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Journal article
Unraveling microbial life from a high-altitude hydrothermal system in the Andes plateau and their potential for nitrogen transformations
Engineering Microbiology, Vol.5(4), 100242
09/2025
Web of Science ID: WOS:001618274700001
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Abstract
Terrestrial hydrothermal systems provide a window for studying the biogeochemical interactions that occur in hot and gas-rich ecosystems resembling the conditions found in early life on Earth. The biogeochemical dynamics of the Andean hydrothermal systems in the Atacama Desert area are still understudied. Thus, we aimed to characterize the taxonomic composition and genomic potential of nitrogen transformations in a microbial community inhabiting a high-altitude hydrothermal system on the Altiplano Plateau of the Chilean Andes. Specifically, we sampled sediment and microbial mats in three ponds with water temperatures ranging from 42 to 64 °C. We found a high prevalence of photoheterotrophs, with differences in taxonomic composition and gene abundance between the microbial communities found in the sediment and microbial mats. Changes in physicochemical conditions, such as temperature and pH, and the concentrations of CO2, CH4 and Mn accounted for the variability in the microbial community structure. Our results indicated an enrichment of N-related genes associated with nitrate reduction, denitrification, and ammonia assimilation, suggesting a metabolically versatile community using nitrate, nitrite, and gaseous nitrogen species to assimilate ammonia into their biomass. This study contributes to our understanding of the taxonomy and functional microbial dynamics in a high-altitude thermal system, where ammonia assimilation is potentially critical for
biomass formation, and particular environmental conditions favor adaptations to maintain biogeochemical cycles.
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- Title
- Unraveling microbial life from a high-altitude hydrothermal system in the Andes plateau and their potential for nitrogen transformations
- Publication Details
- Engineering Microbiology, Vol.5(4), 100242
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- ELSEVIER; AMSTERDAM
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- University of Magallanes, Punta ArenasCentre for Biotechnology: FB0001 (Conicyt, Chile): SUBVENCIN A INSTALACIN, Folio 85220004
FONDECYT Regular 1211515 (MH), 1211977 (VM), COPAS Coastal project FB210021 (VM and PA-M) and 1240245.ANID 2023 FONDECYT postdoctoral 3230189 (CPE)ANID 2021 FONDECYT postdoctoral 3210156 (JCS)ANID doctoral scholarship N 21221380 (PP).Scientific equipment Unit (MAINI, UCN) for technical support.Pedro and the Luca family for accommodations in Salar de Huasco during field trips.Julio Ticuna for authorizing our work in the Lirima hydrothermal system.This work used the computational and storage services ("Ulem" cluster) provided by the University of Magallanes, Punta Arenas.We would like to thank Jonathan Garcia for field trip assistance and drone images.DMO gratefully acknowledges the Centre for Biotechnology and Bio-engineering - CeBiB (PIA project FB0001, Conicyt, Chile). DMO & acy;& scy;knowledges ANID for the project "SUBVENCION A INSTALACION EN LA ACADEMIA CONVOCATORIA ANO 2022", Folio 85220004.
- Copyright
- © 2025 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Shandong University
- Identifiers
- WOS:001618274700001; 99381516562306600
- Academic Unit
- Biology; Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation ; Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English