scholarly journals The Composition and Primary Metabolic Potential of Microbial Communities Inhabiting the Surface Water in the Equatorial Eastern Indian Ocean

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Changling Ding ◽  
Chao Wu ◽  
Congcong Guo ◽  
Jiang Gui ◽  
Yuqiu Wei ◽  
...  

Currently, there is scant information about the biodiversity and functional diversity of microbes in the eastern Indian Ocean (EIO). Here, we used a combination of high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and a metagenomic approach to investigate the microbial population structure and its metabolic function in the equatorial EIO. Our results show that Cyanobacterial Prochlorococcus made up the majority of the population. Interestingly, there were fewer contributions from clades SAR11 (Alphaproteobacteria) and SAR86 (Gammaproteobacteria) to microbial communities than contributions from Prochlorococcus. Based on functional gene analysis, functional genes rbcL, narB, and nasA were relatively abundant among the relevant genes. The abundance of Prochlorococcus implies its typically ecological adaptation in the local ecosystem. The microbial metabolic potential shows that in addition to the main carbon fixation pathway Calvin cycle, the rTCA cycle and the 3-HP/4-HB cycle have potential alternative carbon fixation contributions to local ecosystems. For the nitrogen cycle, the assimilatory nitrate and nitrite reduction pathway is potentially the crucial form of nitrogen utilization; unexpectedly, nitrogen fixation activity was relatively weak. This study extends our knowledge of the roles of microbes in energy and resource cycling in the EIO and provides a foundation for revealing profound biogeochemical processes driven by the microbial community in the ocean.

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e6168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dagne Duguma ◽  
Michael W. Hall ◽  
Chelsea T. Smartt ◽  
Mustapha Debboun ◽  
Josh D. Neufeld

Although mosquito microbiota are known to influence reproduction, nutrition, disease transmission, and pesticide resistance, the relationship between host-associated microbial community composition and geographical location is poorly understood. To begin addressing this knowledge gap, we characterized microbiota associated with adult females of Culex nigripalpus mosquito vectors of Saint Louis Encephalitis and West Nile viruses sampled from three locations in Florida (Vero Beach, Palmetto Inland, and Palmetto Coast). High-throughput sequencing of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes demonstrated significant differences among microbial communities of mosquitoes sampled from the three locations. Mosquitoes from Vero Beach (east coast Florida) were dominated by uncultivated Asaia sp. (Alphaproteobacteria), whereas microbiota associated with mosquitoes collected from two mosquito populations at Palmetto (west coast Florida) sites were dominated by uncultured Spironema culicis (Spirochaetes), Salinisphaera hydrothermalis (Gammaproteobacteria), Spiroplasma (Mollicutes), uncultured Enterobacteriaceae, Candidatus Megaira (Alphaproteobacteria; Rickettsiae), and Zymobacter (Gammaproteobacteria). The variation in taxonomic profiles of Cx. nigripalpus gut microbial communities, especially with respect to dominating taxa, is a potentially critical factor in understanding disease transmission and mosquito susceptibility to insecticides among different mosquito populations.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra L Ettinger ◽  
Susan L Williams ◽  
Jessica M Abbott ◽  
John J Stachowicz ◽  
Jonathan A Eisen

Background. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a marine angiosperm and foundation species that plays an important ecological role in primary production, food web support, and elemental cycling in coastal ecosystems. As with other plants, the microbial communities living in, on, and near eelgrass are thought to be intimately connected to the ecology and biology of eelgrass. Here we characterized the microbial communities in eelgrass sediments throughout an experiment to quantify the rate of ammonification, the first step in early remineralization of organic matter, or diagenesis, from plots at a field site in Bodega Bay, CA. Methods. Sediment was collected from 72 plots from a 15 month long field experiment in which eelgrass genotypic richness and relatedness were manipulated. In the laboratory, we placed sediment samples (n= 4 per plot) under a N2 atmosphere, incubated them at in situ temperatures (15 oC) and sampled them initially and after 4, 7, 13, and 19 days to determine the ammonification rate. Comparative microbiome analysis using high throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes was performed on sediment samples taken initially and at 7, 13 and 19 days to characterize the relative abundances of microbial taxa and how they changed throughout early diagenesis. Results. Within-sample diversity of the sediment microbial communities across all plots decreased after the initial timepoint using both richness based (observed number of OTUs, Chao1) and richness and evenness based diversity metrics (Shannon, Inverse Simpson). Additionally, microbial community composition changed across the different timepoints. Many of the observed changes in relative abundance of taxonomic groups between timepoints appeared driven by sulfur cycling with observed decreases in sulfur reducers (Desulfobacterales) and corresponding increases in sulfide oxidizers (Alteromonadales and Thiotrichales). None of these changes in composition or richness were associated with ammonification rates. Discussion. Overall, our results showed that the microbiome of sediment from different plots followed similar successional patterns, which we surmise to be due to changes related to sulfur metabolism. These large changes likely overwhelmed any potential changes in sediment microbiome related to ammonification rate. We found no relationship between eelgrass presence or genetic composition and the microbiome. This was likely due to our sampling of bulk sediments to measure ammonification rates rather than sampling microbes in sediment directly in contact with the plants and suggests that eelgrass influence on the sediment microbiome may be limited in spatial extent. More in-depth functional studies associated with eelgrass microbiome will be required in order to fully understand the implications of these microbial communities in broader host-plant and ecosystem functions (e.g. elemental cycling and eelgrass-microbe interactions).


