Thermophilic Chloroflexi Dominate in the Microbial Community

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Thermophilic Chloroflexi Dominate in the Microbial Community microorganisms Article Thermophilic Chloroflexi Dominate in the Microbial Community Associated with Coal-Fire Gas Vents in the Kuznetsk Coal Basin, Russia Vitaly V. Kadnikov 1, Andrey V. Mardanov 1 , Alexey V. Beletsky 1, Mikhail A. Grigoriev 2, Olga V. Karnachuk 2 and Nikolai V. Ravin 1,* 1 Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] (V.V.K.); [email protected] (A.V.M.); [email protected] (A.V.B.) 2 Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tomsk State University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia; [email protected] (M.A.G.); [email protected] (O.V.K.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Thermal ecosystems associated with areas of underground burning coal seams are rare and poorly understood in comparison with geothermal objects. We studied the microbial communities as- sociated with gas vents from the coal-fire in the mining wastes in the Kemerovo region of the Russian Federation. The temperature of the ground heated by the hot coal gases and steam coming out to the surface was 58 ◦C. Analysis of the composition of microbial communities revealed the dominance of Ktedonobacteria (the phylum Chloroflexi), known to be capable of oxidizing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Thermophilic hydrogenotrophic Firmicutes constituted a minor part of the community. Citation: Kadnikov, V.V.; Mardanov, Among the well-known thermophiles, members of the phyla Aquificae, Deinococcus-Thermus and A.V.; Beletsky, A.V.; Grigoriev, M.A.; Karnachuk, O.V.; Ravin, N.V. Bacteroidetes were also found. In the upper ground layer, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Acti- Thermophilic Chloroflexi Dominate nobacteria, Planctomycetes, as well as Proteobacteria of the alpha and gamma classes, typical of in the Microbial Community soils, were detected; their relative abundancies decreased with depth. The phylum Verrucomicro- Associated with Coal-Fire Gas Vents bia was dominated by Candidatus Udaeobacter, aerobic heterotrophs capable of generating energy in the Kuznetsk Coal Basin, Russia. through the oxidation of hydrogen present in the atmosphere in trace amounts. Archaea made up a Microorganisms 2021, 9, 948. https:// small part of the communities and were represented by thermophilic ammonium-oxidizers. Overall, doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms the community was dominated by bacteria, whose cultivated relatives are able to obtain energy 9050948 through the oxidation of the main components of coal gases, hydrogen and carbon monoxide, under aerobic conditions. Academic Editor: Nils-Kåre Birkeland Keywords: thermophiles; coal gases; hydrogenotrophs; microbial community; Chloroflexi; Candidatus Received: 16 March 2021 Udaeobacter Accepted: 24 April 2021 Published: 28 April 2021 Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral 1. Introduction with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affil- Studies of thermophilic microorganisms that survive and develop at extreme tempera- iations. tures for ordinary life have expanded our understanding of the diversity of microorganisms, their evolution, and mechanisms of adaptation to extreme environmental conditions [1,2]. Most research on thermophiles has focused on thermal ecosystems associated with volcanic activity, such as hot springs and deep-sea hydrothermal vents, or biotechnologically impor- tant objects, such as high-temperature bioreactors, etc. In addition to volcanic activity, the Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. natural combustion of fossil hydrocarbons and coal can lead to the formation of thermal This article is an open access article ecological niches. The phenomena of underground burning coal seams are quite common distributed under the terms and in nature and are found in Australia, Germany, USA (Pennsylvania), China, Russia, India conditions of the Creative Commons and other countries [3]. Such underground fires can last for centuries, for example, a coal Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// seam in Dudweiler (Saar, Germany) has been burning since 1668. An example of long-term creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ natural underground coal fire is Burning Mountain in Australia [4], the burning time of 4.0/). which is estimated to be approximately 6000 years old. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 948. