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Williams TJ, Allen MA, Ray AE, Benaud N, Chelliah DS, Albanese D, Donati C, Selbmann L, Coleine C, Ferrari BC. Novel endolithic bacteria of phylum Chloroflexota reveal a myriad of potential survival strategies in the Antarctic desert. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0226423. [PMID: 38372512 PMCID: PMC10952385 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02264-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The ice-free McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are dominated by nutrient-poor mineral soil and rocky outcrops. The principal habitat for microorganisms is within rocks (endolithic). In this environment, microorganisms are provided with protection against sub-zero temperatures, rapid thermal fluctuations, extreme dryness, and ultraviolet and solar radiation. Endolithic communities include lichen, algae, fungi, and a diverse array of bacteria. Chloroflexota is among the most abundant bacterial phyla present in these communities. Among the Chloroflexota are four novel classes of bacteria, here named Candidatus Spiritibacteria class. nov. (=UBA5177), Candidatus Martimicrobia class. nov. (=UBA4733), Candidatus Tarhunnaeia class. nov. (=UBA6077), and Candidatus Uliximicrobia class. nov. (=UBA2235). We retrieved 17 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) that represent these four classes. Based on genome predictions, all these bacteria are inferred to be aerobic heterotrophs that encode enzymes for the catabolism of diverse sugars. These and other organic substrates are likely derived from lichen, algae, and fungi, as metabolites (including photosynthate), cell wall components, and extracellular matrix components. The majority of MAGs encode the capacity for trace gas oxidation using high-affinity uptake hydrogenases, which could provide energy and metabolic water required for survival and persistence. Furthermore, some MAGs encode the capacity to couple the energy generated from H2 and CO oxidation to support carbon fixation (atmospheric chemosynthesis). All encode mechanisms for the detoxification and efflux of heavy metals. Certain MAGs encode features that indicate possible interactions with other organisms, such as Tc-type toxin complexes, hemolysins, and macroglobulins.IMPORTANCEThe ice-free McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are the coldest and most hyperarid desert on Earth. It is, therefore, the closest analog to the surface of the planet Mars. Bacteria and other microorganisms survive by inhabiting airspaces within rocks (endolithic). We identify four novel classes of phylum Chloroflexota, and, based on interrogation of 17 metagenome-assembled genomes, we predict specific metabolic and physiological adaptations that facilitate the survival of these bacteria in this harsh environment-including oxidation of trace gases and the utilization of nutrients (including sugars) derived from lichen, algae, and fungi. We propose that such adaptations allow these endolithic bacteria to eke out an existence in this cold and extremely dry habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J. Williams
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michelle A. Allen
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Angelique E. Ray
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicole Benaud
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Devan S. Chelliah
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Davide Albanese
- Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Claudio Donati
- Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università, Viterbo, Italy
- Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Genova, Italy
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell’Università, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Belinda C. Ferrari
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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2
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Canini F, Borruso L, Newsham KK, D'Alò F, D'Acqui LP, Zucconi L. Wide divergence of fungal communities inhabiting rocks and soils in a hyper-arid Antarctic desert. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:3671-3682. [PMID: 37964667 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16534] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Highly simplified microbial communities colonise rocks and soils of continental Antarctica ice-free deserts. These two habitats impose different selection pressures on organisms, yet the possible filtering effects on the diversity and composition of microbial communities have not hitherto been fully characterised. We hence compared fungal communities in rocks and soils in three localities of inner Victoria Land. We found low fungal diversity in both substrates, with a mean species richness of 28 across all samples, and significantly lower diversity in rocks than in soils. Rock and soil communities were strongly differentiated, with a multinomial species classification method identifying just three out of 328 taxa as generalists with no affinity for either substrate. Rocks were characterised by a higher abundance of lichen-forming fungi (typically Buellia, Carbonea, Pleopsidium, Lecanora, and Lecidea), possibly owing to the more protected environment and the porosity of rocks permitting photosynthetic activity. In contrast, soils were dominated by obligate yeasts (typically Naganishia and Meyerozyma), the abundances of which were correlated with edaphic factors, and the black yeast Cryomyces. Our study suggests that strong differences in selection pressures may account for the wide divergences of fungal communities in rocks and soils of inner Victoria Land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Canini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bozen, Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
| | - Kevin K Newsham
- British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Cambridge, UK
| | - Federica D'Alò
- Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Institute (IRET), National Research Council (CNR), Porano (TR), Italy
| | - Luigi P D'Acqui
- Institute of Polar Sciences (ISP), National Research Council (CNR), Messina, Italy
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Institute (IRET), National Research Council (CNR), Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
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3
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Cui S, Du J, Zhu L, Xin D, Xin Y, Zhang J. Analysis of Microbial Diversity in South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula Soils Based on Illumina High-Throughput Sequencing and Cultivation-Dependent Techniques. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2517. [PMID: 37894176 PMCID: PMC10609098 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
To assess the diversity of bacterial taxa in Antarctic soils and obtain novel microbial resources, 15 samples from 3 sampling sites (DIS5, GWS7, FPS10) of South Shetland Islands and 2 sampling sites (APS18, CIS17) of Antarctic Peninsula were collected. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) of 16S rRNA genes within these samples was conducted on an Illumina Miseq platform. A total of 140,303 16S rRNA gene reads comprising 802 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained. After taxonomic classification, 25 phyla, 196 genera, and a high proportion of unidentified taxa were detected, among which seven phyla and 99 genera were firstly detected in Antarctica. The bacterial communities were dominated by Actinomycetota (40.40%), Pseudomonadota (17.14%), Bacteroidota (10.55%) and Chloroflexota (10.26%). Based on the HTS analyses, cultivation-dependent techniques were optimized to identify the cultivable members. A total of 30 different genera including 91 strains were obtained, the majority of which has previously been reported from Antarctica. However, for the genera Microterricola, Dyadobacter, Filibacter, Duganella, Ensifer, Antarcticirhabdus and Microvirga, this is the first report in Antarctica. In addition, seven strains represented novel taxa, two of which were psychropoilic and could be valuable resources for further research of cold-adaptability and their ecological significance in Antarctica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Cui
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (S.C.); (J.D.); (L.Z.); (D.X.)
| | - Jie Du
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (S.C.); (J.D.); (L.Z.); (D.X.)
| | - Lin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (S.C.); (J.D.); (L.Z.); (D.X.)
| | - Di Xin
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (S.C.); (J.D.); (L.Z.); (D.X.)
| | - Yuhua Xin
- China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China;
| | - Jianli Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; (S.C.); (J.D.); (L.Z.); (D.X.)
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4
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Ettinger CL, Saunders M, Selbmann L, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Donati C, Albanese D, Roux S, Tringe S, Pennacchio C, Del Rio TG, Stajich JE, Coleine C. Highly diverse and unknown viruses may enhance Antarctic endoliths' adaptability. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:103. [PMID: 37158954 PMCID: PMC10165816 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01554-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rock-dwelling microorganisms are key players in ecosystem functioning of Antarctic ice free-areas. Yet, little is known about their diversity and ecology, and further still, viruses in these communities have been largely unexplored despite important roles related to host metabolism and nutrient cycling. To begin to address this, we present a large-scale viral catalog from Antarctic rock microbial communities. RESULTS We performed metagenomic analyses on rocks from across Antarctica representing a broad range of environmental and spatial conditions, and which resulted in a predicted viral catalog comprising > 75,000 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUS). We found largely undescribed, highly diverse and spatially structured virus communities which had predicted auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) with functions indicating that they may be potentially influencing bacterial adaptation and biogeochemistry. CONCLUSION This catalog lays the foundation for expanding knowledge of virosphere diversity, function, spatial ecology, and dynamics in extreme environments. This work serves as a step towards exploring adaptability of microbial communities in the face of a changing climate. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L Ettinger
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
| | - Morgan Saunders
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA
- The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad Y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales Y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Av. Reina Mercedes 10, Seville, E-41012, Spain
- Unidad Asociada CSIC-UPO (BioFun), Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, 41013, Spain
| | - Claudio Donati
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, San Michele All'Adige, 38098, Italy
| | - Davide Albanese
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, San Michele All'Adige, 38098, Italy
| | - Simon Roux
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Susannah Tringe
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Christa Pennacchio
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Tijana G Del Rio
- Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, One Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad Y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico, Instituto de Recursos Naturales Y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Av. Reina Mercedes 10, Seville, E-41012, Spain.
