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Zhou T, Wang J, Todd JD, Zhang XH, Zhang Y. Quorum Sensing Regulates the Production of Methanethiol in Vibrio harveyi. Microorganisms 2023; 12:35. [PMID: 38257862 PMCID: PMC10819757 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010035] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Methanethiol (MeSH) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) are important volatile organic sulfur compounds involved in atmospheric chemistry and climate regulation. However, little is known about the metabolism of these compounds in the ubiquitous marine vibrios. Here, we investigated MeSH/DMS production and whether these processes were regulated by quorum-sensing (QS) systems in Vibrio harveyi BB120. V. harveyi BB120 exhibited strong MeSH production from methionine (Met) (465 nmol mg total protein-1) and weak DMS production from dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) cleavage. The homologs of MegL responsible for MeSH production from L-Met widely existed in vibrio genomes. Using BB120 and its nine QS mutants, we found that the MeSH production was regulated by HAI-1, AI-2 and CAI-1 QS pathways, as well as the luxO gene located in the center of this QS cascade. The regulation role of HAI-1 and AI-2 QS systems in MeSH production was further confirmed by applying quorum-quenching enzyme MomL and exogenous autoinducer AI-2. By contrast, the DMS production from DMSP cleavage showed no significant difference between BB120 and its QS mutants. Such QS-regulated MeSH production may help to remove excess Met that can be harmful for vibrio growth. These results emphasize the importance of QS systems and the MeSH production process in vibrios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Zhou
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, China; (T.Z.); (J.W.); (X.-H.Z.)
| | - Jinyan Wang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, China; (T.Z.); (J.W.); (X.-H.Z.)
| | - Jonathan D. Todd
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK;
| | - Xiao-Hua Zhang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, China; (T.Z.); (J.W.); (X.-H.Z.)
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yunhui Zhang
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, 5 Yushan Road, Qingdao 266003, China
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Chen J, Liu Y, Mahadevan R. Genetic Engineering of Acidithiobacillus ferridurans Using CRISPR Systems To Mitigate Toxic Release in Biomining. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12315-12324. [PMID: 37556825 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Biomining processes utilize microorganisms, such as Acidithiobacillus, to extract valuable metals by producing sulfuric acid and ferric ions that dissolve sulfidic minerals. However, excessive production of these compounds can result in metal structure corrosion and groundwater contamination. Synthetic biology offers a promising solution to improve Acidithiobacillus strains for sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective biomining, but genetic engineering of these slow-growing microorganisms is challenging with current inefficient and time-consuming methods. To address this, we established a CRISPR-dCas9 system for gene knockdown in A. ferridurans JAGS, successfully downregulating the transcriptional levels of two genes involved in sulfur oxidation. More importantly, we constructed an all-in-one CRISPR-Cas9 system for fast and efficient genome editing in A. ferridurans JAGS, achieving seamless gene deletion (HdrB3), promoter substitution (Prus to Ptac), and exogenous gene insertion (GFP). Additionally, we created a HdrB-Rus double-edited strain and performed biomining experiments to extract Ni from pyrrhotite tailings. The engineered strain demonstrated a similar Ni recovery rate to wild-type A. ferridurans JAGS but with significantly lower production of iron ions and sulfuric acid in leachate. These high-efficient CRISPR systems provide a powerful tool for studying gene functions and creating useful recombinants for synthetic biology-assisted biomining applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjin Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Yilan Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Radhakrishnan Mahadevan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
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Jung H, Inaba Y, West AC, Banta S. Overexpression of quorum sensing genes in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans enhances cell attachment and covellite bioleaching. BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 38:e00789. [PMID: 36923508 PMCID: PMC10009093 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2023.e00789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Cell adhesion is generally a prerequisite to the microbial bioleaching of sulfide minerals, and surface biofilm formation is modulated via quorum sensing (QS) communication. We explored the impact of the overexpression of endogenous QS machinery on the covellite bioleaching capabilities of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, a representative acidophilic chemolithoautotrophic bacterium. Cells were engineered to overexpress the endogenous qs-I operon or just the afeI gene under control of the tac promoter. Both strains exhibited increased transcriptional gene expression of afeI and improved cell adhesion to covellite, including increased production of extracellular polymeric substances and increased biofilm formation. Under low iron conditions, the improved bioleaching of covellite was more evident when afeI was overexpressed alone as compared to the native operon. These observations demonstrate the potential for the genetic modulation of QS as a mechanism for increasing the bioleaching efficiency of covellite, and potentially other copper sulfide minerals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejung Jung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Yuta Inaba
