1
|
Kohtz AJ, Petrosian N, Krukenberg V, Jay ZJ, Pilhofer M, Hatzenpichler R. Cultivation and visualization of a methanogen of the phylum Thermoproteota. Nature 2024; 632:1118-1123. [PMID: 39048824 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07631-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Methane is the second most abundant climate-active gas, and understanding its sources and sinks is an important endeavour in microbiology, biogeochemistry, and climate sciences1,2. For decades, it was thought that methanogenesis, the ability to conserve energy coupled to methane production, was taxonomically restricted to a metabolically specialized group of archaea, the Euryarchaeota1. The discovery of marker genes for anaerobic alkane cycling in metagenome-assembled genomes obtained from diverse habitats has led to the hypothesis that archaeal lineages outside the Euryarchaeota are also involved in methanogenesis3-6. Here we cultured Candidatus Methanosuratincola verstraetei strain LCB70, a member of the archaeal class Methanomethylicia (formerly Verstraetearchaeota) within the phylum Thermoproteota, from a terrestrial hot spring. Growth experiments combined with activity assays, stable isotope tracing, and genomic and transcriptomic analyses demonstrated that this thermophilic archaeon grows by means of methyl-reducing hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Cryo-electron tomography revealed that Ca. M. verstraetei are coccoid cells with archaella and chemoreceptor arrays, and that they can form intercellular bridges connecting two to three cells with continuous cytoplasm and S-layer. The wide environmental distribution of Ca. M. verstraetei suggests that they might play important and hitherto overlooked roles in carbon cycling within diverse anoxic habitats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Kohtz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Nikolai Petrosian
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Viola Krukenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Zackary J Jay
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Martin Pilhofer
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sampara P, Lawson CE, Scarborough MJ, Ziels RM. Advancing environmental biotechnology with microbial community modeling rooted in functional 'omics. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 88:103165. [PMID: 39033648 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Emerging biotechnologies that solve pressing environmental and climate emergencies will require harnessing the vast functional diversity of the underlying microbiomes driving such engineered processes. Modeling is a critical aspect of process engineering that informs system design as well as aids diagnostic optimization of performance. 'Conventional' bioprocess models assume homogenous biomass within functional guilds and thus fail to predict emergent properties of diverse microbial physiologies, such as product specificity and community interactions. Yet, recent advances in functional 'omics-based approaches can provide a 'lens' through which we can probe and measure in situ ecophysiologies of environmental microbiomes. Here, we overview microbial community modeling approaches that incorporate functional 'omics data, which we posit can advance our ability to design and control new environmental biotechnologies going forward.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Sampara
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christopher E Lawson
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew J Scarborough
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Ryan M Ziels
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li HZ, Peng J, Yang K, Zhang Y, Chen QL, Zhu YG, Cui L. Single-cell exploration of active phosphate-solubilizing bacteria across diverse soil matrices for sustainable phosphorus management. NATURE FOOD 2024; 5:673-683. [PMID: 39103543 DOI: 10.1038/s43016-024-01024-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) are crucial for enhancing phosphorus bioavailability and regulating phosphorus transformation processes. However, the in situ phosphorus-solubilizing activity and the link between phenotypes and genotypes for PSB remain unidentified. Here we employed single-cell Raman spectroscopy combined with heavy water to discern and quantify soil active PSB. Our results reveal that PSB abundance and in situ activity differed significantly between soil types and fertilization treatments. Inorganic fertilizer input was the key driver for active PSB distribution. Targeted single-cell sorting and metagenomic sequencing of active PSB uncovered several low-abundance genera that are easily overlooked within bulk soil microbiota. We elucidate the underlying functional genes and metabolic pathway, and the interplay between phosphorus and carbon cycling involved in high phosphorus solubilization activity. Our study provides a single-cell approach to exploring PSB from native environments, enabling the development of a microbial solution for the efficient agronomic use of phosphorus and mitigating the phosphorus crisis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Zhe Li
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
| | | | - Kai Yang
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
| | - Yiyue Zhang
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
| | - Qing-Lin Chen
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
| | - Yong-Guan Zhu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Li Cui
- Key Lab of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China.
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Krukenberg V, Kohtz AJ, Jay ZJ, Hatzenpichler R. Methyl-reducing methanogenesis by a thermophilic culture of Korarchaeia. Nature 2024; 632:1131-1136. [PMID: 39048017 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07829-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Methanogenesis mediated by archaea is the main source of methane, a strong greenhouse gas, and thus is critical for understanding Earth's climate dynamics. Recently, genes encoding diverse methanogenesis pathways have been discovered in metagenome-assembled genomes affiliated with several archaeal phyla1-7. However, all experimental studies on methanogens are at present restricted to cultured representatives of the Euryarchaeota. Here we show methanogenic growth by a member of the lineage Korarchaeia within the phylum Thermoproteota (TACK superphylum)5-7. Following enrichment cultivation of 'Candidatus Methanodesulfokora washburnenis' strain LCB3, we used measurements of metabolic activity and isotope tracer conversion to demonstrate methanol reduction to methane using hydrogen as an electron donor. Analysis of the archaeon's circular genome and transcriptome revealed unique modifications in the energy conservation pathways linked to methanogenesis, including enzyme complexes involved in hydrogen and sulfur metabolism. The cultivation and characterization of this new group of archaea is critical for a deeper evaluation of the diversity, physiology and biochemistry of methanogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viola Krukenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
| | - Anthony J Kohtz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Zackary J Jay
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Biofilm Engineering, and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen MM, Kopittke PM, Zhao FJ, Wang P. Applications and opportunities of click chemistry in plant science. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 29:167-178. [PMID: 37612212 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2022 was awarded to the pioneers of Lego-like 'click chemistry': combinatorial chemistry with remarkable modularity and diversity. It has been applied to a wide variety of biological systems, from microorganisms to plants and animals, including humans. Although click chemistry is a powerful chemical biology tool, comparatively few studies have examined its potential in plant science. Here, we review click chemistry reactions and their applications in plant systems, highlighting the activity-based probes and metabolic labeling strategies combined with bioorthogonal click chemistry to visualize plant biological processes. These applications offer new opportunities to explore and understand the underlying molecular mechanisms regulating plant composition, growth, metabolism, defense, and immune responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Ming Chen
- Centre of Agriculture and Health, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Peter M Kopittke
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Fang-Jie Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Centre of Agriculture and Health, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Mena C, Deulofeu-Capo O, Forn I, Dordal-Soriano J, Mantilla-Arias YA, Samos IP, Sebastián M, Cardelús C, Massana R, Romera-Castillo C, Mallenco-Fornies R, Gasol JM, Ruiz-González C. High amino acid osmotrophic incorporation by marine eukaryotic phytoplankton revealed by click chemistry. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycae004. [PMID: 38425478 PMCID: PMC10902890 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The osmotrophic uptake of dissolved organic compounds in the ocean is considered to be dominated by heterotrophic prokaryotes, whereas the role of planktonic eukaryotes is still unclear. We explored the capacity of natural eukaryotic plankton communities to incorporate the synthetic amino acid L-homopropargylglycine (HPG, analogue of methionine) using biorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT), and we compared it with prokaryotic HPG use throughout a 9-day survey in the NW Mediterranean. BONCAT allows to fluorescently identify translationally active cells, but it has never been applied to natural eukaryotic communities. We found a large diversity of photosynthetic and heterotrophic eukaryotes incorporating HPG into proteins, with dinoflagellates and diatoms showing the highest percentages of BONCAT-labelled cells (49 ± 25% and 52 ± 15%, respectively). Among them, pennate diatoms exhibited higher HPG incorporation in the afternoon than in the morning, whereas small (≤5 μm) photosynthetic eukaryotes and heterotrophic nanoeukaryotes showed the opposite pattern. Centric diatoms (e.g. Chaetoceros, Thalassiosira, and Lauderia spp.) dominated the eukaryotic HPG incorporation due to their high abundances and large sizes, accounting for up to 86% of the eukaryotic BONCAT signal and strongly correlating with bulk 3H-leucine uptake rates. When including prokaryotes, eukaryotes were estimated to account for 19-31% of the bulk BONCAT signal. Our results evidence a large complexity in the osmotrophic uptake of HPG, which varies over time within and across eukaryotic groups and highlights the potential of BONCAT to quantify osmotrophy and protein synthesis in complex eukaryotic communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Mena
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Ona Deulofeu-Capo
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Irene Forn
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Júlia Dordal-Soriano
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Yulieth A Mantilla-Arias
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Iván P Samos
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Marta Sebastián
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Clara Cardelús
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Ramon Massana
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Cristina Romera-Castillo
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Rebeca Mallenco-Fornies
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Josep M Gasol
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Clara Ruiz-González
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kumari P, Deepa N, Trivedi PK, Singh BK, Srivastava V, Singh A. Plants and endophytes interaction: a "secret wedlock" for sustainable biosynthesis of pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:226. [PMID: 37925404 PMCID: PMC10625306 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-023-02234-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Many plants possess immense pharmacological properties because of the presence of various therapeutic bioactive secondary metabolites that are of great importance in many pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, to strike a balance between meeting industry demands and conserving natural habitats, medicinal plants are being cultivated on a large scale. However, to enhance the yield and simultaneously manage the various pest infestations, agrochemicals are being routinely used that have a detrimental impact on the whole ecosystem, ranging from biodiversity loss to water pollution, soil degradation, nutrient imbalance and enormous health hazards to both consumers and agricultural workers. To address the challenges, biological eco-friendly alternatives are being looked upon with high hopes where endophytes pitch in as key players due to their tight association with the host plants. The intricate interplay between plants and endophytic microorganisms has emerged as a captivating subject of scientific investigation, with profound implications for the sustainable biosynthesis of pharmaceutically important secondary metabolites. This review delves into the hidden world of the "secret wedlock" between plants and endophytes, elucidating their multifaceted interactions that underpin the synthesis of bioactive compounds with medicinal significance in their plant hosts. Here, we briefly review endophytic diversity association with medicinal plants and highlight the potential role of core endomicrobiome. We also propose that successful implementation of in situ microbiome manipulation through high-end techniques can pave the way towards a more sustainable and pharmaceutically enriched future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Poonam Kumari
- Division of Crop Production and Protection, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Nikky Deepa
- Division of Crop Production and Protection, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Prabodh Kumar Trivedi
