Xiaotong Peng

GeoChip-based analysis of metabolic diversity of microbial communities at the Juan de Fuca Ridge hydrothermal vent

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are one of the most unique and fascinating ecosystems on Earth. Although phylogenetic diversity of vent communities has been extensively examined, their physiological diversity is poorly understood. In this study, a GeoChip-based, high-throughput metagenomics technology revealed dramatic differences in microbial metabolic functions in a newly grown protochimney (inner section, Proto-I; outer section, Proto-O) and the outer section of a mature chimney (4143-1) at the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Very limited numbers of functional genes were detected in Proto-I (113 genes), whereas much higher numbers of genes were detected in Proto-O (504 genes) and 4143-1 (5,414 genes). Microbial functional genes/populations in Proto-O and Proto-I were substantially different (around 1% common genes), suggesting a rapid change in the microbial community composition during the growth of the chimney. Previously retrieved cbbL and cbbM genes involved in the Calvin Benson Bassham (CBB) cycle from deep-sea hydrothermal vents were predominant in Proto-O and 4143-1, whereas photosynthetic green-like cbbL genes were the major components in Proto-I. In addition, genes involved in methanogenesis, aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidation (e.g., ANME1 and ANME2), nitrification, denitrification, sulfate reduction, degradation of complex carbon substrates, and metal resistance were also detected. Clone libraries supported the GeoChip results but were less effective than the microarray in delineating microbial populations of low biomass. Overall, these results suggest that the hydrothermal microbial communities are metabolically and physiologically highly diverse, and the communities appear to be undergoing rapid dynamic succession and adaptation in response to the steep temperature and chemical gradients across the chimney.

Microbial diversity of a sulfide black smoker in main endeavour hydrothermal vent field, Juan de Fuca Ridge

Submarine hydrothermal vents are among the least-understood habitats on Earth but have been the intense focus of research in the past 30 years. An active hydrothermal sulfide chimney collected from the Dudley site in the Main Endeavour vent Field (MEF) of Juan de Fuca Ridge was investigated using mineralogical and molecular approaches. Mineral analysis indicated that the chimney was composed mainly of Fe-, Zn-and Cu-rich sulfides. According to phylogenetic analysis, within the Crenarchaeota, clones of the order Desulfurococcales predominated, comprising nearly 50% of archaeal clones. Euryarchaeota were composed mainly of clones belonging to Thermococcales and deep-sea hydrothermal vent Euryarchaeota (DHVE), each of which accounted for about 20% of all clones. Thermophilic or hyperthermophilic physiologies were common to the predominant archaeal groups. More than half of bacterial clones belonged to ɛ-Proteobacteria, which confirmed their prevalence in hydrothermal vent environments. Clones of Proteobacteria (γ-, δ-, β-), Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides (CFB) and Deinococcus-Thermus occurred as well. It was remarkable that methanogens and methanotrophs were not detected in our 16S rRNA gene library. Our results indicated that sulfur-related metabolism, which included sulfur-reducing activity carried out by thermophilic archaea and sulfur-oxidizing by mesophilic bacteria, was common and crucial to the vent ecosystem in Dudley hydrothermal site.

Microbial diversity and biomineralization in low-temperature hydrothermal iron–silica-rich precipitates of the Lau Basin hydrothermal field

Iron-silica-rich low-temperature hydrothermal precipitates were collected from the CDE hydrothermal field located at the East Lau Spreading Center. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the precipitates were dominated by the members of α-proteobacteria and marine group I archaea. Ultrastructural analysis suggested the bacteriogenic origin of the iron-silica-rich deposits. Distinctive biosignatures detected included straight filaments, helical stalks and curved irregular filaments, which were similar in appearance to those structures excreted by the known iron-oxidizing genera Leptothrix spp., Gallionella spp. and Mariprofundus spp. 16S rRNA gene analysis confirmed the presence of neutrophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria with the detection of phylotypes clustering with Gallionella spp. and the proposed ζ-proteobacteria class. Mineralogy and bulk geochemical analyses showed that the precipitates were dominated by amorphous silica with low amounts of iron. Based on microbiological, geochemical and mineralogical analyses, we conclude that silicification was a common process and microbial cells and related ultrastructures likely acted as nucleation templates for silica precipitation in the CDE hydrothermal field.

