenarians have a decreased susceptibility to ageing-associated illnesses, chronic inflammation and infectious diseases^1-3. Here we show that centenarians have a distinct gut microbiome that is enriched in microorganisms that are capable of generating unique secondary bile acids, including various isoforms of lithocholic acid (LCA): iso-, 3-oxo-, allo-, 3-oxoallo- and isoallolithocholic acid. Among these bile acids, the biosynthetic pathway for isoalloLCA had not been described previously. By screening 68 bacterial isolates from the faecal microbiota of a centenarian, we identified Odoribacteraceae strains as effective producers of isoalloLCA both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we found that the enzymes 5α-reductase (5AR) and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSDH) were responsible for the production of isoalloLCA. IsoalloLCA exerted potent antimicrobial effects against Gram-positive (but not Gram-negative) multidrug-resistant pathogens, including Clostridioides difficile and Enterococcus faecium. These findings suggest that the metabolism of specific bile acids may be involved in reducing the risk of infection with pathobionts, thereby potentially contributing to the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis.

Case report: a rare case of NOMA (cancrum oris) in a Malian woman

Noma or cancrum oris is a multi-bacterial and opportunistic infection that destroys soft tissue, as well as muscle and bone, and can be fatal. We present a rare case of Noma in a 32-year-old Malian woman, from whom we isolated an Escherichia coli extended-spectrum beta-lactamase.

Scope of Archaea in Fish Feed: a New Chapter in Aquafeed Probiotics?

The outbreak of diseases leading to substantial loss is a major bottleneck in aquaculture. Over the last decades, the concept of using feed probiotics was more in focus to address the growth and health of cultivable aquatic organisms. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the distinct functionality of archaea from conventional probiotics in nutrient utilization, specific caloric contribution, evading immune response and processing thermal resistance. The prime limitation of conventional probiotics is the viability of desired microbes under harsh feed processing conditions. To overcome the constraints of commercial probiotics pertaining to incompatibility towards industrial processing procedure, a super microbe, archaea, appears to be a potential alternative approach in aquaculture. The peculiarity of the archaeal cell wall provides them with heat stability and rigidity under industrial processing conditions. Besides, archaea being one of the gut microbial communities participates in various health-oriented biological functions in animals. Thus, the current review devoted that administration of archaea in aquafeed could be a promising strategy in aquaculture. Archaea may be used as a potential probiotic with the possible modes of functions and advantages over conventional probiotics in aquafeed preparation. The present review also provides the challenges associated with the use of archaea for aquaculture and a brief outline of the patents on archaea to highlight the various use of archaea in different sectors.

Hyperthermophilic methanogenic archaea act as high-pressure CH4 cell factories

Bioprocesses converting carbon dioxide with molecular hydrogen to methane (CH₄) are currently being developed to enable a transition to a renewable energy production system. In this study, we present a comprehensive physiological and biotechnological examination of 80 methanogenic archaea (methanogens) quantifying growth and CH₄ production kinetics at hyperbaric pressures up to 50 bar with regard to media, macro-, and micro-nutrient supply, specific genomic features, and cell envelope architecture. Our analysis aimed to systematically prioritize high-pressure and high-performance methanogens. We found that the hyperthermophilic methanococci Methanotorris igneus and Methanocaldococcoccus jannaschii are high-pressure CH₄ cell factories. Furthermore, our analysis revealed that high-performance methanogens are covered with an S-layer, and that they harbour the amino acid motif Tyr^α444 Gly^α445 Tyr^α446 in the alpha subunit of the methyl-coenzyme M reductase. Thus, high-pressure biological CH₄ production in pure culture could provide a purposeful route for the transition to a carbon-neutral bioenergy sector.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Subclinical Hypothyroidism of Pregnant Women

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) of subclinical hypothyroidism of pregnant women, and explore their possible relevance.

METHODS

In total, 224 pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy (study group) and 196 pregnant women whose thyroid function was normal (control group) were enrolled in this study. Lactulose-based hydrogen and methane breath test was performed to evaluate the growth of intestinal bacteria. The serum-free thyroid hormone (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), body mass index (BMI) and gastrointestinal symptoms were detected and recorded.

