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Khan A, Liu G, Zhang G, Li X. Radiation-resistant bacteria in desiccated soil and their potentiality in applied sciences. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1348758. [PMID: 38894973 PMCID: PMC11184166 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1348758] [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: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
A rich diversity of radiation-resistant (Rr) and desiccation-resistant (Dr) bacteria has been found in arid habitats of the world. Evidence from scientific research has linked their origin to reactive oxygen species (ROS) intermediates. Rr and Dr. bacteria of arid regions have the potential to regulate imbalance radicals and evade a higher dose of radiation and oxidation than bacterial species of non-arid regions. Photochemical-activated ROS in Rr bacteria is run through photo-induction of electron transfer. A hypothetical model of the biogeochemical cycle based on solar radiation and desiccation. These selective stresses generate oxidative radicals for a short span with strong reactivity and toxic effects. Desert-inhibiting Rr bacteria efficiently evade ROS toxicity with an evolved antioxidant system and other defensive pathways. The imbalanced radicals in physiological disorders, cancer, and lung diseases could be neutralized by a self-sustaining evolved Rr bacteria antioxidant system. The direct link of evolved antioxidant system with intermediate ROS and indirect influence of radiation and desiccation provide useful insight into richness, ecological diversity, and origin of Rr bacteria capabilities. The distinguishing features of Rr bacteria in deserts present a fertile research area with promising applications in the pharmaceutical industry, genetic engineering, biological therapy, biological transformation, bioremediation, industrial biotechnology, and astrobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asaf Khan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Microbial Resources and Engineering, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guangxiu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Microbial Resources and Engineering, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Gaosen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Microbial Resources and Engineering, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiangkai Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Skariah S, Abdul-Majid S, Hay AG, Acharya A, Kano N, Al-Ishaq RK, de Figueiredo P, Han A, Guzman A, Dargham SR, Sameer S, Kim GE, Khan S, Pillai P, Sultan AA. Soil Properties Correlate with Microbial Community Structure in Qatari Arid Soils. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0346222. [PMID: 36847511 PMCID: PMC10100838 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03462-22] [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: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This is the first detailed characterization of the microbiota and chemistry of different arid habitats from the State of Qatar. Analysis of bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that in aggregate, the dominant microbial phyla were Actinobacteria (32.3%), Proteobacteria (24.8%), Firmicutes (20.7%), Bacteroidetes (6.3%), and Chloroflexi (3.6%), though individual soils varied widely in the relative abundances of these and other phyla. Alpha diversity measured using feature richness (operational taxonomic units [OTUs]), Shannon's entropy, and Faith's phylogenetic diversity (PD) varied significantly between habitats (P = 0.016, P = 0.016, and P = 0.015, respectively). Sand, clay, and silt were significantly correlated with microbial diversity. Highly significant negative correlations were also seen at the class level between both classes Actinobacteria and Thermoleophilia (phylum Actinobacteria) and total sodium (R = -0.82 and P = 0.001 and R = -0.86, P = 0.000, respectively) and slowly available sodium (R = -0.81 and P = 0.001 and R = -0.8 and P = 0.002, respectively). Additionally, class Actinobacteria also showed significant negative correlation with sodium/calcium ratio (R = -0.81 and P = 0.001). More work is needed to understand if there is a causal relationship between these soil chemical parameters and the relative abundances of these bacteria. IMPORTANCE Soil microbes perform a multitude of essential biological functions, including organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil structure preservation. Qatar is one of the most hostile and fragile arid environments on earth and is expected to face a disproportionate impact of climate change in the coming years. Thus, it is critical to establish a baseline understanding of microbial community composition and to assess how soil edaphic factors correlate with microbial community composition in this region. Although some previous studies have quantified culturable microbes in specific Qatari habitats, this approach has serious limitations, as in environmental samples, approximately only 0.5% of cells are culturable. Hence, this method vastly underestimates natural diversity within these habitats. Our study is the first to systematically characterize the chemistry and total microbiota associated with different habitats present in the State of Qatar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sini Skariah
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sara Abdul-Majid
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Anthony G. Hay
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Anushree Acharya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Noora Kano
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Raghad Khalid Al-Ishaq
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Paul de Figueiredo
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, College of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Arum Han
