Article
Microbiology
Christaline George, Chloe Xue Qi Lim, Yan Tong, Stephen Brian Pointing
Summary: The Sembawang Hot Spring in Singapore is located at the foot of a geological feature called the Bentong-Raub Suture Zone. The hot spring exhibits a poly-extreme environment and supports distinct microbial communities along an environmental gradient. The high abundance of phototrophic bacteria and the presence of chemoautotrophs and heterotrophs reflect the known thermal ranges and allochthonous leaf input in the hot spring. The findings contribute to the understanding of hot spring microbiomes and address a biogeographic knowledge gap for the region.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Devard Stom, Ivan A. Topchy, Galina O. Zhdanova, Darima D. Barkhutova, Svetlana Zaitseva, Aleksandr B. Kupchinsky, Olga N. Ponamoreva, Sergej Alferov, Mihail Yu Tolstoy, Aleksandra N. Chesnokova, Aleksandr G. Bulaev
Summary: This study investigated the microbial diversity, transformation potential, and electricity generation ability of the microbial mat consortium in Kucheger thermal spring. The results showed a high predominance of Proteobacteria phylum, particularly Thiothrix bacteria, in the microbial mat community. The microorganisms exhibited a wide metabolic activity and showed high electrogenic ability in biofuel cells. The addition of substrates such as peptone, cellulose, and starch increased energy release. The findings suggest the promising potential of using hot spring mats in biofuel cell technologies.
GEOMICROBIOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sergio Guajardo-Leiva, Fernando Santos, Oscar Salgado, Christophe Regeard, Laurent Quillet, Beatriz Diez
Summary: The study reveals that viruses in hot springs exert diverse impacts on their host community through lytic and lysogenic replicative cycles, with different virus types associated with specific host taxa with varying metabolic capacities. Lytic viruses primarily infect cyanobacteria, while lysogenic viruses are linked to chemoheterotrophic bacteria, possessing accessory genes to regulate stress-related processes in their hosts. The observations suggest a connection between the ecological role of the host and the type of viral lifestyle in thermophilic microbial mats.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Shigeru Kawai, Joval N. Martinez, Mads Lichtenberg, Erik Trampe, Michael Kuhl, Marcus Tank, Shin Haruta, Arisa Nishihara, Satoshi Hanada, Vera Thiel
Summary: This study identified two different modes of energy metabolism of Chloroflexus aggregans in hot spring microbial mats through metatranscriptomic analyses and microscale measurements, showing that the organism exhibits phototrophy and chemomixotrophy under dynamic environmental conditions.
Article
Microbiology
Shigeru Kawai, Mikako Ishikawa, Satoshi Hanada, Shin Haruta
Summary: A novel thermophilic chemotrophic bacterium, Hydrogenophilus thiooxidans sp. nov., was isolated from Nakabusa Hot Spring in Japan. The bacterium can grow both chemoheterotrophically and autotrophically under different conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Oscar Salgado, Sergio Guajardo-Leiva, Ana Moya-Beltran, Carla Barbosa, Christina Ridley, Javier Tamayo-Leiva, Raquel Quatrini, Francisco J. M. Mojica, Beatriz Diez
Summary: This study investigated the occurrence and diversity of Cas1 protein in hot spring microbial communities. The results showed that the ecological diversity of Cas1 and 16S rRNA in hot spring microbial communities is associated with geographic location. In addition, new clades of Cas1 homologs and a new casposase family were identified in hot springs.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Janez Mulec, Andreea Oarga-Mulec, Sara Skok, Stanka Sebela, Rosana Cerkvenik, Tomaz Zorman, Ladislav Holko, Tina Elersek, Lejla Pasic
Summary: This study focuses on a sulfidic spring in a karst area, analyzing its geological setting, microbial communities, and ecological impact. Through various analyses, it was found that sulfur compounds in the spring likely come from nearby coal layers, and a diverse microbial community, including Proteobacteria and methylotrophs, resides in the spring water and biofilms. The formation of biodiversity hotspots and ecotones in this area is influenced by environmental factors and climatic conditions, underscoring the importance of understanding and protecting dynamic ecosystems.
