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1. The First Description of the Microbial Diversity in the Amarillo River (La Rioja, Argentina), a Natural Extreme Environment Where the Whole Microbial Community Paints the Landscape Yellow

Author

Cecilia Elena Bernardelli, Deborah Colman, Edgardo Ruben Donati, and María Sofía Urbieta

Subjects
iron cycle, acidic environment, microbial interactions, geomicrobiology, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract

The Amarillo River in Famatina, La Rioja, Argentina, is a natural acidic river with distinctive yellow-ochreous iron precipitates along its course. While mining activities have occurred in the area, the river’s natural acidity is influenced by environmental factors beyond mineralogy, where microbial species have a crucial role. Although iron-oxidising bacteria have been identified, a comprehensive analysis of the entire microbial community in this extreme environment has not yet been conducted. In this study, we employ high-throughput sequencing to explore the bacterial and fungal diversity in the Amarillo River and Cueva de Pérez terraces, considered prehistoric analogues of the current river basin. Fe(II)-enrichment cultures mimicking different environmental conditions of the river were also analysed to better understand the roles of prokaryotes and fungi in iron oxidation processes. Additionally, we investigate the ecological relationships between bacteria and fungi using co-occurrence and network analysis. Our findings reveal a diverse bacterial community in the river and terraces, including uncultured species affiliated with Acidimicrobiia, part of an uncharacterised universal microbial acidic diversity. Acidophiles such as Acidithiobacillus ferrivorans, the main iron oxidiser of the system, and Acidiphilium, which is unable to catalyse Fe(II) oxidation but has a great metabolic flexibility,, are part of the core of the microbial community, showing significant involvement in intraspecies interactions. Alicyclobacillus, which is the main Fe(II) oxidiser in the enrichment culture at 30 °C and is detected all over the system, highlights its flexibility towards the iron cycle. The prevalence of key microorganisms in both rivers and terraces implies their enduring contribution to the iron cycle as well as in shaping the iconic yellow landscape of the Amarillo River. In conclusion, this study enhances our understanding of microbial involvement in iron mineral precipitation, emphasising the collaborative efforts of bacteria and fungi as fundamental geological agents in the Amarillo River.

Published
2024
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3. Genome analysis of the thermoacidophilic archaeon Acidianus copahuensis focusing on the metabolisms associated to biomining activities

Author

María Sofía Urbieta, Nicolás Rascovan, Martín P. Vázquez, and Edgardo Donati

Subjects
Acidianus copahuensis, Thermoacidophilic archaea, Biomining genes, Biotechnology, TP248.13-248.65, Genetics, QH426-470
Abstract

Abstract Background Several archaeal species from the order Sulfolobales are interesting from the biotechnological point of view due to their biomining capacities. Within this group, the genus Acidianus contains four biomining species (from ten known Acidianus species), but none of these have their genome sequenced. To get insights into the genetic potential and metabolic pathways involved in the biomining activity of this group, we sequenced the genome of Acidianus copahuensis ALE1 strain, a novel thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon (optimum growth: 75 °C, pH 3) isolated from the volcanic geothermal area of Copahue at Neuquén province in Argentina. Previous experimental characterization of A. copahuensis revealed a high biomining potential, exhibited as high oxidation activity of sulfur and sulfur compounds, ferrous iron and sulfide minerals (e.g.: pyrite). This strain is also autotrophic and tolerant to heavy metals, thus, it can grow under adverse conditions for most forms of life with a low nutrient demand, conditions that are commonly found in mining environments. Results In this work we analyzed the genome of Acidianus copahuensis and describe the genetic pathways involved in biomining processes. We identified the enzymes that are most likely involved in growth on sulfur and ferrous iron oxidation as well as those involved in autotrophic carbon fixation. We also found that A. copahuensis genome gathers different features that are only present in particular lineages or species from the order Sulfolobales, some of which are involved in biomining. We found that although most of its genes (81%) were found in at least one other Sulfolobales species, it is not specifically closer to any particular species (60–70% of proteins shared with each of them). Although almost one fifth of A. copahuensis proteins are not found in any other Sulfolobales species, most of them corresponded to hypothetical proteins from uncharacterized metabolisms. Conclusion In this work we identified the genes responsible for the biomining metabolisms that we have previously observed experimentally. We provide a landscape of the metabolic potentials of this strain in the context of Sulfolobales and propose various pathways and cellular processes not yet fully understood that can use A. copahuensis as an experimental model to further understand the fascinating biology of thermoacidophilic biomining archaea.

