分子生态网络揭示冶金微生物对能源底物的响应

通过分析不同铁硫比的能源底物驯化下冶金微生物群落的演替过程,基于分子生态网络揭示冶金微生物对能源底物的响应特征。对富铁少硫、富硫少铁条件下不同驯化批次的微生物样本进行高通量测序,分析物种组成,比较冶金微生物群落的α多样性和β多样性,并构建分子生态网络,探究驯化过程微生物之间的相互作用关系。鉴定关键物种,分析冶金微生物群落对能源底物的响应。研究发现在基于不同能源底物驯化过程中,富铁少硫群落的优势物种为嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans和铁氧化嗜酸硫杆菌A. ferriphilus;而富硫少铁群落经过3个批次的驯化,氧化硫硫杆菌A. thiooxidans占比高达90%。α、β多样性分析结果表明,富硫少铁能源底物驯化过程使冶金微生物群落多样性降低,且随着驯化批次的增加群落组成发生显著变化。分子生态网络分析显示关键物种均为低丰度稀有物种,富硫少铁条件下菌种间具有更紧密的互作共生关系,群落更加稳定。通过该驯化实验,明确了不同能源底物对冶金微生物群落的影响。采用富硫少铁能源底物驯化冶金微生物,使冶金微生物群落更加稳定,有助于优势物种高效发挥铁、硫氧化功能,促进硫化矿物的氧化溶解,为生物冶金工业育种微生物群落的定向驯化提供理论基础。     

微生物浸出过程中胞外蛋白的作用及其机理研究进展

矿物-微生物-溶液多相界面是硫化矿生物浸出的关键场所,界面微生物胞外多聚物(EPS)关键组分胞外蛋白在生物膜形成、结构稳定和硫化矿溶解等方面起到关键作用。综述了生物浸出过程中EPS关键组分胞外蛋白的研究进展和胞外蛋白现有的研究方法及其对冶金微生物胞外蛋白研究的适用性,展望了浸矿微生物胞外蛋白研究的前景,旨为生物冶金领域研究EPS关键组分胞外蛋白结构及其作用机理提供重要的理论和方法支撑。     

污水脱氮功能微生物的组学研究进展

生物脱氮是污水处理厂的核心,掌握生物脱氮过程相关微生物代谢特性,对于探索微生物资源和提高污水处理厂脱氮性能具有重要意义。近年来,分子生物学方法不断发展和改进,已被广泛应用于揭示脱氮微生物群落多样性、组成结构和潜在功能等方面,大幅提升了研究者们对污水生物脱氮系统中微生物,尤其是不可培养微生物的代谢机理、抑制调控原理及新型生物脱氮工艺途径的认识。本文对流行的分子生物学方法（16S rRNA基因测序、实时荧光定量PCR技术、宏基因组学、宏转录组学、宏蛋白质组学和代谢组学）进行了介绍,综述了其在硝化细菌、反硝化细菌、完全氨氧化细菌、厌氧氨氧化细菌、厌氧铁氨氧化细菌、硫酸盐型厌氧氨氧化细菌及亚硝酸盐/硝酸盐型厌氧甲烷氧化微生物等方面的研究进展,阐明了这些氮素转化微生物在氮循环过程的代谢途径和酶促反应,并从标准测定方法构建、不同方法的联用及跨学科结合和检测方法的简易化这3个方面展望了分子生物学方法的技术突破及其在污水生物处理系统中的应用前景。本综述从系统角度全面认识脱氮微生物群落及其结构,为未来污水处理生物脱氮微生物的研究提供了新方向。     

微生物-矿物相互作用及界面显微分析研究进展

微生物-矿物界面的相互作用贯穿着整个生物浸矿过程,在矿物生物浸出中至关重要,受到微生物的代谢特征、矿物表面结构和物质形态及环境条件的多重交叉影响。研究微生物-矿物界面的相互作用相关的微生物选择性吸附、矿物表面元素形态转化和钝化层、微生物铁硫氧化活性和微生物群落以及胞外物质的组成和性质等的演化,有利于了解微生物-矿物界面作用机制及其关键影响因素和影响机制,从而为优化浸出工艺提供科学的理论依据。达到这些目的,界面的(原位)显微分析手段和技术的进步也至关重要。本文对近些年来上述两方面的研究进行了综述。     

嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌基因组学研究进展

嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidan,A.ferrooxidans)广泛存在于酸性矿物废水中,与生物冶金和环境净化紧密相关。不同来源嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌全基因组的测序,为我们利用比较基因组学和功能基因组学的方法去洞察嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌功能基因,提供了坚实的研究基础和丰富的科研信息。简述了嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌基因组学的基本特征;从比较基因组学和功能基因组学发现了嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌菌株基因组水平的差异;通过生物信息学概述了该菌的铁和硫代谢机制,并从细菌的功能基因组学对其在生物冶金与环境治理等应用进行了展望。     

微生物厌氧氨氧化耦合铁还原的研究进展及展望

厌氧氨氧化耦合铁还原[ammonium oxidation coupled to Fe(Ⅲ) reduction, Feammox]作为一种连接氮循环和铁循环之间的氮代谢途径,在自然界中氨氮转化过程中起到了重要作用。系统研究Feammox驱动的氮铁的生物地球化学耦合过程及其受控因素,有助于深入理解地球元素循环的微生物机制,也有助于揭示Feammox在缺氧地质历史时期对古海洋氮库演变和含铁矿物形成过程中的作用。本文从Feammox发展历史、相关微生物、影响因素和潜在地质意义等方面综述了Feammox的研究过程和研究内容,并对Feammox的未来研究方向提出展望。     

微生物厌氧呼吸与有机污染水体沉积物修复

水体沉积物有机污染是当前全球关注的重要环境问题。微生物具有呼吸和代谢多样性,能以多种污染物作为厌氧呼吸的电子供体或受体,与周围环境中的生物和非生物因素组成代谢网络耦合有机污染物降解转化,是有机污染水体沉积物修复的重要驱动者。本文重点综述了微生物厌氧呼吸、电子传递网络及其对有机污染水体沉积物的修复机制研究进展,并对有机污染水体沉积物微生物修复理论和技术研究的问题和挑战进行了探讨。     

2020年地质微生物学专刊序言

中国微生物学会地质微生物学专业委员会第八届地质微生物学研讨会于2019年6月13-15日在青岛举行,来自国内外127所高校和科研院所的600余位专家学者齐聚此次会议,围绕地质微生物学领域相关的最新研究进展进行了深入交流和研讨。为展示与会学者的部分最新研究成果,特组织这期地质微生物专刊。
本期《微生物学报》专刊以地质微生物学为主题,选取了第八届地质微生物学学术会议报导的地质微生物学研究新技术、极端环境微生物、微生物与元素生物地球化学循环、微生物-矿物相互作用、地质微生物应用、以及环境微生物生态与进化等领域的19篇文章,与读者共享。在“地质微生物学研究新技术”专栏,提出了单细胞拉曼光谱在研究代谢过程、分选活细胞以及揭示细胞对物质利用等方面的应用前景;在“极端环境微生物”专栏,报导了贵州兴义喀斯特洞穴中的微生物多样性及抗菌活性,综述了嗜盐菌中甘氨酸甜菜碱的合成途径及其生物学功能;在“微生物与元素生物地球化学循环”专栏,报导了海洋异养细菌、好氧甲烷氧化耦合反硝化细菌、与农田土壤中丛枝菌根真菌-根际细菌及其在碳氮磷循环过程中作用,综述了海洋氮循环过程及基于基因组代谢网络模型预测研究进展、以及湖泊微生物参与硝化、反硝化与硫循环过程的研究进展;在“微生物-矿物相互作用”专栏,报导了铁还原菌与砷还原菌与矿物相互作用及其对元素循环的影响;在“地质微生物应用”专栏,报导了典型油气藏上方土壤甲烷氧化菌群落特征及其勘探意义与煤灰分和无机矿物对生物产气的影响;在“环境微生物生态与进化”专栏,报导了我国南海、东海与黄河三角洲沉积物微生物群落结构特征,综述了候选门级辐射类群（CPR）细菌与古菌ESCRT系统研究进展。
希望通过本专刊,进一步扩大地质微生物学在国内的影响、并促进地质微生物学相关学科的发展和融合。     

基于基因芯片对微生物基因功能与群落结构分析的硫化矿生物浸出分析

生物冶金技术因具有流程短、成本低、环境友好, 且特别适合处理低品位、复杂、难处理的矿产资源等优点,已经成为研究热点。然而由于缺少高效菌种以及不能对浸矿体系微生物进行定量分析, 难以对浸矿工艺参数和微生物种群进行优化调控, 从而导致硫化矿生物浸出速度慢、浸出率低。随着基因芯片、菌种保存技术的发展, 这些难题在逐一被解决。对近年来针对硫化矿浸出过程微生物的基因功能与群落结构分析的研究进行了概述, 将帮助我们更好地了解基因组学与生物冶金技术结合的重要作用。     