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5
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Coleine C, Delgado-Baquerizo M, Zerboni A, Turchetti B, Buzzini P, Franceschi P, Selbmann L. Rock Traits Drive Complex Microbial Communities at the Edge of Life. ASTROBIOLOGY 2023; 23:395-406. [PMID: 36812458 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2022.0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Antarctic deserts are among the driest and coldest ecosystems of the planet; there, some microbes survive under these extreme conditions inside porous rocks, forming the so-called endolithic communities. Yet the contribution of distinct rock traits to support complex microbial assemblies remains poorly determined. Here, we combined an extensive Antarctic rock survey with rock microbiome sequencing and ecological networks and found that contrasting combinations of microclimatic and rock traits such as thermal inertia, porosity, iron concentration, and quartz cement can help explain the multiple complex microbial assemblies found in Antarctic rocks. Our work highlights the pivotal role of rocky substrate heterogeneity in sustaining contrasting groups of microorganisms, which is essential to understand life at the edge on Earth and for the search for life on other rocky planets such as Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad y Funcionamiento Ecosistémico. Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- Unidad Asociada CSIC-UPO (BioFun). Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Andrea Zerboni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra "A. Desio", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Benedetta Turchetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Pietro Buzzini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Pietro Franceschi
- Research and Innovation Center, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Trento, Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, Genoa, Italy
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6
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Mezzasoma A, Coleine C, Sannino C, Selbmann L. Endolithic Bacterial Diversity in Lichen-Dominated Communities Is Shaped by Sun Exposure in McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 83:328-339. [PMID: 34081148 PMCID: PMC8891110 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01769-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The diversity and composition of endolithic bacterial diversity of several locations in McMurdo Dry Valleys (Continental Antarctica) were explored using amplicon sequencing, targeting the V3 and V4 of the 16S region. Despite the increasing interest in edaphic factors that drive bacterial community composition in Antarctic rocky communities, few researchers focused attention on the direct effects of sun exposure on bacterial diversity; we herein reported significant differences in the northern and southern communities. The analysis of β-diversity showed significant differences among sampled localities. For instance, the most abundant genera found in the north-exposed rocks were Rhodococcus and Blastococcus in Knobhead Mt.; Ktedonobacter and Cyanobacteria Family I Group I in Finger Mt.; Rhodococcus and Endobacter in University Valley; and Segetibacter and Tetrasphaera in Siegfried Peak samples. In south-exposed rocks, instead, the most abundant genera were Escherichia/Shigella and Streptococcus in Knobhead Mt.; Ktedonobacter and Rhodococcus in Finger Mt.; Ktedonobacter and Roseomonas in University Valley; and Blastocatella, Cyanobacteria Family I Group I and Segetibacter in Siegfried Peak. Significant biomarkers, detected by the Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size, were also found among north- and south-exposed communities. Besides, the large number of positive significant co-occurrences may suggest a crucial role of positive associations over competitions under the harsher conditions where these rock-inhabiting microorganisms spread. Although the effect of geographic distances in these extreme environments play a significant role in shaping biodiversity, the study of an edaphic factor, such as solar exposure, adds an important contribution to the mosaic of microbial biodiversity of Antarctic bacterial cryptoendolithic communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Mezzasoma
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Ciro Sannino
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, Genoa, Italy
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7
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Severgnini M, Canini F, Consolandi C, Camboni T, Paolo D'Acqui L, Mascalchi C, Ventura S, Zucconi L. Highly differentiated soil bacterial communities in Victoria Land macro-areas (Antarctica). FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2021; 97:6307020. [PMID: 34151349 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiab087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ice-free areas of Victoria Land, in Antarctica, are characterized by different terrestrial ecosystems, that are dominated by microorganisms supporting highly adapted communities. Despite the unique conditions of these ecosystems, reports on their bacterial diversity are still fragmentary. From this perspective, 60 samples from 14 localities were analyzed. These localities were distributed in coastal sites with differently developed biological soil crusts, inner sites in the McMurdo Dry Valleys with soils lacking of plant coverage, and a site called Icarus Camp, with a crust developed on a thin locally weathered substrate of the underlying parent granitic-rock. Bacterial diversity was studied through 16S rRNA metabarcoding sequencing. Communities diversity, composition and the abundance and composition of different taxonomic groups were correlated to soil physicochemical characteristics. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria dominated these communities. Most phyla were mainly driven by soil granulometry, an often disregarded parameter and other abiotic parameters. Bacterial composition differed greatly among the three macrohabitats, each having a distinct bacterial profile. Communities within the two main habitats (coastal and inner ones) were well differentiated from each other as well, therefore depending on site-specific physicochemical characteristics. A core community of the whole samples was observed, mainly represented by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Severgnini
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), via f.lli Cervi, 93, 20054, Segrate, Italy
| | - Fabiana Canini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università s.n.c., 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Clarissa Consolandi
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), via f.lli Cervi, 93, 20054, Segrate, Italy
| | - Tania Camboni
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), via f.lli Cervi, 93, 20054, Segrate, Italy
| | - Luigi Paolo D'Acqui
- Terrestria Ecosystems Research Institute, National Research Council (IRET-CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Cristina Mascalchi
- Terrestria Ecosystems Research Institute, National Research Council (IRET-CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Stefano Ventura
- Terrestria Ecosystems Research Institute, National Research Council (IRET-CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.,The Italian Embassy in Israel, Trade Tower, 25 Hamered Street, 68125, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università s.n.c., 01100, Viterbo, Italy
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8
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Fernández-Martínez MÁ, García-Villadangos M, Moreno-Paz M, Gangloff V, Carrizo D, Blanco Y, González S, Sánchez-García L, Prieto-Ballesteros O, Altshuler I, Whyte LG, Parro V, Fairén AG. Geomicrobiological Heterogeneity of Lithic Habitats in the Extreme Environment of Antarctic Nunataks: A Potential Early Mars Analog. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:670982. [PMID: 34276605 PMCID: PMC8284421 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.670982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nunataks are permanent ice-free rocky peaks that project above ice caps in polar regions, thus being exposed to extreme climatic conditions throughout the year. They undergo extremely low temperatures and scarcity of liquid water in winter, while receiving high incident and reflected (albedo) UVA-B radiation in summer. Here, we investigate the geomicrobiology of the permanently exposed lithic substrates of nunataks from Livingston Island (South Shetlands, Antarctic Peninsula), with focus on prokaryotic community structure and their main metabolic traits. Contrarily to first hypothesis, an extensive sampling based on different gradients and multianalytical approaches demonstrated significant differences for most geomicrobiological parameters between the bedrock, soil, and loose rock substrates, which overlapped any other regional variation. Brevibacillus genus dominated on bedrock and soil substrates, while loose rocks contained a diverse microbial community, including Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and abundant Cyanobacteria inhabiting the milder and diverse microhabitats within. Archaea, a domain never described before in similar Antarctic environments, were also consistently found in the three substrates, but being more abundant and potentially more active in soils. Stable isotopic ratios of total carbon (δ 13C) and nitrogen (δ 15N), soluble anions concentrations, and the detection of proteins involved in key metabolisms via the Life Detector Chip (LDChip), suggest that microbial primary production has a pivotal role in nutrient cycling at these exposed areas with limited deposition of nutrients. Detection of stress-resistance proteins, such as molecular chaperons, suggests microbial molecular adaptation mechanisms to cope with these harsh conditions. Since early Mars may have encompassed analogous environmental conditions as the ones found in these Antarctic nunataks, our study also contributes to the understanding of the metabolic features and biomarker profiles of a potential Martian microbiota, as well as the use of LDChip in future life detection missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ángel Fernández-Martínez
- Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sergi González
- Antarctic Group, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Ianina Altshuler
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Lyle G Whyte
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Victor Parro
- Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto G Fairén
- Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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9
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Algal Toxic Compounds and Their Aeroterrestrial, Airborne and other Extremophilic Producers with Attention to Soil and Plant Contamination: A Review. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13050322. [PMID: 33946968 PMCID: PMC8145420 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13050322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The review summarizes the available knowledge on toxins and their producers from rather disparate algal assemblages of aeroterrestrial, airborne and other versatile extreme environments (hot springs, deserts, ice, snow, caves, etc.) and on phycotoxins as contaminants of emergent concern in soil and plants. There is a growing body of evidence that algal toxins and their producers occur in all general types of extreme habitats, and cyanobacteria/cyanoprokaryotes dominate in most of them. Altogether, 55 toxigenic algal genera (47 cyanoprokaryotes) were enlisted, and our analysis showed that besides the “standard” toxins, routinely known from different waterbodies (microcystins, nodularins, anatoxins, saxitoxins, cylindrospermopsins, BMAA, etc.), they can produce some specific toxic compounds. Whether the toxic biomolecules are related with the harsh conditions on which algae have to thrive and what is their functional role may be answered by future studies. Therefore, we outline the gaps in knowledge and provide ideas for further research, considering, from one side, the health risk from phycotoxins on the background of the global warming and eutrophication and, from the other side, the current surge of interest which phycotoxins provoke due to their potential as novel compounds in medicine, pharmacy, cosmetics, bioremediation, agriculture and all aspects of biotechnological implications in human life.
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10
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Fanelli G, Coleine C, Gevi F, Onofri S, Selbmann L, Timperio AM. Metabolomics of Dry Versus Reanimated Antarctic Lichen-Dominated Endolithic Communities. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:96. [PMID: 33514042 PMCID: PMC7911838 DOI: 10.3390/life11020096] [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] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptoendolithic communities are almost the sole life form in the ice-free areas of the Antarctic desert, encompassing among the most extreme-tolerant organisms known on Earth that still assure ecosystems functioning, regulating nutrient and biogeochemical cycles under conditions accounted as incompatible with active life. If high-throughput sequencing based studies are unravelling prokaryotic and eukaryotic diversity, they are not yet characterized in terms of stress adaptations and responses, despite their paramount ecological importance. In this study, we compared the responses of Antarctic endolithic communities, with special focus on fungi, both under dry conditions (i.e., when dormant), and after reanimation by wetting, light, and optimal temperature (15 °C). We found that several metabolites were differently expressed in reanimated opposite sun exposed communities, suggesting a critical role in their success. In particular, the saccharopine pathway was up-regulated in the north surface, while the spermine/spermidine pathway was significantly down-regulated in the shaded exposed communities. The carnitine-dependent pathway is up-regulated in south-exposed reanimated samples, indicating the preferential involvement of the B-oxidation for the functioning of TCA cycle. The role of these metabolites in the performance of the communities is discussed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Fanelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (G.F.); (C.C.); (F.G.); (S.O.)
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (G.F.); (C.C.); (F.G.); (S.O.)
| | - Federica Gevi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (G.F.); (C.C.); (F.G.); (S.O.)