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9050948 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/microorganisms Microorganisms 2021, 9, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 11 Microorganisms 2021, 9, 948 burning since 1668. An example of long-term natural underground coal fire is Burning2 of 11 Mountain in Australia [4], the burning time of which is estimated to be approximately 6000 years old. Combustion of coal under low oxygen conditions and the presence of water is ac- companiedCombustion by the of formation coal under of lowcoal oxygengases in conditions the reaction and 3 theC + presenceO2 + H2O of → water H2 + 3 is CO accom- [5]. panied by the formation of coal gases in the reaction 3 C + O + H O ! H + 3 CO [5]. Molecular hydrogen can also be formed in a water gas shift reaction:2 2 CO + H22O → CO2 + Molecular hydrogen can also be formed in a water gas shift reaction: CO + H O ! CO + H2. Underground coal fire is a natural analogue of the synthesis gas production2 process2 duringH2. Underground coal gasification. coal fire Gases is a naturalemanating analogue to the of surface the synthesis can also gas contain production light processhydro- carbons,during coal hydrogen gasification. sulfide, Gases sulfur emanating oxides, and to the other surface toxic can compounds also contain such light as hydrocar-benzene, xylene,bons, hydrogen aliphatic sulfide, and halogenated sulfur oxides, compounds and other [3,6,7]. toxic compounds Sulfur compounds such as benzene, and other xylene, ele- mentsaliphatic found and in halogenated coal seams compounds can be delivered [3,6,7]. to Sulfur the surface compounds by the and gas other stream, elements resulting found in in coal seams can be delivered to the surface by the gas stream, resulting in contamination contamination of the surrounding areas [8]. The temperature of the gas coming out to the of the surrounding areas [8]. The temperature of the gas coming out to the surface depends surface depends on the temperature at which the underground coal fire takes place and on the temperature at which the underground coal fire takes place and on the depth of the on the depth of the fire, and is usually in the range from 50 to 800 °C. fire, and is usually in the range from 50 to 800 ◦C. In areas where hot coal gases come to the surface, local extreme ecosystems charac- In areas where hot coal gases come to the surface, local extreme ecosystems character- terized by high temperatures (>50 °C) and the presence of toxic substances were formed ized by high temperatures (>50 ◦C) and the presence of toxic substances were formed [9]. [9]. Hydrogen and CO contained in coal gases can be used by microorganisms as Hydrogen and CO contained in coal gases can be used by microorganisms as high-energy high-energy substrates, which determines the possibility of the development of specific substrates, which determines the possibility of the development of specific communities of communities of thermophilic microorganisms. However, little is known about the com- thermophilic microorganisms. However, little is known about the composition of microbial position of microbial communities in such ecosystems. communities in such ecosystems. The Kuznetsk coal basin (Kemerovo region, Russia) is one of the largest in the world The Kuznetsk coal basin (Kemerovo region, Russia) is one of the largest in the [10].world Coal [10 ].mining Coal in mining this region in this began region in th begane middle in the of the middle 18th ofcentury. the 18th Initially, century. mining Ini- wastially, carried mining out was by carriedthe mine out method, by the minebut rece method,ntly many but recentlymines have many been mines closed. have At been the moment,closed. At coal the is moment, mined in coal an open is mined way, in us aning open overburden way, using operations. overburden The operations. dumps formed The afterdumps mining formed can after periodically mining canignite periodically when the incoming ignite when oxygen the incoming from the oxygensurface fromand coal the interactsurface and[11]. coal At interactpresent, [ 11in]. the At present,area of the in the city area of ofKiselevsk, the city ofa Kiselevsk,large number a large of numbersponta- neousof spontaneous fire areas firehave areas been have recorded been recordedin coal deposits. in coal deposits. The aim of this study was to uncover thethe compositioncomposition of microbialmicrobial communitiescommunities associated with anan undergroundunderground coal coal fire fire site site near near the the city city of Kiselevsk,of Kiselevsk, Kemerovo Kemerovo Region, Re- gion,Russia, Russia, using using 16S rRNA 16S rRNA gene sequencing.gene sequencing. 