黄海北部不同站位海洋细菌群落分布特征

[目的]为揭示北黄海不同海域中真细菌群落分布的差异,[方法]采用16s rRNA基因文库和变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)技术,对远海和近海两个站位的沉积物和水体中细菌群落特征进行了解析和评价.[结果]文库分析揭示海水及沉积物中微生物种类丰富,存在大量未被认知的类群.各站位中主要为变形菌门(Proteobacteria),沉积物中γ-Proteobacteria和δ-Proteobacteria亚门占优势,水中则以α-Proteobacteria亚门占优势,但各亚门微生物在两个站位中存在明显系统发育学分歧.DGGE图谱聚类分析显示,近海沉积物和海水中细菌群落优势类群相似性很高,而远海沉积物和海水中则相似性很低.[结论]研究结果表明,微生物种类在不同地理位置和生存介质中存在明显差异,环境因素对微生物的分布起主导作用.     

喜树替代紫茎泽兰过程中根际微生物群落特征

为研究我国重要经济树种喜树根际分泌物对根际微生物群落的影响, 以及喜树在控制林业有害植物紫茎泽兰生物入侵的可行性, 采用传统培养技术和分子生物学技术PCR-单链构象多态性(SSCP)、末端限制性片段长度多态性(tRFLP)和16S rDNA文库相结合对喜树(Ca)、紫茎泽兰(Ea)和二者混栽体系(CE)根际土壤中的真核微生物和真细菌微生物群落结构进行了比较. 计数结果表明, 喜树、二者混栽以及紫茎泽兰根际中的真细菌数量依次减少, 而真核微生物数量依次增多. PCR-SSCP分析显示, 紫茎泽兰根际土壤中真核微生物条带数量(多样性)远高于喜树和混栽根际, 对部分条带克隆测序表明喜树根际中Meristolohmannia spp.为主要优势种群; tRFLP对真细菌结构分析表明, 3种根际中真细菌群落多样性丰富, 但没有差别, 对喜树根际真细菌16S rDNA文库测序比较分析, 共包含了10个已分类的门, 其中Proteobacteria 门为优势菌群, 占24.71%(其中δ-Proteobacteria占17.65%), Acidobacteria门占16.47%, Bacteroidetes门占10.59%. 另外, 色谱分析发现喜树和混栽根际土壤中分别含有较低浓度喜树碱和羟基喜树碱, 而紫茎泽兰根际二者均检测不到. 由此可见, 紫茎泽兰的扩散和蔓延依赖于特有的真核微生物群落结构模式, 并不改变真细菌群落的结构, 喜树能够通过根系分泌物改变紫茎泽兰根际真核微生物群落结构模式, 进而制约其外延. 本研究为喜树在紫茎泽兰生物替代中提供了理论基础.     

水葫芦根际细菌群落结构多样性分析

【目的】了解水葫芦根际细菌群落结构。【方法】运用末端限制性片段长度多态性(Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism,T-RFLP)技术分析富营养化水体中水葫芦根际和水葫芦近、远水样的细菌群落特征及多样性,结合克隆文库技术和培养法分析根际的细菌种群类型。【结果】同一时期水葫芦根际细菌多样性(Shannon-Weiner指数H′或Simpson指数D)更高,水葫芦近水样次之,远水样最小。10月份的细菌多样性高于5月份的。通过水葫芦根际细菌的克隆文库可知变形杆菌门(Proteobacteria)是水葫芦根际细菌的主要类群,占总群体的65.1%,包括噬菌弧菌(Bacteriovorax sp.)、Dechloromonas sp.、Leptothrix sp.、红螺菌科(Rhodospirillaceae)、Rhodoferax sp.和红环菌科(Rhodocyclaceae)等。T-RFLP图谱显示159 bp为最大优势菌,247 bp为第二大优势菌,对照克隆文库及培养结果分析247 bp属于γ-Proteobacteria,159 bp为不动杆菌(Acinetobacter sp.)。【结论】水葫芦根际细菌的群落结构丰富,不同时段水葫芦根际细菌的丰度略有变化,主要类群为变形杆菌门。     

