Article
Biology
Joost W. Aerts, Serban M. Sarbu, Traian Brad, Pascale Ehrenfreund, Hans V. Westerhoff
Summary: Movile Cave is a unique and challenging ecosystem where specialized prokaryotic communities can adapt to different subenvironments and respond to environmental changes in a relatively short time.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara Cantera, Elisa Rodriguez, Nicolas Santaella Vecchini, Juan Carlos Lopez, Pedro A. Garcia-Encina, Diana Z. Sousa, Raul Munoz
Summary: This study investigated the survival and metabolic mechanisms of methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB) under low methane concentrations. The research found that the activity and energy production of methane oxidation were not lost during starvation periods, and poly-hydroxyalkanoate and nitrification metabolism played important roles in maintaining cell viability of MOB. The genus Methylocystis emerged as a key MOB in environments with diluted and intermittent methane emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sanda Iepure, Anna Wysocka, Serban M. Sarbu, Michalina Kijowska, Tadeusz Namiotko
Summary: We report a peculiar new ostracod species, Pseudocandonamovilaensis sp. nov., thriving in the chemoautotrophic sulfidic groundwater ecosystem of Movile Cave in Romania. The new species has homoplastic features, such as a triangular carapace in lateral view with a reduced postero-dorsal part and simplification of limb chaetotaxy, driven by convergent or parallel evolution during or after colonization of the groundwater realm. P. movilaensis sp. nov. exclusively thrives in sulfidic meso-thermal waters with high concentrations of sulphides, methane, and ammonium. Geometric morphometrics-based study of the carapace shape and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on the COI marker (mtDNA) were conducted to discuss the phylogenetic relationship and evolutionary implication for the new species to thrive in groundwater sulfidic environments.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Traian Brad, Sanda Iepure, Serban M. Sarbu
Summary: Movile Cave hosts a diverse subsurface invertebrate community that relies on chemoautotrophic microorganisms for primary productivity, with energy derived from hydrogen sulfide and other substances in the deep thermomineral aquifer. The cave supports both aquatic and terrestrial species, with 37 of the 52 invertebrate species endemic to this unique environment. As the first known chemosynthesis-based groundwater ecosystem, Movile Cave deserves special attention and protection.
Article
Ecology
Alexander Allenby, Mark R. R. Cunningham, Alexandra Hillebrand-Voiculescu, Jean-Christophe Comte, Rory Doherty, Deepak Kumaresan
Summary: Karst caves may serve as a sink for atmospheric methane, with Gammaproteobacterial MOB being the most abundant microbial community and Methanosarcina dominating the methanogens. Additionally, we have created a cave ecosystems protein database (CEPD) for gene profiling.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sina Schorn, Soeren Ahmerkamp, Emma Bullock, Miriam Weber, Christian Lott, Manuel Liebeke, Gaute Lavik, Marcel M. M. Kuypers, Jon S. Graf, Jana Milucka
Summary: Marine coastlines colonized by seagrasses are a significant net source of methane emissions, primarily driven by methylated compounds produced by the plants. Methane production continues even after the plants die off, likely due to the presence of methylated compounds in detached plant leaves and rhizomes. The study also identified gene sequences associated with key methane-producing enzymes in the seagrass sediments, suggesting their involvement in methane metabolism.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Guillermo I. Quijano, Edgardo Valenzuela, Domingo Cantero, Martin Ramirez, Ivonne Figueroa-Gonzalez
Summary: This study demonstrated that anoxic desulfurization process can impact the CH4 and CO2 content of purified biogas. The reduction in CO2 concentration and increase in CH4 concentration in the purified biogas were found to be proportional, with CO2 absorption playing a role in this process. Additionally, the presence of methane-oxidizing bacteria suggests that methane oxidation occurred in the desulfurization system.