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Brajesh K Singh
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2753, Australia
- Global Centre for Land-Based Innovation, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Vaibhav Srivastava
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Akanksha Singh
- Division of Crop Production and Protection, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kostešić E, Mitrović M, Kajan K, Marković T, Hausmann B, Orlić S, Pjevac P. Microbial Diversity and Activity of Biofilms from Geothermal Springs in Croatia. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:2305-2319. [PMID: 37209180 PMCID: PMC10640420 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02239-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Hot spring biofilms are stable, highly complex microbial structures. They form at dynamic redox and light gradients and are composed of microorganisms adapted to the extreme temperatures and fluctuating geochemical conditions of geothermal environments. In Croatia, a large number of poorly investigated geothermal springs host biofilm communities. Here, we investigated the microbial community composition of biofilms collected over several seasons at 12 geothermal springs and wells. We found biofilm microbial communities to be temporally stable and highly dominated by Cyanobacteria in all but one high-temperature sampling site (Bizovac well). Of the physiochemical parameters recorded, temperature had the strongest influence on biofilm microbial community composition. Besides Cyanobacteria, the biofilms were mainly inhabited by Chloroflexota, Gammaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidota. In a series of incubations with Cyanobacteria-dominated biofilms from Tuhelj spring and Chloroflexota- and Pseudomonadota-dominated biofilms from Bizovac well, we stimulated either chemoorganotrophic or chemolithotrophic community members, to determine the fraction of microorganisms dependent on organic carbon (in situ predominantly produced via photosynthesis) versus energy derived from geochemical redox gradients (here simulated by addition of thiosulfate). We found surprisingly similar levels of activity in response to all substrates in these two distinct biofilm communities, and observed microbial community composition and hot spring geochemistry to be poor predictors of microbial activity in the study systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ema Kostešić
- Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maja Mitrović
- Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Katarina Kajan
- Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Science and Technology-Integration of Mediterranean Region (STIM), Split, Croatia
| | | | - Bela Hausmann
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sandi Orlić
- Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Science and Technology-Integration of Mediterranean Region (STIM), Split, Croatia
| | - Petra Pjevac
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Frates ES, Spietz RL, Silverstein MR, Girguis P, Hatzenpichler R, Marlow JJ. Natural and anthropogenic carbon input affect microbial activity in salt marsh sediment. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1235906. [PMID: 37744927 PMCID: PMC10512730 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1235906] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Salt marshes are dynamic, highly productive ecosystems positioned at the interface between terrestrial and marine systems. They are exposed to large quantities of both natural and anthropogenic carbon input, and their diverse sediment-hosted microbial communities play key roles in carbon cycling and remineralization. To better understand the effects of natural and anthropogenic carbon on sediment microbial ecology, several sediment cores were collected from Little Sippewissett Salt Marsh (LSSM) on Cape Cod, MA, USA and incubated with either Spartina alterniflora cordgrass or diesel fuel. Resulting shifts in microbial diversity and activity were assessed via bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) combined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Both Spartina and diesel amendments resulted in initial decreases of microbial diversity as well as clear, community-wide shifts in metabolic activity. Multi-stage degradative frameworks shaped by fermentation were inferred based on anabolically active lineages. In particular, the metabolically versatile Marinifilaceae were prominent under both treatments, as were the sulfate-reducing Desulfovibrionaceae, which may be attributable to their ability to utilize diverse forms of carbon under nutrient limited conditions. By identifying lineages most directly involved in the early stages of carbon processing, we offer potential targets for indicator species to assess ecosystem health and highlight key players for selective promotion of bioremediation or carbon sequestration pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin S. Frates
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rachel L. Spietz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | | | - Peter Girguis
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Murali R, Yu H, Speth DR, Wu F, Metcalfe KS, Crémière A, Laso-Pèrez R, Malmstrom RR, Goudeau D, Woyke T, Hatzenpichler R, Chadwick GL, Connon SA, Orphan VJ. Physiological potential and evolutionary trajectories of syntrophic sulfate-reducing bacterial partners of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002292. [PMID: 37747940 PMCID: PMC10553843 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Sulfate-coupled anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) is performed by multicellular consortia of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) in obligate syntrophic partnership with sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Diverse ANME and SRB clades co-associate but the physiological basis for their adaptation and diversification is not well understood. In this work, we used comparative metagenomics and phylogenetics to investigate the metabolic adaptation among the 4 main syntrophic SRB clades (HotSeep-1, Seep-SRB2, Seep-SRB1a, and Seep-SRB1g) and identified features associated with their syntrophic lifestyle that distinguish them from their non-syntrophic evolutionary neighbors in the phylum Desulfobacterota. We show that the protein complexes involved in direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) from ANME to the SRB outer membrane are conserved between the syntrophic lineages. In contrast, the proteins involved in electron transfer within the SRB inner membrane differ between clades, indicative of convergent evolution in the adaptation to a syntrophic lifestyle. Our analysis suggests that in most cases, this adaptation likely occurred after the acquisition of the DIET complexes in an ancestral clade and involve horizontal gene transfers within pathways for electron transfer (CbcBA) and biofilm formation (Pel). We also provide evidence for unique adaptations within syntrophic SRB clades, which vary depending on the archaeal partner. Among the most widespread syntrophic SRB, Seep-SRB1a, subclades that specifically partner ANME-2a are missing the cobalamin synthesis pathway, suggestive of nutritional dependency on its partner, while closely related Seep-SRB1a partners of ANME-2c lack nutritional auxotrophies. Our work provides insight into the features associated with DIET-based syntrophy and the adaptation of SRB towards it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ranjani Murali
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Hang Yu
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, Unites Stated of America
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Daan R. Speth
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Fabai Wu
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kyle S. Metcalfe
- Department of Plant and Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Antoine Crémière
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, Unites Stated of America
| | - Rafael Laso-Pèrez
- Systems Biology Department, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rex R. Malmstrom
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Department of Energy, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Danielle Goudeau
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Department of Energy, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Tanja Woyke
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Department of Energy, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America
| | - Grayson L. Chadwick
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, Unites Stated of America
- Department of Plant and Molecular Biology, University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Stephanie A. Connon
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, Unites Stated of America
| | - Victoria J. Orphan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, Unites Stated of America
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mansfield CR, Chirgwin ME, Derbyshire ER. Labeling strategies to track protozoan parasite proteome dynamics. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2023; 75:102316. [PMID: 37192562 PMCID: PMC10895934 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.102316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular protozoan parasites are responsible for wide-spread infectious diseases. These unicellular pathogens have complex, multi-host life cycles, which present challenges for investigating their basic biology and for discovering vulnerabilities that could be exploited for disease control. Throughout development, parasite proteomes are dynamic and support stage-specific functions, but detection of these proteins is often technically challenging and complicated by the abundance of host proteins. Thus, to elucidate key parasite processes and host-pathogen interactions, labeling strategies are required to track pathogen proteins during infection. Herein, we discuss the application of bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging and proximity-dependent labeling to broadly study protozoan parasites and include outlooks for future applications to study Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria. We highlight the potential of these technologies to provide spatiotemporal labeling with selective parasite protein enrichment, which could enable previously unattainable insight into the biology of elusive developmental stages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emily R Derbyshire
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA; Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Trexler RV, Van Goethem MW, Goudeau D, Nath N, Malmstrom RR, Northen TR, Couradeau E. BONCAT-FACS-Seq reveals the active fraction of a biocrust community undergoing a wet-up event. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1176751. [PMID: 37434715 PMCID: PMC10330726 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1176751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Determining which microorganisms are active within soil communities remains a major technical endeavor in microbial ecology research. One promising method to accomplish this is coupling bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) with fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) which sorts cells based on whether or not they are producing new proteins. Combined with shotgun metagenomic sequencing (Seq), we apply this method to profile the diversity and potential functional capabilities of both active and inactive microorganisms in a biocrust community after being resuscitated by a simulated rain event. We find that BONCAT-FACS-Seq is capable of discerning the pools of active and inactive microorganisms, especially within hours of applying the BONCAT probe. The active and inactive components of the biocrust community differed in species richness and composition at both 4 and 21 h after the wetting event. The active fraction of the biocrust community is marked by taxa commonly observed in other biocrust communities, many of which play important roles in species interactions and nutrient transformations. Among these, 11 families within the Firmicutes are enriched in the active fraction, supporting previous reports indicating that the Firmicutes are key early responders to biocrust wetting. We highlight the apparent inactivity of many Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria through 21 h after wetting, and note that members of the Chitinophagaceae, enriched in the active fraction, may play important ecological roles following wetting. Based on the enrichment of COGs in the active fraction, predation by phage and other bacterial members, as well as scavenging and recycling of labile nutrients, appear to be important ecological processes soon after wetting. To our knowledge, this is the first time BONCAT-FACS-Seq has been applied to biocrust samples, and therefore we discuss the potential advantages and shortcomings of coupling metagenomics to BONCAT to intact soil communities such as biocrust. In all, by pairing BONCAT-FACS and metagenomics, we are capable of highlighting the taxa and potential functions that typifies the microbes actively responding to a rain event.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan V. Trexler
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Marc W. Van Goethem
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Danielle Goudeau
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Nandita Nath
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Rex R. Malmstrom
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Trent R. Northen
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Estelle Couradeau
