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Belkin P, Nechaeva Y, Blinov S, Vaganov S, Perevoshchikov R, Plotnikova E. Sediment microbial communities of a technogenic saline-alkaline reservoir. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33640. [PMID: 39071596 PMCID: PMC11283119 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Various natural saline and alkaline habitats have recently been widely investigated, but knowledge of anthropogenic habitats with more complex environmental conditions is still lacking. This research looks at the structure of microbial communities in 18 bottom sediment samples from a technogenic water body with saline and alkaline composition. The core samples were collected from 2 columns in the western and eastern parts of an artificial water body at the Verkhnekamskoe Salt Deposit (Russia). The microbial community structure was studied using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The bottom sediment composition (salinity, pH, and toxic element content) varies greatly with depth and laterally throughout the study area. The study found a considerable difference in bacterial community diversity between the 2 columns, but no considerable difference was found between the communities at various depths of the studied layers. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, which are common in both natural and artificial saline and alkaline environments, make up the majority of the bacteria found in the samples. Studies have shown that salinity and total alkalinity are the key factors influencing the formation of microbial communities. Ralstonia and Pseudomonas were the two most common genera in the sediment samples. These two genera are known for having high metabolic flexibility, which means they can survive in extreme environments and use a variety of carbon compounds as energy sources. The study also found that Ralstonia is indicator bacteria in samples with the highest concentrations of toxic elements compared to the other samples. A relatively high microbial diversity was discovered in the studied anthropogenic water reservoir despite the extreme alkaline and saline conditions, but it is considerably lower than that found in natural, less alkaline habitats. This research offers insight into the mechanisms behind microbial community formation in complex anthropogenic environments and covers key factors in microbial community distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Belkin
- Natural Science Institute, Perm State University, 614068, Bukireva st. 15, Perm, Russia
| | - Yulia Nechaeva
- Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Ural Branch of the Russian Аcademy of Sciences, 614081, Goleva st. 13, Perm, Russia
| | - Sergey Blinov
- Natural Science Institute, Perm State University, 614068, Bukireva st. 15, Perm, Russia
| | - Sergey Vaganov
- Natural Science Institute, Perm State University, 614068, Bukireva st. 15, Perm, Russia
| | - Roman Perevoshchikov
- Natural Science Institute, Perm State University, 614068, Bukireva st. 15, Perm, Russia
| | - Elena Plotnikova
- Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms, Ural Branch of the Russian Аcademy of Sciences, 614081, Goleva st. 13, Perm, Russia
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2
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Sharaf A, Nesengani LT, Hayah I, Kuja JO, Mdyogolo S, Omotoriogun TC, Odogwu BA, Beedessee G, Smith RM, Barakat A, Moila AM, El Hamouchi A, Benkahla A, Boukteb A, Elmouhtadi A, Mafwila AL, Abushady AM, Elsherif AK, Ahmed B, Wairuri C, Ndiribe CC, Ebuzome C, Kinnear CJ, Ndlovu DF, Iraqi D, El Fahime E, Assefa E, Ouardi F, Belharfi FZ, Tmimi FZ, Markey FB, Radouani F, Zeukeng F, Mvumbi GL, Ganesan H, Hanachi M, Nigussie H, Charoute H, Benamri I, Mkedder I, Haddadi I, Meftah-Kadmiri I, Mubiru JF, Domelevo Entfellner JBK, Rokani JB, Ogwang J, Daiga JB, Omumbo J, Ideozu JE, Errafii K, Labuschagne K, Komi KK, Tonfack LB, Hadjeras L, Ramantswana M, Chaisi M, Botes MW, Kilian M, Kvas M, Melloul M, Chaouch M, Khyatti M, Abdo M, Phasha-Muchemenye M, Hijri M, Mediouni MR, Hassan MA, Piro M, Mwale M, Maaloum M, Mavhunga M, Olivier NA, Aminou O, Arbani O, Souiai O, Djocgoue PF, Mentag R, Zipfel RD, Tata RB, Megnekou R, Muzemil S, Paez S, Salifu SP, Kagame SP, Selka S, Edwards S, Gaouar SBS, Reda SRA, Fellahi S, Khayi S, Ayed S, Madisha T, Sahil T, Udensi OU, Ras V, Ezebuiro V, Duru VC, David X, Geberemichael Y, Tchiechoua YH, Mungloo-Dilmohamud Z, Chen Z, Happi C, Kariuki T, Ziyomo C, Djikeng A, Badaoui B, Mapholi N, Muigai A, Osuji JO, Ebenezer TE. Establishing African genomics and bioinformatics programs through annual regional workshops. Nat Genet 2024:10.1038/s41588-024-01807-6. [PMID: 38977855 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01807-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) Open Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics aims to overcome barriers to capacity building through its distributed African regional workshops and prioritizes the exchange of grassroots knowledge and innovation in biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics. In 2023, we implemented 28 workshops on biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics, covering 11 African countries across the 5 African geographical regions. These regional workshops trained 408 African scientists in hands-on molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics techniques as well as the ethical, legal and social issues associated with acquiring genetic resources. Here, we discuss the implementation of transformative strategies, such as expanding the regional workshop model of AfricaBP to involve multiple countries, institutions and partners, including the proposed creation of an African digital database with sequence information relating to both biodiversity and agriculture. This will ultimately help create a critical mass of skilled genomics and bioinformatics scientists across Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdoallah Sharaf
- SequAna Core Facility, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Lucky Tendani Nesengani
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Ichrak Hayah
- Laboratory of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Genome, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco
| | | | - Sinebongo Mdyogolo
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | - Taiwo Crossby Omotoriogun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Nigeria
- A. P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Blessing Adanta Odogwu
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology and Bioresources Research, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
- South-South Zonal Centre of Excellence, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
| | - Girish Beedessee
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Rae Marvin Smith
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
| | | | | | - Adil El Hamouchi
- Research Department, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Alia Benkahla
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics-LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amal Boukteb
- Field Crops Laboratory, National Institute of Agricultural Research of Tunisia (INRAT), University of Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amine Elmouhtadi
- Biotechnology Research Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Rabat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Antoine Lusala Mafwila
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Asmaa Mohammed Abushady
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
- Biotechnology School, Nile University, Giza, Egypt
| | | | - Bulbul Ahmed
- African Genome Center, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | | | | | | | - Craig J Kinnear
- South African Medical Research Council Genomics Platform, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Driss Iraqi
- Biotechnology Research Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Rabat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Rabat, Morocco
| | | | - Ermias Assefa
- Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Faissal Ouardi
- Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Fatima Zohra Belharfi
- Applied Genetics in Agriculture, Ecology and Public Health Laboratory, University of Abou Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria
| | | | - Fatu Badiane Markey
- Science for Africa Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya
- Rutgers University-Newark, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Fouzia Radouani
