Molecular and culture-based surveys of metabolically active hydrocarbon-degrading archaeal communities in Sundarban mangrove sediments.

Archaea remain important players in global biogeochemical cycles worldwide, including in the highly productive mangrove estuarine ecosystems. In the present study, we have explored the diversity, distribution, and function of the metabolically active fraction of the resident archaeal community of the Sundarban mangrove ecosystem, using both culture-independent and culture-dependent approaches. To evaluate the diversity and distribution pattern of the active archaeal communities, RNA based analysis of the 16S rRNA gene was performed on an Illumina platform. The active Crenarchaeal community was observed to remain constant while active Euryarchaeal community underwent considerable change across the sampling sites depending on varying anthropogenic factors. Haloarchaea were the predominant group in hydrocarbon polluted sediments, leading us to successfully isolate eleven p-hydroxybenzoic acid degrading haloarchaeal species. The isolates could also survive in benzoic acid, naphthalene, and o-phthalate. Quantitative estimation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid degradation was studied on select isolates, and their ability to reduce COD of polluted saline waters of Sundarban was also evaluated. To our knowledge, this is the first ever study combining culture-independent (Next Generation sequencing and metatranscriptome) and culture-dependent analyses for an assessment of archaeal function in the sediment of Sundarban.

Interaction between ferruginous clay sediment and an iron-reducing hyperthermophilic Pyrobaculum sp. in a terrestrial hot spring.

Green-coloured sediments in low-temperature geothermal surface features are typically indicative of photosynthetic activity. A near-boiling (89-93°C), alkali-chloride spring in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand, was observed to have dark green sediments despite being too hot to support any known photosynthetic organisms. Analysis of aqueous and sediment microbial communities via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed them to be dominated by Aquifex spp., a genus of known hyperthermophilic hydrogen-oxidisers (69%-91% of operational taxonomic units (OTUs)), followed by groups within the Crenarchaeota (3%-20%), including the known iron-reducing genus Pyrobaculum. Cultivation experiments suggest that the green colouration of clay sediments in this spring may be due in part to ferruginous clays and associated compounds serving as substrates for the iron-reducing activity of low-abundance Pyrobaculum spp. These findings demonstrate the dynamic nature of microbe-mineral interactions in geothermal environments, and the potential ability of the rarer biosphere (1%-2% of observed sequences, cell densities of 450-33 000 g-1 sediment) to influence mineral formation at a macro-scale.

Climate controls prokaryotic community composition in desert soils of the southwestern United States.

Aridisols are the dominant soil type in drylands, which occupy one-third of Earth's terrestrial surface. We examined controls on biogeographical patterns of Aridisol prokaryotic (bacterial and archaeal) communities at a regional scale by comparing communities from 100 Aridisols throughout the southwestern United States using high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. We found that microbial communities differed among global biomes and deserts of the Southwest. Differences among biomes were driven by differences in taxonomic identities, whereas differences among deserts of the Southwest were driven by differences in relative sequence abundance. Desert communities were dominated by Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Crenarchaeota, supporting the notion of a core set of abundant taxa in desert soils. Our findings contrast with studies showing little taxonomic overlap at the OTU level (97% sequence similarity) across large spatial scales, as we found ∼90% of taxa in at least two of the three deserts. Geographic distance structured prokaryotic communities indirectly through the influence of climate and soil properties. Structural equation modeling suggests that climate exerts a stronger influence than soil properties in shaping the composition of Aridisol microbial communities, with annual heat moisture index (an aridity metric) being the strongest climate driver. Annual heat moisture index was associated with decreased microbial diversity and richness. If the Desert Southwest becomes hotter and drier as predicted, these findings suggest that prokaryotic diversity and richness in Aridisols will decline.

Soil prokaryotic communities in Chernobyl waste disposal trench T22 are modulated by organic matter and radionuclide contamination.

After the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986, contaminated soils, vegetation from the Red Forest and other radioactive debris were buried within trenches. In this area, trench T22 has long been a pilot site for the study of radionuclide migration in soil. Here, we used 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes to obtain a comprehensive view of the bacterial and archaeal diversity in soils collected inside and in the vicinity of the trench T22 and to investigate the impact of radioactive waste disposal on prokaryotic communities. A remarkably high abundance of Chloroflexi and AD3 was detected in all soil samples from this area. Our statistical analysis revealed profound changes in community composition at the phylum and OTUs levels and higher diversity in the trench soils as compared to the outside. Our results demonstrate that the total absorbed dose rate by cell and, to a lesser extent the organic matter content of the trench, are the principal variables influencing prokaryotic assemblages. We identified specific phylotypes affiliated to the phyla Crenarchaeota, Acidobacteria, AD3, Chloroflexi, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobia and WPS-2, which were unique for the trench soils.

