Eukaryotic Life in Extreme Environments: Acidophilic Fungi

Aguilera, Ángeles; González-Toril, Elena

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-19030-9_2

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…The main groups include protozoa: ciliates such as Urotricha and Oxytricha , flagellates such as Bodo and Ochromonas , amoebas such as Actinophyrs and Naegleria , etc., and heliozoa. In acidic waters, these genera play an essential role in nutrient recycling in spite of their oligotrophic characteristics [ 85 ].…”

Section: Eukaryotic Organisms In Amd-polluted Extreme Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extremely Acidic Eukaryotic (Micro) Organisms: Life in Acid Mine Drainage Polluted Environments—Mini-Review

Luís

Córdoba

Antunes

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) results from sulfide oxidation, which incorporates hydrogen ions, sulfate, and metals/metalloids into the aquatic environment, allowing fixation, bioaccumulation and biomagnification of pollutants in the aquatic food chain. Acidic leachates from waste rock dams from pyritic and (to a lesser extent) coal mining are the main foci of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) production. When AMD is incorporated into rivers, notable changes in water hydro-geochemistry and biota are observed. There is a high interest in the biodiversity of this type of extreme environments for several reasons. Studies indicate that extreme acid environments may reflect early Earth conditions, and are thus, suitable for astrobiological experiments as acidophilic microorganisms survive on the sulfates and iron oxides in AMD-contaminated waters/sediments, an analogous environment to Mars; other reasons are related to the biotechnological potential of extremophiles. In addition, AMD is responsible for decreasing the diversity and abundance of different taxa, as well as for selecting the most well-adapted species to these toxic conditions. Acidophilic and acidotolerant eukaryotic microorganisms are mostly composed by algae (diatoms and unicellular and filamentous algae), protozoa, fungi and fungi-like protists, and unsegmented pseudocoelomata animals such as Rotifera and micro-macroinvertebrates. In this work, a literature review summarizing the most recent studies on eukaryotic organisms and micro-organisms in Acid Mine Drainage-affected environments is elaborated.

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Section: Eukaryotic Organisms In Amd-polluted Extreme Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extremely Acidic Eukaryotic (Micro) Organisms: Life in Acid Mine Drainage Polluted Environments—Mini-Review

Luís

Córdoba

Antunes

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Successful examples of extremophiles can be found in the fungal domain, alongside bacteria, and archaea, which for a long time were considered to be the sole colonizers of habitats previously considered uninhabitable. Some of these fungal extremophiles show even higher resistance than that of prokaryotes ( Shtarkman et al, 2013 ; Aguilera and González-Toril, 2019 ). Black fungi in particular represent a group of highly melanized microfungi, whose ability to survive in a variety of extreme environments has in recent decades attracted increasing attention ( Selbmann et al, 2005 ; Sterflinger, 2006 ; Gorbushina, 2007 ; Onofri et al, 2007 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Simulated Microgravity on the Proteome and Secretome of the Polyextremotolerant Black Fungus Knufia chersonesos

et al. 2021

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Black fungi are a group of melanotic microfungi characterized by remarkable polyextremotolerance. Due to a broad ecological plasticity and adaptations at the cellular level, it is predicted that they may survive in a variety of extreme environments, including harsh niches on Earth and Mars, and in outer space. However, the molecular mechanisms aiding survival, especially in space, are yet to be fully elucidated. Based on these premises, the rock-inhabiting black fungus Knufia chersonesos (Wt) and its non-melanized mutant (Mut) were exposed to simulated microgravity—one of the prevalent features characterizing space conditions—by growing the cultures in high-aspect-ratio vessels (HARVs). Qualitative and quantitative proteomic analyses were performed on the mycelia and supernatant of culture medium (secretome) to assess alterations in cell physiology in response to low-shear simulated microgravity (LSSMG) and to ultimately evaluate the role of cell-wall melanization in stress survival. Differential expression was observed for proteins involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolic processes, transport, and ribosome biogenesis and translation via ribosomal translational machinery. However, no evidence of significant activation of stress components or starvation response was detected, except for the scytalone dehydratase, enzyme involved in the synthesis of dihydroxynaphthalene (DNH) melanin, which was found to be upregulated in the secretome of the wild type and downregulated in the mutant. Differences in protein modulation were observed between K. chersonesos Wt and Mut, with several proteins being downregulated under LSSMG in the Mut when compared to the Wt. Lastly, no major morphological alterations were observed following exposure to LSSMG. Similarly, the strains’ survivability was not negatively affected. This study is the first to characterize the response to simulated microgravity in black fungi, which might have implications on future astrobiological missions.

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“…Individual fungi appear to have a wider pH tolerance range compared to bacteria [65], however there are several examples of fungi (including P. tinctorus , which was studied here) being able to withstand both low and high pH levels [14]. Studies on acid- or alkaline-loving fungi have recorded new species and have expanded our knowledge of the possible habitat types for commonly found fungal species [13]. In addition, research on fungi associated with hot spring sediment across the globe has documented the phylum Ascomycota as dominant in these habitats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thermophilic fungi have been found in a wide variety of habitats responding to a variety of different environmental pressures and can also occur outside of thermal areas [12]. Additionally, fungi are well known to withstand a range of other extreme abiotic factors including broad pH ranges [13]. Several fungal species withstand 5-9 pH unit differences even when originating from non-extreme habitats [14-16], thus indicating that perhaps at the local scale, pH does not contribute strongly to structuring fungal communities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fungal community turnover along steep environmental gradients from geothermal soils in Yellowstone National Park

Bazzicalupo

Erlandson

Branine

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Geothermal soils offer unique insight into the way extreme environmental factors shape communities of organisms. However, little is known about the fungi growing in these environments and in particular how localized steep abiotic gradients affect fungal diversity. We used metabarcoding to characterize soil fungi surrounding a hot spring-fed thermal creek with water up to ~85 C and pH ~10 in Yellowstone National Park. No soil variable we measured determined fungal community composition. However, soils with pH >8 had lower fungal richness and different fungal assemblages when compared to less extreme soils. Saprotrophic fungi community profile followed more closely overall community patterns while ectomycorrhizal fungi did not, highlighting potential differences in the factors that structure these different fungal trophic guilds. In addition, in vitro growth experiments in four target fungal species revealed a wide range of tolerances to pH levels but not to heat. Overall, our results documenting fungal communities within a few hundred meters suggest stronger statistical power and wider sampling are needed to untangle so many co-varying environmental factors affecting such diverse species communities.

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Eukaryotic Life in Extreme Environments: Acidophilic Fungi

Cited by 16 publications

References 86 publications

Extremely Acidic Eukaryotic (Micro) Organisms: Life in Acid Mine Drainage Polluted Environments—Mini-Review

Extremely Acidic Eukaryotic (Micro) Organisms: Life in Acid Mine Drainage Polluted Environments—Mini-Review

Effects of Simulated Microgravity on the Proteome and Secretome of the Polyextremotolerant Black Fungus Knufia chersonesos

Fungal community turnover along steep environmental gradients from geothermal soils in Yellowstone National Park

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