Published
2017
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4. Meta-Analysis of Microbial Communities in Hot Springs: Recurrent Taxa and Complex Shaping Factors beyond pH and Temperature

Author

Francisco L. Massello, Chia Sing Chan, Kok-Gan Chan, Kian Mau Goh, Edgardo Donati, and María Sofía Urbieta

Subjects
hot springs, extreme environments, microbial communities, extremophiles, amplicon sequencing, Caviahue-Copahue, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract

The study of microbial communities from extreme environments is a fascinating topic. With every study, biologists and ecologists reveal interesting facts and questions that dispel the old belief that these are inhospitable environments. In this work, we assess the microbial diversity of three hot springs from Neuquén, Argentina, using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. We predicted a distinct metabolic profile in the acidic and the circumneutral samples, with the first ones being dominated by chemolithotrophs and the second ones by chemoheterotrophs. Then, we collected data of the microbial communities of hot springs around the world in an effort to comprehend the roles of pH and temperature as shaping factors. Interestingly, there was a covariation between both parameters and the phylogenetic distance between communities; however, neither of them could explain much of the microbial profile in an ordination model. Moreover, there was no correlation between alpha diversity and these parameters. Therefore, the microbial communities’ profile seemed to have complex shaping factors beyond pH and temperature. Lastly, we looked for taxa associated with different environmental conditions. Several such taxa were found. For example, Hydrogenobaculum was frequently present in acidic springs, as was the Sulfolobaceae family; on the other hand, Candidatus Hydrothermae phylum was strongly associated with circumneutral conditions. Interestingly, some singularities related to sites featuring certain taxa were also observed.

Published
2020
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5. Bacillus cytotoxicus Isolated from a Pristine Natural Geothermal Area Reveals High Keratinolytic Activity

Author

Ivana Cavello, María Sofía Urbieta, Sebastián Cavalitto, and Edgardo Donati

Subjects
Domuyo geothermal area, keratinases, feather waste, cytK-1 toxin, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract

Geothermal areas are the niches of a rich microbial diversity that is not only part of the intangible patrimony of a country but also the source of many microbial species with potential biotechnological applications. Particularly, microbial species in geothermal areas in Argentina have been scarcely explored regarding their possible biotechnological uses. The purpose of this work was to explore the proteolytic and keratinolytic enzymatic potential of microorganisms that inhabit in the Domuyo geothermal area in the Neuquén Province. To this end, we did enrichment cultures from two high-temperature natural samples in mineral media only supplemented with whole chicken feathers. After the isolation and the phylogenetic and morphologic characterization of different colonies, we obtained a collection of Bacillus cytotoxicus isolates, a species with no previous report of keratinolytic activity and only reported in rehydrated meals connected with food poisoning outbreaks. Its natural habitat has been unknown up to now. We characterized the proteolytic and keratinolytic capacities of the B. cytotoxicus isolates in different conditions, which proved to be remarkably high compared with those of other similar species. Thus, our work represents the first report of the isolation as well as the keratinolytic capacity characterization of strains of B. cytotixicus obtained from a natural environment.