RESULTS

The positive rates of SIBO were 56.7% and 31.6% in study group and control group, respectively. The levels of C response protein (CRP), abdominal distension and constipation in study group were higher than those in the control group. The risk of abdominal distension and constipation in SIBO-positive pregnant women were higher than that in SIBO-negative pregnant women, and the BMI of SIBO-positive patients in the two groups was lower than that of SIBO-negative patients in each group. In addition, the TPOAb-positive rate and TSH levels were higher but the FT4 level was lower in SIBO-positive patients compared to SIBO-negative patients in study group.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of subclinical hypothyroidism is related to SIBO, and the excessive growth of small intestinal bacteria may affect gastrointestinal symptoms.

CLINICAL TRIAL

http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx, identifier ChiCTR1900026326.

Detection of Methanobrevobacter smithii and Methanobrevibacter oralis in Lower Respiratory Tract Microbiota

Methanogens, the sole microbes producing methane, are archaea commonly found in human anaerobic microbiota. Methanogens are emerging as opportunistic pathogens associated with dysbiosis and are also detected and cultured in anaerobic abscesses. Their presence in the respiratory tract is yet unknown. As a preliminary answer, prospective investigation of 908 respiratory tract samples using polyphasic approach combining PCR-sequencing, real-time PCR, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and methanogens culture was carried out. Methanobrevibacter smithii and Methanobrevibacter oralis DNA sequences, were detected in 21/527 (3.9%) sputum samples, 2/188 (1.06%) bronchoalveolar lavages, and none of 193 tracheo-bronchial aspirations. Further, fluorescence in situ hybridization detected methanogens in three sputum investigated specimens with stick morphology suggesting M. oralis and in another one bronchoalveolar lavage sample investigated, diplococal morphology suggesting M. smithii. These observations extend the known territory of methanogens to the respiratory tract and lay the foundations for further interpretation of their detection as pathogens in any future cases of isolation from bronchoalveolar lavages and the lungs.

Dual RNase and β-lactamase Activity of a Single Enzyme Encoded in Archaea

β-lactam antibiotics have a well-known activity which disturbs the bacterial cell wall biosynthesis and may be cleaved by β-lactamases. However, these drugs are not active on archaea microorganisms, which are naturally resistant because of the lack of β-lactam target in their cell wall. Here, we describe that annotation of genes as β-lactamases in Archaea on the basis of homologous genes is a remnant of identification of the original activities of this group of enzymes, which in fact have multiple functions, including nuclease, ribonuclease, β-lactamase, or glyoxalase, which may specialized over time. We expressed class B β-lactamase enzyme from Methanosarcina barkeri that digest penicillin G. Moreover, while weak glyoxalase activity was detected, a significant ribonuclease activity on bacterial and synthetic RNAs was demonstrated. The β-lactamase activity was inhibited by β-lactamase inhibitor (sulbactam), but its RNAse activity was not. This gene appears to have been transferred to the Flavobacteriaceae group especially the Elizabethkingia genus, in which the expressed gene shows a more specialized activity on thienamycin, but no glyoxalase activity. The expressed class C-like β-lactamase gene, from Methanosarcina sp., also shows hydrolysis activity on nitrocefin and is more closely related to DD-peptidase enzymes. Our findings highlight the need to redefine the nomenclature of β-lactamase enzymes and the specification of multipotent enzymes in different ways in Archaea and bacteria over time.

State of the Art in the Culture of the Human Microbiota: New Interests and Strategies

The last 5 years have seen a turning point in the study of the gut microbiota with a rebirth of culture-dependent approaches to study the gut microbiota. High-throughput methods have been developed to study bacterial diversity with culture conditions aimed at mimicking the gut environment by using rich media such as YCFA (yeast extract, casein hydrolysate, fatty acids) and Gifu anaerobic medium in an anaerobic workstation, as well as media enriched with rumen and blood and coculture, to mimic the symbiosis of the gut microbiota. Other culture conditions target phenotypic and metabolic features of bacterial species to facilitate their isolation. Preexisting technologies such as next-generation sequencing and flow cytometry have also been utilized to develop innovative methods to isolate previously uncultured bacteria or explore viability in samples of interest. These techniques have been applied to isolate CPR (Candidate Phyla Radiation) among other, more classic approaches. Methanogenic archaeal and fungal cultures present different challenges than bacterial cultures. Efforts to improve the available systems to grow archaea have been successful through coculture systems. For fungi that are more easily isolated from the human microbiota, the challenge resides in the identification of the isolates, which has been approached by applying matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry technology to fungi. Bacteriotherapy represents a nonnegligible avenue in the future of medicine to correct dysbiosis and improve health or response to therapy. Although great strides have been achieved in the last 5 years, efforts in bacterial culture need to be sustained to continue deciphering the dark matter of metagenomics, particularly CPR, and extend these methods to archaea and fungi.

