佛斯特拉古菌门（Verstraetearchaeota）研究进展

产甲烷古菌广泛分布在缺氧环境中,是有机质厌氧降解产甲烷过程中的关键功能微生物。它们在全球碳元素循环、气候变化等方面发挥着十分重要的作用。传统观念认为产甲烷古菌仅分布在广古菌门（Euryarchaeota）中,最新研究发现一系列新的非广古菌门（non-Euryarchaeota）产甲烷古菌,推测其不仅具有产甲烷能力,可能还具有发酵复杂有机物的代谢潜力。本文围绕佛斯特拉古菌门（Verstraetearchaeota）产甲烷古菌,系统阐述了它的系统分类、碳代谢机制和生态学分布等方面的研究进展,并展望了未来发展趋势。     

产甲烷古菌研究进展

产甲烷古菌是一类严格厌氧的古菌,只能利用简单的化合物进行产甲烷生长。产甲烷古菌在地球生命起源和进化、全球气候变化、碳生物地球化学循环和农业废弃物资源化利用等领域,都起着至关重要的作用。系统了解产甲烷古菌的生物学特征,将有助于在这些基础和应用领域的研究工作。本文主要从生理生化特征、代谢途径、能量储存和系统分类等方面介绍产甲烷古菌的研究进展。     

氢营养型产甲烷代谢途径研究进展

产甲烷古菌是一类极端厌氧的古菌域微生物,可以利用CO_2、甲醇、乙酸等简单化合物产甲烷并获得能量。目前能够培养的氢营养型(CO_2/H_2)产甲烷古菌的种类较多,而且在三类产甲烷代谢类型中,氢营养型产甲烷途径的产能效率最高,并具有多种模式的特殊能量利用系统。近年来,随着质谱、光谱和晶体技术的发展与运用,人们对产甲烷代谢途径的研究进一步深入,尤其是对氢营养型产甲烷途径的生化机制有了新的认识,揭示了产甲烷古菌在能量极限条件下独特、高效的能量利用模式。本文从能量储存、代谢途径、蛋白功能与催化机制等方面概述产甲烷古菌利用CO_2/H_2产甲烷的详细过程,并对产甲烷古菌代谢途径的研究方向与技术发展进行展望。     

新型产甲烷古菌研究进展

产甲烷古菌是一类能利用简单化合物产生甲烷气体的厌氧菌。近年来,随着测序技术的不断发展,科学家结合宏基因组学和其他技术先后发现了众多之前未被报道的新型产甲烷古菌。基因组分析等研究发现这几类新型产甲烷古菌具有独特的甲烷代谢通路以及广泛的生态分布,科学家推测它们在全球生态调节以及碳循环中可能起到了不可忽视的作用。然而,这些新型产甲烷古菌大部分尚未通过传统培养方法获得纯培养菌株,其确切的生理代谢机制和生态功能还有待深入研究。为了更加系统地了解这些新型产甲烷古菌,本文从它们的分类、系统发育地位、代谢机制、生态分布以及分离培养等方面进行了综述,并对新型产甲烷古菌未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

产甲烷古菌中CRISPR簇的研究

【目的】通过对51个产甲烷古菌基因组中成簇的规律间隔短回文重复序列(Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPR)的组成和来源进行研究,推测产甲烷古菌与环境中其他微生物的物质交换和相互作用,在基因组水平上阐述产甲烷古菌之间的遗传差异。【方法】利用CRISPRdb和CRISPRFinder,找出产甲烷古菌基因组中所有潜在的CRISPR簇。对CRISPR簇的基本组成部分进行分析:利用BLASTCLUST对重复序列(Repeat)进行分类;分别将间隔序列(Spacer)与Refseq病毒基因组、Refseq质粒基因组和Refseq产甲烷古菌基因组进行比对,从而获得间隔序列的物种来源和功能信息的注释。【结果】在51个产甲烷古菌中共找到了196个CRISPR簇,这些CRISPR簇中包含了总共4 355条间隔序列。在这些产甲烷古菌中,CRISPR簇的分布是不均匀的,且每个物种的间隔序列数量与其CRISPR簇数量是不成正比的。在对重复序列进行分类之后,发现Mclu1是分布最广且最具代表性的一类重复序列。在4 355条间隔序列中有388条具有物种注释信息,266条具有功能注释信息。从CRISPR簇间隔序列的来源来看,产甲烷古菌曾受到来自Poxiviridae、Siphoviridae以及Myoviridae属病毒的攻击,并且产甲烷古菌之间存在比较广泛的遗传物质交换。【结论】产甲烷古菌基因组中的CRISPR簇在组成和来源上存在较大的差异,这些差异与它们的生存环境有较大的关系。从CRISPR簇的角度阐述了产甲烷古菌之间基因组序列的差异。     