Published
2020
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6. A Deeper Look into the Biodiversity of the Extremely Acidic Copahue volcano-Río Agrio System in Neuquén, Argentina

Author

Germán Lopez Bedogni, Francisco L. Massello, Alejandra Giaveno, Edgardo Rubén Donati, and María Sofía Urbieta

Subjects
acidic river, 16s rrna biodiversity, extreme environment, acidophiles, copahue-caviahue, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract

The Copahue volcano-Río Agrio system, on Patagonia Argentina, comprises the naturally acidic river Río Agrio, that runs from a few meters down the Copahue volcano crater to more than 40 km maintaining low pH waters, and the acidic lagoon that sporadically forms on the crater of the volcano, which is studied for the first time in this work. We used next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the entire prokaryotic community to study the biodiversity of this poorly explored extreme environment. The correlation of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs)s presence with physicochemical variables showed that the system contains three distinct environments: the crater lagoon, the Upper Río Agrio, and the Salto del Agrio waterfall, a point located approximately 12 km down the origin of the river, after it emerges from the Caviahue lake. The prokaryotic community of the Copahue Volcano-Río Agrio system is mainly formed by acidic bacteria and archaea, such as Acidithiobacillus, Ferroplasma, and Leptospirillum, which have been isolated from similar environments around the world. These results support the idea of a ubiquitous acidic biodiversity; however, this highly interesting extreme environment also has apparently autochthonous species such as Sulfuriferula, Acidianus copahuensis, and strains of Acidibacillus and Alicyclobacillus.

Published
2019
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7. Copahue Geothermal System: A Volcanic Environment with Rich Extreme Prokaryotic Biodiversity

Author

María Sofía Urbieta, Graciana Willis Porati, Ana Belén Segretín, Elena González-Toril, María Alejandra Giaveno, and Edgardo Rubén Donati

Subjects
Copahue geothermal system, acidic environment, prokaryotic biodiversity, extremophiles, Biology (General), QH301-705.5
Abstract

The Copahue geothermal system is a natural extreme environment located at the northern end of the Cordillera de los Andes in Neuquén province in Argentina. The geochemistry and consequently the biodiversity of the area are dominated by the activity of the Copahue volcano. The main characteristic of Copahue is the extreme acidity of its aquatic environments; ponds and hot springs of moderate and high temperature as well as Río Agrio. In spite of being an apparently hostile location, the prokaryotic biodiversity detected by molecular ecology techniques as well as cultivation shows a rich and diverse environment dominated by acidophilic, sulphur oxidising bacteria or archaea, depending on the conditions of the particular niche studied. In microbial biofilms, found in the borders of the ponds where thermal activity is less intense, the species found are completely different, with a high presence of cyanobacteria and other photosynthetic species. Our results, collected during more than 10 years of work in Copahue, have enabled us to outline geomicrobiological models for the different environments found in the ponds and Río Agrio. Besides, Copahue seems to be the habitat of novel, not yet characterised autochthonous species, especially in the domain Archaea.

Published
2015
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8. Meta-analysis of microbial communities in hot springs: Recurrent taxa and complex shaping factors beyond ph and temperature

Author

Edgardo Ruben Donati, Chia Sing Chan, Francisco Luis Massello, Kian Mau Goh, Kok-Gan Chan, and María Sofía Urbieta

Subjects
Microbiology (medical), Domuyo, microbial communities, Biology, extreme environments, DOMUYO, Microbiology, Article, purl.org/becyt/ford/1 [https], 03 medical and health sciences, HOT SPRINGS, Virology, Extremophile, Extreme environment, MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES, CAVIAHUE-COPAHUE, purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6 [https], lcsh:QH301-705.5, Ciencias Exactas, extremophiles, 030304 developmental biology, 0303 health sciences, amplicon sequencing, 030306 microbiology, Ecology, Phylum, hot springs, EXTREMOPHILES, AMPLICON SEQUENCING, Taxon, EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS, lcsh:Biology (General), Candidatus, Amplicon sequencing, Ordination, Alpha diversity, Caviahue-Copahue
Abstract