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Alan C West
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
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Zhang X, Shi H, Tan N, Zhu M, Tan W, Daramola D, Gu T. Advances in bioleaching of waste lithium batteries under metal ion stress. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2023; 10:19. [PMID: 38647921 PMCID: PMC10992134 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-023-00636-5] [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: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In modern societies, the accumulation of vast amounts of waste Li-ion batteries (WLIBs) is a grave concern. Bioleaching has great potential for the economic recovery of valuable metals from various electronic wastes. It has been successfully applied in mining on commercial scales. Bioleaching of WLIBs can not only recover valuable metals but also prevent environmental pollution. Many acidophilic microorganisms (APM) have been used in bioleaching of natural ores and urban mines. However, the activities of the growth and metabolism of APM are seriously inhibited by the high concentrations of heavy metal ions released by the bio-solubilization process, which slows down bioleaching over time. Only when the response mechanism of APM to harsh conditions is well understood, effective strategies to address this critical operational hurdle can be obtained. In this review, a multi-scale approach is used to summarize studies on the characteristics of bioleaching processes under metal ion stress. The response mechanisms of bacteria, including the mRNA expression levels of intracellular genes related to heavy metal ion resistance, are also reviewed. Alleviation of metal ion stress via addition of chemicals, such as spermine and glutathione is discussed. Monitoring using electrochemical characteristics of APM biofilms under metal ion stress is explored. In conclusion, effective engineering strategies can be proposed based on a deep understanding of the response mechanisms of APM to metal ion stress, which have been used to improve bioleaching efficiency effectively in lab tests. It is very important to engineer new bioleaching strains with high resistance to metal ions using gene editing and synthetic biotechnology in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Hongjie Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Ningjie Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Minglong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Wensong Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Damilola Daramola
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA
| | - Tingyue Gu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Institute for Sustainable Energy and the Environment, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 45701, USA.
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Ali S, Khan SA, Hamayun M, Lee IJ. The Recent Advances in the Utility of Microbial Lipases: A Review. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020510. [PMID: 36838475 PMCID: PMC9959473 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipases are versatile biocatalysts and are used in different bioconversion reactions. Microbial lipases are currently attracting a great amount of attention due to the rapid advancement of enzyme technology and its practical application in a variety of industrial processes. The current review provides updated information on the different sources of microbial lipases, such as fungi, bacteria, and yeast, their classical and modern purification techniques, including precipitation and chromatographic separation, the immunopurification technique, the reversed micellar system, aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), aqueous two-phase flotation (ATPF), and the use of microbial lipases in different industries, e.g., the food, textile, leather, cosmetics, paper, and detergent industries. Furthermore, the article provides a critical analysis of lipase-producing microbes, distinguished from the previously published reviews, and illustrates the use of lipases in biosensors, biodiesel production, and tea processing, and their role in bioremediation and racemization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajid Ali
- Department of Horticulture and Life Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
| | - Sumera Afzal Khan
- Centre of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Hamayun
- Department of Botany, Garden Campus, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (I.-J.L.)
| | - In-Jung Lee
- Department of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (I.-J.L.)
