In situ growth of the novel SM1 euryarchaeon from a string-of-pearls-like microbial community in its cold biotope, its physical separation and insights into its structure and physiology (original) (raw)

Abstract

Recently, a unique archaeal/bacterial community that grows in a macroscopically visible string-of-pearls-like structure in cold (~10 °C), sulfurous marsh water was discovered. Here, a new technique is described that allows the fast and reliable growth of these string-of-pearls-like microbial communities in larger quantities on polyethylene nets in nature. The microbial net population, estimated to consist of about 10,000 single pearls, can be harvested once a week and the archaeal cells selectively separated by density gradient centrifugation. As in native pearls, the archaeal cell fraction obtained consisted of a single type of coccoid cells only, 0.6 µm in diameter. This novel type of euryarchaea has been tentatively named SM1 euryarchaeon. Electron microscopy and immuno-fluorescence in situ hybridization (immuno-FISH) revealed that about 100 pili-like fibers, up to 3 µm in length, emanate radially from the surface of each cell. The SM1 euryarchaeal cells exhibited a viability of about 90%. The optimal conditions for viability were temperatures between −2 °C and 20 °C, pH 5–9, and low salt conditions; cell viability was independent of oxygen partial pressures. The cultures stained gram-positive, the cell wall was sensitive to SDS, EDTA and Proteinase K treatment. The cells did not exhibit the typical fluorescence for methanogens and did not contain coenzyme F420. The G+C-content was 34.5 mol%.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Karl Otto Stetter for advice and stimulating discussions. Furthermore, we thank Ruth Henneberger for providing data and Brian Hedlund for critically reading the manuscript. We are indebted to the Government of Bavaria (Germany) for a sampling permit. Financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Hur 711/2) is gratefully acknowledged.

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1. Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie und Archaeenzentrum, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053 , Regensburg, Germany
   Christine Moissl, Christian Rudolph, Reinhard Rachel, Marcus Koch & Robert Huber

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1. Christine Moissl
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2. Christian Rudolph
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3. Reinhard Rachel
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4. Marcus Koch
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5. Robert Huber
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Correspondence toRobert Huber.

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Moissl, C., Rudolph, C., Rachel, R. et al. In situ growth of the novel SM1 euryarchaeon from a string-of-pearls-like microbial community in its cold biotope, its physical separation and insights into its structure and physiology.Arch Microbiol 180, 211–217 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-003-0580-1

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• Received: 13 March 2003
• Revised: 23 May 2003
• Accepted: 19 June 2003
• Published: 10 July 2003
• Issue Date: September 2003
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-003-0580-1

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