The study of microbial communities from extreme environments is a fascinating topic. With every study, biologists and ecologists reveal interesting facts and questions that dispel the old belief that these are inhospitable environments. In this work, we assess the microbial diversity of three hot springs from Neuqu&eacute, n, Argentina, using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. We predicted a distinct metabolic profile in the acidic and the circumneutral samples, with the first ones being dominated by chemolithotrophs and the second ones by chemoheterotrophs. Then, we collected data of the microbial communities of hot springs around the world in an effort to comprehend the roles of pH and temperature as shaping factors. Interestingly, there was a covariation between both parameters and the phylogenetic distance between communities, however, neither of them could explain much of the microbial profile in an ordination model. Moreover, there was no correlation between alpha diversity and these parameters. Therefore, the microbial communities&rsquo, profile seemed to have complex shaping factors beyond pH and temperature. Lastly, we looked for taxa associated with different environmental conditions. Several such taxa were found. For example, Hydrogenobaculum was frequently present in acidic springs, as was the Sulfolobaceae family, on the other hand, Candidatus Hydrothermae phylum was strongly associated with circumneutral conditions. Interestingly, some singularities related to sites featuring certain taxa were also observed.

Published
2020

9. Bacillus cytotoxicus Isolated from a Pristine Natural Geothermal Area Reveals High Keratinolytic Activity

Author

Sebastian Fernando Cavalitto, María Sofía Urbieta, Edgardo Ruben Donati, and Ivana Alejandra Cavello

Subjects
0106 biological sciences, Microbiology (medical), Feather waste, Microorganism, Zoology, Biology, feather waste, 01 natural sciences, Microbiology, Natural (archaeology), Domuyo geothermal area, 03 medical and health sciences, 010608 biotechnology, Virology, cytK-1 toxin, Geothermal gradient, lcsh:QH301-705.5, 030304 developmental biology, Ecological niche, 0303 health sciences, Phylogenetic tree, purl.org/becyt/ford/2.8 [https], Communication, CytK-1 toxin, Química, keratinases, Isolation (microbiology), Keratinases, Habitat, lcsh:Biology (General), purl.org/becyt/ford/2 [https], Bacillus cytotoxicus
Abstract

Geothermal areas are the niches of a rich microbial diversity that is not only part of the intangible patrimony of a country but also the source of many microbial species with potential biotechnological applications. Particularly, microbial species in geothermal areas in Argentina have been scarcely explored regarding their possible biotechnological uses. The purpose of this work was to explore the proteolytic and keratinolytic enzymatic potential of microorganisms that inhabit in the Domuyo geothermal area in the Neuquén Province. To this end, we did enrichment cultures from two high-temperature natural samples in mineral media only supplemented with whole chicken feathers. After the isolation and the phylogenetic and morphologic characterization of different colonies, we obtained a collection of Bacillus cytotoxicus isolates, a species with no previous report of keratinolytic activity and only reported in rehydrated meals connected with food poisoning outbreaks. Its natural habitat has been unknown up to now. We characterized the proteolytic and keratinolytic capacities of the B. cytotoxicus isolates in different conditions, which proved to be remarkably high compared with those of other similar species. Thus, our work represents the first report of the isolation as well as the keratinolytic capacity characterization of strains of B. cytotixicus obtained from a natural environment., Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales

Published
2020

10. A Deeper Look into the Biodiversity of the Extremely Acidic Copahue volcano-Río Agrio System in Neuquén, Argentina

Author

María Sofía Urbieta, Edgardo Ruben Donati, Alejandra Giaveno, Francisco Luis Massello, and Germán López Bedogni