2. Materials Materials and and Methods Methods 2.1. Study Study Site, Site, Sampling, Sampling, and Chemical Analyses Samples were were taken at an abandoned open open coal coal pit pit near near the town of Kiselevsk, Ke- Ke- merovo Region (Figure(Figure1 ).1). At At the the moment, moment, within within the the city city limits, limits, 9 open-cut 9 open-cut coal coal mines mines are arein operation, in operation, and and all undergroundall underground mines mines are closed.are closed. At one At ofone the of quarries, the quarries, located located near nearthe Dalnie the Dalnie Gory Gory mine, mine,
Recommended publications
  • Microbial Diversity of Molasses Containing Tobacco (Maassel) Unveils Contamination with Many Human Pathogens
    European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 2021; 25: 4919-4929 Microbial diversity of molasses containing tobacco (Maassel) unveils contamination with many human pathogens M.A.A. ALQUMBER Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Albaha University, Saudi Arabia Abstract. – OBJECTIVE: Tobacco smoking drugs in today’s modern world. Different meth- remains a worldwide health issue, and the use of ods are currently used to consume tobacco, in- flavored varieties (maassel) embedded in glyc- cluding cigarettes, cigars and waterpipes1. Water- erine, molasses, and fruit essence via shisha pipe (shisha) smoking continues to rise globally2. paraphernalia (waterpipe) is growing globally. Smoking flavored tobacco (maassel), through the 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing was conduct- shisha, is becoming a global preventable cause of ed on 18 different varieties representing 16 fla- 3,4 vors and three brands in order to study the mi- morbidity and mortality . crobiota of maassel and find whether it contains Scientists studied the chemical composition of pathogenic bacteria. tobacco for many years and illustrated the total MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples number of chemicals identified in tobacco during were selected randomly from the most utilized the years from 1954 to 20055. In addition, a com- brands within Albaha, Saudi Arabia as deter- prehensive review of these chemicals’ classifica- mined through a questionnaire of 253 smok- ers. In addition, ten-fold serially diluted sam- tion, concentration and changes with time due ples were inoculated on blood agar, MacConkey to changes in the shape, design and composition agar, half-strength trypticase soy agar and malt of cigarettes was reported almost a decade ago6.
    [Show full text]
  • The Influence of Probiotics on the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio In
    microorganisms Review The Influence of Probiotics on the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio in the Treatment of Obesity and Inflammatory Bowel disease Spase Stojanov 1,2, Aleš Berlec 1,2 and Borut Štrukelj 1,2,* 1 Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; [email protected] (S.S.); [email protected] (A.B.) 2 Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia * Correspondence: borut.strukelj@ffa.uni-lj.si Received: 16 September 2020; Accepted: 31 October 2020; Published: 1 November 2020 Abstract: The two most important bacterial phyla in the gastrointestinal tract, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, have gained much attention in recent years. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio is widely accepted to have an important influence in maintaining normal intestinal homeostasis. Increased or decreased F/B ratio is regarded as dysbiosis, whereby the former is usually observed with obesity, and the latter with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Probiotics as live microorganisms can confer health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts. There is considerable evidence of their nutritional and immunosuppressive properties including reports that elucidate the association of probiotics with the F/B ratio, obesity, and IBD. Orally administered probiotics can contribute to the restoration of dysbiotic microbiota and to the prevention of obesity or IBD. However, as the effects of different probiotics on the F/B ratio differ, selecting the appropriate species or mixture is crucial. The most commonly tested probiotics for modifying the F/B ratio and treating obesity and IBD are from the genus Lactobacillus. In this paper, we review the effects of probiotics on the F/B ratio that lead to weight loss or immunosuppression.