- Research Department, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Francis Zeukeng
- Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Georges Lelo Mvumbi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Basic Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | | | - Mariem Hanachi
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics-LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Helen Nigussie
- Department of Microbial Cellular and Molecular Biology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Hicham Charoute
- Research Department, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ichrak Benamri
- Research Department, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Ikram Mkedder
- Applied Genetics in Agriculture, Ecology and Public Health Laboratory, University of Abou Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria
| | - Imane Haddadi
- Applied Genetics in Agriculture, Ecology and Public Health Laboratory, University of Abou Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria
| | - Issam Meftah-Kadmiri
- Plant and Microbial Biotechnology Center, Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Jackson Franco Mubiru
- Department of Breeding and Reproduction, National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Joan Bayowa Rokani
- Department of Breeding and Reproduction, National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Joel Ogwang
- Department of Breeding and Reproduction, National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Judy Omumbo
- Science for Africa Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Khaoula Errafii
- African Genome Center, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Kim Labuschagne
- Foundational Biodiversity Science, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Komi Koukoura Komi
- Laboratoire des Sciences Biomédicales, Alimentaires et de Santé Environnementale (LaSBASE), Département des Analyses Biomédicales (AMB), Ecole Supérieure des Techniques Biologiques et Alimentaires (ESTBA), Université de Lomé, Lomé, Togo
| | | | | | | | - Mamohale Chaisi
- Foundational Biodiversity Science, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Marietjie W Botes
- Division of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Marija Kvas
- Separations (Pty) Ltd, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Marouane Melloul
- National Center for Scientific and Technical Research, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Melek Chaouch
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics-LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Meriem Khyatti
- Research Department, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco
| | | | | | - Mohamed Hijri
- African Genome Center, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Rida Mediouni
- Applied Genetics in Agriculture, Ecology and Public Health Laboratory, University of Abou Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria
| | | | - Mohammed Piro
- Veterinary Genetic Analysis Laboratory, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute (IAV), Rabat, Morocco
| | - Monica Mwale
- Foundational Biodiversity Science, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Mudzuli Mavhunga
- Foundational Biodiversity Science, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Nicholas Abraham Olivier
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Oumaima Aminou
- Veterinary Genetic Analysis Laboratory, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute (IAV), Rabat, Morocco
| | - Oumayma Arbani
- Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute (IAV), Rabat, Morocco
| | - Oussema Souiai
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Biomathematics and Biostatistics-LR16IPT09, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | | | - Rachid Mentag
- Biotechnology Research Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Rabat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Renate Dorothea Zipfel
- Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Rosette Megnekou
- Biotechnology Centre, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | | | - Sadye Paez
- Department of Neurogenetics of Language, Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samson Pandam Salifu
- Faculty of Bioscience, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Sarra Selka
- Applied Genetics in Agriculture, Ecology and Public Health Laboratory, University of Abou Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria
| | | | - Semir Bechir Suheil Gaouar
- Applied Genetics in Agriculture, Ecology and Public Health Laboratory, University of Abou Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria
| | | | - Siham Fellahi
- Veterinary Genetic Analysis Laboratory, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute (IAV), Rabat, Morocco
| | - Slimane Khayi
- Biotechnology Research Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Rabat, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Soumia Ayed
- Applied Genetics in Agriculture, Ecology and Public Health Laboratory, University of Abou Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen, Tlemcen, Algeria
| | - Thabang Madisha
- Agricultural Research Council, Biotechnology Platform, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | | | - Verena Ras
- University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Victor Ezebuiro
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology and Bioresources Research, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
- South-South Zonal Centre of Excellence, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
| | - Vincent C Duru
- Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Yves H Tchiechoua
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Christian Happi
- African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, Redeemer's University, Ede, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Appolinaire Djikeng
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Bouabid Badaoui
- Laboratory of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Genome, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco.
- African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Laâyoune, Morocco.
| | - Ntanganedzeni Mapholi
- College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa.
| | - Anne Muigai
- National Defence University-Kenya, Nakuru, Kenya.
- Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Juja, Kenya.
| | - Julian O Osuji
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology and Bioresources Research, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
- South-South Zonal Centre of Excellence, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
- Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
| | - ThankGod Echezona Ebenezer
- Early Cancer Institute, Department of Oncology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Ram Das A, Pillai N, Nanduri B, Rothrock MJ, Ramkumar M. Exploring Pathogen Presence Prediction in Pastured Poultry Farms through Transformer-Based Models and Attention Mechanism Explainability. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1274. [PMID: 39065042 PMCID: PMC11278766 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12071274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we explore how transformer models, which are known for their attention mechanisms, can improve pathogen prediction in pastured poultry farming. By combining farm management practices with microbiome data, our model outperforms traditional prediction methods in terms of the F1 score-an evaluation metric for model performance-thus fulfilling an essential need in predictive microbiology. Additionally, the emphasis is on making our model's predictions explainable. We introduce a novel approach for identifying feature importance using the model's attention matrix and the PageRank algorithm, offering insights that enhance our comprehension of established techniques such as DeepLIFT. Our results showcase the efficacy of transformer models in pathogen prediction for food safety and mark a noteworthy contribution to the progress of explainable AI within the biomedical sciences. This study sheds light on the impact of effective farm management practices and highlights the importance of technological advancements in ensuring food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athish Ram Das
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (A.R.D.); (B.N.)
| | - Nisha Pillai
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA;
| | - Bindu Nanduri
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA; (A.R.D.); (B.N.)