绰墩山遗址古水稻土细菌与古菌群落的PCR-DGGE分析

在江苏苏州绰墩山遗址考古发掘中,发现了在剖面不同深度埋藏的距今约6280 a的新石器时期灌溉古水稻田土层和距今约3320 a的商周时期的古水稻田土层.为了解古代水稻种植活动对土壤中细菌、古菌及产甲烷古菌群落多样性的影响,以土壤剖面P-01(包含100～116 cm新石器时期水稻土,42～57 cm商周时期水稻土,0～15 cm现代水稻土和174～200 cm土壤母质)为对象, 利用细菌、古菌及产甲烷古菌群落16S rDNA的高可变区V3区的PCR-DGGE分析技术,研究了不同土层细菌、古菌及产甲烷古菌群落多样性.结果表明:利用PCR-DGGE技术成功获得了古水稻土细菌、古菌及产甲烷古菌群落的分子指纹图谱.现代水稻土、商周时期古水稻土和新石器时期古水稻土中细菌、古菌及产甲烷古菌群落的DGGE条带类型各不相同, 并且DGGE条带类型都较母质层丰富多样.UPGAMA聚类分析可以将不同时期水稻土及母质层的细菌、古菌及产甲烷古菌群落区分开来.埋藏古水稻土中仍有较多的细菌、古菌与产甲烷古菌存活.与母质层相比,不同时期水稻种植活动均增加了细菌、古菌与产甲烷古菌群落多样性.不同时期水稻种植活动可以引起特异性的细菌、古菌与产甲烷古菌群落发育,而且不同的栽培措施可能导致不同的优势种群.     

陆地生态系统甲烷产生和氧化过程的微生物机理

陆地生态系统存在许多常年性或季节性缺氧环境,如:湿地、水稻土、湖泊沉积物、动物瘤胃、垃圾填埋场和厌氧生物反应器等。每年有大量有机物质进入这些环境,在缺氧条件下发生厌氧分解。甲烷是有机质厌氧分解的最终产物。产生的甲烷气体可通过缺氧-有氧界面释放到大气,产生温室效应,是重要的温室气体。产甲烷过程是缺氧环境中有机质分解的核心环节,而甲烷氧化是缺氧-有氧界面的重要微生物过程。甲烷的产生和氧化过程共同调控大气甲烷浓度,是全球碳循环不可分割的组成部分。对陆地生态系统甲烷产生和氧化过程的微生物机理研究进展进行了概要回顾和综述。主要内容包括:新型产甲烷古菌即第六和第七目产甲烷古菌和嗜冷嗜酸产甲烷古菌的发现;短链脂肪酸中间产物互营氧化过程与直接种间电子传递机制;新型甲烷氧化菌包括厌氧甲烷氧化菌和疣微菌属好氧甲烷氧化菌的发现;甲烷氧化菌生理生态与环境适应的新机制。这些研究进展显著拓展了人们对陆地生态系统甲烷产生和氧化机理的认识和理解。随着新一代土壤微生物研究技术的发展与应用,甲烷产生和氧化微生物研究领域将面临更多机遇和挑战,对未来发展趋势做了展望。     

