Natural acidophilic biofilm communities reflect distinct organismal and functional organization

Paul Wilmes, Jonathan P. Remis, Mona Hwang, Manfred Auer, Michael P. Thelen, Jillian F. Banfield

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

79 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Pellicle biofilms colonize the air-solution interface of underground acid mine drainage (AMD) streams and pools within the Richmond Mine (Iron Mountain, Redding, CA, USA). They exhibit relatively low species richness and, consequently, represent good model systems to study natural microbial community structure. Fluorescence in situ hybridization combined with epifluorescent microscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed spatially and temporally defined microbial assemblages. Leptospirillum group II dominates the earliest developmental stages of stream pellicles. With increasing biofilm maturity, the proportion of archaea increases in conjunction with the appearance of eukaryotes. In contrast, mature pool pellicles are stratified with a densely packed bottom layer of Leptospirillum group II, a less dense top layer composed mainly of archaea and no eukarya. Immunohistochemical detection of Leptospirillum group II cytochrome 579 indicates a high abundance of this protein at the interface of the biofilm with the AMD solution. Consequently, community architecture, which most likely develops in response to chemical gradients across the biofilm, is reflected at the functional gene expression level.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)266-270
Number of pages5
JournalThe ISME Journal
Volume3
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Acid mine drainage
  • Architecture
  • Biofilm
  • Fluorescence in situ hybridization
  • Structure and function

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