基于基因芯片对微生物基因功能与群落结构分析的硫化矿生物浸出分析

生物冶金技术因具有流程短、成本低、环境友好, 且特别适合处理低品位、复杂、难处理的矿产资源等优点,已经成为研究热点。然而由于缺少高效菌种以及不能对浸矿体系微生物进行定量分析, 难以对浸矿工艺参数和微生物种群进行优化调控, 从而导致硫化矿生物浸出速度慢、浸出率低。随着基因芯片、菌种保存技术的发展, 这些难题在逐一被解决。对近年来针对硫化矿浸出过程微生物的基因功能与群落结构分析的研究进行了概述, 将帮助我们更好地了解基因组学与生物冶金技术结合的重要作用。     

GeoChip-based analysis of the functional gene diversity and metabolic potential of microbial communities in acid mine drainage

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an extreme environment, usually with low pH and high concentrations of metals. Although the phylogenetic diversity of AMD microbial communities has been examined extensively, little is known about their functional gene diversity and metabolic potential. In this study, a comprehensive functional gene array (GeoChip 2.0) was used to analyze the functional diversity, composition, structure, and metabolic potential of AMD microbial communities from three copper mines in China. GeoChip data indicated that these microbial communities were functionally diverse as measured by the number of genes detected, gene overlapping, unique genes, and various diversity indices. Almost all key functional gene categories targeted by GeoChip 2.0 were detected in the AMD microbial communities, including carbon fixation, carbon degradation, methane generation, nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, ammonification, nitrogen reduction, sulfur metabolism, metal resistance, and organic contaminant degradation, which suggested that the functional gene diversity was higher than was previously thought. Mantel test results indicated that AMD microbial communities are shaped largely by surrounding environmental factors (e.g., S, Mg, and Cu). Functional genes (e.g., narG and norB) and several key functional processes (e.g., methane generation, ammonification, denitrification, sulfite reduction, and organic contaminant degradation) were significantly (P < 0.10) correlated with environmental variables. This study presents an overview of functional gene diversity and the structure of AMD microbial communities and also provides insights into our understanding of metabolic potential in AMD ecosystems.     

Deep-sea sediment metagenome from Bay of Bengal reveals distinct microbial diversity and functional significance

Bay of Bengal (BoB) has immense significance with respect to ecological diversity and natural resources. Studies on microbial profiling and their functional significance at sediment level of BoB remain poorly represented. Herein, we describe the microbial diversity and metabolic potentials of BOB deep-sea sediment samples by subjecting the metagenomes to Nanopore sequencing. Taxonomic diversity ascertained at various levels revealed that bacteria belonging to phylum Proteobacteria predominantly represented in sediment samples NIOT_S7 and NIOT_S9. A comparative study with 16S datasets from similar ecological sites revealed depth as a crucial factor in determining taxonomic diversity. KEGG annotation indicated that bacterial communities possess sequence reads corresponding to carbon dioxide fixation, sulfur, nitrogen metabolism, but at varying levels. Additionally, gene sequences related to bioremediation of dyes, plastics, hydrocarbon, antibiotic resistance, secondary metabolite synthesis and metal resistance from both the samples as studied indicate BoB to represent a highly diverse environmental niche for further exploration.     

Metabolic interdependencies between phylogenetically novel fermenters and respiratory organisms in an unconfined aquifer

Fermentation-based metabolism is an important ecosystem function often associated with environments rich in organic carbon, such as wetlands, sewage sludge and the mammalian gut. The diversity of microorganisms and pathways involved in carbon and hydrogen cycling in sediments and aquifers and the impacts of these processes on other biogeochemical cycles remain poorly understood. Here we used metagenomics and proteomics to characterize microbial communities sampled from an aquifer adjacent to the Colorado River at Rifle, CO, USA, and document interlinked microbial roles in geochemical cycling. The organic carbon content in the aquifer was elevated via acetate amendment of the groundwater occurring over 2 successive years. Samples were collected at three time points, with the objective of extensive genome recovery to enable metabolic reconstruction of the community. Fermentative community members include organisms from a new phylum, Melainabacteria, most closely related to Cyanobacteria, phylogenetically novel members of the Chloroflexi and Bacteroidales, as well as candidate phyla genomes (OD1, BD1-5, SR1, WWE3, ACD58, TM6, PER and OP11). These organisms have the capacity to produce hydrogen, acetate, formate, ethanol, butyrate and lactate, activities supported by proteomic data. The diversity and expression of hydrogenases suggests the importance of hydrogen metabolism in the subsurface. Our proteogenomic data further indicate the consumption of fermentation intermediates by Proteobacteria can be coupled to nitrate, sulfate and iron reduction. Thus, fermentation carried out by previously unknown members of sediment microbial communities may be an important driver of nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur, carbon and iron cycling.     