    [Show full text]
  • Genomics 98 (2011) 370–375
    Genomics 98 (2011) 370–375 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Genomics journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ygeno Whole-genome comparison clarifies close phylogenetic relationships between the phyla Dictyoglomi and Thermotogae Hiromi Nishida a,⁎, Teruhiko Beppu b, Kenji Ueda b a Agricultural Bioinformatics Research Unit, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan b Life Science Research Center, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Japan article info abstract Article history: The anaerobic thermophilic bacterial genus Dictyoglomus is characterized by the ability to produce useful Received 2 June 2011 enzymes such as amylase, mannanase, and xylanase. Despite the significance, the phylogenetic position of Accepted 1 August 2011 Dictyoglomus has not yet been clarified, since it exhibits ambiguous phylogenetic positions in a single gene Available online 7 August 2011 sequence comparison-based analysis. The number of substitutions at the diverging point of Dictyoglomus is insufficient to show the relationships in a single gene comparison-based analysis. Hence, we studied its Keywords: evolutionary trait based on whole-genome comparison. Both gene content and orthologous protein sequence Whole-genome comparison Dictyoglomus comparisons indicated that Dictyoglomus is most closely related to the phylum Thermotogae and it forms a Bacterial systematics monophyletic group with Coprothermobacter proteolyticus (a constituent of the phylum Firmicutes) and Coprothermobacter proteolyticus Thermotogae. Our findings indicate that C. proteolyticus does not belong to the phylum Firmicutes and that the Thermotogae phylum Dictyoglomi is not closely related to either the phylum Firmicutes or Synergistetes but to the phylum Thermotogae. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Antibiotic Susceptibility, Resistome and Mobilome Structure of Planctomycetes from Gemmataceae Family
    sustainability Article Exploring Antibiotic Susceptibility, Resistome and Mobilome Structure of Planctomycetes from Gemmataceae Family Anastasia A. Ivanova *, Kirill K. Miroshnikov and Igor Y. Oshkin Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, 119071 Moscow, Russia; [email protected] (K.K.M.); [email protected] (I.Y.O.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The family Gemmataceae accomodates aerobic, chemoorganotrophic planctomycetes with large genome sizes, is mostly distributed in freshwater and terrestrial environments. However, these bacteria have recently also been found in locations relevant to human health. Since the antimi- crobial resistance genes (AMR) from environmental resistome have the potential to be transferred to pathogens, it is essential to explore the resistant capabilities of environmental bacteria. In this study, the reconstruction of in silico resistome was performed for all nine available gemmata genomes. Furthermore, the genome of the newly isolated yet-undescribed strain G18 was sequenced and added to all analyses steps. Selected genomes were screened for the presence of mobile genetic elements. The flanking location of mobilizable genomic milieu around the AMR genes was of particular in- terest since such colocalization may appear to promote the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events. Moreover the antibiotic susceptibility profile of six phylogenetically distinct strains of Gemmataceae planctomycetes was determined. Citation: Ivanova, A.A.; Keywords: planctomycetes; Gemmataceae; antibiotic resistance profile; resistome; mobilome Miroshnikov, K.K.; Oshkin, I.Y. Exploring Antibiotic Susceptibility, Resistome and Mobilome Structure of Planctomycetes from Gemmataceae 1. Introduction Family. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5031. Several decades ago humanity faced the global issue of growing antibiotic resistance https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095031 of bacterial pathogens in clinic [1–5].
    [Show full text]
  • FUNCTIONAL STUDIES on Csis and Csps
    FUNCTIONAL STUDIES ON CSIs AND CSPs FUNCTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF NOVEL MOLECULAR MARKERS SPECIFIC FOR DEINOCOCCUS AND CHLAMYDIAE SPECIES BY F M NAZMUL HASSAN, B.Sc. A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science McMaster University © Copyright by F M Nazmul Hassan, December, 2017 MASTER OF SCIENCE (2017) McMaster University (Biochemistry) Hamilton, Ontario TITLE: Functional Significance of Novel Molecular Markers Specific for Deinococcus and Chlamydiae Species AUTHOR: F M Nazmul Hassan, B.Sc. (Khulna University) SUPERVISOR: Professor Radhey S. Gupta NUMBER OF PAGES: xv, 108 ii This thesis is dedicated to my mom and dad. I lost my mother when I was a high school student. She always liked to share stories about science and inspired me to do something for the beneficial of human being. Her dream was guided by my father. I was always encouraged by my father to do higher education. I have lost my father this year. It was most critical moment of my life. But, I have continued to do research because of fulfill his dream. iii THESIS ABSTRACT The Deinococcus species are highly resistant to oxidation, desiccation, and radiation. Very few characteristics explain these unique features of Deinococcus species. This study reports the results of detailed comparative genomics, structural and protein-protein interactions studies on the DNA repair proteins from Deinococcus species. Comparative genomics studies have identified a large number of conserved signature indels (CSIs) in the DNA repair proteins that are specific for Deinococcus species. In parallel, I have carried out the structural and protein-protein interactions studies of CSIs which are present in nucleotide excision repair (NER), UV damage endonuclease (UvsE)-dependent excision repair (UVER) and homologous recombination (HR) pathways proteins.
