Dataset Information

Cultivable Bacterial Communities in Brines from Perennially Ice-Covered and Pristine Antarctic Lakes: Ecological and Biotechnological Implications.

ABSTRACT: The diversity and biotechnological potentialities of bacterial isolates from brines of three Antarctic lakes of the Northern Victoria Land (namely Boulder Clay and Tarn Flat areas) were first explored. Cultivable bacterial communities were analysed mainly in terms of bacterial response to contaminants (i.e., antibiotics and heavy metals) and oxidation of contaminants (i.e., aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorobiphenyls). Moreover, the biosynthesis of biomolecules (antibiotics, extracellular polymeric substances and enzymes) with applications for human health and environmental protection was assayed. A total of 74 and 141 isolates were retrieved from Boulder Clay and Tarn Flat brines, respectively. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, bacterial isolates represented three phyla, namely Proteobacteria (i.e., Gamma- and Alphaproteobacteria), Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria, with differences encountered among brines. At genus level, Rhodobacter, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter and Leifsonia members were dominant. Results obtained from this study on the physiological and enzymatic features of cold-adapted isolates from Antarctic lake brines provide interesting prospects for possible applications in the biotechnological field through future targeted surveys. Finally, findings on contaminant occurrence and bacterial response suggest that bacteria might be used as bioindicators for tracking human footprints in these remote polar areas.

SUBMITTER: Rizzo C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7355736 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Cultivable Bacterial Communities in Brines from Perennially Ice-Covered and Pristine Antarctic Lakes: Ecological and Biotechnological Implications.

Rizzo Carmen C Conte Antonella A Azzaro Maurizio M Papale Maria M Rappazzo Alessandro C AC Battistel Dario D Roman Marco M Lo Giudice Angelina A Guglielmin Mauro M

Microorganisms 20200529 6

The diversity and biotechnological potentialities of bacterial isolates from brines of three Antarctic lakes of the Northern Victoria Land (namely Boulder Clay and Tarn Flat areas) were first explored. Cultivable bacterial communities were analysed mainly in terms of bacterial response to contaminants (i.e., antibiotics and heavy metals) and oxidation of contaminants (i.e., aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorobiphenyls). Moreover, the biosynthesis of biomolecules (antibiotics, extr ...[more]

PMID: 32486118

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Project description:Ultra-oligotrophic Lake Untersee is among the largest and deepest surface lakes of Central Queen Maud Land in East Antarctica. It is dammed at its north end by the Anuchin Glacier and the ice-cover dynamics are controlled by sublimation - not melt - as the dominating ablation process and therefore surface melt during austral summer does not provide significant amounts of water for recharge compared to subsurface melt of the Anuchin Glacier. Several studies have already described the structure and function of the microbial communities within the water column and benthic environments of Lake Untersee, however, thus far there have been no studies that examine the linkages between the lake ecosystem with that of the surrounding soils or the Anuchin Glacier. The glacier may also play an important role as a major contributor of nutrients and biota into the lake ecosystem. Based on microbial 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we showed that the dominant bacterial signatures in Lake Untersee, the Anuchin Glacier and its surrounding soils were affiliated with Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. Aerosol and local soil depositions on the glacier surface resulted in distinct microbial communities developing in glacier ice and cryoconite holes. Based on a source tracking algorithm, we found that cryoconite microbial assemblages were a potential source of organisms, explaining up to 36% of benthic microbial mat communities in the lake. However, the major biotic sources for the lake ecosystem are still unknown, illustrating the possible importance of englacial and subglacial zones. The Anuchin Glacier may be considered as a vector in a biological sense for the bacterial colonization of the perennially ice-covered Lake Untersee. However, despite a thick perennial ice cover, observed "lift-off" microbial mats escaping the lake make a bidirectional transfer of biota plausible. Hence, there is an exchange of biota between Lake Untersee and connective habitats possible despite the apparent sealing by a perennial ice cover and the absence of moat areas during austral summer.

Dataset Information

Cultivable Bacterial Communities in Brines from Perennially Ice-Covered and Pristine Antarctic Lakes: Ecological and Biotechnological Implications.

Publications

Cultivable Bacterial Communities in Brines from Perennially Ice-Covered and Pristine Antarctic Lakes: Ecological and Biotechnological Implications.

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