Exploring the Goat Rumen Microbiome from Seven Days to Two Years.

Rumen microbial communities play important roles in feed conversion and the physiological development of the ruminants. Despite its significance, little is known about the rumen microbial communities at different life stages after birth. In this study, we characterized the rumen bacterial and the archaeal communities in 11 different age groups (7, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 360, 540 and 720 days old) of a crossbred F1 goats (n = 5 for each group) by using an Illumina MiSeq platform targeting the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. We found that the bacterial communities were mainly composed of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria across all age groups. The relative abundance of Firmicutes was stable across all age groups. While changes in relative abundance were observed in Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, these two phyla reached a stable stage after weaning (day 90). Euryarchaeota (82%) and Thaumarchaeota (15%) were the dominant phyla of Archaea. Crenarchaeota was also observed, although at a very low relative abundance (0.68% at most). A clear age-related pattern was observed in the diversity of bacterial community with 59 OTUs associated with age. In contrast, no age-related OTU was observed in archaea. In conclusion, our results suggested that from 7 days to 2 years, the ruminal microbial community of our experimental goats underwent significant changes in response to the shift in age and diet.

The effect of temperature change on the microbial diversity and community structure along the chronosequence of the sub-arctic glacier forefield of Styggedalsbreen (Norway).

Microbial communities in the glacier forefield of Styggedalsbreen, Norway, were investigated along a chronosequence from newly exposed soil to vegetated soils using next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. In order to monitor the short-term effect of temperature on community successions along the soil gradient, the soil samples were incubated at three different temperatures (5°C, 10°C and 22°C). The microbial community composition along the chronosequence differed according to distance from the glacial terminus and incubation temperature. Samples close to the glacier terminus were dominated by Proteobacteria at 5°C and 10°C, while at 22°C members of Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia in addition to Proteobacteria accounted for most of the diversity, indicating that sites close to the glacier terminus are more closely related to former subglacial environments. Within the Archaea domain, members of the phylum Euryarchaeota dominated in samples closer to the glacier terminus with a shift to members of the phyla Thaumarchaeota-Crenarchaeota with increased soil age. Our data indicate that composition and diversity of the microbial communities along the glacier forefield depend not only on exposure time but are also to a large degree influenced by soil surface temperature and soil maturation.

Microbial Community Associated with Thioploca sp. Sheaths in the Area of the Posolski Bank Methane Seep, Southern Baikal.

Bacterial mats formed by a colorless sulfur bacterium Thioploca sp. in the area of the Posolski Bank cold methane seep (southern Baikal) were -studied using electron microscopy and phylogenetic analysis. Morphologically the bacteria were identified as Thioploca ingrica.- Confocal microscopy of DAPI-stained samples revealed numerous rod-shaped, filamentous, and spiral microorganisms in the sheaths, as well as in- side and between the trichomes. Transmission electron microscopy revealed nonvacuolated bacteria and small cells-without cell envelopes within the sheath. Bacteria with pronounced intracytoplasmic membranes characteristic; of type I methanotrophs were observed at the outer side of the sheath. Based on analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, the following phyla were idenified in the sheath community: Bacteroidetes, Nitro- spira, Chloroflexi, Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia,'y-, and 6-Proteobacteria, Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, and Thaumarchaeota, as well as anammox bacteria. A hypothetical scheme of matter flows in the Lake Baikal bacterial mats was proposed based on the data on metabolism of the cultured homologues.

Sulfate Reduction and Inorganic Carbon Assimilation in Acidic Thermal Springs of the Kamchatka Peninsula.