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA
| | - Adrian Guzman
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, Texas, USA
| | - Soha Roger Dargham
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology, & Biomathematics Research Core, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Saad Sameer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Gi Eun Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sabiha Khan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Priyamvada Pillai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ali A. Sultan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine—Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation—Education City, Doha, Qatar
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Elmi F, Etemadifar Z, Emtiazi G. Biosynthesis of Calcite Nanocrystal by a Novel Polyextremophile Bhargavaea cecembensis-Related Strain Isolated from Sandy Soil. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 85:698-707. [PMID: 35190857 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-01977-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Urease-producing bacteria are abundant in soils, which can precipitate calcium carbonate nanocrystals by enzymatic hydrolysis of urea in the presence of calcium ions. This process is known as microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), and it has received much attention in recent years as an eco-friendly technology. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to isolate local extremophile bacterial strains capable of producing calcium carbonate. Among a total of 44 isolated urease-producing strains from sandy soils, one strain with a high level of urease activity (8.16 U/ml) and production of a large amount of calcium carbonate (410 mg/100 ml) was selected for further investigation. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that this strain had 99.66% sequence identity to Bhargavaea cecembensis. The SEM-EDX and XRD analyses indicated that irregular vaterite and aggregated nanocalcite were the dominant polymorphs produced by this strain. The size of these nanocalcite crystals ranged between 25 and 42 nm. The selected strain showed high levels of tolerance to different conditions of temperature, pH, and salinity. This strain grows at high temperatures up to 50 °C, alkaline pH (9-11), and high concentrations of NaCl (20-25% w/v). Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated 96% cell viability of the isolated strain after desiccation stress. Bhargavaea was first reported in 2009 as a new genus, and it belongs to the Firmicutes. So far, there has been no report on its MICP potential. The present study is the first one to report nanocrystal calcium carbonate precipitation in polyextremophile Bhargavaea cecembensis, which makes it a suitable candidate for bio-cementation under extreme circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Elmi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology & Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, 8174673441, Iran
| | - Zahra Etemadifar
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology & Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, 8174673441, Iran.
| | - Giti Emtiazi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology & Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, 8174673441, Iran
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Qu Y, Liu Q, Zhao W, Cheng H, Chen H, Tian Y, Ma S, Chen Y, Ma J. Characters and environmental driving factors of bacterial community in soil of Beijing urban parks. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 215:114178. [PMID: 36087773 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114178] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In an era of unprecedented human influence, different human activities have different degrees of impact on specific bacteria, resulting in the regional biological homogenization of soil bacteria. However, the contribution of the impact that a large number of anthropogenic activities on bacteria remains unknown. Here, by high-throughput amplicon sequencing, we characterized the composition, diversity and influencing factors of soil microbes in Beijing urban parks at geographic space and park management aspect. It is the first time to quantify and compare the importance of the impact of up to 15 human activities on soil bacterial communities. The results show that the dominant bacterial phyla in Beijing urban parks were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi. The environmental management of different park types, as well as the land use history and development conditions of different regions, had significant differences in soil bacterial community structure. Soil bacteria in urban parks were disturbed by direct human interference far more than natural causes. The most important factors were related to the number of tourists and residents, industrial production and land use patterns. These factors may also be related to the abundance of unknown bacteria in urban parks. This also directly shows that human activities have a non-negligible impact on soil bacteria. The ways in which different human activities brought by global urbanization and their impacting mechanisms are used should be the starting point of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China; College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Qiyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Wenhao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Hongguang Cheng
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Haiyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Yuxin Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Saiyan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Ying Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Jin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China.