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Barbosa A, Miranda S, Azevedo NF, Cerqueira L, Azevedo AS. Imaging biofilms using fluorescence in situ hybridization: seeing is believing. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1195803. [PMID: 37284501 PMCID: PMC10239779 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1195803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofilms are complex structures with an intricate relationship between the resident microorganisms, the extracellular matrix, and the surrounding environment. Interest in biofilms is growing exponentially given its ubiquity in so diverse fields such as healthcare, environmental and industry. Molecular techniques (e.g., next-generation sequencing, RNA-seq) have been used to study biofilm properties. However, these techniques disrupt the spatial structure of biofilms; therefore, they do not allow to observe the location/position of biofilm components (e.g., cells, genes, metabolites), which is particularly relevant to explore and study the interactions and functions of microorganisms. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has been arguably the most widely used method for an in situ analysis of spatial distribution of biofilms. In this review, an overview on different FISH variants already applied on biofilm studies (e.g., CLASI-FISH, BONCAT-FISH, HiPR-FISH, seq-FISH) will be explored. In combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy, these variants emerged as a powerful approach to visualize, quantify and locate microorganisms, genes, and metabolites inside biofilms. Finally, we discuss new possible research directions for the development of robust and accurate FISH-based approaches that will allow to dig deeper into the biofilm structure and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Barbosa
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sónia Miranda
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP-Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno F. Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Laura Cerqueira
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia S. Azevedo
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- IPATIMUP-Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bueno de Mesquita CP, Wu D, Tringe SG. Methyl-Based Methanogenesis: an Ecological and Genomic Review. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0002422. [PMID: 36692297 PMCID: PMC10029344 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00024-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl-based methanogenesis is one of three broad categories of archaeal anaerobic methanogenesis, including both the methyl dismutation (methylotrophic) pathway and the methyl-reducing (also known as hydrogen-dependent methylotrophic) pathway. Methyl-based methanogenesis is increasingly recognized as an important source of methane in a variety of environments. Here, we provide an overview of methyl-based methanogenesis research, including the conditions under which methyl-based methanogenesis can be a dominant source of methane emissions, experimental methods for distinguishing different pathways of methane production, molecular details of the biochemical pathways involved, and the genes and organisms involved in these processes. We also identify the current gaps in knowledge and present a genomic and metagenomic survey of methyl-based methanogenesis genes, highlighting the diversity of methyl-based methanogens at multiple taxonomic levels and the widespread distribution of known methyl-based methanogenesis genes and families across different environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dongying Wu
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Susannah G. Tringe
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Landor LAI, Bratbak G, Larsen A, Tjendra J, Våge S. Differential toxicity of bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acids (BONCAT) in Escherichia coli. J Microbiol Methods 2023; 206:106679. [PMID: 36720393 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2023.106679] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell methods allow studying the activity of single bacterial cells, potentially shedding light on regulatory mechanisms involved in services like biochemical cycling. Bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) is a promising method for studying bacterial activity in natural communities, using the methionine analogues L-azidohomoalanine (AHA) and L-homopropargylglycine (HPG) to track protein production in single cells. Both AHA and HPG have been deemed non-toxic, but recent findings suggest that HPG affects bacterial metabolism. In this study we examined the effect of AHA and HPG on Escherichia coli with respect to acute toxicity and growth. E. coli exposed to 5.6-90 μM HPG showed no growth, and the growth rate was significantly reduced at >0.35 μM HPG, compared to the HPG-free control. In contrast, E. coli showed growth at concentrations up to 9 mM AHA. In assays where AHA or HPG were added during the exponential growth phase, the growth sustained but the growth rate was immediately reduced at the highest concentrations (90 μM HPG and 10 mM AHA). Prolonged incubations (20h) with apparently non-toxic concentrations suggest that the cells incorporating NCAAs fail to divide and do not contribute to the next generation resulting in the relative abundance of labelled cells to decrease over time. These results show that HPG and AHA have different impact on the growth of E. coli. Both concentration and incubation time affect the results and need to be considered when designing BONCAT experiments and evaluating results. Time course incubations are suggested as a possible way to obtain more reliable results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gunnar Bratbak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Aud Larsen
- NORCE Environment and Climate, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jesslyn Tjendra
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Norway
| | - Selina Våge
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bradley JA, Trivedi CB, Winkel M, Mourot R, Lutz S, Larose C, Keuschnig C, Doting E, Halbach L, Zervas A, Anesio AM, Benning LG. Active and dormant microorganisms on glacier surfaces. GEOBIOLOGY 2023; 21:244-261. [PMID: 36450703 PMCID: PMC10099831 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Glacier and ice sheet surfaces host diverse communities of microorganisms whose activity (or inactivity) influences biogeochemical cycles and ice melting. Supraglacial microbes endure various environmental extremes including resource scarcity, frequent temperature fluctuations above and below the freezing point of water, and high UV irradiance during summer followed by months of total darkness during winter. One strategy that enables microbial life to persist through environmental extremes is dormancy, which despite being prevalent among microbial communities in natural settings, has not been directly measured and quantified in glacier surface ecosystems. Here, we use a combination of metabarcoding and metatranscriptomic analyses, as well as cell-specific activity (BONCAT) incubations to assess the diversity and activity of microbial communities from glacial surfaces in Iceland and Greenland. We also present a new ecological model for glacier microorganisms and simulate physiological state-changes in the glacial microbial community under idealized (i) freezing, (ii) thawing, and (iii) freeze-thaw conditions. We show that a high proportion (>50%) of bacterial cells are translationally active in-situ on snow and ice surfaces, with Actinomycetota, Pseudomonadota, and Planctomycetota dominating the total and active community compositions, and that glacier microorganisms, even when frozen, could resume translational activity within 24 h after thawing. Our data suggest that glacial microorganisms respond rapidly to dynamic and changing conditions typical of their natural environment. We deduce that the biology and biogeochemistry of glacier surfaces are shaped by processes occurring over short (i.e., daily) timescales, and thus are susceptible to change following the expected alterations to the melt-regime of glaciers driven by climate change. A better understanding of the activity of microorganisms on glacier surfaces is critical in addressing the growing concern of climate change in Polar regions, as well as for their use as analogues to life in potentially habitable icy worlds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James A. Bradley
- Queen Mary University of LondonLondonUK
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesBerlinGermany
| | | | - Matthias Winkel
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesBerlinGermany
- Bundesanstalt für Risikobewertung (BfR)BerlinGermany
| | - Rey Mourot
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesBerlinGermany
- Freie University BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Stefanie Lutz
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesBerlinGermany
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial GenomicsUniversité de LyonEcully CedexFrance
| | | | - Eva Doting
- Environmental ScienceAarhus UniversityRoskildeDenmark
| | - Laura Halbach
- Environmental ScienceAarhus UniversityRoskildeDenmark
| | | | | | - Liane G. Benning
- GFZ German Research Centre for GeosciencesBerlinGermany
- Freie University BerlinBerlinGermany
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Composition and Metabolic Potential of Fe(III)-Reducing Enrichment Cultures of Methanotrophic ANME-2a Archaea and Associated Bacteria. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030555. [PMID: 36985129 PMCID: PMC10052568 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The key microbial group involved in anaerobic methane oxidation is anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME). From a terrestrial mud volcano, we enriched a microbial community containing ANME-2a, using methane as an electron donor, Fe(III) oxide (ferrihydrite) as an electron acceptor, and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate as an electron shuttle. Ferrihydrite reduction led to the formation of a black, highly magnetic precipitate. A significant relative abundance of ANME-2a in batch cultures was observed over five subsequent transfers. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that, in addition to ANME-2a, two bacterial taxa belonging to uncultured Desulfobulbaceae and Anaerolineaceae were constantly present in all enrichments. Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of ANME-2a contained a complete set of genes for methanogenesis and numerous genes of multiheme c-type cytochromes (MHC), indicating the capability of methanotrophs to transfer electrons to metal oxides or to a bacterial partner. One of the ANME MAGs encoded respiratory arsenate reductase (Arr), suggesting the potential for a direct coupling of methane oxidation with As(V) reduction in the single microorganism. The same MAG also encoded uptake [NiFe] hydrogenase, which is uncommon for ANME-2. The MAG of uncultured Desulfobulbaceae contained genes of dissimilatory sulfate reduction, a Wood–Ljungdahl pathway for autotrophic CO2 fixation, hydrogenases, and 43 MHC. We hypothesize that uncultured Desulfobulbaceae is a bacterial partner of ANME-2a, which mediates extracellular electron transfer to Fe(III) oxide.
Collapse
|
18
|
Zheng Q, Chang PV. Shedding Light on Bacterial Physiology with Click Chemistry. Isr J Chem 2023; 63:e202200064. [PMID: 37841997 PMCID: PMC10569449 DOI: 10.1002/ijch.202200064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria constitute a major lifeform on this planet and play numerous roles in ecology, physiology, and human disease. However, conventional methods to probe their activities are limited in their ability to visualize and identify their functions in these diverse settings. In the last two decades, the application of click chemistry to label these microbes has deepened our understanding of bacterial physiology. With the development of a plethora of chemical tools that target many biological molecules, it is possible to track these microorganisms in real-time and at unprecedented resolution. Here, we review click chemistry, including bioorthogonal reactions, and their applications in imaging bacterial glycans, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids using chemical reporters. We also highlight significant advances that have enabled biological discoveries that have heretofore remained elusive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyu Zheng
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Pamela V Chang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
- Cornell Center for Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
- Cornell Institute of Host-Microbe Interactions and Disease, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
van Kasteren S, Rozen DE. Using click chemistry to study microbial ecology and evolution. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:9. [PMID: 36721064 PMCID: PMC9889756 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00205-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Technological advances have largely driven the revolution in our understanding of the structure and function of microbial communities. Culturing, long the primary tool to probe microbial life, was supplanted by sequencing and other -omics approaches, which allowed detailed quantitative insights into species composition, metabolic potential, transcriptional activity, secretory responses and more. Although the ability to characterize "who's there" has never been easier or cheaper, it remains technically challenging and expensive to understand what the diverse species and strains that comprise microbial communities are doing in situ, and how these behaviors change through time. Our aim in this brief review is to introduce a developing toolkit based on click chemistry that can accelerate and reduce the expense of functional analyses of the ecology and evolution of microbial communities. After first outlining the history of technological development in this field, we will discuss key applications to date using diverse labels, including BONCAT, and then end with a selective (biased) view of areas where click-chemistry and BONCAT-based approaches stand to have a significant impact on our understanding of microbial communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sander van Kasteren
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry and The Institute of Chemical Immunology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, Leiden, 2300 RA, The Netherlands.
