Microbiology of a <scp>NaCl</scp> stalactite ‘salticle’ in Triassic halite

Thompson, Thomas P.; Kelly, Stephen A.; Skvortsov, Timofey; Plunkett, Gill; Ruffell, Alastair; Hallsworth, John E.; Hopps, Jason; Gilmore, Brendan

doi:10.1111/1462-2920.15524

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…The impact on P. aeruginosa virulence factor production raises questions about the potential implications of interdomain signaling between haloarchaea and bacterial pathogens in complex microbiomes. Considering potential ecological implications, it is worth noting that both Pseudomonas and haloarchaea have been identified from hypersaline brine-pools [ 45 ]. This cohabitation raises intriguing questions about the possible roles of AHL-like signaling in these environments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quorum Sensing in Halorubrum saccharovorum Facilitates Cross-Domain Signaling between Archaea and Bacteria

2023

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Quorum Sensing (QS) is a well-studied intercellular communication mechanism in bacteria, regulating collective behaviors such as biofilm formation, virulence, and antibiotic resistance. However, cell–cell signaling in haloarchaea remains largely unexplored. The coexistence of bacteria and archaea in various environments, coupled with the known cell–cell signaling mechanisms in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms and the presence of cell–cell signaling mechanisms in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms, suggests a possibility for haloarchaea to possess analogous cell–cell signaling or QS systems. Recently, N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-like compounds were identified in haloarchaea; yet, their precise role—for example, persister cell formation—remains ambiguous. This study investigated the capacity of crude supernatant extract from the haloarchaeon Halorubrum saccharovorum CSM52 to stimulate bacterial AHL-dependent QS phenotypes using bioreporter strains. Our findings reveal that these crude extracts induced several AHL-dependent bioreporters and modulated pyocyanin and pyoverdine production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Importantly, our study suggests cross-domain communication between archaea and bacterial pathogens, providing evidence for archaea potentially influencing bacterial virulence. Using Thin Layer Chromatography overlay assays, lactonolysis, and colorimetric quantification, the bioactive compound was inferred to be a chemically modified AHL-like compound or a diketopiperazine-like molecule, potentially involved in biofilm formation in H. saccharovorum CSM52. This study offers new insights into putative QS mechanisms in haloarchaea and their potential role in interspecies communication and coordination, thereby enriching our understanding of microbial interactions in diverse environments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quorum Sensing in Halorubrum saccharovorum Facilitates Cross-Domain Signaling between Archaea and Bacteria

2023

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“…Another study that raises intriguing questions about Mars is that of Thompson et al (2021), which focuses on the microbiology of a subsurface NaCl stalactite within a Triassic halite deposit. The study reveals the microbiome of this structure, located in Northern Ireland (North West Europe).…”

Section: 'Ecophysiology Of Extremophiles' Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Astrobiology of life on Earth

Hallsworth

Mancinelli

Conley

et al. 2021

Environmental Microbiology

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Summary Astrobiology is mistakenly regarded by some as a field confined to studies of life beyond Earth. Here, we consider life on Earth through an astrobiological lens. Whereas classical studies of microbiology historically focused on various anthropocentric sub‐fields (such as fermented foods or commensals and pathogens of crop plants, livestock and humans), addressing key biological questions via astrobiological approaches can further our understanding of all life on Earth. We highlight potential implications of this approach through the articles in this Environmental Microbiology special issue ‘Ecophysiology of Extremophiles’. They report on the microbiology of places/processes including low‐temperature environments and chemically diverse saline‐ and hypersaline habitats; aspects of sulphur metabolism in hypersaline lakes, dysoxic marine waters, and thermal acidic springs; biology of extremophile viruses; the survival of terrestrial extremophiles on the surface of Mars; biological soils crusts and rock‐associated microbes of deserts; subsurface and deep biosphere, including a salticle formed within Triassic halite; and interactions of microbes with igneous and sedimentary rocks. These studies, some of which we highlight here, contribute to our understanding of the spatiotemporal reach of Earth'sfunctional biosphere, and the tenacity of terrestrial life. Their findings will help set the stage for future work focused on the constraints for life, and how organisms adapt and evolve to circumvent these constraints.

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“…Only less than 20% of the microbial population of this mine consisted of archaea (Cycil et al 2020 ). In contrast, a study of the microbial biodiversity of the Kilroot Salt Mine in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, showed a higher abundance of haloarchaea in an NaCl stalactite than samples from the nearby brine pools and soils; in addition, the metagenomes from NaCl stalactite also contained more genes related to adaptation to extreme environments (Thompson et al 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A first insight into the Polish Bochnia Salt Mine metagenome

Lach

Królikowska

Baranowska

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The Bochnia Salt Mine is one of the oldest mines in Europe. It was established in the thirteenth century, and actively operated until 1990. The mine has been placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Previous research describing Polish salt mines has been focused on bioaerosol characteristics and the identification of microorganisms potentially important for human health. The use of Polish salt mines as inhalation chambers for patients of health resorts has also been investigated. Nevertheless, the biodiversity of salt mines associated with biotechnological potential has not been well characterized. The present study paper examines the biodiversity of microorganisms in the Bochnia Salt Mine based on 16S rRNA gene and shotgun sequencing. Biodiversity studies revealed a significantly higher relative abundance of Chlamydiae at the first level of the mine (3.5%) compared to the other levels (< 0.1%). Patescibacteria microorganisms constituted a high percentage (21.6%) in the sample from site RA6. Shotgun sequencing identified 16 unique metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). Although one was identified as Halobacterium bonnevillei, the others have not yet been assigned to any species; it is possible that these species may be undescribed. Preliminary analyses of the biotechnological and pharmaceutical potential of microorganisms inhabiting the mine were also performed, and the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) profiles and antimicrobial peptide (AMP) coding genes in individual samples were characterized. Hundreds of BGCs and dozens of AMP coding genes were identified in metagenomes. Our findings indicate that Polish salt mines are promising sites for further research aimed at identifying microorganisms that are producers of potentially important substances with biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.

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Microbiology of a NaCl stalactite ‘salticle’ in Triassic halite

Cited by 11 publications

References 81 publications

Quorum Sensing in Halorubrum saccharovorum Facilitates Cross-Domain Signaling between Archaea and Bacteria

Quorum Sensing in Halorubrum saccharovorum Facilitates Cross-Domain Signaling between Archaea and Bacteria

Astrobiology of life on Earth

A first insight into the Polish Bochnia Salt Mine metagenome

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