GeoChip-based analysis of the functional gene diversity and metabolic potential of soil microbial communities of mangroves

Mangroves are unique and highly productive ecosystems and harbor very special microbial communities. Although the phylogenetic diversity of sediment microbial communities of mangrove habitats has been examined extensively, little is known regarding their functional gene diversity and metabolic potential. In this study, a high-throughput functional gene array (GeoChip 4.0) was used to analyze the functional diversity, composition, structure, and metabolic potential of microbial communities in mangrove habitats from mangrove national nature reserves in China. GeoChip data indicated that these microbial communities were functionally diverse as measured by the number of genes detected, unique genes, and various diversity indices. Almost all key functional gene categories targeted by GeoChip 4.0 were detected in the mangrove microbial communities, including carbon (C) fixation, C degradation, methane generation, nitrogen (N) fixation, nitrification, denitrification, ammonification, N reduction, sulfur (S) metabolism, metal resistance, antibiotic resistance, and organic contaminant degradation. Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) of all detected genes showed that Spartina alterniflora (HH), an invasive species, did not harbor significantly different microbial communities from Aegiceras corniculatum (THY), a native species, but did differ from other species, Kenaelia candel (QQ), Aricennia marina (BGR), and mangrove-free mud flat (GT). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) results indicated the microbial community structure was largely shaped by surrounding environmental variables, such as total nitrogen (TN), total carbon (TC), pH, C/N ratio, and especially salinity. This study presents a comprehensive survey of functional gene diversity of soil microbial communities from different mangrove habitats/species and provides new insights into our understanding of the functional potential of microbial communities in mangrove ecosystems.     

Metagenomic resolution of microbial functions in deep-sea hydrothermal plumes across the Eastern Lau Spreading Center

Microbial processes within deep-sea hydrothermal plumes affect ocean biogeochemistry on global scales. In rising hydrothermal plumes, a combination of microbial metabolism and particle formation processes initiate the transformation of reduced chemicals like hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen, methane, iron, manganese and ammonia that are abundant in hydrothermal vent fluids. Despite the biogeochemical importance of this rising portion of plumes, it is understudied in comparison to neutrally buoyant plumes. Here we use metagenomics and bioenergetic modeling to describe the abundance and genetic potential of microorganisms in relation to available electron donors in five different hydrothermal plumes and three associated background deep-sea waters from the Eastern Lau Spreading Center located in the Western Pacific Ocean. Three hundred and thirty one distinct genomic ‘bins'' were identified, comprising an estimated 951 genomes of archaea, bacteria, eukarya and viruses. A significant proportion of these genomes is from novel microorganisms and thus reveals insights into the energy metabolism of heretofore unknown microbial groups. Community-wide analyses of genes encoding enzymes that oxidize inorganic energy sources showed that sulfur oxidation was the most abundant and diverse chemolithotrophic microbial metabolism in the community. Genes for sulfur oxidation were commonly present in genomic bins that also contained genes for oxidation of hydrogen and methane, suggesting metabolic versatility in these microbial groups. The relative diversity and abundance of genes encoding hydrogen oxidation was moderate, whereas that of genes for methane and ammonia oxidation was low in comparison to sulfur oxidation. Bioenergetic-thermodynamic modeling supports the metagenomic analyses, showing that oxidation of elemental sulfur with oxygen is the most dominant catabolic reaction in the hydrothermal plumes. We conclude that the energy metabolism of microbial communities inhabiting rising hydrothermal plumes is dictated by the underlying plume chemistry, with a dominant role for sulfur-based chemolithoautotrophy.     

宏基因组测序分析东寨港红树林淤泥和水体微生物的多样性

为深入了解海南东寨港红树林生态系统微生物多样性及其在氮、磷、硫等代谢循环中的功能特点,本研究采用宏基因组测序,从物种注释与丰度、群落功能及多样性指数等角度,分析红树林淤泥和水体生境中微生物群落结构及生态功能的特异性。结果显示,在淤泥中检测到53个门、909个属的微生物类群,有3个占比超过1%的优势门类,其中变形杆菌门为83.78%,处于绝对优势,其下的12个优势属全部来自变形杆菌门;不动杆菌属是聚磷微生物的主要类群,其在淤泥中含量是水体的107.7倍,硫氧化单胞菌属、脱硫杆菌属是硫化物代谢的主要菌属,主要存在于淤泥生境当中。在水体中检测到64个门、1 522个属,包括13个优势门类、7个优势属;Nitrospinae和硝化螺旋菌门是亚硝酸盐氧化代谢的关键类群,两者在水体中占比分别是淤泥中的28.1倍和6.8倍。多样性评估得知,水体样品中的Shannon Wiener指数和Simpson指数均高于淤泥样品,两样品在属分类学单元上的Simpson指数趋近于1,表明红树林生态系统具有非常高的微生物多样性,水体生境的微生物多样性高于淤泥;亚硝酸盐的微生物代谢循环主要发生在水体生境中,微生物对磷的富集作用和硫化合物的氧化还原代谢主要发生在淤泥生境中。本研究有助于认识东寨港红树林湿地生境中的微生物资源状况,为保护红树林生态系统和开发利用其中的微生物资源提供依据。     