太湖梅梁湾冬季浮游细菌的多样性

运用分子生物学方法对太湖梅梁湾2005年3月冬季水体中的浮游细菌多样性进行了研究。提取水样中细菌基因组总DNA,以细菌的16SrDNA通用引物进行PCR扩增,扩增产物经分子克隆、酶切归类分析、测序和序列分析,对水样中的细菌群落建立了针对16SrDNA的克隆文库和系统发生树。基于细菌16SrDNA克隆文库和系统发生树的分析,结果表明,该水域的优势细菌类群为拟杆菌(Cy-tophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides,44.3%)和β、γ变形杆菌(Proteobacteria;β-Proteobacteria,25.3%和γ-Proteobacteria,27.8%),其中大部分细菌与黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium)、假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)和食酸菌属(Acidovorax)细菌的关系密切。与国外富营养化湖泊的研究报道相比较,γ-Proteobacteria类群为水体中的优势类群,是严重富营养化的太湖在冬季所具有的独特种群结构特征。     

溴代阻燃剂污染底泥与未污染底泥中细菌群落结构之比较分析

【目的】通过免培养的分子生物学方法,比较受溴代阻燃剂污染严重的河流底泥和与未污染水库底泥中细菌多样性差异,解析二者间细菌群落结构,为污染河流的治理与生物修复提供相关的理论依据。【方法】从中国贵屿溴代阻燃剂污染区练江底泥样品和未污染水库底泥样品中分别提取微生物总DNA,用细菌通用引物27F和1500R扩增16S rRNA基因,构建16S rRNA基因文库。用HhaⅠ和HinfⅠ2种限制性内切酶对克隆子进行扩增产物rDNA的限制性酶切分析(ARDRA),挑取不同的操作分类单元OUT中的克隆进行测序并构建系统发育树,比较代表克隆子的基本分类类群和生物多样性构成。【结果】未污染水库底泥中细菌群落组成主要包括变形细菌门(Proteobacteria)的α、β、γ和δ4个亚门、浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)。优势菌是酸杆菌,占文库克隆的30.2%。污染河流底泥中细菌群落组成包括变形细菌门(Proteobacteria)的α、β、δ和ε4个亚门、浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)、绿菌门或拟杆菌门(Chlorobi orBacteroidetes)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、待定菌群candidatedivision OP01、candidate division OP08和candidate division WS3的相似菌。优势菌是ε-变形细菌和绿弯菌,占文库克隆的44.9%。【结论】受溴代阻燃剂污染河流底泥中的细菌群落具有较高水平的多样性,与未污染底泥有显著区别,主要体现在ε-变形细菌和绿弯菌在细菌群落中具有优势地位。这种优势种群的改变可能与污染物的过度富集具有一定的相关性,对于我们进一步探索和了解溴代阻燃剂的微生物修复具有一定的指导意义。     

九龙江河口区nirS型反硝化细菌多样性及系统发育学分析

【目的】结合16S rRNA基因克隆文库和nirS基因克隆文库的分析,揭示九龙江河口区nirS型反硝化细菌多样性。【方法】选取九龙江河口区一富营养化采样点,分别采集水样及沉积物样品,进行理化因子的测定并提取细菌总DNA。以水样DNA构建16S rRNA基因克隆文库,以沉积物DNA构建nirS基因克隆文库,分析微生物群落结构的多样性并构建系统发育树。【结果】从16S rRNA基因克隆文库中获得86条有效序列,按97%的序列相似性划分为53个OTU,分别属于Proteobacteria门、Planctomycetes门、Bacteroidetes门、Actinobacteria门、Firmicutes门和Chloroflexi门。其中属于Proteobacteria门OTU的克隆子占克隆数的62.9%,是最优势的类群,分属于Alphaproteobacteria、Betaproteobacteria、Gammaproteobacteria和Deltaproteobacteria纲等。从nirS基因克隆文库中获得190条有效序列,翻译为氨基酸序列后,按82%的序列相似性划分为60个OTU,并定位到属的水平。其中Proteobacteria门是最优势的类群,占文库克隆子总数的71.6%,包括Alphaproteobacteria纲(5.8%)、Betaproteobacteria纲(49.0%)和Gammaproteobacteria纲(16.9%)。nirS基因克隆文库中丰度最高的OTU与GenBank中的一株可培养反硝化菌Thauera sp. R-26906具有100%的序列相似性。【结论】九龙江河口区的微生物以及亚硝酸盐还原酶基因(nirS)具有丰富的多样性。大部分NirS序列在GenBank中的最相似序列来源于河口、海湾等相似的环境。     

