隐藏嗜酸菌Acidiphilium cryptum的研究进展

分离自酸性矿坑水的隐藏嗜酸菌Acidiphilium cryptum具有化能兼养型细菌的典型特征,在缺乏有机质的环境中能启用体内硫氧化代谢途径营化能自养,进行硫化矿物的分解;而在有机质存在时该菌营异养生长,并在体内合成聚β羟基丁酸酯(polyhydroxybutyrate,PHB),此外在酸性条件下对Fe(III)和Cr(VI)等金属离子具有还原作用,并具有发展微生物燃料电池的潜力.该菌因其独特的生理特性及在浸矿微生物群落中的显著生态地位而在生物冶金、环境修复、生物材料等领域具有重要的经济和社会意义.对隐藏嗜酸菌的生物学特性、分离培养方法、重要特性的研究进展以及应用等方面的国内外研究现状进行综述,并对其应用前景和研究趋势进行展望.     

云南省蒙自酸性矿山排水微生物群落结构和功能

为探究酸性矿山排水生态系统不同环境中的微生物群落和功能,全面了解酸性矿山排水的形成和发展规律,采用高通量测序技术研究云南省蒙自某矿区酸矿水坑和周边溪水中的原核微生物群落组成,并结合样本理化特征分析影响群落结构的主要因素,进而解析菌群的环境功能。研究发现酸矿水坑中主要有广古菌门、变形菌门(包括α、γ和δ变形菌纲)、硝化螺菌门、厚壁菌门、放线菌门和酸杆菌门等类群,与周边溪水的群落结构具有明显差异。群落多样性与pH呈显著正相关,而热原体纲(Thermoplasmata)与pH呈负相关,可对群落结构起主导作用。酸矿水坑不同样本中均具有高丰度的亚铁原体属Ferroplasma (6.60%–86.34%),酸硫杆菌属Acidithiobacillus是酸矿水和沉积泥中主要的铁、硫氧化细菌,而专性铁氧化的钩端螺旋菌属Leptospirillum的丰度较低,铁卵形菌属Ferrovum几乎只存在于酸矿水中;此外,嗜酸或耐酸的异养菌广泛分布于酸矿水和沉积泥中,它们可促进铁、硫氧化菌的生长及催化矿石溶解。结果表明,pH通过影响微生物多样性和菌群分布而对酸性矿山排水环境微生物群落结构造成重大影响。     

嗜酸硫氧化细菌消解元素硫的研究进展

浸矿酸性环境下,金属硫化矿在Fe3+作用下,经过硫代硫酸盐途径或多聚硫化氢途径而分解的过程中导致大量元素硫的累积,进而可能在金属硫化矿表面形成疏水元素硫层,阻碍金属离子的进一步浸出。酸性环境下,惰性元素硫的消解必须借助嗜酸硫氧化细菌来实现。该消解过程包括嗜酸硫氧化细菌对元素硫的吸附、转运以及氧化转化等过程。本文对近年来嗜酸硫氧化细菌消解元素硫过程的相关研究进行了全面评述,认为有关嗜酸硫氧化细菌消解元素硫的分子机制的清晰阐述还有待人们通过对消解过程的各个环节的分子机制进行大量研究来实现。     

好氧甲烷氧化菌生态学研究进展

好氧甲烷氧化菌是一群以甲烷为碳源和能源的细菌。好氧甲烷氧化菌在自然环境中分布广泛,人类已从土壤、淡水和海洋沉积、泥炭沼泽、热泉、海水和南极环境分离到甲烷氧化菌的纯培养。好氧甲烷氧化菌可分为14个属,包括研究较为深入的隶属于变形菌门Alpha和Gamma纲的细菌,以及属于疣微菌门的极端嗜热嗜酸甲烷氧化菌。最近,好氧甲烷氧化菌还被发现存在于苔藓类植物（尤其是泥炭苔藓）共生体中,兼性营养好氧甲烷氧化菌也被发现。本文通过对好氧甲烷氧化菌的分类、生理生化特征、分子生物学检测方法以及微生物生态学中的研究成果的总结与分析,以及对甲烷氧化菌研究所面临的问题进行讨论,以期为今后进一步开展好氧甲烷氧化菌及其在碳循环中的作用研究提供参考。     