Article
Microbiology
Daniel R. Colman, Melody R. Lindsay, Annette Harnish, Evan M. Bilbrey, Maximiliano J. Amenabar, Matthew J. Selensky, Kristopher M. Fecteau, Randall V. Debes, Matthew B. Stott, Everett L. Shock, Eric S. Boyd
Summary: The study found that hot springs exhibit differences in geochemical and microbial diversity across seasons, with these variations being associated with recent precipitation patterns. The formation and succession dynamics of new hot springs are also influenced by surface water recharge.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Ivan J. Moreno, Bianca Brahamsha, Mohamed S. Donia, Brian Palenik
Summary: The microbial mat communities in the hot springs of the Black Canyon of the Colorado River were studied using both culture-independent and -dependent methods. The results showed that these communities are mainly composed of cyanobacterial taxa, along with a diverse community of protists and other eukaryotes. The use of full-length rRNA gene sequencing allowed for a higher resolution of the community, and correlation analysis supported the co-occurrence of cyanobacteria, chloroflexi, and bacteroidetes.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Jeff R. Havig, Joshua E. Kuether, Andrew J. Gangidine, Sarah Schroeder, Trinity L. Hamilton
Summary: Hydrothermal systems harbor ancient microbial communities that could offer clues to the origin of life, making it crucial to study the preservation of biosignatures in these systems. While there are general patterns of elemental enrichment in hydrothermal water, the elemental composition and sources of hot spring microbial communities are still largely unexplored.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liang Guo, Guangcai Wang, Yizhi Sheng, Zheming Shi
Summary: Environmental factors influencing the distribution of microbial communities in hot springs have been extensively studied, but the impact of hydrochemical formation mechanisms and hydrological circulation processes on microbial community composition is not fully understood. This study used hydrochemical, isotopic, and high-throughput sequencing methods to investigate the characteristics and evolution of springwater in acidic and alkaline hot springs in southwestern Yunnan, China. The findings reveal distinct hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics in different types of hot springs, highlighting the potential role of hydrochemical constraints in shaping microbial communities across a range of temperatures.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Melwin Sajan, M. Amirthalingam, Uday Chakkingal
Summary: This study investigates the spring-back behavior of advanced high strength steel using a thermal-mechanical simulator GleebleTM. Results show that increasing the cooling rate reduces spring-back and leads to spring-forward, due to the increased volume fraction of martensite.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Ricardo Konrad, Pablo Vergara-Barros, Jaime Alcorta, Maria E. Alcaman-Arias, Gloria Levican, Christina Ridley, Beatriz Diez
Summary: In this study, the diversity and activity of sulfur-metabolizing bacteria in the non-acidic phototrophic mats of the Porcelana hot spring in Northern Patagonia, Chile were evaluated. The results show that the key players in sulfur metabolism vary in abundance along the temperature gradient, which is relevant for understanding their role in the current global climate change scenario.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nitish Sharma, Dinabandhu Sahoo, Amit K. Rai, Sudhir P. Singh
Summary: A novel gene encoding pectate lyase was discovered from the metagenomic resource of a Himalayan hot spring. The gene could not find a match in the NCBI database. The cloned and expressed protein, EPLM, exhibited pectate lyase activity and showed potential as a biocatalyst for pectin-removal processing applications.