Article
Ecology
Debora do Carmo Linhares, Flavia Talarico Saia, Rubens Tadeu Delgado Duarte, Cristina Rossi Nakayama, Itamar Soares de Melo, Vivian Helena Pellizari
Summary: Methanotrophic bacteria play a crucial role in mitigating methane emissions in the environment, especially in productive ecosystems like Brazilian mangroves. The study on anthropogenic impacted sediments from Bertioga's mangrove in Brazil revealed a diverse community of methanotrophic bacteria, including Methylomonas, Methylobacter, and Methylotenera. Under low dissolved oxygen tensions, the abundance of genera Methylomonas suggests a possible shift to intraerobic methane oxidation to prevent oxygen starvation.
Article
Microbiology
Diego M. Roldan, Daniel Carrizo, Laura Sanchez-Garcia, Rodolfo Javier Menes
Summary: Global warming has a significant impact on polar regions, particularly on the Antarctic Peninsula and nearby islands. The study reveals that the future methane emissions from this area could increase due to the warming trend. The research focuses on the aerobic methane oxidation potential of freshwater lake sediments in the Fildes Peninsula and identifies the bacterial community and diversity. The findings suggest that aerobic methanotrophs could potentially mitigate methane emissions in this climate-sensitive area.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Rob A. Schmitz, Stijn H. Peeters, Wouter Versantvoort, Nunzia Picone, Arjan Pol, Mike S. M. Jetten, Huub J. M. Op den Camp
Summary: Methanotrophs play a crucial role in counteracting methane emissions, with Verrucomicrobial methanotrophs being extremophiles living in acidic geothermal ecosystems. Recent studies have shown that these methanotrophs are more metabolically versatile than previously thought.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Rob A. Schmitz, Stijn H. Peeters, Wouter Versantvoort, Nunzia Picone, Arjan Pol, Mike S. M. Jetten, Huub J. M. Op den Camp
Summary: This article discusses the metabolic versatility of verrucomicrobial methanotrophs in acidic geothermal ecosystems, comparing them with proteobacterial methanotrophs. Verrucomicrobial methanotrophs are extremophiles capable of utilizing various inorganic gases and molecules, playing a crucial role in volcanic nutrient cycles.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xin Zhang, Hua-Jun Li, Lei Jiang, Jing Wang, Ruo He
Summary: Methanotrophs have the ability to metabolize volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs), excrete organic carbon during CH4 oxidation, and influence the microbial community structure and function of the ecosystem. This study investigated the synergy effects of Methylomonas koyamae and Hyphomicrobium methylovorum under VOSC stress, using methanethiol (MT) as a typical VOSC. The results showed that the co-culture of Methylomonas koyamae and Hyphomicrobium methylovorum had better MT tolerance and enhanced CH4 and MT removal. These findings contribute to understanding the role of methanotrophs in the sulfur biogeochemical cycle.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoyu Cheng, Zhilin Zeng, Xiaoyan Liu, Lu Li, Hongmei Wang, Rui Zhao, Paul L. E. Bodelier, Weiqi Wang, Yiheng Wang, Olli H. Tuovinen
Summary: We reported the composition of methane-producing microbial communities and their interactions with methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOBs) in Heshang Cave to comprehensively understand methane cycling in the subsurface biosphere. MOBs were dominated by the high-affinity MOB, upland soil cluster (USC), while methanogens were dominated by Methanoregula and cluster ZC-I. However, MOBs in caves showed a comparable or higher potential methane oxidizing rate (PMOR) than those in soils, while methane produced by methanogens was undetected.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuyin Yang, Jianfei Chen, Jennifer Pratscher, Shuguang Xie
