1
|
Aronson HS, Clark CE, LaRowe DE, Amend JP, Polerecky L, Macalady JL. Sulfur disproportionating microbial communities in a dynamic, microoxic-sulfidic karst system. Geobiology 2023; 21:791-803. [PMID: 37721188 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Biogeochemical sulfur cycling in sulfidic karst systems is largely driven by abiotic and biological sulfide oxidation, but the fate of elemental sulfur (S0 ) that accumulates in these systems is not well understood. The Frasassi Cave system (Italy) is intersected by a sulfidic aquifer that mixes with small quantities of oxygen-rich meteoric water, creating Proterozoic-like conditions and supporting a prolific ecosystem driven by sulfur-based chemolithoautotrophy. To better understand the cycling of S0 in this environment, we examined the geochemistry and microbiology of sediments underlying widespread sulfide-oxidizing mats dominated by Beggiatoa. Sediment populations were dominated by uncultivated relatives of sulfur cycling chemolithoautotrophs related to Sulfurovum, Halothiobacillus, Thiofaba, Thiovirga, Thiobacillus, and Desulfocapsa, as well as diverse uncultivated anaerobic heterotrophs affiliated with Bacteroidota, Anaerolineaceae, Lentimicrobiaceae, and Prolixibacteraceae. Desulfocapsa and Sulfurovum populations accounted for 12%-26% of sediment 16S rRNA amplicon sequences and were closely related to isolates which carry out autotrophic S0 disproportionation in pure culture. Gibbs energy (∆Gr ) calculations revealed that S0 disproportionation under in situ conditions is energy yielding. Microsensor profiles through the mat-sediment interface showed that Beggiatoa mats consume dissolved sulfide and oxygen, but a net increase in acidity was only observed in the sediments below. Together, these findings suggest that disproportionation is an important sink for S0 generated by microbial sulfide oxidation in this oxygen-limited system and may contribute to the weathering of carbonate rocks and sediments in sulfur-rich environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi S Aronson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Christian E Clark
- Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Douglas E LaRowe
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jan P Amend
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lubos Polerecky
- Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jennifer L Macalady
- Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Aronson HS, Thomas C, Bhattacharyya MK, Eckstein SR, Jensen SR, Barco RA, Macalady JL, Amend JP. Thiovibrio frasassiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an autotrophic, elemental sulphur disproportionating bacterium isolated from sulphidic karst sediment, and proposal of Thiovibrionaceae fam. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2023; 73. [PMID: 37609857 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel, autotrophic, mesophilic bacterium, strain RS19-109T, was isolated from sulphidic stream sediments in the Frasassi Caves, Italy. The cells of this strain grew chemolithoautotrophically under anaerobic conditions while disproportionating elemental sulphur (S0) and thiosulphate, but not sulphite with bicarbonate/CO2 as a carbon source. Autotrophic growth was also observed with molecular hydrogen as an electron donor, and S0, sulphate, thiosulphate, nitrate and ferric iron as electron acceptors. Oxygen was not used as an electron acceptor and sulphide was not used as an electron donor. Weak growth was observed with sulphate as an electron acceptor and organic carbon as an electron donor and carbon source. The strain also showed weak growth by fermentation of tryptone. It grew at pH 5.5–7.5 (optimum, pH 7.0), 4–35 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and between 0–1.7 % NaCl. Strain RS19-109T was found to be phylogenetically distinct based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (89.2 %) to its closest relative,
Desulfurivibrio alkaliphilus
AHT2T. The draft genome sequence for strain RS19-109T had average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values of 72.2, 63.0 and 18.3 %, respectively, compared with the genome sequence of
D. alkaliphilus
AHT2T. On the basis of its physiological and genomic properties, strain RS19-109T is proposed as the type strain of a novel species of a novel genus, Thiovibrio frasassiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. A novel family, Thiovibrionaceae fam. nov., is proposed to accommodate Thiovibrio within the order
Desulfobulbales
. Strain RS19-109T has been deposited at the DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (=DSM 115074T) and the American Type Culture Collection (=ATCC TSD-325T).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi S Aronson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Allan Hancock Foundation Building, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Cais Thomas
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Zumberge Hall of Science, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Maia K Bhattacharyya
- Environmental Studies Program, University of Southern California, College Academic Services Building, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Shaan R Eckstein
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Zumberge Hall of Science, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Sophia R Jensen