Biochar addition reinforces microbial interspecies cooperation in methanation of sugar beet waste (pulp)

Biogas production and microbial community structure were analyzed as an effect of biochar addition to a fermentation sludge containing sugar beet pulp. Positive effects of the treatment including an increase in process efficiency and better biogas quality were noted. The effect of biochar on AD (anaerobic digestion process) microbial communities was investigated after total DNA extraction from biochar-amended fermentation mixtures by PCR amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA gene fragments and Illumina amplicon sequencing. A combination of microbiological and physico-chemical analyses was used to study the mechanism by which biochar influences the process of anaerobic digestion of sugar beep pulp. It was found that the main reason of the changes in biogas production was the reshaping of the microbial communities, in particular enrichment of Bacteroidales and Clostridiales. It was proposed that biochar, in addition to being a conductor for mediating interspecies electron transfer, serves also as a habitat for hydrolytic bacteria. It was elucidated that the main driving force for the preferential colonization of biochar surfaces is its hydrophobicity. The presented research indicates the high potential of biochar to stimulate the methane fermentation process.

Methanobrevibacter smithii archaemia in febrile patients with bacteremia, including those with endocarditis

BACKGROUND

The spectrum of infections caused by the emerging opportunistic pathogens methanogens which escape routine detection remains to be described. To determine the prevalence of archaemia, we searched for methanogens in the blood of febrile patients using specific tools.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective study at Institut Hospitalier Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France, September 2018 - April 2020, enrolling 7,716 blood culture samples routinely collected in patients with fever. Blood samples were screened by specific PCR assays for the presence of methanogens. Positive samples were observed by autofluorescence and electron microscopy, analyzed by metagenomics and cultured using previously developed methods. Blood culture bottles experimentally inoculated were used as controls. The presence of methanogens in vascular and cardiac tissues was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence, fluorescent in situ hybridization and PCR-based investigations.

RESULTS

PCR detection attempted in 7,716 blood samples, was negative in all 1,312 aerobic bottles and 810 bacterial culture-negative anaerobic bottles. PCRs were positive in 27/5,594 (0.5%) bacterial culture-positive anaerobic bottles that contained cultures collected from 26 patients. Sequencing confirmed Methanobrevibacter smithii associated with staphylococci in 14 patients, fermentative Enterobacteriaceae in nine patients and streptococci in three patients. Metagenomics confirmed M. smithii in five blood samples, and M. smithii was isolated via culture in broth from two samples; the genomes of these two isolates were sequenced. Blood cultures experimentally inoculated with Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus epidermidis or Staphylococcus hominis yielded hydrogen, but no methane, authentifying observational data.Three patients, all diagnosed with infectious mitral endocarditis, were diagnosed by microscopy, PCR-based detections and culture: we showed M. smithii microscopically and by a specific PCR followed by sequencing method in two of three cardiovascular tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Using appropriate methods of detection, M. smithii is demonstrated as causing archaemia and endocarditis in febrile patients who are coinfected by bacteria.