| | - Daniel E Rozen
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, Leiden, 2300 RA, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bai Y, Guo Z, Pereira FC, Wagner M, Cheng JX. Mid-Infrared Photothermal-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization for Functional Analysis and Genetic Identification of Single Cells. Anal Chem 2023; 95:2398-2405. [PMID: 36652555 PMCID: PMC9893215 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Simultaneous identification and metabolic analysis of microbes with single-cell resolution and high throughput are necessary to answer the question of "who eats what, when, and where" in complex microbial communities. Here, we present a mid-infrared photothermal-fluorescence in situ hybridization (MIP-FISH) platform that enables direct bridging of genotype and phenotype. Through multiple improvements of MIP imaging, the sensitive detection of isotopically labeled compounds incorporated into proteins of individual bacterial cells became possible, while simultaneous detection of FISH labeling with rRNA-targeted probes enabled the identification of the analyzed cells. In proof-of-concept experiments, we showed that the clear spectral red shift in the protein amide I region due to incorporation of 13C atoms originating from 13C-labeled glucose can be exploited by MIP-FISH to discriminate and identify 13C-labeled bacterial cells within a complex human gut microbiome sample. The presented methods open new opportunities for single-cell structure-function analyses for microbiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeran Bai
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States,Photonics
Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Zhongyue Guo
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States,Photonics
Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Fátima C. Pereira
- Centre
for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Department of
Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University
of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Michael Wagner
- Centre
for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Department of
Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University
of Vienna, Vienna 1030, Austria,Department
of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg 9220, Denmark,
| | - Ji-Xin Cheng
- Department
of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States,Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States,Photonics
Center, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States,
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Wang KL, Zhang JX, Min D, Lv JL, Liu DF, Yu HQ. Detection and Quantification of Antimicrobial-Resistant Cells in Aquatic Environments by Bioorthogonal Noncanonical Amino Acid Tagging. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:15685-15694. [PMID: 36251006 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c05024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic environments are important reservoirs of antibiotic wastes, antibiotic resistance genes, and bacteria, enabling the persistence and proliferation of antibiotic resistance in different bacterial populations. To prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance, effective approaches to detect antimicrobial susceptibility in aquatic environments are highly desired. In this work, we adopt a metabolism-based bioorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) method to detect, visualize, and quantify active antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in water samples by exploiting the differences in bacterial metabolic responses to antibiotics. The BONCAT approach can be applied to rapidly detect bacterial resistance to multiple antibiotics within 20 min of incubation, regardless of whether they act on proteins or DNA. In addition, the combination of BONCAT with the microscope enables the intuitive characterization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in mixed systems at single-cell resolution. Furthermore, BONCAT coupled with flow cytometry exhibits good performance in determining bacterial resistance ratios to chloramphenicol and population heterogeneity in hospital wastewater samples. In addition, this approach is also effective in detecting antibiotic-resistant bacteria in natural water samples. Therefore, such a simple, fast, and efficient BONCAT-based approach will be valuable in monitoring the increase and spread of antibiotic resistance within natural and engineered aquatic environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Li Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jia-Xin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Di Min
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jun-Lu Lv
- School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Dong-Feng Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Han-Qing Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Howard-Varona C, Roux S, Bowen BP, Silva LP, Lau R, Schwenck SM, Schwartz S, Woyke T, Northen T, Sullivan MB, Floge SA. Protist impacts on marine cyanovirocell metabolism. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:94. [PMID: 37938263 PMCID: PMC9723779 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00169-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
The fate of oceanic carbon and nutrients depends on interactions between viruses, prokaryotes, and unicellular eukaryotes (protists) in a highly interconnected planktonic food web. To date, few controlled mechanistic studies of these interactions exist, and where they do, they are largely pairwise, focusing either on viral infection (i.e., virocells) or protist predation. Here we studied population-level responses of Synechococcus cyanobacterial virocells (i.e., cyanovirocells) to the protist Oxyrrhis marina using transcriptomics, endo- and exo-metabolomics, photosynthetic efficiency measurements, and microscopy. Protist presence had no measurable impact on Synechococcus transcripts or endometabolites. The cyanovirocells alone had a smaller intracellular transcriptional and metabolic response than cyanovirocells co-cultured with protists, displaying known patterns of virus-mediated metabolic reprogramming while releasing diverse exometabolites during infection. When protists were added, several exometabolites disappeared, suggesting microbial consumption. In addition, the intracellular cyanovirocell impact was largest, with 4.5- and 10-fold more host transcripts and endometabolites, respectively, responding to protists, especially those involved in resource and energy production. Physiologically, photosynthetic efficiency also increased, and together with the transcriptomics and metabolomics findings suggest that cyanovirocell metabolic demand is highest when protists are present. These data illustrate cyanovirocell responses to protist presence that are not yet considered when linking microbial physiology to global-scale biogeochemical processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon Roux
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- U.S. DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Leslie P Silva
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Syft Technologies, Ltd, Christchurch, 8024, New Zealand
| | - Rebecca Lau
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sarah M Schwenck
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Microbial and Environmental Genomics, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Samuel Schwartz
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Tanja Woyke
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- U.S. DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Trent Northen
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- U.S. DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Matthew B Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, and Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Sheri A Floge
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Alcolombri U, Pioli R, Stocker R, Berry D. Single-cell stable isotope probing in microbial ecology. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:55. [PMID: 37938753 PMCID: PMC9723680 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00142-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Environmental and host-associated microbiomes are typically diverse assemblages of organisms performing myriad activities and engaging in a network of interactions that play out in spatially structured contexts. As the sum of these activities and interactions give rise to overall microbiome function, with important consequences for environmental processes and human health, elucidating specific microbial activities within complex communities is a pressing challenge. Single-cell stable isotope probing (SC-SIP) encompasses multiple techniques that typically utilize Raman microspectroscopy or nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) to enable spatially resolved tracking of isotope tracers in cells, cellular components, and metabolites. SC-SIP techniques are uniquely suited for illuminating single-cell activities in microbial communities and for testing hypotheses about cellular functions generated for example from meta-omics datasets. Here, we illustrate the insights enabled by SC-SIP techniques by reviewing selected applications in microbiology and offer a perspective on their potential for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uria Alcolombri
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roberto Pioli
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roman Stocker
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - David Berry
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Harris RL, Vetter MCYL, van Heerden E, Cason E, Vermeulen JG, Taneja A, Kieft TL, DeCoste CJ, Laevsky GS, Onstott TC. FISH-TAMB, a Fixation-Free mRNA Fluorescent Labeling Technique to Target Transcriptionally Active Members in Microbial Communities. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 84:182-197. [PMID: 34406445 PMCID: PMC9250922 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01809-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Keystone species or ecological engineers are vital to the health of an ecosystem; however, often, their low abundance or biomass present challenges for their discovery, identification, visualization and selection. We report the development of fluorescent in situ hybridization of transcript-annealing molecular beacons (FISH-TAMB), a fixation-free protocol that is applicable to archaea and bacteria. The FISH-TAMB method differs from existing FISH methods by the absence of fixatives or surfactants in buffers, the fast hybridization time of as short as 15 min at target cells' growth temperature, and the omission of washing steps. Polyarginine cell-penetrating peptides are employed to deliver molecular beacons (MBs) across prokaryotic cell walls and membranes, fluorescently labeling cells when MBs hybridize to target mRNA sequences. Here, the detailed protocol of the preparation and application of FISH-TAMB is presented. To demonstrate FISH-TAMB's ability to label intracellular mRNA targets, differentiate transcriptional states, detect active and rare taxa, and keep cell viability, labeling experiments were performed that targeted the messenger RNA (mRNA) of methyl-coenzyme M reductase A (mcrA) expressed in (1) Escherichia coli containing a plasmid with a partial mcrA gene of the methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri (E. coli mcrA+); (2) M. barkeri; and (3) an anaerobic methanotrophic (ANME) enrichment from a deep continental borehole. Although FISH-TAMB was initially envisioned for mRNA of any functional gene of interest without a requirement of prior knowledge of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA)-based taxonomy, FISH-TAMB has the potential for multiplexing and going beyond mRNA and thus is a versatile addition to the molecular ecologist's toolkit, with potentially widespread application in the field of environmental microbiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Harris
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - Maggie C Y Lau Vetter
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
- Laboratory of Extraterrestrial Ocean Systems, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, 572000, Hainan, China.
| | - Esta van Heerden
- Centre for Water Sciences and Management, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
- iWater Pty Ltd, 5 Walter Sisulu Rd, Park West, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
| | - Errol Cason
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
- Department of Animal-, Wildlife- and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
| | - Jan-G Vermeulen
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
- Department of Virology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
| | - Anjali Taneja
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
- McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Thomas L Kieft
- Department of Biology, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM, 87801, USA
| | - Christina J DeCoste
- Flow Cytometry Resource Facility, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Gary S Laevsky
- Confocal Imaging Facility, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Tullis C Onstott
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Rodrigues MO, Isoppo VG, Moro AV, Rodembusch FS. Photoactive organic-inorganic hybrid materials: From silylated compounds to optical applications. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY C: PHOTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2021.100474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
|
26
|
Morales DP, Robinson AJ, Pawlowski AC, Ark C, Kelliher JM, Junier P, Werner JH, Chain PSG. Advances and Challenges in Fluorescence in situ Hybridization for Visualizing Fungal Endobacteria. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:892227. [PMID: 35722318 PMCID: PMC9199388 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.892227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several bacteria have long been known to interact intimately with fungi, but molecular approaches have only recently uncovered how cosmopolitan these interactions are in nature. Currently, bacterial–fungal interactions (BFI) are inferred based on patterns of co-occurrence in amplicon sequencing investigations. However, determining the nature of these interactions, whether the bacteria are internally or externally associated, remains a grand challenge in BFI research. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a robust method that targets unique sequences of interest which can be employed for visualizing intra-hyphal targets, such as mitochondrial organelles or, as in this study, bacteria. We evaluate the challenges and employable strategies to resolve intra-hyphal BFI to address pertinent criteria in BFI research, such as culturing media, spatial distribution of bacteria, and abundance of bacterial 16S rRNA copies for fluorescent labeling. While these experimental factors influence labeling and detection of endobacteria, we demonstrate how to overcome these challenges thorough permeabilization, appropriate media choice, and targeted amplification using hybridization chain reaction FISH. Such microscopy imaging approaches can now be utilized by the broader research community to complement sequence-based investigations and provide more conclusive evidence on the nature of specific bacterial–fungal relationships.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Demosthenes P. Morales
- Center of Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
- *Correspondence: Demosthenes P. Morales,
| | - Aaron J. Robinson
- Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Andrew C. Pawlowski
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Caitlyn Ark
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Julia M. Kelliher
- Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Pilar Junier
- Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - James H. Werner
- Center of Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Patrick S. G. Chain
- Biosecurity and Public Health, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Community Structure and Microbial Associations in Sediment-Free Methanotrophic Enrichment Cultures from a Marine Methane Seep. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0210921. [PMID: 35604226 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02109-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Syntrophic consortia of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) consume large amounts of methane and serve as the foundational microorganisms in marine methane seeps. Despite their importance in the carbon cycle, research on the physiology of ANME-SRB consortia has been hampered by the slow growth and complex physicochemical environment the consortia inhabit. Here, we report successful sediment-free enrichment of ANME-SRB consortia from deep-sea methane seep sediments in the Santa Monica Basin, California. Anoxic Percoll density gradients and size-selective filtration were used to separate ANME-SRB consortia from sediment particles and single cells to accelerate the cultivation process. Over a 3-year period, a subset of the sediment-associated ANME and SRB lineages, predominantly comprised of ANME-2a/2b ("Candidatus Methanocomedenaceae") and their syntrophic bacterial partners, SEEP-SRB1/2, adapted and grew under defined laboratory conditions. Metagenome-assembled genomes from several enrichments revealed that ANME-2a, SEEP-SRB1, and Methanococcoides in different enrichments from the same inoculum represented distinct species, whereas other coenriched microorganisms were closely related at the species level. This suggests that ANME, SRB, and Methanococcoides are more genetically diverse than other members in methane seeps. Flow cytometry sorting and sequencing of cell aggregates revealed that Methanococcoides, Anaerolineales, and SEEP-SRB1 were overrepresented in multiple ANME-2a cell aggregates relative to the bulk metagenomes, suggesting they were physically associated and possibly interacting. Overall, this study represents a successful case of selective cultivation of anaerobic slow-growing microorganisms from sediments based on their physical characteristics, introducing new opportunities for detailed genomic, physiological, biochemical, and ecological analyses. IMPORTANCE Biological anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) coupled with sulfate reduction represents a large methane sink in global ocean sediments. Methane consumption is carried out by syntrophic archaeal-bacterial consortia and fuels a unique ecosystem, yet the interactions in these slow-growing syntrophic consortia and with other associated community members remain poorly understood. The significance of this study is the establishment of sediment-free enrichment cultures of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria performing AOM with sulfate using selective cultivation approaches based on size, density, and metabolism. By reconstructing microbial genomes and analyzing community composition of the enrichment cultures and cell aggregates, we shed light on the diversity of microorganisms physically associated with AOM consortia beyond the core syntrophic partners. These enrichment cultures offer simplified model systems to extend our understanding of the diversity of microbial interactions within marine methane seeps.