典型对虾养殖水体中参与硝化与反硝化过程的微生物群落结构

【目的】本研究旨在分析典型虾塘养殖水体中参与氮循环关键过程的菌群多样性,为指导实际对虾养殖水体中NH 4+和NO 2-的微生物降解、水体氮素污染控制以及虾塘养殖氮素循环的有效管理提供科学依据。【方法】使用聚合酶链式反应及变性梯度凝胶电泳技术(Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient GelElectrophoresis,PCR-DGGE)从8个不同地点的虾塘水样中确定代表性水样,以此为典型水样进行研究,构建了氨单加氧酶基因(amoA)、亚硝酸盐氧化还原酶基因(nxrA)、亚硝酸盐还原酶基因(nirS)的克隆文库。利用限制性片段长度多态性(Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism,RFLP)技术将克隆文库进行酶切分析。【结果】通过序列多态性分析,表明amoA基因克隆文库中所有序列都属于变形杆菌门β亚纲(β-Proteobacteria),分别为亚硝化单细胞菌属(Nitrosomonas)(81%)和亚硝化螺旋菌属(Nitrosospira)(19%)2个属。nxrA基因克隆文库检测到α-Proteobacteria和δ-Proteobacteria两个亚纲,其中硝化杆菌属(Nitrobacter)是优势菌群,占整个文库的92%,仅有一个类群属于δ亚纲的脱硫杆菌科(Desulfobacteraceae)(8%)。nirS基因文库群落结构相对于amoA和nxrA基因文库较复杂,分别为α-Proteobacteria、β-Proteobacteria亚纲和Actinobacteria,序列分析表明,25%的类群为固氮弧菌属(Azoarcus),25%的类群为(Polymorphum),20%的类群为需氧去氮菌属(Thauera),10%的类群为(Sophophora),10%的的类群为链霉菌属(Streptomyces),5%的类群为(Brachymonas),5%的类群为(Ruegeria)。【结论】典型虾塘养殖水环境中氮素循环关键过程的菌群多样性丰富,其中亚硝化单胞菌属(Nitrosomonas)和硝化杆菌属(Nitrobacter)分别是此环境中主要的氨氧化作用推动者和亚硝酸盐氧化作用推动者,而在反硝化重要环节中,固氮弧菌属等多种菌群都起着推动作用。     

云南洱源牛街热泉原核微生物多样性分析

【目的】通过分析富含高分子有机物的云南洱源牛街热泉原核微生物16SrRNA基因克隆文库,丰富对高温热泉原核微生物多样性的认识,为进一步开发和利用该热泉微生物资源奠定基础。【方法】构建洱源牛街高温热泉原核微生物16SrRNA基因克隆文库,通过测序和序列相似性比对以及聚类分析研究该热泉原核微生物的多样性。【结果】该热泉原核微生物以细菌为主,包括变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、梭杆菌门(Fusobacteria)等在内的约10个细菌类群,其中变形菌门中的β-变形菌纲(β-Proteobacteria)为优势菌群,其次为拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、绿菌门(Chlorobi);古菌的生物量和丰度较细菌少,分属广古菌(Euryarchaeota)和泉古菌(Crenarchaeota)两个类群,以广古菌为优势类群。     