Summary: Methanotrophs are the main consumers of methane in lake sediments and play a key role in regulating methane flux and carbon cycling. In this study, nucleic acid stable isotope probing was used to investigate the active methanotrophic microbial community in eutrophication-affected shallow lakes. The results showed that gamma-proteobacterial methanotrophs and beta-proteobacterial methanol-utilizers were involved in methane-derived carbon assimilation, with Crenothrix being the key methane consumer. The wide distribution of Crenothrix in lake sediments and its active methane assimilation suggest its importance as a biological sink for methane in shallow lakes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Diep Ngoc Pham, Anh Duc Nguyen, Eun Yeol Lee
Summary: Methane and carbon dioxide are the most abundant greenhouse gases, and reducing their emissions is crucial for mitigating climate change. Utilizing methylotrophic bacteria-based technologies to capture and utilize these gases shows promise in lowering their concentrations. This article highlights the advantages of methylotrophs in bioconversion of methane, CO2, methanol, and formate, and discusses innovative strategies to improve conversion efficiency.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Zakaria M. Solaiman, Hongjun Yang, Deb Archdeacon, Orna Tippett, Michaela Tibi, Andrew S. Whiteley
Article
Environmental Sciences
Guillaume Reboul, David Moreira, Paola Bertolino, Alexandra Maria Hillebrand-Voiculescu, Purificacion Lopez-Garcia
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Benjamin Moreira-Grez, Miriam Munoz-Rojas, Khalil Kariman, Paul Storer, Anthony G. O'Donnell, Deepak Kumaresan, Andrew S. Whiteley
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Robert A. Edwards, Alejandro A. Vega, Holly M. Norman, Maria Ohaeri, Kyle Levi, Elizabeth A. Dinsdale, Ondrej Cinek, Ramy K. Aziz, Katelyn McNair, Jeremy J. Barr, Kyle Bibby, Stan J. J. Brouns, Adrian Cazares, Patrick A. de Jonge, Christelle Desnues, Samuel L. Diaz Munoz, Peter C. Fineran, Alexander Kurilshikov, Rob Lavigne, Karla Mazankova, David T. McCarthy, Franklin L. Nobrega, Alejandro Reyes Munoz, German Tapia, Nicole Trefault, Alexander Tyakht, Pablo Vinuesa, Jeroen Wagemans, Alexandra Zhernakova, Frank M. Aarestrup, Gunduz Ahmadov, Abeer Alassaf, Josefa Anton, Abigail Asangba, Emma K. Billings, Vito Adrian Cantu, Jane M. Carlton, Daniel Cazares, Gyu-Sung Cho, Tess Condeff, Pilar Cortes, Mike Cranfield, Daniel A. Cuevas, Rodrigo De la Iglesia, Przemyslaw Decewicz, Michael P. Doane, Nathaniel J. Dominy, Lukasz Dziewit, Bashir Mukhtar Elwasila, A. Murat Eren, Charles Franz, Jingyuan Fu, Cristina Garcia-Aljaro, Elodie Ghedin, Kristen M. Gulino, John M. Haggerty, Steven R. Head, Rene S. Hendriksen, Colin Hill, Heikki Hyoty, Elena N. Ilina, Mitchell T. Irwin, Thomas C. Jeffries, Juan Jofre, Randall E. Junge, Scott T. Kelley, Mohammadali Khan Mirzaei, Martin Kowalewski, Deepak Kumaresan, Steven R. Leigh, David Lipson, Eugenia S. Lisitsyna, Montserrat Llagostera, Julia M. Maritz, Linsey C. Marr, Angela McCann, Shahar Molshanski-Mor, Silvia Monteiro, Benjamin Moreira-Grez, Megan Morris, Lawrence Mugisha, Maite Muniesa, Horst Neve, Nam-phuong Nguyen, Olivia D. Nigro, Anders S. Nilsson, Taylor O'Connell, Rasha Odeh, Andrew Oliver, Mariana Piuri, Aaron J. Prussin, Udi Qimron, Zhe-Xue Quan, Petra Rainetova, Adan Ramirez-Rojas, Raul Raya, Kim Reasor, Gillian A. O. Rice, Alessandro Rossi, Ricardo Santos, John Shimashita, Elyse N. Stachler, Lars C. Stene, Ronan Strain, Rebecca Stumpf, Pedro J. Torres, Alan Twaddle, MaryAnn Ugochi Ibekwe, Nicolas Villagra, Stephen Wandro, Bryan White, Andy Whiteley, Katrine L. Whiteson, Cisca Wijmenga, Maria M. Zambrano, Henrike Zschach, Bas E. Dutilh