Collapse
|
28
|
McKay LJ, Smith HJ, Barnhart EP, Schweitzer HD, Malmstrom RR, Goudeau D, Fields MW. Activity-based, genome-resolved metagenomics uncovers key populations and pathways involved in subsurface conversions of coal to methane. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:915-926. [PMID: 34689183 PMCID: PMC8941128 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01139-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Microbial metabolisms and interactions that facilitate subsurface conversions of recalcitrant carbon to methane are poorly understood. We deployed an in situ enrichment device in a subsurface coal seam in the Powder River Basin (PRB), USA, and used BONCAT-FACS-Metagenomics to identify translationally active populations involved in methane generation from a variety of coal-derived aromatic hydrocarbons. From the active fraction, high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were recovered for the acetoclastic methanogen, Methanothrix paradoxum, and a novel member of the Chlorobi with the potential to generate acetate via the Pta-Ack pathway. Members of the Bacteroides and Geobacter also encoded Pta-Ack and together, all four populations had the putative ability to degrade ethylbenzene, phenylphosphate, phenylethanol, toluene, xylene, and phenol. Metabolic reconstructions, gene analyses, and environmental parameters also indicated that redox fluctuations likely promote facultative energy metabolisms in the coal seam. The active "Chlorobi PRB" MAG encoded enzymes for fermentation, nitrate reduction, and multiple oxygenases with varying binding affinities for oxygen. "M. paradoxum PRB" encoded an extradiol dioxygenase for aerobic phenylacetate degradation, which was also present in previously published Methanothrix genomes. These observations outline underlying processes for bio-methane from subbituminous coal by translationally active populations and demonstrate activity-based metagenomics as a powerful strategy in next generation physiology to understand ecologically relevant microbial populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luke J McKay
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
- Department of Land Resources & Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
| | - Heidi J Smith
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
| | - Elliott P Barnhart
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, Helena, MT, 59601, USA
| | - Hannah D Schweitzer
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | | | | | - Matthew W Fields
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
- Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Metagenomes and Metagenome-Assembled Genomes from Substrate-Amended Hot Spring Sediment Incubations from Yellowstone National Park. Microbiol Resour Announc 2022; 11:e0106521. [PMID: 35352956 PMCID: PMC9022548 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01065-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we report on eight sediment metagenomes obtained from an alkaline hot spring, with their corresponding metagenome-assembled genomes. Samples had been incubated for 48 h with various substrate amendments in conjunction with the amino acid analog l-homopropargylglycine in a study targeted at identifying anabolicly active uncultured thermophilic archaea and bacteria.
Collapse
|
30
|
Hosokawa M, Endoh T, Kamata K, Arikawa K, Nishikawa Y, Kogawa M, Saeki T, Yoda T, Takeyama H. Strain-level profiling of viable microbial community by selective single-cell genome sequencing. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4443. [PMID: 35292746 PMCID: PMC8924182 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08401-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Culture-independent analysis with high-throughput sequencing has been widely used to characterize bacterial communities. However, signals derived from non-viable bacteria and non-cell DNA may inhibit its characterization. Here, we present a method for viable bacteria-targeted single-cell genome sequencing, called PMA-SAG-gel, to obtain comprehensive whole-genome sequences of surviving uncultured bacteria from microbial communities. PMA-SAG-gel uses gel matrixes that enable sequential enzymatic reactions for cell lysis and genome amplification of viable single cells from the microbial communities. PMA-SAG-gel removed the single-amplified genomes (SAGs) derived from dead bacteria and enabled selective sequencing of viable bacteria in the model samples of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Next, we demonstrated the recovery of near-complete SAGs of eight oxygen-tolerant bacteria, including Bacteroides spp. and Phocaeicola spp., from 1331 human feces SAGs. We found the presence of two different strains in each species and identified their specific genes to investigate the metabolic functions. The survival profile of an entire population at the strain level will provide the information for understanding the characteristics of the surviving bacteria under the specific environments or sample processing and insights for quality assessment of live bacterial products or fecal microbiota transplantation and for understanding the effect of antimicrobial treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Hosokawa
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan. .,Research Organization for Nano and Life Innovation, Waseda University, 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0041, Japan. .,bitBiome, Inc., 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0041, Japan. .,Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan. .,Institute for Advanced Research of Biosystem Dynamics, Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan.
| | - Taruho Endoh
- bitBiome, Inc., 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0041, Japan
| | - Kazuma Kamata
- bitBiome, Inc., 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0041, Japan
| | - Koji Arikawa
- bitBiome, Inc., 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0041, Japan
| | - Yohei Nishikawa
- Research Organization for Nano and Life Innovation, Waseda University, 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0041, Japan.,Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan
| | - Masato Kogawa
- Research Organization for Nano and Life Innovation, Waseda University, 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0041, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Saeki
- bitBiome, Inc., 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0041, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoda
- bitBiome, Inc., 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0041, Japan
| | - Haruko Takeyama
- Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8480, Japan.,Research Organization for Nano and Life Innovation, Waseda University, 513 Wasedatsurumaki-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0041, Japan.,Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan.,Institute for Advanced Research of Biosystem Dynamics, Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Schweitzer HD, Smith HJ, Barnhart EP, McKay LJ, Gerlach R, Cunningham AB, Malmstrom RR, Goudeau D, Fields MW. Subsurface hydrocarbon degradation strategies in low- and high-sulfate coal seam communities identified with activity-based metagenomics. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 2022; 8:7. [PMID: 35177633 PMCID: PMC8854433 DOI: 10.1038/s41522-022-00267-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmentally relevant metagenomes and BONCAT-FACS derived translationally active metagenomes from Powder River Basin coal seams were investigated to elucidate potential genes and functional groups involved in hydrocarbon degradation to methane in coal seams with high- and low-sulfate levels. An advanced subsurface environmental sampler allowed the establishment of coal-associated microbial communities under in situ conditions for metagenomic analyses from environmental and translationally active populations. Metagenomic sequencing demonstrated that biosurfactants, aerobic dioxygenases, and anaerobic phenol degradation pathways were present in active populations across the sampled coal seams. In particular, results suggested the importance of anaerobic degradation pathways under high-sulfate conditions with an emphasis on fumarate addition. Under low-sulfate conditions, a mixture of both aerobic and anaerobic pathways was observed but with a predominance of aerobic dioxygenases. The putative low-molecular-weight biosurfactant, lichysein, appeared to play a more important role compared to rhamnolipids. The methods used in this study—subsurface environmental samplers in combination with metagenomic sequencing of both total and translationally active metagenomes—offer a deeper and environmentally relevant perspective on community genetic potential from coal seams poised at different redox conditions broadening the understanding of degradation strategies for subsurface carbon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah D Schweitzer
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA. .,Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA. .,UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, 9019, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Heidi J Smith
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA. .,Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
| | - Elliott P Barnhart
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.,US Geological Survey, Wyoming-Montana Water Science Center, Helena, MT, 59601, USA
| | - Luke J McKay
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.,Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Robin Gerlach
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.,Energy Research Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.,Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Alfred B Cunningham
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.,Energy Research Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.,Department of Civil Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | | | | | - Matthew W Fields
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA. .,Department of Microbiology & Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA. .,Energy Research Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Pereira AC, Tenreiro A, Cunha MV. When FLOW-FISH met FACS: Combining multiparametric, dynamic approaches for microbial single-cell research in the total environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:150682. [PMID: 34600998 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In environmental microbiology, the ability to assess, in a high-throughput way, single-cells within microbial communities is key to understand their heterogeneity. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) uses fluorescently labeled oligonucleotide probes to detect, identify, and quantify single cells of specific taxonomic groups. The combination of Flow Cytometry (FLOW) with FISH (FLOW-FISH) enables high-throughput quantification of complex whole cell populations, which when associated with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) enables sorting of target microorganisms. These sorted cells may be investigated in many ways, for instance opening new avenues for cytomics at a single-cell scale. In this review, an overview of FISH and FLOW methodologies is provided, addressing conventional methods, signal amplification approaches, common fluorophores for cell physiology parameters evaluation, and model variation techniques as well. The coupling of FLOW-FISH-FACS is explored in the context of different downstream applications of sorted cells. Current and emerging applications in environmental microbiology to outline the interactions and processes of complex microbial communities within soil, water, animal microbiota, polymicrobial biofilms, and food samples, are described.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- André C Pereira
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Tenreiro
- Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mónica V Cunha
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Sulfate differentially stimulates but is not respired by diverse anaerobic methanotrophic archaea. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:168-177. [PMID: 34285362 PMCID: PMC8692474 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01047-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sulfate-coupled anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) is a major methane sink in marine sediments. Multiple lineages of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) often coexist in sediments and catalyze this process syntrophically with sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), but the potential differences in ANME ecophysiology and mechanisms of syntrophy remain unresolved. A humic acid analog, anthraquinone 2,6-disulfonate (AQDS), could decouple archaeal methanotrophy from bacterial sulfate reduction and serve as the terminal electron acceptor for AOM (AQDS-coupled AOM). Here in sediment microcosm experiments, we examined variations in physiological response between two co-occurring ANME-2 families (ANME-2a and ANME-2c) and tested the hypothesis of sulfate respiration by ANME-2. Sulfate concentrations as low as 100 µM increased AQDS-coupled AOM nearly 2-fold matching the rates of sulfate-coupled AOM. However, the SRB partners remained inactive in microcosms with sulfate and AQDS and neither ANME-2 families respired sulfate, as shown by their cellular sulfur contents and anabolic activities measured using nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry. ANME-2a anabolic activity was significantly higher than ANME-2c, suggesting that ANME-2a was primarily responsible for the observed sulfate stimulation of AQDS-coupled AOM. Comparative transcriptomics showed significant upregulation of ANME-2a transcripts linked to multiple ABC transporters and downregulation of central carbon metabolism during AQDS-coupled AOM compared to sulfate-coupled AOM. Surprisingly, genes involved in sulfur anabolism were not differentially expressed during AQDS-coupled AOM with and without sulfate amendment. Collectively, this data indicates that ANME-2 archaea are incapable of respiring sulfate, but sulfate availability differentially stimulates the growth and AOM activity of different ANME lineages.
