Phylogenetic diversity of the intestinal bacterial community in the termite Reticulitermes speratus.

The phylogenetic diversity of the intestinal microflora of a lower termite, Reticulitermes speratus, was examined by a strategy which does not rely on cultivation of the resident microorganisms. Small-subunit rRNA genes (16S rDNAs) were directly amplified from the mixed-population DNA of the termite gut by the PCR and were clonally isolated. Analysis of partial 16S rDNA sequences showed the existence of well-characterized genera as well as the presence of bacterial species for which no 16S rDNA sequence data are available. Of 55 clones sequenced, 45 were phylogenetically affiliated with four of the major groups of the domain Bacteria: the Proteobacteria, the spirochete group, the Bacteroides group, and the low-G+C-content gram-positive bacteria. Within the Proteobacteria, the 16S rDNA clones showed a close relationship to those of cultivated species of enteric bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria, while the 16S rDNA clones in the remaining three groups showed only distant relationships to those of known organisms in these groups. Of the remaining 10 clones, among which 8 clones formed a cluster, there was only very low sequence similarity to known 16S rRNA sequences. None of these clones were affiliated with any of the major groups within the domain Bacteria. The 16S rDNA gene sequence data show that the majority of the intestinal microflora of R. speratus consists of new, uncultured species previously unknown to microbiologists.     

Soil bacterial community shift correlated with change from forest to pasture vegetation in a tropical soil.

The change in vegetative cover of a Hawaiian soil from forest to pasture led to significant changes in the composition of the soil bacterial community. DNAs were extracted from both soil habitats and compared for the abundance of guanine-plus-cytosine (G+C) content, by analysis of abundance of phylotypes of small-subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) amplified from fractions with 63 and 35% G+C contents, and by phylogenetic analysis of the dominant rDNA clones in the 63% G+C content fraction. All three methods showed differences between the forest and pasture habitats, providing evidence that vegetation had a strong influence on microbial community composition at three levels of taxon resolution. The forest soil DNA had a peak in G+C content of 61%, while the DNA of the pasture soil had a peak in G+C content of 67%. None of the dominant phylotypes found in the forest soil were detected in the pasture soil. For the 63% G+C fraction SSU rDNA sequence analysis of the three most dominant members revealed that their phyla changed from Fibrobacter and Syntrophomonas assemblages in the forest soil to Burkholderia and Rhizobium-Agrobacterium assemblages in the pasture soil.     

采用未培养技术对荷斯坦奶牛瘤胃细菌多样性进行初步分析

采用未培养(Culture independent)技术直接从荷斯坦奶牛瘤胃液中提取瘤胃细菌微生物混合DNA(也叫元基因组DNA),利用细菌16SrDNA通用引物27F与1492R,扩增瘤胃混合微生物的16SrDNA,根据16SrDNA序列对瘤胃细菌多样性进行初步分析。通过16SrDNA序列同源性分析,发现有多于一半以上的序列与可培养的菌株的同源性小于90%,属于不可培养的菌株。选用45条测得序列与已知序列构建系统发育树,分析结果表明,它们分属于两大类LGCGPB(the lowG CGram positivebac teria)和CFB(Cytophaga_Flexibacter $CBacteroides group),剩下的克隆尚难确定其分类地位,可能是代表新属和种的序列,这些序列已向GenBank提交并得到序列号(AY986777_AY986791)。     

Potential bias of fungal 18S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer polymerase chain reaction primers for estimating fungal biodiversity in soil