嗜酸菌耐酸pH平衡机制及潜在应用

嗜酸菌是一类可以在极端酸性环境下生存的微生物,在生物整治以及耐热耐酸酶的提取等领域发挥着重要作用。一些嗜中性工程菌株在发酵过程中经常遇到自身环境酸化的问题,嗜酸菌独特的耐酸能力及其耐酸模块为构建耐酸能力强的嗜中性工程菌株提供了思路。因此,从细胞膜的稳定性及低渗透性,耐酸相关的能量代谢,生物大分子的修复以及胞内缓冲作用等方面对嗜酸菌的耐酸机制进行深入探讨,并展望了嗜酸菌在耐酸工程菌株合成生物学领域的作用。     

嗜中性微好氧铁氧化菌研究进展

在弱酸至近中性微氧条件下,嗜中性微好氧铁氧化菌能够通过依赖氧气的呼吸机制将二价亚铁氧化成三价铁,并获得生长所需能量。这一生物铁氧化过程的主要产物之一是无定形羟基氧化铁——一种异化铁还原作用(铁呼吸)的理想底物,故可加速铁元素在氧化还原分界层的地质循环。有关嗜中性微好氧铁氧化菌的记载可追溯到19世纪30年代,但对其生理、生态与系统发育学的研究自20世纪90年代中期才取得显著进展,主要得益于专性铁氧化菌新种、属的成功培养与分离。已知微好氧铁氧化菌广泛分布于弱酸及近中性富铁地下水、湿地和深海等环境,其参与调控的铁氧化过程对铁及其他元素(如碳、氮、磷、锰和砷等)的生物地球化学循环具有重要意义。这类古老微生物在金属成矿、地壳演变、全球气候变化及其它生源要素地球化学过程中的作用研究已逐渐受到关注,正成为地质与环境微生物学领域的研究热点。主要总结国外近15a对嗜中性微好氧铁氧化菌的研究进展,包括其代谢机理、种类和分布、生态学研究方法和技术、以及细菌铁氧化作用的实际应用和环境意义等,并对今后研究方向提出展望。     

氧化亚铁硫杆菌铁氧化系统分子生物学研究进展

氧化亚铁硫杆菌（Thiobacillus ferrooxidans,简称T.f）是目前研究最多、最具经济价值的浸矿微生物。由于该菌的能量代谢对于生物浸矿起决定作用,因此其机制的研究必然能促进对该菌生理特性的认识及其遗传改造。氧化亚铁硫杆菌生长方式代表了迄今所知的能够进行生长的热力学极限,可供该菌生长利用的△Eh仅有340mV,氧化Fe2+所能得到的能量很少。在 Fe2+氧化过程中,电子通过电子传递链最终传递给氧,     

葡萄糖对嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌与Acidiphilium acidophilum共培养的影响

【目的】深入了解自养的嗜酸氧化亚铁硫杆菌(Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans)与异养的Acidiphilium acidophilum之间的协同作用, 为嗜酸异养微生物在生物浸出体系和酸性矿坑水(AMD)等极端酸性环境中的生态功能研究提供基础, 并为AMD环境的修复提供参考。【方法】应用实时荧光定量PCR (RT-qPCR)及特异性引物, 定量At. ferrooxidans与Aph. acidophilum在类似自然状态下的共培养物受葡萄糖抑制时的生物量变化, 同时检测其生长过程中Fe2+氧化和pH值的变化。【结果】无论是否加入葡萄糖, 共培养对Fe2+氧化的效率均较At. ferrooxidans纯培养高。当葡萄糖浓度为5 g/L时, At. ferrooxidans纯培养失去对Fe2+的氧化能力, 而共培养仍能在100 h内将所有的Fe2+氧化完, 且加入葡萄糖越多的培养体系氧化终点的pH值也越高。在不加入葡萄糖的条件下, At. ferrooxidans 与Aph. acidophilum 数量比在100:1的数量级, 表明以这两种菌为代表的自养菌和异养菌在自然条件下生物量的比例。无论纯培养还是共培养的At. ferrooxidans数量均随葡萄糖浓度的提高而减少, 且延滞期则变长; 而异养生长的Aph. acidophilum则相反。【结论】适合进行Fe2+氧化的At. ferrooxidans与Aph. acidophilum的数量比例范围应在100:1的数量级。由于Aph. acidophilum能促进At. ferrooxidans对亚铁的氧化, 并能缓解或消除葡萄糖对At. ferrooxidans的抑制, 所以不能以加入类似于葡萄糖的有机物作为AMD环境生物修复的手段。     