Competition for Hydrogen Prevents Coexistence of Human Gastrointestinal Hydrogenotrophs in Continuous Culture

Understanding the metabolic dynamics of the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota is of growing importance as research continues to link the microbiome to host health status. Microbial strains that metabolize hydrogen have been associated with a variety of both positive and negative host nutritional and health outcomes, but limited data exists for their competition in the GIT. To enable greater insight into the behaviour of these microbes, a mathematical model was developed for the metabolism and growth of the three major hydrogenotrophic groups: sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB), methanogens and reductive acetogens. In batch culture simulations with abundant sulphate and hydrogen, the SRB outcompeted the methanogen for hydrogen due to having a half-saturation constant 10⁶ times lower than that of the methanogen. The acetogen, with a high model threshold for hydrogen uptake of around 70 mM, was the least competitive. Under high lactate and zero sulphate conditions, hydrogen exchange between the SRB and the methanogen was the dominant interaction. The methanogen grew at 70% the rate of the SRB, with negligible acetogen growth. In continuous culture simulations, both the SRB and the methanogen were washed out at dilution rates above 0.15 h⁻¹ regardless of substrate availability, whereas the acetogen could survive under abundant hydrogen conditions. Specific combinations of conditions were required for survival of more than one hydrogenotroph in continuous culture, and survival of all three was not possible. The stringency of these requirements and the inability of the model to simulate survival of all three hydrogenotrophs in continuous culture demonstrates that factors outside of those modelled are vital to allow hydrogenotroph coexistence in the GIT.

Methanogenic Archaea: Emerging Partners in the Field of Allergic Diseases

Archaea, which form one of four domains of life alongside Eukarya, Bacteria, and giant viruses, have long been neglected as components of the human microbiota and potential opportunistic infectious pathogens. In this review, we focus on methanogenic Archaea, which rely on hydrogen for their metabolism and growth. On one hand, methanogenic Archaea in the gut are functional associates of the fermentative digestion of dietary fibers, favoring the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids and likely contributing to the weaning reaction during the neonatal window of opportunity. On the other hand, methanogenic Archaea trigger the activation of innate and adaptive responses and the generation of specific T and B cells in animals and humans. In mouse models, lung hypersensitivity reactions can be induced by inhaled methanogenic Archaea mimicking human professional exposure to organic dust. Changes in methanogenic Archaea of the microbiota are detected in an array of dysimmune conditions comprising inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, malnutrition, anorexia, colorectal cancer, and diverticulosis. At the subcellular level, methanogenic Archaea are activators of the TLR8-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome, modulate the release of antimicrobial peptides and drive the production of proinflammatory, Th-1, Th-2, and Th-17 cytokines. Our objective was to introduce the most recent and major pieces of evidence supporting the involvement of Archaea in the balance between health and dysimmune diseases, with a particular focus on atopic and allergic conditions.

Culture of Methanogenic Archaea from Human Colostrum and Milk

Archaeal sequences have been detected in human colostrum and milk, but no studies have determined whether living archaea are present in either of these fluids. Methanogenic archaea are neglected since they are not detected by usual molecular and culture methods. By using improved DNA detection protocols and microbial culture techniques associated with antioxidants previously developed in our center, we investigated the presence of methanogenic archaea using culture and specific Methanobrevibacter smithii and Methanobrevibacter oralis real-time PCR in human colostrum and milk. M. smithii was isolated from 3 colostrum and 5 milk (day 10) samples. M. oralis was isolated from 1 milk sample. For 2 strains, the genome was sequenced, and the rhizome was similar to that of strains previously isolated from the human mouth and gut. M. smithii was detected in the colostrum or milk of 5/13 (38%) and 37/127 (29%) mothers by culture and qPCR, respectively. The different distribution of maternal body mass index according to the detection of M. smithii suggested an association with maternal metabolic phenotype. M. oralis was not detected by molecular methods. Our results suggest that breastfeeding may contribute to the vertical transmission of these microorganisms and may be essential to seed the infant's microbiota with these neglected critical commensals from the first hour of life.

Culture of salivary methanogens assisted by chemically produced hydrogen

Methanogen cultures require hydrogen produced by fermentative bacteria such as Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (biological method). We developed an alternative method for hydrogen production using iron filings and acetic acid with the aim of cultivating methanogens more efficiently and more quickly (chemical method). We developed this new method with a reference strain of Methanobrevibacter oralis, compared the method to the biological reference method with a reference strain of Methanobrevibacter smithii and finally applied the method to 50 saliva samples. Methanogen colonies counted using ImageJ software were identified using epifluorescence optical microscopy, real-time PCR and PCR sequencing. For cultures containing pure strains of M. oralis and M. smithii, colonies appeared three days postinoculation with the chemical method versus nine days with the biological method. The average number of M. smithii colonies was significantly higher with the chemical method than with the biological method. There was no difference in the delay of observation of the first colonies in the saliva samples between the two methods. However, the average number of colonies was significantly higher with the biological method than with the chemical method at six days and nine days postinoculation (Student's test, p = 0.005 and p = 0.04, respectively). The chemical method made it possible to isolate four strains of M. oralis and three strains of M. smithii from the 50 saliva samples. Establishing the chemical method will ease the routine isolation and culture of methanogens.