    [Show full text]
  • Cone-Forming Chloroflexi Mats As Analogs of Conical
    268 Appendix 2 CONE-FORMING CHLOROFLEXI MATS AS ANALOGS OF CONICAL STROMATOLITE FORMATION WITHOUT CYANOBACTERIA Lewis M. Ward, Woodward W. Fischer, Katsumi Matsuura, and Shawn E. McGlynn. In preparation. Abstract Modern microbial mats provide useful process analogs for understanding the mechanics behind the production of ancient stromatolites. However, studies to date have focused on mats composed predominantly of oxygenic Cyanobacteria (Oxyphotobacteria) and algae, which makes it difficult to assess a unique role of oxygenic photosynthesis in stromatolite morphogenesis, versus different mechanics such as phototaxis and filamentous growth. Here, we characterize Chloroflexi-rich hot spring microbial mats from Nakabusa Onsen, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. This spring supports cone-forming microbial mats in both upstream high-temperature, sulfidic regions dominated by filamentous anoxygenic phototrophic Chloroflexi, as well as downstream Cyanobacteria-dominated mats. These mats produce similar morphologies analogous to conical stromatolites despite metabolically and taxonomically divergent microbial communities as revealed by 16S and shotgun metagenomic sequencing and microscopy. These data illustrate that anoxygenic filamentous microorganisms appear to be capable of producing similar mat morphologies as those seen in Oxyphotobacteria-dominated systems and commonly associated with 269 conical Precambrian stromatolites, and that the processes leading to the development of these features is more closely related with characteristics such as hydrology and cell morphology and motility. Introduction Stromatolites are “attached, lithified sedimentary growth structures, accretionary away from a point or limited surface of initiation” (Grotzinger and Knoll 1999). Behind this description lies a wealth of sedimentary structures with a record dating back over 3.7 billion years that may be one of the earliest indicators of life on Earth (Awramik 1992, Nutman et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Metagenomic Survey Reveals a New Bacterial Candidate Phylum in Geothermal Springs
    ARTICLE Received 13 Aug 2015 | Accepted 7 Dec 2015 | Published 27 Jan 2016 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10476 OPEN Global metagenomic survey reveals a new bacterial candidate phylum in geothermal springs Emiley A. Eloe-Fadrosh1, David Paez-Espino1, Jessica Jarett1, Peter F. Dunfield2, Brian P. Hedlund3, Anne E. Dekas4, Stephen E. Grasby5, Allyson L. Brady6, Hailiang Dong7, Brandon R. Briggs8, Wen-Jun Li9, Danielle Goudeau1, Rex Malmstrom1, Amrita Pati1, Jennifer Pett-Ridge4, Edward M. Rubin1,10, Tanja Woyke1, Nikos C. Kyrpides1 & Natalia N. Ivanova1 Analysis of the increasing wealth of metagenomic data collected from diverse environments can lead to the discovery of novel branches on the tree of life. Here we analyse 5.2 Tb of metagenomic data collected globally to discover a novel bacterial phylum (‘Candidatus Kryptonia’) found exclusively in high-temperature pH-neutral geothermal springs. This lineage had remained hidden as a taxonomic ‘blind spot’ because of mismatches in the primers commonly used for ribosomal gene surveys. Genome reconstruction from metagenomic data combined with single-cell genomics results in several high-quality genomes representing four genera from the new phylum. Metabolic reconstruction indicates a heterotrophic lifestyle with conspicuous nutritional deficiencies, suggesting the need for metabolic complementarity with other microbes. Co-occurrence patterns identifies a number of putative partners, including an uncultured Armatimonadetes lineage. The discovery of Kryptonia within previously studied geothermal springs underscores the importance of globally sampled metagenomic data in detection of microbial novelty, and highlights the extraordinary diversity of microbial life still awaiting discovery. 1 Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California 94598, USA. 2 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • Genomic Analysis of Family UBA6911 (Group 18 Acidobacteria)
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.09.439258; this version posted April 10, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY 4.0 International license. 1 2 Genomic analysis of family UBA6911 (Group 18 3 Acidobacteria) expands the metabolic capacities of the 4 phylum and highlights adaptations to terrestrial habitats. 5 6 Archana Yadav1, Jenna C. Borrelli1, Mostafa S. Elshahed1, and Noha H. Youssef1* 7 8 1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, 9 OK 10 *Correspondence: Noha H. Youssef: [email protected] bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.09.439258; this version posted April 10, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY 4.0 International license. 11 Abstract 12 Approaches for recovering and analyzing genomes belonging to novel, hitherto unexplored 13 bacterial lineages have provided invaluable insights into the metabolic capabilities and 14 ecological roles of yet-uncultured taxa. The phylum Acidobacteria is one of the most prevalent 15 and ecologically successful lineages on earth yet, currently, multiple lineages within this phylum 16 remain unexplored. Here, we utilize genomes recovered from Zodletone spring, an anaerobic 17 sulfide and sulfur-rich spring in southwestern Oklahoma, as well as from multiple disparate soil 18 and non-soil habitats, to examine the metabolic capabilities and ecological role of members of 19 the family UBA6911 (group18) Acidobacteria.