极端嗜酸微生物

一般认为,极端嗜酸微生物指那些生长ｐＨ上限为３．０最适生长ｐＨ在１．０～２．５之间的微生物。它们一般分布于金属硫矿床酸性矿水、生物滤沥堆、煤矿床酸性矿水以及合硫温泉和土壤中,包括原核和真核两大类。其中原核嗜酸微生物依生长的温度范围不同又可划分成常温型、中温型和高温型３个类群。由于嗜酸微生物在低品位矿生物滤沥及煤的脱硫等方面有重要应用前景,因此受到广泛重视。１极端嗜酸微生物的多样性及主要类群在极端酸性环境中的真核生命几乎完全限于微生物。在黄石公园的温泉水体中已分离到光合作用的藻类。从其它一些地方金…     

嗜热古菌异化型硫氧化途径的研究进展

微生物参与的还原性无机硫化合物的氧化过程是硫地球化学循环的重要组成部分,也可应用于生物冶金工业及酸性矿水治理等方面。嗜热古菌是高温环境中存在的一群特殊的微生物,其所参与的异化型硫氧化途径复杂多样,涉及众多氧化还原酶以及硫转运蛋白。本文将结合我们的研究工作,就参与异化型硫氧化代谢过程的嗜热古菌的种类,以及它们所参与的硫氧化过程进行系统的介绍。     

Ecological and evolutionary physiology of desert birds: a progress report

The adaptive significance of mechanisms of energy and water conservation among species of desert rodents, which avoid temperature extremes by remaining within a burrow during the day, is well established. Conventional wisdom holds that arid-zone birds, diurnal organisms that endure the brunt of their environment, occupy these desert climates because of the possession of physiological design features common to all within the class Aves. We review studies that show that desert birds may have evolved specific features to deal with hot desert conditions including: a reduced basal metabolic rate (BMR) and field metabolic rate (FMR), and lower total evaporative water loss (TEWL) and water turnover (WTO).Previous work on the comparative physiology of desert birds relied primarily on information gathered on species from the deserts of the southwestern U.S., which are semi-arid habitats of recent geologic origin. We include data on species from Old World deserts, which are geologically older than those in the New World, and place physiological responses along an aridity axis that includes mesic, semi-arid, arid, and hyperarid environments.The physiological differences between desert and mesic birds that we have identified using the comparative method could arise as a result of acclimation to different environments, of genetic change mediated by selection, or both. We present data on the flexibility of BMR and TEWL in Hoopoe Larks that suggest that phenotypic adjustments in these variables can be substantial. Finally, we suggest that linkages between the physiology of individual organism and its life-history are fundamental to the understanding of life-history evolution.     

Elemental and stable isotope composition of Pinus halepensis foliage along a metal(loid) polluted gradient: implications for phytomanagement of mine tailings in semiarid areas

Background and aims

Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) is a widely used species for restoring degraded semiarid areas, but its use for the revegetation of metal(loid) polluted soils has not been thoroughly investigated. The main goal of this research was to study the ecophysiological status and elemental composition of spontaneous populations of Pinus halepensis growing on mine tailings to assess their use in phytomanagement of mine spoils in semiarid climates.

Methods

Edaphic characteristics and the physiological (by stable isotopes) and nutritional status of pine trees were determined on mine tailings, in the metalloid-polluted surroundings and a non-polluted control area.

Results

Low soil phosphorus availability at the tailings was found to be a more important limiting factor for pine physiological performance than high soil metal(lloid)s concentrations. Foliar phosphorus concentrations showed a strong negative correlation with foliar sulphur concentrations along the studied transect. The carbon and oxygen isotopic composition (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) of pine needles indicated that trees at the tailings were less water stressed than those in surroundings or control areas. The low foliar δ¹⁵N of pines growing at the tailings was due to low soil fertility and/or a heavy reliance on symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi for nitrogen uptake.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that Pinus halepensis is a suitable tree species for the phytostablisation of neutral or slightly-alkaline mining wastes in semiarid environments, thanks to its drought hardiness and good adaptation to low soil fertility and salinity.     

