Fungi are key players in extreme ecosystems

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 37(6), С. 517 - 528

Опубликована: Март 1, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Water is a preservative of microbes

Microbial Biotechnology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 15(1), С. 191 - 214

Опубликована: Дек. 22, 2021

Water is the cellular milieu, drives all biochemistry within Earth's biosphere and facilitates microbe-mediated decay processes. Instead of reviewing these topics, current article focuses on activities water as a preservative-its capacity to maintain long-term integrity viability microbial cells-and identifies mechanisms by which this occurs. provides for, maintains, structures; buffers against thermodynamic extremes, at various scales; can mitigate events that are traumatic cell membrane, such desiccation-rehydration, freeze-thawing thermal shock; prevents dehydration otherwise exacerbate oxidative damage; mitigates biocidal factors (in some circumstances reducing ultraviolet radiation diluting solute stressors or toxic substances); effective electrostatic screening so damage intense fields ions. In addition, retained in desiccated cells (historically referred 'bound' water) plays key roles biomacromolecular structures their interactions even for fully hydrated cells. Assuming components membrane chemically stable least repairable, environment fairly constant, molecules apparently geometries over very long periods provided configurations represent thermodynamically states. The spores vegetative many microbes survive longer presence vapour-phase (at moderate-to-high relative humidities) than under more-arid conditions. There several large bodies water, when cooled during subzero weather conditions remain liquid state thus preventing potentially dangerous (freeze-thaw) transitions microbiome. Microbial life be preserved pure freshwater systems, seawater, brines, ice/permafrost, sugar-rich aqueous milieux according laboratory-based studies carried out years decades natural environments have yielded thousands, (for hypersaline fluid inclusions mineralized NaCl) hundreds millions, old. term preservative has often been restricted those substances used extend shelf foods (e.g. sodium benzoate, nitrites sulphites) conserve dead organisms, ethanol formaldehyde. For living microorganisms however, ultimate may actually water. Implications role discussed with reference ecology halophiles, human pathogens other microbes; food science; biotechnology; biosignatures aspects astrobiology; large-scale release/reactivation caused global climate change.

Язык: Английский

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Genome‐scale metabolic modelling of extremophiles and its applications in astrobiological environments

Environmental Microbiology Reports, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 16(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 9, 2024

Abstract Metabolic modelling approaches have become the powerful tools in modern biology. These mathematical models are widely used to predict metabolic phenotypes of organisms or communities interest, and identify targets engineering. Apart from a broad range industrial applications, possibility using contexts astrobiology poorly explored. In this mini‐review, we consolidated concepts related applications applying studying space‐related environments, specifically extremophilic microbes. We recapitulated current state art their advantages astrobiological context. Our review encompassed theoretical investigation origin life within prebiotic as well compilation existing uses genome‐scale extremophiles. Furthermore, emphasize challenges associated with technique extreme conclude by discussing potential implementation explore theoretically optimal networks under various space conditions. Through our aim is highlight advancing study astrobiology.

Язык: Английский

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Astrobiology of Titan's subglacial, high pressure ocean: A review and introduction of a relevant experimental system

Elsevier eBooks, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 423 - 471

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Geomicrobiological Interactions in the Frozen World: Potential for Exobiological Processes

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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Yeast Diversity in the Qaidam Basin Desert in China with the Description of Five New Yeast Species

Journal of Fungi, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 8(8), С. 858 - 858

Опубликована: Авг. 16, 2022

The Qaidam Basin is the highest and one of largest driest deserts on Earth. It considered a mars analog area in China. In contrast to numerous studies concerning its geology, geophysical, chemistry, relatively few have reported microbial diversity distribution this area. Here, we investigated culturable yeast northeast Basin. A total 194 strains were isolated, 12 genera 21 species identified, among which 19 basidiomycetous yeasts. Naganishia albida, N. adeliensis, Filobasidium magnum three most dominant distributed thirteen samples from eight locations. Five new (Filobasidium chaidanensis, Kondoa globosum, Symmetrospora salmoneus, Teunia nitrariae, Vishniacozyma pseudodimennae) found described based ITS D1D2 gene loci together with phenotypic characteristics physiochemical analysis. Representative each chosen for salt-tolerant test, showed different responses levels NaCl concentrations. Further, strain soil can adapt well higher salt stress compared those plants or lichens. Our study represents first report Basin, including five species, also provides further information halotolerance yeasts saline environment analog.