First characterization of methanogens in oral cavity in Malian patients with oral cavity pathologies

BACKGROUND

The oral cavity of humans is inhabited by several hundreds of bacterial species and other microorganisms such as fungi and archaeal methanogens. Regarding methanogens, data have been obtained from oral cavity samples collected in Europe, America and Asia. There is no study published on the presence of methanogens in the oral cavity in persons living in Africa. The objective of our study was to bring new knowledge on the distribution of oral methanogens in persons living in Mali, Africa.

METHODS

A total of 31 patients were included in the study during a 15-day collection period in September. Bacterial investigations consisted in culturing the bacteria in 5% sheep blood-enriched Columbia agar and PolyViteX agar plates. For archaeal research, we used various methods including culture, molecular biology and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH).

RESULTS

Eight of 31 (26%) oral samples collected in eight patients consulting for stomatology diseases tested positive in polymerase chain-reaction (PCR)-based assays for methanogens including five cases of Methanobrevibacter oralis and one case each of Methanobrevibacter smithii, Methanobrevibacter massiliense and co-infection Methanobrevibacter oralis and Methanobrevibacter massiliense.

CONCLUSIONS

In this pilot study, we are reporting here the first characterization of methanogens in the oral cavity in eight patients in Mali. These methanogen species have already been documented in oral specimens collected from individuals in Europe, Asia, North America and Brazil.

Detection of Methanobrevibacter smithii in vaginal samples collected from women diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis

Vaginosis is a dysbiotic condition of the vaginal cavity that has deleterious effects during pregnancy. The role of methanogens in this disease is unknown since current methods of investigation are not appropriate for the search of methanogens. We prospectively investigated the presence of methanogens in vaginal specimens collected from 33 women thereafter diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis and 92 women thereafter diagnosed without bacterial vaginosis (control group) by direct microscopic examination and fluorescent in situ hybridization, PCR-sequencing, and real-time PCR and isolation and culture. These investigations found only one methanogen, Methanobrevibacter smithii, exclusively in 97% bacterial vaginosis specimens and in two intermediate microbiota specimens. M. smithii was detected microscopically in 2/20 specimens analyzed, by PCR-based observations in 34/125 specimens with 99% sequence similarity with the reference 16S rRNA and mcrA gene sequences and was cultured in 9/40 specimens. These data suggest that the detection of M. smithii could be used as a biomarker for the laboratory diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis.

Co-culture of Methanobrevibacter smithii with enterobacteria during urinary infection

BACKGROUND

Urinary tract infections are known to be caused by bacteria, but the potential implications of archaea have never been studied in this context.

METHODS

In two different university hospital centres we used specific laboratory methods for the detection and culture of archaeal methanogens in 383 urine specimens prospectively collected for diagnosing urinary tract infection (UTI).

FINDINGS

Methanobrevibacter smithii was detected by quantitative PCR and sequencing in 34 (9%) of the specimens collected from 34 patients. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter sp., Enterococcus faecium and mixed cultures were detected along with M. smithii in eighteen, six, three, one and six urine samples, respectively. Interestingly, using our specific culture method for methanogens, we also isolated M. smithii in 31 (91%) of the 34 PCR positive urine samples. Genotyping the 31 isolates using multispacer sequence typing revealed three different genotypes which have been previously reported in intestinal microbiota. Antibiotic susceptibility testing found the 31 isolates to be in vitro susceptible to metronidazole (MIC: 1 mg/L) but resistant to fosfomycin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, amoxicillin-clavulanate and ofloxacin, commonly used to treat bacterial UTI. Finally, 19 (54%) of the 34 patients in whose urine samples M. smithii was detected were diagnosed with UTIs, including cystitis, pyelonephritis and prostatitis.