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Benjamin Moreira-Grez, Kang Tam, Adam T. Cross, Jean W. H. Yong, Deepak Kumaresan, Paul Nevill, Mark Farrell, Andrew S. Whiteley
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Review
Ecology
Hannah J. White, Lupe Leon-Sanchez, Victoria J. Burton, Erin K. Cameron, Tancredi Caruso, Luis Cunha, Tara Dirilgen, Stephanie D. Jurburg, Ruth Kelly, Deepak Kumaresan, Raul Ochoa-Hueso, Alejandro Ordonez, Helen R. P. Phillips, Ivan Prieto, Olaf Schmidt, Paul Caplat
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Eileen Kroeber, Mark R. Cunningham, Julianna Peixoto, Lewis Spurgin, Daniela Wischer, Ricardo Kruger, Deepak Kumaresan
Summary: Methylated amines, which are ubiquitous in the environment, play a role in regulating the earth's climate through complex biological and chemical reactions. Our study shows that the genus Gemmobacter has selected members with the genetic potential for methylamine utilization, while others do not.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jonathon Alexis Coates, Elliot Brooks, Amy Louise Brittle, Emma Louise Armitage, Martin Peter Zeidler, Iwan Robert Evans
Summary: Vertebrate macrophages are highly heterogeneous, and recent studies have revealed the presence of subpopulations within Drosophila plasmatocytes, showing functional differences and varying in abundance across development. Enhancer analysis identified candidate genes regulating plasmatocyte behavior and exposure to increased apoptotic cell death levels modulated subpopulation cell numbers. These findings demonstrate macrophage heterogeneity in Drosophila and provide insights into subpopulation specification and function.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rohan M. Shah, Katie E. Hillyer, Sarah Stephenson, Joseph Crosswell, Avinash Karpe, Enzo A. Palombo, Oliver A. H. Jones, Daniel Gorman, Levente Bodrossy, Jodie van de Kamp, Andrew Bissett, Andrew S. Whiteley, Andy D. L. Steven, David J. Beale
Summary: The study used omics-based approaches to establish blueprints of microbial functionality in healthy estuarine sediment communities in pristine environments, identifying relationships between metabolic pathways and genes with community metabolic potential. An increase in KEGG genes related to metal homeostasis and metal resistance was observed, with correlations found between metal abundance and functional genes related to Fe and Zn metabolism. This research provides a baseline microbial blueprint for the pristine sediment microbiome and lays the groundwork for future ecosystem monitoring comparisons.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Obulisamy Parthiba Karthikeyan, Thomas J. Smith, Shamsudeen Umar Dandare, Kamaludeen Sara Parwin, Heetasmin Singh, Hui Xin Loh, Mark R. Cunningham, Paul Nicholas Williams, Tim Nichol, Avudainayagam Subramanian, Kumarasamy Ramasamy, Deepak Kumaresan
Summary: Manufacturing and resource industries are key drivers for economic growth, but come with a huge environmental cost. Pollutants like heavy metals in waste streams can have long-term impacts on ecosystem health, but microorganisms can provide ecosystem services by detoxifying these toxic metals.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ben A. Wagstaff, Jennifer Pratscher, Peter Paolo L. Rivera, Edward S. Hems, Elliot Brooks, Martin Rejzek, Jonathan D. Todd, J. Colin Murrell, Robert A. Field
