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Comparative genomics and physiology of the genus Methanohalophilus , a prevalent methanogen in hydraulically fractured shale
- Source :
- Environmental Microbiology. 20:4596-4611
- Publication Year :
- 2018
- Publisher :
- Wiley, 2018.
-
Abstract
- About 60% of natural gas production in the United States comes from hydraulic fracturing of unconventional reservoirs, such as shales or organic-rich micrites. This process inoculates and enriches for halotolerant microorganisms in these reservoirs over time, resulting in a saline ecosystem that includes methane producing archaea. Here, we survey the biogeography of methanogens across unconventional reservoirs, and report that members of genus Methanohalophilus are recovered from every hydraulically fractured unconventional reservoir sampled by metagenomics. We provide the first genomic sequencing of three isolate genomes, as well as two metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). Utilizing six other previously sequenced isolate genomes and MAGs, we perform comparative analysis of the 11 genomes representing this genus. This genomic investigation revealed distinctions between surface and subsurface derived genomes that are consistent with constraints encountered in each environment. Genotypic differences were also uncovered between isolate genomes recovered from the same well, suggesting niche partitioning among closely related strains. These genomic substrate utilization predictions were then confirmed by physiological investigation. Fine-scale microdiversity was observed in CRISPR-Cas systems of Methanohalophilus, with genomes from geographically distinct unconventional reservoirs sharing spacers targeting the same viral population. These findings have implications for augmentation strategies resulting in enhanced biogenic methane production in hydraulically fractured unconventional reservoirs.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Comparative genomics
education.field_of_study
biology
Hydraulic Fracking
Population
Niche differentiation
Methanosarcinaceae
Natural Gas
Methanohalophilus
biology.organism_classification
Microbiology
Methanogen
Genome
03 medical and health sciences
030104 developmental biology
Evolutionary biology
Metagenomics
Metagenome
Oil and Gas Fields
education
Ecosystem
Genome, Bacterial
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Archaea
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14622920 and 14622912
- Volume :
- 20
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Environmental Microbiology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....1755434ae52077910f7ad63cdfc33dfc