Subjects
Microbiology (medical), copahue-caviahue, Biodiversity, Geochemistry, Ferroplasma, Microbiology, Article, 03 medical and health sciences, Impact crater, Virology, 16s rrna biodiversity, Extreme environment, extreme environment, acidophiles, lcsh:QH301-705.5, Ciencias Exactas, 030304 developmental biology, 0303 health sciences, geography, Copahue-Caviahue, geography.geographical_feature_category, biology, purl.org/becyt/ford/2.8 [https], 030306 microbiology, Alicyclobacillus, 16S rRNA biodiversity, acidic river, biology.organism_classification, Volcano, purl.org/becyt/ford/2 [https], lcsh:Biology (General), Acidianus copahuensis, Geology, Archaea
Abstract

The Copahue volcano-R&iacute, o Agrio system, on Patagonia Argentina, comprises the naturally acidic river R&iacute, o Agrio, that runs from a few meters down the Copahue volcano crater to more than 40 km maintaining low pH waters, and the acidic lagoon that sporadically forms on the crater of the volcano, which is studied for the first time in this work. We used next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the entire prokaryotic community to study the biodiversity of this poorly explored extreme environment. The correlation of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs)s presence with physicochemical variables showed that the system contains three distinct environments: the crater lagoon, the Upper R&iacute, o Agrio, and the Salto del Agrio waterfall, a point located approximately 12 km down the origin of the river, after it emerges from the Caviahue lake. The prokaryotic community of the Copahue Volcano-R&iacute, o Agrio system is mainly formed by acidic bacteria and archaea, such as Acidithiobacillus, Ferroplasma, and Leptospirillum, which have been isolated from similar environments around the world. These results support the idea of a ubiquitous acidic biodiversity, however, this highly interesting extreme environment also has apparently autochthonous species such as Sulfuriferula, Acidianus copahuensis, and strains of Acidibacillus and Alicyclobacillus.

Published
2020

11. Assessment of Keratinase and Other Hydrolytic Enzymes in Thermophilic Bacteria Isolated from Geothermal Areas in Patagonia Argentina

Author

Ana Belén Segretin, Sebastian Fernando Cavalitto, Ivana Alejandra Cavello, María Sofía Urbieta, Edgardo Ruben Donati, and Alejandra Giaveno

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, keratinolytic microorganisms, animal structures, biology, Ecology, thermophilic bacteria, Thermophile, 030106 microbiology, Biotecnología del Medio Ambiente, THERMOPHILIC BACTERIA, INGENIERÍAS Y TECNOLOGÍAS, Microbiology, 03 medical and health sciences, Keratinase, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), biology.protein, Environmental Chemistry, BIODIVERSITY, KERATINOLYTIC MICROORGANISMS, Ciencias Exactas, Bioremediación, Diagnóstico Biotecnológico en Gestión Medioambiental, biodiversity, General Environmental Science
Abstract

Thermophilic aerobic bacteria were isolated from two geothermal areas in Neuquén province using two different enrichment methods and a total of 30 isolates were obtained. From chicken feather enrichment cultures, strains affiliated to Bacillus cytotoxicus and Bacillus licheniformis were isolated and all of them demonstrated the capability to degrade completely chicken feather. A preliminary research on biotechnological enzymes’ potential demonstrated that all the isolates displayed at least one of the extracellular hydrolytic enzymes tested. Most of the isolates showed protease, inulinase and/or pectinase activities, while cellulase and xylanase activities were less common. In light of these findings, geothermal areas of Argentina may be considered as a potential source of thermophilic bacteria able to produce many industrially relevant enzymes., Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales

Published
2018

12. Genome analysis of the thermoacidophilic archaeon Acidianus copahuensis focusing on the metabolisms associated to biomining activities

Author

Martin P. Vazquez, Nicolás Rascovan, María Sofía Urbieta, and Edgardo Ruben Donati