| | - Michael J. Rothrock
- Egg Safety and Quality Research Unit, USDA-ARS U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Athens, GA 30605, USA;
| | - Mahalingam Ramkumar
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA;
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4
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Cadena S, Cerqueda-García D, Uribe-Flores MM, Ramírez SI. Metagenomic profiling of halites from the Atacama Desert: an extreme environment with natural perchlorate does not promote high diversity of perchlorate reducing microorganisms. Extremophiles 2024; 28:25. [PMID: 38664270 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-024-01342-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
We surveyed the presence of perchlorate-reducing microorganisms in available metagenomic data of halite environments from the Atacama Desert, an extreme environment characterized by high perchlorate concentrations, intense ultraviolet radiation, saline and oxidizing soils, and severe desiccation. While the presence of perchlorate might suggest a broad community of perchlorate reducers or a high abundance of a dominant taxa, our search reveals a scarce presence. In fact, we identified only one halophilic species, Salinibacter sp003022435, carrying the pcrA and pcrC genes, represented in low abundance. Moreover, we also discovered some napA genes and organisms carrying the nitrate reductase nasB gene, which hints at the possibility of cryptic perchlorate reduction occurring in these ecosystems. Our findings contribute with the knowledge of perchlorate reduction metabolism potentially occurring in halites from Atacama Desert and point towards promising future research into the perchlorate-reducing mechanism in Salinibacter, a common halophilic bacterium found in hypersaline ecosystems, whose metabolic potential remains largely unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Cadena
- Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad #1001 Col. Chamilpa, C. P. 62209, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Daniel Cerqueda-García
- Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores, Clúster Científico y Tecnológico Biomimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Carretera Antigua a Coatepec #351, Col. El Haya, C. P. 91073, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - María Magdalena Uribe-Flores
- Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad #1001 Col. Chamilpa, C. P. 62209, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Sandra I Ramírez
- Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad #1001 Col. Chamilpa, C. P. 62209, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico.
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5
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Elshafey N, Mansour MA, Hamedo HA, Elnosary ME, Hagagy N, Ahmed Al-Ghamdi A, María Martínez-Espinosa R. Phylogeny and functional diversity of halophilic microbial communities from a thalasso environment. Saudi J Biol Sci 2023; 30:103841. [PMID: 38020223 PMCID: PMC10679952 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The El-Rawda solar saltern, located in North Sinai, Egypt, is formed through the process of water evaporation from the Bradawil lagoon. This evaporation leads to the precipitation of gypsum, halite minerals, and salt flats, which subsequently cover the southern and eastern areas of the lagoon. This study employed the shotgun metagenomic approach, the illumine platform, and bioinformatic tools to investigate the taxonomic composition and functional diversity of halophilic microbial communities in solar saltern. The metagenomic reads obtained from the brine sample exhibited a greater count compared to those from the sediment sample. Notably, the brine sample was primarily characterized by an abundance of archaea, while the sediment sample displayed a dominant abundance of bacteria. Both samples exhibited a relatively low abundance of eukaryotes, while viruses were only found in the brine sample. Furthermore, the comparative analysis of functional pathways showed many important processes related to central metabolism and protein processing in brine and sediment samples. In brief, this research makes a valuable contribution to the understanding of very halophilic ecosystems in Egypt, providing insights into their microbial biodiversity and functional processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naglaa Elshafey
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Arish University, Al-Arish 45511, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A.I. Mansour
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Arish University, Al-Arish 45511, Egypt
| | - Hend A. Hamedo
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Arish University, Al-Arish 45511, Egypt
| | - Mohamed E. Elnosary
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University,11884 Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nashwa Hagagy
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Abdullah Ahmed Al-Ghamdi
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry. Faculty of Sciences, University of Alicante, Ap. 99, E-03080 Alicante, Spain
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Rathinam AJ, Santhaseelan H, Dahms HU, Dinakaran VT, Murugaiah SG. Bioprospecting of unexplored halophilic actinobacteria against human infectious pathogens. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:398. [PMID: 37974926 PMCID: PMC10645811 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03812-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pathogenic diseases received much attention recently due to their uncontrolled spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which causes several threads every year. Effective alternate antimicrobials are urgently required to combat those disease causing infectious microbes. Halophilic actinobacteria revealed huge potentials and unexplored cultivable/non-cultivable actinobacterial species producing enormous antimicrobials have been proved in several genomics approaches. Potential gene clusters, PKS and NRPKS from Nocardia, Salinospora, Rhodococcus, and Streptomyces have wide range coding genes of secondary metabolites. Biosynthetic pathways identification via various approaches like genome mining, In silico, OSMAC (one strain many compound) analysis provides better identification of knowing the active metabolites using several databases like AMP, APD and CRAMPR, etc. Genome constellations of actinobacteria particularly the prediction of BGCs (Biosynthetic Gene Clusters) to mine the bioactive molecules such as pigments, biosurfactants and few enzymes have been reported for antimicrobial activity. Saltpan, saltlake, lagoon and haloalkali environment exploring potential actinobacterial strains Micromonospora, Kocuria, Pseudonocardia, and Nocardiopsis revealed several acids and ester derivatives with antimicrobial potential. Marine sediments and marine macro organisms have been found as significant population holders of potential actinobacterial strains. Deadly infectious diseases (IDs) including tuberculosis, ventilator-associated pneumonia and Candidiasis, have been targeted by halo-actinobacterial metabolites with promising results. Methicillin resistant Staphylococus aureus and virus like Encephalitic alphaviruses were potentially targeted by halophilic actinobacterial metabolites by the compound Homoseongomycin from sponge associated antinobacterium. In this review, we discuss the potential antimicrobial properties of various biomolecules extracted from the unexplored halophilic actinobacterial strains specifically against human infectious pathogens along with prospective genomic constellations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur James Rathinam
- Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, 620 024 India
| | - Henciya Santhaseelan
- Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, 620 024 India
| | - Hans-Uwe Dahms
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708 Taiwan
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Goraj W, Pytlak A, Grządziel J, Gałązka A, Stępniewska Z, Szafranek-Nakonieczna A. Dynamics of Methane-Consuming Biomes from Wieliczka Formation: Environmental and Enrichment Studies. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1420. [PMID: 37998019 PMCID: PMC10669130 DOI: 10.3390/biology12111420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The rocks surrounding Wieliczka salt deposits are an extreme, deep subsurface ecosystem that as we studied previously harbors many microorganisms, including methanotrophs. In the presented research bacterial community structure of the Wieliczka Salt Mine was determined as well as the methanotrophic activity of the natural microbiome. Finally, an enrichment culture of methane-consuming methanotrophs was obtained. The research material used in this study consisted of rocks surrounding salt deposits in the Wieliczka Salt Mine. DNA was extracted directly from the pristine rock material, as well as from rocks incubated in an atmosphere containing methane and mineral medium, and from a methanotrophic enrichment culture from this ecosystem. As a result, the study describes the composition of the microbiome in the rocks surrounding the salt deposits, while also explaining how biodiversity changes during the enrichment culture of the methanotrophic bacterial community. The contribution of methanotrophic bacteria ranged from 2.614% in the environmental sample to 64.696% in the bacterial culture. The methanotrophic enrichment culture was predominantly composed of methanotrophs from the genera Methylomonas (48.848%) and Methylomicrobium (15.636%) with methane oxidation rates from 3.353 ± 0.105 to 4.200 ± 0.505 µmol CH4 mL-1 day-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Goraj
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms, Faculty of Medicine, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Str. Konstantynów 1I, 20-708 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Anna Pytlak
- Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4, 20-280 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Jarosław Grządziel
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation–State Research Institute (IUNG-PIB), Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.G.); (A.G.)