1999 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 982-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saïd el Fantroussi ◽  
Laurent Verschuere ◽  
Willy Verstraete ◽  
Eva M. Top

ABSTRACT The effect of three phenyl urea herbicides (diuron, linuron, and chlorotoluron) on soil microbial communities was studied by using soil samples with a 10-year history of treatment. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used for the analysis of 16S rRNA genes (16S rDNA). The degree of similarity between the 16S rDNA profiles of the communities was quantified by numerically analysing the DGGE band patterns. Similarity dendrograms showed that the microbial community structures of the herbicide-treated and nontreated soils were significantly different. Moreover, the bacterial diversity seemed to decrease in soils treated with urea herbicides, and sequence determination of several DGGE fragments showed that the most affected species in the soils treated with diuron and linuron belonged to an uncultivated bacterial group. As well as the 16S rDNA fingerprints, the substrate utilization patterns of the microbial communities were compared. Principal-component analysis performed on BIOLOG data showed that the functional abilities of the soil microbial communities were altered by the application of the herbicides. In addition, enrichment cultures of the different soils in medium with the urea herbicides as the sole carbon and nitrogen source showed that there was no difference between treated and nontreated soil in the rate of transformation of diuron and chlorotoluron but that there was a strong difference in the case of linuron. In the enrichment cultures with linuron-treated soil, linuron disappeared completely after 1 week whereas no significant transformation was observed in cultures inoculated with nontreated soil even after 4 weeks. In conclusion, this study showed that both the structure and metabolic potential of soil microbial communities were clearly affected by a long-term application of urea herbicides.


2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijun Bao ◽  
Likun Gu ◽  
Bo Sun ◽  
Wenyang Cai ◽  
Shiwei Zhang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Phyllosphere harbors diverse microorganisms, which influence plant growth and health. In order to understand the extent to which environmental factors affect epiphytic microbial communities, we characterized microbial communities on leaves of three separate tree species present on the college campus, and also present within a forest park over two seasons. Quantitative PCR analysis showed the quantity of 16S rRNA genes was lower in May compared with October, while the abundances of functional genes (nifH and bacterial amoA genes) were extremely high in May. High-throughput sequencing revealed a large variation in the diversity and composition of bacterial and diazotrophic communities over the two seasons, and showed the abundance of functional genera, such as Nocardioides, Bacillus and Zoogloea were significantly elevated in May. In addition, xenobiotic biodegradation pathways of bacterial communities were clearly elevated in May. Network analysis showed the correlations between phyllospheric bacteria in May were more complex than that in October and showed greater negative correlations. These results were consistent in all tree species in this study. This study showed that phyllospheric bacteria varied greatly in different seasons, which implies that different growing seasons should be considered in the exploitation of the interactions between phyllospheric microorganisms and host plants.


2009 ◽  
Vol 75 (23) ◽  
pp. 7519-7526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carola Simon ◽  
Arnim Wiezer ◽  
Axel W. Strittmatter ◽  
Rolf Daniel