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, lcsh:QH426-470, Otras Ciencias Biológicas, Iron, lcsh:Biotechnology, 030106 microbiology, Biomining, Context (language use), Thermoacidophilic archaea, Proteomics, Acidianus copahuensis, Genome, Mining, Microbiology, Carbon Cycle, purl.org/becyt/ford/1 [https], Ciencias Biológicas, 03 medical and health sciences, lcsh:TP248.13-248.65, Genetics, purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6 [https], Gene, Biomining genes, biology, Temperature, Genomics, Química, biology.organism_classification, lcsh:Genetics, 030104 developmental biology, Metals, Sulfolobales, Oxidoreductases, CIENCIAS NATURALES Y EXACTAS, Acidianus, Sulfur, Biotechnology, Archaea, Research Article
Abstract

Background: Several archaeal species from the order Sulfolobales are interesting from the biotechnological point of view due to their biomining capacities. Within this group, the genus Acidianus contains four biomining species (from ten known Acidianus species), but none of these have their genome sequenced. To get insights into the genetic potential and metabolic pathways involved in the biomining activity of this group, we sequenced the genome of Acidianus copahuensis ALE1 strain, a novel thermoacidophilic crenarchaeon (optimum growth: 75 °C, pH 3) isolated from the volcanic geothermal area of Copahue at Neuquén province in Argentina. Previous experimental characterization of A. copahuensis revealed a high biomining potential, exhibited as high oxidation activity of sulfur and sulfur compounds, ferrous iron and sulfide minerals (e.g.: pyrite). This strain is also autotrophic and tolerant to heavy metals, thus, it can grow under adverse conditions for most forms of life with a low nutrient demand, conditions that are commonly found in mining environments. Results: In this work we analyzed the genome of Acidianus copahuensis and describe the genetic pathways involved in biomining processes. We identified the enzymes that are most likely involved in growth on sulfur and ferrous iron oxidation as well as those involved in autotrophic carbon fixation. We also found that A. copahuensis genome gathers different features that are only present in particular lineages or species from the order Sulfolobales, some of which are involved in biomining. We found that although most of its genes (81%) were found in at least one other Sulfolobales species, it is not specifically closer to any particular species (60-70% of proteins shared with each of them). Although almost one fifth of A. copahuensis proteins are not found in any other Sulfolobales species, most of them corresponded to hypothetical proteins from uncharacterized metabolisms. Conclusion: In this work we identified the genes responsible for the biomining metabolisms that we have previously observed experimentally. We provide a landscape of the metabolic potentials of this strain in the context of Sulfolobales and propose various pathways and cellular processes not yet fully understood that can use A. copahuensis as an experimental model to further understand the fascinating biology of thermoacidophilic biomining archaea., Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales

Published
2017

13. Thermophilic microorganisms in biomining

Author

María Sofía Urbieta, Camila Castro, and Edgardo Ruben Donati

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, BIOOXIDATION, Physiology, Microorganism, Biotecnología del Medio Ambiente, Biomining, 02 engineering and technology, INGENIERÍAS Y TECNOLOGÍAS, Biology, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Mining, 020501 mining & metallurgy, 03 medical and health sciences, Industrial Microbiology, Bioleaching, THERMOPHILES, Mineral processing, Bioremediación, Diagnóstico Biotecnológico en Gestión Medioambiental, Roasting, Bacteria, METAL RECOVERY, Thermophile, Metallurgy, BIOMINING, General Medicine, Pulp and paper industry, Archaea, 030104 developmental biology, 0205 materials engineering, BIOLEACHING, Smelting, Gold, Oxidation-Reduction, Copper, Biotechnology, Mesophile
Abstract