Four fungal 18S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer pairs were tested for their specificity towards target fungal DNA in soil DNA extracts, and their ability to assess the diversity of fungal communities in a natural grassland soil was compared. Amplified PCR products were cloned, and approximately 50 clones from each library were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis and database searches indicated that each of the sequenced cloned DNA fragments was of fungal origin for each primer pair, with the exception of the sequences generated using the 18S rDNA primers nu-SSU-0817 and nu-SSU-1196, where 35 of the 50 sequenced clones represented soil invertebrates. Although some of the primers have previously been suggested to be biased towards certain fungal taxonomic groups, the ratio of sequences representing each of the four main fungal phyla, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota, was similar for each of the primer pairs, suggesting that primer bias may be less significant than previously thought. Collector's curves were plotted to estimate the coverage obtained for each of the clone libraries after clustering the sequences into operational taxonomic units at a level of 99% sequence similarity. The curves indicated that good coverage of diversity was achieved, with the exception of the clone library constructed using primers nu-SSU-0817 and nu-SSU-1196, on account of the high number of non-fungal sequences obtained. The work demonstrates the usefulness of 18S rDNA and ITS PCR primers for assessing fungal diversity in environmental samples, and it also highlights some potential limitations of the approach with respect to PCR primer specificity and bias.     

Molecular analysis of bacterial community structure and diversity in unimproved and improved upland grass pastures

Bacterial community structure and diversity in rhizospheres in two types of grassland, distinguished by both plant species and fertilization regimen, were assessed by performing a 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence analysis of DNAs extracted from triplicate soil plots. PCR products were cloned, and 45 to 48 clones from each of the six libraries were partially sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the resultant 275 clone sequences indicated that there was considerable variation in abundance in replicate unfertilized, unimproved soil samples and fertilized, improved soil samples but that there were no significant differences in the abundance of any phylogenetic group. Several clone sequences were identical in the 16S rDNA region analyzed, and the clones comprised eight pairs of duplicate clones and two sets of triplicate clones. Many clones were found to be most closely related to environmental clones obtained in other studies, although three clones were found to be identical to culturable species in databases. The clones were clustered into operational taxonomic units at a level of sequence similarity of >97% in order to quantify diversity. In all, 34 clusters containing two or more sequences were identified, and the largest group contained nine clones. A number of diversity, dominance, and evenness indices were calculated, and they all indicated that diversity was high, reflecting the low coverage of rDNA libraries achieved. Differences in diversity between sample types were not observed. Collector's curves, however, indicated that there were differences in the underlying community structures; in particular, there was reduced diversity of organisms of the alpha subdivision of the class Proteobacteria (alpha-proteobacteria) in improved soils.     

Comparison of bacterial diversity along the human intestinal tract by direct cloning and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes

Bacterial diversity of the mucosal biopsies from human jejunum, distal ileum, ascending colon and rectum were compared by analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA clone libraries. A total of 347 clones from the mucosal biopsies were partially sequenced and assigned to six phylogenetic phyla of the domain Bacteria: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, and Actinobacteria. The jejunum sample had least microbial diversity compared to the other samples and a trend towards highest diversity in ascending colon was observed. The clone libraries of distal ileum, ascending colon and rectum were not significantly different from each other (P>0.0043), but they differed significantly from the jejunum library (P=0.001). The population of sequences retrieved from jejunal biopsies was dominated by sequences closely related to Streptococcus (67%), while the population of sequences derived from distal ileum, ascending colon and rectum were dominated by sequences affiliated with Bacteroidetes (27-49%), and Clostridium clusters XIVa (20-34%) and IV (7-13%). The results indicate that the microbial community in jejunum is different from those in distal ileum, ascending colon and rectum, and that the major phylogenetic groups are similar from distal ileum to rectum.     