Growth response of native shrubs to acid mine spoil and to proposed soil amendments

Successful reclamation of acid mine sites may be enhanced by revegetating with species that are tolerant to acid mine spoil conditions. This study was conducted to assess the response of four native shrub species, Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt., Symphoricarpos albus (L.) Blake, Berberis repens Lindl., and Ceanothus sanguineus Pursh, to 1) pyritic acid mine spoil amended with various levels of lime and composted sewage sludge with added ammonium nitrate (CSS+N) and 2) acidified granitic spoil, with and without CSS+N. Species responded to soil acidity and nutrient supply similarly in both spoil materials. Berberis and Amelanchier exhibited acid soil tolerance, Symphoricarpos grew poorly in acidic soils but had low mortality, and Ceanothus responded to low pH with very poor growth, high mortality, or both. Amelanchier was conservative in growth and did not respond to either soil pH or nutrient supply with significant differences in biomass accumulation. Symphoricarpos varied in response to CSS+N but was most productive at neutral or higher pH. Berberis responded to nutrient availability with substantial increases in biomass production, including significant growth in strongly acidic spoil. Ceanothus responded to nutrient availability with large increases in biomass and was most productive with added CSS+N at neutral or higher pH. Nitrogen fixing nodules developed on the roots of Ceanothus plants grown in granitic spoil without CSS+N. The results indicated that these species differ significantly in acid soil tolerance and in their potential for growth, stress tolerance, and resource acquisition.     

新疆南准噶尔荒漠优势植物的化学成分含量特点

南准噶尔荒漠 62种植物 8种元素的含量测定结果显示 ,含量算术平均值的大小顺序为 Na>K>Ca>S>P>Al>Fe>Mn,与阿拉善荒漠植物元素含量的顺序一致。其中 ,Mn、Fe、Al、Na、S的含量变异系数比 P、K和 Ca的大。植物元素含量之间相关分析结果表明 ,Fe与 Al、S与 P、Na与 S呈极显著正相关 ,表明荒漠植物对它们的吸收是协同的 ,而 Fe与 K显著负相关 ,表明植物对它们的吸收具有拮抗作用。聚类分析和排序结果说明不同生态功能群植物都有自身的元素含量特点 ,盐生植物 Na、S含量高 ,沙生植物为高 K低 Na含量功能群植物     

The Sensitivity of Evapotranspiration to Inter-Specific Plant Neighbor Interactions: Implications for Models

Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important water loss flux in ecosystem water cycles, and quantifying the spatial and temporal variation of ET can improve ecohydrological models in arid ecosystems. Plant neighbor interactions may be a source of spatial and temporal variation in ET due to their effects on the above- and belowground microclimate and increased water demand for transpiration. Over longer timescales (annual to multiple years), adjustments in plant physiological traits may occur in response to neighbor environments, potentially affecting the transpiration (T) component of ET. We used a dynamic soil water model to assess the sensitivity of ET and T estimates to neighbor effects on soil moisture via competition for water, aboveground microclimate effects via canopy shading, and physiological adjustments (specifically, root distribution, stomatal behavior, and canopy leaf area). We focus on a common desert shrub (Larrea tridentata) under different inter-specific neighbor environments and precipitation regimes. Neighbors impacted T of Larrea by as much as 75% at the patch scale (plant and surrounding soil) and 30% at the stand scale. Annual T estimates were highly sensitive to changes in soil moisture associated with competition for water, and the inclusion of physiological adjustments to neighbor environments significantly impacted seasonal T. Plant neighbor interactions can significantly influence ET and soil moisture, and their inclusion in models can help explain spatial and temporal variation in water fluxes in arid ecosystems. Furthermore, physiological adjustments to neighbor environments may be an important source of variation to include in models that operate over seasonal timescales or in studies focused on plant responses to precipitation under climate change.     