秦皇岛新开河河口邻近海域细菌多样性及其影响因子

【目的】分析秦皇岛新开河河口及其邻近海域3个站位的细菌多样性,了解入海口污染对微生物多样性的影响,为该海域微生物的生态功能研究提供理论基础。【方法】于2014年8月选取秦皇岛新开河入海河口(XKH)及其邻近海域(W1,W2)共3个站位采集水样,采用荧光显微镜计数以及构建16S rRNA基因克隆文库的方法,分析细菌群落结构多样性与海水环境条件的关系。【结果】邻近海域W1站位的细菌总数(2.62×10~6 cells/m L)和多样性均高于新开河河口XKH站位(细菌总数:6.62×10~5 cells/m L)和W2站位(细菌总数:2.02×10~6 cells/m L);从XKH、W1、W2 3个站位的16S r RNA基因克隆文库中分别获得57、89、87条有效序列,按97%的序列相似性分别划分为46、51、56个OTU,分别属于Proteobacteria、Cyanobacteria、Bacteroidetes、Firmicute、Actinobacteria、Planctomycetes和Verrucomicrobia七个门。其中在XKH和W2站位中,Proteobacteria门的克隆子分别占总克隆数的50.9%和75.9%,是最优势的类群,分属于Alphaproteobacteria、Betaproteobacteria、Gammaproteobacteria、Deltaproteobacteria和Epsilonproteobacteria纲;在W1站位中,Cyanobacteria门的克隆子占总克隆数的38.2%,是该站位的最优势类群,这些优势类群可通过利用水体中的氮等营养来调节水体生态环境。影响细菌群落分布的环境因子主要为溶解氧、p H和氮营养盐。【结论】秦皇岛新开河河口及其邻近海域的细菌具有丰富的多样性,处于河口海域过渡带的水样具有更高的多样性,细菌群落多样性的分布受氮营养盐的影响更为显著。     

青石斑鱼海水循环水养殖水体的细菌群落特征北大核心CSCD

【目的】为揭示工厂化循环水青石斑鱼养殖水体的细菌群落特征,比较患病养殖池与健康养殖池的细菌群落结构差异,探讨细菌群落结构与青石斑鱼病害相关的相关性。【方法】采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序方法,分析比较了患病和健康养殖水体细菌群落结构、α-多样性指数(包括多度、均一度和系统发育多样性);并结合传统方法从患病青石斑鱼病灶部位分离疑似病原菌。【结果】患病和健康养殖水体中细菌群落的α-多样性并无太大差异,但主坐标分析与热图样本聚类分析表明细菌群落结构明显不同。二者的优势细菌门均为Proteobacteria、Verrucomicrobia和Bacteroidetes,但它们的相对丰度差异显著。患病养殖水体中α-Proteobacteria(25.07%)和γ-Protebacteria(22.74%)丰度相当,而健康养殖水体中γ-Protebacteria(40.49%)显著高于α-Proteobacteria(10.87%)。患病水体的Verrucomicrobia丰度(26.4%)远高于健康水体(10.9%);而Bacteroidetes的相对丰度则相反(12.3%vs 20.9%)。主要的差异类群包括α-Proteobacteria的Rhodobacteraceae和Rhodospirillaceae,γ-Proteobacteria的Alteromonadaceae、HTCC2188和Oceanospirillaceae,Verrucomicrobia的Verrucomicrobiaceae和Bacteroidetes的Cryomorphaceae。更表现在核心微生物类群的差异,健康养殖池水体以Glaciecola、HTCC、Sediminicola、Prevotella等对于养殖动物有益或无害的属为核心微生物;而患病养殖池水体则以Vibrio、Rubritalea、Oleibacter等病原菌或对养殖动物不利的属为核心微生物。从患病青石斑鱼的皮肤、肝脏和脾脏共分离得到弧菌20株,Acinetobacter haemolyticus 1株。【结论】患病的青石斑鱼循环水养殖水体中的细菌群落明显不同于健康养殖水体,特别是核心微生物的差异,其以Vibrio等病原菌或对养殖动物不利的属为主。该结果为青石斑鱼循环水养殖系统的管理、病害的诊断和监测提供理论与实验基础。     