Bacterial and fungal biodeterioration of discolored building paints in Lagos,Nigeria

Microbial induced discolorations are an unsightly feature occurring on painted walls in Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria. Very few studies have been carried out conventionally about the microbial community structure of discolored painted walls in Nigeria therefore, knowledge of the true microbial diversity is elusive. To further our understanding of the phylogenetic diversity of representative microbial community on 40 discolored and three clean-looking buildings, a comparative DNA sequence analysis of 16S rDNA genes was undertaken. Following DNA extraction, portions of the rDNA genes were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Resulting sequences were compared with GenBank data base sequences. Fifteen unique fungal sequences and one bacterial sequence were obtained. Majority (37.50%) of rDNA sequences analyzed, represent the genus Meyerozyma of which the novel fungus Meyerozyma guilliermondii, which to our knowledge, has not yet been implicated in painted walls was detected. Clones from the discolored painted wall isolates also produced a data set in which 31.25% of sequences were related to Fusarium proliferatum and 6.25% were Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The remaining sequences clustered with members of the genera Candida (6.25%), Aspergillus (12.5%) and Cerrena (6.25%). The study provides reliable data on microbial communities on painted walls and information for paint biocide formulation.     

昆明盐矿古老岩盐沉积中的原核生物多样性

应用PCR-DGGE和rRNA分析法研究了昆明盐矿古老岩盐沉积中的原核生物多样性。样品的细菌DGGE分析得到27条带,古菌得到18条带。样品与纯培养得到的19个属菌株的DGGE图谱对比分析发现,细菌18个属菌株,只有1个属菌株与样品中的1条带迁移位置都不一致;古菌1个属的菌株不与样品中任何条带迁移位置一致。表明纯培养所得菌株并非该环境中的优势类群。同时,建立了样品细菌和古菌的16S rDNA克隆文库,从中分别挑取36个细菌克隆和20个古菌克隆进行ARDRA分析。细菌可分为10个OTUs,其中3个OTUs是优势类群,分别占38.9%,25.0%,16.7%,其余7个OTUs各含有1个克隆。古菌分为8个OTUs,没有明显的优势类群。每个OTU的代表克隆16S rDNA序列分析表明,细菌分属3大类群:α-Proteobacteria,γ-Proteobacteria和Actinobacteria,以Pseudomonas属菌为优势,含有其它岩盐沉积中没有发现的Actinobacteria。古菌主要是Halorubrum属、Haloterrigena属菌和未培养古菌。本研究表明,昆明盐矿古老岩盐沉积具有较丰富的原核生物多样性,含有大量未知的、未培养或不可培养的原核生物,但在原核生物物种组成和丰度上,免培养与此前的纯培养研究结果存在一定差异。因此,结合使用两类方法才能较全面地认识高盐极端环境微生物的多样性。     

八门湾红树林土壤芽胞杆菌分离与多样性分析

【目的】了解八门湾红树林海漆林区土壤中可培养芽胞杆菌资源的多样性。【方法】采用水浴处理与直接涂布相结合的方法选择性分离土壤中的芽胞杆菌;利用16S rDNA PCR-RFLP与16S rDNA序列分析技术研究可培养芽胞杆菌资源的遗传多样性和系统发育关系。【结果】16S rDNA PCR-RFLP酶切图谱UPGMA聚类分析表明,在100%的相似性水平上,分离的155株芽胞杆菌分属21个遗传类群,显示了较为丰富的遗传多样性;由21种遗传类型代表菌株的16S rDNA序列分析结果得知,这些芽胞杆菌主要分布在Bacillaceae和Paenibacillaceae科下的Bacillus、Halobacillus、Virgibacillus和Paenibacillus 4个属,其中Bacillus为优势属;有8株芽胞杆菌的16S rDNA序列与数据库中相应模式菌株的最大相似性在95.1%-99.0%之间。【结论】八门湾红树林土壤可培养芽胞杆菌有着较为丰富的遗传多样性,并存在新的芽胞杆菌物种资源。     

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.     

