Nitrosopumilus adriaticus

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
Jump to navigationJump to search
This student page has not been curated.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
TEM image of N. Adriaticus. Image credit: Leibniz-Institut DSMZ.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
TEM (top) and SEM (bottom) of N. adriaticus possessing and lacking archaella. Image credit: Bayer et. al. 2016.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Phylogenetic relationship of N. adriaticus within ammonia oxidizing archaea. Image credit: Li et. al. 2024.

Classification

Species

Nitrosopumilus adriaticus (also known as strain NF5)

Description and Significance

Nitrosopumilus adriaticus are small rod-shaped archaea 0.20-0.25 µm wide and 0.49-2.00 µm long. Some strains may possess an archaella, flagella-like appendages that enable them to swim through water. This microorganism thrives in marine environments, specifically in oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) oceanic waters like those found in the North Adriatic Sea. It has adapted to low-nutrient, high-salt, and low-oxygen conditions and is a common resident of the deep ocean. Nitrosopumilus adriaticus plays a crucial role in the nitrogen cycle. It is an ammonia-oxidizing archaeon (AOA), meaning it converts ammonia (NH3) into nitrite (NO2-) as part of its energy-gathering process. This function is essential for nitrogen availability in marine ecosystems, as it affects the bioavailability of nitrogen, a key nutrient for marine life. It helps to control ammonia levels, prevents toxicity in aquatic environments, and supports the growth of other organisms dependent on nitrogen compounds. Nitrosopumilus adriaticus participates in syntrophic relationships with NO3- oxidizers, passing off NO2- to community organisms to complete the nitrogen cycle. In addition to participating in community interactions for nitrification, N. adriaticus also relies on hydrogen peroxide scavengers to sustain growth, as they are sensitive to its presence, but curiously have no adaptation to combating peroxides in the environment.

Genome Structure

The genome of Nitrosopumilus adriaticus is relatively small compared to other microorganisms, likely adapted to be compact and streamlined for efficiency due to nutrient-poor marine environments. The size of the genome is estimated to be around 1.7mbp. Similar to other archaea, genes are stored on a singular, circular chromosome. This chromosome provides stability and simplicity, which further enables N. adriaticus to survive harsh environments. The genome contains genes associated with ammonia oxidation; This includes the amoA, amoB, and amoC genes. These genes are noticed across ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and are a marker for identifying similar organisms in various ecosystems. N. adriaticus also has several genes that are adapted to live in high-salt and low-oxygen environments. As discussed in the description section, N. adriaticus does not possess any catalase genes, which is unusual given its sensitivity to peroxides.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle

Nitrosopumilus adriaticus is a small, ammonia-oxidizing archaeon. N. adriaticus has adapted to nutrient-poor marine environments, such as the Adriatic Sea, where it was first isolated. It serves an important function within these ecosystems, participating in the nitrogen cycle by converting ammonia (NH3) into nitrite (NO2-), which provides energy for metabolism. This function is essential for nitrogen availability in these systems, as it affects nitrogen's bioavailability, a key nutrient for marine life. In addition to supplying accessible nitrogen to systems, it regulates ammonia levels, preventing toxicity in aquatic environments, and supports the growth of other organisms dependent on nitrogen compounds. As with other taxa of archaea, N. adriaticus possesses a paracrystalline S-layer, a proteinous membrane complex to assist with adhesion and cellular protection.

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Nitrosopumilus adriaticus inhabits oligotrophic (low-nutrient) marine environments, including deep-sea and coastal waters. Its main presence is in the Adriatic Sea, where it was first identified. Nitrosopumilus adriaticus does not form symbiotic relationships. However, it is part of a microbial community involved in nitrogen cycling within its habitat. This indirect symbiosis with other microorganisms contributes to maintaining the balance of nitrogen in marine ecosystems. As an ammonia-oxidizing archaeon, N. adriaticus is essential in the nitrogen cycle. This process prevents the accumulation of ammonia, which can be toxic in high concentrations, and makes nitrogen available to other organisms in the form of nitrite (NO2⁻). Its presence also influences carbon cycling, as it fixes carbon dioxide during autotrophic growth, contributing to primary production in marine systems and supporting the base of the food web. Nitrosopumilus adriaticus is not known to cause disease in humans, animals, or plants.

References

  • Bayer B, Vojvoda J, Reinthaler T, Reyes C, Pinto M, Herndl GJ. Nitrosopumilus adriaticus sp. nov. and Nitrosopumilus piranensis sp. nov., two ammonia-oxidizing archaea from the Adriatic Sea and members of the class Nitrososphaeria. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2019 Jul;69(7):1892-1902. doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.003360. Epub 2019 Apr 2. PMID: 30938665.
  • Könneke, M., Schubert, D. M., Brown, P. C., Hügler, M., Standfest, S., Schwander, T., … & Stahl, D. A. (2014). Ammonia-oxidizing archaea use the most energy-efficient aerobic pathway for CO₂ fixation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(22), 8239-8244. doi:10.1073/pnas.1402028111
  • Offre, P., Spang, A., & Schleper, C. (2013). Archaea in biogeochemical cycles. Annual Review of Microbiology, 67(1), 437-457. doi:10.1146/annurev-micro-092412-155614
  • Santoro, A. E., Buchwald, C., McIlvin, M. R., & Casciotti, K. L. (2011). Isotopic signature of N₂O produced by marine ammonia-oxidizing archaea. Science, 333(6047), 1282-1285. doi:10.1126/science.1208239
  • Stahl, D. A., & de la Torre, J. R. (2012). Physiology and diversity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea. Annual Review of Microbiology, 66(1), 83-101. doi:10.1146/annurev-micro-092611-150128
  • Walker, C. B., de la Torre, J. R., Klotz, M. G., Urakawa, H., Pinel, N., Arp, D. J., … & Stahl, D. A. (2010). Nitrosopumilus maritimus genome reveals unique mechanisms for nitrification and autotrophy in globally distributed marine crenarchaea. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(19), 8818-8823. doi:10.1073/pnas.0913533107
  • Martens-Habbena, W., Berube, P. M., Urakawa, H., José, R., de la Torre, & Stahl, D. A. (2009). Ammonia oxidation kinetics determine niche separation of nitrifying archaea and bacteria. Nature, 461(7266), 976-979. doi:10.1038/nature08465
  • Santoro, A. E., & Casciotti, K. L. (2011). Enrichment and characterization of ammonia-oxidizing archaea from the marine environment. Methods in Enzymology, 486, 13-35. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-381294-0.00002-4
  • Li M, Thieringer PH, Bayer B, Kellom M, Santoro AE. 0. Genome sequence of Nitrosopumilus adriaticus CCS1 assembled from an ammonia-oxidizing enrichment culture. Microbiol Resour Announc 0:e00692-24.

https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00692-24

Author

Page authored by Brooke Beal, Leia Thompson, Allie Sells, & Jack Hartsig, students of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.

Retrieved from "https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php?title=Nitrosopumilus_adriaticus&oldid=171430"