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Song X, Yang A, Hu X, Niu AP, Cao Y, Zhang Q. Exploring the role of extracellular polymeric substances in the antimony leaching of tailings by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:17695-17708. [PMID: 36203043 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23365-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The concentration of Sb bearing tailings in water located in abandoned antimony mines was found to be a big problem, as they contaminate other water resources and entire food chain. Microorganisms were found to be key in tailing leaching and reaction speeding in the presence of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by bacteria. Herein, we investigated the pattern of the Sb leaching from Sb bearing tailings using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, and analyzed the mechanism of EPS in the leaching process of Sb. To completely and deeply understand the functions of EPS in the bioleaching of antimony tailings, the generation behavior of EPS produced by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) during bioleaching was characterized by three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM). Meanwhile, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) were used to show the changes of EPS functional groups before and after leaching. Compared with the functional groups in EPS produced by A. ferrooxidans before leaching, the content of hydroxyl and amino groups that reduce high-valent metals to low-valent metals in EPS decreases after leaching, and the carbonyl content increases, corresponding to the ratio of trivalent antimony increased, indicating that EPS could reduce the risk of pentavalent antimony to trivalent one. At the same time, with biological scanning electron microscopy and energy spectrum scanning, the observation of EPS on the mineral surface showed that Sb was adsorbed in the EPS, and the XPS of Sb was fine. Spectral analysis showed that the Sb adsorbed in EPS contained both Sb(III) and Sb(V). Besides, for revealing the influence of EPS in the leaching process of Sb from tailings, this work provided an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of Sb released from tailings under the action of A. ferrooxidans and further provides a basis for the biogeochemical cycle of Sb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Song
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Aijiang Yang
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
- Guizhou Karst Environmental Ecosystems Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Xia Hu
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- Guizhou Karst Environmental Ecosystems Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - A-Ping Niu
- College of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Karst Georesources and Environment, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- Guizhou Karst Environmental Ecosystems Observation and Research Station, Ministry of Education, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Yang Cao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Qingqing Zhang
- Guida Yuanheng Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., of Guizhou, Guiyang, 550025, China
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Chen J, Liu Y, Diep P, Mahadevan R. Genetic engineering of extremely acidophilic Acidithiobacillus species for biomining: Progress and perspectives. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 438:129456. [PMID: 35777147 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
With global demands for mineral resources increasing and ore grades decreasing, microorganisms have been increasingly deployed in biomining applications to recover valuable metals particularly from normally considered waste, such as low-grade ores and used consumer electronics. Acidithiobacillus are a genus of chemolithoautotrophic extreme acidophiles that are commonly found in mining process waters and acid mine drainage, which have been reported in several studies to aid in metal recovery from bioremediation of metal-contaminated sites. Compared to conventional mineral processing technologies, biomining is often cited as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly process, but long leaching cycles and low extraction efficiency are main disadvantages that have hampered its industrial applications. Genetic engineering is a powerful technology that can be used to enhance the performance of microorganisms, such as Acidithiobacillus species. In this review, we compile existing data on Acidithiobacillus species' physiological traits and genomic characteristics, progresses in developing genetic tools to engineer them: plasmids, shutter vectors, transformation methods, selection markers, promoters and reporter systems developed, and genome editing techniques. We further propose genetic engineering strategies for enhancing biomining efficiency of Acidithiobacillus species and provide our perspectives on their future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjin Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Yilan Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Patrick Diep
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Radhakrishnan Mahadevan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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8
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Chung AP, Francisco R, Morais PV, Branco R. Genome mining to unravel potential metabolic pathways linked to gallium bioleaching ability of bacterial mine isolates. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:970147. [PMID: 36188007 PMCID: PMC9518604 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.970147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gallium (Ga) is considered a high-tech Critical Metal, used in the manufacture of several microelectronic components containing either gallium arsenide (GaAs) or gallium nitride (GaN). The current high demand for this critical metal urges the development of effective recovery processes from secondary resources such as mine tailings or electronic recycling material. The importance of bioleaching as a biotechnological process to recover metals prompted this study, where an integrative approach combining experimental and genomic analysis was undertaken to identify potential mechanisms involved in bioleaching ability and strategies to cope with high metal(loid)s concentrations in five mine isolates. The Clusters of Orthologous Group (COG) annotation showed that the “amino acid transport and metabolism” [E] was the most predominant functional category in all genomes. In addition, the KEEG pathways analysis also showed predicted genes for the biosynthetic pathways of most amino acids, indicating that amino acids could have an important role in the Ga leaching mechanism. The presence of effective resistance mechanisms to Ga and arsenic (As) was particularly important in GaAs bioleaching batch assays, and might explain the divergence in bioleaching efficiency among the bacterial strains. Rhodanobacter sp. B2A1Ga4 and Sphingomonas sp. A2-49 with higher resistance, mainly to As, were the most efficient bioleaching strains under these conditions. In bioleaching assays using cell-free spent medium Arthrobacter silviterrae A2-55 with lower As resistance outperformed all the other stains. Overall, higher efficiency in Ga leaching was obtained in bioleaching assays using GaAs when compared to GaN.