Divergent egg physiologies in two closely related grasshopper species: Taeniopoda eques versus Romalea microptera (Orthoptera: Romaleidae)

We compared egg survivorship and egg development time at different soil moistures for two closely related grasshopper species from divergent habitats: marsh-inhabiting Romalea microptera (Beauvois) versus desert-inhabiting Taeniopoda eques (Burmeister). These two species can interbreed and produce viable offspring. In nature, both species have a similar 8-9 mo subterranean egg stage, but their soil environments differ dramatically in water content. We predicted that the eggs of the two species would exhibit differential survivorship and development times under different moisture levels. Our laboratory results show that the eggs of both species survived a wide range of soil moistures (≈ 0.5 to 90%), maintained for 3 mo. However, the eggs of the marsh grasshopper, R. microptera, better tolerated the highest soil moistures (95 and 100%), whereas the eggs of the desert species, T. eques, better tolerated the lowest soil moistures (0.0 and 0.1%). Sixty-five percent of marsh-inhabiting R. microptera eggs, but no desert T. eques eggs, survived 3 mo submersion under water. In contrast, 49% of desert T. eques eggs, but only 3.5% of R. microptera eggs, survived after being laid into oven-dried sand and then maintained with no additional water until hatch. In the laboratory at 26 °C, the two species differed significantly in the mean length of the oviposition-to-hatch interval: 176 d for R. microptera versus 237 d for T. eques. These divergent traits presumably benefit these insects in their divergent habitats. Our results suggest the evolution of physiological divergence that is consistent with adaptations to local environments.     

荒漠生态系统鼠类对土壤和植被的扰动效应

干扰形成的斑块对荒漠生态系统时空异质性的维系和发展具有重要意义。鼠类作为生物干扰的重要代表,是荒漠生态系统斑块形成的主要来源,它们已从生理、形态、行为进化出一系列特点适应了荒漠生态系统的严酷环境,同时其挖掘、采食行为也深刻影响着荒漠生态系统的环境。本文主要从鼠类活动对土壤(包括土壤发生过程、土壤斑块的形成、土壤理化性质)和植物群落(包括物种多样性、生产力、植物种子)的扰动效应做了归纳总结,旨在阐明鼠类在荒漠生态系统中的作用。     

Photosynthetic recovery following desiccation of desert green algae (Chlorophyta) and their aquatic relatives

Recent molecular data suggest that desert green algae have evolved from freshwater ancestors at least 14 times in three major classes (Chlorophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae and Charophyceae), offering a unique opportunity to study the adaptation of photosynthetic organisms to life on land in a comparative phylogenetic framework. We examined the photorecovery of phylogenetically matched desert and aquatic algae after desiccation in darkness and under illumination. Desert algae survived desiccation for at least 4 weeks when dried in darkness, and recovered high levels of photosynthetic quantum yield within 1 h of rehydration in darkness. However, when 4 weeks of desiccation was accompanied by illumination, three of six desert taxa lost their ability to recover quantum yield during rehydration in the dark. Aquatic algae, in contrast, recovered very little during dark rehydration following even just 24 h of desiccation. Re-illuminating rehydrated algae produced a nearly complete recovery of quantum yield in all desert and two of five aquatic taxa. These contrasts provide physiological evidence that desert green algae possess mechanisms for photosynthetic recovery after desiccation distinct from those in aquatic relatives, corroborating molecular evidence that they are not happenstance, short-term visitors from aquatic environments. Photosensitivity during desiccation among desert algae further suggests that they may reside in protected microsites within crusts, and species specificity of photosensitivity suggests that disturbances physically disrupting crusts could lead to shifts or losses of taxonomic diversity within these habitats.     

Comparison of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. NIES-2104 and the freshwater Leptolyngbya boryana PCC 6306 genomes

The cyanobacterial genus Leptolyngbya is widely distributed throughout terrestrial environments and freshwater. Because environmental factors, such as oxygen level, available water content, and light intensity, vary between soil surface and water bodies, terrestrial Leptolyngbya should have genomic differences with freshwater species to adapt to a land habitat. To study the genomic features of Leptolyngbya species, we determined the complete genome sequence of the terrestrial strain Leptolyngbya sp. NIES-2104 and compared it with that of the near-complete sequence of the freshwater Leptolyngbya boryana PCC 6306. The greatest differences between these two strains were the presence or absence of a nitrogen fixation gene cluster for anaerobic nitrogen fixation and several genes for tetrapyrrole synthesis, which can operate under micro-oxic conditions. These differences might reflect differences in oxygen levels where these strains live. Both strains have the genes for trehalose biosynthesis, but only Leptolyngbya sp. NIES-2104 has genetic capacity to produce a mycosporine-like amino acid, mycosporine-glycine. Mycosporine-glycine has an antioxidant action, which may contribute to adaptation to terrestrial conditions. These features of the genomes yielded additional insights into the classification and physiological characteristics of these strains.