INTERPRETATION

Our results show that M. smithii is part of the urinary microbiota of some individuals and could play a role in community-acquired UTI in association with enteric bacteria. FUND: This study was supported by IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.

Isolation and culture of Methanobrevibacter smithii by co-culture with hydrogen-producing bacteria on agar plates

OBJECTIVES

Methanogenic Archaea are considered as extremely oxygen-sensitive organisms, and their culture is fastidious, requiring specific equipment. We report here conditions allowing the cultivation of Methanobrevibacter smithii in an anaerobic chamber without the addition of hydrogen.

METHODS

We first enriched the stool sample in an anaerobic liquid medium. To cultivate M. smithii with Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and other hydrogen-producing bacteria on solid medium in an anaerobic chamber, we divided the agar plates into two compartments and seeded each strain on each compartment. Methane production was assessed by gas chromatography, and the growing colonies were authenticated by MALDI-TOF MS.

RESULTS

We successfully cultured M. smithii from a liquid culture medium inoculated with stool collected from a healthy donor in an anaerobic chamber. The isolation in pure culture permitted successful culture on agar medium by our performing a co-culture with B. thetaiotaomicron. We also successfully tested the co-cultivation of M. smithii with other known hydrogen-producing bacteria. Gas chromatographic tests showed that these strains produced hydrogen in different amounts. Agar colonies of methanogens were obtained by co-culture with these bacteria, and methane production was detected.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose a new approach to isolate and cultivate new strains of M. smithii by using a co-culture-based technique that can facilitate and make available the isolation of new methanogenic Archaea strains in clinical microbiology laboratories.

How Low Can You Go: Methane Production of Methanobacterium congolense at Low CO2 Concentrations

Autotrophic hydrogenotrophic methanogens use H2/CO2 as sole carbon and energy source. In contrast to H2, CO2 is present in high concentrations in environments dominated by methanogens e.g., anaerobic digesters (AD), and is therefore rarely considered to be a limiting factor. Nonetheless, potential CO2 limitation can be relevant in the process of biomethanation, a power-to-gas technology, where biogas is upgraded by the addition of H2 and ideally reduce the CO2 concentration in the produced biogas to 0-6%. H2 is effectively utilized by methanogens even at very low concentrations, but little is known about the impact of low CO2 concentrations on methanogenic activity. In this study, CO2 consumption and CH4 production kinetics under low CO2 concentrations were studied, using a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, Methanobacterium congolense, as model organism. We found that both cellular growth and methane production were limited at low CO2 concentrations (here expressed as Dissolved Inorganic Carbon, DIC). Maximum rates (V max) were reached at [DIC] of 100 mM (extrapolated), with a CO2 consumption rate of 69.2 fmol cell-1 d-1 and a CH4 production rate of 48.8 fmol cell-1 d-1. In our experimental setup, 80% of V max was achieved at [DIC] >9 mM. DIC half-saturation concentrations (K m) was about 2.5 mM for CO2 consumption and 2.2 mM for CH4 production. No CH4 production could be detected below 44.4 μM [DIC]. These data revealed that the limiting concentration of DIC may be much higher than that of H2 for a hydrogenotrophic methanogen. However, DIC is not a limiting factor in ADs running under standard operating conditions. For biomethanation, the results are applicable for both in situ and ex situ biomethanation reactors and show that biogas can be upgraded to concentrations of 2% CO2 (98% CH4) while still retaining 80% V max at pH 7.5 evaluated from M. congolense. Since DIC concentration can vary significantly with pH and pCO2 during biomethanation, monitoring DIC concentration through pH and pCO2 is therefore important for keeping optimal operational conditions for the biomethanation process.