    [Show full text]
  • Evolution of the 3-Hydroxypropionate Bicycle and Recent Transfer of Anoxygenic Photosynthesis Into the Chloroflexi
    Evolution of the 3-hydroxypropionate bicycle and recent transfer of anoxygenic photosynthesis into the Chloroflexi Patrick M. Shiha,b,1, Lewis M. Wardc, and Woodward W. Fischerc,1 aFeedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608; bEnvironmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720; and cDivision of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125 Edited by Bob B. Buchanan, University of California, Berkeley, CA, and approved August 21, 2017 (received for review June 14, 2017) Various lines of evidence from both comparative biology and the provide a hard geological constraint on these analyses, the timing geologic record make it clear that the biochemical machinery for of these evolutionary events remains relative, thus highlighting anoxygenic photosynthesis was present on early Earth and provided the uncertainty in our understanding of when and how anoxy- the evolutionary stock from which oxygenic photosynthesis evolved genic photosynthesis may have originated. ca. 2.3 billion years ago. However, the taxonomic identity of these A less recognized alternative is that anoxygenic photosynthesis early anoxygenic phototrophs is uncertain, including whether or not might have been acquired in modern bacterial clades relatively they remain extant. Several phototrophic bacterial clades are thought recently. This possibility is supported by the observation that to have evolved before oxygenic photosynthesis emerged, including anoxygenic photosynthesis often sits within a derived position in the Chloroflexi, a phylum common across a wide range of modern the phyla in which it is found (3). Moreover, it is increasingly environments. Although Chloroflexi have traditionally been thought being recognized that horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has likely to be an ancient phototrophic lineage, genomics has revealed a much played a major role in the distribution of phototrophy (8–10).
    [Show full text]
  • Yu-Chen Ling and John W. Moreau
    Microbial Distribution and Activity in a Coastal Acid Sulfate Soil System Introduction: Bioremediation in Yu-Chen Ling and John W. Moreau coastal acid sulfate soil systems Method A Coastal acid sulfate soil (CASS) systems were School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia formed when people drained the coastal area Microbial distribution controlled by environmental parameters Microbial activity showed two patterns exposing the soil to the air. Drainage makes iron Microbial structures can be grouped into three zones based on the highest similarity between samples (Fig. 4). Abundant populations, such as Deltaproteobacteria, kept constant activity across tidal cycling, whereas rare sulfides oxidize and release acidity to the These three zones were consistent with their geological background (Fig. 5). Zone 1: Organic horizon, had the populations changed activity response to environmental variations. Activity = cDNA/DNA environment, low pH pore water further dissolved lowest pH value. Zone 2: surface tidal zone, was influenced the most by tidal activity. Zone 3: Sulfuric zone, Abundant populations: the heavy metals. The acidity and toxic metals then Method A Deltaproteobacteria Deltaproteobacteria this area got neutralized the most. contaminate coastal and nearby ecosystems and Method B 1.5 cause environmental problems, such as fish kills, 1.5 decreased rice yields, release of greenhouse gases, Chloroflexi and construction damage. In Australia, there is Gammaproteobacteria Gammaproteobacteria about a $10 billion “legacy” from acid sulfate soils, Chloroflexi even though Australia is only occupied by around 1.0 1.0 Cyanobacteria,@ Acidobacteria Acidobacteria Alphaproteobacteria 18% of the global acid sulfate soils. Chloroplast Zetaproteobacteria Rare populations: Alphaproteobacteria Method A log(RNA(%)+1) Zetaproteobacteria log(RNA(%)+1) Method C Method B 0.5 0.5 Cyanobacteria,@ Bacteroidetes Chloroplast Firmicutes Firmicutes Bacteroidetes Planctomycetes Planctomycetes Ac8nobacteria Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Insights Into Archaeal Evolution and Symbiosis from the Genomes of a Nanoarchaeon and Its Inferred Crenarchaeal Host from Obsidian Pool, Yellowstone National Park