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5
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Maszenan AM, Bessarab I, Williams RBH, Petrovski S, Seviour RJ. The phylogeny, ecology and ecophysiology of the glycogen accumulating organism (GAO) Defluviicoccus in wastewater treatment plants. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 221:118729. [PMID: 35714465 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This comprehensive review looks critically what is known about members of the genus Defluviicoccus, an example of a glycogen accumulating organism (GAO), in wastewater treatment plants, but found also in other habitats. It considers the operating conditions thought to affect its performance in activated sludge plants designed to remove phosphorus microbiologically, including the still controversial view that it competes with the polyphosphate accumulating bacterium Ca. Accumulibacter for readily biodegradable substrates in the anaerobic zone receiving the influent raw sewage. It looks at its present phylogeny and what is known about it's physiology and biochemistry under the highly selective conditions of these plants, where the biomass is recycled continuously through alternative anaerobic (feed); aerobic (famine) conditions encountered there. The impact of whole genome sequence data, which have revealed considerable intra- and interclade genotypic diversity, on our understanding of its in situ behaviour is also addressed. Particular attention is paid to the problems in much of the literature data based on clone library and next generation DNA sequencing data, where Defluviicoccus identification is restricted to genus level only. Equally problematic, in many publications no attempt has been made to distinguish between Defluviicoccus and the other known GAO, especially Ca. Competibacter, which, as shown here, has a very different ecophysiology. The impact this has had and continues to have on our understanding of members of this genus is discussed, as is the present controversy over its taxonomy. It also suggests where research should be directed to answer some of the important research questions raised in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul M Maszenan
- E2S2, NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 117411, Singapore
| | - Irina Bessarab
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Rohan B H Williams
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117456, Singapore
| | - Steve Petrovski
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, 3086 Victoria, Australia
| | - Robert J Seviour
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, 3086 Victoria, Australia.
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6
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Changes in Ambient Bacterial Community in Northern Taiwan during Long-Range Transport: Asian Dust Storm and Frontal Pollution. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13050841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Long-range transport (LRT) can carry air pollutants to downwind areas. However, studies about the impacts of LRT on bacterial communities are few. This study investigated the influence of Asian dust storms (ADS) and frontal pollution (FP) on bacterial communities in ambient air using next-generation sequencing (NGS) and Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP). Air samples were collected at Cape Fugui (CF) and National Taiwan University (NTU) in northern Taiwan before (or background days), during, and after LRTs from November 2013 to March 2015. The richness, H index, and evenness increased during FPs and then decreased after FPs. During and after ADS and FP, the prevalence of the phylum Proteobacteria decreased, but that of Firmicutes increased. The dominant class of Proteobacteria changed from Alphaproteobacteria on background days to Betaproteobacteria during LRTs. At the genus level, the high abundance of Ralstonia and Bacillus during FP and Clostridium during ADS were detected at both locations. Additionally, Ralstonia was dominant at CF during ADS. In conclusion, FP and ADS both changed the bacterial community. The indicator genus was Clostridium and Ralstonia for ADS as well as Bacillus and Ralstonia for FP. Given the potential health threats posed by the bioaerosols transported, people should avoid outdoor activities during LRTs.
