Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sebastien Guerin, Laura Raguenes, Dany Croteau, Marcel Babin, Johann Lavaud
Summary: This study investigated the potential of the polar diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus in producing fucoxanthin (Fx) and the inter-convertible couple diadinoxanthin-diatoxanthin (Ddx+Dtx) by manipulating the growth light climate and temperature. The results showed that F. cylindrus is well-suited for Fx and Ddx+Dtx production under conditions of low temperature and light intensity, reaching similar productivity levels as temperate counterparts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kazuhiro Yoshida, Andreas Seger, Matthew Corkill, Petra Heil, Kristen Karsh, Andrew McMinn, Koji Suzuki
Summary: Sea-ice algae play a crucial role in sea-ice ecosystems, but under low iron conditions, their photosynthetic flexibility is affected, potentially leading to detrimental consequences for ice algal production and trophic interactions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Antonia Otte, Johanna C. Winder, Longji Deng, Jeremy Schmutz, Jerry Jenkins, Igor V. Grigoriev, Amanda Hopes, Thomas Mock
Summary: Diatoms are important primary producers in cold, turbulent, and nutrient-rich surface oceans, particularly in polar regions. The cold-adapted pennate diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus is considered a key species in polar oceans and sea ice due to its ability to thrive in different environmental conditions if temperatures are low. This perspective paper provides insights into recent molecular research on F. cylindrus and discusses its role as a model alga for understanding cold-adapted life.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Theo Sciandra, Marie-Helene Forget, Flavienne Bruyant, Marine Beguin, Thomas Lacour, Chris Bowler, Marcel Babin
Summary: The polar night at high latitudes poses a challenge to photosynthetic organisms. This study used flow cytometry to investigate the acclimation of a population of diatoms to darkness and found distinct subpopulations with specific traits. The survival of these diatoms in darkness relied on reduction of metabolic activity and consumption of carbon reserves.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fraser Kennedy, Andrew Martin, Andrew McMinn
Summary: Ice-associated phototrophic taxa play a significant role in Antarctic primary production and ecosystem stability. The quantity and quality of light are the most influential factors affecting these algal communities.
Article
Plant Sciences
Nathalie Joli, Lorenzo Concia, Karel Mocaer, Julie Guterman, Juliette Laude, Sebastien Guerin, Theo Sciandra, Flavienne Bruyant, Ouardia Ait-Mohamed, Marine Beguin, Marie-Helene Forget, Clara Bourbousse, Thomas Lacour, Benjamin Bailleul, Charlotte Nef, Mireille Savoie, Jean-Eric Tremblay, Douglas A. Campbell, Johann Lavaud, Yannick Schwab, Marcel Babin, Chris Bowler
Summary: This study investigates the strategies used by polar diatoms to survive the long polar night. It reveals that diatom cells enter a state of quiescence with reduced metabolic and transcriptional activity in prolonged darkness. Minimal energy is provided by respiration and degradation of stored proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids, while homeostasis is maintained by autophagy. The study also uncovers internal structural changes that occur in response to darkness.
Article
Biology
Richard G. Dorrell, Alan Kuo, Zoltan Fussy, Elisabeth H. Richardson, Asaf Salamov, Nikola Zarevski, Nastasia J. Freyria, Federico M. Ibarbalz, Jerry Jenkins, Juan Jose Pierella Karlusich, Andrei Stecca Steindorff, Robyn E. Edgar, Lori Handley, Kathleen Lail, Anna Lipzen, Vincent Lombard, John McFarlane, Charlotte Nef, Anna M. G. Novak Vanclova, Yi Peng, Chris Plott, Marianne Potvin, Fabio Rocha Jimenez Vieira, Kerrie Barry, Colomban de Vargas, Bernard Henrissat, Eric Pelletier, Jeremy Schmutz, Patrick Wincker, Joel B. Dacks, Chris Bowler, Igor Grigoriev, Connie Lovejoy
Summary: Microbial communities in the world ocean are influenced by oceanic circulation, resulting in distinct marine biomes. This study sequenced microalgae lineages isolated from Arctic waters and sea ice to investigate their evolution and adaptive mechanisms. The findings suggest that Arctic microalgae may have evolved separately from algae in the global ocean, and horizontal gene transfer played a role in their adaptation to the Arctic environment.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas Lacour, Jade Lariviere, Joannie Ferland, Philippe-Israel Morin, Pierre-Luc Grondin, Natalie Donaher, Amanda Cockshutt, Douglas A. Campbell, Marcel Babin