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9
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AHL-mediated quorum sensing to regulate bacterial substance and energy metabolism: A review. Microbiol Res 2022; 262:127102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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10
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Insights into Adaptive Mechanisms of Extreme Acidophiles Based on Quorum Sensing/Quenching-Related Proteins. mSystems 2022; 7:e0149121. [PMID: 35400206 PMCID: PMC9040811 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01491-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a unique mechanism for microorganisms to coordinate their activities through intercellular communication, including four main types of autoinducer-1 (AI-1, namely, N-acyl homoserine lactone [AHL]), AI-2, AI-3, and diffusible signaling factor [DSF]) based on signaling molecules. Quorum quenching (QQ) enzymes can disrupt the QS phenomenon by inactivating signaling molecules. QS is proposed to regulate biofilm formation in extremely acidic environments, but the QS/QQ-related genomic features in most acidophilic bacteria are still largely unknown. Here, genome annotation of 83 acidophiles from the genera Acidithiobacillus, Leptospirillum, Sulfobacillus, and Acidiphilium altogether revealed the existence of AI-1, AI-3, DSF, and AhlD (AHL degradation enzyme). The conservative investigation indicated that some QS/QQ-related proteins harbored key residues or motifs, which were necessary for their activities. Phylogenetic analysis showed that LuxI/R (AI-1 synthase/receptor), QseE/F (two-component system of AI-3), and RpfC/G (two-component system of DSF) exhibited similar evolutionary patterns within each pair. Meanwhile, proteins clustered approximately according to the species taxonomy. The widespread Acidithiobacillus strains, especially A. ferrooxidans, processed AI-1, AI-3, and DSF systems as well as the AhlD enzyme, which were favorable for their mutual information exchange and collective regulation of gene expression. Some members of the Sulfobacillus and Acidiphilium without AHL production capacity contained the AhlD enzyme, which may evolve for niche competition, while DSF in Leptospirillum and Acidithiobacillus could potentially combine with the cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) pathway for self-defense and niche protection. This work will shed light on our understanding of the extent of communication networks and adaptive evolution among acidophiles via QS/QQ coping with environmental changes. IMPORTANCE Understanding cell-cell communication QS is highly relevant for comprehending the regulatory and adaptive mechanisms among acidophiles in extremely acidic ecosystems. Previous studies focused on the existence and functionality of a single QS system in several acidophilic strains. Four representative genera were selected to decipher the distribution and role of QS and QQ integrated with the conservative and evolutionary analysis of related proteins. It was implicated that intra- or intersignaling circuits may work effectively based on different QS types to modulate biofilm formation and energy metabolism among acidophilic microbes. Some individuals could synthesize QQ enzymes for specific QS molecular inactivation to inhibit undesirable acidophile species. This study expanded our knowledge of the fundamental cognition and biological roles underlying the dynamical communication interactions among the coevolving acidophiles and provided a novel perspective for revealing their environmental adaptability.
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Jung H, Inaba Y, Banta S. Genetic engineering of the acidophilic chemolithoautotroph Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. Trends Biotechnol 2021; 40:677-692. [PMID: 34794837 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
There are several natural and anthropomorphic environments where iron- and/or sulfur-oxidizing bacteria thrive in extremely acidic conditions. These acidophilic chemolithautotrophs play important roles in biogeochemical iron and sulfur cycles, are critical catalysts for industrial metal bioleaching operations, and have underexplored potential in future biotechnological applications. However, their unique growth conditions complicate the development of genetic techniques. Over the past few decades genetic tools have been successfully developed for Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, which serves as a model organism that exhibits both iron- and sulfur-oxidizing capabilities. Conjugal transfer of plasmids has enabled gene overexpression, gene knockouts, and some preliminary metabolic engineering. We highlight the development of genetic systems and recent genetic engineering of A. ferrooxidans, and discuss future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heejung Jung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Yuta Inaba
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Scott Banta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA.