PROCESS BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Robert M. Bowers, Stephen Nayfach, Frederik Schulz, Sean P. Jungbluth, Ilona A. Ruhl, Andriy Sheremet, Janey Lee, Danielle Goudeau, Emiley A. Eloe-Fadrosh, Ramunas Stepanauskas, Rex R. Malmstrom, Nikos C. Kyrpides, Peter F. Dunfield, Tanja Woyke
Summary: Advancements in single-cell genomics have enabled rapid and affordable sequencing of microbial communities, providing a comprehensive snapshot of community composition and function. This approach also allows for the direct linkage of mobile elements to hosts and analysis of population heterogeneity among dominant community members.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jun Dai, Zhu Tang, A-Xiang Gao, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Peter M. Kopittke, Fang-Jie Zhao, Peng Wang
Summary: The accumulation of arsenic (As) in rice is a global concern for human health and international trade. In addition to toxic inorganic arsenic (iAs) and dimethylated arsenate (DMA), highly toxic dimethylated monothioarsenate (DMMTA) is also found in rice worldwide. Previous routine analytical methods mistakenly identified DMMTA as less-toxic DMA. By using a new analytical method, it was discovered that DMMTA is present in rice at concentrations ranging from <0.20 to 34.8 μg/kg, accounting for 0 to 21% of total As. There is a strong linear correlation between DMA and DMMTA concentrations in all rice samples. DMMTA should be considered in health risk assessments and food regulations due to its global occurrence and potential high toxicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ketao Yan, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Philipp Victor Thorben Knobloch, Qinghai Guo, Luxia Wang, Qian Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the adsorption kinetics of different arsenic (As) species onto geothermal sediments. The results showed that sediments with high levels of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) and iron (Fe) exhibited considerable As adsorption capacity. The adsorption rates of different As species decreased in the order of tetrathioarsenate (TetraTA) > monothioarsenate (MTA) > arsenate [iAs(V)] > monomethyl arsenate (MMA) > dimethyl arsenate (DMA) > arsenite [iAs(III)] > monomethyl monothioarsenate (MMMTA) > dimethyl monothioarsenate (DMMTA) > dimethyl dithioarsenate (DMDTA). Thiolation of inorganic As did not necessarily increase its mobility, but the formation of methylated oxyarsenates and their further thiolation endowed geothermal As with strong migration ability.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Katharina Kujala, Tiina Laamanen, Uzair Akbar Khan, Johannes Besold, Britta Planer-Friedrich
Summary: Arsenic and antimony removal from mining-affected waters in Northern Finland is efficiently carried out by two treatment peatlands (TPs). The study investigates the role of peat microorganisms, temperature, and carbon substrate in the removal process using microcosm experiments and pilot-scale TPs. Microbes were found to catalyze the reduction and oxidation of As and Sb species in the TPs, with temperature being a major influencing factor. Low inflow concentrations, long water residence times, and the presence of unfrozen peat in lower layers contribute to efficient removal even under winter conditions.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Erik Pischke, Fabrizio Barozzi, Andrea E. Colina Blanco, Carolin F. Kerl, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Stephan Clemens
Summary: Arsenic is a significant environmental pollutant and human health threat, and different forms of arsenic are present in soil pore waters. Among the organic thioarsenates, DMMTA has been found to be more toxic than arsenite in mammalian cells, leading to deformation of root epidermal cells and inhibition of plant growth. DMMTA is efficiently taken up by plants and is highly mobile within them.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Britta Planer-Friedrich, Carolin F. Kerl, Andrea E. Colina Blanco, Stephan Clemens
Summary: The occurrence of arsenic in rice poses a serious threat to human health. Current regulations only limit carcinogenic inorganic arsenic, while possibly carcinogenic dimethylated thioarsenates are not regulated. More sophisticated methods or regulation of total arsenic should be implemented to accurately assess the toxicity of rice-derived dimethylated thioarsenates.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jose M. Leon Ninin, Andrea E. Colina Blanco, Andreas Held, Britta Planer-Friedrich
Summary: This article introduces a cooperative teaching format that uses a simulated trial of a hexavalent chromium contamination case to engage learners and improve their scientific literacy and communication skills.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Naresh Kumar, Vincent Noel, Johannes Besold, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Kristin Boye, Scott Fendorf, Gordon E. Brown Jr
Summary: Understanding the fate and transformation mechanism of arsenic in Fe-rich sulfidic environments is crucial. This study investigated the reaction of arsenate and arsenite sorbed on ferrihydrite nanoparticle surfaces with dissolved sulfide, revealing the formation of trithioarsenate and arsenite regardless of the initial arsenic species used. The extent of transformation and thioarsenate species formed were influenced by the S/Fe ratios.