青藏铁路沿线唐古拉山口土壤微生物的ARDRA分析

通过构建16S rDNA文库及文库的限制性片段长度多态性分析（ARDRA）,对青藏铁路沿线唐古拉山口的土壤微生物多样性进行了研究。采用限制性内切酶HaeIII和RsaI对克隆文库中的90个克隆子进行了酶切分型,根据ARDRA酶切图谱的不同,可将其分为23个OTUs。16SrDNA序列分析结果表明,该克隆文库中主要包括变形菌门（Proteobacteria）的alpha、beta、detla亚类、厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria）、拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）、酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）及浮霉菌门（Planctomycetes）等8类细菌及未培养细菌。Alpha变形细菌为该文库中的主要菌群,占克隆总数的33.3%;其次为未培养细菌,占克隆总数的22.2%,Bradyrhizobium为优势菌属。研究结果揭示,青藏铁路唐古拉山口的土壤微生物种群不仅具有丰富的多样性,还存在丰富的潜在新菌种。     

Microbial community diversity associated with carbon and nitrogen cycling in permeable shelf sediments

Though a large fraction of primary production and organic matter cycling in the oceans occurs on continental shelves dominated by sandy deposits, the microbial communities associated with permeable shelf sediments remain poorly characterized. Therefore, in this study, we provide the first detailed characterization of microbial diversity in marine sands of the South Atlantic Bight through parallel analyses of small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene (Bacteria), nosZ (denitrifying bacteria), and amoA (ammonia-oxidizing bacteria) sequences. Communities were analyzed by parallel DNA extractions and clone library construction from both sediment core material and manipulated sediment within column experiments designed for geochemical rate determinations. Rapid organic-matter degradation and coupled nitrification-denitrification were observed in column experiments at flow rates resembling in situ conditions over a range of oxygen concentrations. Numerous SSU rRNA phylotypes were affiliated with the phyla Proteobacteria (classes Alpha-, Delta-, and Gammaproteobacteria), Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidetes. Detectable sequence diversity of nosZ and SSU rRNA genes increased in stratified redox-stabilized columns compared to in situ sediments, with the Alphaproteobacteria comprising the most frequently detected group. Alternatively, nitrifier communities showed a relatively low and stable diversity that did not covary with the other gene targets. Our results elucidate predominant phylotypes that are likely to catalyze carbon and nitrogen cycling in marine sands. Although overall diversity increased in response to redox stabilization and stratification in column experiments, the major phylotypes remained the same in all of our libraries, indicating that the columns sufficiently mimic in situ conditions.     

Microbial diversity in an in situ reactor system treating monochlorobenzene contaminated groundwater as revealed by 16S ribosomal DNA analysis

A molecular approach based on the construction of 16S ribosomal DNA clone libraries was used to investigate the microbial diversity of an underground in situ reactor system filled with the original aquifer sediments. After chemical steady state was reached in the monochlorobenzene concentration between the original inflowing groundwater and the reactor outflow, samples from different reactor locations and from inflowing and outflowing groundwater were taken for DNA extraction. Small-subunit rRNA genes were PCR-amplified with primers specific for Bacteria, subsequently cloned and screened for variation by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). A total of 87 bacterial 16S rDNA genes were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. The original groundwater was found to be dominated by a bacterial consortium affiliated with various members of the class of Proteobacteria, by phylotypes not affiliated with currently recognized bacterial phyla, and also by sporulating and non-sporulating sulfate-reducing bacteria. The most occurring clone types obtained from the sediment samples of the reactor were related to the beta-Proteobacteria, dominated by sequences almost identical to the widespread bacterium Alcaligenes faecalis, to low G+C gram-positive bacteria and to Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (formerly Thiobacillus ferrooxidans) within the gamma subclass of Proteobacteria in the upper reactor sector. Although bacterial phylotypes originating from the groundwater outflow of the reactors also grouped within different subdivisions of Proteobacteria and low G+C gram-positive bacteria, most of the 16S rDNA sequences were not associated with the sequence types observed in the reactor samples. Our results suggest that the different environments were inhabited by distinct microbial communities in respect to their taxonomic diversity, particular pronounced between sediment attached microbial communities from the reactor samples and free-living bacteria from the groundwater in- and outflow.     

