Stromatolitic digitate sinters form under wide‐ranging physicochemical conditions with diverse hot spring microbial communities

ABSTRACT Chloroflexales bacteria are mostly known as filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs that thrive as members of the microbial communities of hot spring cyanobacterial mats. Recently, we described many new Chloroflexales species from non-thermal environments and showed that mesophilic Chloroflexales are more diverse than previously expected. Most of these species were isolated from aquatic environments of mid-latitudes. Here, we present the comprehensive characterization of a new filamentous multicellular anoxygenic phototrophic Chloroflexales bacterium from an Arctic coastal environment (Kandalaksha Gulf, the White Sea). Phylogenomic analysis and 16S rRNA phylogeny indicated that this bacterium belongs to the Oscillochloridaceae family as a new species. We propose that this species be named ‘Candidatus Oscillochloris kuznetsovii’. The genomes of this species possessed genes encoding sulfide:quinone reductase, the nitrogenase complex and the Calvin cycle, which indicate potential for photoautotrophic metabolism. We observed only mesophilic anaerobic anoxygenic phototrophic growth of this novel bacterium. Electron microphotography showed the presence of chlorosomes, polyhydroxyalkanoate-like granules and polyphosphate-like granules in the cells. High-performance liquid chromatography also revealed the presence of bacteriochlorophylls a, c and d as well as carotenoids. In addition, we found that this bacterium is present in benthic microbial communities of various coastal environments of the Kandalaksha Gulf.

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Hydrogen-isotopic variability in fatty acids from Yellowstone National Park hot spring microbial communities

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta ◽

10.1016/j.gca.2011.05.038 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 75 (17) ◽

pp. 4830-4845 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Magdalena R. Osburn ◽

Alex L. Sessions ◽

Charles Pepe-Ranney ◽

John R. Spear

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Yellowstone National Park ◽

National Park ◽

Hot Spring

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Distinct microbial composition and functions in an underground high-temperature hot spring at different depths

10.5194/bg-2019-406 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shijie Bai ◽

Xiaotong Peng

Keyword(s):

High Temperature ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Hot Springs ◽

Hot Spring ◽

Hydrogen Oxidation ◽

Archaeal Community ◽

Limited Area ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Different Depths

Abstract. The microbial diversity and functions of three high-temperature neutral hot springs water samples at different depths (0 m, 19 m and 58 m) were investigated based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a functional gene array (GeoChip 5.0). The results revealed that the bacterial communities were distinct at different depths in the hot springs. Additionally, in response to the depths, bacterial/archaeal community compositions exhibited shifts over the depth profiles. Aquificae, Alpha-proteobacteria, and Deinococcus-Thermus were the dominating phyla at 0 m, 19 m, and 58 m, respectively. Hydrogenobacter, Sphingobium, and Thermus were the most abundant genera at 0 m, 19 m, and 58 m, respectively. The phylum Thaumarchaeota was the most abundant member of the archaeal community in the samples at different hot spring depths. Functional results of the microbial communities indicated that microbial metabolic functions were mainly related to sulfur, nitrogen cycling, and hydrogen oxidation. In summary, our results demonstrated that distinct microbial communities and functions were found at different depths of hot springs in a very limited area. These findings will provide new insights into the deep-subsurface biosphere associated with terrestrial hot springs.

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Characterizing and Evaluating the Diverse Microbial Communities and Their Mercury Resistance Potential from Hot Spring Sites Representing Gradients in Temperature and pH in Yellowstone National Park

Aresty Rutgers Undergraduate Research Journal ◽

10.14713/arestyrurj.v1i1.137 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yelizaveta Rassadkina ◽

Spencer Roth ◽

Tamar Barkay

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Yellowstone National Park ◽

National Park ◽

Hot Springs ◽

Hot Spring ◽

Thermophilic Bacteria ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Mercury Resistance ◽

Sample Site ◽

Microorganism Community

Yellowstone National Park is home to many different hot springs, lakes, geysers, pools, and basins that range in pH, chemical composition, and temperature. These different environmental variations provide a broad range of conditions that select and grow diverse communities of microorganisms. In this study, we collected samples from geochemically diverse lakes and springs to characterize the microbial communities present through 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis. This information was then used to observe how various microorganisms survive in high mercury environments. The results show the presence of microorganisms that have been studied in previous literature. The results also depict gradients of microorganisms including thermophilic bacteria and archaea that exist in these extreme environments. In addition, beta diversity analyses of the sequence data showed site clustering based primarily on temperature instead of pH or sample site, suggesting that while pH, temperature, and sample site were all shown to be significant, temperature is the strongest factor driving microorganism community development. While it is important to characterize the microorganism community present, it is also important to understand how this community functions as a result of its selection. Along with looking at community composition, genomic material was tested to see if it contained mercury methylating (hgcA) or mercury reducing (merA) genes. Out of 22 samples, three of them were observed to have merA genes, while no samples had hgcA genes. These results indicate that microorganisms in Mustard and Nymph Springs may use mercury reduction. Understanding how microorganisms survive in environments with high concentrations of toxic pollutants is crucial because it can be used as a model to better understand mechanisms of resistance and the biogeochemical cycle, as well as for bioremediation and other solutions to anthropogenic problems.