| | - Anna Gałązka
- Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation–State Research Institute (IUNG-PIB), Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; (J.G.); (A.G.)
| | - Zofia Stępniewska
- Department of Biochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1 I, 20-708 Lublin, Poland;
| | - Anna Szafranek-Nakonieczna
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology of Microorganisms, Faculty of Medicine, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Str. Konstantynów 1I, 20-708 Lublin, Poland;
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8
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González-Reguero D, Robas-Mora M, Probanza Lobo A, Jiménez Gómez PA. Bioremediation of environments contaminated with mercury. Present and perspectives. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 39:249. [PMID: 37438584 PMCID: PMC10338569 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03686-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal whose emission sources can be both natural and the result of anthropic activity. Its polluting action on soils, and its ability to spread through the atmosphere and aquatic environments, constitutes a threat to human and environmental health; both for its bioaccumulation capacity and for biomagnification through the trophic chain. For this reason, there is a growing scientific and social interest in the reduction of this heavy metal in ecosystems. Bioremediation based on the use of microorganisms and/or plants is postulated as a sustainable alternative to traditional physicochemical methods. The main strategies used for this purpose (individually or in combination) are the volatilization of the contaminant, biosorption, phytoextraction and phytoremediation. All these tools are based on taking advantage of the natural and evolutionary capacity that different organisms have developed to adapt to the presence of various pollutants in the environment. Based on the consulted bibliography, these bioremediation methodologies focus on the use of microorganisms (freely or associated with plants) have been successfully applied in different ecosystems, postulating themselves as a respectful alternative for the future for the recovery of degraded environments. For these reasons there is a growing interest in the scientific community to design and use new techniques in a "One Health" context, which allow interpreting the positive impact of bioremediation. In this sense, the universalization of Omics techniques has allowed to abound in the knowledge of new bacterial taxa, and their biotechnological application. This study pretends to cover the present knowledge about mercury bioremediation techniques. In the same way, some new techniques and perspectives are presented in order to expand the frontiers of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel González-Reguero
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health, CEU San Pablo University, Montepríncipe Campus, Ctra. Boadilla del Monte Km 5.300, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marina Robas-Mora
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health, CEU San Pablo University, Montepríncipe Campus, Ctra. Boadilla del Monte Km 5.300, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Agustín Probanza Lobo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health, CEU San Pablo University, Montepríncipe Campus, Ctra. Boadilla del Monte Km 5.300, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Antonio Jiménez Gómez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health, CEU San Pablo University, Montepríncipe Campus, Ctra. Boadilla del Monte Km 5.300, 28668 Boadilla del Monte, Madrid, Spain
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9
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Salam MA, Korkmaz N, Cycil LM, Hasan F. Isolation, microscopic and magnetotactic characterization of Magnetospirillum moscoviense MS-24 from Banjosa Lake, Pakistan. Biotechnol Lett 2023:10.1007/s10529-023-03390-y. [PMID: 37227600 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03390-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
At currently, approximately 70 species of magnetotactic bacteria have been identified; thus, there is an urgent need to identify more magnetotactic bacteria from diverse environmental sources with potential applications in industry and biotechnology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first magnetotactic bacterial strain discovered in Pakistan. The first magnetotactic bacteria, Magnetospirillum moscoviense MS-24, was isolated from Banjosa Lake (Rawalakot), Pakistan, in the current investigation. Magnetospirillum moscoviense MS-24 was screened using the Racetrack method. The Magnetospirillum moscoviense MS-24 were physically characterised using Atomic Force Microscopy, High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Transmission Electron Microscopy. The current study used microscopy to illustrate the shape of bacteria and to find a very obvious chain of magnetosomes within the bacterial cell. The Magnetospirillum moscoviense MS-24 measured about 4 ± 0.04 µm in length and 600 ± 0.02 nm in diameter. The microfluidic chip experiments were also used to detect magnetotaxis behaviour in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Abdul Salam
- Applied Environmental and Geomicrobiology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Department of Zoology, Rawalpindi Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
- Department of Robotics and Mechatronics, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Nuriye Korkmaz
- Biosensor Group, Europe Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Campus E 71, 66123, Saarbrucken, Germany
| | | | - Fariha Hasan
- Applied Environmental and Geomicrobiology Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
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10
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Lach J, Królikowska K, Baranowska M, Krupińska M, Strapagiel D, Matera-Witkiewicz A, Stączek P. A first insight into the Polish Bochnia Salt Mine metagenome. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:49551-49566. [PMID: 36780083 PMCID: PMC10104926 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25770-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
The Bochnia Salt Mine is one of the oldest mines in Europe. It was established in the thirteenth century, and actively operated until 1990. The mine has been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Previous research describing Polish salt mines has been focused on bioaerosol characteristics and the identification of microorganisms potentially important for human health. The use of Polish salt mines as inhalation chambers for patients of health resorts has also been investigated. Nevertheless, the biodiversity of salt mines associated with biotechnological potential has not been well characterized. The present study paper examines the biodiversity of microorganisms in the Bochnia Salt Mine based on 16S rRNA gene and shotgun sequencing. Biodiversity studies revealed a significantly higher relative abundance of Chlamydiae at the first level of the mine (3.5%) compared to the other levels (< 0.1%). Patescibacteria microorganisms constituted a high percentage (21.6%) in the sample from site RA6. Shotgun sequencing identified 16 unique metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Although one was identified as Halobacterium bonnevillei, the others have not yet been assigned to any species; it is possible that these species may be undescribed. Preliminary analyses of the biotechnological and pharmaceutical potential of microorganisms inhabiting the mine were also performed, and the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) profiles and antimicrobial peptide (AMP) coding genes in individual samples were characterized. Hundreds of BGCs and dozens of AMP coding genes were identified in metagenomes. Our findings indicate that Polish salt mines are promising sites for further research aimed at identifying microorganisms that are producers of potentially important substances with biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Lach
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
- Biobank Lab, Department of Oncobiology and Epigenetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Klaudyna Królikowska
- Biobank Lab, Department of Oncobiology and Epigenetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Monika Baranowska
- Biobank Lab, Department of Oncobiology and Epigenetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Magdalena Krupińska
- Screening of Biological Activity Assays and Collection of Biological Material Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University Biobank, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dominik Strapagiel
- Biobank Lab, Department of Oncobiology and Epigenetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Matera-Witkiewicz
- Screening of Biological Activity Assays and Collection of Biological Material Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University Biobank, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Stączek
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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11