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Zumberge Hall of Science, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Roman A Barco
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Zumberge Hall of Science, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Jennifer L Macalady
- Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, 503 Deike Building University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jan P Amend
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Allan Hancock Foundation Building, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Zumberge Hall of Science, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Aronson HS, Monteverde DR, Barnes BD, Johnson BR, Zawaski MJ, Speth DR, Wang XT, Wu F, Webb SM, Trower EJ, Magyar JS, Sessions AL, Orphan VJ, Fischer WW. Sulfur cycling at natural hydrocarbon and sulfur seeps in Santa Paula Creek, CA. Geobiology 2022; 20:707-725. [PMID: 35894090 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biogeochemical cycling of sulfur is relatively understudied in terrestrial environments compared to marine environments. However, the comparative ease of access, observation, and sampling of terrestrial settings can expand our understanding of organisms and processes important in the modern sulfur cycle. Furthermore, these sites may allow for the discovery of useful process analogs for ancient sulfur-metabolizing microbial communities at times in Earth's past when atmospheric O2 concentrations were lower and sulfide was more prevalent in Earth surface environments. We identified a new site at Santa Paula Creek (SPC) in Ventura County, CA-a remarkable freshwater, gravel-bedded mountain stream charged with a range of oxidized and reduced sulfur species and heavy hydrocarbons from the emergence of subsurface fluids within the underlying sulfur- and organic-rich Miocene-age Monterey Formation. SPC hosts a suite of morphologically distinct microbial biofacies that form in association with the naturally occurring hydrocarbon seeps and sulfur springs. We characterized the geology, stream geochemistry, and microbial facies and diversity of the Santa Paula Creek ecosystem. Using geochemical analyses and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we found that SPC supports a dynamic sulfur cycle that is largely driven by sulfide-oxidizing microbial taxa, with contributions from smaller populations of sulfate-reducing and sulfur-disproportionating taxa. This preliminary characterization of SPC revealed an intriguing site in which to study geological and geochemical controls on microbial community composition and to expand our understanding of sulfur cycling in terrestrial environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heidi S Aronson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Danielle R Monteverde
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Ben Davis Barnes
- Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brooke R Johnson
- Early Life Traces & Evolution-Astrobiology, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- Department of Earth Sciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Mike J Zawaski
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Daan R Speth
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Xingchen Tony Wang
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fenfang Wu
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Samuel M Webb
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | | | - John S Magyar
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Alex L Sessions
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Victoria J Orphan
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| | - Woodward W Fischer
- Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Alain K, Aronson HS, Allioux M, Yvenou S, Amend JP. Sulfur disproportionation is exergonic in the vicinity of marine hydrothermal vents. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:2210-2219. [PMID: 35315563 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sulfur is abundant in different oxidation states in hydrothermal ecosystems, where it plays a central role in microbial energy production. The contribution of microbially catalyzed disproportionation of elemental sulfur (S0 ) to the energy fluxes of this ecosystem is unknown. Indeed, within the current knowledge it is impossible to study this process in a global way due to the lack of specific genetic markers and because of the difficulties in unraveling the isotopic signals from the different reactions of the sulfur cycle. In this context, calculations of the Gibbs energy (∆Gr) of sulfur disproportionation can identify whether this process is thermodynamically favorable and provides sufficient energy yields for growth at the temperatures, pressures, and chemical compositions found in the various niches of the hydrothermal ecosystem. Herein, free energy yield calculations were performed using internally consistent thermodynamic properties and geochemical data from four different hydrothermal systems. These calculations showed that S0 -disproportionation is sufficiently exergonic to allow growth in most niches of the hydrothermal ecosystems, regardless of the geological and geochemical context, and depth; it is most favorable at elevated temperatures and alkaline pH, at low sulfide and sulfate concentrations, and in the presence of sulfide-chelating minerals, which are common in these environments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karine Alain