Summary: This study investigates the adaptation of an Arctic diatom to changes in light and temperature. The diatom showed high protein contents, low re-oxidation of newly fixed carbon, and the use of alternative electron pathways, which contribute to efficient growth under extreme environmental conditions.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Adrian O. Cefarelli, Martha E. Ferrario, Maria Vernet, Gabriela L. Campana, Nina Lundholm
Summary: The study conducted detailed morphological analyses on Fragilariopsis species from Antarctic water samples, providing insights into the morphological characteristics of these species. The proposal to transfer the Antarctic diatom Nitzschia barbieri to Fragilariopsis genus, as Fragilariopsis barbieri comb. nov, was put forward. Additionally, two rarely reported Fragilariopsis species were emended and new information on their girdle structure and formation of doublets was presented for the first time.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shu Wang, Nanqi Ren, Danhui Liang, Jifei Chang, Xin Wang, Jiaguo Yan, Xiang Cheng, Lili Dong, Nan Li
Summary: This study evaluated the changes of rFe, vFe, and RV after removing EPS, and found that TB-EPS played a crucial role in vivianite formation, contributing 28-51% of vivianite recovery and 34-55% of iron reduction. Electronic shuttle substances in TB-EPS enhanced the EET rate and efficiency between cells and Fe(III). Additionally, redox proteins were embedded in EPS, shortening the distance of electron hopping and accelerating vivianite recovery from wastewater.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xia Song, Aijiang Yang, Xia Hu, A-Ping Niu, Yang Cao, Qingqing Zhang
Summary: The contamination of water resources and food chain by Sb bearing tailings in abandoned antimony mines is a significant problem. Microorganisms and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by bacteria were found to play a crucial role in tailing leaching and reaction speeding. This study investigated the leaching pattern of Sb from Sb bearing tailings using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and analyzed the mechanism of EPS in the leaching process of Sb. Various techniques were employed to characterize the generation behavior of EPS during bioleaching and the changes of EPS functional groups before and after leaching. The findings provide insights into the biogeochemical cycle of Sb and the reduction of risk associated with high-valent antimony.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Bhagya S. Yatipanthalawa, Muthupandian Ashokkumar, Peter J. Scales, Gregory J. O. Martin
Summary: This study investigates the use of ultrasonication to remove EPS from the diatom Navicula, and finds that EPS removal can improve the rheology and dewaterability of cell suspensions, as well as accelerate lipid extraction.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Electrochemistry
Graziela C. Sedenho, Iago Modenez, Giovana R. Mendes, Frank N. Crespilho
Summary: It has been found that Saccharomyces cerevisiae transfers electrons externally to electrode surfaces through an extracellular polymeric substance network, with flavoproteins responsible for non-diffusive extracellular electron transfer. This mechanism could advance bioenergy generation through microbial fuels.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yanan Wang, Ruiyong Zhang, Jizhou Duan, Xin Shi, Yimeng Zhang, Fang Guan, Wolfgang Sand, Baorong Hou
Summary: Microbial cells secrete EPS to adhere to material surfaces, causing metal corrosion. Components in EPS are closely related to metal corrosion, and functional groups play a key role in biocorrosion.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hatice Kaplan Can, Serap Kavlak, Fatma Gurbuz, Mehmet Odabasi
Summary: This study investigates the structure, properties, and applications of cyanobacterial EPS, revealing its significant role in bloom formation and stress tolerance. The findings highlight the ecological importance and industrial potential of EPS due to its viscoelastic behavior and thermal stability.
JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
David N. Thomas, Damian L. Arevalo-Martinez, Kirsty C. Crocket, Fabian Grosse, Julia Grosse, Kirstin Schulz, Roxana Suhring, Allyson Tessin
Article
Biology
Federica Manca, Clelia Mula, Camilla Gustafsson, Achille Mauri, Tomas Roslin, David N. Thomas, Lisandro Benedetti-Cecchi, Alf Norkko, Giovanni Strona
Summary: Network theory provides innovative tools to explore complex ecological mechanisms regulating species associations and interactions. However, the application of network approaches is unevenly distributed across different study systems, with aquatic macrophyte-animal associations in coastal environments being largely neglected. Network analysis has the potential to broaden our understanding of coastal ecosystems and their response to anthropogenic disturbance and environmental change.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Anthony Duncan, Kerrie Barry, Chris Daum, Emiley Eloe-Fadrosh, Simon Roux, Katrin Schmidt, Susannah G. Tringe, Klaus U. Valentin, Neha Varghese, Asaf Salamov, Igor Grigoriev, Richard M. Leggett, Vincent Moulton, Thomas Mock
Summary: This study assembled 143 high-quality MAGs from chlorophyll a maximum layers in the surface of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans. The results revealed strict demarcation between Arctic and Atlantic MAGs, but high similarity between adjacent sampling stations in each ocean. Eukaryotic MAGs were more diverse in the Arctic, while prokaryotic MAGs were more diverse in the Atlantic.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryoma Kamikawa, Takako Mochizuki, Mika Sakamoto, Yasuhiro Tanizawa, Takuro Nakayama, Ryo Onuma, Ugo Cenci, Daniel Moog, Samuel Speak, Krisztina Sarkozi, Andrew Toseland, Cock van Oosterhout, Kaori Oyama, Misako Kato, Keitaro Kume, Motoki Kayama, Tomonori Azuma, Ken-ichiro Ishii, Hideaki Miyashita, Bernard Henrissat, Vincent Lombard, Joe Win, Sophien Kamoun, Yuichiro Kashiyama, Shigeki Mayama, Shin-Ya Miyagishima, Goro Tanifuji, Thomas Mock, Yasukazu Nakamura
Summary: Secondary loss of photosynthesis is common in eukaryotic organisms with plastids. However, studies on the genetic changes associated with transition from a phototroph to a secondary heterotroph have been limited to parasitic species. This study presents the genome of a free-living diatom, Nitzschia putrida, which lacks photosynthesis. Comparative analysis suggests that gene loss, accumulation of genes involved in organic carbon degradation, unique secretion proteins, and rapid divergence of conserved gene families related to cell wall and extracellular metabolism have facilitated the free-living lifestyle of this secondary heterotroph.
Article
Plant Sciences
Nigel Belshaw, Irina Grouneva, Lior Aram, Assaf Gal, Amanda Hopes, Thomas Mock
Summary: CRISPR/Cas technology enables efficient gene targeting by homologous recombination in the diploid photosynthetic organism Thalassiosira pseudonana. Knockout of nitrate reductase and urease genes affected growth on nitrate and urea, respectively, while knockout of the silacidin gene led to a significant increase in cell size.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Johanna C. Winder, William Boulton, Asaf Salamov, Sarah Lena Eggers, Katja Metfies, Vincent Moulton, Thomas Mock
Summary: Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) are enzymes produced by cold-adapted organisms that have ecologic and biotechnologic importance. Our understanding of the genetic and structural diversity of IBPs in natural microbial communities is limited. In this study, we conducted metagenome sequencing and analysis to investigate IBPs in samples collected from the central Arctic Ocean. We found that IBP sequences were enriched in interior ice, displayed diverse genomic contexts, and exhibited taxonomic clustering. The diverse protein structures of IBPs may result from domain shuffling, which reflects their functional versatility required for survival in the extreme and variable environment of the central Arctic Ocean.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zina Kebir, Catherine Chambers, Andre Frainier, Vera Hausner, Ann Eileen Lennert, Jennifer Lento, Amanda Poste, Virve Ravolainen, Angelika H. H. Renner, David N. Thomas, Kerry Waylen
Summary: There is an urgent need to understand and address the risks associated with a warming climate for ecosystems and societies in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Major gaps in understanding climate change effects and the need for collaborative efforts to resolve them were identified by a panel of scientists and practitioners in the Norwegian High North.