Collapse
|
34
|
Kern M, Ferreira-Cerca S. Differential Translation Activity Analysis Using Bioorthogonal Noncanonical Amino Acid Tagging (BONCAT) in Archaea. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2533:229-246. [PMID: 35796992 PMCID: PMC9761519 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2501-9_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The study of protein production and degradation in a quantitative and time-dependent manner is a major challenge to better understand cellular physiological response. Among available technologies bioorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) is an efficient approach allowing for time-dependent labeling of proteins through the incorporation of chemically reactive noncanonical amino acids like L-azidohomoalanine (L-AHA). The azide-containing amino-acid derivative enables a highly efficient and specific reaction termed click chemistry, whereby the azide group of the L-AHA reacts with a reactive alkyne derivate, like dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO) derivatives, using strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition (SPAAC). Moreover, available DBCO containing reagents are versatile and can be coupled to fluorophore (e.g., Cy7) or affinity tag (e.g., biotin) derivatives, for easy visualization and affinity purification, respectively.Here, we describe a step-by-step BONCAT protocol optimized for the model archaeon Haloferax volcanii , but which is also suitable to harness other biological systems. Finally, we also describe examples of downstream visualization, affinity purification of L-AHA-labeled proteins and differential expression analysis.In conclusion, the following BONCAT protocol expands the available toolkit to explore proteostasis using time-resolved semiquantitative proteomic analysis in archaea .
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kern
- Biochemistry III-Regensburg Center for Biochemistry-Institute for Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sébastien Ferreira-Cerca
- Biochemistry III-Regensburg Center for Biochemistry-Institute for Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Chadwick GL, Skennerton CT, Laso-Pérez R, Leu AO, Speth DR, Yu H, Morgan-Lang C, Hatzenpichler R, Goudeau D, Malmstrom R, Brazelton WJ, Woyke T, Hallam SJ, Tyson GW, Wegener G, Boetius A, Orphan VJ. Comparative genomics reveals electron transfer and syntrophic mechanisms differentiating methanotrophic and methanogenic archaea. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001508. [PMID: 34986141 PMCID: PMC9012536 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to sulfate reduction is a microbially mediated process requiring a syntrophic partnership between anaerobic methanotrophic (ANME) archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). Based on genome taxonomy, ANME lineages are polyphyletic within the phylum Halobacterota, none of which have been isolated in pure culture. Here, we reconstruct 28 ANME genomes from environmental metagenomes and flow sorted syntrophic consortia. Together with a reanalysis of previously published datasets, these genomes enable a comparative analysis of all marine ANME clades. We review the genomic features that separate ANME from their methanogenic relatives and identify what differentiates ANME clades. Large multiheme cytochromes and bioenergetic complexes predicted to be involved in novel electron bifurcation reactions are well distributed and conserved in the ANME archaea, while significant variations in the anabolic C1 pathways exists between clades. Our analysis raises the possibility that methylotrophic methanogenesis may have evolved from a methanotrophic ancestor. A comparative genomics study of anaerobic methanotrophic (ANME) archaea reveals the genetic "parts list" associated with the repeated evolutionary transition between methanogenic and methanotrophic metabolism in the archaeal domain of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grayson L. Chadwick
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (GLC); (VJO)
| | - Connor T. Skennerton
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Rafael Laso-Pérez
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Science, and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Andy O. Leu
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daan R. Speth
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Hang Yu
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Connor Morgan-Lang
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia, Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
| | - Danielle Goudeau
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Rex Malmstrom
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - William J. Brazelton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States of America
| | - Tanja Woyke
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Steven J. Hallam
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia, Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
- Genome Science and Technology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- ECOSCOPE Training Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gene W. Tyson
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gunter Wegener
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Science, and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Antje Boetius
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
- MARUM, Center for Marine Environmental Science, and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Victoria J. Orphan
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (GLC); (VJO)
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Lindivat M, Bratbak G, Larsen A, Hess-Erga OK, Hoell IA. Flow Cytometric Analysis of Bacterial Protein Synthesis: Monitoring Vitality After Water Treatment. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:772651. [PMID: 34956134 PMCID: PMC8702973 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.772651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial vitality after water disinfection treatment was investigated using bio-orthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) and flow cytometry (FCM). Protein synthesis activity and DNA integrity (BONCAT–SYBR Green) was monitored in Escherichia coli monocultures and in natural marine samples after UV irradiation (from 25 to 200 mJ/cm2) and heat treatment (from 15 to 45 min at 55°C). UV irradiation of E. coli caused DNA degradation followed by the decrease in protein synthesis within a period of 24 h. Heat treatment affected both DNA integrity and protein synthesis immediately, with an increased effect over time. Results from the BONCAT method were compared with results from well-known methods such as plate counts (focusing on growth) and LIVE/DEAD™ BacLight™ (focusing on membrane permeability). The methods differed somewhat with respect to vitality levels detected in bacteria after the treatments, but the results were complementary and revealed that cells maintained metabolic activity and membrane integrity despite loss of cell division. Similarly, analysis of protein synthesis in marine bacteria with BONCAT displayed residual activity despite inability to grow or reproduce. Background controls (time zero blanks) prepared using different fixatives (formaldehyde, isopropanol, and acetic acid) and several different bacterial strains revealed that the BONCAT protocol still resulted in labeled, i.e., apparently active, cells. The reason for this is unclear and needs further investigation to be understood. Our results show that BONCAT and FCM can detect, enumerate, and differentiate bacterial cells after physical water treatments such as UV irradiation and heating. The method is reliable to enumerate and explore vitality of single cells, and a great advantage with BONCAT is that all proteins synthesized within cells are analyzed, compared to assays targeting specific elements such as enzyme activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Lindivat
- Faculty of Engineering and Science, Institute of Safety, Chemistry and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Haugesund, Norway
| | - Gunnar Bratbak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Aud Larsen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,NORCE Environment, NORCE Norwegian Research Center AS, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Ingunn Alne Hoell
- Faculty of Engineering and Science, Institute of Safety, Chemistry and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Haugesund, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Krukenberg V, Reichart NJ, Spietz RL, Hatzenpichler R. Microbial Community Response to Polysaccharide Amendment in Anoxic Hydrothermal Sediments of the Guaymas Basin. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:763971. [PMID: 34956126 PMCID: PMC8703129 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.763971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Organic-rich, hydrothermal sediments of the Guaymas Basin are inhabited by diverse microbial communities including many uncultured lineages with unknown metabolic potential. Here we investigated the short-term effect of polysaccharide amendment on a sediment microbial community to identify taxa involved in the initial stage of macromolecule degradation. We incubated anoxic sediment with cellulose, chitin, laminarin, and starch and analyzed the total and active microbial communities using bioorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) combined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Our results show a response of an initially minor but diverse population of Clostridia particularly after amendment with the lower molecular weight polymers starch and laminarin. Thus, Clostridia may readily become key contributors to the heterotrophic community in Guaymas Basin sediments when substrate availability and temperature range permit their metabolic activity and growth, which expands our appreciation of the potential diversity and niche differentiation of heterotrophs in hydrothermally influenced sediments. BONCAT-FACS, although challenging in its application to complex samples, detected metabolic responses prior to growth and thus can provide complementary insight into a microbial community's metabolic potential and succession pattern. As a primary application of BONCAT-FACS on a diverse deep-sea sediment community, our study highlights important considerations and demonstrates inherent limitations associated with this experimental approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Viola Krukenberg
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Nicholas J. Reichart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Rachel L. Spietz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Jia Z, Dong Y, Xu H, Wang F. Optimizing the hybridization chain reaction-fluorescence in situ hybridization (HCR-FISH) protocol for detection of microbes in sediments. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 3:529-541. [PMID: 37073263 PMCID: PMC10077247 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-021-00098-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a canonical tool commonly used in environmental microbiology research to visualize targeted cells. However, the problems of low signal intensity and false-positive signals impede its widespread application. Alternatively, the signal intensity can be amplified by incorporating Hybridization Chain Reaction (HCR) with FISH, while the specificity can be improved through protocol modification and proper counterstaining. Here we optimized the HCR-FISH protocol for studying microbes in environmental samples, particularly marine sediments. Firstly, five sets of HCR initiator/amplifier pairs were tested on the laboratory-cultured bacterium Escherichia coli and the archaeon Methanococcoides methylutens, and two sets displayed high hybridization efficiency and specificity. Secondly, we tried to find the best combination of sample pretreatment methods and HCR-FISH protocol for environmental sample analysis with the aim of producing less false positive signals. Various detachment methods, extraction methods and formulas of hybridization buffer were tested using sediment samples. Thirdly, an image processing method was developed to enhance the DAPI signal of microbial cells against that of abiotic particles, providing a reliable reference for FISH imaging. In summary, our optimized HCR-FISH protocol showed promise to serve as an addendum to traditional FISH for research on environmental microbes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-021-00098-8.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 China
| | - Yijing Dong
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 China
| | - Heng Xu
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 China
- Institute of Natural Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 China
| | - Fengping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 China
- School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240 China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