Bacterial diversity in sediments of the eutrophic Guanting Reservoir,China, estimated by analyses of 16S rDNA sequence

The bacterial diversity in different layers of sediment of the eutrophic Guanting Reservoir (China) was investigated using molecular ecological techniques. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified 16S rDNA showed presence of different bacterial communities across depths of sediments. The trend was consistent with sedimentological layers as characterized by physical and chemical parameters. Sediments were sampled at the 4–6, 34–36, and 69–72 cm depths to represent upper, middle and lower layers and used to construct three 16S rDNA clone libraries. Out of a total of 760 positive clones obtained from the three sediment layers, 148 rDNA types were identified by amplified 16S rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and grouped into 42 clusters or single lineages at the similarity of 70%. We used 16S rDNA sequencing to classify 60 clones representing different ARDRA clusters into nine phyla: Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Nitrospirae, Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. The diversity and distribution of rDNA types across depths were much different from the chemical profile of the sediment and pollution history of the reservoir.     

Introduction of a novel 18S rDNA gene arrangement along with distinct ITS region in the saline water microalga Dunaliella

Background

Sundarban is the world's largest coastal sediment comprising of mangrove forest which covers about one million hectares in the south-eastern parts of India and southern parts of Bangladesh. The microbial diversity in this sediment is largely unknown till date. In the present study an attempt has been made to understand the microbial diversity in this sediment using a cultivation-independent molecular approach.

Results

Two 16 S rRNA gene libraries were constructed and partial sequencing of the selected clones was carried out to identify bacterial strains present in the sediment. Phylogenetic analysis of partially sequenced 16 S rRNA gene sequences revealed the diversity of bacterial strains in the Sundarban sediment. At least 8 different bacterial phyla were detected. The major divisions of detected bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta), Flexibacteria (CFB group), Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes and Gammatimonadates.

Conclusion

The gammaproteobacteria were found to be the most abundant bacterial group in Sundarban sediment. Many clones showed similarity with previously reported bacterial lineages recovered from various marine sediments. The present study indicates a probable hydrocarbon and oil contamination in this sediment. In the present study, a number of clones were identified that have shown similarity with bacterial clones or isolates responsible for the maintenance of the S-cycle in the saline environment.     

大港孔店油田水驱油藏微生物群落的分子分析

通过多聚酶链式反应温度梯度凝胶电泳（PCRTGGE）和构建16S rRNA基因克隆文库两种方法对比研究了大港油田孔二北断块注水井和采油井的微生物群落结构。16S rDNA V3区PCR扩增产物的TGGE图谱分析表明,这两个油井的微生物群落结构差异很大。注水井样品的TGGE图谱中有6条主要条带,而采油井样品中只有一个条带占绝对优势。同时,建立了两个样品的16S rRNA基因克隆文库,从中分别挑选了108和50个克隆进行限制性酶切片段长度多样性分析（ARDRA）。注水井样品有33个操作分类单元（OUT）,其中6个OUT是优势类型;而采油井样品只有8个OUT,有1个OUT在文库中占绝对优势。克隆文库和TGGE的研究结果一致,均表明注水井样品的微生物多样性比采油井丰富很多。每个OUT的代表克隆序列分析结果表明,注水井样品中的细菌主要属于α、β、γ变形菌纲和放线菌纲,尤其是红细菌亚纲（47%）。采油井样品的细菌主要属于α、β、γ变形菌纲,尤其是假单胞菌属（62%）。油藏微生物多样性的分子分析可为开展微生物采油技术研究奠定基础。     

Microbial diversity and composition of the sediment in the drinking water reservoir Saidenbach (Saxonia, Germany)

Sediments contain a huge number and diversity of microorganisms that are important for the flux of material and are pivotal to all major biogeochemical cycles. Sediments of reservoirs are affected by a wide spectrum of allochthous and autochthonous influences providing versatile environments along the flow of water within the reservoir. Here we report on the microbial diversity in sediments of the mesotrophic drinking water reservoir Saidenbach, Germany, featuring a pronounced longitudinal gradient in sediment composition in the reservoir system. Three sampling sites were selected along the gradient, and the microbial communities in two sediment depths were characterized using catalysed reporter deposition fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) and a bar-coded pyrosequencing approach. Multivariate statistic was used to reveal relationships between sequence diversity and the environmental conditions. The microbial communities were tremendously diverse with a Shannon index of diversity (H') ranging from 6.7 to 7.1. 18,986 sequences could be classified into 37 phyla including candidate divisions, but the full extent of genetic diversity was not captured. While CARD-FISH gave an overview about the community composition, more detailed information was gained by pyrosequencing. Bacteria were more abundant than Archaea. The dominating phylum in all samples was Proteobacteria, especially Betaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria. Furthermore, sequences of Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Acidobacteria, Chlorobi, Nitrospira, Spirochaetes, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes were found. The site ammonium concentration, water content and organic matter content revealed to be strongest environmental predictors explaining the observed significant differences in the community composition between sampling sites.     