Article
Microbiology
Jan Strauss, Chang Jae Choi, Jonathan Grone, Fabian Wittmers, Valeria Jimenez, Kriste Makareviciute-Fichtner, Charles Bachy, Gualtiero Spiro Jaeger, Camille Poirier, Charlotte Eckmann, Rachele Spezzano, Carolin R. Loescher, V. V. S. S. Sarma, Amala Mahadevan, Alexandra Z. Worden
Summary: The Bay of Bengal is an important region in the Indian Ocean, but little is known about the primary producers that support the food chains. This study examined the abundance and diversity of phytoplankton in different areas of the Bay of Bengal. The results showed that the types and abundance of phytoplankton varied in different latitudes and depths.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Thomas Mock
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Antonia Otte, Johanna C. Winder, Longji Deng, Jeremy Schmutz, Jerry Jenkins, Igor V. Grigoriev, Amanda Hopes, Thomas Mock
Summary: Diatoms are important primary producers in cold, turbulent, and nutrient-rich surface oceans, particularly in polar regions. The cold-adapted pennate diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus is considered a key species in polar oceans and sea ice due to its ability to thrive in different environmental conditions if temperatures are low. This perspective paper provides insights into recent molecular research on F. cylindrus and discusses its role as a model alga for understanding cold-adapted life.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anthony Duncan, Kerrie Barry, Chris Daum, Emiley Eloe-Fadrosh, Simon Roux, Katrin Schmidt, Susannah G. Tringe, Klaus U. Valentin, Neha Varghese, Asaf Salamov, Igor Grigoriev, Richard M. Leggett, Vincent Moulton, Thomas Mock
Summary: This article presents metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) for both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms from the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, along with gene prediction and functional annotation for MAGs from both domains. These data provide draft genomes for uncultured marine microbes, including some of the first MAGs for polar eukaryotes, and can be used for genomic comparisons between environments.
Article
Ecology
Taylor Priest, Wilken-Jon von Appen, Ellen Oldenburg, Ovidiu Popa, Sinhue Torres-Valdes, Christina Bienhold, Katja Metfies, William Boulton, Thomas Mock, Bernhard M. Fuchs, Rudolf Amann, Antje Boetius, Matthias Wietz
Summary: The Arctic Ocean is undergoing unprecedented changes due to climate warming, and it is important to analyze the ecology and dynamics of biological communities to understand ecosystem shifts. Through extensive data collection, we assessed the impact of Atlantic water influx and sea-ice cover on bacterial communities in the Arctic Ocean, identified bacterial signature populations, and revealed metabolic distinctions between Arctic and Atlantic conditions. Our findings provide novel insights into Arctic ecology and indicate a progressing Biological Atlantification of the warming Arctic Ocean.
Article
Microbiology
Paul-Christian Burda, Abhinay Ramaprasad, Sabrina Bielfeld, Emma Pietsch, Anna Woitalla, Christoph Soehnchen, Mehar Nihal Singh, Jan Strauss, Aaron Sait, Lucy M. Collinson, Dominik Schwudke, Michael J. Blackman, Tim-Wolf Gilberger
Summary: The clinical symptoms of malaria arise due to repeated rounds of replication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells (RBCs). In this study, the essentiality of 19 putative phospholipase enzymes expressed by the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum during its replication within RBCs is investigated. It is found that there is a high level of functional redundancy among these enzymes, but the phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C has an essential role in parasite development and cleavage of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate.
Article
Microbiology
Jan Strauss, Longji Deng, Shiqiang Gao, Andrew Toseland, Charles Bachy, Chong Zhang, Amy Kirkham, Amanda Hopes, Robert Utting, Eike F. Joest, Alessandro Tagliabue, Christian Loew, Alexandra Z. Worden, Georg Nagel, Thomas Mock
Summary: Microbial rhodopsins, specifically the xanthorhodopsin family, have been found in polar diatoms and serve as proton pumps that support growth under iron limitation.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Madison M. Smith, Helene Angot, Emelia J. Chamberlain, Elise S. Droste, Salar Karam, Morven Muilwijk, Alison L. Webb, Stephen D. Archer, Ivo Beck, Byron W. Blomquist, Jeff Bowman, Matthew Boyer, Deborah Bozzato, Melissa Chierici, Jessie Creamean, Alessandra 'Angelo, Bruno Delille, Ilker Fer, Allison A. Fong, Agneta Fransson, Niels Fuchs, Jessie Gardner, Mats A. Granskog, Clara J. M. Hoppe, Mario Hoppema, Mario Hoppmann, Thomas Mock, Sofia Muller, Oliver Muller, Marcel Nicolaus, Daiki Nomura, Tuukka Petaja, Evgenii Salganik, Julia Schmale, Katrin Schmidt, Kirstin M. Schulz, Matthew D. Shupe, Jacqueline Stefels, Linda Thielke, Sandra Tippenhauer, Adam Ulfsbo, Maria van Leeuwe, Melinda Webster, Masaki Yoshimura, Liyang Zhan
Summary: The rapid melt of snow and sea ice during the Arctic summer contributes to the formation of thin meltwater layers on sea ice, which play a crucial role in the Arctic system by reducing ice melt, facilitating new ice formation, and impacting exchanges between the atmosphere and ocean.
ELEMENTA-SCIENCE OF THE ANTHROPOCENE
(2023)