ABSTRACT The largest part of the Earth's microbial biomass is stored in cold environments, which represent almost untapped reservoirs of novel species, processes, and genes. In this study, the first metagenomic survey of the metabolic potential and phylogenetic diversity of a microbial assemblage present in glacial ice is presented. DNA was isolated from glacial ice of the Northern Schneeferner, Germany. Pyrosequencing of this DNA yielded 1,076,539 reads (239.7 Mbp). The phylogenetic composition of the prokaryotic community was assessed by evaluation of a pyrosequencing-derived data set and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. The Proteobacteria (mainly Betaproteobacteria), Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the predominant phylogenetic groups. In addition, isolation of psychrophilic microorganisms was performed, and 13 different bacterial isolates were recovered. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the isolates revealed that all were affiliated to the predominant groups. As expected for microorganisms residing in a low-nutrient environment, a high metabolic versatility with respect to degradation of organic substrates was detected by analysis of the pyrosequencing-derived data set. The presence of autotrophic microorganisms was indicated by identification of genes typical for different ways of carbon fixation. In accordance with the results of the phylogenetic studies, in which mainly aerobic and facultative aerobic bacteria were detected, genes typical for central metabolism of aerobes were found. Nevertheless, the capability of growth under anaerobic conditions was indicated by genes involved in dissimilatory nitrate/nitrite reduction. Numerous characteristics for metabolic adaptations associated with a psychrophilic lifestyle, such as formation of cryoprotectants and maintenance of membrane fluidity by the incorporation of unsaturated fatty acids, were detected. Thus, analysis of the glacial metagenome provided insights into the microbial life in frozen habitats on Earth, thereby possibly shedding light onto microbial life in analogous extraterrestrial environments.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra L Ettinger ◽  
Susan L Williams ◽  
Jessica M Abbott ◽  
John J Stachowicz ◽  
Jonathan A Eisen

Background. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a marine angiosperm and foundation species that plays an important ecological role in primary production, food web support, and elemental cycling in coastal ecosystems. As with other plants, the microbial communities living in, on, and near eelgrass are thought to be intimately connected to the ecology and biology of eelgrass. Here we characterized the microbial communities in eelgrass sediments throughout an experiment to quantify the rate of ammonification, the first step in early remineralization of organic matter, or diagenesis, from plots at a field site in Bodega Bay, CA. Methods. Sediment was collected from 72 plots from a 15 month long field experiment in which eelgrass genotypic richness and relatedness were manipulated. In the laboratory, we placed sediment samples (n= 4 per plot) under a N2 atmosphere, incubated them at in situ temperatures (15 oC) and sampled them initially and after 4, 7, 13, and 19 days to determine the ammonification rate. Comparative microbiome analysis using high throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes was performed on sediment samples taken initially and at 7, 13 and 19 days to characterize the relative abundances of microbial taxa and how they changed throughout early diagenesis. Results. Within-sample diversity of the sediment microbial communities across all plots decreased after the initial timepoint using both richness based (observed number of OTUs, Chao1) and richness and evenness based diversity metrics (Shannon, Inverse Simpson). Additionally, microbial community composition changed across the different timepoints. Many of the observed changes in relative abundance of taxonomic groups between timepoints appeared driven by sulfur cycling with observed decreases in sulfur reducers (Desulfobacterales) and corresponding increases in sulfide oxidizers (Alteromonadales and Thiotrichales). None of these changes in composition or richness were associated with ammonification rates. Discussion. Overall, our results showed that the microbiome of sediment from different plots followed similar successional patterns, which we surmise to be due to changes related to sulfur metabolism. These large changes likely overwhelmed any potential changes in sediment microbiome related to ammonification rate. We found no relationship between eelgrass presence or genetic composition and the microbiome. This was likely due to our sampling of bulk sediments to measure ammonification rates rather than sampling microbes in sediment directly in contact with the plants and suggests that eelgrass influence on the sediment microbiome may be limited in spatial extent. More in-depth functional studies associated with eelgrass microbiome will be required in order to fully understand the implications of these microbial communities in broader host-plant and ecosystem functions (e.g. elemental cycling and eelgrass-microbe interactions).


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-514
Author(s):  
Xiaojing Ma ◽  
Sambhaji Balaso Thakar ◽  
Huimin Zhang ◽  
Zequan Yu ◽  
Li Meng ◽  
...  

Background: The rhizosphere microbiota are of vital importance for plant growth and health in terrestrial ecosystems. There have been extensive studies aiming to identify the microbial communities as well as their relationship with host plants in different soil types. Objective: In the present study, we have employed the high-throughput sequencing technology to investigate the composition and structure of rhizosphere microbiota prosperous at the root of Dangshan Su pear growing in sandy soil and clay soil. Methods: A high-throughput amplicon sequencing survey of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS regions from rhizosphere microbiota was firstly performed. Subsequently, several common bacterial and fungal communities were found to be essential to Dangshan Su pear by using a series of bioinformatics and statistics tools. Finally, the soil-preferred microbiota were identified through variance analysis and further characterized in the genus level. Result: Dangshan Su pears host rich and diverse microbial communities in thin layer of soil adhering to their roots. The composition of dominant microbial phyla is similar across different soil types, but the quantity of each microbial community varies significantly. Specially, the relative abundance of Firmicutes increases from 9.69% to 61.66% as the soil ecosystem changes from clay to sandy, which can be not only conducive to the degradation of complex plant materials, but also responsible for the disinfestation of pathogens. Conclusion: Our results have a symbolic significance for the potential efforts of rhizosphere microbiota on the soil bioavailability and plant health. Through selecting soil types and altering microbial structures, the improvement of fruit quality of Dangshan Su pear is expected to be achieved.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiale Li ◽  
Chengcheng Li ◽  
Ming Wang ◽  
Lixiang Wang ◽  
Xiaobo Liu ◽  
...  

