Metagenome-assembled genomes infer potential microbial metabolism in alkaline sulphidic tailings

BACKGROUND: Mine tailings are hostile environment. It has been well documented that several microbes can inhabit such environment, and metagenomic reconstruction has successfully pinpointed their activities and community structure in acidic tailings environments. We still know little about the microbial metabolic capacities of alkaline sulphidic environment where microbial processes are critically important for the revegetation. Microbial communities therein may not only provide soil functions, but also ameliorate the environment stresses for plants' survival.

RESULTS: In this study, we detected a considerable amount of viable bacterial and archaeal cells using fluorescent in situ hybridization in alkaline sulphidic tailings from Mt Isa, Queensland. By taking advantage of high-throughput sequencing and up-to-date metagenomic binning technology, we reconstructed the microbial community structure and potential coupled iron and nitrogen metabolism pathways in the tailings. Assembly of 10 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), with 5 nearly complete, was achieved. From this, detailed insights into the community metabolic capabilities was derived. Dominant microbial species were seen to possess powerful resistance systems for osmotic, metal and oxidative stresses. Additionally, these community members had metabolic capabilities for sulphide oxidation, for causing increased salinity and metal release, and for leading to N depletion.

CONCLUSIONS: Here our results show that a considerable amount of microbial cells inhabit the mine tailings, who possess a variety of genes for stress response. Metabolic reconstruction infers that the microbial consortia may actively accelerate the sulphide weathering and N depletion therein.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:16

Enthalten in:

Environmental microbiome - 16(2021), 1 vom: 29. Apr., Seite 9

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Li, Wenjun [VerfasserIn]
Li, Xiaofang [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Binning
Community genomics
Journal Article
Metagenomics
Sulphide oxidation
Sulphidic tailings

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 02.05.2021

published: Electronic

Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE

doi:

10.1186/s40793-021-00380-3

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM324798164