Biomining is an applied biotechnology for mineral processing and metal extraction from ores and concentrates. This alternative technology for recovering metals involves the hydrometallurgical processes known as bioleaching and biooxidation where the metal is directly solubilized or released from the matrix for further solubilization, respectively. Several commercial applications of biomining can be found around the world to recover mainly copper and gold but also other metals; most of them are operating at temperatures below 40–50 °C using mesophilic and moderate thermophilic microorganisms. Although biomining offers an economically viable and cleaner option, its share of the world´s production of metals has not grown as much as it was expected, mainly considering that due to environmental restrictions in many countries smelting and roasting technologies are being eliminated. The slow rate of biomining processes is for sure the main reason of their poor implementation. In this scenario the use of thermophiles could be advantageous because higher operational temperature would increase the rate of the process and in addition it would eliminate the energy input for cooling the system (bioleaching reactions are exothermic causing a serious temperature increase in bioreactors and inside heaps that adversely affects most of the mesophilic microorganisms) and it would decrease the passivation of mineral surfaces. In the last few years many thermophilic bacteria and archaea have been isolated, characterized, and even used for extracting metals. This paper reviews the current status of biomining using thermophiles, describes the main characteristics of thermophilic biominers and discusses the future for this biotechnology. Fil: Donati, Edgardo Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; Argentina Fil: Castro, Camila Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; Argentina Fil: Urbieta, María Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; Argentina

Published
2016

14. Comparison of the microbial communities of hot springs waters and the microbial biofilms in the acidic geothermal area of Copahue (Neuquén, Argentina)

Author

Elena González-Toril, Ángeles Aguilera Bazán, Edgardo Ruben Donati, María Sofía Urbieta, and María Alejandra Giaveno

Subjects
Cyanobacteria, Microorganism, Biotecnología del Medio Ambiente, INGENIERÍAS Y TECNOLOGÍAS, Microbiology, Hot Springs, Sulfolobus, HOT SPRINGS, Microbial ecology, parasitic diseases, Extremophile, COPAHUE, Otras Biotecnología del Medio Ambiente, Geothermal gradient, Phylogeny, biology, Ecology, Microbiota, fungi, General Medicine, CYANOBACTERIA, biology.organism_classification, EXTREMOPHILES, Chloroflexi (class), Microbial population biology, Biofilms, Molecular Medicine, Acids, Archaea
Abstract

Copahue is a natural geothermal field (Neuquén province, Argentina) dominated by the Copahue volcano. As a consequence of the sustained volcanic activity, Copahue presents many acidic pools, hot springs and solfataras with different temperature and pH conditions that influence their microbial diversity. The occurrence of microbial biofilms was observed on the surrounding rocks and the borders of the ponds, where water movements and thermal activity are less intense. Microbial biofilms are particular ecological niches within geothermal environments; they present different geochemical conditions from that found in the water of the ponds and hot springs which is reflected in different microbial community structure. The aim of this study is to compare microbial community diversity in the water of ponds and hot springs and in microbial biofilms in the Copahue geothermal field, with particular emphasis on Cyanobacteria and other photosynthetic species that have not been detected before in Copahue. In this study, we report the presence of Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi and chloroplasts of eukaryotes in the microbial biofilms not detected in the water of the ponds. On the other hand, acidophilic bacteria, the predominant species in the water of moderate temperature ponds, are almost absent in the microbial biofilms in spite of having in some cases similar temperature conditions. Species affiliated with Sulfolobales in the Archaea domain are the predominant microorganism in high temperature ponds and were also detected in the microbial biofilms. Fil: Urbieta, María Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - la Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo En Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Cs.exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo En Fermentaciones Industriales; Argentina Fil: Gonzalez Toril, Elena. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas; España Fil: Aguilera Bazán, Ángeles. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas; España Fil: Giaveno, María Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnol.conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Des. En Ing. de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energias Alternativas. Idepa - Subsede San Antonio Oeste; Argentina Fil: Donati, Edgardo Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - la Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo En Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Cs.exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo En Fermentaciones Industriales; Argentina

Published
2015

15. Cyanobacteria and photosynthetic species as part of the microbial community structure of biofilms in Copahue geothermal springs (Neuquén, Argentina)

Author

María Alejandra Giaveno, E. Donati, Edgardo Ruben Donati, Elena González Toril, María Sofía Urbieta, and Angeles Aguilera