The European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio Fabricius, is a major invasive quarantine pest that attacks and kills pine trees outside of its native range. Insect gut structure and gut microbiota play crucial roles in various life activities. Despite a few reports in nutrition and survival, an extensive study on the S. noctilio larval gut microbiome is lacking. We studied the gut structure using a stereo microscope and used high throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions to investigate gut microbiota in different developmental stages of S. noctilio, including larvae, adults, and larval frass. We used PICRUSt2 to predict the functional profiles. The larval gut was thin and thread-like from the oral cavity to the anus, carrying few xylem particles in the crop. Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, and Burkholderia s.l were the dominant bacteria in the guts of larvae, adults, and frass, respectively. Even though Pseudomonas was the most abundant among all bacteria, Zoogloea, Ruminobacter, and Nitrosospira, which might be involved in degrading organic matter and fixing nitrogen occurred exclusively in the larval gut indicating their possible role in the growth and development of larvae in pine tree xylem. Fungal communities did not change significantly across different developmental stages or the frass. Amylostereum was dominant in the woodwasp’s larval gut. Functional prediction of bacterial and fungal communities revealed that they may encod enzymes involved in degrading lignocellulose and fixing nitrogen. Ours is the first study that compares gut microbial communities present in S. noctilio larvae, adults, and frass. This study could provide an understanding of larval nutrient acquisition in nutrient-deficient host xylem to some extent. Our study may unlock novel strategies for the development of pest management approaches based on interfering with the gut microbiota and restricting their role in larval survival and development.


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassandra L. Ettinger ◽  
Susan L. Williams ◽  
Jessica M. Abbott ◽  
John J. Stachowicz ◽  
Jonathan A. Eisen

BackgroundEelgrass (Zostera marina) is a marine angiosperm and foundation species that plays an important ecological role in primary production, food web support, and elemental cycling in coastal ecosystems. As with other plants, the microbial communities living in, on, and near eelgrass are thought to be intimately connected to the ecology and biology of eelgrass. Here we characterized the microbial communities in eelgrass sediments throughout an experiment to quantify the rate of ammonification, the first step in early remineralization of organic matter, also known as diagenesis, from plots at a field site in Bodega Bay, CA.MethodsSediment was collected from 72 plots from a 15 month long field experiment in which eelgrass genotypic richness and relatedness were manipulated. In the laboratory, we placed sediment samples (n = 4 per plot) under a N2atmosphere, incubated them atin situtemperatures (15 °C) and sampled them initially and after 4, 7, 13, and 19 days to determine the ammonification rate. Comparative microbiome analysis using high throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes was performed on sediment samples taken initially and at seven, 13 and 19 days to characterize changes in the relative abundances of microbial taxa throughout ammonification.ResultsWithin-sample diversity of the sediment microbial communities across all plots decreased after the initial timepoint using both richness based (observed number of OTUs, Chao1) and richness and evenness based diversity metrics (Shannon, Inverse Simpson). Additionally, microbial community composition changed across the different timepoints. Many of the observed changes in relative abundance of taxonomic groups between timepoints appeared driven by sulfur cycling with observed decreases in predicted sulfur reducers (Desulfobacterales) and corresponding increases in predicted sulfide oxidizers (Thiotrichales). None of these changes in composition or richness were associated with variation in ammonification rates.DiscussionOur results showed that the microbiome of sediment from different plots followed similar successional patterns, which we infer to be due to changes related to sulfur metabolism. These large changes likely overwhelmed any potential changes in sediment microbiome related to ammonification rate. We found no relationship between eelgrass presence or genetic composition and the microbiome. This was likely due to our sampling of bulk sediments to measure ammonification rates rather than sampling microbes in sediment directly in contact with the plants and suggests that eelgrass influence on the sediment microbiome may be limited in spatial extent. More in-depth functional studies associated with eelgrass microbiome will be required in order to fully understand the implications of these microbial communities in broader host-plant and ecosystem functions (e.g., elemental cycling and eelgrass-microbe interactions).


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