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Pallen MJ. The dynamic history of prokaryotic phyla: discovery, diversity and division. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2024; 74:006508. [PMID: 39250184 PMCID: PMC11382960 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Here, I review the dynamic history of prokaryotic phyla. Following leads set by Darwin, Haeckel and Woese, the concept of phylum has evolved from a group sharing common phenotypes to a set of organisms sharing a common ancestry, with modern taxonomy based on phylogenetic classifications drawn from macromolecular sequences. Phyla came as surprising latecomers to the formalities of prokaryotic nomenclature in 2021. Since then names have been validly published for 46 prokaryotic phyla, replacing some established names with neologisms, prompting criticism and debate within the scientific community. Molecular barcoding enabled phylogenetic analysis of microbial ecosystems without cultivation, leading to the identification of candidate divisions (or phyla) from diverse environments. The introduction of metagenome-assembled genomes marked a significant advance in identifying and classifying uncultured microbial phyla. The lumper-splitter dichotomy has led to disagreements, with experts cautioning against the pressure to create a profusion of new phyla and prominent databases adopting a conservative stance. The Candidatus designation has been widely used to provide provisional status to uncultured prokaryotic taxa, with phyla named under this convention now clearly surpassing those with validly published names. The Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) has offered a stable, standardized prokaryotic taxonomy with normalized taxonomic ranks, which has led to both lumping and splitting of pre-existing phyla. The GTDB framework introduced unwieldy alphanumeric placeholder labels, prompting recent publication of over 100 user-friendly Latinate names for unnamed prokaryotic phyla. Most candidate phyla remain 'known unknowns', with limited knowledge of their genomic diversity, ecological roles, or environments. Whether phyla still reflect significant evolutionary and ecological partitions across prokaryotic life remains an area of active debate. However, phyla remain of practical importance for microbiome analyses, particularly in clinical research. Despite potential diminishing returns in discovery of biodiversity, prokaryotic phyla offer extensive research opportunities for microbiologists for the foreseeable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J. Pallen
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
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Qiu Z, Zhu Y, Zhang Q, Qiao X, Mu R, Xu Z, Yan Y, Wang F, Zhang T, Zhuang WQ, Yu K. Unravelling biosynthesis and biodegradation potentials of microbial dark matters in hypersaline lakes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 20:100359. [PMID: 39221074 PMCID: PMC11361885 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Biosynthesis and biodegradation of microorganisms critically underpin the development of biotechnology, new drugs and therapies, and environmental remediation. However, most uncultured microbial species along with their metabolic capacities in extreme environments, remain obscured. Here we unravel the metabolic potential of microbial dark matters (MDMs) in four deep-inland hypersaline lakes in Xinjiang, China. Utilizing metagenomic binning, we uncovered a rich diversity of 3030 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) across 82 phyla, revealing a substantial portion, 2363 MAGs, as previously unclassified at the genus level. These unknown MAGs displayed unique distribution patterns across different lakes, indicating a strong correlation with varied physicochemical conditions. Our analysis revealed an extensive array of 9635 biosynthesis gene clusters (BGCs), with a remarkable 9403 being novel, suggesting untapped biotechnological potential. Notably, some MAGs from potentially new phyla exhibited a high density of these BGCs. Beyond biosynthesis, our study also identified novel biodegradation pathways, including dehalogenation, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox), and degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and plastics, in previously unknown microbial clades. These findings significantly enrich our understanding of biosynthesis and biodegradation processes and open new avenues for biotechnological innovation, emphasizing the untapped potential of microbial diversity in hypersaline environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguang Qiu
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- AI for Science (AI4S)-Preferred Program, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhu
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xuejiao Qiao
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Rong Mu
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zheng Xu
- Southern University of Sciences and Technology Yantian Hospital, Shenzhen, 518081, China
- Institute of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, CAS Center for Excellence in Deep Earth Science, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Fan Wang
- School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519082, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Hong Kong, 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei-Qin Zhuang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ke Yu
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- AI for Science (AI4S)-Preferred Program, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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Veloso M, Waldisperg A, Arros P, Berríos-Pastén C, Acosta J, Colque H, Varas MA, Allende ML, Orellana LH, Marcoleta AE. Diversity, Taxonomic Novelty, and Encoded Functions of Salar de Ascotán Microbiota, as Revealed by Metagenome-Assembled Genomes. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2819. [PMID: 38004830 PMCID: PMC10673233 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112819] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Salar de Ascotán is a high-altitude arsenic-rich salt flat exposed to high ultraviolet radiation in the Atacama Desert, Chile. It hosts unique endemic flora and fauna and is an essential habitat for migratory birds, making it an important site for conservation and protection. However, there is limited information on the resident microbiota's diversity, genomic features, metabolic potential, and molecular mechanisms that enable it to thrive in this extreme environment. We used long- and short-read metagenomics to investigate the microbial communities in Ascotán's water, sediment, and soil. Bacteria predominated, mainly Pseudomonadota, Acidobacteriota, and Bacteroidota, with a remarkable diversity of archaea in the soil. Following hybrid assembly, we recovered high-quality bacterial (101) and archaeal (6) metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), including representatives of two putative novel families of Patescibacteria and Pseudomonadota and two novel orders from the archaeal classes Halobacteriota and Thermoplasmata. We found different metabolic capabilities across distinct lineages and a widespread presence of genes related to stress response, DNA repair, and resistance to arsenic and other metals. These results highlight the remarkable diversity and taxonomic novelty of the Salar de Ascotán microbiota and its rich functional repertoire, making it able to resist different harsh conditions. The highly complete MAGs described here could serve future studies and bioprospection efforts focused on salt flat extremophiles, and contribute to enriching databases with microbial genome data from underrepresented regions of our planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Veloso
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Angie Waldisperg
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Patricio Arros
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Camilo Berríos-Pastén
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Joaquín Acosta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Hazajem Colque
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
| | - Macarena A. Varas
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
- Millenium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile;
| | - Miguel L. Allende
- Millenium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile;
| | - Luis H. Orellana
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstr. 1, D-28359 Bremen, Germany;
| | - Andrés E. Marcoleta
- Grupo de Microbiología Integrativa, Laboratorio de Biología Estructural y Molecular BEM, Faculty of Science, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago 7800003, Chile; (M.V.); (A.W.); (P.A.); (C.B.-P.); (J.A.); (H.C.); (M.A.V.)
