Abstract
Epibiotic bacteria associated with tube worms living in the vicinity of deep sea hydrothermal vents of the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the Pacific Ocean were investigated for the ability to respire anaerobically on tellurite, tellurate, selenite, selenate, metavanadate and orthovanadate as terminal electron acceptors. Out of 107 isolates tested, 106 were capable of respiration on one or more of these oxides, indicating that metal(loid) oxide based respiration is not only much more prevalent in nature than is generally believed, but also is an important mode of energy generation in the habitat. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed the bacterial community to be rich and highly diverse, containing many potentially new species. Furthermore, it appears that the worms not only possess a close symbiotic relationship with chemolithotrophic sulfide-oxidizing bacteria, but also with the metal(loid) oxide transformers. Possibly they protect the worms through reduction of the toxic compounds that would otherwise be harmful to the host.
Highlights
Bacterial respiration on oxyanions of metal(loid)s is known [1], it was not believed to be widespread
While the color transformation obviously indicated the possibility of anaerobic respiration, experimental proof was required
There was no other electron acceptor in the medium, growth was clearly supported by metal(loid) oxides, confirming all strains were obtaining energy from anaerobic respiration
Summary
Bacterial respiration on oxyanions of metal(loid)s is known [1], it was not believed to be widespread. No dissimilatory anaerobic reduction of Te oxyanions was known until 2006, when strain ER-Te-48 from a deep sea hydrothermal vent tube worm was found to be capable of anaerobic tellurate based respiration [4]. Metal(loid) Oxide Respiring Bacteria Associated with Tube Worms respire on Te oxides [5,6,7].
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