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (G.F.); (C.C.); (F.G.); (S.O.)
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (G.F.); (C.C.); (F.G.); (S.O.)
- Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, 16166 Genoa, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Timperio
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (G.F.); (C.C.); (F.G.); (S.O.)
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11
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Choe YH, Kim M, Lee YK. Distinct Microbial Communities in Adjacent Rock and Soil Substrates on a High Arctic Polar Desert. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:607396. [PMID: 33488547 PMCID: PMC7819959 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.607396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding microbial niche variability in polar regions can provide insights into the adaptive diversification of microbial lineages in extreme environments. Compositions of microbial communities in Arctic soils are well documented but a comprehensive multidomain diversity assessment of rocks remains insufficiently studied. In this study, we obtained two types of rocks (sandstone and limestone) and soils around the rocks in a high Arctic polar desert (Svalbard), and examined the compositions of archaeal, bacterial, fungal, and protistan communities in the rocks and soils. The microbial community structure differed significantly between rocks and soils across all microbial groups at higher taxonomic levels, indicating that Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Latescibacteria, Rokubacteria, Leotiomycetes, Pezizomycetes, Mortierellomycetes, Sarcomonadea, and Spirotrichea were more abundant in soils, whereas Cyanobacteria, Deinococcus-Thermus, FBP, Lecanoromycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Trebouxiophyceae, and Ulvophyceae were more abundant in rocks. Interestingly, fungal communities differed markedly between two different rock types, which is likely to be ascribed to the predominance of distinct lichen-forming fungal taxa (Verrucariales in limestone, and Lecanorales in sandstone). This suggests that the physical or chemical properties of rocks could be a major determinant in the successful establishment of lichens in lithic environments. Furthermore, the biotic interactions among microorganisms based on co-occurrence network analysis revealed that Polyblastia and Verrucaria in limestone, and Atla, Porpidia, and Candelariella in sandstone play an important role as keystone taxa in the lithic communities. Our study shows that even in niches with the same climate regime and proximity to each other, heterogeneity of edaphic and lithic niches can affect microbial community assembly, which could be helpful in comprehensively understanding the effects of niche on microbial assembly in Arctic terrestrial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Hoe Choe
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Mincheol Kim
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Yoo Kyung Lee
- Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon, South Korea
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12
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Khomutovska N, de los Ríos A, Jasser I. Diversity and Colonization Strategies of Endolithic Cyanobacteria in the Cold Mountain Desert of Pamir. Microorganisms 2020; 9:microorganisms9010006. [PMID: 33375046 PMCID: PMC7822004 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms can survive in extreme environments and oligotrophic habitats thanks to their specific adaptive capacity. Due to its severe and contrasting climate conditions, the cold mountain desert in Eastern Pamir provides a unique environment for analyzing microbial adaptation mechanisms occurring within colonization of endolithic habitats. This study aims to investigate the composition and structure of endolithic microbial communities and analyze the interactions between microorganisms and colonized lithic substrates. Endolithic biofilms were examined using scanning electron microscopy in backscattered electron mode (SEM-BSE) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) applying amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) approach. The investigation of the V3–V4 region of 16S rRNA gene revealed that endolithic communities are dominated by Actinobacteria (26%), Proteobacteria (23%), and Cyanobacteria (11.4%). Cyanobacteria were represented by Oxyphotobacteria with a predominance of subclasses of Oscillatoriophycidae, Synechococcophycideae, and Nostocophycidae as well as the rarely occurring Sericytochromatia. The positive correlation between the contribution of the orders Synechococcales and Rhizobiales to community structure suggests that some functionally closed taxa of Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria can complement each other, for example, in nitrogen fixation in endolithic communities. The endolithic communities occurring in Eastern Pamir were identified as complex systems whose composition and structure seem to be influenced by the architecture of microhabitats and related microenvironmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliia Khomutovska
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Conservation, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-22-55-26-580
| | - Asunción de los Ríos
- Department of Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology, The National Museum of Natural Sciences-CSIC, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Iwona Jasser
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Conservation, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland;
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13
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Osman JR, Wang Y, Jaubert C, Nguyen TN, Fernandes GR, DuBow MS. The bacterial communities of surface soils from desert sites in the eastern Utah (USA) portion of the Colorado Plateau. Microbiol Res 2020; 244:126664. [PMID: 33359841 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Desert-like areas located in the eastern portion of the state of Utah (USA) have geographic features that can resemble the surface of the planet Mars, characterized by red-colored hills, soils and sandstones. We examined the bacterial biodiversity of surface soil samples from several sites from the Colorado Plateau Desert in eastern Utah using pyrosequencing of PCR amplified bacterial 16S rRNA genes from total extracted soil DNA. The sample sites cover the Great Basin, Goblin Valley State Park and nearby regions on the Colorado Plateau. We also examined several physicochemical parameters of the soil samples to investigate any possible correlations between bacterial community structure and environmental drivers. The predominant bacterial phyla present in the samples were found to belong to members of the Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Gemmatimonadetes. The most abundant genera in our samples were found to belong to the Cesiribacter, Lysobacter, Adhaeribacter, Microvirga and Pontibacter genera. We found that the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes were significantly correlated with soil pH and a low concentration of organic matter, suggesting that, in these relatively high-altitude desert soils, these two parameters may be of primary importance to influence bacterial community composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge R Osman
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Paris-Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Yang Wang
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Paris-Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Chloé Jaubert
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Paris-Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Tuyet-Nga Nguyen
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Paris-Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Gustavo R Fernandes
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Paris-Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Michael S DuBow
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Paris-Sud, Bâtiment 409, 91405, Orsay, France.
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14
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Coleine C, Pombubpa N, Zucconi L, Onofri S, Turchetti B, Buzzini P, Stajich JE, Selbmann L. Uncovered Microbial Diversity in Antarctic Cryptoendolithic Communities Sampling three Representative Locations of the Victoria Land. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E942. [PMID: 32585947 PMCID: PMC7356261 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8060942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The endolithic niche represents an ultimate refuge to microorganisms in the Mars-like environment of the Antarctic desert. In an era of rapid global change and desertification, the interest in these border ecosystems is increasing due to speculation on how they maintain balance and functionality at the dry limits of life. To assure a reliable estimation of microbial diversity, proper sampling must be planned in order to avoid the necessity of re-sampling as reaching these remote locations is risky and requires tremendous logistical and economical efforts. In this study, we seek to determine the minimum number of samples for uncovering comprehensive bacterial and fungal diversity, comparing communities in strict vicinity to each other. We selected three different locations of the Victoria Land (Continental Antarctica) at different altitudes and showing sandstone outcrops of a diverse nature and origin-Battleship promontory (834 m above sea level (a.s.l.), Southern VL), Trio Nunatak (1,470 m a.s.l., Northern VL) and Mt New Zealand (3,100 m a.s.l., Northern VL). Overall, we found that a wider sampling would be required to capture the whole amplitude of microbial diversity, particularly in Northern VL. We concluded that the inhomogeneity of the rock matrix and the stronger environmental pressure at higher altitudes may force the communities to a higher local diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (L.Z.); (S.O.)
| | - Nuttapon Pombubpa
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; (N.P.); (J.E.S.)
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (L.Z.); (S.O.)
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (L.Z.); (S.O.)
| | - Benedetta Turchetti
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (B.T.); (P.B.)
| | - Pietro Buzzini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, 06121 Perugia, Italy; (B.T.); (P.B.)
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; (N.P.); (J.E.S.)
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (L.Z.); (S.O.)
- Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, 16166 Genoa, Italy
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15
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Coleine C, Gevi F, Fanelli G, Onofri S, Timperio AM, Selbmann L. Specific adaptations are selected in opposite sun exposed Antarctic cryptoendolithic communities as revealed by untargeted metabolomics. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0233805. [PMID: 32460306 PMCID: PMC7253227 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Antarctic cryptoendolithic communities are self-supporting borderline ecosystems spreading across the extreme conditions of the Antarctic desert and represent the predominant life-form in the ice-free areas of McMurdo Dry Valleys, accounted as the closest terrestrial Martian analogue. Components of these communities are highly adapted extremophiles and extreme-tolerant microorganisms, among the most resistant known to date. Recently, studies investigated biodiversity and community composition in these ecosystems but the metabolic activity of the metacommunity has never been investigated. Using an untargeted metabolomics, we explored stress-response of communities spreading in two sites of the same location, subjected to increasing environmental pressure due to opposite sun exposure, accounted as main factor influencing the diversity and composition of these ecosystems. Overall, 331 altered metabolites (206 and 125 unique for north and south, respectively), distinguished the two differently exposed communities. We also selected 10 metabolites and performed two-stage Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis to test them as potential biomarkers. We further focused on melanin and allantoin as protective substances; their concentration was highly different in the community in the shadow or in the sun. These results clearly indicate that opposite insolation selected organisms in the communities with different adaptation strategies in terms of key metabolites produced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Federica Gevi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Fanelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Timperio
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forestry, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- * E-mail: (AMT); (LS)
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, Genoa, Italy
- * E-mail: (AMT); (LS)
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16
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Coleine C, Stajich JE, Pombubpa N, Zucconi L, Onofri S, Selbmann L. Sampling strategies to assess microbial diversity of Antarctic cryptoendolithic communities. Polar Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-020-02625-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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17
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Coleine C, Pombubpa N, Zucconi L, Onofri S, Stajich JE, Selbmann L. Endolithic Fungal Species Markers for Harshest Conditions in the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E13. [PMID: 32041249 PMCID: PMC7175349 DOI: 10.3390/life10020013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbial communities that inhabit lithic niches inside sandstone in the Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valleys of life's limits on Earth. The cryptoendolithic communities survive in these ice-free areas that have the lowest temperatures on Earth coupled with strong thermal fluctuations, extreme aridity, oligotrophy and high levels of solar and UV radiation. In this study, based on DNA metabarcoding, targeting the fungal Internal Transcribed Spacer region 1 (ITS1) and multivariate statistical analyses, we supply the first comprehensive overview onto the fungal diversity and composition of these communities sampled over a broad geographic area of the Antarctic hyper-arid cold desert. Six locations with surfaces that experience variable sun exposure were sampled to compare communities from a common area across a gradient of environmental pressure. The Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) identified were primarily members of the Ascomycota phylum, comprised mostly of the Lecanoromycetes and Dothideomycetes classes. The fungal species Friedmanniomyces endolithicus, endemic to Antarctica, was found to be a marker species to the harshest conditions occurring in the shady, south exposed rock surfaces. Analysis of community composition showed that sun exposure was an environmental property that explained community diversity and structured endolithic colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (C.C.); (L.Z.); (S.O.)
| | - Nuttapon Pombubpa
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology and Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (C.C.); (L.Z.); (S.O.)
