Transitory microbial habitat in the hyperarid Atacama Desert

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Dirk Schulze-MakuchPedro Zamorano

Abstract

Traces of life are nearly ubiquitous on Earth. However, a central unresolved question is whether these traces always indicate an active microbial community or whether, in extreme environments, such as hyperarid deserts, they instead reflect just dormant or dead cells. Although microbial biomass and diversity decrease with increasing aridity in the Atacama Desert, we provide multiple lines of evidence for the presence of an at times metabolically active, microbial community in one of the driest places on Earth. We base this observation on four major lines of evidence: (i) a physico-chemical characterization of the soil habitability after an exceptional rain event, (ii) identified biomolecules indicative of potentially active cells [e.g., presence of ATP, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), metabolites, and enzymatic activity], (iii) measurements of in situ replication rates of genomes of uncultivated bacteria reconstructed from selected samples, and (iv) microbial community patterns specific to soil parameters and depths. We infer that the microbial populations have undergone selection and adaptation in response to their specific soil microenvironment and in particular to the degree of aridity. Collectively, our results highlight ...Continue Reading

References

Jul 2, 1998·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·C R KuskeP J Jackson
Nov 8, 2003·Science·Rafael Navarro-GonzálezChristopher P McKay
Oct 3, 2006·International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology·Philippe Normand
Aug 4, 2007·FEMS Microbiology Ecology·Kimberley A Warren-RhodesChristopher P McKay
Feb 2, 2008·The ISME Journal·Ramon Rosselló-MoraPhilippe Schmitt-Kopplin
Jun 25, 2009·Analytical Chemistry·N HertkornE M Perdue
Nov 19, 2010·The ISME Journal·Scott T BatesNoah Fierer
Feb 19, 2013·Systematic and Applied Microbiology·Maria del Carmen Montero-CalasanzAnna A Gorbushina
Jun 7, 2013·The ISME Journal·Lara RajeevAindrila Mukhopadhyay
Jan 24, 2014·Microbiome·Alexander Crits-ChristophJocelyne Diruggiero
Jun 24, 2014·Journal of Microbiological Methods·Mashal AlawiJens Kallmeyer
Aug 19, 2014·Nature Communications·Sara PalacioJuan Pedro Ferrio
Aug 22, 2014·Environmental Microbiology·Andrew StevensonJohn E Hallsworth
Dec 30, 2014·Environmental Microbiology Reports·Armando Azua-BustosRafael Vicuña
Feb 3, 2016·Astrobiology·Alfonso F Davila, Dirk Schulze-Makuch
Nov 8, 2016·Nature Biotechnology·Christopher T BrownJillian F Banfield
Jun 9, 2017·MSystems·Julia W NeilsonRaina M Maier
Aug 12, 2017·Frontiers in Microbiology·Aurèle VuilleminJens Kallmeyer

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 7, 2018·Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry : JBIC : a Publication of the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry·Priscila Peña-Diaz, Julius Lukeš
Feb 2, 2019·Global Change Biology·Francisca P DíazRodrigo A Gutiérrez
Jan 31, 2019·Life·Jai A Denton, Chaitanya S Gokhale
Jul 19, 2019·Faraday Discussions·Philippe Schmitt-KopplinNorbert Hertkorn
Jul 17, 2019·Journal of Applied Microbiology·A M SayedM E Rateb
Aug 24, 2019·Scientific Reports·Armando Azua-BustosMaría-Paz Zorzano
Jan 9, 2020·Scientific Reports·Deborah MausDirk Schulze-Makuch
Sep 20, 2019·Antonie van Leeuwenhoek·Carolina A ContadorJuan A Asenjo
Mar 16, 2019·Frontiers in Microbiology·Kimberley A Warren-RhodesUNKNOWN NASA Life in the Atacama Project Team
May 4, 2018·Antonie van Leeuwenhoek·Michael GoodfellowAlan T Bull
Apr 16, 2020·MSystems·Pok Man LeungChris Greening
Aug 6, 2019·Journal of Phycology·Patrick JungBurkhard Büdel
Jul 6, 2019·The ISME Journal·Gherman UritskiyJocelyne DiRuggiero
Jun 18, 2020·MSystems·Jai A Denton, Chaitanya S Gokhale
Oct 9, 2018·Frontiers in Microbiology·Steffi GenderjahnDirk Wagner
Oct 7, 2020·Nature Communications·Aravind Natarajan, Ami S Bhatt
Jan 28, 2021·Microorganisms·Steffi GenderjahnDirk Wagner
Jan 26, 2021·Frontiers in Microbiology·Esther Molina-MenorManuel Porcar
May 11, 2021·Astrobiology·Sanjay S LimayeMichael J Way
Sep 8, 2021·Environmental Microbiology·Ramona MarascoDaniele Daffonchio

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Datasets Mentioned

BETA
PRJNA395196

Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCR
environmental stresses

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.