Novel bacterial and archaeal lineages from an in situ growth chamber deployed at a Mid-Atlantic Ridge hydrothermal vent

The phylogenetic diversity was determined for a microbial community obtained from an in situ growth chamber placed on a deep-sea hydrothermal vent on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (23 degrees 22' N, 44 degrees 57' W). The chamber was deployed for 5 days, and the temperature within the chamber gradually decreased from 70 to 20 degrees C. Upon retrieval of the chamber, the DNA was extracted and the small-subunit rRNA genes (16S rDNA) were amplified by PCR using primers specific for the Archaea or Bacteria domain and cloned. Unique rDNA sequences were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphisms, and 38 different archaeal and bacterial phylotypes were identified from the 85 clones screened. The majority of the archaeal sequences were affiliated with the Thermococcales (71%) and Archaeoglobales (22%) orders. A sequence belonging to the Thermoplasmales confirms that thermoacidophiles may have escaped enrichment culturing attempts of deep-sea hydrothermal vent samples. Additional sequences that represented deeply rooted lineages in the low-temperature eurarchaeal (marine group II) and crenarchaeal clades were obtained. The majority of the bacterial sequences obtained were restricted to the Aquificales (18%), the epsilon subclass of the Proteobacteria (epsilon-Proteobacteria) (40%), and the genus Desulfurobacterium (25%). Most of the clones (28%) were confined to a monophyletic clade within the epsilon-Proteobacteria with no known close relatives. The prevalence of clones related to thermophilic microbes that use hydrogen as an electron donor and sulfur compounds (S(0), SO(4), thiosulfate) indicates the importance of hydrogen oxidation and sulfur metabolism at deep-sea hydrothermal vents. The presence of sequences that are related to sequences from hyperthermophiles, moderate thermophiles, and mesophiles suggests that the diversity obtained from this analysis may reflect the microbial succession that occurred in response to the shift in temperature and possible associated changes in the chemistry of the hydrothermal fluid.     

High 16S rDNA bacterial diversity in glacial meltwater lake sediment,Bratina Island,Antarctica

The microbial diversity in maritime meltwater pond sediments from Bratina Island, Ross Sea, Antarctica was investigated by 16S rDNA-dependent molecular phylogeny. Investigations of the vertical distribution, phylogenetic composition, and spatial variability of Bacteria and Archaea in the sediment were carried out. Results revealed the presence of a highly diverse bacterial population and a significantly depth-related composition. Assessment of 173 partial 16S rDNA clones analyzed by amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) using tetrameric restriction enzymes (HinP1I 5'G/CGC3'and Msp I. 5'C/CGG3', BioLabs) revealed 153 different bacterial OTUs (operational taxonomic units). However, only seven archaeal OTUs were detected, indicating low archaeal diversity. Based on ARDRA results, 30 bacterial clones were selected for sequencing and the sequenced clones fell into seven major lineages of the domain Bacteria; the alpha, gamma, and delta subdivisions of Proteobacteria, the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides, the Spirochaetaceae, and the Actinobacteria. All of the archaeal clones sequenced belonged to the group Crenarchaeota and phylogenetic analysis revealed close relationships with members of the deep-branching Group 1 Marine Archaea.     

Diverse uncultivated bacterial groups from soils of the arid southwestern United States that are present in many geographic regions.

We have performed a phylogenetic survey of microbial species present in two soils from northern Arizona. Microbial DNA was purified directly from soil samples and subjected to PCR amplification with primers specific for bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences (rDNAs). Clone libraries from the two soils were constructed, and 60 clone inserts were partially sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences revealed extensive diversity. Most of the analyzed sequences (64%) fell into five novel clusters having no known cultured members. Extensive analysis of 10 nearly full-length rDNAs from clones representative of the novel groups indicated that four of the five groups probably cluster into a large "supergroup" which is as distinct from currently recognized bacterial divisions as the latter are from each other. From this we postulate the existence of a major bacterial lineage, previously known only from a single cultured representative, whose diversity and ecology we are only beginning to explore. Analysis of our data and that from other rDNA sequence-based studies of soils from different geographic regions shows considerable overlap of sequence types. Taken together, these groups encompass most of the novel rDNA sequences recovered in each comparable analysis reported to date, despite large differences in soil types and geographic sources. Our results indicate that members of these new groups comprise a phylogenetically diverse, geographically widespread, and perhaps numerically important component of the soil microbiota.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the human gut microbiota using 16S rDNA clone libraries and strictly anaerobic culture-based methods