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, Unité Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds BEEP, UMR 6197, IRP 1211 MicrobSea, IUEM, Rue Dumont d'Urville, F-29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Heidi S Aronson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089
| | - Maxime Allioux
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, Unité Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds BEEP, UMR 6197, IRP 1211 MicrobSea, IUEM, Rue Dumont d'Urville, F-29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Stéven Yvenou
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, Unité Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds BEEP, UMR 6197, IRP 1211 MicrobSea, IUEM, Rue Dumont d'Urville, F-29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Jan P Amend
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089.,Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hendrickson R, Urbaniak C, Minich JJ, Aronson HS, Martino C, Stepanauskas R, Knight R, Venkateswaran K. Clean room microbiome complexity impacts planetary protection bioburden. Microbiome 2021; 9:238. [PMID: 34861887 PMCID: PMC8643001 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01159-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Spacecraft Assembly Facility (SAF) at the NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is the primary cleanroom facility used in the construction of some of the planetary protection (PP)-sensitive missions developed by NASA, including the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover that launched in July 2020. SAF floor samples (n=98) were collected, over a 6-month period in 2016 prior to the construction of the Mars rover subsystems, to better understand the temporal and spatial distribution of bacterial populations (total, viable, cultivable, and spore) in this unique cleanroom. RESULTS Cleanroom samples were examined for total (living and dead) and viable (living only) microbial populations using molecular approaches and cultured isolates employing the traditional NASA standard spore assay (NSA), which predominantly isolated spores. The 130 NSA isolates were represented by 16 bacterial genera, of which 97% were identified as spore-formers via Sanger sequencing. The most spatially abundant isolate was Bacillus subtilis, and the most temporally abundant spore-former was Virgibacillus panthothenticus. The 16S rRNA gene-targeted amplicon sequencing detected 51 additional genera not found in the NSA method. The amplicon sequencing of the samples treated with propidium monoazide (PMA), which would differentiate between viable and dead organisms, revealed a total of 54 genera: 46 viable non-spore forming genera and 8 viable spore forming genera in these samples. The microbial diversity generated by the amplicon sequencing corresponded to ~86% non-spore-formers and ~14% spore-formers. The most common spatially distributed genera were Sphinigobium, Geobacillus, and Bacillus whereas temporally distributed common genera were Acinetobacter, Geobacilllus, and Bacillus. Single-cell genomics detected 6 genera in the sample analyzed, with the most prominent being Acinetobacter. CONCLUSION This study clearly established that detecting spores via NSA does not provide a complete assessment for the cleanliness of spacecraft-associated environments since it failed to detect several PP-relevant genera that were only recovered via molecular methods. This highlights the importance of a methodological paradigm shift to appropriately monitor bioburden in cleanrooms for not only the aeronautical industry but also for pharmaceutical, medical industries, etc., and the need to employ molecular sequencing to complement traditional culture-based assays. Video abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Hendrickson
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| | - Camilla Urbaniak
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| | - Jeremiah J Minich
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Heidi S Aronson
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| | - Cameron Martino
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Rob Knight
- Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Amend JP, Aronson HS, Macalady J, LaRowe DE. Another chemolithotrophic metabolism missing in nature: sulfur comproportionation. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:1971-1976. [PMID: 32157786 PMCID: PMC7384060 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Chemotrophic microorganisms gain energy for cellular functions by catalyzing oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions that are out of equilibrium. Calculations of the Gibbs energy ( ΔG r ) can identify whether a reaction is thermodynamically favourable and quantify the accompanying energy yield at the temperature, pressure and chemical composition in the system of interest. Based on carefully calculated values of ΔG r , we predict a novel microbial metabolism - sulfur comproportionation (3H2 S + SO 4 2 - + 2H+ ⇌ 4S0 + 4H2 O). We show that at elevated concentrations of sulfide and sulfate in acidic environments over a broad temperature range, this putative metabolism can be exergonic ( ΔG r <0), yielding ~30-50 kJ mol-1 . We suggest that this may be sufficient energy to support a chemolithotrophic metabolism currently missing from the literature. Other versions of this metabolism, comproportionation to thiosulfate (H2 S + SO 4 2 - ⇌S 2 O 3 2 - + H2 O) and to sulfite (H2 S + 3 SO 4 2 - ⇌ 4 SO 3 2 - + 2H+ ), are only moderately exergonic or endergonic even at ideal geochemical conditions. Natural and impacted environments, including sulfidic karst systems, shallow-sea hydrothermal vents, sites of acid mine drainage, and acid-sulfate crater lakes, may be ideal hunting grounds for finding microbial sulfur comproportionators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jan P. Amend
