Metabolic potentials of members of the class Acidobacteriia in metal‐contaminated soils revealed by metagenomic analysis

Abstract

The relative abundance of Acidobacteriia correlated positively with the concentrations of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and other metals, suggesting their adaptation of the metal-rich environments. Metagenomic binning reconstructed 29 high-quality metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) associated with Acidobacteriia, providing an opportunity to study their metabolic potentials. These MAGs contained genes to transform As, Hg and Cr through oxidation, reduction, efflux and demethylation, suggesting the potential of Acidobacteriia to transform such metal(loid)s. Additionally, genes associated with alleviation of acidic and metal stress were also detected in these MAGs. Acidobacteriia may have the capabilities to resist or transform metal(loid)s in acidic metal-contaminated sites. Moreover, these genes encoding metal transformation could be also identified in the Acidobacteriiaassociated MAGs from five additional metalcontaminated sites across Southwest China, as well as Acidobacteriia-associated reference genomes from the NCBI database, suggesting that the capability of metal transformation may be widespread among Acidobacteriia members. This discovery provides an understanding of metabolic potentials of the Acidobacteriia in acidic metal-rich sites.

Rhizosphere Microbial Communities and Geochemical Constraining Mechanism of Antimony Mine Waste-Adapted Plants in Southwestern China

“…In contrast, their abundance in tailing and waste rock was very low, indicating that these microorganisms can adapt to low-pH environments ( Figure 6 ). In another study, Acidobacteriae was significantly enriched in acid soil that was severely polluted with heavy metals [ 81 ].…”

Nitrogen and sulfur fertilizers promote the absorption of lead and cadmium with Salix integra Thunb. by increasing the bioavailability of heavy metals and regulating rhizosphere microbes

“…However, the relative abundance of Acidobacteria , which was the second most abundant phylum, was suppressed by N and S fertilization, and its function cannot be ignored. Xu et al (2021) suggested that Acidobacteria may resist or transform metal(loid)s in metal-contaminated sites. In this study, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was also increased by the application of N and S fertilizers, and Lin et al (2019) reported that Bacteroidetes are the most dominant microbial group in heavy metal-contaminated soil.…”

“…However, the relative abundance of Acidobacteria, which was the second most abundant phylum, was suppressed by N and S fertilization, and its function cannot be ignored. Xu et al (2021) suggested that Acidobacteria may resist or transform Structural equational model on the relationship between soil properties ˎmicrobial community and the total absorption of heavy metal.…”

16S rRNA Gene-Based Profiling of the Microbial Community in an Acid Mine Drainage Fe Precipitate at Libiola Mine (Liguria, Italy)

“…Some members of the Acidobacteriaceae family, isolated from mine waters, have been shown to reduce Fe 3+ [45]. Moreover, Acidobacteriia, the most common class of Acidobacteria in low-pH environments, is composed of well-known metal-tolerant strains able to participate in the redox cycle of a variety of metals and metalloids, such as As, Cr, and Hg [43,46].…”