Comparative analysis of the microbial communities inhabiting halite evaporites of the Atacama Desert
| Autor: | Asunción, de Los Ríos, Sergio, Valea, Carmen, Ascaso, Alfonso, Davila, Jan, Kastovsky, Christopher P, McKay, Benito, Gómez-Silva, Jacek, Wierzchos |
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| Rok vydání: | 2010 |
| Předmět: |
DNA
Bacterial Microscopy Bacteria Genes rRNA Biodiversity RNA Archaeal Sequence Analysis DNA Nucleic Acid Denaturation Archaea DNA Ribosomal RNA Bacterial DNA Archaeal RNA Ribosomal 16S Sequence Homology Nucleic Acid Cluster Analysis Metagenome Electrophoresis Polyacrylamide Gel Desert Climate Phylogeny Soil Microbiology |
| Zdroj: | International microbiology : the official journal of the Spanish Society for Microbiology. 13(2) |
| ISSN: | 1618-1905 |
| Popis: | Molecular biology and microscopy techniques were used to characterize the microbial communities inside halite evaporites from different parts of the Atacama Desert. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis revealed that the evaporite rocks harbor communities predominantly made up of cyanobacteria, along with heterotrophic bacteria and archaea. Different DGGE profiles were obtained for the different sites, with the exception of the cyanobacterial profile, in which only one phylotype was detected across the three sites examined. Chroococcidiopsis-like cells were the only cyanobacterial components of the rock samples, although the phylogenetic study revealed their closer genetic affinity to Halothece genera. Gene sequences of the heterotrophic bacteria and archaea indicated their proximity to microorganisms found in other hypersaline environments. Microorganisms colonizing these halites formed microbial aggregates in the pore spaces between halite crystals, where microbial interactions occur. In this exceptional, salty, porous halite rock habitat, microbial consortia with a community structure probably conditioned by the environmental conditions occupy special microhabitats with physical and chemical properties that promote their survival. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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