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Moopantakath J, Imchen M, Anju VT, Busi S, Dyavaiah M, Martínez-Espinosa RM, Kumavath R. Bioactive molecules from haloarchaea: Scope and prospects for industrial and therapeutic applications. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1113540. [PMID: 37065149 PMCID: PMC10102575 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1113540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine environments and salty inland ecosystems encompass various environmental conditions, such as extremes of temperature, salinity, pH, pressure, altitude, dry conditions, and nutrient scarcity. The extremely halophilic archaea (also called haloarchaea) are a group of microorganisms requiring high salt concentrations (2–6 M NaCl) for optimal growth. Haloarchaea have different metabolic adaptations to withstand these extreme conditions. Among the adaptations, several vesicles, granules, primary and secondary metabolites are produced that are highly significant in biotechnology, such as carotenoids, halocins, enzymes, and granules of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Among halophilic enzymes, reductases play a significant role in the textile industry and the degradation of hydrocarbon compounds. Enzymes like dehydrogenases, glycosyl hydrolases, lipases, esterases, and proteases can also be used in several industrial procedures. More recently, several studies stated that carotenoids, gas vacuoles, and liposomes produced by haloarchaea have specific applications in medicine and pharmacy. Additionally, the production of biodegradable and biocompatible polymers by haloarchaea to store carbon makes them potent candidates to be used as cell factories in the industrial production of bioplastics. Furthermore, some haloarchaeal species can synthesize nanoparticles during heavy metal detoxification, thus shedding light on a new approach to producing nanoparticles on a large scale. Recent studies also highlight that exopolysaccharides from haloarchaea can bind the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This review explores the potential of haloarchaea in the industry and biotechnology as cellular factories to upscale the production of diverse bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamseel Moopantakath
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kerala, India
| | - Madangchanok Imchen
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
| | - V. T. Anju
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
| | - Siddhardha Busi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
| | - Madhu Dyavaiah
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
| | - Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
- Multidisciplinary Institute for Environmental Studies “Ramón Margalef”, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
- Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa,
| | - Ranjith Kumavath
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kerala, India
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
- *Correspondence: Ranjith Kumavath, ,
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12
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Bourhane Z, Cagnon C, Castañeda C, Rodríguez-Ochoa R, Álvaro-Fuentes J, Cravo-Laureau C, Duran R. Vertical organization of microbial communities in Salineta hypersaline wetland, Spain. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:869907. [PMID: 36778872 PMCID: PMC9911865 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.869907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities inhabiting hypersaline wetlands, well adapted to the environmental fluctuations due to flooding and desiccation events, play a key role in the biogeochemical cycles, ensuring ecosystem service. To better understand the ecosystem functioning, we studied soil microbial communities of Salineta wetland (NE Spain) in dry and wet seasons in three different landscape stations representing situations characteristic of ephemeral saline lakes: S1 soil usually submerged, S2 soil intermittently flooded, and S3 soil with halophytes. Microbial community composition was determined according to different redox layers by 16S rRNA gene barcoding. We observed reversed redox gradient, negative at the surface and positive in depth, which was identified by PERMANOVA as the main factor explaining microbial distribution. The Pseudomonadota, Gemmatimonadota, Bacteroidota, Desulfobacterota, and Halobacteriota phyla were dominant in all stations. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) revealed that the upper soil surface layer was characterized by the predominance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) affiliated to strictly or facultative anaerobic halophilic bacteria and archaea while the subsurface soil layer was dominated by an OTU affiliated to Roseibaca, an aerobic alkali-tolerant bacterium. In addition, the potential functional capabilities, inferred by PICRUSt2 analysis, involved in carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles were similar in all samples, irrespective of the redox stratification, suggesting functional redundancy. Our findings show microbial community changes according to water flooding conditions, which represent useful information for biomonitoring and management of these wetlands whose extreme aridity and salinity conditions are exposed to irreversible changes due to human activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeina Bourhane
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
| | - Christine Cagnon
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
| | | | - Rafael Rodríguez-Ochoa
- Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Ciencias del Suelo, Universidad de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | | | | | - Robert Duran
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
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Chaudhari HG, Prajapati S, Wardah ZH, Raol G, Prajapati V, Patel R, Shati AA, Alfaifi MY, Elbehairi SEI, Sayyed RZ. Decoding the microbial universe with metagenomics: a brief insight. Front Genet 2023; 14:1119740. [PMID: 37197021 PMCID: PMC10183756 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1119740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A major part of any biological system on earth involves microorganisms, of which the majority are yet to be cultured. The conventional methods of culturing microbes have given fruitful outcomes yet have limitations. The curiosity for better understanding has led to the development of culture-independent molecular methods that help push aside the roadblocks of earlier methods. Metagenomics unifies the scientific community in search of a better understanding of the functioning of the ecosystem and its component organisms. This approach has opened a new paradigm in advanced research. It has brought to light the vast diversity and novelty among microbial communities and their genomes. This review focuses on the development of this field over time, the techniques and analysis of data generated through sequencing platforms, and its prominent interpretation and representation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiral G. Chaudhari
- Shri Alpesh N. Patel PG Institute of Science and Research, Sardar Patel University, Anand, Gujarat, India
| | - Shobha Prajapati
- Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, Gujarat, India
| | - Zuhour Hussein Wardah
- Shri Alpesh N. Patel PG Institute of Science and Research, Sardar Patel University, Anand, Gujarat, India
| | - Gopal Raol
- Shri R. P. Arts, Shri K.B. Commerce, and Smt. BCJ Science College, Khambhat, Gujarat, India
| | - Vimalkumar Prajapati
- Division of Microbial and Environmental Biotechnology, Aspee Shakilam Biotechnology Institute, Navsari Agricultural University, Surat, Gujarat, India
- *Correspondence: Vimalkumar Prajapati,
| | - Rajesh Patel
- Department of Biosciences, Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat, Gujarat, India
| | - Ali A. Shati
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Y. Alfaifi
- Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - R. Z. Sayyed
- Department of Microbiology, PSGVP Mandal's S I Patil Arts, G B Patel Science and STKV Sangh Commerce College, Shahada, India
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Tu D, Ke J, Luo Y, Hong T, Sun S, Han J, Chen S. Microbial community structure and shift pattern of industry brine after a long-term static storage in closed tank. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:975271. [PMID: 36118215 PMCID: PMC9478951 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.975271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Brine from Dingyuan Salt Mine (Anhui, China), an athalassohaline hypersaline environment formed in the early tertiary Oligocene, is used to produce table salt for hundreds of millions of people. However, halophiles preserved in this niche during deposition are still unknown. Here, we employed cultivation and high-throughput sequencing strategies to uncover the microbial community and its shift after a long-term storage in the brine collected from Dingyuan Salt Mine. High-throughput sequencing showed (1) in the fresh brine (2021), Cyanobium_stocktickerPCC-6307 spp. (8.46%), Aeromonas spp. (6.91%) and Pseudomonas spp. (4.71%) are the dominant species in bacteria while Natronomonas spp. (18.89%), Halapricum spp. (13.73%), and Halomicrobium spp. (12.35%) in archaea; (2) after a 3-year-storage, Salinibacter spp. (30.01%) and Alcanivorax spp. (14.96%) surpassed Cyanobium_stocktickerPCC-6307 spp. (8.46%) becoming the dominant species in bacteria; Natronomonas spp. are still the dominant species, while Halorientalis spp. (14.80%) outnumbered Halapricum spp. becoming the dominant species in archaea; (3) Alcanivorax spp. and Halorientalis spp. two hydrocarbons degrading microorganisms were enriched in the brine containing hydrocarbons. Cultivation using hypersaline nutrient medium (20% NaCl) combined with high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that (1) the biomass significantly increased while the species diversity sharply declined after a 3-year-storage; (2) Halorubrum spp. scarcely detected from the environment total stocktickerDNA were flourishing after cultivation using AS-168 or NOM medium; (3) twelve possible new species were revealed based on almost full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity search. This study generally uncovered the microbial community and the dominant halophiles in this inland athalassohaline salt mine, and provided a new insight on the shift pattern of dominant halophiles during a long-term storage, which illustrated the shaping of microorganisms in the unique environment, and the adaptation of microbe to the specific environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demei Tu