典型煤层水微生物产甲烷潜力及其群落结构研究

内蒙古自治区二连盆地、海拉尔盆地是我国重要的煤层气产区,其中生物成因煤层气是煤层气的重要来源,但复杂物质转化产甲烷相关微生物群落结构及功能尚不清楚。【目的】研究煤层水中的微生物代谢挥发性脂肪酸产甲烷的生理特征及群落特征。【方法】以内蒙古自治区二连盆地和海拉尔盆地的四口煤层气井水作为接种物,分别添加乙酸钠、丙酸钠和丁酸钠厌氧培养;定期监测挥发性脂肪酸降解过程中甲烷和底物的变化趋势,应用高通量测序技术,分析原始煤层气井水及稳定期产甲烷菌液的微生物群落结构。【结果】除海拉尔盆地H303煤层气井微生物不能代谢丙酸外,其他样品均具备代谢乙酸、丙酸和丁酸产生甲烷的能力,其生理生态参数存在显著差异,产甲烷延滞期依次是乙酸丁酸丙酸;最大比产甲烷速率和底物转化效率依次是丙酸乙酸丁酸。富集培养后,古菌群落结构与煤层气井水的来源显著相关,二连盆地优势古菌为氢营养型产甲烷古菌Methanocalculus (相对丰度13.5%–63.4%)和复合营养型产甲烷古菌Methanosarcina (7.9%–51.3%),海拉尔盆地的优势古菌为氢营养型产甲烷古菌Methanobacterium(24.3%–57.4%)和复合营养型产甲烷古菌Methanosarcina(29.6%–66.5%);细菌群落则与底物类型显著相关,硫酸盐还原菌Desulfovibrio(12.0%–41.0%)、互营丙酸氧化菌Syntrophobacter(39.6%–75.5%)和互营丁酸菌Syntrophomonas(8.5%–21.9%)分别在乙酸钠、丙酸钠和丁酸钠处理组显著富集。【结论】煤层气井水微生物可降解挥发性脂肪酸(乙酸、丙酸和丁酸)并具有产甲烷潜力;乙酸可能被古菌直接代谢产甲烷,而丙酸和丁酸通过互营细菌和产甲烷古菌代谢产甲烷。Desulfovibrio、Syntrophobacter和Syntrophomonas分别在乙酸、丙酸和丁酸代谢过程中发挥了重要作用。这些结果为煤层气生物强化开采提供了一定的微生物资源基础。     

产甲烷条件下岩溶湿地沉积物中古菌群落的变化规律

【背景】桂林会仙湿地位于喀斯特峰丛洼地和峰丛平原的过渡区,主要由岩溶地下河补给,水质呈现富钙偏碱特征,是一处典型的岩溶湿地环境,湿地沉积物以厌氧环境为主,独特的环境特征使之成为研究新型厌氧微生物的理想场所。氢型产甲烷菌和乙酸型产甲烷菌是环境中有机质厌氧降解的重要参与者,但目前会仙湿地产甲烷菌生理生态功能的研究十分有限。【目的】揭示乙酸盐营养型产甲烷条件和氢气营养型产甲烷条件下岩溶湿地环境古菌群落结构的变化规律和产甲烷菌的主要类群,探讨岩溶环境古菌的功能和相互关系。【方法】以会仙岩溶湿地沉积物为研究材料,分别以乙酸盐和氢气为唯一能源物进行富集培养,结合未添加任何能源底物的对照处理,动态监测产甲烷通量,分别构建了3个共包含146条古菌16S rRNA基因全长序列的文库,以及3个共包含138条甲基辅酶M还原酶基因mcr A基因序列的文库,通过构建系统发育树比较分析不同产甲烷底物培养条件下典型岩溶湿地古菌群落的变化规律。【结果】从乙酸型和氢型产甲烷条件培养物顶空气中都检测到了几乎等浓度的甲烷产生,甲烷八叠球菌是mcr A文库中主要的古菌类群,其中包含了Methanosarcina属古菌、Zoige Cluster I (ZC-I)和ANME-2d Cluster (AD)类群古菌,以及两个相对独立且不包含任何参考序列的分支KT-I和KT-II,可能代表产甲烷菌的新类群;经过两种产甲烷条件的富集培养后,ZC-I、AD和KT-II类群古菌的序列数占比有较为显著的增加(45%–155%);深古菌(Bathyarchaeota)是所有古菌16Sr RNA基因文库的优势类群,序列占比为88%–100%,其中MCG-11亚群最为丰富,占所有深古菌的84%,并且在乙酸盐产甲烷条件下增加了17%。【结论】会仙湿地沉积物中蕴涵着丰富的新型古菌序列,沉积物中主要的氢型产甲烷菌和乙酸型产甲烷菌都来自甲烷八叠球菌目,深古菌在岩溶环境和乙酸型产甲烷条件下可能都发挥着重要的作用。     

有氧产甲烷研究进展

甲烷是温室气体的一种,对全球气候变化和人们的生活都有着重要的影响。全球绝大部分甲烷来自于产甲烷古菌的代谢,因此主要发生在厌氧环境之中。然而一些最新的研究发现,自然界的有氧环境中同样存在着甲烷产生现象,而产甲烷微生物也不仅限于产甲烷古菌。本文从微生物的产甲烷作用出发,对有氧环境中的甲烷产生进行整体的归纳,总结已有的研究结果,为以后产甲烷方面的研究提供新的思路和方向。     

Evidence of a common pathway of carbon dioxide reduction to methane in methanogens.