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7
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Naidoo Y, Valverde A, Pierneef RE, Cowan DA. Differences in Precipitation Regime Shape Microbial Community Composition and Functional Potential in Namib Desert Soils. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 83:689-701. [PMID: 34105010 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01785-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Precipitation is one of the major constraints influencing the diversity, structure, and activity of soil microbial communities in desert ecosystems. However, the effect of changes in precipitation on soil microbial communities in arid soil microbiomes remains unresolved. In this study, using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing and shotgun metagenome sequencing, we explored changes in taxonomic composition and functional potential across two zones in the Namib Desert with contrasting precipitation regime. We found that precipitation regime had no effect on taxonomic and functional alpha-diversity, but that microbial community composition and functional potential (beta-diversity) changed with increased precipitation. For instance, Acidobacteriota and 'resistance to antibiotics and toxic compounds' related genes were relatively more abundant in the high-rainfall zone. These changes were largely due to a small set of microbial taxa, some of which were present in low abundance (i.e. members of the rare biosphere). Overall, these results indicate that key climatic factors (i.e. precipitation) shape the taxonomic and functional attributes of the arid soil microbiome. This research provides insight into how changes in precipitation patterns associated with global climate change may impact microbial community structure and function in desert soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashini Naidoo
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
| | - Angel Valverde
- IRNASA-CSIC, C/Cordel de Merinas 40-52, 37008, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rian E Pierneef
- Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council, Soutpan Road, Onderstepoort Campus, Pretoria, 0110, South Africa
| | - Don A Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
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8
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High Proportions of Radiation-Resistant Strains in Culturable Bacteria from the Taklimakan Desert. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11040501. [PMID: 35453702 PMCID: PMC9030528 DOI: 10.3390/biology11040501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Radiation-resistant extremophiles have frequently been found in the Taklimakan Desert, which is known for its harsh conditions. However, there is no systemic study investigating the diversity and proportion of radiation-resistant strains among culturable bacteria. The results of this study revealed the distribution of culturable bacteria in the Taklimakan Desert and indicated high proportions of radiation-resistant strains in the culturable bacteria. The study helps to better understand the ecological origin of radio-resistance and to quantitatively describe the desert as a common habitat for radiation-resistant extremophiles. Abstract The Taklimakan Desert located in China is the second-largest shifting sand desert in the world and is known for its harsh conditions. Types of γ-rays or UV radiation-resistant bacterial strains have been isolated from this desert. However, there is no information regarding the proportions of the radiation-resistant strains in the total culturable microbes. We isolated 352 bacterial strains from nine sites across the Taklimakan Desert from north to south. They belong to Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The phylum Actinobacteria was the most predominant in abundance and Firmicutes had the highest species richness. Bacteroidetes had the lowest abundance and was found in four sites only, while the other three phyla were found in every site but with different distribution profiles. After irradiating with 1000 J/m2 and 6000 J/m2 UV-C, the strains with survival rates higher than 10% occupied 72.3% and 36.9% of all culturable bacteria, respectively. The members from Proteobacteria had the highest proportions, with survival rates higher than 10%. After radiation with 10 kGy γ-rays, Kocuria sp. TKL1057 and Planococcus sp. TKL1152 showed higher radiation-resistant capabilities than Deinococcus radiodurans R1. Besides obtaining several radiation-resistant extremophiles, this study measured the proportions of the radiation-resistant strains in the total culturable microbes for the first time. This study may help to better understand the origin of radioresistance, especially by quantitatively comparing proportions of radiation-resistant extremophiles from different environments in the future.
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Manni A, Filali-Maltouf A. Diversity and bioprospecting for industrial hydrolytic enzymes of microbial communities isolated from deserted areas of south-east Morocco. AIMS Microbiol 2022; 8:5-25. [PMID: 35496990 PMCID: PMC8995190 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2022002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The current study aimed to analyze bacterial communities' diversity and abundance in three different deserted areas (Merzouga, Mhamid Elghizlane, and Erg lihoud) located in Moroccan Sahara, as well as to investigate osmotolerant microorganisms producing hydrolytic enzymes. The isolates were taxonomically affiliated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Four different hydrolase activities (amylase, lipase, cellulase, and protease) and osmotic stress tolerance were evaluated. The phylogenetic analysis of 364 screened isolates belonged to three phyla (Firmicutes 73%, Proteobacteria 26% and Actinobacteria 1%) and 18 different genera, from Bacillus, Ornithinibacillus, Paenibacillus, Geobacillus, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Paenarthrobacter, Enterobacter, Staphylococcus, Erwinia, Herbasprillum, Ocuria, Massilia, Planomicrobium, Hodococcus, and Stenotrophomonas. The results detected a high proportion of osmotolerant and enzymes producing bacteria, many isolates can tolerate up to 55 °C (40%, 28%, and 30% in Merzouga, Mhamid Elghizlane, and Erg lihoudi, respectively). Meanwhile, the salinity tolerance reached 12% in some isolates with different proportions in each site, 29% in Merzouga, 24% in Mhamid Elghizlane, and 9% in Erg lihoudi. Furthermore, the enzymatic tests showed the presence of an amylolytic, lipolytic, cellulolytic, proteolytic activities in 20%, 31%, 63% and 72% of total strains, respectively. As a result, the present study is thus a preliminary yet critical step towards identifying the best bacterial candidates for further biotechnological applications.
