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Changes in microbial community composition and geochemistry during uranium and technetium bioimmobilization.

ABSTRACT: In a previous column study, we investigated the long-term impact of ethanol additions on U and Tc mobility in groundwater (M. M. Michalsen et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 40:7048-7053, 2006). Ethanol additions stimulated iron- and sulfate-reducing conditions and significantly enhanced U and Tc removal from groundwater compared to an identical column that received no ethanol additions (control). Here we present the results of a combined signature lipid and nucleic acid-based microbial community characterization in sediments collected from along the ethanol-stimulated and control column flow paths. Phospholipid fatty acid analysis showed both an increase in microbial biomass (approximately 2 orders of magnitude) and decreased ratios of cyclopropane to monoenoic precursor fatty acids in the stimulated column compared to the control, which is consistent with electron donor limitation in the control. Spatial shifts in microbial community composition were identified by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis as well as by quantitative PCR, which showed that Geobacteraceae increased significantly near the stimulated-column outlet, where soluble electron acceptors were largely depleted. Clone libraries of 16S rRNA genes from selected flow path locations in the stimulated column showed that Proteobacteria were dominant near the inlet (46 to 52%), while members of candidate division OP11 were dominant near the outlet (67%). Redundancy analysis revealed a highly significant difference (P = 0.0003) between microbial community compositions within stimulated and control sediments, with geochemical variables explaining 68% of the variance in community composition on the first two canonical axes.

SUBMITTER: Michalsen MM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2074911 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Changes in microbial community composition and geochemistry during uranium and technetium bioimmobilization.

Michalsen Mandy M MM Peacock Aaron D AD Spain Anne M AM Smithgal Amanda N AN White David C DC Sanchez-Rosario Yamil Y Krumholz Lee R LR Istok Jonathan D JD

Applied and environmental microbiology 20070713 18

In a previous column study, we investigated the long-term impact of ethanol additions on U and Tc mobility in groundwater (M. M. Michalsen et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. 40:7048-7053, 2006). Ethanol additions stimulated iron- and sulfate-reducing conditions and significantly enhanced U and Tc removal from groundwater compared to an identical column that received no ethanol additions (control). Here we present the results of a combined signature lipid and nucleic acid-based microbial community ch ...[more]

PMID: 17630297

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Project description:Terrestrial serpentinizing systems allow us insight into the realm of alkaliphilic microbial communities driven by geology in a way that is frequently more accessible than their deep subsurface or marine counterparts. However, these systems are also marked by geochemical and microbial community variation due to the interactions of serpentinized fluids with host geology and the surface environment. To separate the transient from the endemic microbes in a hyperalkaline environment, we assessed the Ney Springs terrestrial serpentinizing system microbial community and geochemistry at six time points over the span of a year. Using 16S rRNA gene surveys we observed 93 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) that were found at every sampling event. This is compared to ~17,000 transient ASVs that were detected only once across the six sampling events. Of the resident community members, 16 of these ASVs were regularly greater than 1% of the community during every sampling period. Additionally, many of these core taxa experienced statistically significant changes in relative abundance with time. Variation in the abundance of some core populations correlated with geochemical variation. For example, members of the Tindallia group, showed a positive correlation with variation in levels of ammonia at the spring. Investigating the metagenome assembled genomes of these microbes revealed evidence of the potential for ammonia generation via Stickland reactions within Tindallia. This observation offers new insight into the origin of high ammonia concentrations (>70 mg/L) seen at this site. Similarly, the abundance of putative sulfur-oxidizing microbes like Thiomicrospira, Halomonas, and a Rhodobacteraceae species could be linked to changes observed in sulfur-oxidation intermediates like tetrathionate and thiosulfate. While these data supports the influence of core microbial community members on a hyperalkaline spring's geochemistry, there is also evidence that subsurface processes affect geochemistry and may impact community dynamics as well. Though the physiology and ecology of these astrobiologically relevant ecosystems are still being uncovered, this work helps identify a stable microbial community that impacts spring geochemistry in ways not previously observed in serpentinizing ecosystems.

Dataset Information

Changes in microbial community composition and geochemistry during uranium and technetium bioimmobilization.

Publications

Changes in microbial community composition and geochemistry during uranium and technetium bioimmobilization.

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