McDaniel EA, Wahl SA, Ishii S, Pinto A, Ziels R, Nielsen PH, McMahon KD, Williams RBH. Prospects for multi-omics in the microbial ecology of water engineering. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 205:117608. [PMID: 34555741 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies and bioinformatics approaches over almost the last three decades have substantially increased our ability to explore microorganisms and their functions - including those that have yet to be cultivated in pure isolation. Genome-resolved metagenomic approaches have enabled linking powerful functional predictions to specific taxonomical groups with increasing fidelity. Additionally, related developments in both whole community gene expression surveys and metabolite profiling have permitted for direct surveys of community-scale functions in specific environmental settings. These advances have allowed for a shift in microbiome science away from descriptive studies and towards mechanistic and predictive frameworks for designing and harnessing microbial communities for desired beneficial outcomes. Water engineers, microbiologists, and microbial ecologists studying activated sludge, anaerobic digestion, and drinking water distribution systems have applied various (meta)omics techniques for connecting microbial community dynamics and physiologies to overall process parameters and system performance. However, the rapid pace at which new omics-based approaches are developed can appear daunting to those looking to apply these state-of-the-art practices for the first time. Here, we review how modern genome-resolved metagenomic approaches have been applied to a variety of water engineering applications from lab-scale bioreactors to full-scale systems. We describe integrated omics analysis across engineered water systems and the foundations for pairing these insights with modeling approaches. Lastly, we summarize emerging omics-based technologies that we believe will be powerful tools for water engineering applications. Overall, we provide a framework for microbial ecologists specializing in water engineering to apply cutting-edge omics approaches to their research questions to achieve novel functional insights. Successful adoption of predictive frameworks in engineered water systems could enable more economically and environmentally sustainable bioprocesses as demand for water and energy resources increases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A McDaniel
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | | | - Shun'ichi Ishii
- Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Super-cutting-edge Grand and Advanced Research (SUGAR) Program, Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan
| | - Ameet Pinto
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan Ziels
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Katherine D McMahon
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Rohan B H Williams
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, National University of Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Du Z, Behrens SF. Tracking de novo protein synthesis in the activated sludge microbiome using BONCAT-FACS. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 205:117696. [PMID: 34601360 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In order to ensure stable performance of engineered biotechnologies that rely on mixed microbial community systems, it is important to identify process-specific microbial traits and study their in-situ activity and responses to changing environmental conditions and system operational parameters. We used BioOrthogonal Non-Canonical Amino acid Tagging (BONCAT) in combination with Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to identify translationally active cells in activated sludge. We found that only a subset of the activated sludge microbiome is translationally active during the aerobic treatment phase of a full-scale sequencing batch reactor designed to enhance biological phosphorus removal from municipal wastewater. Relative abundance of amplicon sequence variants was not a reliable predictor of species activity. BONCAT-positive and -negative cells revealed a broad range of population-wide and taxa-specific translational heterogeneity. BONCAT-FACS in combination with amplicon sequencing can provide new insights into the ecophysiology of highly dynamic microbiomes in activated sludge systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Du
- The BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Sebastian F Behrens
- The BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA; Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Marlow J, Spietz R, Kim K, Ellisman M, Girguis P, Hatzenpichler R. Spatially resolved correlative microscopy and microbial identification reveal dynamic depth- and mineral-dependent anabolic activity in salt marsh sediment. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:4756-4777. [PMID: 34346142 PMCID: PMC8456820 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Coastal salt marshes are key sites of biogeochemical cycling and ideal systems in which to investigate the community structure of complex microbial communities. Here, we clarify structural-functional relationships among microorganisms and their mineralogical environment, revealing previously undescribed metabolic activity patterns and precise spatial arrangements within salt marsh sediment. Following 3.7-day in situ incubations with a non-canonical amino acid that was incorporated into new biomass, samples were resin-embedded and analysed by correlative fluorescence and electron microscopy to map the microscale arrangements of anabolically active and inactive organisms alongside mineral grains. Parallel sediment samples were examined by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and 16S rRNA gene sequencing to link anabolic activity to taxonomic identity. Both approaches demonstrated a rapid decline in the proportion of anabolically active cells with depth into salt marsh sediment, from ~60% in the top centimetre to 9.4%-22.4% between 2 and 10 cm. From the top to the bottom, the most prominent active community members shifted from sulfur cycling phototrophic consortia, to putative sulfate-reducing bacteria likely oxidizing organic compounds, to fermentative lineages. Correlative microscopy revealed more abundant (and more anabolically active) organisms around non-quartz minerals including rutile, orthoclase and plagioclase. Microbe-mineral relationships appear to be dynamic and context-dependent arbiters of biogeochemical cycling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Marlow
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHarvard University16 Divinity AveCambridgeMassachusetts02138USA
| | - Rachel Spietz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Thermal Biology Institute, and Center for Biofilm EngineeringMontana State UniversityBozemanMontana59717USA
| | - Keun‐Young Kim
- Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of California at San Diego School of Medicine and National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia92093USA
| | - Mark Ellisman
- Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of California at San Diego School of Medicine and National Center for Microscopy and Imaging Research, University of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia92093USA
- Department of PharmacologyUniversity of CaliforniaSan DiegoLa JollaCalifornia92161USA
| | - Peter Girguis
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary BiologyHarvard University16 Divinity AveCambridgeMassachusetts02138USA
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Thermal Biology Institute, and Center for Biofilm EngineeringMontana State UniversityBozemanMontana59717USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Activity-Based Cell Sorting Reveals Resistance of Functionally Degenerate Nitrospira during a Press Disturbance in Nitrifying Activated Sludge. mSystems 2021; 6:e0071221. [PMID: 34282936 PMCID: PMC8407113 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00712-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Managing and engineering activated sludge wastewater treatment microbiomes for low-energy nitrogen removal requires process control strategies to stop the oxidation of ammonium at nitrite. Our ability to out-select nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) from activated sludge is challenged by their metabolic and physiological diversity, warranting measurements of their in situ physiology and activity under selective growth pressures. Here, we examined the stability of nitrite oxidation in activated sludge during a press disturbance induced by treating a portion of return activated sludge with a sidestream flow containing free ammonia (FA) at 200 mg NH3-N/liter. The nitrite accumulation ratio peaked at 42% by day 40 in the experimental bioreactor with the press disturbance, while it did not increase in the control bioreactor. A subsequent decrease in nitrite accumulation within the experimental bioreactor coincided with shifts in dominant Nitrospira 16S rRNA amplicon sequence variants (ASVs). We applied bioorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) coupled with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) to investigate changes in the translational activity of NOB populations throughout batch exposure to FA. BONCAT-FACS confirmed that the single Nitrospira ASV washed out of the experimental bioreactor had reduced translational activity following exposure to FA, whereas the two Nitrospira ASVs that emerged after process acclimation were not impacted by FA. Thus, the coexistence of functionally degenerate and physiologically resistant Nitrospira populations provided resilience to the nitrite-oxidizing function during the press disturbance. These results highlight how BONCAT-FACS can resolve ecological niche differentiation within activated sludge and inform strategies to engineer and control microbiome function. IMPORTANCE Nitrogen removal from activated sludge wastewater treatment systems is an energy-intensive process due to the large aeration requirement for nitrification. This energy footprint could be minimized with engineering control strategies that wash out nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) to limit oxygen demands. However, NOB populations can have a high degree of physiological diversity, and it is currently difficult to decipher the behavior of individual taxa during applied selective pressures. Here, we utilized a new substrate analog probing approach to measure the activity of NOB at the cellular translational level in the face of a press disturbance applied to the activated sludge process. Substrate analog probing corroborated the time series reactor sampling, showing that coexisting and functionally degenerate Nitrospira populations provided resilience to the nitrite oxidation process. Taken together, these results highlight how substrate analog approaches can illuminate in situ ecophysiologies within shared niches, and can inform strategies to improve microbiome engineering and management.
Collapse
|
43
|
Amino Acid Analog Induces Stress Response in Marine Synechococcus. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:e0020021. [PMID: 33990310 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00200-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterizing the cell-level metabolic trade-offs that phytoplankton exhibit in response to changing environmental conditions is important for predicting the impact of these changes on marine food web dynamics and biogeochemical cycling. The time-selective proteome-labeling approach, bioorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT), has potential to provide insight into differential allocation of resources at the cellular level, especially when coupled with proteomics. However, the application of this technique in marine phytoplankton remains limited. We demonstrate that the marine cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp. and two groups of eukaryotic algae take up the modified amino acid l-homopropargylglycine (HPG), suggesting that BONCAT can be used to detect translationally active phytoplankton. However, the impact of HPG addition on growth dynamics varied between groups of phytoplankton. In addition, proteomic analysis of Synechococcus cells grown with HPG revealed a physiological shift in nitrogen metabolism, general protein stress, and energy production, indicating a potential limitation for the use of BONCAT in understanding the cell-level response of Synechococcus sp. to environmental change. Variability in HPG sensitivity between algal groups and the impact of HPG on Synechococcus physiology indicates that particular considerations should be taken when applying this technique to other marine taxa or mixed marine microbial communities. IMPORTANCE Phytoplankton form the base of the marine food web and substantially impact global energy and nutrient flow. Marine picocyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus comprise a large portion of phytoplankton biomass in the ocean and therefore are important model organisms. The technical challenges of environmental proteomics in mixed microbial communities have limited our ability to detect the cell-level adaptations of phytoplankton communities to a changing environment. The proteome labeling technique, bioorthogonal noncanonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT), has potential to address some of these challenges by simplifying proteomic analyses. This study explores the ability of marine phytoplankton to take up the modified amino acid, l-homopropargylglycine (HPG), required for BONCAT, and investigates the proteomic response of Synechococcus to HPG. We not only demonstrate that cyanobacteria can take up HPG but also highlight the physiological impact of HPG on Synechococcus, which has implications for future applications of this technique in the marine environment.
