From Intraterrestrials to Extraterrestrials — Viable Haloarchaea in Ancient Salt Deposits

Stan‐Lotter, Helga; Radax, Cristian; McGenity, Terry J.; Legat, Andrea; Pfaffenhuemer, M.; Wieland, Heidemarie; Gruber, Claudia; Denner, Ewald B. M.

doi:10.1007/978-3-662-07656-9_6

Cited by 22 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…In fact, analyses by Satterfield et al (2005) indicated that homogenization temperatures and brine chemistries of fluid inclusions within the dissolution pipe are consistent with near-surface precipitation of halite during the Late Permian. In addition, many halophilic microorganisms are susceptible to lysis when suspended in fresh water; therefore, transport of halophilic microorganisms from a surficial source to the subsurface by infiltrating meteoric water would be unlikely (Stan-Lotter et al, 2004). Finally, critics contend that revived cells could be a result of contamination during laboratory handling and preparation.…”

Section: Introduction Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Entrapment within fluid inclusions also could provide a mode of transport for microorganisms, both here on Earth and in the vacuum of space. Microscopic crystals and traces of halite have been detected in meteorites collected from Egypt, France, India, and Texas, which indicates transport of halite across the solar system (Stan-Lotter et al, 2004). The Monahans (1998) H5 chondrite contains halite with two-phase (aqueous and gas) fluid inclusions (Zolensky et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introduction Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Entrapment of Bacteria in Fluid Inclusions in Laboratory-Grown Halite

2006

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Cells of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which were genetically modified to produce green fluorescent protein, were entrapped in fluid inclusions in laboratory-grown halite. The bacteria were used to inoculate NaCl-saturated aqueous solutions, which were allowed to evaporate and precipitate halite. The number, size, and distribution of fluid inclusions were highly variable, but did not appear to be affected by the presence of the bacteria.

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Section: Introduction Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

Entrapment of Bacteria in Fluid Inclusions in Laboratory-Grown Halite

2006

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“…Evaporites have been detected in meteorites including Martian meteorites (Zolensky et al 1999;Whitby et al 2000;Stan-Lotter et al 2004) and are probably present on Mars (Sims et al 1997), and haloarchaea are known to survive a space environment (Mancinelli et al 1998). If these halophilic prokaryotes really do remain viable for very long periods on Earth, it is not unreasonable to assume that they may exist in similar subterranean evaporites elsewhere in the solar system.…”

Section: Haloarchaea Ancient Halite and Microbial Longevitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Life at low water activity

Grant

2004

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B

461

305

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Two major types of environment provide habitats for the most xerophilic organisms known: foods preserved by some form of dehydration or enhanced sugar levels, and hypersaline sites where water availability is limited by a high concentration of salts (usually NaCl). These environments are essentially microbial habitats, with high-sugar foods being dominated by xerophilic (sometimes called osmophilic) filamentous fungi and yeasts, some of which are capable of growth at a water activity (a w ) of 0.61, the lowest a w value for growth recorded to date. By contrast, high-salt environments are almost exclusively populated by prokaryotes, notably the haloarchaea, capable of growing in saturated NaCl (a w 0.75). Different strategies are employed for combating the osmotic stress imposed by high levels of solutes in the environment. Eukaryotes and most prokaryotes synthesize or accumulate organic so-called 'compatible solutes' (osmolytes) that have counterbalancing osmotic potential. A restricted range of bacteria and the haloarchaea counterbalance osmotic stress imposed by NaCl by accumulating equivalent amounts of KCl. Haloarchaea become entrapped and survive for long periods inside halite (NaCl) crystals. They are also found in ancient subterranean halite (NaCl) deposits, leading to speculation about survival over geological time periods.

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“…The number of archaeal colony in Shepherd Bath was higher than in Green Bath where the chloride concentration was higher (Table 1). Taking into account the origin of the investigated salt lakes, the predominance of Haloferax species in all lakes may suggest that the underground salt deposit from Slanic possesses Haloferax species as the major biota of ancient origin, although species of genera Halorubrum and Halobacterium [35] or Haloccocus have been shown to be associated with ancient rock salt samples [36,37].…”

Section: Predominant Isolation Of Haloferaxmentioning

confidence: 99%

Halophilic archaea isolated from man-made young (200 years) salt lakes in Slănic, Prahova, Romania

Enache

Itoh

Kamekura³

et al. 2008

Open Life Sciences

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Abstract:We isolated a number of extremely halophilic archaea from four salt lakes (Red Bath, Green Bath, Shepherd Bath and Bride Cave) located in Slanic Prahova, Romania. The characterization of 12 representative isolates by polyphasic approach revealed that 11 strains were members of the genus Haloferax and only one was a member of the genus Haloarcula. The 11 Haloferax isolates possessed sulfated diglycosylarchaeol-1 as the major membrane glycolipid, and G+C contents of total DNA were 63.4 -65.8 mol%. The predominant isolation of Haloferax species from the lakes may suggest that the underground salt deposit possesses Haloferax species as the major biota of ancient origin. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper on the survey of halophilic archaea of man-made young salt lakes.

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From Intraterrestrials to Extraterrestrials — Viable Haloarchaea in Ancient Salt Deposits

Cited by 22 publications

References 23 publications

Entrapment of Bacteria in Fluid Inclusions in Laboratory-Grown Halite

Entrapment of Bacteria in Fluid Inclusions in Laboratory-Grown Halite

Life at low water activity

Halophilic archaea isolated from man-made young (200 years) salt lakes in Slănic, Prahova, Romania

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