ACS EARTH AND SPACE CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Edgardo Valenzuela, Casey Bryce, Judith Forberg, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Andreas Kappler, Francisco J. Cervantes
Summary: Redox-active natural organic matter (NOM) has the potential to fuel chemical and biological reactions. This study explores the role of NOM as a terminal electron acceptor (TEA) in sulfide oxidation and its impact on methane-consuming processes. The findings suggest that NOM can compromise the availability of TEA for the oxidation of organic matter or methane. The study also reveals that NOM is a preferential TEA for catalyzing anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM), while sulfate suppresses methanogenic activities. This research provides insights into how sulfur/organic matter interactions affect microbial processes of CH4 production and consumption.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anh Van Le, Daniel Straub, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Stephan J. Hug, Sara Kleindienst, Andreas Kappler
Summary: This study analyzed the efficiency of household sand filters in removing iron, manganese, arsenic, and ammonium from groundwater. It found that microbial communities and their activities played an important role in the performance of the filters. The study also revealed the presence of diverse microbial communities and their contributions to key functional processes in the filters.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chun Qing, Alan Nicol, Ping Li, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Changguo Yuan, Zhu Kou
Summary: In this study, the similarities and differences in As-S transformation processes were investigated in two Tibetan alkaline hot springs with different total As concentrations and sulfide/As ratios. Microorganisms, such as sulfur-reducing bacteria and arsenate-reducing bacteria, were found to play important roles in these processes. Sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and arsenite-oxidizing bacteria were responsible for the oxidation of As-bound S, leading to the formation of arsenite and arsenate.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xu Fang, Iso Christl, Andrea E. Colina Blanco, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Fang-Jie Zhao, Ruben Kretzschmar
Summary: Soil sulfate amendment and intermittent flooding can effectively decrease the accumulation of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in rice grains. Continuous flooding, regardless of sulfate amendment, leads to rice straighthead disease and increased accumulation of dimethylarsenate (DMA) in grains. The study indicates the importance of combining sulfate amendment and intermittent flooding for improving rice yield and quality in arsenic-affected areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Pengjie Hu, Yu Zhang, Jiajia Wang, Yanpei Du, Zimeng Wang, Qinghai Guo, Zezhen Pan, Xingmao Ma, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Yongming Luo, Longhua Wu
Summary: The formation of colloid- and nanoparticle-bound As is an important geochemical process that can affect the mobility and bioavailability of arsenic (As) in paddy environments. This study focused on the distribution and composition of particle-bound As in paddy soils under changing redox conditions. The results showed that organic matter-stabilized colloidal Fe, most likely in the form of (oxy)hydroxide-clay composite, is the main carrier of As. Soil reduction released As from the colloidal fractions, while reoxidation caused their rapid sedimentation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Luxia Wang, Qinghai Guo, Geng Wu, Zhicheng Yu, Jose Miguel Leon Ninin, Britta Planer-Friedrich
Summary: Hot springs are a significant source of arsenic release into the environment. Methylated thioarsenates, a group with high mobility and toxicity, contribute up to 13% of the total arsenic in hot spring samples from the Tengchong volcanic region in China. Methanogens, especially Methanosarcina, were found to be responsible for arsenic methylation, suggesting a combination of biotic arsenic methylation and arsenic thiolation in sulfide-rich hot spring environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruifang Hu, Jennifer A. Cooper, Samira H. Daroub, Carolin F. Kerl, Britta Planer-Friedrich, Angelia L. Seyfferth
Summary: A study was conducted in the Everglades Agricultural Area in southern Florida to investigate the concentrations of arsenic and cadmium in rice. The results showed that the levels of these trace elements in the rice grain were below regulatory limits, indicating a low health risk for consumers.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carolin F. Kerl, M. Dolores Basallote, Merle Kaeberich, Erica Oldani, Nathalia P. Ceron Espejo, Andrea E. Colina Blanco, Carlos Ruiz Canovas, Jose Miguel Nieto, Britta Planer-Friedrich
Summary: Ria of Huelva in Spain is a highly metal(loid)-contaminated estuary system. Predicted sea level rise will cause flooding with brackish water or seawater, posing risks of metal(loid) mobilization. Factors affecting mobilization include pH, salinity, wave movement, and carbon input. Long-term flooding can lead to neutralization of sediment pH and limit cation mobilization, but high contaminant load suggests mobilization could last for over 1000 years.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)