Disentangling a metabolic cross-feeding in a halophilic archaea-bacteria consortium

Nahui Olin Medina-Chávez; Abigail Torres-Cerda; Jeremy M Chacón; William R Harcombe; Susana De la Torre-Zavala; Michael Travisano

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2023.1276438

Disentangling a metabolic cross-feeding in a halophilic archaea-bacteria consortium

Front Microbiol. 2023 Dec 21:14:1276438. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1276438. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Nahui Olin Medina-Chávez^{1

2}, Abigail Torres-Cerda³, Jeremy M Chacón⁴, William R Harcombe^{1

2}, Susana De la Torre-Zavala³, Michael Travisano^{1

2

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States.
² BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States.
³ Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Biotecnología, San Nicolás de los Garza, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico.
⁴ Minnesota Supercomputing Institute, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
⁵ Minnesota Center for the Philosophy of Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.

Abstract

Microbial syntrophy, a cooperative metabolic interaction among prokaryotes, serves a critical role in shaping communities, due to the auxotrophic nature of many microorganisms. Syntrophy played a key role in the evolution of life, including the hypothesized origin of eukaryotes. In a recent exploration of the microbial mats within the exceptional and uniquely extreme Cuatro Cienegas Basin (CCB), a halophilic isolate, designated as AD140, emerged as a standout due to its distinct growth pattern. Subsequent genome sequencing revealed AD140 to be a co-culture of a halophilic archaeon from the Halorubrum genus and a marine halophilic bacterium, Marinococcus luteus, both occupying the same ecological niche. This intriguing coexistence hints at an early-stage symbiotic relationship that thrives on adaptability. By delving into their metabolic interdependence through genomic analysis, this study aims to uncover shared characteristics that enhance their symbiotic association, offering insights into the evolution of halophilic microorganisms and their remarkable adaptations to high-salinity environments.

Keywords: archaea; bacteria; cross-feeding; extremophiles; halophiles; metabolic exchange; syntrophy.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Funds for this work were provided by a Conacyt Postdoctoral Fellowship 516728 (NM-C), NSF EF-1724011 (MT), and NASA IDEAS16002 (MT).