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10
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Kotsyurbenko OR, Cordova JA, Belov AA, Cheptsov VS, Kölbl D, Khrunyk YY, Kryuchkova MO, Milojevic T, Mogul R, Sasaki S, Słowik GP, Snytnikov V, Vorobyova EA. Exobiology of the Venusian Clouds: New Insights into Habitability through Terrestrial Models and Methods of Detection. ASTROBIOLOGY 2021; 21:1186-1205. [PMID: 34255549 PMCID: PMC9545807 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2020.2296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The search for life beyond Earth has focused on Mars and the icy moons Europa and Enceladus, all of which are considered a safe haven for life due to evidence of current or past water. The surface of Venus, on the other hand, has extreme conditions that make it a nonhabitable environment to life as we know it. This is in contrast, however, to its cloud layer, which, while still an extreme environment, may prove to be a safe haven for some extreme forms of life similar to extremophiles on Earth. We consider the venusian clouds a habitable environment based on the presence of (1) a solvent for biochemical reactions, (2) appropriate physicochemical conditions, (3) available energy, and (4) biologically relevant elements. The diversity of extreme microbial ecosystems on Earth has allowed us to identify terrestrial chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms that may be analogs to putative venusian organisms. Here, we hypothesize and describe biological processes that may be performed by such organisms in the venusian clouds. To detect putative venusian organisms, we describe potential biosignature detection methods, which include metal-microbial interactions and optical methods. Finally, we describe currently available technology that can potentially be used for modeling and simulation experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg R. Kotsyurbenko
- Yugra State University, The Institute of Oil and Gas, School of Ecology, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russian Federation
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds, UK
| | - Jaime A. Cordova
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrey A. Belov
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds, UK
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir S. Cheptsov
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds, UK
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Denise Kölbl
- Space Biochemistry Group, Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Yuliya Y. Khrunyk
- Department of Heat Treatment and Physics of Metal, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
- M.N. Mikheev Institute of Metal Physics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
| | - Margarita O. Kryuchkova
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds, UK
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Tetyana Milojevic
- Space Biochemistry Group, Department of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rakesh Mogul
- Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Satoshi Sasaki
- School of Biosciences and Biotechnology/School of Health Sciences, Tokyo University of Technology, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Grzegorz P. Słowik
- Institute of Materials and Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Valery Snytnikov
- Boreskov Institute of Catalysis, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
| | - Elena A. Vorobyova
- Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life, Leeds, UK
- Moscow State University, Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow, Russian Federation
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11
