Systematics, functional morphology and distribution of a bivalve (Apachecorbula muriatica gen. et sp. nov.) from the rim of the ‘Valdivia Deep’ brine pool in the Red Sea

The deep brine pools of the Red Sea comprise extreme, inhospitable habitats yet house microbial communities that potentially may fuel adjacent fauna. We here describe a novel bivalve from a deep-sea (1525 m) brine pool in the Red Sea, where conditions of high salinity, lowered pH, partial anoxia and high temperatures are prevalent. Remotely operated vehicle (ROV) footage showed that the bivalves were present in a narrow (20 cm) band along the rim of the brine pool, suggesting that it is not only tolerant of such extreme conditions but is also limited to them. The bivalve is a member of the Corbulidae and named Apachecorbula muriatica gen. et sp. nov. The shell is atypical of the family in being modioliform and thin. The semi-infaunal habit is seen in ROV images and reflected in the anatomy by the lack of siphons. The ctenidia are large and typical of a suspension feeding bivalve, but the absence of ‘guard cilia’ and the greatly reduced labial palps suggest that it is non-selective as a response to low food availability. It is proposed that the low body mass observed is a consequence of the extreme habitat and low food availability. It is postulated that the observed morphology of Apachecorbula is a result of paedomorphosis driven by the effects of the extreme environment on growth but is in part mitigated by the absence of high predation pressures.

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Insights into Red Sea Brine Pool Specialized Metabolism Gene Clusters Encoding Potential Metabolites for Biotechnological Applications and Extremophile Survival

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md17050273 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 273 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Laila Ziko ◽

Mustafa Adel ◽

Mohamed N. Malash ◽

Rania Siam

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Red Sea ◽

Gene Clusters ◽

Specialized Metabolism ◽

Anticancer Effects ◽

Novel Drugs ◽

Atlantis Ii Deep ◽

Brine Pools ◽

Metabolism Gene ◽

Brine Pool

The recent rise in antibiotic and chemotherapeutic resistance necessitates the search for novel drugs. Potential therapeutics can be produced by specialized metabolism gene clusters (SMGCs). We mined for SMGCs in metagenomic samples from Atlantis II Deep, Discovery Deep and Kebrit Deep Red Sea brine pools. Shotgun sequence assembly and secondary metabolite analysis shell (antiSMASH) screening unraveled 2751 Red Sea brine SMGCs, pertaining to 28 classes. Predicted categorization of the SMGC products included those (1) commonly abundant in microbes (saccharides, fatty acids, aryl polyenes, acyl-homoserine lactones), (2) with antibacterial and/or anticancer effects (terpenes, ribosomal peptides, non-ribosomal peptides, polyketides, phosphonates) and (3) with miscellaneous roles conferring adaptation to the environment/special structure/unknown function (polyunsaturated fatty acids, ectoine, ladderane, others). Saccharide (80.49%) and putative (7.46%) SMGCs were the most abundant. Selected Red Sea brine pool sites had distinct SMGC profiles, e.g., for bacteriocins and ectoine. Top promising candidates, SMs with pharmaceutical applications, were addressed. Prolific SM-producing phyla (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria), were ubiquitously detected. Sites harboring the largest numbers of bacterial and archaeal phyla, had the most SMGCs. Our results suggest that the Red Sea brine niche constitutes a rich biological mine, with the predicted SMs aiding extremophile survival and adaptation.

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Isolation, molecular characterization and extracellular enzymatic activity of culturable halophilic bacteria from hypersaline natural habitats

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d190534 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 1828-1834

Author(s):

SUZAN AHMED BIN-SALMAN ◽

REDA HASSAN AMASHA ◽

SAMYAH D. JASTANIAH ◽

MAGEDA M. ALY ◽

KHALIL ALTAIF

Keyword(s):

Enzymatic Activity ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Red Sea ◽