Thermoacidophilic sulfate reduction remains a poorly studied process, which was investigated in the present work. Radioisotope analysis with 35S-Iabeled sulfate was used to determine the rates of dissimilatory sulfate reduction in acidic thermal springs of Kamchatka, Russia. Sulfate reduction rates were found to vary from 0.054 to 12.9 nmol S04/(cm3 day). The Neftyanaya ploshchadka spring (Uzon caldera, 60'C, pH 4.2) and Oreshek spring (Mutnovskii volcano, 91'C, pH 3.5) exhibited the highest activity of sulfate-reducing prokaryotes. Stable enrich- ment'cultures reducing sulfate at pH and temperature values close to'the environmental ones were obtained from these springs. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that'a chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Ther- modesufobium sp. 3127-1 was responsible for sulfate reduction in the enrichment from the Oil Site spring. A chemoorganoheterotrophic archaeon Vulcanisaeta sp. 3102-1 (phylum Crenarchaeota) was identified in the en- richment from Oreshek spring. Thus, dissimilatory sulfate reduction under thermoacidophilic conditions was demonstrated and the agents responsible for this process were revealed.

Co-occurence of Crenarchaeota, Thermoplasmata and methanogens in anaerobic sludge digesters.

16S rRNA Crenarchaeota and Thermoplasmata sequences retrieved from 22 anaerobic digesters were analysed. 4.8 and 0.53 % of archaeal sequences were simultaneously affiliated to these lineages. A core of 2 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) representing 0.6 to -33.6 % of all archaeal sequences were defined for the Crenarchaeotes and identified to already known but not yet cultivable organisms in almost half of the digesters sampled. For the Thermoplasmata, apparently less abundant with 0.7 to -4.7 % of the archaeal sequences, 3 OTUs were identified. We showed here that Crenarchaeotes coexist with methanogens and are particularly abundant when Arch I lineage (also called WSA2 by Hugenholtz) is dominant in digesters. Moreover, Thermoplasmata were detected when Crenarchaeota were present. Interactions between methanogens, Crenarchaeotea and Thermoplamata were thus discussed.

Diversity of Miscellaneous Crenarchaeotic Group archaea in freshwater karstic lakes and their segregation between planktonic and sediment habitats.

The Miscellaneous Crenarchaeotic Group (MCG) is an archaeal lineage whose members are widespread and abundant in marine sediments. MCG archaea have also been consistently found in stratified euxinic lakes. In this work, we have studied archaeal communities in three karstic lakes to reveal potential habitat segregation of MCG subgroups between planktonic and sediment compartments. In the studied lakes, archaeal assemblages were strikingly similar to those of the marine subsurface with predominance of uncultured Halobacteria in the plankton and Thermoplasmata and MCG in anoxic, organic-rich sediments. Multivariate analyses identified sulphide and dissolved organic carbon as predictor variables of archaeal community composition. Quantification of MCG using a newly designed qPCR primer pair that improves coverage for MCG subgroups prevalent in the studied lakes revealed conspicuous populations in both the plankton and the sediment. Subgroups MCG-5a and -5b appear as planktonic specialists thriving in euxinic bottom waters, while subgroup MCG-6 emerges as a generalist group able to cope with varying reducing conditions. Besides, comparison of DNA- and cDNA-based pyrotag libraries revealed that rare subgroups in DNA libraries, i.e. MCG-15, were prevalent in cDNA-based datasets, suggesting that euxinic, organic-rich sediments of karstic lakes provide optimal niches for the activity of some specialized MCG subgroups.

Vulcanisaeta thermophila sp. nov., a hyperthermophilic and acidophilic crenarchaeon isolated from solfataric soil.

An anaerobic, rod-shaped, hyperthermophilic and acidophilic crenarchaeon, designated strain CBA1501(T), was isolated from solfataric soil of the Mayon volcano in the Republic of the Philippines. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain CBA1501(T) is affiliated with the genus Vulcanisaeta in the phylum Crenarchaeota. DNA sequence similarities between the 16S rRNA gene of strain CBA1501(T) and those of Vulcanisaeta distributa IC-017(T) and Vulcanisaeta souniana IC-059(T) were 98.5 and 97.4 %, respectively. Strain CBA1501(T) grew between 75-90 °C, over a pH range of 4.0-6.0 and in the presence of 0-1.0 % (w/v) NaCl, with optimal growth occurring at 85 °C, pH 5.0, and with 0 % (w/v) NaCl. Fumarate, malate, oxidized glutathione, sulfur and thiosulfate were used as final electron acceptors, but FeCl3, nitrate and sulfate were not. The DNA G+C content of strain CBA1501(T) was 43.1 mol%. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic analysis, strain CBA1501(T) represents a novel species of the genus Vulcanisaeta in the phylum Crenarchaeota, for which we propose the name Vulcanisaeta thermophila sp. nov. The type strain is CBA1501(T) ( = ATCC BAA-2415(T) = JCM 17228(T)).