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Zerouki C, Bensalah F, Kuittinen S, Pappinen A, Turunen O. Whole-genome sequencing of two Streptomyces strains isolated from the sand dunes of Sahara. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:578. [PMID: 34315408 PMCID: PMC8317367 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07866-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sahara is one of the largest deserts in the world. The harsh climatic conditions, especially high temperature and aridity lead to unique adaptation of organisms, which could be a potential source of new metabolites. In this respect, two Saharan soils from El Oued Souf and Beni Abbes in Algeria were collected. The bacterial isolates were selected by screening for antibacterial, antifungal, and enzymatic activities. The whole genomes of the two native Saharan strains were sequenced to study desert Streptomyces microbiology and ecology from a genomic perspective. RESULTS Strains Babs14 (from Beni Abbes, Algeria) and Osf17 (from El Oued Souf, Algeria) were initially identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as belonging to the Streptomyces genus. The whole genome sequencing of the two strains was performed using Pacific Biosciences Sequel II technology (PacBio), which showed that Babs14 and Osf17 have a linear chromosome of 8.00 Mb and 7.97 Mb, respectively. The number of identified protein coding genes was 6910 in Babs14 and 6894 in Osf17. No plasmids were found in Babs14, whereas three plasmids were detected in Osf17. Although the strains have different phenotypes and are from different regions, they showed very high similarities at the DNA level. The two strains are more similar to each other than either is to the closest database strain. The search for potential secondary metabolites was performed using antiSMASH and predicted 29 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Several BGCs and proteins were related to the biosynthesis of factors needed in response to environmental stress in temperature, UV light and osmolarity. CONCLUSION The genome sequencing of Saharan Streptomyces strains revealed factors that are related to their adaptation to an extreme environment and stress conditions. The genome information provides tools to study ecological adaptation in a desert environment and to explore the bioactive compounds of these microorganisms. The two whole genome sequences are among the first to be sequenced for the Streptomyces genus of Algerian Sahara. The present research was undertaken as a first step to more profoundly explore the desert microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chahira Zerouki
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland.
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics, Department of Biology, University ORAN 1, 31000, Oran, Algeria.
| | - Farid Bensalah
- Laboratory of Microbial Genetics, Department of Biology, University ORAN 1, 31000, Oran, Algeria
| | - Suvi Kuittinen
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Ari Pappinen
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Ossi Turunen
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland
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12
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The bacterial and fungal nest microbiomes in populations of the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola. Syst Appl Microbiol 2021; 44:126222. [PMID: 34146923 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Social spiders of the species Stegodyphus dumicola live in communal nests with hundreds of individuals and are characterized by extremely low species-wide genetic diversity. The lack of genetic diversity in combination with group living imposes a potential threat for infection by pathogens. We therefore proposed that specific microbial symbionts inhabiting the spider nests may provide antimicrobial defense. To compare the bacterial and fungal diversity in 17 nests from three different locations in Namibia, we used 16S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) sequencing. The nest microbiomes differed between geographically distinct spider populations and appeared largely determined by the local environment. Nevertheless, we identified a core microbiome consisting of four bacterial genera (Curtobacterium, Modestobacter, Sphingomonas, Massilia) and four fungal genera (Aureobasidium, Didymella, Alternaria, Ascochyta), which likely are selected from surrounding soil and plants by the nest environment. We did not find indications for a strain- or species-specific symbiosis in the nests. Isolation of bacteria and fungi from nest material retrieved a few bacterial strains with antimicrobial activity but a number of antimicrobial fungi, including members of the fungal core microbiome. The significance of antimicrobial taxa in the nest microbiome for host protection remains to be shown.