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (C.C.); (L.Z.); (S.O.)
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology and Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (C.C.); (L.Z.); (S.O.)
- Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, 16166 Genoa, Italy
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18
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Zhao J, Liu D, Wang Y, Zhu X, Xuan Y, Liu X, Fan H, Chen L, Duan Y. Biocontrol potential of Microbacterium maritypicum Sneb159 against Heterodera glycines. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2019; 75:3381-3391. [PMID: 31282045 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines (Ichinohe) is the most devastating pathogen affecting soybean production worldwide. Biocontrol agents have become eco-friendly candidates to control pathogens. The aim of this study was to discover novel biocontrol agents against H. glycines. RESULTS Microbacterium maritypicum Sneb159, screened from 804 strains, effectively reduced the number of females in field experiments conducted in 2014 and 2015. The stability and efficiency of H. glycines control by Sneb159 was further assessed in growth chamber and field experiments. Sneb159 decreased H. glycines population densities, especially the number of females by 43.9%-67.7%. To confirm Sneb159 induced plant resistance, a split-root assay was conducted. Sneb159 induced local and systemic resistance to suppress the penetration and development of H. glycines, and enhanced the gene expression of PR2, PR3b, and JAZ1, involved in the salicylic acid and jasmonic acid pathways. CONCLUSION This is the first report of M. maritypicum Sneb159 suppressing H. glycines infection. This effect may be the result of Sneb159-induced resistance. Our study indicates that M. maritypicum Sneb159 is a promising biocontrol agent against H. glycines. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhao
- Nematology Institute of Northern China, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Nematology Institute of Northern China, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Nematology Institute of Northern China, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zhu
- Nematology Institute of Northern China, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuanhu Xuan
- Nematology Institute of Northern China, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Nematology Institute of Northern China, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- College of Sciences, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Haiyan Fan
- Nematology Institute of Northern China, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lijie Chen
- Nematology Institute of Northern China, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuxi Duan
- Nematology Institute of Northern China, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
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19
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Ogwu MC, Srinivasan S, Dong K, Ramasamy D, Waldman B, Adams JM. Community Ecology of Deinococcus in Irradiated Soil. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2019; 78:855-872. [PMID: 30980101 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-019-01343-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Deinococcus is a genus of soil bacteria known for radiation resistance. However, the effects of radiation exposure on its community structure are unknown. We exposed soil to three levels of gamma radiation, 0.1 kGy/h (low), 1 kGy/h (medium), and 3 kGy/h (high), once a week for 6 weeks and then extracted soil DNA for 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. We found the following: (1) Increasing radiation dose produced a major increase in relative abundance of Deinococcus, reaching ~ 80% of reads at the highest doses. Differing abundances of the various Deinococcus species in relation to exposure levels indicate distinct "radiation niches." At 3 kGy/h, a single OTU identified as D. ficus overwhelmingly dominated the mesocosms. (2) Corresponding published genome data show that the dominant species at 3 kGy/h, D. ficus, has a larger and more complex genome than other Deinococcus species with a greater proportion of genes related to DNA and nucleotide metabolism, cell wall, membrane, and envelope biogenesis as well as more cell cycle control, cell division, and chromosome partitioning-related genes. Deinococcus ficus also has a higher guanine-cytosine ratio than most other Deinococcus. These features may be linked to genome stability and may explain its greater abundance in this apparently competitive system, under high-radiation exposures. (3) Genomic analysis suggests that Deinococcus, including D. ficus, are capable of utilizing diverse carbon sources derived from both microbial cells killed by the radiation (including C5-C12-containing compounds, like arabinose, lactose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) and plant-derived organic matter in the soil (e.g., cellulose and hemicellulose). (4) Overall, based on its metagenome, even the most highly irradiated (3 kGy/h) soil possesses a wide range of the activities necessary for a functional soil system. Future studies may consider the resilience and sustainability of such soils in a high-radiation environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Chidozie Ogwu
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, PMB 1154, Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
| | - Sathiyaraj Srinivasan
- Department of Bio and Environmental Technology, Division of Environmental and Life Science, College of Natural Science, Seoul Women's University, 623 Hwarangno, Nowon-gu, Seoul, 139-774, Republic of Korea
| | - Ke Dong
- Department of Life Sciences, Kyonggi University, Suwon, 443-760, Republic of Korea
| | - Dhamodharan Ramasamy
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Bruce Waldman
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA.
| | - Jonathan M Adams
- School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, Qixia District, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
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20
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Coleine C, Stajich JE, Pombubpa N, Zucconi L, Onofri S, Canini F, Selbmann L. Altitude and fungal diversity influence the structure of Antarctic cryptoendolithic Bacteria communities. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2019; 11:718-726. [PMID: 31393667 PMCID: PMC8057506 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 08/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Endolithic growth within rocks is a critical adaptation of microbes living in harsh environments where exposure to extreme temperature, radiation, and desiccation limits the predominant life forms, such as in the ice-free regions of Continental Antarctica. The microbial diversity of the endolithic communities in these areas has been sparsely examined. In this work, diversity and composition of bacterial assemblages in the cryptoendolithic lichen-dominated communities of Victoria Land (Continental Antarctica) were explored using a high-throughput metabarcoding approach, targeting the V4 region of 16S rDNA. Rocks were collected in 12 different localities (from 14 different sites), along a gradient ranging from 1000 to 3300 m a.s.l. and at a sea distance ranging from 29 to 96 km. The results indicate Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria are the dominant taxa in all samples and defined a 'core' group of bacterial taxa across all sites. The structure of bacteria communities is correlated with the fungal counterpart and among the environmental parameters considered, altitude was found to influence bacterial biodiversity, while distance from sea had no evident influence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology and Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Nuttapon Pombubpa
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology and Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Fabiana Canini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, Genoa, Italy
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New genus-specific primers for PCR identification of Rubrobacter strains. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2019; 112:1863-1874. [PMID: 31407134 PMCID: PMC6834744 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-019-01314-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
A set of oligonucleotide primers, Rubro223f and Rubro454r, were found to amplify a 267 nucleotide sequence of 16S rRNA genes of Rubrobacter type strains. The primers distinguished members of this genus from other deeply-rooted actinobacterial lineages corresponding to the genera Conexibacter, Gaiella, Parviterribacter, Patulibacter, Solirubrobacter and Thermoleophilum of the class Thermoleophilia. Amplification of DNA bands of about 267 nucleotides were generated from environmental DNA extracted from soil samples taken from two locations in the Atacama Desert. Sequencing of a DNA library prepared from the bands showed that all of the clones fell within the evolutionary radiation occupied by the genus Rubrobacter. Most of the clones were assigned to two lineages that were well separated from phyletic lines composed of Rubrobacter type strains. It can be concluded that primers Rubro223f and Rubro454r are specific for the genus Rubrobacter and can be used to detect the presence and abundance of members of this genus in the Atacama Desert and other biomes.
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22
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The disappearing periglacial ecosystem atop Mt. Kilimanjaro supports both cosmopolitan and endemic microbial communities. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10676. [PMID: 31337772 PMCID: PMC6650471 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46521-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities have not been studied using molecular approaches at high elevations on the African continent. Here we describe the diversity of microbial communities from ice and periglacial soils from near the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro by using both Illumina and Sanger sequencing of 16S and 18S rRNA genes. Ice and periglacial soils contain unexpectedly diverse and rich assemblages of Bacteria and Eukarya indicating that there may be high rates of dispersal to the top of this tropical mountain and/or that the habitat is more conducive to microbial life than was previously thought. Most bacterial OTUs are cosmopolitan and an analysis of isolation by geographic distance patterns of the genus Polaromonas emphasized the importance of global Aeolian transport in the assembly of bacterial communities on Kilimanjaro. The eukaryotic communities were less diverse than the bacterial communities and showed more evidence of dispersal limitations and apparent endemism. Cercozoa dominated the 18S communities, including a high abundance of testate amoebae and a high diversity of endemic OTUs within the Vampyrellida. These results argue for more intense study of this unique high-elevation "island of the cryosphere" before the glaciers of Kilimanjaro disappear forever.