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12
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Nasiri SS, Sarabi M, Fatemi F, Dini S. Investigating the rus and petI operon expression patterns in exposed Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 to different doses of gamma irradiation. Appl Radiat Isot 2021; 177:109911. [PMID: 34481316 DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2021.109911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The bioleaching process is developing as an economic and successful biotechnology method in the metallurgy industry. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is one of the most important bacteria involved in uranium bioleaching which converts insoluble U4+ to soluble U6+ by oxidation of Fe2+ to Fe3+ using several periplasmic proteins encoded by the genes in rus and petI operons in its electron transport pathway. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to consider the expression of these genes through exposed A. ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 to γ-ray in 17 different doses targeting uranium extraction yield. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans sp. FJ2 was irradiated by gamma rays at 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 300, 450, 600, 750 Gy and 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kGy doses. Moreover, the Eh value of 9k culture media was measured as special screening criteria to select the four treatments. The selected bacteria were cultured in 9k media, containing 50% uranium ore powder in the bioleaching process. Then, the value of pH & Eh of culture media, Fe2+ and uranium concentrations in 4, 8 and 13 day's period of incubation were measured. In followings, the expression levels of cyc1, cyc2, rus, coxB, petA, petB, petC and cycA genes at the end of each period were investigated by real-time PCR. Overall, all samples demonstrated a decrease in pH value and Fe2+ concentration and an increase in Eh value and U concentration in time intervals. The gamma irradiation in given doses raised the expression levels of all genes encoded in rus and petI operons, except petB gene during the bioleaching process, although, it had no effect either on the pH, Eh values or on Fe2+ and uranium concentrations. This result implies that during the oxidation of ferrous iron and formation of Jarosite sediment, the decreasing trend of pH and the increasing trend of Eh occurred in all samples. However, the differences in expression of the genes of rus and petI operons in the samples did not have an effect on uranium extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Sheikh Nasiri
- Radiation Application Development Company, AEOI, Tehran, Iran; Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mona Sarabi
- Radiation Application Development Company, AEOI, Tehran, Iran; Department of Biology, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Fatemi
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology, Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Salome Dini
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
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13
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Li J, Zhang B, Yang M, Lin H. Bioleaching of vanadium by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans from vanadium-bearing resources: Performance and mechanisms. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 416:125843. [PMID: 33865106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bioleaching is promising to meet the demand of strategic vanadium both economically and environmentally. Whereas the combination of bioleaching with traditional techniques is of great interest, little is known on bioleaching of vanadium from abundant vanadium-bearing resources utilized/produced in existing processes. This study investigated the bioleaching of vanadium from vanadium-titanium magnetite, steel slag, and clinker, which are common raw mineral and intermediates used in conventional vanadium extraction process. Clinker had greater leachability by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, compared to vanadium-titanium magnetite and steel slag. Pulp density, inoculum volume, initial pH and initial Fe2+ concentration had influencing effects on this bioleaching process. Under optimal condition with 3% pulp density, 10% inoculum volume, initial pH at 1.8, and 3 g/L initial Fe2+ concentration, the bioleaching of clinker achieved the maximum vanadium leaching efficiency of 59.0%. Both X-ray fluorescence and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis confirmed the reduction of vanadium content in the solid residues after leaching. The results of Community Bureau of Reference sequential extraction suggested that vanadium in acid-soluble and oxidizable phase was more easily leachable. This study is helpful to develop sustainable and practical techniques for vanadium extraction from abundant raw materials and step forward in combining bioleaching with traditional process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Li
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Baogang Zhang
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, PR China.
| | - Meng Yang
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Hai Lin
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China
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Tavakoli HZ, Bahrami-Bavani M, Miyanmahaleh Y, Tajer-Mohammad-Ghazvini P. Identification and characterization of a metal-resistant Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans as important potential application for bioleaching. Biologia (Bratisl) 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-021-00687-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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15
