Metagenomic Resolution of Functional Diversity in Copper Surface-Associated Marine Biofilms

Abstract

We used metagenomic sequencing combined with morphological and chemical analyses to investigate microbial taxa and functions related to copper-resistance and microbiologically influenced corrosion in mature copper-associated biofilms in coastal seawater for 44 months. Facultative anaerobic microbes such as Woeseia sp. were found to be the dominant groups on the copper surface. Genes related to stress response and possible heavy metal transport systems, especially RNA polymerase sigma factors (rpoE) and putative ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport system permease protein (ABC.CD.P) were observed to be highly enriched in copperassociated biofilms, while genes encoding DNA-methyltransferase and RNA polymerase subunit were highly enriched in aluminum-associated biofilms and seawater planktonic cells, respectively. Moreover, copper-associated biofilms harbored abundant copperresistance genes including cus, cop and pco, as well as abundant genes related to extracellular polymeric substances, indicating the presence of diverse copper-resistance patterns. The proportion of dsr in copper-associated biofilms, key genes related to sulfide production, was as low as that in aluminum biofilm and seawater, which ruled out the possibility of microbial sulfide-induced copper-corrosion under field conditions. These results may fill knowledge gaps about the in situ microbial functions of marine biofilms and their effects on toxic-metal corrosion.

Regeneration of unconventional natural gas by methanogens co-existing with sulfate-reducing prokaryotes in deep shale wells in China

“…For metagenomic sequencing of total DNA, the construction of sequencing libraries and the determination of the size distribution and concentration of purified products in libraries were performed according to Zhang et al 65 . The sequencing of prepared libraries was performed on the Illumina HiSeq PE250 platform after generating clustered index-coded samples.…”

Factors structuring microbial communities in highly impacted coastal marine sediments (Mar Menor lagoon, SE Spain)

“…Sva1033 metabolism has been associated with metal reduction ( Sun et al, 2013 ; Buongiorno et al, 2019 ). Woeseia was the most abundant genus in a copper biofilm ( Zhang et al, 2019 ) and metagenomic data suggested a broad range of metabolism for Woeseiaceae , including sulfur-based chemolithoautotrophy ( Mußmann et al, 2017 ). OPB41 refers to a 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence detected for the first time in a Yellowstone hot spring, an environment with high concentrations of reduced iron and sulfur ( Hugenholtz et al, 1998 ).…”

Extracellular Polymeric Substances and Biocorrosion/Biofouling: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

“…Zhang et al analysed the in situ microbial diversity in artificial surface-associated marine biofilms and found that EPS-related genes were more abundant in copper-associated biofilms than that in aluminium-associated biofilms. They thus proposed that copper corrosion in natural marine environments was attributed to the heterogeneous microenvironments within the biofilms caused by the EPS [ 120 ]. Fang et al found that EPS increased the corrosion of mild steel due to its acidity and its binding with iron [ 121 ].…”