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Juntao Ke
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Yuqing Luo
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Tao Hong
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
| | - Siqi Sun
- Anhui Jiaotianxiang Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Xuancheng, China
| | - Jing Han
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoxing Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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15
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Nosalova L, Piknova M, Bonova K, Pristas P. Deep Subsurface Hypersaline Environment as a Source of Novel Species of Halophilic Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050995. [PMID: 35630438 PMCID: PMC9144203 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The sulfur cycle participates significantly in life evolution. Some facultatively autotrophic microorganisms are able to thrive in extreme environments with limited nutrient availability where they specialize in obtaining energy by oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds. In our experiments focused on the characterization of halophilic bacteria from a former salt mine in Solivar (Presov, Slovakia), a high diversity of cultivable bacteria was observed. Based on ARDRA (Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis), at least six groups of strains were identified with four of them showing similarity levels of 16S rRNA gene sequences lower than 98.5% when compared against the GenBank rRNA/ITS database. Heterotrophic sulfur oxidizers represented ~34% of strains and were dominated by Halomonas and Marinobacter genera. Autotrophic sulfur oxidizers represented ~66% and were dominated by Guyparkeria and Hydrogenovibrio genera. Overall, our results indicate that the spatially isolated hypersaline deep subsurface habitat in Solivar harbors novel and diverse extremophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Nosalova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, 041 54 Kosice, Slovakia; (L.N.); (P.P.)
| | - Maria Piknova
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, 041 54 Kosice, Slovakia; (L.N.); (P.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Katarina Bonova
- Faculty of Science, Institute of Geography, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia;
| | - Peter Pristas
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Institute of Biology and Ecology, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, 041 54 Kosice, Slovakia; (L.N.); (P.P.)
- Centre of Biosciences, Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 040 01 Kosice, Slovakia
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16
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González D, Robas M, Fernández V, Bárcena M, Probanza A, Jiménez PA. Comparative Metagenomic Study of Rhizospheric and Bulk Mercury-Contaminated Soils in the Mining District of Almadén. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:797444. [PMID: 35330761 PMCID: PMC8940170 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.797444] [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: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil contamination by heavy metals, particularly mercury (Hg), is a problem that can seriously affect the environment, animals, and human health. Hg has the capacity to biomagnify in the food chain. That fact can lead to pathologies, of those which affect the central nervous system being the most severe. It is convenient to know the biological environmental indicators that alert of the effects of Hg contamination as well as the biological mechanisms that can help in its remediation. To contribute to this knowledge, this study conducted comparative analysis by the use of Shotgun metagenomics of the microbial communities in rhizospheric soils and bulk soil of the mining region of Almadén (Ciudad Real, Spain), one of the most affected areas by Hg in the world The sequences obtained was analyzed with MetaPhlAn2 tool and SUPER-FOCUS. The most abundant taxa in the taxonomic analysis in bulk soil were those of Actinobateria and Alphaproteobacteria. On the contrary, in the rhizospheric soil microorganisms belonging to the phylum Proteobacteria were abundant, evidencing that roots have a selective effect on the rhizospheric communities. In order to analyze possible indicators of biological contamination, a functional potential analysis was performed. The results point to a co-selection of the mechanisms of resistance to Hg and the mechanisms of resistance to antibiotics or other toxic compounds in environments contaminated by Hg. Likewise, the finding of antibiotic resistance mechanisms typical of the human clinic, such as resistance to beta-lactams and glycopeptics (vancomycin), suggests that these environments can behave as reservoirs. The sequences involved in Hg resistance (operon mer and efflux pumps) have a similar abundance in both soil types. However, the response to abiotic stress (salinity, desiccation, and contaminants) is more prevalent in rhizospheric soil. Finally, sequences involved in nitrogen fixation and metabolism and plant growth promotion (PGP genes) were identified, with higher relative abundances in rhizospheric soils. These findings can be the starting point for the targeted search for microorganisms suitable for further use in bioremediation processes in Hg-contaminated environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel González
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health, CEU Universities, Boadilla del Monte, Spain
| | - Marina Robas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health, CEU Universities, Boadilla del Monte, Spain
| | - Vanesa Fernández
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health, CEU Universities, Boadilla del Monte, Spain
| | - Marta Bárcena
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health, CEU Universities, Boadilla del Monte, Spain
| | - Agustín Probanza
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health, CEU Universities, Boadilla del Monte, Spain
| | - Pedro A Jiménez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science and Health, CEU Universities, Boadilla del Monte, Spain
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17
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Wang Y, Bao G. Diversity of prokaryotic microorganisms in alkaline saline soil of the Qarhan Salt Lake area in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3365. [PMID: 35233041 PMCID: PMC8888737 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07311-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The composition of microbial communities varies considerably across ecological environments, particularly in extreme environments, where unique microorganisms are typically used as the indicators of environmental conditions. However, the ecological reasons for the differences in microbial communities remain largely unknown. Herein, we analyzed taxonomic and functional community profiles via high-throughput sequencing to determine the alkaline saline soil bacterial and archaeal communities in the Qarhan Salt Lake area in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The results showed that Betaproteobacteria (Proteobacteria) and Halobacteria (Euryarchaeota) were the most abundant in the soils of this area, which are common in high salinity environments. Accordingly, microbes that can adapt to local extremes typically have unique metabolic pathways and functions, such as chemoheterotrophy, aerobic chemoheterotrophy, nitrogen fixation, ureolysis, nitrate reduction, fermentation, dark hydrogen oxidation, and methanogenesis. Methanogenesis pathways include hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, CO2 reduction with H2, and formate methanogenesis. Thus, prokaryotic microorganisms in high salinity environments are indispensable in nitrogen and carbon cycling via particular metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqiong Wang
- School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Bayi Road, Xining, 810007, Qinghai, China. .,Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of High-Value Utilization of Characteristic Economic Plants, Xining, 810007, China. .,Qinghai Provincial Biotechnology and Analytical Test Key Laboratory, Tibetan Plateau Juema Research Centre, Xining, 810007, China.