Bacteria diversity, distribution and insight into their role in S and Fe biogeochemical cycling during black shale weathering

A group of black shale samples, which were collected sequentially along a continuous depositional unit from bottom fresh zone toward the surface regolith of the weathering profile at Chengkou County, Southwest China, were examined using mineralogical, geochemical and pyrosequencing techniques. The mineralogical and geochemical analyses indicated that the black shale profile provided a series of extremely acidic and chemical species that changed microbial habitats following the process of weathering. This finding is in contrast with a previous hypothesis that a low-diversity bacterial community existed in these harsh environments; the pyrosequencing analyses showed extremely diverse microbial communities with 33 different phyla/groups in these samples. Among these phyla/groups, proteobacteria, actinobacteria and firmcutes were more dominant than other phyla, and the phylogenetic structures of the bacterial communities vary with the progressive process of weathering. Moreover, the canonical-correlation analysis suggested that pH and sulfur in sulfate, followed by total Fe and sulfur in pyrite, are the significant factors that shape the microbial community structure. In addition, a large proportion of S- and Fe-related bacteria, such as Acidithiobacillus, Sulfobacillus, Thiobacillus, Ferrimicrobium and Ferrithrix, may be responsible for pyrite bio-oxidation, as well as for S and Fe biogeochemical cycling, in the black shale weathering environments.

Profiling microbial community structures across six large oilfields in China and the potential role of dominant microorganisms in bioremediation

Successful bioremediation of oil pollution is based on a comprehensive understanding of the in situ physicochemical conditions and indigenous microbial communities as well as the interaction between microorganisms and geochemical variables. Nineteen oil-contaminated soil samples and five uncontaminated controls were taken from six major oilfields across different geoclimatic regions in China to investigate the spatial distribution of the microbial ecosystem. Microbial community analysis revealed remarkable variation in microbial diversity between oil-contaminated soils taken from different oilfields. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) further demonstrated that a suite of in situ geochemical parameters, including soil moisture and sulfate concentrations, were among the factors that influenced the overall microbial community structure and composition. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the vast majority of sequences were related to the genera Arthrobacter, Dietzia, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, and Marinobacter, many of which contain known oil-degrading or oil-emulsifying species. Remarkably, a number of archaeal genera including Halalkalicoccus, Natronomonas, Haloterrigena, and Natrinema were found in relatively high abundance in some of the oil-contaminated soil samples, indicating that these Euryarchaeota may play an important ecological role in some oil-contaminated soils. This study offers a direct and reliable reference of the diversity of the microbial community in various oil-contaminated soils and may influence strategies for in situ bioremediation of oil pollution.

Ultrastructural evidence for iron accumulation within the tube of Vestimentiferan Ridgeia piscesae

This study reports on the accumulation of iron within the tube wall of the deep sea vent macro invertebrate Vestimentiferan Ridgeia piscesae collected from Juan de Fuca ridge. Combining an array of approaches including environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM), electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA), X-ray microanalysis (EDS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), we provide evidences for the influence of prokaryotic organisms on the accumulation of metals on and within the tube wall. Two types of iron-rich minerals such as iron oxides and framboidal pyrites are identified within or on the tube wall. Our results reveal the presence of prokaryotic organism is apparently responsible for the early accumulation of iron-rich minerals in the tube wall. The implications of the biomineralisation of iron in tube wall at hydrothermal vents are discussed.

Microbial Communities in Semi-consolidated Carbonate Sediments of the Southwest Indian Ridge §

White semi-consolidated carbonate sediments attached to black ferromanganese oxide films were collected approximately 50 km west of a newly discovered hydrothermal field near the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR). The biodiversity of the prokaryotic communities within the field was examined using clone library-based culture-independent analysis of the exterior black oxides and the interior white carbonates. Subsequent 16S rRNA gene analysis suggested that Gamma-proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Thaumarchaeota members dominated the bacterial and archaeal clone libraries. To further characterize the metabolic processes within the microbial community, analyses of the amoA (coding the alpha subunit of the ammonia monooxygenase for Archaea) and aprA (coding the alpha subunit of the dissimilatory adenosine-5′-phosphosulfate reductase for the sulfate-reducing and sulfur-oxidizing prokaryotes) functional genes were conducted. The functional gene analysis results suggested that Thaumarchaeota and Alphaproteobacteria members were the potential players that participated in N and S cycles in this marine carbonate sedimentary environment. This paper is the first to describe the microbial communities and their potential metabolic pathways within the semi-consolidated carbonate sediments of the SWIR.

