Microbial Life

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (11) ◽  
pp. 568-568
Author(s):  
Tapan K. Misra
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Life

Microbial Life in Impact Craters

2020 ◽  
pp. 75-102
Author(s):  
Charles S. Cockell ◽  
Gordon Osinski ◽  
Haley Sapers ◽  
Alexandra Pontefract ◽  
John Parnell
Keyword(s):  
Impact Craters ◽  
Microbial Life

scholarly journals Biosignatures of ancient microbial life are present across the igneous crust of the Fennoscandian shield

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Drake ◽  
Nick M. W. Roberts ◽  
Manuel Reinhardt ◽  
Martin Whitehouse ◽  
Magnus Ivarsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fennoscandian Shield ◽  
Stable Carbon ◽  
Deep Biosphere ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Microbial Life ◽  
Carbon Isotopic ◽  
Terrestrial Life ◽  
Vein Mineral ◽  
Methyl Branched Fatty Acids

AbstractEarth’s crust contains a substantial proportion of global biomass, hosting microbial life up to several kilometers depth. Yet, knowledge of the evolution and extent of life in this environment remains elusive and patchy. Here we present isotopic, molecular and morphological signatures for deep ancient life in vein mineral specimens from mines distributed across the Precambrian Fennoscandian shield. Stable carbon isotopic signatures of calcite indicate microbial methanogenesis. In addition, sulfur isotope variability in pyrite, supported by stable carbon isotopic signatures of methyl-branched fatty acids, suggest subsequent bacterial sulfate reduction. Carbonate geochronology constrains the timing of these processes to the Cenozoic. We suggest that signatures of an ancient deep biosphere and long-term microbial activity are present throughout this shield. We suggest that microbes may have been active in the continental igneous crust over geological timescales, and that subsurface investigations may be valuable in the search for extra-terrestrial life.

scholarly journals Production of nonulosonic acids in the extracellular polymeric substances of “Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis”

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio Tomás-Martínez ◽  
Hugo B.C. Kleikamp ◽  
Thomas R. Neu ◽  
Martin Pabst ◽  
David G. Weissbrodt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Lectin Binding ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Sialic Acids ◽  
Animal Cells ◽  
Microbial Life ◽  
Proteomic Data ◽  
Accumulibacter Phosphatis

Abstract Nonulosonic acids (NulOs) are a family of acidic carbohydrates with a nine-carbon backbone, which include different related structures, such as sialic acids. They have mainly been studied for their relevance in animal cells and pathogenic bacteria. Recently, sialic acids have been discovered as an important compound in the extracellular matrix of virtually all microbial life and in “Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis”, a well-studied polyphosphate-accumulating organism, in particular. Here, bioaggregates highly enriched with these bacteria (approx. 95% based on proteomic data) were used to study the production of NulOs in an enrichment of this microorganism. Fluorescence lectin-binding analysis, enzymatic quantification, and mass spectrometry were used to analyze the different NulOs present, showing a wide distribution and variety of these carbohydrates, such as sialic acids and bacterial NulOs, in the bioaggregates. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the potential of “Ca. Accumulibacter” to produce different types of NulOs. Proteomic analysis showed the ability of “Ca. Accumulibacter” to reutilize and reincorporate these carbohydrates. This investigation points out the importance of diverse NulOs in non-pathogenic bacteria, which are normally overlooked. Sialic acids and other NulOs should be further investigated for their role in the ecology of “Ca. Accumulibacter” in particular, and biofilms in general. Key Points •“Ca. Accumulibacter” has the potential to produce a range of nonulosonic acids. •Mass spectrometry and lectin binding can reveal the presence and location of nonulosonic acids. •The role of nonulosonic acid in non-pathogenic bacteria needs to be studied in detail.

scholarly journals Multicellular and unicellular responses of microbial biofilms to stress

2020 ◽  
Vol 401 (12) ◽  
pp. 1365-1374
Author(s):  
Daniel K.H. Rode ◽  
Praveen K. Singh ◽  
Knut Drescher
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Internal Stresses ◽  
Microbial Life ◽  
Microbial Biofilms ◽  
Applied Stresses

AbstractBiofilms are a ubiquitous mode of microbial life and display an increased tolerance to different stresses. Inside biofilms, cells may experience both externally applied stresses and internal stresses that emerge as a result of growth in spatially structured communities. In this review, we discuss the spatial scales of different stresses in the context of biofilms, and if cells in biofilms respond to these stresses as a collection of individual cells, or if there are multicellular properties associated with the response. Understanding the organizational level of stress responses in microbial communities can help to clarify multicellular functions of biofilms.

scholarly journals Messinian bottom‐grown selenitic gypsum: An archive of microbial life

Geobiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcello Natalicchio ◽  
Daniel Birgel ◽  
Francesco Dela Pierre ◽  
Simone Ziegenbalg ◽  
Lars Hoffmann‐Sell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Life

scholarly journals Membrane Vesicle Release in Bacteria, Eukaryotes, and Archaea: a Conserved yet Underappreciated Aspect of Microbial Life

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
pp. 1948-1957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brooke L. Deatherage ◽  
Brad T. Cookson
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Vesicle ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Outer Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Vesicle Release ◽  
Communication Signals ◽  
Microbial Life ◽  
Functional Features

ABSTRACTInteraction of microbes with their environment depends on features of the dynamic microbial surface throughout cell growth and division. Surface modifications, whether used to acquire nutrients, defend against other microbes, or resist the pressures of a host immune system, facilitate adaptation to unique surroundings. The release of bioactive membrane vesicles (MVs) from the cell surface is conserved across microbial life, in bacteria, archaea, fungi, and parasites. MV production occurs not onlyin vitrobut alsoin vivoduring infection, underscoring the influence of these surface organelles in microbial physiology and pathogenesis through delivery of enzymes, toxins, communication signals, and antigens recognized by the innate and adaptive immune systems. Derived from a variety of organisms that span kingdoms of life and called by several names (membrane vesicles, outer membrane vesicles [OMVs], exosomes, shedding microvesicles, etc.), the conserved functions and mechanistic strategies of MV release are similar, including the use of ESCRT proteins and ESCRT protein homologues to facilitate these processes in archaea and eukaryotic microbes. Although forms of MV release by different organisms share similar visual, mechanistic, and functional features, there has been little comparison across microbial life. This underappreciated conservation of vesicle release, and the resulting functional impact throughout the tree of life, explored in this review, stresses the importance of vesicle-mediated processes throughout biology.

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