Язык: Английский

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Detection of biosignatures in terrestrial Mars analogs: Strategical and technical assessments

Earth and Planetary Physics, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 6(0), С. 0 - 0

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2022

The search for potential signs of Martian life has been planned and implemented by worldwide countries decades. Due to the high expenditure on Mars exploration, more easily accessible Mars-like regions Earth are invaluable targets astrobiology research understand detection biosignatures. In order detect signals beyond Earth, questions how define biosignatures need be carefully inspected. This review summarizes scientific instrumental techniques, our "eyes" "hands", that facilitate identifying quantifying Mars. Scientific devices can applied in include electromagnetic spectrum-based spectrometers, mass redox indicators, circular dichroism polarimeters, situ nucleic acid sequencers, isolation/cultivation systems, imagers. These techniques should first tested analog extreme environments validate their practicality To better detectability through its evolutionary history, terrestrial analogs divided into four major categories according similarities different geological ages (the Early-Middle Noachian Period, Late Noachian-Early Hesperian Hesperian-Early Amazonian Middle-Late Period). Future missions suggested explore early terrains Mars' Southern Hemisphere once landing issue is solved engineeringly, since these explorations permit investigating a continuum habitability shift history. Moreover, practical applications instruments listed above briefly reviewed based analogs, autonomous robotic rover tests further discussed. For engineering efficiency, ought equipped with as few assemblable possible. Therefore, candidate defined, portable suites smartly devised basis geological, geochemical, geomorphological, chronological characteristics regions. Laboratory-based experiments without restrictions encouraging appealing if sample-return successfully completed. exclude false positive negative conclusions discovery, combined use replication studies multiple analytical must performed confirm observational results.

Язык: Английский

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Biophysical Manipulation of the Extracellular Environment by Eurotium halophilicum

Pathogens, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 11(12), С. 1462 - 1462

Опубликована: Дек. 2, 2022

Eurotium halophilicum is psychrotolerant, halophilic, and one of the most-extreme xerophiles in Earth’s biosphere. We already know that this ascomycete grows close to 0 °C, at high NaCl, and—under some conditions—down 0.651 water-activity. However, there a paucity information about how it achieves extreme stress tolerance given dynamic water regimes surface habitats on which commonly occurs. Here, against backdrop global climate change, we investigated biophysical interactions E. with its extracellular environment using samples taken from surfaces library books. The specific aims were examine morphology (using scanning electron microscopy for visualisation energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry identify chemical elements) investigate water, ions, minerals (including analyses temperature relative humidity conditions determinations salt deliquescence activity brine). observed crystals identified as eugsterite (Na4Ca(SO4)3·2H2O) mirabilite (Na2SO4·10H2O) embedded within polymeric substances provide evidence uses maintain consistent water-activity window growth. In addition, utilizes covering hair-like microfilaments likely absorb layer humid air adjacent hyphae. believe that, along compatible solutes used osmotic adjustment, these adaptations allow fungus hydration both space time. discuss findings relation conservation books other artifacts built environment, spoilage foods feeds, ecology natural habitats, current episode change.

Язык: Английский

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The COSPAR planetary protection requirements for space missions to Venus

Life Sciences in Space Research, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 37, С. 18 - 24

Опубликована: Фев. 4, 2023

The Committee on Space Research's (COSPAR) Planetary Protection Policy states that all types of missions to Venus are classified as Category II, the planet has significant research interest relative processes chemical evolution and origin life, but there is only a remote chance terrestrial contamination can proliferate compromise future investigations. "Remote chance" essentially implies absence environments where organisms could survive replicate. Hence, II require simplified planetary protection documentation, including plan outlines intended or potential impact targets, brief Pre- Post-launch analyses detailing strategies, Post-encounter End-of-Mission Report. These requirements were applied in previous foreseen for numerous new international planned exploration Venus, which include NASA's VERITAS DAVINCI missions, ESA's EnVision mission. There also several proposed India's Shukrayaan-1, Russia's Venera-D. multiple plans spacecraft coincide with recent within scientific community regarding cloud layers have been suggested by some be habitable environments. proposed, privately funded, MIT/Rocket Lab Life Finder mission specifically designed assess habitability Venusian clouds search signs life. It includes up three atmospheric probes, first one targeting launch 2023. COSPAR Panel evaluated data underpins implications this current policy. done thorough review knowledge planet's conditions prevailing clouds. Based existing literature, we conclude environmental orders magnitude drier more acidic than tolerated survival limits any known extremophile organism. Because orbital, landed entry probe do not extra measures. This recommendation may revised if observations reanalysis past show increment, magnitude, water content pH layer.

Язык: Английский

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Single-cell analysis in hypersaline brines predicts a water-activity limit of microbial anabolic activity

Science Advances, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 9(51)

Опубликована: Дек. 22, 2023

Hypersaline brines provide excellent opportunities to study extreme microbial life. Here, we investigated anabolic activity in nearly 6000 individual cells from solar saltern sites with water activities (aw) ranging 0.982 0.409 (seawater brine). Average decreased exponentially aw, nuanced trends evident at the single-cell level: The proportion of active remained high (>50%) even after NaCl saturation, and subsets spiked as aw decreased. Intracommunity heterogeneity increased seawater transitioned brine, suggesting phenotypic physiological stress. No was detected 0.409-aw brine (an MgCl2-dominated site) despite presence cell-like structures. Extrapolating our data, predict an limit for detectable 0.540, which is beyond currently accepted life based on cell division. This work demonstrates utility single-cell, metabolism-based techniques detecting expands potential habitable space Earth beyond.

Язык: Английский

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