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13
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Molina-Menor E, Gimeno-Valero H, Pascual J, Peretó J, Porcar M. High Culturable Bacterial Diversity From a European Desert: The Tabernas Desert. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:583120. [PMID: 33488536 PMCID: PMC7821382 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.583120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most diverse ecological niches for microbial bioprospecting is soil, including that of drylands. Drylands are one of the most abundant biomes on Earth, but extreme cases, such as deserts, are considered very rare in Europe. The so-called Tabernas Desert is one of the few examples of a desert area in continental Europe, and although some microbial studies have been performed on this region, a comprehensive strategy to maximize the isolation of environmental bacteria has not been conducted to date. We report here a culturomics approach to study the bacterial diversity of this dryland by using a simple strategy consisting of combining different media, using serial dilutions of the nutrients, and using extended incubation times. With this strategy, we were able to set a large (254 strains) collection of bacteria, the majority of which (93%) were identified through 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplification and sequencing. A significant fraction of the collection consisted of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, as well as Firmicutes strains. Among the 254 isolates, 37 different genera were represented, and a high number of possible new taxa were identified (31%), of which, three new Kineococcus species. Moreover, 5 out of the 13 genera represented by one isolate were also possible new species. Specifically, the sequences of 80 isolates held a percentage of identity below the 98.7% threshold considered for potentially new species. These strains belonged to 20 genera. Our results reveal a clear link between medium dilution and isolation of new species, highlight the unexploited bacterial biodiversity of the Tabernas Desert, and evidence the potential of simple strategies to yield surprisingly large numbers of diverse, previously unreported, bacterial strains and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Molina-Menor
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology I2SysBio (University of València-CSIC), Paterna, Spain
| | - Helena Gimeno-Valero
- Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence S.L., Parc Científic Universitat de València, Paterna, Spain
| | - Javier Pascual
- Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence S.L., Parc Científic Universitat de València, Paterna, Spain
| | - Juli Peretó
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology I2SysBio (University of València-CSIC), Paterna, Spain.,Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence S.L., Parc Científic Universitat de València, Paterna, Spain.,Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Manuel Porcar
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology I2SysBio (University of València-CSIC), Paterna, Spain.,Darwin Bioprospecting Excellence S.L., Parc Científic Universitat de València, Paterna, Spain
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14
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Naidoo Y, Valverde A, Cason ED, Pierneef RE, Cowan DA. A clinically important, plasmid-borne antibiotic resistance gene (β-lactamase TEM-116) present in desert soils. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 719:137497. [PMID: 32114220 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The exhaustive use of antibiotics in humans, animal farming and other agricultural practices has resulted in the frequent appearance of antibiotic resistant bacteria in human-impacted habitats. However, antibiotic resistance in natural (less-impacted) habitats is less understood. Using shotgun metagenomics we analysed soils from relatively low anthropogenic impact sites across the Namib Desert. We report the presence of a clinically significant extended spectrum β-lactamase (TEM-116), on a ColE1-like plasmid also carrying a metal resistance gene (arsC). The co-occurrence of resistance to antimicrobial drugs and metals encoded on a single mobile genetic element increases the probability of dissemination of these resistance determinants and the potential selection of multiple resistance mechanisms. In addition, the presence of a P7 entero-bacteriophage on the same plasmid, may represent a new vehicle for the propagation of TEM-116 in these soil communities. These findings highlight the role of the environment in the One Health initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashini Naidoo
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Angel Valverde
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Technology, University of the Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - Errol D Cason
- Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Science, University of the Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
| | - Rian E Pierneef
- Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council, Soutpan Road, Onderstepoort Campus, Pretoria 0110, South Africa
| | - Don A Cowan
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Road, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
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Abstract
The study of bacterial communities associated with extreme ecosystems is one of the most important tasks in modern microbial ecology. Despite a large number of studies being performed, the ecosystems that have not been sufficiently explored from the microbiological point of view still exist. Such research is needed for improving the understanding of the limits and mechanisms of bacterial survival under extreme conditions, and for revealing previously undescribed species and their role in global biospheric processes and their functional specifics. The results of the complex microbiological characteristics of permafrost and ice—collected on the Severniy Island in the northern part of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago—which have not previously been described from microbiological point of view, are presented in this article. The analysis included both culture-independent and culture-dependent methods, in particular, the spectra of metabolic activity range analysis in vitro under different temperature, pH and salinity conditions. High values for the total number of prokaryotes in situ (1.9 × 108–3.5 × 108 cells/g), a significant part of which was able to return to a metabolically active state after thawing, and moderate numbers of culturable bacteria (3.3 × 106–7.8 × 107 CFU/g) were revealed. Representatives of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were dominant in situ; Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant phyla in vitro. Physiological assays revealed the mesophilic and neutrophilic optima of temperature and pH of culturing conditions, respectively, and wide temperature and pH ranges of culturable communities’ reproduction activity. Isolated strains were characterized by moderate halotolerant properties and antibiotic resistance, including multiple antibiotic resistance. It was found that almost all cultured bacterial diversity revealed (not just a few resistant species) had extremotolerant properties regarding a number of stress factors. This indicates the high adaptive potential of the studied microbial communities and their high sustainability and capability to retain functional activity under changing environmental (including climatic) conditions in wide ranges.