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23
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Staebe K, Meiklejohn KI, Singh SM, Matcher GF. Biogeography of soil bacterial populations in the Jutulsessen and Ahlmannryggen of Western Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. Polar Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-019-02532-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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24
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Rego A, Raio F, Martins TP, Ribeiro H, Sousa AGG, Séneca J, Baptista MS, Lee CK, Cary SC, Ramos V, Carvalho MF, Leão PN, Magalhães C. Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria Diversity in Terrestrial Antarctic Microenvironments Evaluated by Culture-Dependent and Independent Methods. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1018. [PMID: 31214128 PMCID: PMC6555387 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial diversity from McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica, the coldest desert on earth, has become more easily assessed with the development of High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) techniques. However, some of the diversity remains inaccessible by the power of sequencing. In this study, we combine cultivation and HTS techniques to survey actinobacteria and cyanobacteria diversity along different soil and endolithic micro-environments of Victoria Valley in McMurdo Dry Valleys. Our results demonstrate that the Dry Valleys actinobacteria and cyanobacteria distribution is driven by environmental forces, in particular the effect of water availability and endolithic environments clearly conditioned the distribution of those communities. Data derived from HTS show that the percentage of cyanobacteria decreases from about 20% in the sample closest to the water source to negligible values on the last three samples of the transect with less water availability. Inversely, actinobacteria relative abundance increases from about 20% in wet soils to over 50% in the driest samples. Over 30% of the total HTS data set was composed of actinobacterial strains, mainly distributed by 5 families: Sporichthyaceae, Euzebyaceae, Patulibacteraceae, Nocardioidaceae, and Rubrobacteraceae. However, the 11 actinobacterial strains isolated in this study, belonged to Micrococcaceae and Dermacoccaceae families that were underrepresented in the HTS data set. A total of 10 cyanobacterial strains from the order Synechococcales were also isolated, distributed by 4 different genera (Nodosilinea, Leptolyngbya, Pectolyngbya, and Acaryochloris-like). In agreement with the cultivation results, Leptolyngbya was identified as dominant genus in the HTS data set. Acaryochloris-like cyanobacteria were found exclusively in the endolithic sample and represented 44% of the total 16S rRNA sequences, although despite our efforts we were not able to properly isolate any strain from this Acaryochloris-related group. The importance of combining cultivation and sequencing techniques is highlighted, as we have shown that culture-dependent methods employed in this study were able to retrieve actinobacteria and cyanobacteria taxa that were not detected in HTS data set, suggesting that the combination of both strategies can be usefull to recover both abundant and rare members of the communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Rego
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Francisco Raio
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Teresa P Martins
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hugo Ribeiro
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - António G G Sousa
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Séneca
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mafalda S Baptista
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Charles K Lee
- International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.,School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - S Craig Cary
- International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.,School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Vitor Ramos
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria F Carvalho
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro N Leão
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina Magalhães
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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25
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Kaur S, Kurtz HD. Core bacterial community composition of a cryptoendolithic ecosystem in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. Microbiologyopen 2019; 8:e00707. [PMID: 30079546 PMCID: PMC6528646 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptoendolithic bacterial communities in the Jurassic Navajo Sandstones play an important ecological role in this ecosystem. Developing a better understanding of the role of these cryptoendolithic communities required a deeper knowledge of the microbial diversity present. We analyzed the bacterial diversity in eight sandstones samples from several microgeological features associated with a large sandstone dome. Cryptoendolithic bacterial diversity is clustered into three distinct groups which correlated with topography, suggesting the duration of water retention might be a factor. Comparisons of diversity between each cluster showed that a core bacterial community exists in this habitat. The overall bacterial community structure was dominated by Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. The most prevalent genera in cyanobacteria were Leptolyngbya, Chroococcidiopsis, and unclassified cyanobacteria accounting for the bulk of cyanobacterial sequences. Within the Proteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria were the largest class detected, with members of the Acetobacteraceae, particularly the genus Acidiphilium, being the most abundant. Acidiphilium spp. are capable of aerobic ferric iron reduction under moderately acidic conditions, explaining the high levels of iron (II) in this system. This study highlights the extent of unexplored bacterial diversity in this habitat system and sets the premise for elaborating on the ecological function of cryptoendolithic communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhpreet Kaur
- Department of Biological SciencesClemson UniversityClemsonSouth Carolina
| | - HD Kurtz
- Department of Biological SciencesClemson UniversityClemsonSouth Carolina
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26
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Niederberger TD, Bottos EM, Sohm JA, Gunderson T, Parker A, Coyne KJ, Capone DG, Carpenter EJ, Cary SC. Rapid Microbial Dynamics in Response to an Induced Wetting Event in Antarctic Dry Valley Soils. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:621. [PMID: 31019494 PMCID: PMC6458288 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cold deserts of the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), Antarctica, host a high level of microbial diversity. Microbial composition and biomass in arid vs. ephemerally wetted regions are distinctly different, with wetted communities representing hot spots of microbial activity that are important zones for biogeochemical cycling. While climatic change is likely to cause wetting in areas not historically subject to wetting events, the responses of microorganisms inhabiting arid soils to water addition is unknown. The purpose of this study was to observe how an associated, yet non-wetted microbial community responds to an extended addition of water. Water from a stream was diverted to an adjacent area of arid soil with changes in microbial composition and activities monitored via molecular and biochemical methods over 7 weeks. The frequency of genetic signatures related to both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms adapted to MDV aquatic conditions increased during the limited 7 week period, indicating that the soil community was transitioning into a typical "high-productivity" MDV community. This work is consistent with current predictions that MDV microbial communities in arid regions are highly sensitive to climate change, and further supports the notion that changes in community structure and associated biogeochemical cycling may occur much more rapidly than predicted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Niederberger
- College Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, United States
| | - Eric M Bottos
- International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.,Department of Biological Sciences, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC, Canada
| | - Jill A Sohm
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Troy Gunderson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Alex Parker
- Romberg Tiburon Center, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, CA, United States
| | - Kathryn J Coyne
- College Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, United States
| | - Douglas G Capone
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Edward J Carpenter
- Romberg Tiburon Center, San Francisco State University, Tiburon, CA, United States
| | - Stephen Craig Cary
- College Earth, Ocean, and Environment, University of Delaware, Lewes, DE, United States.,International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
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27
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Amarelle V, Carrasco V, Fabiano E. The Hidden Life of Antarctic Rocks. SPRINGER POLAR SCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-02786-5_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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28
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Tahon G, Tytgat B, Lebbe L, Carlier A, Willems A. Abditibacterium utsteinense sp. nov., the first cultivated member of candidate phylum FBP, isolated from ice-free Antarctic soil samples. Syst Appl Microbiol 2018; 41:279-290. [DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2018.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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29
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Coleine C, Stajich JE, Zucconi L, Onofri S, Pombubpa N, Egidi E, Franks A, Buzzini P, Selbmann L. Antarctic Cryptoendolithic Fungal Communities Are Highly Adapted and Dominated by Lecanoromycetes and Dothideomycetes. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1392. [PMID: 30008702 PMCID: PMC6033990 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Endolithic growth is one of the most spectacular microbial adaptations to extreme environmental constraints and the predominant life-form in the ice-free areas of Continental Antarctica. Although Antarctic endolithic microbial communities are known to host among the most resistant and extreme-adapted organisms, our knowledge on microbial diversity and composition in this peculiar niche is still limited. In this study, we investigated the diversity and structure of the fungal assemblage in the cryptoendolithic communities inhabiting sandstone using a meta-barcoding approach targeting the fungal Internal Transcribed Sequence region 1 (ITS1). Samples were collected from 14 sites in the Victoria Land, along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 1,000 to 3,300 m a.s.l. and from 29 to 96 km distance to coast. Our study revealed a clear dominance of a 'core' group of fungal taxa consistently present across all the samples, mainly composed of lichen-forming and Dothideomycetous fungi. Pareto-Lorenz curves indicated a very high degree of specialization (F0 approximately 95%), suggesting these communities are highly adapted but have limited ability to recover after perturbations. Overall, both fungal community biodiversity and composition did not show any correlation with the considered abiotic parameters, potentially due to strong fluctuations of environmental conditions at local scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Nuttapon Pombubpa
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Eleonora Egidi
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Ashley Franks
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Pietro Buzzini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Industrial Yeasts Collection DBVPG, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Section of Mycology, Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), Genoa, Italy
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30
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Coleine C, Zucconi L, Onofri S, Pombubpa N, Stajich JE, Selbmann L. Sun Exposure Shapes Functional Grouping of Fungi in Cryptoendolithic Antarctic Communities. Life (Basel) 2018; 8:E19. [PMID: 29865244 PMCID: PMC6027399 DOI: 10.3390/life8020019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antarctic cryptoendolithic microbial communities dominate ice-free areas of continental Antarctica, among the harshest environments on Earth. The endolithic lifestyle is a remarkable adaptation to the exceptional environmental extremes of this area, which is considered the closest terrestrial example to conditions on Mars. Recent efforts have attempted to elucidate composition of these extremely adapted communities, but the functionality of these microbes have remained unexplored. We have tested for interactions between measured environmental characteristics, fungal community membership, and inferred functional classification of the fungi present and found altitude and sun exposure were primary factors. Sandstone rocks were collected in Victoria Land, Antarctica along an altitudinal gradient from 834 to 3100 m a.s.l.; differently sun-exposed rocks were selected to test the influence of this parameter on endolithic settlement. Metabarcoding targeting the fungal internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS1) was used to catalogue the species found in these communities. Functional profile of guilds found in the samples was associated to species using FUNGuild and variation in functional groups compared across sunlight exposure and altitude. Results revealed clear dominance of lichenized and stress-tolerant fungi in endolithic communities. The main variations in composition and abundance of functional groups among sites correlated to sun exposure, but not to altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo 01100, Italy.
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo 01100, Italy.
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo 01100, Italy.
| | - Nuttapon Pombubpa
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo 01100, Italy.
- Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, Genoa 16166, Italy.
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31
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Meslier V, Casero MC, Dailey M, Wierzchos J, Ascaso C, Artieda O, McCullough PR, DiRuggiero J. Fundamental drivers for endolithic microbial community assemblies in the hyperarid Atacama Desert. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:1765-1781. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Meslier
- Department of BiologyThe Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore MD USA
| | | | - Micah Dailey
- Department of BiologyThe Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore MD USA
| | | | - Carmen Ascaso
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSICMadrid Spain
| | - Octavio Artieda
- Departamento Biologica Vegetal, Ecologia y ciencias de la TierraUniversidad de ExtremaduraPlasencia Spain
| | - P. R. McCullough
- Department of Physics and AstronomyThe Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore MD USA
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32
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Chrismas NAM, Anesio AM, Sánchez-Baracaldo P. The future of genomics in polar and alpine cyanobacteria. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2018; 94:4904125. [PMID: 29506259 PMCID: PMC5939894 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, genomic analyses have arisen as an exciting way of investigating the functional capacity and environmental adaptations of numerous micro-organisms of global relevance, including cyanobacteria. In the extreme cold of Arctic, Antarctic and alpine environments, cyanobacteria are of fundamental ecological importance as primary producers and ecosystem engineers. While their role in biogeochemical cycles is well appreciated, little is known about the genomic makeup of polar and alpine cyanobacteria. In this article, we present ways that genomic techniques might be used to further our understanding of cyanobacteria in cold environments in terms of their evolution and ecology. Existing examples from other environments (e.g. marine/hot springs) are used to discuss how methods developed there might be used to investigate specific questions in the cryosphere. Phylogenomics, comparative genomics and population genomics are identified as methods for understanding the evolution and biogeography of polar and alpine cyanobacteria. Transcriptomics will allow us to investigate gene expression under extreme environmental conditions, and metagenomics can be used to complement tradition amplicon-based methods of community profiling. Finally, new techniques such as single cell genomics and metagenome assembled genomes will also help to expand our understanding of polar and alpine cyanobacteria that cannot readily be cultured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A M Chrismas
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
- Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
| | - Patricia Sánchez-Baracaldo
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
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33
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Brady AL, Goordial J, Sun HJ, Whyte LG, Slater GF. Variability in carbon uptake and (re)cycling in Antarctic cryptoendolithic microbial ecosystems demonstrated through radiocarbon analysis of organic biomarkers. GEOBIOLOGY 2018; 16:62-79. [PMID: 29076278 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Cryptoendolithic lichens and cyanobacteria living in porous sandstone in the high-elevation McMurdo Dry Valleys are purported to be among the slowest growing organisms on Earth with cycles of death and regrowth on the order of 103 -104 years. Here, organic biomarker and radiocarbon analysis were used to better constrain ages and carbon sources of cryptoendoliths in University Valley (UV; 1,800 m.a.s.l) and neighboring Farnell Valley (FV; 1,700 m.a.s.l). Δ14 C was measured for membrane component phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and glycolipid fatty acids, as well as for total organic carbon (TOC). PLFA concentrations indicated viable cells comprised a minor (<0.5%) component of TOC. TOC Δ14 C values ranged from -272‰ to -185‰ equivalent to calibrated ages of 1,100-2,550 years old. These ages may be the result of fractional preservation of biogenic carbon and/or sudden large-scale community death and extended period(s) of inactivity prior to slow recolonization and incorporation of 14 C-depleted fossil material. PLFA Δ14 C values were generally more modern than the corresponding TOC and varied widely between sites; the FV PLFA Δ14 C value (+40‰) was consistent with modern atmospheric CO2 , while UV values ranged from -199‰ to -79‰ (calibrated ages of 1,665-610 years). The observed variability in PLFA Δ14 C depletions is hypothesized to reflect variations in the extent of fixation of modern atmospheric CO2 and the preservation and recycling of older organic carbon by the community in various stages of sandstone recolonization. PLFA profiles and microbial community compositions as determined by molecular genetic characterizations and microscopy differed between the two valleys (e.g., predominance of biomarker 18:2 [>50%] in FV compared to UV), representing microbial communities that may reflect distinct stages of sandstone recolonization and/or environmental conditions. It is thus proposed that Dry Valley cryptoendolithic microbial communities are faster growing than previously estimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Brady
- School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - J Goordial
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - H J Sun
- Desert Research Institute, Las Vegas, NV, USA
| | - L G Whyte
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - G F Slater
- School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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34
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Khomutovska N, Jerzak M, Kostrzewska-Szlakowska I, Kwiatowski J, Suska-Malawska M, Syczewski M, Jasser I. Life in Extreme Habitats: Diversity of Endolithic Microorganisms from Cold Desert Ecosystems of Eastern Pamir. POLISH JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.3161/15052249pje2017.65.4.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nataliia Khomutovska
- Department of Plant Ecology and Environmental Conservation, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland,
| | - Maja Jerzak
- Department of Plant Ecology and Environmental Conservation, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland,
| | | | - Jan Kwiatowski
- Department of Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Suska-Malawska
- Department of Plant Ecology and Environmental Conservation, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland,
| | - Marcin Syczewski
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology, Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Iwona Jasser
- Department of Plant Ecology and Environmental Conservation, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland,
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35
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Feng B, Liu H, Wang M, Sun X, Pan Y, Zhao Y. Diversity analysis of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease-positive Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains. AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aaf.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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36
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Selbmann L, Onofri S, Coleine C, Buzzini P, Canini F, Zucconi L. Effect of environmental parameters on biodiversity of the fungal component in lithic Antarctic communities. Extremophiles 2017; 21:1069-1080. [PMID: 28993960 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-017-0967-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A wide sampling of rocks, colonized by microbial epi-endolithic communities, was performed along an altitudinal gradient from sea level to 3600 m asl and sea distance from the coast to 100 km inland along the Victoria Land Coast, Antarctica. Seventy-two rock samples of different typology, representative of the entire survey, were selected and studied using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to compare variation in fungal diversity according to environmental conditions along this altitudinal and sea distance transect. Lichenized fungi were largely predominant in all the samples studied and the biodiversity was heavily influenced even by minimal local variations. The n-MDS analysis showed that altitude and sea distance affect fungal biodiversity, while sandstone allows the communities to maintain high biodiversity indices. The Pareto-Lorenz curves indicate that all the communities analyzed are highly adapted to extreme conditions but scarcely resilient, so any external perturbation may have irreversible effects on these fragile ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Pietro Buzzini
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Industrial Yeasts Collection DBVPG, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Fabiana Canini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences (DEB), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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Darienko T, Gustavs L, Pröschold T. Species concept and nomenclatural changes within the genera Elliptochloris and Pseudochlorella (Trebouxiophyceae) based on an integrative approach. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2016; 52:1125-1145. [PMID: 27734501 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The genera Elliptochloris and Pseudochlorella were erected for Chlorella-like green algae producing two types of autospores and cell packages, respectively. Both genera are widely distributed in different soil habitats, either as free living or as photobionts of lichens. The species of these genera are often difficult to identify because of the high phenotypic plasticity and occasional lack of characteristic features. The taxonomic and nomenclatural status of these species, therefore, remains unclear. In this study, 34 strains were investigated using an integrative approach. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the isolates belong to two independent lineages of the Trebouxiophyceae (Elliptochloris and Prasiola clades) and confirmed that the genera are not closely related. The comparison of morphology, molecular phylogeny, and analyses of secondary structures of SSU and ITS rDNA sequences revealed that all of the strains belong to three genera: Elliptochloris, Pseudochlorella, and Edaphochlorella. As a consequence of the taxonomic revisions, we propose two new combinations (Elliptochloris antarctica and Pseudochlorella signiensis) and validate Elliptochloris reniformis, which is invalidly described according to the International Code for Nomenclature (ICN), by designating a holotype. To reflect the high phenotypic plasticity of P. signiensis, two new varieties were described: P. signiensis var. magna and P. signiensis var. communis. Chlorella mirabilis was not closely related to any of these genera and was, therefore, transferred to the new genus Edaphochlorella. All of the taxonomic changes were highly supported by all phylogenetic analyses and were confirmed by the ITS-2 Barcodes using the ITS-2/CBC approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana Darienko
- M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy Science of Ukraine, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine
- Experimental Phycology and Culture Collection of Algae, University of Göttingen, D-37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lydia Gustavs
- Department of Applied Ecology and Phycology, University of Rostock, D-18059, Rostock, Germany
| | - Thomas Pröschold