The human gut microbiota from three healthy subjects were compared by the use of a sequence analysis of 16S rDNA libraries and a culture-based method. Direct counts ranged from 1.9 X 10" to 4.0 X 10" cells/g (wet weight), and plate counts totaled 6.6 X 10(10) to 1.2 X 10(11) CFU/g (wet weight). Sixty to seventy percent of the bacteria in the human intestinal tract cannot be cultured with currently available methods. The 16S rDNA libraries from three subjects were generated from total community DNA in the intestinal tract with universal primer sets. Randomly selected clones were partially sequenced. All purified colonies detected from the surface of the agar plate were used for a partial sequencing of 16S rDNA. On the basis of sequence similarities, the clones and colonies were classified into several clusters corresponding to the major phylum of the domain Bacteria. Among a total of 744 clones obtained, approximately 25% of them belonged to 31 known species. About 75% of the remaining clones were novel "phylotypes" (at least 98% similarity of clone sequence). The predominant intestinal microbial community consisted of 130 species or phylotypes according to the sequence data in this study. The 16S rDNA libraries and colonies included the Bacteroides group, Streptococcus group, Bifidobacterium group, and Clostridium rRNA clusters IV, IX, XIVa, and XVIII. Moreover, several previously uncharacterized and uncultured microorganisms were recognized in clone libraries and colonies. Our results also showed marked individual differences in the composition of intestinal microbiota.     

Phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial communities in marine sediments.

For the phylogenetic analysis of microbial communities present in environmental samples microbial DNA can be extracted from the sample, 16S rDNA can be amplified with suitable primers and the PCR, and clonal libraries can be constructed. We report a protocol that can be used for efficient cell lysis and recovery of DNA from marine sediments. Key steps in this procedure include the use of a bead mill homogenizer for matrix disruption and uniform cell lysis and then purification of the released DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis. For sediments collected from two sites in Puget Sound, over 96% of the cells present were lysed. Our method yields high-molecular-weight DNA that is suitable for molecular studies, including amplification of 16S rRNA genes. The DNA yield was 47 micrograms per g (dry weight) for sediments collected from creosote-contaminated Eagle Harbor, Wash. Primers were selected for the PCR amplification of (eu)bacterial 16S rDNA that contained linkers with unique 8-base restriction sites for directional cloning. Examination of 22 16S rDNA clones showed that the surficial sediments in Eagle Harbor contained a phylogenetically diverse population of organisms from the Bacteria domain (G. J. Olsen, C. R. Woese, and R. Overbeek, J. Bacteriol. 176:1-6, 1994) with members of six major lineages represented: alpha, delta, and gamma Proteobacteria; the gram-positive high G+C content subdivision; clostridia and related organisms; and planctomyces and related organisms. None of the clones were identical to any representatives in the Ribosomal Database Project small subunit RNA database. The analysis of clonal representives in the first report using molecular techniques to determine the phylogenetic composition of the (eu)bacterial community present in coastal marine sediments.     

Prokaryotic diversity in Zostera noltii-colonized marine sediments

The diversity of microorganisms present in a sediment colonized by the phanerogam Zostera noltii has been analyzed. Microbial DNA was extracted and used for constructing two 16S rDNA clone libraries for Bacteria and Archaea. Bacterial diversity was very high in these samples, since 57 different sequences were found among the 60 clones analyzed. Eight major lineages of the Domain Bacteria were represented in the library. The most frequently retrieved bacterial group (36% of the clones) was delta-Proteobacteria related to sulfate-reducing bacteria. The second most abundant group (27%) was gamma-Proteobacteria, including five clones closely related to S-oxidizing endosymbionts. The archaeal clone library included members of Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota, with nine different sequences among the 15 analyzed clones, indicating less diversity when compared to the Bacteria organisms. None of these sequences was closely related to cultured Archaea organisms.     