Collapse
|
44
|
Wiegand S, Dam HT, Riba J, Vollmers J, Kaster AK. Printing Microbial Dark Matter: Using Single Cell Dispensing and Genomics to Investigate the Patescibacteria/Candidate Phyla Radiation. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:635506. [PMID: 34220732 PMCID: PMC8241940 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.635506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As of today, the majority of environmental microorganisms remain uncultured. They are therefore referred to as "microbial dark matter." In the recent past, cultivation-independent methods like single-cell genomics (SCG) enabled the discovery of many previously unknown microorganisms, among them the Patescibacteria/Candidate Phyla Radiation (CPR). This approach was shown to be complementary to metagenomics, however, the development of additional and refined sorting techniques beyond the most commonly used fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is still desirable to enable additional downstream applications. Adding image information on the number and morphology of sorted cells would be beneficial, as would be minimizing cell stress caused by sorting conditions such as staining or pressure. Recently, a novel cell sorting technique has been developed, a microfluidic single-cell dispenser, which assesses the number and morphology of the cell in each droplet by automated light microscopic processing. Here, we report for the first time the successful application of the newly developed single-cell dispensing system for label-free isolation of individual bacteria from a complex sample retrieved from a wastewater treatment plant, demonstrating the potential of this technique for single cell genomics and other alternative downstream applications. Genome recovery success rated above 80% with this technique-out of 880 sorted cells 717 were successfully amplified. For 50.1% of these, analysis of the 16S rRNA gene was feasible and led to the sequencing of 50 sorted cells identified as Patescibacteria/CPR members. Subsequentially, 27 single amplified genomes (SAGs) of 15 novel and distinct Patescibacteria/CPR members, representing yet unseen species, genera and families could be captured and reconstructed. This phylogenetic distinctness of the recovered SAGs from available metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) is accompanied by the finding that these lineages-in whole or in part-have not been accessed by genome-resolved metagenomics of the same sample, thereby emphasizing the importance and opportunities of SCGs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Wiegand
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 5, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Hang T. Dam
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 5, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Julian Riba
- Laboratory for MEMS Applications, IMTEK - Department of Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - John Vollmers
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 5, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Anne-Kristin Kaster
- Institute for Biological Interfaces 5, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute for Applied Biosciences, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Huang Z, Mo S, Yan L, Wei X, Huang Y, Zhang L, Zhang S, Liu J, Xiao Q, Lin H, Guo Y. A Simple Culture Method Enhances the Recovery of Culturable Actinobacteria From Coastal Sediments. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:675048. [PMID: 34194410 PMCID: PMC8236954 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.675048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular methods revealed that the majority of microbes in natural environments remains uncultivated. To fully understand the physiological and metabolic characteristics of microbes, however, culturing is still critical for microbial studies. Here, we used bacterial community analysis and four culture media, namely, traditional marine broth 2216 (MB), water extracted matter (WEM), methanol extracted matter (MEM), and starch casein agar (SCA), to investigate the diversity of cultivated bacteria in coastal sediments. A total of 1,036 isolates were obtained in pure culture, and they were classified into five groups, namely, Alphaproteobacteria (52.51%), Gammaproteobacteria (23.26%), Actinobacteria (13.32%), Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. Compared to other three media, WEM recovered a high diversity of actinobacteria (42 of 63 genotypes), with Micromonospora and Streptomyces as the most cultivated genera. Amplicon sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene V3-V4 fragment revealed eight dominant groups, Alphaproteobacteria (12.81%), Gammaproteobacteria (20.07%), Deltaproteobacteria (12.95%), Chloroflexi (13.09%), Bacteroidetes (8.28%), Actinobacteria (7.34%), Cyanobacteria (6.20%), and Acidobacteria (5.71%). The dominant members affiliated to Actinobacteria belonged to "Candidatus Actinomarinales," "Candidatus Microtrichales," and Nitriliruptorales. The cultivated actinobacteria accounted for a small proportion (<5%) compared to the actinobacterial community, which supported that the majority of actinobacteria are still waiting for cultivation. Our study concluded that WEM could be a useful and simple culture medium that enhanced the recovery of culturable actinobacteria from coastal sediments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaobin Huang
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
- Fujian Province Key Laboratory for the Development of Bioactive Material From Marine Algae, Quanzhou, China
| | - Shiqing Mo
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Lifei Yan
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Xiaomei Wei
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Huang
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Lizhen Zhang
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Shuhui Zhang
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Jianzong Liu
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Qingqing Xiao
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Hong Lin
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
| | - Yu Guo
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Decrypting bacterial polyphenol metabolism in an anoxic wetland soil. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2466. [PMID: 33927199 PMCID: PMC8084988 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22765-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms play vital roles in modulating organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling in soil ecosystems. The enzyme latch paradigm posits microbial degradation of polyphenols is hindered in anoxic peat leading to polyphenol accumulation, and consequently diminished microbial activity. This model assumes that polyphenols are microbially unavailable under anoxia, a supposition that has not been thoroughly investigated in any soil type. Here, we use anoxic soil reactors amended with and without a chemically defined polyphenol to test this hypothesis, employing metabolomics and genome-resolved metaproteomics to interrogate soil microbial polyphenol metabolism. Challenging the idea that polyphenols are not bioavailable under anoxia, we provide metabolite evidence that polyphenols are depolymerized, resulting in monomer accumulation, followed by the generation of small phenolic degradation products. Further, we show that soil microbiome function is maintained, and possibly enhanced, with polyphenol addition. In summary, this study provides chemical and enzymatic evidence that some soil microbiota can degrade polyphenols under anoxia and subvert the assumed polyphenol lock on soil microbial metabolism.
Collapse
|
47
|
Rowe AR, Abuyen K, Lam BR, Kruger B, Casar CP, Osburn MR, El-Naggar MY, Amend JP. Electrochemical evidence for in situ microbial activity at the Deep Mine Microbial Observatory (DeMMO), South Dakota, USA. GEOBIOLOGY 2021; 19:173-188. [PMID: 33188587 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The subsurface is Earth's largest reservoir of biomass. Micro-organisms are the dominant lifeforms in this habitat, but the nature of their in situ activities remains largely unresolved. At the Deep Mine Microbial Observatory (DeMMO) located in the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota (USA), we performed in situ electrochemical incubations designed to assess the potential for deep groundwater microbial communities to utilize extracellular electron transfer to support microbial respiration. DeMMO 4 was chosen for its stable geochemistry and microbial community. Graphite and indium tin oxide electrodes poised at -200 mV versus SHE were incubated along with open circuit controls and various minerals in a parallel flow reactor that split access to fluids across different treatments. From the patterns of net current over time (fluctuating between anodic and cathodic currents over the course of a few days to weeks) and the catalytic features measured using periodic cyclic voltammetry, evidence of both oxidative and reductive microbe-electrode interactions was observed. The predominant catalytic activity ranged from -210 to -120 mV. The observed temporal variability in electrochemical activity was unexpected given the documented stability in major geochemical parameters. This suggests that the accessed fluids are more heterogeneous in electrochemically active microbial populations than previously predicted from the stable community composition. As previously reported, the fracture fluid and surface-attached microbial communities at SURF differed significantly. However, only minimal differences in community composition were observed between poised potential electrodes, open circuit electrodes, and mineral incubations. These data support that in this environment the ability to attach to surfaces is a stronger driver of microbial community structure than the type or reactivity of the surface. We demonstrate that insight into specific activities can be gained from electrochemical methods, specifically chronoamperometry coupled with routine cyclic voltammetry, which provide a sensitive approach to evaluate microbial activities in situ.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annette R Rowe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Karla Abuyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bonita R Lam
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brittany Kruger
- Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - Caitlin P Casar
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Magdalena R Osburn
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Mohamed Y El-Naggar
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jan P Amend
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Metcalfe KS, Murali R, Mullin SW, Connon SA, Orphan VJ. Experimentally-validated correlation analysis reveals new anaerobic methane oxidation partnerships with consortium-level heterogeneity in diazotrophy. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:377-396. [PMID: 33060828 PMCID: PMC8027057 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00757-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Archaeal anaerobic methanotrophs ("ANME") and sulfate-reducing Deltaproteobacteria ("SRB") form symbiotic multicellular consortia capable of anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM), and in so doing modulate methane flux from marine sediments. The specificity with which ANME associate with particular SRB partners in situ, however, is poorly understood. To characterize partnership specificity in ANME-SRB consortia, we applied the correlation inference technique SparCC to 310 16S rRNA amplicon libraries prepared from Costa Rica seep sediment samples, uncovering a strong positive correlation between ANME-2b and members of a clade of Deltaproteobacteria we termed SEEP-SRB1g. We confirmed this association by examining 16S rRNA diversity in individual ANME-SRB consortia sorted using flow cytometry and by imaging ANME-SRB consortia with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) microscopy using newly-designed probes targeting the SEEP-SRB1g clade. Analysis of genome bins belonging to SEEP-SRB1g revealed the presence of a complete nifHDK operon required for diazotrophy, unusual in published genomes of ANME-associated SRB. Active expression of nifH in SEEP-SRB1g within ANME-2b-SEEP-SRB1g consortia was then demonstrated by microscopy using hybridization chain reaction (HCR-) FISH targeting nifH transcripts and diazotrophic activity was documented by FISH-nanoSIMS experiments. NanoSIMS analysis of ANME-2b-SEEP-SRB1g consortia incubated with a headspace containing CH4 and 15N2 revealed differences in cellular 15N-enrichment between the two partners that varied between individual consortia, with SEEP-SRB1g cells enriched in 15N relative to ANME-2b in one consortium and the opposite pattern observed in others, indicating both ANME-2b and SEEP-SRB1g are capable of nitrogen fixation, but with consortium-specific variation in whether the archaea or bacterial partner is the dominant diazotroph.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle S Metcalfe
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd, Mail Code 170-25, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA.
| | - Ranjani Murali
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd, Mail Code 170-25, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Sean W Mullin
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd, Mail Code 170-25, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Stephanie A Connon
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd, Mail Code 170-25, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Victoria J Orphan
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd, Mail Code 170-25, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Thrash JC. Towards culturing the microbe of your choice. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 13:36-41. [PMID: 33073476 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J Cameron Thrash
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Wahdan SFM, Heintz-Buschart A, Sansupa C, Tanunchai B, Wu YT, Schädler M, Noll M, Purahong W, Buscot F. Targeting the Active Rhizosphere Microbiome of Trifolium pratense in Grassland Evidences a Stronger-Than-Expected Belowground Biodiversity-Ecosystem Functioning Link. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:629169. [PMID: 33597941 PMCID: PMC7882529 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.629169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF) is a central issue in soil and microbial ecology. To date, most belowground BEF studies focus on the diversity of microbes analyzed by barcoding on total DNA, which targets both active and inactive microbes. This approach creates a bias as it mixes the part of the microbiome currently steering processes that provide actual ecosystem functions with the part not directly involved. Using experimental extensive grasslands under current and future climate, we used the bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) immunocapture technique combined with pair-end Illumina sequencing to characterize both total and active microbiomes (including both bacteria and fungi) in the rhizosphere of Trifolium pratense. Rhizosphere function was assessed by measuring the activity of three microbial extracellular enzymes (β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, and acid phosphatase), which play central roles in the C, N, and P acquisition. We showed that the richness of overall and specific functional groups of active microbes in rhizosphere soil significantly correlated with the measured enzyme activities, while total microbial richness did not. Active microbes of the rhizosphere represented 42.8 and 32.1% of the total bacterial and fungal taxa, respectively, and were taxonomically and functionally diverse. Nitrogen fixing bacteria were highly active in this system with 71% of the total operational taxonomic units (OTUs) assigned to this group detected as active. We found the total and active microbiomes to display different responses to variations in soil physicochemical factors in the grassland, but with some degree of resistance to a manipulation mimicking future climate. Our findings provide critical insights into the role of active microbes in defining soil ecosystem functions in a grassland ecosystem. We demonstrate that the relationship between biodiversity-ecosystem functioning in soil may be stronger than previously thought.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Fareed Mohamed Wahdan
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle (Saale), Germany.,Department of Biology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Anna Heintz-Buschart
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle (Saale), Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Chakriya Sansupa
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Benjawan Tanunchai
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Yu-Ting Wu
- Department of Forestry, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Martin Schädler
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Matthias Noll
- Institute for Bioanalysis, Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Coburg, Germany
| | - Witoon Purahong
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - François Buscot
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Halle (Saale), Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|