| | - Guoyuan Bao
- School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Qinghai Minzu University, Bayi Road, Xining, 810007, Qinghai, China
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18
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Recent Antimicrobial Responses of Halophilic Microbes in Clinical Pathogens. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020417. [PMID: 35208871 PMCID: PMC8874722 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial pathogens that cause severe infections and are resistant to drugs are simultaneously becoming more active. This urgently calls for novel effective antibiotics. Organisms from extreme environments are known to synthesize novel bioprospecting molecules for biomedical applications due to their peculiar characteristics of growth and physiological conditions. Antimicrobial developments from hypersaline environments, such as lagoons, estuaries, and salterns, accommodate several halophilic microbes. Salinity is a distinctive environmental factor that continuously promotes the metabolic adaptation and flexibility of halophilic microbes for their survival at minimum nutritional requirements. A genetic adaptation to extreme solar radiation, ionic strength, and desiccation makes them promising candidates for drug discovery. More microbiota identified via sequencing and ‘omics’ approaches signify the hypersaline environments where compounds are produced. Microbial genera such as Bacillus, Actinobacteria, Halorubrum and Aspergillus are producing a substantial number of antimicrobial compounds. Several strategies were applied for producing novel antimicrobials from halophiles including a consortia approach. Promising results indicate that halophilic microbes can be utilised as prolific sources of bioactive metabolites with pharmaceutical potentialto expand natural product research towards diverse phylogenetic microbial groups which inhabit salterns. The present study reviews interesting antimicrobial compounds retrieved from microbial sources of various saltern environments, with a discussion of their potency in providing novel drugs against clinically drug-resistant microbes.
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19
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Li Y, Li W, Ji L, Song F, Li T, Fu X, Li Q, Xing Y, Zhang Q, Wang J. Effects of Salinity on the Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Oilfield Soils Emphasizing Degradation Genes and Soil Enzymes. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:824319. [PMID: 35087508 PMCID: PMC8787140 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.824319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The biodegradation of organic pollutants is the main pathway for the natural dissipation and anthropogenic remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment. However, in the saline soils, the PAH biodegradation could be influenced by soil salts through altering the structures of microbial communities and physiological metabolism of degradation bacteria. In the worldwide, soils from oilfields are commonly threated by both soil salinity and PAH contamination, while the influence mechanism of soil salinity on PAH biodegradation were still unclear, especially the shifts of degradation genes and soil enzyme activities. In order to explain the responses of soils and bacterial communities, analysis was conducted including soil properties, structures of bacterial community, PAH degradation genes and soil enzyme activities during a biodegradation process of PAHs in oilfield soils. The results showed that, though low soil salinity (1% NaCl, w/w) could slightly increase PAH degradation rate, the biodegradation in high salt condition (3% NaCl, w/w) were restrained significantly. The higher the soil salinity, the lower the bacterial community diversity, copy number of degradation gene and soil enzyme activity, which could be the reason for reductions of degradation rates in saline soils. Analysis of bacterial community structure showed that, the additions of NaCl increase the abundance of salt-tolerant and halophilic genera, especially in high salt treatments where the halophilic genera dominant, such as Acinetobacter and Halomonas. Picrust2 and redundancy analysis (RDA) both revealed suppression of PAH degradation genes by soil salts, which meant the decrease of degradation microbes and should be the primary cause of reduction of PAH removal. The soil enzyme activities could be indicators for microorganisms when they are facing adverse environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Wenjing Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Lei Ji
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Fanyong Song
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Tianyuan Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Xiaowen Fu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Qi Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Yingna Xing
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Jianing Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Ecology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
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20
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Cycil LM, Hausrath EM, Ming DW, Adcock CT, Raymond J, Remias D, Ruemmele WP. Investigating the Growth of Algae Under Low Atmospheric Pressures for Potential Food and Oxygen Production on Mars. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:733244. [PMID: 34867849 PMCID: PMC8633435 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.733244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With long-term missions to Mars and beyond that would not allow resupply, a self-sustaining Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS) is essential. Algae are promising candidates for BLSS due to their completely edible biomass, fast growth rates and ease of handling. Extremophilic algae such as snow algae and halophilic algae may also be especially suited for a BLSS because of their ability to grow under extreme conditions. However, as indicated from over 50 prior space studies examining algal growth, little is known about the growth of algae at close to Mars-relevant pressures. Here, we explored the potential for five algae species to produce oxygen and food under low-pressure conditions relevant to Mars. These included Chloromonas brevispina, Kremastochrysopsis austriaca, Dunaliella salina, Chlorella vulgaris, and Spirulina plantensis. The cultures were grown in duplicate in a low-pressure growth chamber at 670 ± 20 mbar, 330 ± 20 mbar, 160 ± 20 mbar, and 80 ± 2.5 mbar pressures under continuous light exposure (62-70 μmol m-2 s-1). The atmosphere was evacuated and purged with CO2 after sampling each week. Growth experiments showed that D. salina, C. brevispina, and C. vulgaris were the best candidates to be used for BLSS at low pressure. The highest carrying capacities for each species under low pressure conditions were achieved by D. salina at 160 mbar (30.0 ± 4.6 × 105 cells/ml), followed by C. brevispina at 330 mbar (19.8 ± 0.9 × 105 cells/ml) and C. vulgaris at 160 mbar (13.0 ± 1.5 × 105 cells/ml). C. brevispina, D. salina, and C. vulgaris all also displayed substantial growth at the lowest tested pressure of 80 mbar reaching concentrations of 43.4 ± 2.5 × 104, 15.8 ± 1.3 × 104, and 57.1 ± 4.5 × 104 cells per ml, respectively. These results indicate that these species are promising candidates for the development of a Mars-based BLSS using low pressure (∼200-300 mbar) greenhouses and inflatable structures that have already been conceptualized and designed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena M Cycil
- Department of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Elisabeth M Hausrath
- Department of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | | | - Christopher T Adcock
- Department of Geoscience, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - James Raymond
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV, United States
| | - Daniel Remias