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Microbiology Publications and Other Works Microbiology 4-22-2013 Insights into archaeal evolution and symbiosis from the genomes of a nanoarchaeon and its inferred crenarchaeal host from Obsidian Pool, Yellowstone National Park Mircea Podar University of Tennessee - Knoxville, [email protected] Kira S. Makarova National Institutes of Health David E. Graham University of Tennessee - Knoxville, [email protected] Yuri I. Wolf National Institutes of Health Eugene V. Koonin National Institutes of Health See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_micrpubs Part of the Microbiology Commons Recommended Citation Biology Direct 2013, 8:9 doi:10.1186/1745-6150-8-9 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Microbiology at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Microbiology Publications and Other Works by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Authors Mircea Podar, Kira S. Makarova, David E. Graham, Yuri I. Wolf, Eugene V. Koonin, and Anna-Louise Reysenbach This article is available at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange: https://trace.tennessee.edu/ utk_micrpubs/44 Podar et al. Biology Direct 2013, 8:9 http://www.biology-direct.com/content/8/1/9 RESEARCH Open Access Insights into archaeal evolution and symbiosis from the genomes of a nanoarchaeon and its inferred crenarchaeal host from Obsidian Pool, Yellowstone National Park Mircea Podar1,2*, Kira S Makarova3, David E Graham1,2, Yuri I Wolf3, Eugene V Koonin3 and Anna-Louise Reysenbach4 Abstract Background: A single cultured marine organism, Nanoarchaeum equitans, represents the Nanoarchaeota branch of symbiotic Archaea, with a highly reduced genome and unusual features such as multiple split genes.
    [Show full text]
  • Dissertation Implementing Organic Amendments To
    DISSERTATION IMPLEMENTING ORGANIC AMENDMENTS TO ENHANCE MAIZE YIELD, SOIL MOISTURE, AND MICROBIAL NUTRIENT CYCLING IN TEMPERATE AGRICULTURE Submitted by Erika J. Foster Graduate Degree Program in Ecology In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Summer 2018 Doctoral Committee: Advisor: M. Francesca Cotrufo Louise Comas Charles Rhoades Matthew D. Wallenstein Copyright by Erika J. Foster 2018 All Rights Reserved i ABSTRACT IMPLEMENTING ORGANIC AMENDMENTS TO ENHANCE MAIZE YIELD, SOIL MOISTURE, AND MICROBIAL NUTRIENT CYCLING IN TEMPERATE AGRICULTURE To sustain agricultural production into the future, management should enhance natural biogeochemical cycling within the soil. Strategies to increase yield while reducing chemical fertilizer inputs and irrigation require robust research and development before widespread implementation. Current innovations in crop production use amendments such as manure and biochar charcoal to increase soil organic matter and improve soil structure, water, and nutrient content. Organic amendments also provide substrate and habitat for soil microorganisms that can play a key role cycling nutrients, improving nutrient availability for crops. Additional plant growth promoting bacteria can be incorporated into the soil as inocula to enhance soil nutrient cycling through mechanisms like phosphorus solubilization. Since microbial inoculation is highly effective under drought conditions, this technique pairs well in agricultural systems using limited irrigation to save water, particularly in semi-arid regions where climate change and population growth exacerbate water scarcity. The research in this dissertation examines synergistic techniques to reduce irrigation inputs, while building soil organic matter, and promoting natural microbial function to increase crop available nutrients. The research was conducted on conventional irrigated maize systems at the Agricultural Research Development and Education Center north of Fort Collins, CO.
    [Show full text]