Microbial diversity in deep-sea sediment from the cobalt-rich crust deposit region in the Pacific Ocean

Cobalt-rich crusts are important metallic mineral resources with great economic potential, usually distributed on seamounts located in the Pacific Ocean. Microorganisms are believed to play a role in the formation of crusts as well as in metal cycling. To explore the microbial diversity related to cobalt-rich crusts, 16S ribosomal RNA gene clone libraries were constructed from three consecutive sediment layers. In total, 417 bacterial clones were obtained from three bacterial clone libraries, representing 17 distinct phylogenetic groups. Proteobacteria dominated in the bacterial communities, followed by Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes. Compared with high bacterial diversity, archaea showed a remarkably low diversity, with all 137 clones belonging to marine archaeal group I except one novel euryarchaeotal clone. The microbial communities were potentially involved in sulfur, nitrogen and metal cycling in the area of cobalt-rich crusts. Sulfur oxidation and metal oxidation were potentially major sources of energy for this ecosystem. This is the first reported investigation of microbial diversity in sediments associated with cobalt-rich crusts, and it casts fresh light on the microbial ecology of these important ecosystems.     

Bacterial Community Composition of South China Sea Sediments through Pyrosequencing-Based Analysis of 16S rRNA Genes

Background

Subseafloor sediments accumulate large amounts of organic and inorganic materials that contain a highly diverse microbial ecosystem. The aim of this study was to survey the bacterial community of subseafloor sediments from the South China Sea.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Pyrosequencing of over 265,000 amplicons of the V3 hypervariable region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was performed on 16 sediment samples collected from multiple locations in the northern region of the South China Sea from depths ranging from 35 to 4000 m. A total of 9,726 operational taxonomic units (OTUs; between 695 and 2819 unique OTUs per sample) at 97% sequence similarity level were generated. In total, 40 bacterial phyla including 22 formally described phyla and 18 candidate phyla, with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Planctomycetes, Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi being most diverse, were identified. The most abundant phylotype, accounting for 42.6% of all sequences, belonged to Gammaproteobacteria, which possessed absolute predominance in the samples analyzed. Among the 18 candidate phyla, 12 were found for the first time in the South China Sea.

Conclusions

This study provided a novel insight into the composition of bacterial communities of the South China Sea subseafloor. Furthermore, abundances and community similarity analysis showed that the compositions of the bacterial communities are very similar at phylum level at different depths from 35-4000 m.     

Bacterial dominance in subseafloor sediments characterized by methane hydrates

The degradation of organic carbon in subseafloor sediments on continental margins contributes to the largest reservoir of methane on Earth. Sediments in the Andaman Sea are composed of ~ 1% marine-derived organic carbon and biogenic methane is present. Our objective was to determine microbial abundance and diversity in sediments that transition the gas hydrate occurrence zone (GHOZ) in the Andaman Sea. Microscopic cell enumeration revealed that most sediment layers harbored relatively low microbial abundance (10(3)-10(5) cells cm(-3)). Archaea were never detected despite the use of both DNA- and lipid-based methods. Statistical analysis of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms revealed distinct microbial communities from above, within, and below the GHOZ, and GHOZ samples were correlated with a decrease in organic carbon. Primer-tagged pyrosequences of bacterial 16S rRNA genes showed that members of the phylum Firmicutes are predominant in all zones. Compared with other seafloor settings that contain biogenic methane, this deep subseafloor habitat has a unique microbial community and the low cell abundance detected can help to refine global subseafloor microbial abundance.