Metagenomic analysis reveals adaptations to a cold-adapted lifestyle in a low-temperature acid mine drainage streamShow others and affiliations
2015 (English)In: FEMS Microbiology Ecology, ISSN 0168-6496, E-ISSN 1574-6941, Vol. 91, no 4, article id fiv011Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
An acid mine drainage (pH 2.5-2.7) stream biofilm situated 250 m below ground in the low-temperature (6-10 degrees C) Kristineberg mine, northern Sweden, contained a microbial community equipped for growth at low temperature and acidic pH. Metagenomic sequencing of the biofilm and planktonic fractions identified the most abundant microorganism to be similar to the psychrotolerant acidophile, Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans. In addition, metagenome contigs were most similar to other Acidithiobacillus species, an Acidobacteria-like species, and a Gallionellaceae-like species. Analyses of the metagenomes indicated functional characteristics previously characterized as related to growth at low temperature including cold-shock proteins, several pathways for the production of compatible solutes and an anti-freeze protein. In addition, genes were predicted to encode functions related to pH homeostasis and metal resistance related to growth in the acidic metal-containing mine water. Metagenome analyses identified microorganisms capable of nitrogen fixation and exhibiting a primarily autotrophic lifestyle driven by the oxidation of the ferrous iron and inorganic sulfur compounds contained in the sulfidic mine waters. The study identified a low diversity of abundant microorganisms adapted to a low-temperature acidic environment as well as identifying some of the strategies the microorganisms employ to grow in this extreme environment.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2015. Vol. 91, no 4, article id fiv011
Keywords [en]
metagenome, acid mine drainage, psychrotolerant, Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans, low temperature
National Category
Microbiology
Research subject
Ecology, Microbiology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-46289DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiv011ISI: 000355327300002Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84942673444OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-46289DiVA, id: diva2:853551
2015-09-142015-09-142023-05-17Bibliographically approved