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90089USA
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90089USA
| | - Heidi S. Aronson
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90089USA
| | - Jennifer Macalady
- Department of GeosciencesPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | - Douglas E. LaRowe
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90089USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Merino N, Aronson HS, Bojanova DP, Feyhl-Buska J, Wong ML, Zhang S, Giovannelli D. Corrigendum: Living at the Extremes: Extremophiles and the Limits of Life in a Planetary Context. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1785. [PMID: 31456760 PMCID: PMC6700686 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Merino
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Heidi S Aronson
- Department of Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Diana P Bojanova
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jayme Feyhl-Buska
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michael L Wong
- Department of Astronomy - Astrobiology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,NASA Astrobiology Institute's Virtual Planetary Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shu Zhang
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Donato Giovannelli
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.,Department of Marine and Coastal Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.,Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology, National Research Council of Italy, Ancona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Merino N, Aronson HS, Bojanova DP, Feyhl-Buska J, Wong ML, Zhang S, Giovannelli D. Living at the Extremes: Extremophiles and the Limits of Life in a Planetary Context. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:780. [PMID: 31037068 PMCID: PMC6476344 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Prokaryotic life has dominated most of the evolutionary history of our planet, evolving to occupy virtually all available environmental niches. Extremophiles, especially those thriving under multiple extremes, represent a key area of research for multiple disciplines, spanning from the study of adaptations to harsh conditions, to the biogeochemical cycling of elements. Extremophile research also has implications for origin of life studies and the search for life on other planetary and celestial bodies. In this article, we will review the current state of knowledge for the biospace in which life operates on Earth and will discuss it in a planetary context, highlighting knowledge gaps and areas of opportunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Merino
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Livermore, CA, United States
| | - Heidi S Aronson
- Department of Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Diana P Bojanova
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jayme Feyhl-Buska
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michael L Wong
- Department of Astronomy - Astrobiology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,NASA Astrobiology Institute's Virtual Planetary Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Shu Zhang
- Section of Infection and Immunity, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Donato Giovannelli
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy.,Department of Marine and Coastal Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, United States.,Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology, National Research Council of Italy, Ancona, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Momper L, Aronson HS, Amend JP. Genomic Description of ' Candidatus Abyssubacteria,' a Novel Subsurface Lineage Within the Candidate Phylum Hydrogenedentes. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1993. [PMID: 30210471 PMCID: PMC6121073 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The subsurface biosphere is a massive repository of fixed carbon, harboring approximately 90% of Earth’s microbial biomass. These microbial communities drive transformations central to Earth’s biogeochemical cycles. However, there is still much we do not understand about how complex subterranean microbial communities survive and how they interact with these cycles. Recent metagenomic investigation of deeply circulating terrestrial subsurface fluids revealed the presence of several novel lineages of bacteria. In one particular example, phylogenomic analyses do not converge on any one previously identified taxon; here we describe the first full genomic sequences of a new bacterial lineage within the candidate phylum Hydrogenedentes, ‘Candidatus Abyssubacteria.’ A global survey revealed that members of this proposed lineage are widely distributed in both marine and terrestrial subsurface environments, but their physiological and ecological roles have remained unexplored. Two high quality metagenome assembled genomes (SURF_5: 97%, 4%; SURF_17: 91% and 4% completeness and contamination, respectively) were reconstructed from fluids collected 1.5 kilometers below surface in the former Homestake gold mine—now the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF)—in Lead, South Dakota, United States. Metabolic reconstruction suggests versatile metabolic capability, including possible nitrogen reduction, sulfite oxidation, sulfate reduction and homoacetogenesis. This first glimpse into the metabolic capabilities of these cosmopolitan bacteria suggests that they are involved in key geochemical processes, including sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon cycling, and that they are adapted to survival in the dark, often anoxic, subsurface biosphere.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lily Momper
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Heidi S Aronson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jan P Amend
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Seuylemezian A, Aronson HS, Tan J, Lin M, Schubert W, Vaishampayan P. Development of a Custom MALDI-TOF MS Database for Species-Level Identification of Bacterial Isolates Collected From Spacecraft and Associated Surfaces. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:780. [PMID: 29867782 PMCID: PMC5968301 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the 1970s, the Planetary Protection Group at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has maintained an archive of spacecraft-associated bacterial isolates. Identification of these isolates was routinely performed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Although this technique is an industry standard, it is time consuming and has poor resolving power for some closely related taxa. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is widely used in clinical diagnostics and is a promising method to substitute standard 16S rRNA sequencing. However, manufacturer-provided databases lack the bacterial diversity found in spacecraft-assembly cleanrooms. This study reports the development of the first custom database of MALDI-TOF MS profiles of bacterial isolates obtained from spacecraft and associated cleanroom environments. With the use of this in-house database, 454 bacterial isolates were successfully identified in concurrence with their 16S rRNA sequence-based classifications. Additionally, MALDI-TOF MS resolved strain-level variations, identified potential novel species and distinguished between members of taxonomic groups, which is not possible using conventional 16S rRNA sequencing. MALDI-TOF MS has proved to be an accurate, high-throughput approach for real-time identification of bacterial isolates during the spacecraft assembly process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arman Seuylemezian
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Heidi S Aronson
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - James Tan
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Mandy Lin
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Wayne Schubert
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Parag Vaishampayan
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Aronson HS, Zellmer AJ, Goffredi SK. The specific and exclusive microbiome of the deep-sea bone-eating snail, Rubyspira osteovora. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2017; 93:fiw250. [PMID: 27986828 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Rubyspira osteovora is an unusual deep-sea snail from Monterey Canyon, California. This group has only been found on decomposing whales and is thought to use bone as a novel source of nutrition. This study characterized the gut microbiome of R. osteovora, compared to the surrounding environment, as well as to other deep-sea snails with more typical diets. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that R. osteovora digestive tissues host a much lower bacterial diversity (average Shannon index of 1.9; n = 12), compared to environmental samples (average Shannon index of 4.4; n = 2) and are dominated by two bacterial genera: Mycoplasma and Psychromonas (comprising up to 56% and 42% average total recovered sequences, respectively). These two bacteria, along with Psychrilyobacter sp. (∼16% average recovered sequences), accounted for between 43% and 92% of the total recovered sequences in individual snail digestive systems, with other OTUs present at much lower proportions. The relative abundance of these three groups remained similar over 6 years of sampling (collection date was not shown to be a significant predictor of community structure), suggesting a long-term association. Furthermore, these bacterial genera were either not present (Mycoplasma and Psychromonas) or at very low abundance (<0.04% for Psychrilyobacter), in environmental samples and other deep-sea gastropods, supporting the uniqueness of the R. osteovora gut microbiome.
Collapse
|