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Gao XY, Fu CA, Hao L, Gu XF, Wang R, Lin JQ, Liu XM, Pang X, Zhang CJ, Lin JQ, Chen LX. The substrate-dependent regulatory effects of the AfeI/R system in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans reveals the novel regulation strategy of quorum sensing in acidophiles. Environ Microbiol 2020; 23:757-773. [PMID: 32656931 PMCID: PMC7984328 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A LuxI/R‐like quorum sensing (QS) system (AfeI/R) has been reported in the acidophilic and chemoautotrophic Acidithiobacillus spp. However, the function of AfeI/R remains unclear because of the difficulties in the genetic manipulation of these bacteria. Here, we constructed different afeI mutants of the sulfur‐ and iron‐oxidizer A. ferrooxidans, identified the N‐acyl homoserine lactones (acyl‐HSLs) synthesized by AfeI, and determined the regulatory effects of AfeI/R on genes expression, extracellular polymeric substance synthesis, energy metabolism, cell growth and population density of A. ferrooxidans in different energy substrates. Acyl‐HSLs‐mediated distinct regulation strategies were employed to influence bacterial metabolism and cell growth of A. ferrooxidans cultivated in either sulfur or ferrous iron. Based on these findings, an energy‐substrate‐dependent regulation mode of AfeI/R in A. ferrooxidans was illuminated that AfeI/R could produce different types of acyl‐HSLs and employ specific acyl‐HSLs to regulate specific genes in response to different energy substrates. The discovery of the AfeI/R‐mediated substrate‐dependent regulatory mode expands our knowledge on the function of QS system in the chemoautotrophic sulfur‐ and ferrous iron‐oxidizing bacteria, and provides new insights in understanding energy metabolism modulation, population control, bacteria‐driven bioleaching process, and the coevolution between the acidophiles and their acidic habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Yan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Chang-Ai Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Likai Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Lincheng West Road, Guiyang, 550081, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an, 710061, China
| | - Xiu-Feng Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Rui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jian-Qiang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xiang-Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xin Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Cheng-Jia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jian-Qun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Lin-Xu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao, 266237, China
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16
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Bioinformatics and Transcriptional Study of the Nramp Gene in the Extreme Acidophile Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans Strain DC. MINERALS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/min10060544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The family of Nramp (natural resistance-associated macrophage protein) metal ion transporter functions in diverse organisms from bacteria to humans. Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (At. ferrooxidans) is a Gram-negative bacterium that lives at pH 2 in high concentrations of soluble ferrous ion (600 mM). The AFE_2126 protein of At. ferrooxidans of the Dachang Copper Mine (DC) was analyzed by bioinformatics software or online tools, showing that it was highly homologous to the Nramp family, and its subcellular localization was predicted to locate in the cytoplasmic membrane. Transcriptional study revealed that AFE_2126 was expressed by Fe2+-limiting conditions in At. ferrooxidans DC. It can be concluded that the AFE_2126 protein may function in ferrous ion transport into the cells. Based on the ΔpH of the cytoplasmic membrane between the periplasm (pH 3.5) and the cytoplasm (pH 6.5), it can be concluded that Fe2+ is transported in the direction identical to that of the H+ gradient. This study indirectly confirmed that the function of Nramp in At. ferrooxidans DC can transport divalent iron ions.
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Saavedra A, Aguirre P, Gentina JC. Biooxidation of Iron by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans in the Presence of D-Galactose: Understanding Its Influence on the Production of EPS and Cell Tolerance to High Concentrations of Iron. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:759. [PMID: 32390992 PMCID: PMC7191041 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, together with other microorganisms, has an important role on biohydrometallurgical processes. Such bacterium gets its energy from the oxidation of ferrous ion and reduced sulfur; in the first case, the accumulation of ferric ion as a product can cause its inhibition. It is known that the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) may have an important role in the adaptation and tolerance to diverse inhibiting conditions. In the present study, it was tested how D-galactose can influence the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on At. ferrooxidans by evaluating at the same time its biooxidant activity and capacity to tolerate high concentrations of ferric ion. The visualization and quantification of EPS was done through a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The results show that at low cellular concentrations, the D-galactose inhibits the microbial growth and the biooxidation of ferrous ion; however, when the quantity of microorganisms is high enough, the inhibition is not present. By means of chemostat tests, several concentrations of D-galactose (0; 0.15; 0.25; and 0.35%) were evaluated, thus reaching the highest production of EPS when using 0.35% of this sugar. In cultures with such concentration of D-galactose, the tolerance of the bacterium was tested at high concentrations of ferric ion and it was compared with cultures in which sugar was not added. The results show that cultures with D-galactose reached a higher tolerance to ferric ion (48.15 ± 1.9 g L-1) compare to cultures without adding D-galactose (38.7 ± 0.47 g L-1 ferric ion). Also it was observed a higher amount of EPS on cells growing in the presence of D-galactose suggesting its influence on the greater tolerance of At. ferrooxidans to ferric ion. Therefore, according to the results, the bases of a strategy are considered to overproduce EPS by means of At. ferrooxidans in planktonic state, so that, it can be used as a pre-treatment to increase its resistance and tolerance to high concentrations of ferric ion and improve the efficiency of At. ferrooxidans when acting in biohydrometallurgical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Saavedra
- Escuela de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Paulina Aguirre
- Escuela de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile.,Departamento de Química y Ciencias Exactas (Sección de Ingeniería Ambiental), Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Loja, Ecuador
| | - Juan Carlos Gentina
- Escuela de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
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