Bacterial and archaeal communities in bleached mottles of tropical podzols.

Podzols frequently show bleached mottles depleted in organic matter, most readily visible in the Bh horizons. Even though the process of bleached mottles development is not understood, it has been suggested that the selective degradation of organic matter by soil microorganisms has a major contribution. In this study, we examined the bacterial and archaeal communities along three Brazilian coastal podzol profiles, as well as in bleached mottles and their immediate vicinity, using 16S rRNA gene profiling. Our results showed that the bacterial and archaeal community structures in the studied podzols varied with depth and that the bacterial communities in the bleached mottles were significantly different from that in their immediate vicinity. In contrast, the archaeal communities in bleached mottles were significantly different from their vicinity only in the Bertioga (BT) profile, based on sequencing of amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene. Redundancy analyses showed that the bacterial community structures in the bleached mottles of BT were negatively associated mostly with the levels of organic carbon, exchangeable-aluminum (Al), exchangeable potassium, and Al-saturation, whereas in the surrounding soil, the opposite was observed. In the Ilha Comprida (IC) profiles, no such relationships were observed, suggesting distinct drivers of the bacterial community structures in bleached mottles of different podzols. In the bleached mottles of the BT profile, operational taxonomic units (OTUs) phylogenetically related to Pseudomonas were the most abundant Bacteria, whereas in the IC profiles, OTUs related to Acidobacteria were predominant. Thermoprotei (Crenarchaeota) were the most abundant Archaea in the bleached mottles and in their immediate vicinity. Based on the diverse metabolic capabilities of Pseudomonas and Acidobacteria, our data suggest that these groups of bacteria may be involved in the development of bleached mottles in the podzols studied and that the selection of specific bacterial populations in the bleached mottles may depend on the local edaphic conditions.

Diversity and distribution of archaea community along a stratigraphic permafrost profile from Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China.

Accompanying the thawing permafrost expected to result from the climate change, microbial decomposition of the massive amounts of frozen organic carbon stored in permafrost is a potential emission source of greenhouse gases, possibly leading to positive feedbacks to the greenhouse effect. In this study, the community composition of archaea in stratigraphic soils from an alpine permafrost of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau was investigated. Phylogenic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences revealed that the community was predominantly constituted by Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota. The active layer contained a proportion of Crenarchaeota at 51.2%, with the proportion of Euryarchaeota at 48.8%, whereas the permafrost contained 41.2% Crenarchaeota and 58.8% Euryarchaeota, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. OTU1 and OTU11, affiliated to Group 1.3b/MCG-A within Crenarchaeota and the unclassified group within Euryarchaeota, respectively, were widely distributed in all sediment layers. However, OTU5 affiliated to Group 1.3b/MCG-A was primarily distributed in the active layers. Sequence analysis of the DGGE bands from the 16S rRNAs of methanogenic archaea showed that the majority of methanogens belonged to Methanosarcinales and Methanomicrobiales affiliated to Euryarchaeota and the uncultured ZC-I cluster affiliated to Methanosarcinales distributed in all the depths along the permafrost profile, which indicated a dominant group of methanogens occurring in the cold ecosystems.

Urea uptake and carbon fixation by marine pelagic bacteria and archaea during the Arctic summer and winter seasons.

How Arctic climate change might translate into alterations of biogeochemical cycles of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) with respect to inorganic and organic N utilization is not well understood. This study combined 15N uptake rate measurements for ammonium, nitrate, and urea with 15N- and 13C-based DNA stable-isotope probing (SIP). The objective was to identify active bacterial and archeal plankton and their role in N and C uptake during the Arctic summer and winter seasons. We hypothesized that bacteria and archaea would successfully compete for nitrate and urea during the Arctic winter but not during the summer, when phytoplankton dominate the uptake of these nitrogen sources. Samples were collected at a coastal station near Barrow, AK, during August and January. During both seasons, ammonium uptake rates were greater than those for nitrate or urea, and nitrate uptake rates remained lower than those for ammonium or urea. SIP experiments indicated a strong seasonal shift of bacterial and archaeal N utilization from ammonium during the summer to urea during the winter but did not support a similar seasonal pattern of nitrate utilization. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from each SIP fraction implicated marine group I Crenarchaeota (MGIC) as well as Betaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, SAR11, and SAR324 in N uptake from urea during the winter. Similarly, 13C SIP data suggested dark carbon fixation for MGIC, as well as for several proteobacterial lineages and the Firmicutes. These data are consistent with urea-fueled nitrification by polar archaea and bacteria, which may be advantageous under dark conditions.