The roles of methanofuran and tetrahydromethanopterin as carriers of C1 moieties in the reduction of carbon dioxide to methane were studied in representatives of diverse groups of methanogens, confirming that these roles, first reported for Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, are common for methanogenesis in general. Extracts of the methanogens tested converted formyl-methanofuran and methyl-tetrahydromethanopterin to methane; the extractable cofactors derived from the same methanogens, with one exception, complemented a methanofuran- and tetrahydromethanopterin-deficient enzyme system from M. thermoautotrophicum. The amounts of extractable methanofuran and tetrahydromethanopterin were determined for each representative methanogen.     

Quantitative Immunologic Analysis of the Methanogenic Flora of Digestors Reveals a Considerable Diversity

To determine which methanogens occur in digestors, we performed a quantitative immunologic analysis of a variety of samples. A comprehensive panel of calibrated polyclonal antibody probes of predefined specificity spectra was used. This allowed precise identification of bacteria by antigenic fingerprinting. A considerable diversity of methanogens was uncovered, much larger than previously reported, encompassing at least 14 strains of 11 species. Strategies were developed to measure the load of any given methanogen in a sample and to compare samples quantitatively. Two methanogens were found to predominate which were antigenically closely related with either Methanobacterium formicicum MF or Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus AZ. Fundamental data, probes, and methods are now available to monitor methanogenic subpopulations during digestor operation and thus learn about their respective roles and predictive significance.     

嗜冷产甲烷菌及其在废水厌氧处理中的应用

嗜冷产甲烷菌对于自然界的碳素循环具有非常重要的意义,近年来引起了国内外学者的广泛关注.利用嗜冷产甲烷菌实现低温厌氧生物处理过程,可从本质上突破低温厌氧工艺的技术瓶颈,进而大大拓展厌氧生物处理技术的应用范围并降低废水处理的成本.本文针对研究者广泛关注的热点问题,从分离培养及生理生化特性、适冷机制和分子生物学研究几个方面,对嗜冷产甲烷菌的研究进展进行了全面的综述,并对其在低温厌氧生物处理技术中的应用前景进行了分析和展望.     

模拟增温对青海湖鸟岛土壤产甲烷菌群落特征的影响

甲烷生成与产甲烷菌群落关系密切,探究温度升高对产甲烷菌群落的影响可以预测产甲烷菌群落特征对气候变暖的响应.以青海湖鸟岛为研究对象,通过高通量测序方法开展研究.结果表明,基于97％的序列相似度聚类,共得到697个操作分类单元.鸟岛土壤产甲烷菌群落以甲烷微菌目(Methanomicrobiales)、甲烷八叠球菌目(Met...     

Role of methanogens and other bacteria in degradation of dimethyl sulfide and methanethiol in anoxic freshwater sediments

The roles of several trophic groups of organisms (methanogens and sulfate- and nitrate-reducing bacteria) in the microbial degradation of methanethiol (MT) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) were studied in freshwater sediments. The incubation of DMS- and MT-amended slurries revealed that methanogens are the dominant DMS and MT utilizers in sulfate-poor freshwater systems. In sediment slurries, which were depleted of sulfate, 75 micromol of DMS was stoichiometrically converted into 112 micromol of methane. The addition of methanol or MT to DMS-degrading slurries at concentrations similar to that of DMS reduced DMS degradation rates. This indicates that the methanogens in freshwater sediments, which degrade DMS, are also consumers of methanol and MT. To verify whether a competition between sulfate-reducing and methanogenic bacteria for DMS or MT takes place in sulfate-rich freshwater systems, the effects of sulfate and inhibitors, like bromoethanesulfonic acid, molybdate, and tungstate, on the degradation of MT and DMS were studied. The results for these sulfate-rich and sulfate-amended slurry incubations clearly demonstrated that besides methanogens, sulfate-reducing bacteria take part in MT and DMS degradation in freshwater sediments, provided that sulfate is available. The possible involvement of an interspecies hydrogen transfer in these processes is discussed. In general, our study provides evidence for methanogenesis as a major sink for MT and DMS in freshwater sediments.     

Dynamic transition of microbial communities in response to acidification in fixed-bed anaerobic baffled reactors (FABR) of two different flow directions

Two five-compartment fixed-bed anaerobic baffled reactors (FABRs) were operated under deteriorative and stable conditions. The FABRs were identical except for flow direction: one was horizontal (H-reactor) and the other was vertical (V-reactor). The microbial community dynamics in 1, 3 and 5 compartments were analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), 16S rRNA gene clone library screening and quantitative PCR. After start-up, the Methanomicrobiales were typically dominant in adhering sludge of 5th compartments of two reactors. Because methanogenesis mainly occurred in the latter compartment, Methanomicrobiales were likely to play important roles in FABRs. FABRs recovered from performance deterioration very quickly. Meanwhile, methanogens and dominant methanogens greatly increased in every compartment of two reactors. Our results indicated that 16S rRNA levels of methanogens in the adhering sludge were higher than those in the deposited sludge and the adhering fraction of V-reactor held up more acid-resistant bacteria and methanogens than that of H-reactor.     

