Titel
Cable bacteria with electric connection to oxygen attract flocks of diverse bacteria
Autor*in
Jesper J. Bjerg
Center for Electromicrobiology (CEM), Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University
Autor*in
Jamie J. M. Lustermans
Center for Electromicrobiology (CEM), Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University
Autor*in
Ian P. G. Marshall
Center for Electromicrobiology (CEM), Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University
... show all
Abstract
Cable bacteria are centimeter-long filamentous bacteria that conduct electrons via internal wires, thus coupling sulfide oxidation in deeper, anoxic sediment with oxygen reduction in surface sediment. This activity induces geochemical changes in the sediment, and other bacterial groups appear to benefit from the electrical connection to oxygen. Here, we report that diverse bacteria swim in a tight flock around the anoxic part of oxygen-respiring cable bacteria and disperse immediately when the connection to oxygen is disrupted (by cutting the cable bacteria with a laser). Raman microscopy shows that flocking bacteria are more oxidized when closer to the cable bacteria, but physical contact seems to be rare and brief, which suggests potential transfer of electrons via unidentified soluble intermediates. Metagenomic analysis indicates that most of the flocking bacteria appear to be aerobes, including organotrophs, sulfide oxidizers, and possibly iron oxidizers, which might transfer electrons to cable bacteria for respiration. The association and close interaction with such diverse partners might explain how oxygen via cable bacteria can affect microbial communities and processes far into anoxic environments.
Stichwort
Cellular microbiologyMicrobial ecologyWater microbiology
Objekt-Typ
Sprache
Englisch [eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2061741
Erschienen in
Titel
Nature Communications
Band
14
ISSN
2041-1723
Erscheinungsdatum
2023
Verlag
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Projektnummer
291650 – European Union (all programmes)
Projektnummer
Z-383B – Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
Erscheinungsdatum
2023
Zugänglichkeit
Rechteangabe
© The Author(s) 2023

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