Nitrososphaera viennensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an aerobic and mesophilic, ammonia-oxidizing archaeon from soil and a member of the archaeal phylum Thaumarchaeota.

A mesophilic, neutrophilic and aerobic, ammonia-oxidizing archaeon, strain EN76(T), was isolated from garden soil in Vienna (Austria). Cells were irregular cocci with a diameter of 0.6-0.9 µm and possessed archaella and archaeal pili as cell appendages. Electron microscopy also indicated clearly discernible areas of high and low electron density, as well as tubule-like structures. Strain EN76(T) had an S-layer with p3 symmetry, so far only reported for members of the Sulfolobales. Crenarchaeol was the major core lipid. The organism gained energy by oxidizing ammonia to nitrite aerobically, thereby fixing CO2, but growth depended on the addition of small amounts of organic acids. The optimal growth temperature was 42 °C and the optimal pH was 7.5, with ammonium and pyruvate concentrations of 2.6 and 1 mM, respectively. The genome of strain EN76(T) had a DNA G+C content of 52.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA genes showed that strain EN76(T) is affiliated with the recently proposed phylum Thaumarchaeota, sharing 85% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with the closest cultivated relative 'Candidatus Nitrosopumilus maritimus' SCM1, a marine ammonia-oxidizing archaeon, and a maximum of 81% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with members of the phyla Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota and any of the other recently proposed phyla (e.g. 'Korarchaeota' and 'Aigarchaeota'). We propose the name Nitrososphaera viennensis gen. nov., sp. nov. to accommodate strain EN76(T). The type strain of Nitrososphaera viennensis is strain EN76(T) ( = DSM 26422(T) = JMC 19564(T)). Additionally, we propose the family Nitrososphaeraceae fam. nov., the order Nitrososphaerales ord. nov. and the class Nitrososphaeria classis nov.

Predominant Acidilobus-like populations from geothermal environments in yellowstone national park exhibit similar metabolic potential in different hypoxic microbial communities.

High-temperature (>70°C) ecosystems in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) provide an unparalleled opportunity to study chemotrophic archaea and their role in microbial community structure and function under highly constrained geochemical conditions. Acidilobus spp. (order Desulfurococcales) comprise one of the dominant phylotypes in hypoxic geothermal sulfur sediment and Fe(III)-oxide environments along with members of the Thermoproteales and Sulfolobales. Consequently, the primary goals of the current study were to analyze and compare replicate de novo sequence assemblies of Acidilobus-like populations from four different mildly acidic (pH 3.3 to 6.1) high-temperature (72°C to 82°C) environments and to identify metabolic pathways and/or protein-encoding genes that provide a detailed foundation of the potential functional role of these populations in situ. De novo assemblies of the highly similar Acidilobus-like populations (>99% 16S rRNA gene identity) represent near-complete consensus genomes based on an inventory of single-copy genes, deduced metabolic potential, and assembly statistics generated across sites. Functional analysis of coding sequences and confirmation of gene transcription by Acidilobus-like populations provide evidence that they are primarily chemoorganoheterotrophs, generating acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) via the degradation of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, and auxotrophic with respect to several external vitamins, cofactors, and metabolites. No obvious pathways or protein-encoding genes responsible for the dissimilatory reduction of sulfur were identified. The presence of a formate dehydrogenase (Fdh) and other protein-encoding genes involved in mixed-acid fermentation supports the hypothesis that Acidilobus spp. function as degraders of complex organic constituents in high-temperature, mildly acidic, hypoxic geothermal systems.

[Production of gaseous hydrocarbons by microbial communities of Lake Baikal bottom sediments].