- Department of Limnology and Biooceanography, University of Vienna, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Botany, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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Pontefract A, Osinski GR, Cockell CS, Southam G, McCausland PJA, Umoh J, Holdsworth DW. Microbial Diversity of Impact-Generated Habitats. ASTROBIOLOGY 2016; 16:775-786. [PMID: 27732069 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2015.1393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Impact-generated lithologies have recently been identified as viable and important microbial habitats, especially within cold and arid regions such as the polar deserts on Earth. These unique habitats provide protection from environmental stressors, such as freeze-thaw events, desiccation, and UV radiation, and act to trap aerially deposited detritus within the fissures and pore spaces, providing necessary nutrients for endoliths. This study provides the first culture-independent analysis of the microbial community structure within impact-generated lithologies in a Mars analog environment, involving the analysis of 44,534 16S rRNA sequences from an assemblage of 21 rock samples that comprises three shock metamorphism categories. We find that species diversity increases (H = 2.4-4.6) with exposure to higher shock pressures, which leads to the development of three distinct populations. In each population, Actinobacteria were the most abundant (41%, 65%, and 59%), and the dominant phototrophic taxa came from the Chloroflexi. Calculated porosity (a function of shock metamorphism) for these samples correlates (R2 = 0.62) with inverse Simpson indices, accounting for overlap in populations in the higher shock levels. The results of our study show that microbial diversity is tied to the amount of porosity in the target substrate (as a function of shock metamorphism), resulting in the formation of distinct microbial populations. Key Words: Microbial diversity-Endoliths-Impact melt-rocks-Mars-Astrobiology. Astrobiology 16, 775-786.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pontefract
- 1 Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration/Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario , London, Canada
| | - Gordon R Osinski
- 1 Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration/Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario , London, Canada
- 2 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Western Ontario , London, Canada
| | - Charles S Cockell
- 3 School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, UK
| | - Gordon Southam
- 4 School of Earth Sciences, University of Queensland , St. Lucia-Brisbane, Australia
| | - Phil J A McCausland
- 1 Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration/Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario , London, Canada
| | - Joseph Umoh
- 5 Preclinical Imaging Research Centre, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario , London, Canada
| | - David W Holdsworth
- 5 Preclinical Imaging Research Centre, Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario , London, Canada
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Archer SDJ, de los Ríos A, Lee KC, Niederberger TS, Cary SC, Coyne KJ, Douglas S, Lacap-Bugler DC, Pointing SB. Endolithic microbial diversity in sandstone and granite from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Polar Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-016-2024-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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A selective medium for recovery and enumeration of endolithic bacteria. J Microbiol Methods 2016; 129:44-54. [PMID: 27480051 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2016.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The study of lithic microbial communities, inhabiting rock substrates has been gathering momentum due to a growing attention of their wide importance as model systems in ecological studies and for their community structure. It is generally accepted that the success of cultivation-based technique is primarily based on suitable culture medium for isolation. The media available for enumeration and recovery of endolithic bacteria are mainly specific to particular type of rock which may not be suitable to isolate endolithic bacterial community from diverse lithobiontic niches. In this study, a new unoptimized medium was formulated, designated LM10 (unoptimized) for enumeration and recovery of endolithic bacteria by addition and/or omission of media components to the basal medium R2G, which was selected after experimental evaluation of five different existing media. The endolithic bacterial count in LM10 medium (unoptimized) was significantly higher than the R2G medium (t=-12.57, p<0.0001). The culture and nutritional parameters associated with unoptimized LM10 medium were optimized using statistical approach to maximize the recovery and enumeration of endolithic bacteria. The first phase of the study comprised of a Plackett-Burman (PB) design experiment conducted to screen thirteen medium components and two culture parameters as variables with effect on bacterial enumeration and recovery. Out of these, Yeast extract, Casein hydrolysate, Glucose, Starch and Sodium thiosulphate were found to be significantly affecting the bacterial count (p<0.05) based on PB design. On keeping rest of the media components and culture conditions at fixed value as per the PB design analyses (p>0.05 and coefficients), further optimization was carried out for significant factors using Box-Behnken design (BBD) of response surface methodology (RSM). Optimized media components obtained by BBD were Yeast extract, Casein hydrolysate, Glucose and Starch in 0.05g/l each and Sodium thiosulphate in 0.047g/l concentrations. The composition of optimized LM10 medium formulated (per litre) is 0.05g Yeast extract, 0.05g Casein hydrolysate, 0.05g Glucose, 0.05g Starch, 0.01g K2HPO4, 0.02g Sodium pyruvate, 0.2g MgSO4, 0.001g FeSO4·7H2O, 0.285g NH4Cl, 0.039g CaCl2·2H2O, 0.047g Na2S2O3·5H2O, 0.002g NaHCO3 and 11g Gellan gum (pH=7.4). Validation of optimized LM10 medium using nine different rock samples from Meghalaya clearly indicated that optimized LM10 medium was better suited for higher recovery and enumeration of endolithic bacteria under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.
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Goordial J, Davila A, Greer CW, Cannam R, DiRuggiero J, McKay CP, Whyte LG. Comparative activity and functional ecology of permafrost soils and lithic niches in a hyper-arid polar desert. Environ Microbiol 2016; 19:443-458. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rebecca Cannam
- McGill University Macdonald Campus; Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Quebec Canada
| | | | | | - Lyle G. Whyte
- McGill University Macdonald Campus; Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Quebec Canada
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42
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Sokoloff PC, Freebury CE, Hamilton PB, Saarela JM. The "Martian" flora: new collections of vascular plants, lichens, fungi, algae, and cyanobacteria from the Mars Desert Research Station, Utah. Biodivers Data J 2016:e8176. [PMID: 27350765 PMCID: PMC4911540 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.4.e8176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mars Desert Research Station is a Mars analog research site located in the desert outside of Hanksville, Utah, U.S.A. Here we present a preliminary checklist of the vascular plant and lichen flora for the station, based on collections made primarily during a two-week simulated Mars mission in November, 2014. Additionally, we present notes on the endolithic chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, and the identification of a fungal genus also based on these collections. Altogether, we recorded 38 vascular plant species from 14 families, 13 lichen species from seven families, six algae taxa including both chlorophytes and cyanobacteria, and one fungal genus from the station and surrounding area. We discuss this floristic diversity in the context of the ecology of the nearby San Rafael Swell and the desert areas of Wayne and Emery counties in southeastern Utah.
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Crits-Christoph A, Robinson CK, Ma B, Ravel J, Wierzchos J, Ascaso C, Artieda O, Souza-Egipsy V, Casero MC, DiRuggiero J. Phylogenetic and Functional Substrate Specificity for Endolithic Microbial Communities in Hyper-Arid Environments. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:301. [PMID: 27014224 PMCID: PMC4784552 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Under extreme water deficit, endolithic (inside rock) microbial ecosystems are considered environmental refuges for life in cold and hot deserts, yet their diversity and functional adaptations remain vastly unexplored. The metagenomic analyses of the communities from two rock substrates, calcite and ignimbrite, revealed that they were dominated by Cyanobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi. The relative distribution of major phyla was significantly different between the two substrates and biodiversity estimates, from 16S rRNA gene sequences and from the metagenomic data, all pointed to a higher taxonomic diversity in the calcite community. While both endolithic communities showed adaptations to extreme aridity and to the rock habitat, their functional capabilities revealed significant differences. ABC transporters and pathways for osmoregulation were more diverse in the calcite chasmoendolithic community. In contrast, the ignimbrite cryptoendolithic community was enriched in pathways for secondary metabolites, such as non-ribosomal peptides (NRP) and polyketides (PK). Assemblies of the metagenome data produced population genomes for the major phyla found in both communities and revealed a greater diversity of Cyanobacteria population genomes for the calcite substrate. Draft genomes of the dominant Cyanobacteria in each community were constructed with more than 93% estimated completeness. The two annotated proteomes shared 64% amino acid identity and a significantly higher number of genes involved in iron update, and NRPS gene clusters, were found in the draft genomes from the ignimbrite. Both the community-wide and genome-specific differences may be related to higher water availability and the colonization of large fissures and cracks in the calcite in contrast to a harsh competition for colonization space and nutrient resources in the narrow pores of the ignimbrite. Together, these results indicated that the habitable architecture of both lithic substrates- chasmoendolithic versus cryptoendolithic - might be an essential element in determining the colonization and the diversity of the microbial communities in endolithic substrates at the dry limit for life.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bing Ma
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacques Ravel
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacek Wierzchos
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbial Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Ascaso
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbial Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Virginia Souza-Egipsy
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
| | - M Cristina Casero
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbial Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas Madrid, Spain
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Van Goethem MW, Makhalanyane TP, Valverde A, Cary SC, Cowan DA. Characterization of bacterial communities in lithobionts and soil niches from Victoria Valley, Antarctica. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw051. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
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Obbels D, Verleyen E, Mano MJ, Namsaraev Z, Sweetlove M, Tytgat B, Fernandez-Carazo R, De Wever A, D'hondt S, Ertz D, Elster J, Sabbe K, Willems A, Wilmotte A, Vyverman W. Bacterial and eukaryotic biodiversity patterns in terrestrial and aquatic habitats in the Sør Rondane Mountains, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 92:fiw041. [PMID: 26936447 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial and microeukaryotic biodiversity were studied using pyrosequencing analysis on a 454 GS FLX+ platform of partial SSU rRNA genes in terrestrial and aquatic habitats of the Sør Rondane Mountains, including soils, on mosses, endolithic communities, cryoconite holes and supraglacial and subglacial meltwater lenses. This inventory was complemented with Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis targeting Chlorophyta and Cyanobacteria. OTUs belonging to the Rotifera, Chlorophyta, Tardigrada, Ciliophora, Cercozoa, Fungi, Bryophyta, Bacillariophyta, Collembola and Nematoda were present with a relative abundance of at least 0.1% in the eukaryotic communities. Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, FBP and Actinobacteria were the most abundant bacterial phyla. Multivariate analyses of the pyrosequencing data revealed a general lack of differentiation of both eukaryotes and prokaryotes according to habitat type. However, the bacterial community structure in the aquatic habitats was dominated by the filamentous cyanobacteria Leptolyngbya and appeared to be significantly different compared with those in dry soils, on mosses, and in endolithic habitats. A striking feature in all datasets was the detection of a relatively large amount of sequences new to science, which underscores the need for additional biodiversity assessments in Antarctic inland locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Obbels
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elie Verleyen
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marie-José Mano
- Centre for Protein Engineering, Institute of Chemistry, Université de Liège, Sart-TilmanB6, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Zorigto Namsaraev