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16
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Sarjoughian MR, Abolmaali S, Darvish Alipour Astaneh S. Bioactivity of Bac70 Produced by Bacillus atrophaeus Strain DDBCC70. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol 2020; 12:186-193. [PMID: 32695282 PMCID: PMC7368116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, using antibacterial peptides has been considered as a strategy to manage the worldwide antibiotic-resistance crisis. Screening of Dasht-Desert Bacterial Culture Collection (DDBCC) for bacteriocin or bacteriocin-like producer was aimed in this study to introduce native antibacterial agent(s). METHODS In this study, 170 isolates were examined by the cross-streak method against G+ and G- indicators. Isolates with antimicrobial activity were compared using turbidity and well diffusion tests. The candidate isolate, DDBCC70, was molecularly and biochemically characterized. Then, the production of an antibacterial agent was physicochemically optimized. The supernatant was saturated ammonium sulfate. SDS-PAGE and Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC) analyses, cytotoxicity, and hemagglutination tests were performed. RESULTS First, 23 isolates were detected with antimicrobial activity against at least three of the indicator strains. DDBCC70 was distinguished with the broad-spectrum of antibacterial effects of the Cell-Free Supernatants (CFSs). The black pigments on BHI and a 98% similarity in 16S rDNA and similarity in biochemical tests confirmed the strain of DDBCC70 as Bacillus atrophaeus (B. atrophaeus). The highest amount of the antibacterial agent, Bac70, was obtained from the modified brain heart infusion medium. It was revealed that 70% ammonium sulfate-saturated Bac70 was 3.8 and 1.6 times more effective on Pseudomonas aeuroginosa (P. aeuroginosa) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae). Bac70, a >25 kDa protein and a safe compound for blood cells, neither agglutinated human erythrocyte nor lysed sheep blood. The purified bacteriocin-like molecule destroyed biofilms from P. aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Moreover, the fraction of Bac70 from the TLC plate showed higher inhibitory effects against K. pneumoniae. CONCLUSION Based on the above-mentioned features, Bac70 is a potential alternative therapeutic agent in pharmaceutical, food preservative and biotech-related industries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shamsozoha Abolmaali
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran,Corresponding author: Shamsozoha Abolmaali, Ph.D., Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran, Tel: +98 23 33383197, Fax: +98 23 33654110, E-mail:
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Stress-Tolerance and Taxonomy of Culturable Bacterial Communities Isolated from a Central Mojave Desert Soil Sample. GEOSCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/geosciences9040166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The arid Mojave Desert is one of the most significant terrestrial analogue objects for astrobiological research due to its genesis, mineralogy, and climate. However, the knowledge of culturable bacterial communities found in this extreme ecotope’s soil is yet insufficient. Therefore, our research has been aimed to fulfil this lack of knowledge and improve the understanding of functioning of edaphic bacterial communities of the Central Mojave Desert soil. We characterized aerobic heterotrophic soil bacterial communities of the central region of the Mojave Desert. A high total number of prokaryotic cells and a high proportion of culturable forms in the soil studied were observed. Prevalence of Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes was discovered. The dominance of pigmented strains in culturable communities and high proportion of thermotolerant and pH-tolerant bacteria were detected. Resistance to a number of salts, including the ones found in Martian regolith, as well as antibiotic resistance, were also estimated.
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