Production of gaseous hydrocarbons by the microbial community of the Posolsky Bank methane seep bottom sediments (Southern Baikal) was studied at 4°C. Formation of both methane and a heavier gas- eous hydrocarbon, ethane, was detected in enrichment cultures. The highest methane concentrations (6.15 and 4.51 mmol L(-1)) were revealed in enrichments from the sediments from 55-cm depth incubated with-so- dium acetate and H2/CO2 gas mixture, respectively. A decrease in activity of aceticlastic methanogensand a decrease in methane concentration produced by hydrogenotrophic archaea occurred with depth. The highest concentration of ethane was revealed in enrichments from the microbial community of the layer close to gas hydrates (75 cm) incubated with CO2 as a substrate. According to analysis of the 16S rRNA gene fragments from the clone library, these enrichments were found to contain members of the phylum Crenarchaeota form- ing a separate cluster with members of the class Thermoprotei. The phylum Euryarchaeota was represented by nucleotide sequences of the organisms homologous to members of the orders Methanococcales, Methanosa- rcinales, and Thermoplasmatales.

[Capacity of hyperthermophilic Crenarchaeota for decomposition of refractory protiens (α- and ß-keratins)].

Anaerobic thermophilic archaea of the genera Thermogladius and Desulfurococcus capable of a- and P3-keratin decomposition were isolated from hot springs of Kamchatka and Kunashir Island. For two of them (strains 2355k and 3008g), the presence of high-molecular mass, cell-bound endopeptidases active against nonhydrolyzed and partially hydrolyzed proteins at high values of temperature and pH was shown. Capacity for ß-keratin decomposition was also found in collection strains (type strains of Desulfurococcus amylolyticus subsp. amylolyticus, D. mucosus subsp. mobilis, and D. fermentans).

Novel cultivation-based approach to understanding the miscellaneous crenarchaeotic group (MCG) archaea from sedimentary ecosystems.

The uncultured miscellaneous crenarchaeotic group (MCG) archaea comprise one of the most abundant microbial groups in the Earth's subsurface environment. However, very little information is available regarding the lifestyle, physiology, and factors controlling the distribution of members of this group. We established a novel method using both cultivation and molecular techniques, including a pre-PCR propidium monoazide treatment, to investigate viable members of the MCG in vitro. Enrichment cultures prepared from estuarine sediment were provided with one of a variety of carbon substrates or cultivation conditions and incubated for 3 weeks. Compared with the samples from time zero, there was an order-of-magnitude increase in the number of MCG 16S rRNA genes in almost all cultures, indicating that MCG archaea are amenable to in vitro cultivation. None of the tested substrates or conditions significantly stimulated growth of MCG archaea more than the basal medium alone; however, glycerol (0.02%) had a significantly inhibitory effect (P < 0.05). Diversity analysis of populations resulting from four culture treatments (basal medium, addition of amino acids, H2-CO2 as the gas phase, or initial aerobic conditions) revealed that the majority of viable MCG archaea were affiliated with the MCG-8 and MCG-4 clusters. There were no significant differences in MCG diversity between these treatments, also indicating that some members of MCG-4 and MCG-8 are tolerant of initially oxic conditions. The methods outlined here will be useful for further investigation of MCG archaea and comparison of substrates and cultivation conditions that influence their growth in vitro.

Predominance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and nirK-gene-bearing denitrifiers among ammonia-oxidizing and denitrifying populations in sediments of a large urban eutrophic lake (Lake Donghu).

The coupled nitrification-denitrification process plays a pivotal role in cycling and removal of nitrogen in aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, the communities of ammonia oxidizers and denitrifiers in the sediments of 2 basins (Guozhenghu Basin and Tuanhu Basin) of a large urban eutrophic lake (Lake Donghu) were determined using the ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) gene and the nitrite reductase gene. At all sites of this study, the archaeal amoA gene predominated over the bacterial amoA gene, whereas the functional gene for denitrification nirK gene far outnumbered the nirS gene. Spatially, compared with the Tuanhu Basin, the Guozhenghu Basin showed a significantly greater abundance of the archaeal amoA gene but less abundance of the nirK and nirS genes, while there was no significant difference of bacterial amoA gene copy numbers between the 2 basins. Unlike the archaeal amoA gene, the nirK gene showed a significant difference in community structure between the 2 basins. Archaeal amoA diversity was limited to the water-sediment cluster of Crenarchaeota, in sharp contrast with nirK for which 22 distinct operational taxonomic units were found. Accumulation of organic substances were found to be positively related to nirK and nirS gene copy numbers but negatively related to archaeal amoA gene copy numbers, whereas the abundance of the bacterial amoA gene was related to ammonia concentration.