Subjects
Cyanobacteria, ACIDIC ENVIRONMENTS, biology, Ecology, Geothermal Springs, Biotecnología del Medio Ambiente, General Engineering, Biofilm, Biotecnología Medioambiental, INGENIERÍAS Y TECNOLOGÍAS, CYANOBACTERIA, Photosynthesis, biology.organism_classification, Microbial population biology, Environmental science, COPAHUE, Geothermal gradient
Abstract

Copahue is a geothermal field located in the Northwest corner of Neuquén province in Argentina. It is dominated by the still active Copahue volcano. In the area there are many acidic pools, hot springs and solfataras with different temperature and pH conditions that influence their microbial diversity. On the surrounding rocks and the borders of the pools, where water movements and thermal activity are less intense, many biofilms can be found. They have different aspects and structure, and they present less extreme temperature and pH conditions than the ponds and hot springs. Biofilms are a different ecological niche and they have different microbial community structure. In this study carried out by molecular ecology techniques, mainly 16S and 18S rRNA sequencing, we report a strong presence of cyanobacterias, cloroflexi and eukaryotes, not detected in previous biodiversity studies done on water samples. Almost no acidophilic bacteria were found, with the exception of members of genus Thiomonas, also found in the acidic pools. Archaea were detected only in one of the biofilms and the structure of that community seems to be similar to those found in water samples, with many uncultured species mainly related to order Sulfolobales. The aim of this study is to assess microbial community diversity in the biofilms present in this acidic geothermal area, with particular emphasis on detection of cyanobacterias and eukaryotes with potential biotechnological applications like production of alternative energy sources, synthesis and accumulation of biomolecules with antiviral or antibiotic activities or potential ability to bioremediate contaminated areas. Fil: Urbieta, María Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; Argentina Fil: González Toril, Elena. Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial. Centro de Astrobiología; España Fil: Aguilera, Ángeles. Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial. Centro de Astrobiología; España Fil: Giaveno, María Alejandra. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; Argentina Fil: Donati, Edgardo Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Fermentaciones Industriales; Argentina

Published
2013

16. How Flexible are the Prokaryote Consortia in the Extreme Habitat of the Copahue Geothermal System?

Author

María Alejandra Giaveno, María Sofía Urbieta, Ricardo Ulloa, Teresa Laura Lavalle, Edgardo Ruben Donati, and Natasha Zurakoski

Subjects
Flexibility (engineering), biology, Ecology, Thermophile, FLEXIBILITY, General Engineering, food and beverages, Prokaryote, biology.organism_classification, ACIDOPHILES, Ciencias de la Tierra y relacionadas con el Medio Ambiente, Habitat, Ciencias Medioambientales, Environmental science, DGGE, THERMOPHILES, Geothermal gradient, CIENCIAS NATURALES Y EXACTAS
Abstract

Microbial consortia taken from an extreme environment were grown at different temperatures and enrichment media. The consortia response to environmental changes was evaluated in order to investigate their metabolic flexibility. The molecular technique, DGGE (denaturing gel gradient electrophoresis) was carried out to evaluate the biodiversity. The results show that each consortium was able to grow according to the available resources, demonstrating their flexibility. A selective development was detected when growing conditions were similar to those found in the natural environment even though some species were able to grown even in conditions far away from those present in the sampling sites. Fil: Zurakoski, Natasha. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina Fil: Giaveno, María A.. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; Argentina Fil: Ulloa, Ricardo J.. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; Argentina Fil: Lavalle, Teresa Laura. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ingeniería de Procesos, Biotecnología y Energías Alternativas; Argentina Fil: Urbieta, María Sofía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo En Fermentaciones Industriales (i); Argentina Fil: Donati, Edgardo Ruben. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico la Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo En Fermentaciones Industriales (i); Argentina

Published
2013

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