- Centre for Protein Engineering, Institute of Chemistry, Université de Liège, Sart-TilmanB6, B-4000 Liège, Belgium Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology RAS, Pr-t 60-letya Oktyabrya, 7/2, Moscow 117312, Russia NRC Kurchatov Institute, Akademika Kurchatova pl. 1, Moscow, 12 31 82, Russia
| | - Maxime Sweetlove
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bjorn Tytgat
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Rafael Fernandez-Carazo
- Centre for Protein Engineering, Institute of Chemistry, Université de Liège, Sart-TilmanB6, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Aaike De Wever
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium Operational Directorate Natural Environment, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sofie D'hondt
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Damien Ertz
- Botanic Garden Meise, Department Bryophytes-Thallophytes, Nieuwelaan 38, B-1860 Meise, Belgium Federation Wallonia-Brussels, General Administration of the Non-Compulsory Education and Scientific Research, Rue A. Lavallée 1, 1080 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Josef Elster
- Centre for Polar Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dukelská 135, 379 82, Třeboň, Czech republic
| | - Koen Sabbe
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anne Willems
- Laboratory for Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Annick Wilmotte
- Centre for Protein Engineering, Institute of Chemistry, Université de Liège, Sart-TilmanB6, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Wim Vyverman
- Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, S8, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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47
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Brandes M, Albach DC, Vogt JC, Mayland-Quellhorst E, Mendieta-Leiva G, Golubic S, Palinska KA. Supratidal Extremophiles--Cyanobacterial Diversity in the Rock Pools of the Croatian Adria. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2015; 70:876-888. [PMID: 26048370 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-015-0637-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Hardly any molecular studies have been done on euendoliths of marine coastal environments, especially along the supratidal ranges of carbonate coasts. In our study, we provide a comparative sequence analysis using 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene combined with extensive microscopy of the endolithic community from rock pools of the Croatian Adria. Molecular diversity indices and richness estimates showed high level of diversity, particularly in high-salinity samples. The most common cyanobacteria belong to the order Pleurocapsales, similar to observations on limestone coasts in other parts of the world. Using single-cell amplification sequences of Hormathonema spp., Hyella caespitosa, and Kyrtuthrix dalmatica was for the first time introduced to the public GenBank.Microscopic investigations did not show qualitative variances in diversity among sites with different salinity but clear differences in prevalent organisms from similar environments suggesting that most of them are adapted to inhabit extreme, marine endolithic habitats and that similar species inhabit geographically separated but ecologically similar environments. This is a remarkable concordance rather seldom seen in molecular community studies in support of the hypothesis that endolithic ecosystems are seeded from a global meta-community.The relative diversity of the community is greater than those described from harsh endolithic habitats of cold and hot deserts. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree consisting of 166 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at 96 % sequence similarity revealed 11 distinct clusters. Three clusters contained only epilithic or endolithic taxa, and five clusters contained mixed epilithic and endolithic taxa. Organisms clustered according to their taxonomic affiliations and not to their preferences to salt concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Brandes
- IBU, Plants Biodiversity and Evolution, CvO University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Dirk C Albach
- IBU, Plants Biodiversity and Evolution, CvO University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Janina C Vogt
- IBU, Plants Biodiversity and Evolution, CvO University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Eike Mayland-Quellhorst
- IBU, Plants Biodiversity and Evolution, CvO University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Glenda Mendieta-Leiva
- IBU, Functional Ecology of Plants, University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Stjepko Golubic
- Biological Science Center, Boston University, 5 Cummington Street, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Katarzyna A Palinska
- IBU, Plants Biodiversity and Evolution, CvO University of Oldenburg, D-26111, Oldenburg, Germany.
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48
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Chrismas NAM, Anesio AM, Sánchez-Baracaldo P. Multiple adaptations to polar and alpine environments within cyanobacteria: a phylogenomic and Bayesian approach. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1070. [PMID: 26528250 PMCID: PMC4602134 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are major primary producers in the polar and alpine regions contributing significantly to nitrogen and carbon cycles in the cryosphere. Recent advancements in environmental sequencing techniques have revealed great molecular diversity of microorganisms in cold environments. However, there are no comprehensive phylogenetic analyses including the entire known diversity of cyanobacteria from these extreme environments. We present here a global phylogenetic analysis of cyanobacteria including an extensive dataset comprised of available small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences of cyanobacteria from polar and high altitude environments. Furthermore, we used a large-scale multi-gene (135 proteins and 2 ribosomal RNAs) genome constraint including 57 cyanobacterial genomes. Our analyses produced the first phylogeny of cold cyanobacteria exhibiting robust deep branching relationships implementing a phylogenomic approach. We recovered several clades common to Arctic, Antarctic and alpine sites suggesting that the traits necessary for survival in the cold have been acquired by a range of different mechanisms in all major cyanobacteria lineages. Bayesian ancestral state reconstruction revealed that 20 clades each have common ancestors with high probabilities of being capable of surviving in cold environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan A M Chrismas
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol Bristol, UK
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol Bristol, UK
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Houghton KM, Morgan XC, Lagutin K, MacKenzie AD, Vyssotskii M, Mitchell KA, McDonald IR, Morgan HW, Power JF, Moreau JW, Hanssen E, Stott MB. Thermorudis pharmacophila sp. nov., a novel member of the class Thermomicrobia isolated from geothermal soil, and emended descriptions of Thermomicrobium roseum, Thermomicrobium carboxidum, Thermorudis peleae and Sphaerobacter thermophilus. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2015; 65:4479-4487. [PMID: 26374291 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.000598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
An aerobic, thermophilic and cellulolytic bacterium, designated strain WKT50.2T, was isolated from geothermal soil at Waikite, New Zealand. Strain WKT50.2T grew at 53-76 °C and at pH 5.9-8.2. The DNA G+C content was 58.4 mol%. The major fatty acids were 12-methyl C18 : 0 and C18 : 0. Polar lipids were all linked to long-chain 1,2-diols, and comprised 2-acylalkyldiol-1-O-phosphoinositol (diolPI), 2-acylalkyldiol-1-O-phosphoacylmannoside (diolP-acylMan), 2-acylalkyldiol-1-O-phosphoinositol acylmannoside (diolPI-acylMan) and 2-acylalkyldiol-1-O-phosphoinositol mannoside (diolPI-Man). Strain WKT50.2T utilized a range of cellulosic substrates, alcohols and organic acids for growth, but was unable to utilize monosaccharides. Robust growth of WKT50.2T was observed on protein derivatives. WKT50.2T was sensitive to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, neomycin, polymyxin B, streptomycin and vancomycin. Metronidazole, lasalocid A and trimethoprim stimulated growth. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that WKT50.2T belonged to the class Thermomicrobia within the phylum Chloroflexi, and was most closely related to Thermorudis peleae KI4T (99.6% similarity). DNA-DNA hybridization between WKT50.2T and Thermorudis peleae DSM 27169T was 18.0%. Physiological and biochemical tests confirmed the phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of strain WKT50.2T from Thermorudis peleae KI4T and other members of the Thermomicrobia. On the basis of its phylogenetic position and phenotypic characteristics, we propose that strain WKT50.2T represents a novel species, for which the name Thermorudis pharmacophila sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain WKT50.2T ( = DSM 26011T = ICMP 20042T). Emended descriptions of Thermomicrobium roseum, Thermomicrobium carboxidum, Thermorudis peleae and Sphaerobacter thermophilus are also proposed, and include the description of a novel respiratory quinone, MK-8 2,3-epoxide (23%), in Thermomicrobium roseum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen M Houghton
- GNS Science, Extremophiles Research Group, Private Bag 2000, Taupo¯ 3352, New Zealand.,School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Xochitl C Morgan
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kirill Lagutin
- Callaghan Innovation, PO Box 31310, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Kevin A Mitchell
- Callaghan Innovation, PO Box 31310, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand
| | - Ian R McDonald
- School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Hugh W Morgan
- School of Science, University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Jean F Power
- GNS Science, Extremophiles Research Group, Private Bag 2000, Taupo¯ 3352, New Zealand
| | - John W Moreau
- University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Road, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Eric Hanssen
- University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Road, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Matthew B Stott
- GNS Science, Extremophiles Research Group, Private Bag 2000, Taupo¯ 3352, New Zealand
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Pointing SB, Burkhard Büdel, Convey P, Gillman LN, Körner C, Leuzinger S, Vincent WF. Biogeography of photoautotrophs in the high polar biome. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:692. [PMID: 26442009 PMCID: PMC4566839 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The global latitudinal gradient in biodiversity weakens in the high polar biome and so an alternative explanation for distribution of Arctic and Antarctic photoautotrophs is required. Here we identify how temporal, microclimate and evolutionary drivers of biogeography are important, rather than the macroclimate features that drive plant diversity patterns elsewhere. High polar ecosystems are biologically unique, with a more central role for bryophytes, lichens and microbial photoautotrophs over that of vascular plants. Constraints on vascular plants arise mainly due to stature and ontogenetic barriers. Conversely non-vascular plant and microbial photoautotroph distribution is correlated with favorable microclimates and the capacity for poikilohydric dormancy. Contemporary distribution also depends on evolutionary history, with adaptive and dispersal traits as well as legacy influencing biogeography. We highlight the relevance of these findings to predicting future impacts on diversity of polar photoautotrophs and to the current status of plants in Arctic and Antarctic conservation policy frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen B. Pointing
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Applied Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Burkhard Büdel
- Department of Biology, University of Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, Cambridge, UK
- National Antarctic Research Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Len N. Gillman
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Applied Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Sebastian Leuzinger
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Applied Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Warwick F. Vincent
- Centre d’\Études Nordiques and Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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