Microbial Distribution in a Hydrothermal Plume of the Southwest Indian Ridge

abstract Hydrothermal plumes are widely distributed throughout the global spreading ridges, yet few of them are microbiologically explored. The ultraslow-spreading ridges, recently recognized as a unique, new class of mid-ocean-ridge system, have provided surprises and new insights in hydrothermal system research. A suite of water column samples including both hydrothermal plume samples and ambient seawater were collected at different depths from the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) in 2010. We use molecular approaches such as clone libraries, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and quantitative PCR to determine microbial community compositions and their spatial variability within the hydrothermal plume and seawater. Phylogenetic analysis showed that plume samples were mainly dominated by members of α-Proteobacteria and γ-Proteobacteria and members of marine group I group within the Crenarchaeota. Within the hydrothermal plume, archaeal populations were spatially homogeneous, while bacterial compositions were heterogeneous and remarkably distinct at different depths. Moreover, several lineages, closely related to known Mn(II) oxidizers were found to be abundant and even predominant within the plume bacterial communities. DGGE band patterns showed that there was no significant difference in microbial compositions between the samples of hydrothermal plume and ambient seawater. Taken together, we inferred that microbial communities in the SWIR hydrothermal plumes were sourced from ambient seawater rather than from seafloor vent-derived niches. This is the first report on the characteristics of microbial community structures in hydrothermal plume and ambient seawater in the Southwest Indian Ridge.

Rates of bacterial sulfate reduction and their response to experimental temperature changes in coastal sediments of Qi'ao Island, Zhujiang River Estuary in China

Subtropical sediment cores (QA09-1 and QA12-9) from the coastal zone of Qi’ao Island in the Zhujiang River Estuary were used to determine the rates of sulfate reduction and their response to experimental temperature changes. The depth distribution of the sulfate reduction rates was measured from whole-core incubations with radioactive tracer 35SO42−, and peaks of 181.19 nmol/(cm3·d) and 107.49 nmol/(cm3·d) were exhibited at stations QA09-1 and QA12-9, respectively. The profiles of the pore water methane and sulfate concentrations demonstrated that anaerobic oxidation of methane occurred in the study area, which resulted in an increase in the sulfate reduction rate at the base of the sulfate-reducing zone. Meanwhile, the sulfate concentration was not a major limiting factor for controlling the rates of sulfate reduction. In addition, the incubation of the sediment slurries in a block with a temperature gradient showed that the optimum temperature for the sulfate reduction reaction was 36°C. The Arrhenius plot was linear from the lowest temperature to the optimum temperature, and the activation energy was at the lower end of the range of previously reported values. The results suggested that the ambient temperature regime of marine environments probably selected for the microbial population with the best-suited physiology for the respective environment.

Linking Microbial Community Structure to S, N and Fe Biogeochemical Cycling in the Hot Springs at the Tengchong Geothermal Fields, Southwest China

Sediment and water samples collected from one acidic and three alkaline high temperature hot springs at the Tengchong terrestrial geothermal field, Southwest China, were examined using mineralogical, geochemical, and molecular biological techniques. The mineralogical and geochemical analyses suggested that these hot springs contained relatively high concentrations of S, Fe and N chemical species. Specifically, the acidic water was rich in Fe2+, SO42− and NH4+, while the alkaline waters were high in NO3−, H2S and S2O3−. Analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed their bacterial communities were dominated by phyla Aquificae, Cyanobacteria, Deinococci-Thermus, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Thermodesulfobacteria, while the archaeal clone libraries were dominated by orders Desulfurococcales, Sulfolobales, and Thermoproteales. Potential S-, N- and Fe-metabolizing prokaryotes were present at a relatively high proportion, but with large differences in the diversity and metabolic functions of each sample. These findings provide implications for uncovering microbial functions in elemental biogeochemical cycles within the Tengchong geothermal environments: i). the distinct differences in abundance and diversity of microbial communities in geothermal sediments were related to different in situ physicochemical conditions; ii). the S-, N- and Fe-related prokaryotes would take advantage of the strong chemical disequilibria in the hot springs; and iii). in return, their metabolic activities could promote the transformation of the S, Fe and N chemical species, thereby forming the basis of biogeochemical cycles in the terrestrial geothermal environments.