Nine Cases of Methanogenic Archaea in Refractory Sinusitis, an Emerging Clinical Entity

The authors report the cases of 9 patients eventually diagnosed with methanogenic archaea refractory or recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis, a condition known to involve various anaerobic bacteria but in which the role of methanogenic archaea is unknown. The authors retrospectively searched these microorganisms by PCR in surgically-collected sinusal pus specimens from patients diagnosed with refractory sinusitis, defined by the persistance of sinus inflammation and related-symptoms for more than 12 weeks despite appropriate treatment. Of the 116 tested sinus surgical specimens, 12 (10.3%) from 9 patients (six females, three males; aged 20-71 years) were PCR-positive. These specimens were further investigated by fluorescence in-situ hybridization, PCR amplicon-sequencing and culture. Methanobrevibacter smithii was documented in four patients and Methanobrevibacter oralis in another four, one of whom was also culture-positive. They were associated with a mixed flora including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In the latter patient, "Methanobrevibacter massiliense" was the sole microorganism detected. These results highlight methanogenic archaea as being part of a mixed anaerobic flora involved in refractory sinusitis, and suggest that the treatment of this condition should include an antibiotic active against methanogens, notably a nitroimidazole derivative.

Hydrogen cross-feeders of the human gastrointestinal tract

Hydrogen plays a key role in many microbial metabolic pathways in the human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that have an impact on human nutrition, health and wellbeing. Hydrogen is produced by many members of the GIT microbiota, and may be subsequently utilized by cross-feeding microbes for growth and in the production of larger molecules. Hydrogenotrophic microbes fall into three functional groups: sulfate-reducing bacteria, methanogenic archaea and acetogenic bacteria, which can convert hydrogen into hydrogen sulfide, methane and acetate, respectively. Despite different energy yields per molecule of hydrogen used between the functional groups, all three can coexist in the human GIT. The factors affecting the numerical balance of hydrogenotrophs in the GIT remain unconfirmed. There is increasing evidence linking both hydrogen sulfide and methane to GIT diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, and strategies for the mitigation of such health problems through targeting of hydrogenotrophs constitute an important field for further investigation.

Enhancement of methane production from 1-hexadecene by additional electron donors

1-Hexadecene-contaminated wastewater is produced in oil refineries and can be treated in methanogenic bioreactors, although generally at low conversion rates. In this study, a microbial culture able to degrade 1-hexadecene was enriched, and different stimulation strategies were tested for enhancing 1-hexadecene conversion to methane. Seven and three times faster methane production was obtained in cultures stimulated with yeast extract or lactate, respectively, while cultures amended with crotonate lost the ability to degrade 1-hexadecene. Methane production from 1-hexadecene was not enhanced by the addition of extra hydrogenotrophic methanogens. Bacteria closely related to Syntrophus and Smithella were detected in 1-hexadecene-degrading cultures, but not in the ones amended with crotonate, which suggests the involvement of these bacteria in 1-hexadecene degradation. Genes coding for alkylsuccinate synthase alpha-subunit were detected in cultures degrading 1-hexadecene, indicating that hydrocarbon activation may occur by fumarate addition. These findings are novel and show that methane production from 1-hexadecene is improved by the addition of yeast extract or lactate. These extra electron donors may be considered as a potential bioremediation strategy of oil-contaminated sites with bioenergy generation through methane production.

Tobacco-smoking-related prevalence of methanogens in the oral fluid microbiota

The oral fluid microbiome comprises an important bacterial diversity, yet the presence of archaea has not been reported so far. In order to quest for the presence of methanogenic archaea (methanogens) in oral fluid, we used a polyphasic approach including PCR-sequencing detection, microscopic observation by fluorescence in-situ hybridization, isolation and culture, molecular identification and genotyping of methanogens in 200 oral fluid specimens. In the presence of negative controls, 64/200 (32%) prospectively analysed oral fluid specimens were PCR-positive for methanogens, all identified as Methanobrevibacter oralis by sequencing. Further, fluorescence in-situ hybridization detected methanogens in 19/48 (39.6%) investigated specimens; with morphology suggesting M. oralis in 10 cases and co-infecting Methanobrevibacter smithii in nine cases. M. oralis was cultured from 46/64 (71.8%) PCR-positive specimens and none of PCR-negative specimens; and one M. smithii isolate was co-cultured with M. oralis in one specimen. Multispacer Sequence Typing found one M. oralis genotype per specimen and a total of five different genotypes with 19/46 (41%) of isolates all belonging to spacer-type four. Statistical analyses showed a significant correlation between the PCR-detection of methanogens in oral fluid and tobacco smoking. These data indicate that M. oralis and M. smithii are oral fluid-borne methanogens in tobacco smokers. Both methanogens could be transmitted during intimate contacts such as mother-to-child contacts and kissing.