The Functional Potential of Microbial Communities in Hydraulic Fracturing Source Water and Produced Water from Natural Gas Extraction Characterized by Metagenomic Sequencing

Microbial activity in produced water from hydraulic fracturing operations can lead to undesired environmental impacts and increase gas production costs. However, the metabolic profile of these microbial communities is not well understood. Here, for the first time, we present results from a shotgun metagenome of microbial communities in both hydraulic fracturing source water and wastewater produced by hydraulic fracturing. Taxonomic analyses showed an increase in anaerobic/facultative anaerobic classes related to Clostridia, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidia and Epsilonproteobacteria in produced water as compared to predominantly aerobic Alphaproteobacteria in the fracturing source water. The metabolic profile revealed a relative increase in genes responsible for carbohydrate metabolism, respiration, sporulation and dormancy, iron acquisition and metabolism, stress response and sulfur metabolism in the produced water samples. These results suggest that microbial communities in produced water have an increased genetic ability to handle stress, which has significant implications for produced water management, such as disinfection.     

Sulfur bacteria in wastewater stabilization ponds periodically affected by the ‘red-water’ phenomenon

Several wastewater stabilization ponds (WSP) in Tunisia suffer periodically from the ‘red-water’ phenomenon due to blooming of purple sulfur bacteria, indicating that sulfur cycle is one of the main element cycles in these ponds. In this study, we investigated the microbial diversity of the El Menzeh WSP and focused in particular on the different functional groups of sulfur bacteria. For this purpose, we used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of PCR-amplified fragments of the 16S rRNA gene and of different functional genes involved in microbial sulfur metabolism (dsrB, aprA, and pufM). Analyses of the 16S rRNA revealed a relatively high microbial diversity where Proteobacteria, Chlorobi, Bacteroidetes, and Cyanobacteria constitute the major bacterial groups. The dsrB and aprA gene analysis revealed the presence of deltaproteobacterial sulfate-reducing bacteria (i.e., Desulfobacter and Desulfobulbus), while the analysis of 16S rRNA, aprA, and pufM genes assigned the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria community to the photosynthetic representatives belonging to the Chlorobi (green sulfur bacteria) and the Proteobacteria (purple sulfur and non sulfur bacteria) phyla. These results point on the diversity of the metabolic processes within this wastewater plant and/or the availability of sulfate and diverse electron donors.     

Distinct taxonomic and functional composition of soil microbiomes along the gradient forest-restinga-mangrove in southeastern Brazil

Soil microorganisms play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning, and the central goal in microbial ecology studies is to elucidate which factors shape community structure. A better understanding of the relationship between microbial diversity, functions and environmental parameters would increase our ability to set conservation priorities. Here, the bacterial and archaeal community structure in Atlantic Forest, restinga and mangrove soils was described and compared based on shotgun metagenomics. We hypothesized that each distinct site would harbor a distinct taxonomic and functional soil community, which is influenced by environmental parameters. Our data showed that the microbiome is shaped by soil properties, with pH, base saturation, boron and iron content significantly correlated to overall community structure. When data of specific phyla were correlated to specific soil properties, we demonstrated that parameters such as boron, copper, sulfur, potassium and aluminum presented significant correlation with the most number of bacterial groups. Mangrove soil was the most distinct site and presented the highest taxonomic and functional diversity in comparison with forest and restinga soils. From the total 34 microbial phyla identified, 14 were overrepresented in mangrove soils, including several archaeal groups. Mangrove soils hosted a high abundance of sequences related to replication, survival and adaptation; forest soils included high numbers of sequences related to the metabolism of nutrients and other composts; while restinga soils included abundant genes related to the metabolism of carbohydrates. Overall, our finds show that the microbial community structure and functional potential were clearly different across the environmental gradient, followed by functional adaptation and both were related to the soil properties.