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Sun K, Yu M, Zhu XY, Xue CX, Zhang Y, Chen X, Yao P, Chen L, Fu L, Yang Z, Zhang XH. Microbial communities related to the sulfur cycle in the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0114923. [PMID: 37623326 PMCID: PMC10580873 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01149-23] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The Sansha Yongle Blue Hole (SYBH), the deepest blue hole in the world, is an excellent habitat for revealing biogeochemical cycles in the anaerobic environment. However, how sulfur cycling is mediated by microorganisms in the SYBH hasn't been fully understood. In this study, the water layers of the SYBH were divided into oxic zone, hypoxic zone, anoxic zone I and II, and microbial-mediated sulfur cycling in the SYBH was comprehensively interpreted. The 16S rRNA genes/transcripts analyses showed that the microbial community structures associated with the sulfur cycling in each zone had distinctive features. Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were mostly constituted by Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Campylobacterota, and Chlorobia above the anoxic zone I and sulfate-reducing bacteria were dominated by Desulfobacterota in anoxic zones. Metagenomic analyses showed that the sulfide-oxidation-related gene sqr and genes encoding the Sox system were mainly distributed in the anoxic zone I, while genes related to dissimilatory sulfate reduction and sulfur intermediate metabolite reduction were mainly distributed in the anoxic zone II, indicating different sulfur metabolic processes between these two zones. Moreover, sulfur-metabolism-related genes were identified in 81 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), indicating a high diversity of microbial communities involved in sulfur cycling. Among them, three MAGs from the candidate phyla JdFR-76 and AABM5-125-24 with genes related to dissimilatory sulfate reduction exhibited distinctive metabolic features. Our results showed unique and novel microbial populations in the SYBH sulfur cycle correlated to the sharp redox gradients, revealing complex biogeochemical processes in this extreme environment. IMPORTANCE Oxygen-deficient regions in the global ocean are expanding rapidly and affect the growth, reproduction and ecological processes of marine organisms. The anaerobic water body of about 150 m in the Sansha Yongle Blue Hole (SYBH) provided a suitable environment to study the specific microbial metabolism in anaerobic seawater. Here, we found that the vertical distributions of the total and active communities of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were different in each water layer of the SYBH according to the dissolved oxygen content. Genes related to sulfur metabolism also showed distinct stratification characteristics. Furthermore, we have obtained diverse metagenome-assembled genomes, some of which exhibit special sulfur metabolic characteristics, especially candidate phyla JdFR-76 and AABM5-125-24 were identified as potential novel SRB. The results of this study will promote further understanding of the sulfur cycle in extreme environments, as well as the environmental adaptability of microorganisms in blue holes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Sun
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Min Yu
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Zhu
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Chun-Xu Xue
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yunhui Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xing Chen
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Peng Yao
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Liang Fu
- Sansha Track Ocean Coral Reef Conservation Research Institute, Sansha, China
| | - Zuosheng Yang
- College of Marine Geosciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiao-Hua Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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Suarez C, Hackl T, Wilen BM, Persson F, Hagelia P, Jetten MSM, Dalcin Martins P. Novel and unusual genes for nitrogen and metal cycling in Planctomycetota- and KSB1-affiliated metagenome-assembled genomes reconstructed from a marine subsea tunnel. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2023; 370:fnad049. [PMID: 37291701 PMCID: PMC10732223 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnad049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The Oslofjord subsea road tunnel is a unique environment in which the typically anoxic marine deep subsurface is exposed to oxygen. Concrete biodeterioration and steel corrosion in the tunnel have been linked to the growth of iron- and manganese-oxidizing biofilms in areas of saline water seepage. Surprisingly, previous 16S rRNA gene surveys of biofilm samples revealed microbial communities dominated by sequences affiliated with nitrogen-cycling microorganisms. This study aimed to identify microbial genomes with metabolic potential for novel nitrogen- and metal-cycling reactions, representing biofilm microorganisms that could link these cycles and play a role in concrete biodeterioration. We reconstructed 33 abundant, novel metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) affiliated with the phylum Planctomycetota and the candidate phylum KSB1. We identified novel and unusual genes and gene clusters in these MAGs related to anaerobic ammonium oxidation, nitrite oxidation, and other nitrogen-cycling reactions. Additionally, 26 of 33 MAGs also had the potential for iron, manganese, and arsenite cycling, suggesting that bacteria represented by these genomes might couple these reactions. Our results expand the diversity of microorganisms putatively involved in nitrogen and metal cycling, and contribute to our understanding of potential biofilm impacts on built infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Suarez
- Division of Water Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering LTH, Lund University, Lund 221 00, Sweden
| | - Thomas Hackl
- Microbial Ecology Cluster, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, Netherlands
| | - Britt-Marie Wilen
- Division of Water Environment Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 412 96, Sweden
| | - Frank Persson
- Division of Water Environment Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg 412 96, Sweden
| | - Per Hagelia
- Construction Division, The Norwegian Public Roads, Administration, Oslo 0667, Norway
| | - Mike S M Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, Netherlands
| | - Paula Dalcin Martins
- Microbial Ecology Cluster, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747 AG, Netherlands
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