High Salinity ◽

Halophilic Bacteria ◽

Arabian Gulf ◽

Dead Sea ◽

Natural Habitats ◽

The Family ◽

Saline Habitats

Bin-Salman SA, Amasha RH, Jastaniah SD, Aly MM, Altaif K. 2018. Isolation, molecular characterization and extracellular enzymatic activity of culturable halophilic bacteria from hypersaline natural habitats. Biodiversitas 19: 1828-1834. Saline habitats, like the Dead Sea, are unusual extreme environments, due to their extreme salinity. Most saline habitats originate from the evaporation of seawater, and have a nearly neutral to slightly alkaline pH (such as the Red Sea (pH8.3) and Arabian Gulf, pH8.3). Ten halophilic bacterial strains (two Gram-negative) belonging to the family of Halomonadaceae and (eight Gram-positive), belonging to the family of Bacillaceae, were isolated from the Red Sea, Arabian Gulf, and Dead Sea by subjecting the isolates to a high salinity medium, followed by identification using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Four of isolates were designated on the basis of their tolerance to high salinity; SBR1 exhibited 97% homology to Halomonas aquamarina, SBR2 showed 97% homology to Sediminibacillus sp., (Red Sea), SBA9 exhibited 94% homology to Halobacillus sp., (Arabian Gulf) and SBD17 gave 98% homology to Halobacillus dabanensis (Dead Sea). The isolates were also characterized by their physiological parameters, SBR1 showed optimum growth at 30°C, pH8.5 and1.5M NaCl, SBR2 at 30°C, pH6.0 and 1M NaCl. Optimum conditions for SBA9 were 35°C, pH6.5 and 1M NaCl and for SBD17, 37°C, pH7.0 and 1M NaCl.

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A deep sea community at the Kebrit brine pool in the Red Sea

Marine Biodiversity ◽

10.1007/s12526-015-0321-0 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 59-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Hege Vestheim ◽

Stein Kaartvedt

Keyword(s):

Red Sea ◽

Deep Sea ◽

Brine Pool

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Preliminary assessment of the potential for mangrove oyster cultivation in Piraquê-açu river estuary (Aracruz, ES)

Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology ◽

10.1590/s1516-89132006000100019 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 163-169 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Luciana Alvarenga ◽

Rosebel Cunha Nalesso

Keyword(s):

High Salinity ◽

Shell Height ◽

River Estuary ◽

Oyster Shell ◽

Preliminary Assessment ◽

High Salinity Water ◽

Salinity Water ◽

High Predation ◽

Fouling Organisms ◽

Oyster Cultivation

At Piraquê-açu river estuary, Aracruz, ES, the technical viability of Crassostrea rhizophorae cultivation was determined through monthly measures in shell length and weight. Seeds of C. rhizophorae were put in cages and suspended in rafts. Increase in height and weight (flesh and dry) of the oysters was measured. During ten months (July/98 to May/99), oyster shell reached an average of 37.6 mm in shell height and 3.0 g in flesh weight (the whole animal). High mortality rates were registered and could be related to the high salinity water and to high predation observed, especially by flatworms Stylochophana divae and snails Cymatium parthenopeum, as well as fouling organisms such as barnacles, Serpulidae polychaetes and seed of the same species.

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The Red Sea Metalliferous Sediments

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-12263 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

M. Clara Modenesi ◽

J. Carlos Santamarina

Keyword(s):

Red Sea ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Soil Classification ◽

Complete Characterization ◽

Liquid Limit ◽

Engineering Properties ◽

Soil Behavior ◽

Sediment Formation ◽

Brine Pools

The demand for metals and raw materials continues to increase as onshore deposits become more depleted. Our oceans contain large unexplored areas that may contain new resources in the form of Mn-nodules, Co-rich crusts, and massive sulfides. A complete characterization and assessment of these deposits are fundamental for the evaluation of resource extraction, separation, and disposal processes.The Red Sea holds unique examples of sediment accumulations formed under distinctive environmental conditions. The Atlantis II deep is located in the central part of the Red Sea at 2 km depth and on top of the spreading axis. This deep accumulates sediments that result predominantly from the discharge of hydrothermal fluids into hot and stratified brine pools. The changes in environmental conditions and the hydro-chemical conditions in the brine pool control sediment formation. The accumulations are enriched with metals, such as Ag, Au, Cu, Co, and Zn. The sediments in this deep hold a record of the formation history and their brine pools tell a story about on-going processes.On-going research at the Energy Geo-Engineering Laboratory EGEL, KAUST includes (1) Geotechnical index properties (liquid limit, grain size distribution, and specific surface) and consolidation tests to infer engineering properties, (2) Sediment classification based on the Revised Soil Classification System, (3) Geochemistry and mineralogy using XRD, ICP-OES and (4) Microstructure and texture with SEM imaging. An advanced sediment characterization of these fine-grained metalliferous deposits gives a comprehensive understanding of the soil behavior.