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。     

Molecular phylogenetic diversity of bacteria and its spatial distribution in composts

AIMS: To investigate microbial diversity of swine manure composts in the initial stage and the spatial distribution due to gradient effect. METHODS AND RESULTS: Samples in different locations of a composting pile were taken and analysed by using a culture-independent approach. Total community DNA was extracted and bacterial 16S rRNA genes were subsequently amplified, cloned, restriction fragment length polymorphism-screened and sequenced. Thirty-three unique sequence types were found among the 110 analysed positive clones from superstratum sample; 56 among 122 from middle-level sample and 32 among 114 from substrate sample, respectively. The sequences related to Clostridium sp. were most common in the composts. One hundred and thirteen out of 121 16S rDNA sequence types displayed homology with those in the GenBank database. Seven 16S rDNA sequence types were not closely related to any known species. The middle-level sample had the highest microbial diversity, containing unique sequences related to Lactosphaera pasteurii, Firmicutes sp., Aerococcus sp., Megasphaera sp. and Stenotrophomonas sp. CONCLUSIONS: Pile temperature significantly affected microbial community in the initial stage of the composting. Microbial community in different locations is quite different resulting from gradient effect. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Results of this study reveal high bacterial diversity in manure composts, and provide molecular evidence to support gradient effect on microbial diversity in initial stage as well.     

Genetic diversity of soil microorganisms assessed by analysis ofhsp70 (dnaK) sequences

The genetic diversity of a soil microbial community was assessed by analysis of clonedhsp70 sequences. A clone library was generated by polymerase chain reaction-mediated amplification of a 650-base pair fragment of thehsp70 gene, using DNA extracted from soil, without culturing the microorganisms. Fifty-five random clones were sequenced and their amino acid sequences deduced. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of the clones revealed the presence of signature sequences in common with known prokaryotic and lower eukaryotic HSP70 homologs. None of the 55 analyzed sequences were identical to each other or to a published sequence. These results confirm the presence of considerable genetic diversity within soil microbial communities, the major proportion of which remains uncharacterized.     

Soil microbial community structure across a thermal gradient following a geothermal heating event

In this study microbial species diversity was assessed across a landscape in Yellowstone National Park, where an abrupt increase in soil temperature had occurred due to recent geothermal activity. Soil temperatures were measured, and samples were taken across a temperature gradient (35 to 65 degrees C at a 15-cm depth) that spanned geothermally disturbed and unimpacted soils; thermally perturbed soils were visually apparent by the occurrence of dead or dying lodgepole pine trees. Changes in soil microbial diversity across the temperature gradient were qualitatively assessed based on 16S rRNA sequence variation as detected by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) using both ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and rRNA as PCR templates and primers specific for the Bacteria or Archaea domain. The impact of the major heating disturbance was apparent in that DGGE profiles from heated soils appeared less complex than those from the unaffected soils. Phylogenetic analysis of a bacterial 16S rDNA PCR clone library from a recently heated soil showed that a majority of the clones belonged to the Acidobacterium (51%) and Planctomyces (18%) divisions. Agar plate counts of soil suspensions cultured on dilute yeast extract and R2A agar media incubated at 25 or 50 degrees C revealed that thermophile populations were two to three orders of magnitude greater in the recently heated soil. A soil microcosm laboratory experiment simulated the geothermal heating event. As determined by both RNA- and DNA-based PCR coupled with DGGE, changes in community structure (marked change in the DGGE profile) of soils incubated at 50 degrees C occurred within 1 week and appeared to stabilize after 3 weeks. The results of our molecular and culture data suggest that thermophiles or thermotolerant species are randomly distributed in this area within Yellowstone National Park and that localized thermal activity selects for them.