- School of Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, Wels, Austria
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21
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Halophilic Prokaryotes in Urmia Salt Lake, a Hypersaline Environment in Iran. Curr Microbiol 2021; 78:3230-3238. [PMID: 34216240 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-021-02583-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
In this study, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and PCR-amplified fragments of the 16SrDNA gene were used to determine prokaryotes diversity in Urmia Salt Lake. Prokaryote cell population in Urmia lake range from 3.1 ± 0.3 × 106, 2 ± 0.2 × 108, 4 ± 0.3 × 108, and 1.8 ± 0.2 × 108 cells ml-1 for water, soil, sediment, and salt samples by DAPI (4́, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) direct count, respectively. The proportion of bacteria and archaea in the samples determinable by FISH ranged between 36.1 and 55% and 48.5 and 55.5%, respectively. According to the DGGE method, some bands were selected and separated from the gel, then amplified and sequenced. The results of sequences were related to two phyla Proteobacteria (16.6%) and Bacteroidetes (83.3%), which belonged to four genera Salinibacter, Mangroviflexus, Pseudomonas, and Cesiribacter, and the archaeal sequences were related to Euryarchaeota phyla and three genera Halonotius, Haloquadratum, and Halorubrum. According to our results, it seems that prokaryotic populations in this hypersaline environment are more diverse than expected, and bacteria are so abundant and diverse and form the metabolically active part of the microbial population inhabiting this extreme environment. Molecular dependent and independent approaches revealed a different aspect of this environment microbiota.
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22
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Reid RP, Oehlert AM, Suosaari EP, Demergasso C, Chong G, Escudero LV, Piggot AM, Lascu I, Palma AT. Electrical conductivity as a driver of biological and geological spatial heterogeneity in the Puquios, Salar de Llamara, Atacama Desert, Chile. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12769. [PMID: 34140571 PMCID: PMC8211675 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92105-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Reputed to be the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert in the Central Andes of Northern Chile is an extreme environment with high UV radiation, wide temperature variation, and minimum precipitation. Scarce lagoons associated with salt flats (salars) in this desert are the surface expression of shallow groundwater; these ponds serve as refugia for life and often host microbial communities associated with evaporitic mineral deposition. Results based on multidisciplinary field campaigns and associated laboratory examination of samples collected from the Puquios of the Salar de Llamara in the Atacama Desert during austral summer provide unprecedented detail regarding the spatial heterogeneity of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of these salar environments. Four main lagoons ('Puquios') and more than 400 smaller ponds occur within an area less than 5 km2, and are characterized by high variability in electrical conductivity, benthic and planktonic biota, microbiota, lagoon bottom type, and style of mineral deposition. Results suggest that electrical conductivity is a driving force of system heterogeneity. Such spatial heterogeneity within the Puquios is likely to be expanded with temporal observations incorporating expected seasonal changes in electrical conductivity. The complexity of these Andean ecosystems may be key to their ability to persist in extreme environments at the edge of habitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- R P Reid
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33149, USA.
- Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL, 33156, USA.
| | - A M Oehlert
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
- Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL, 33156, USA
| | - E P Suosaari
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33149, USA
- Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL, 33156, USA
- Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 20560, USA
| | - C Demergasso
- Centro de Biotecnología , Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - G Chong
- Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas , Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - L V Escudero
- Centro de Biotecnología , Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - A M Piggot
- Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL, 33156, USA
- AP Research Inc., Miami, FL, 33157, USA
| | - I Lascu
- Department of Mineral Sciences, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 20560, USA
| | - A T Palma
- FisioAqua, Las Condes , 7550024, Santiago, Chile
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23
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A Novel Carboxylesterase Derived from a Compost Metagenome Exhibiting High Stability and Activity towards High Salinity. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12010122. [PMID: 33478024 PMCID: PMC7835964 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Halotolerant lipolytic enzymes have gained growing interest, due to potential applications under harsh conditions, such as hypersalinity and presence of organic solvents. In this study, a lipolytic gene, est56, encoding 287 amino acids was identified by functional screening of a compost metagenome. Subsequently, the gene was heterologously expressed, and the recombinant protein (Est56) was purified and characterized. Est56 is a mesophilic (Topt 50 °C) and moderate alkaliphilic (pHopt 8) enzyme, showing high thermostability at 30 and 40 °C. Strikingly, Est56 is halotolerant as it exhibited high activity and stability in the presence of up to 4 M NaCl or KCl. Est56 also displayed enhanced stability against high temperatures (50 and 60 °C) and urea (2, 4, and 6 M) in the presence of NaCl. In addition, the recently reported halotolerant lipolytic enzymes were summarized. Phylogenetic analysis grouped these enzymes into 13 lipolytic protein families. The majority (45%) including Est56 belonged to family IV. To explore the haloadaptation of halotolerant enzymes, the amino acid composition between halotolerant and halophilic enzymes was statistically compared. The most distinctive feature of halophilic from non-halophilic enzymes are the higher content of acidic residues (Asp and Glu), and a lower content of lysine, aliphatic hydrophobic (Leu, Met and Ile) and polar (Asn) residues. The amino acid composition and 3-D structure analysis suggested that the high content of acidic residues (Asp and Glu, 12.2%) and low content of lysine residues (0.7%), as well as the excess of surface-exposed acidic residues might be responsible for the haloadaptation of Est56.
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16S rRNA Gene Diversity in Ancient Gray and Pink Salt from San Simón Salt Mines in Tarija, Bolivia. Microbiol Resour Announc 2020; 9:9/41/e00820-20. [PMID: 33033125 PMCID: PMC7545279 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00820-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA from 250 million-year-old pink and gray salts from mines in Tarija, Bolivia, subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and analysis provided evidence for similar but distinct prokaryotic communities. The results constitute a snapshot of archaeal and bacterial microorganisms in these remote and ancient salt deposits. DNA from 250 million-year-old pink and gray salts from mines in Tarija, Bolivia, subjected to 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and analysis provided evidence for similar but distinct prokaryotic communities. The results constitute a snapshot of archaeal and bacterial microorganisms in these remote and ancient salt deposits.
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