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Entirely Off-Grid and Solar-Powered DNA Sequencing of Microbial Communities during an Ice Cap Traverse Expedition

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes10110902 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 902 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Glen-Oliver. F. Gowers ◽

Oliver Vince ◽

John-Henry Charles ◽

Ingeborg Klarenberg ◽

Tom Ellis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Sequencing ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Hot Spring ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Human Power ◽

Remote Locations ◽

Ice Cap ◽

Metagenomic Study ◽

Northern Edge ◽

Solar Powered

Microbial communities in remote locations remain under-studied. This is particularly true on glaciers and icecaps, which cover approximately 11% of the Earth’s surface. The principal reason for this is the inaccessibility of most of these areas due to their extreme isolation and challenging environmental conditions. While remote research stations have significantly lowered the barrier to studying the microbial communities on icecaps, their use has led to a bias for data collection in the near vicinity of these institutions. Here, miniaturisation of a DNA sequencing lab suitable for off-grid metagenomic studies is demonstrated. Using human power alone, this lab was transported across Europe’s largest ice cap (Vatnajökull, Iceland) by ski and sledge. After 11 days of unsupported polar-style travel, a metagenomic study of a geothermal hot spring gorge was conducted on the remote northern edge of the ice cap. This tent-based metagenomic study resulted in over 24 h of Nanopore sequencing, powered by solar power alone. This study demonstrates the ability to conduct DNA sequencing in remote locations, far from civilised resources (mechanised transport, external power supply, internet connection, etc.), whilst greatly reducing the time from sample collection to data acquisition.

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Taxonomic Characteristics of Dominant Microbial Communities in Hot Spring Sediments in Western Georgia

10.1007/978-981-16-3731-5_5 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 87-96

Author(s):

Natia Geliashvili ◽

Ekaterine Jaiani ◽

Marina Tediashvili ◽

Nils-Kåre Birkeland

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Hot Spring

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Microbial communities and arsenic biogeochemistry at the outflow of an alkaline sulfide-rich hot spring

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep25262 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Zhou Jiang ◽

Ping Li ◽

Joy D. Van Nostrand ◽

Ping Zhang ◽

Jizhong Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Communities ◽

Hot Spring ◽

Alkaline Sulfide

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Distribution of Acetothermia-dominated microbial communities in alkaline hot springs of Baikal Rift Zone.

10.7287/peerj.preprints.3492 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Svetlana V. Zaitseva ◽

Elena V. Lavrentieva ◽

Aryuna A. Radnagurueva ◽

Olga A. Baturina ◽

Marsel R. Kabilov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Community ◽

16S Rrna ◽

16S Rrna Gene ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Hot Springs ◽

Rift Zone ◽

Hot Spring ◽

Baikal Rift Zone ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Acetyl Coa Pathway

Alkaline hot springs are unique extreme habitats resemble the early Earth and present a valuable resource for the discovery of procaryotic community diversity and isolation of the novel thermophilic Bacteria and Archaea. One of the model for the possible origin of biochemistry in alkaline hot springs revealed the acetyl-CoA pathway of CO2 fixation might be the most ancient form of carbon metabolism. Recent phylogenetic studies have suggested that the phylum Acetothermia is one of the deep branches of the Bacteria domain. Firstly Acetothermia (Candidate division OP1) was characterized in a culture independent molecular phylogenetic survey based on the 16S rRNA gene of the sulfide-rich hot spring, Obsidian Pool, a 75 to 95oC hot spring. Two nearly complete genomes of Acetothermia were established based on genome-resolved metagenomic analysis and its capability of implementing acetogenesis through the ancient reductive acetyl-CoA pathway by utilizing CO2 and H2 was revealed. Although genomic, proteomic and metagenomic approaches investigate basic metabolism and potentional energy conservation of uncultivated candidate phyla but ecological roles of these bacteria and general patterns of diversity and community structure stay unclear. General hydrochemical and geological characterization of alkaline thermal springs of the Baikal Rift zone with high silica concentrations and a nitrogen dominated gas phase is provided. Previous microbiogical studies based on culture-dependent methods recovered a large number of bacterial strains from thermal springs located in Baikal Rift zone. We combined microbial communities analysis by using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, biogeochemical measurements, sediment mineralogy and physicochemical characteristics to investigate ecosystems of alkaline hot springs located in the Baikal Rift zone. Uncultivated bacteria belonging to the phylum Acetothermia, along with members of the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, were identified as the dominant group in hydrothermal sediments communities in the alkaline hot springs of Baikal Rift zone. In bottom sediments of the Alla hot spring, about 57% of all classified sequences represent this phylum. Geochemistry of fluids and sample type were strongly correlated with microbial community composition. The Acetothermia exhibited the highest relative abundance in sediment microbial community associated with alkaline thermal fluids enriched in Fe, Zn, Ni, Al and Cr.

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