Archaea in protozoa and metazoa

The presence of Archaea is currently being explored in various environments, including extreme geographic positions and eukaryotic habitats. Methanogens are the dominating archaeal organisms found in most animals, from unicellular protozoa to humans. Many methanogens can contribute to the removal of hydrogen, thereby improving the efficiency of fermentation or the reductive capacity of energy-yielding reactions. They may also be involved in tissue damage in periodontal patients. Recent molecular studies demonstrated the presence of Archaea other than methanogens in some animals—but so far, not in humans. The roles of these microorganisms have not yet been established. In the present review, we present the state of the art regarding the archaeal microflora in animals.     

嗜酸产甲烷菌及其在厌氧处理中的应用

产甲烷菌在自然界碳素循环过程中发挥着重要作用.酸性泥炭沼泽环境中存在着多种未知的产甲烷古菌,其中嗜酸产甲烷菌因其特殊的生长代谢特征近年来引起学者的广泛关注.若将嗜酸产甲烷菌应用于高浓度有机废物或废水的厌氧消化过程中,可从本质上克服因酸积累造成的产甲烷抑制,减少运行成本,扩展厌氧消化处理技术的应用范围.本文综述了嗜酸产甲烷菌的富集分离培养方法、生理生化特性、代谢特征及相关分子生物学研究等内容,并对其在厌氧处理中的应用前景进行了分析和展望,提出了未来研究的方向.     

The biotechnological potential of anaerobic fungi on fiber degradation and methane production

Anaerobic fungi (phylum Neocallimastigomycota), an early branching family of fungi, are commonly encountered in the digestive tract of mammalian herbivores. To date, isolates from ten described genera have been reported, and several novel taxonomic groupings are detected using culture-independent molecular methods. Anaerobic fungi are recognized as playing key roles in the decomposition of lignocellulose (up to 50% of the ingested and untreated lignocellulose), with their physical penetration and extracellular enzymatical secretion of an unbiased diverse repertoire of cell-wall-degrading enzymes. The secreted cell-wall-degrading enzymes of anaerobic fungi include both free enzymes and extracellular multi-enzyme complexes called cellulosomes, both of which have potential as fiber degraders in industries. In addition, anaerobic fungi can provide large amounts of substrates such as hydrogen, formate, and acetate for their co-cultured methanogens. Consequently, large amounts of methane can be produced. And thus, it is promising to use the co-culture of anaerobic fungi and methanogens in the biogas process to intensify the biogas yield owing to the efficient and robust degradation of recalcitrant biomass by anaerobic fungi and improved methane production from co-cultures of anaerobic fungi and methanogens.     

Role of Methanogens and Other Bacteria in Degradation of Dimethyl Sulfide and Methanethiol in Anoxic Freshwater Sediments

The roles of several trophic groups of organisms (methanogens and sulfate- and nitrate-reducing bacteria) in the microbial degradation of methanethiol (MT) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) were studied in freshwater sediments. The incubation of DMS- and MT-amended slurries revealed that methanogens are the dominant DMS and MT utilizers in sulfate-poor freshwater systems. In sediment slurries, which were depleted of sulfate, 75 μmol of DMS was stoichiometrically converted into 112 μmol of methane. The addition of methanol or MT to DMS-degrading slurries at concentrations similar to that of DMS reduced DMS degradation rates. This indicates that the methanogens in freshwater sediments, which degrade DMS, are also consumers of methanol and MT. To verify whether a competition between sulfate-reducing and methanogenic bacteria for DMS or MT takes place in sulfate-rich freshwater systems, the effects of sulfate and inhibitors, like bromoethanesulfonic acid, molybdate, and tungstate, on the degradation of MT and DMS were studied. The results for these sulfate-rich and sulfate-amended slurry incubations clearly demonstrated that besides methanogens, sulfate-reducing bacteria take part in MT and DMS degradation in freshwater sediments, provided that sulfate is available. The possible involvement of an interspecies hydrogen transfer in these processes is discussed. In general, our study provides evidence for methanogenesis as a major sink for MT and DMS in freshwater sediments.