Summary: The research revealed that Prymnesium parvum microalgae causing harmful algal blooms in water bodies produces toxins affecting ecology and economy. The use of molecular techniques identified the presence of this microalgae in blooms causing fish kills in the UK, including detection of B-type prymnesin toxins for the first time in the area. The study suggested a correlation between blooms and rising temperatures, and demonstrated that low-dose hydrogen peroxide treatment is an effective strategy to control the spread of the algae blooms in enclosed water bodies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Warish Ahmed, Stuart L. Simpson, Paul M. Bertsch, Kyle Bibby, Aaron Bivins, Linda L. Blackall, Silvia Bofill-Mas, Albert Bosch, Joao Brandao, Phil M. Choi, Mark Ciesielski, Erica Donner, Nishita D'Souza, Andreas H. Farnleitner, Daniel Gerrity, Raul Gonzalez, John F. Griffith, Pradip Gyawali, Charles N. Haas, Kerry A. Hamilton, Hapuarachchige Chandithal Hapuarachchi, Valerie J. Harwood, Rehnuma Haque, Greg Jackson, Stuart J. Khan, Wesaal Khan, Masaaki Kitajima, Asja Korajkic, Giuseppina La Rosa, Blythe A. Layton, Erin Lipp, Sandra L. McLellan, Brian McMinn, Gertjan Medema, Suzanne Metcalfe, Wim G. Meijer, Jochen F. Mueller, Heather Murphy, Coleen C. Naughton, Rachel T. Noble, Sudhi Payyappat, Susan Petterson, Tarja Pitkanen, Veronica B. Rajal, Brandon Reyneke, Fernando A. Roman, Joan B. Rose, Marta Rusinol, Michael J. Sadowsky, Laura Sala-Comorera, Yin Xiang Setoh, Samendra P. Sherchan, Kwanrawee Sirikanchana, Wendy Smith, Joshua A. Steele, Rosalie Subburg, Erin M. Symonds, Phong Thai, Kevin Thomas, Josh Tynan, Simon Toze, Janelle Thompson, Andy S. Whiteley, Judith Chui Ching Wong, Daisuke Sano, Stefan Wuertz, Irene Xagoraraki, Qian Zhang, Amity G. Zimmer-Faust, Orin C. Shanks
Summary: Monitoring pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using RT-PCR is effective for public health information, but there is a lack of standardized protocols for wastewater surveillance. Key strategies for improving accuracy include QA/QC measures, representative sampling, virus concentration, and clear data interpretation guidelines.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Paton Vuong, Benjamin Moreira-Grez, Michael J. Wise, Andrew S. Whiteley, Deepak Kumaresan, Parwinder Kaur
Summary: The study explores how ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in semi-arid soils may play a crucial role in driving the nitrogen cycle. Ammonia addition leads to an increase in AOA population, particularly within the genus Candidatus Nitrosotalea.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Julie Scanlan, Richard Guillonneau, Mark R. Cunningham, Sahanara Najmin, Michaela A. Mausz, Andrew Murphy, Leanne L. Murray, Limei Zhang, Deepak Kumaresan, Yin Chen
Summary: Methane is a potent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, and its concentration has continued to increase steadily in recent decades. Methanotrophs, bacteria that help mitigate methane emissions in the natural environment, can modify their membrane in response to phosphorus limitation, which is important for their activity. Genome and metatranscriptome analyses suggest that this adaptation strategy is conserved in all proteobacterial methanotrophs and is used by these bacteria in the natural environment. This study provides new insights into the role of phosphorus in methane oxidation.
Article
Ecology
Alexander Allenby, Mark R. R. Cunningham, Alexandra Hillebrand-Voiculescu, Jean-Christophe Comte, Rory Doherty, Deepak Kumaresan
Summary: Karst caves may serve as a sink for atmospheric methane, with Gammaproteobacterial MOB being the most abundant microbial community and Methanosarcina dominating the methanogens. Additionally, we have created a cave ecosystems protein database (CEPD) for gene profiling.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)