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Suspension-feeding activity of a dense Ophiothrix fragilis (Abildgaard) population at the water-sediment interface: Time coupling of food availability and feeding behaviour of the species

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science ◽

10.1016/0272-7714(95)90027-6 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 41 (5) ◽

pp. 567-577 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Dominique Davoult ◽

Françoise Gounin

Keyword(s):

Food Availability ◽

Feeding Behaviour ◽

Feeding Activity ◽

Suspension Feeding ◽

Sediment Interface

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Profundibacterium mesophilum gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member in the family Rhodobacteraceae isolated from deep-sea sediment in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY ◽

10.1099/ijs.0.041525-0 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 63 (Pt_3) ◽

pp. 1007-1012 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Pok Yui Lai ◽

Li Miao ◽

On On Lee ◽

Ling-Li Liu ◽

Xiao-Jian Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

16S Rrna ◽

16S Rrna Gene ◽

Red Sea ◽

Type Species ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

The Novel ◽

Content Type ◽

Link Type ◽

The Family

A slow-growing, strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, coccus bacterial strain, designated KAUST100406-0324T, was isolated from sea-floor sediment collected from the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia. The catalase- and oxidase-positive strain was non-sporulating and only slightly halophilic. Optimum growth occurred at 20–25 °C and at pH values ranging from 7.0 to 8.0. The major cellular fatty acids of the strain were unsaturated C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1ω7c 11-methyl and C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified phospholipids. Ubiquinone 10 was the predominant lipoquinone. The DNA G+C content of strain KAUST100406-0324T was 64.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the novel strain belonged to the family Rhodobacteraceae of the class Alphaproteobacteria but formed a distinct evolutionary lineage from other bacterial species with validly published names. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the novel strain was distantly related, but formed a monophyletic cluster with, those of bacteria from two moderately halophilic genera, Hwanghaeicola and Maribius . The similarity of the sequence between the novel strain KAUST100406-0324T and the type strains Hwanghaeicola aestuarii Y26T (accession number FJ230842), Maribius pelagius B5-6T (DQ514326) and Maribius salinus CL-SP27T (AY906863) were 94.5 %, 95.2 % and 95.3 %, respectively. Based on the physiological, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics presented in this study, we propose that this strain represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Rhodobacteraceae , for which the name of Profundibacterium mesophilum gen. nov., sp. nov. was proposed, with KAUST100406-0324T ( = JCM 17872T = NRRL B-59665T) as the type strain.

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Comprehensive Genomic Analyses of the OM43 Clade, Including a Novel Species from the Red Sea, Indicate Ecotype Differentiation among Marine Methylotrophs

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02852-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 82 (4) ◽

pp. 1215-1226 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Francy Jimenez-Infante ◽

David Kamanda Ngugi ◽

Manikandan Vinu ◽

Intikhab Alam ◽

Allan Anthony Kamau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Red Sea ◽

Novel Species ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Niche Differentiation ◽

Content Type ◽

Nadh:Quinone Oxidoreductase ◽

Distinct Cluster ◽

The Family ◽

Phylogenomic Analyses ◽

Cultivation Techniques

ABSTRACTThe OM43 clade within the familyMethylophilaceaeofBetaproteobacteriarepresents a group of methylotrophs that play important roles in the metabolism of C1compounds in marine environments and other aquatic environments around the globe. Using dilution-to-extinction cultivation techniques, we successfully isolated a novel species of this clade (here designated MBRS-H7) from the ultraoligotrophic open ocean waters of the central Red Sea. Phylogenomic analyses indicate that MBRS-H7 is a novel species that forms a distinct cluster together with isolate KB13 from Hawaii (Hawaii-Red Sea [H-RS] cluster) that is separate from the cluster represented by strain HTCC2181 (from the Oregon coast). Phylogenetic analyses using the robust 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer revealed a potential ecotype separation of the marine OM43 clade members, which was further confirmed by metagenomic fragment recruitment analyses that showed trends of higher abundance in low-chlorophyll and/or high-temperature provinces for the H-RS cluster but a preference for colder, highly productive waters for the HTCC2181 cluster. This potential environmentally driven niche differentiation is also reflected in the metabolic gene inventories, which in the case of the H-RS cluster include those conferring resistance to high levels of UV irradiation, temperature, and salinity. Interestingly, we also found different energy conservation modules between these OM43 subclades, namely, the existence of the NADH:quinone oxidoreductase complex I (NUO) system in the H-RS cluster and the nonhomologous NADH:quinone oxidoreductase (NQR) system in the HTCC2181 cluster, which might have implications for their overall energetic yields.

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