Response of Deep Subsurface Microbial Community to Different Carbon Sources and Electron Acceptors during similar to 2 months Incubation in Microcosms

Acetate plays a key role as electron donor and acceptor and serves as carbon source in oligotrophic deep subsurface environments. It can be produced from inorganic carbon by acetogenic microbes or through breakdown of more complex organic matter. Acetate is an important molecule for sulfate reducers that are substantially present in several deep bedrock environments. Aceticlastic methanogens use acetate as an electron donor and/or a carbon source. The goal of this study was to shed light on carbon cycling and competition in microbial communities in fracture fluids of Finnish crystalline bedrock groundwater system. Fracture fluid was anaerobically collected from a fracture zone at 967 m depth of the Outokumpu Deep Drill Hole and amended with acetate, acetate + sulfate, sulfate only or left unamended as a control and incubated up to 68 days. The headspace atmosphere of microcosms consisted of 80% hydrogen and 20% CO2. We studied the changes in the microbial communities with community fingerprinting technique as well as high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The amended microcosms hosted more diverse bacterial communities compared to the intrinsic fracture zone community and the control treatment without amendments. The majority of the bacterial populations enriched with acetate belonged to clostridial hydrogenotrophic thiosulfate reducers and Alphaproteobacteria affiliating with groups earlier found from subsurface and groundwater environments. We detected a slight increase in the number of sulfate reducers after the 68 days of incubation. The microbial community changed significantly during the experiment, but increase in specifically acetate-cycling microbial groups was not observed.Peer reviewe

Rapid Reactivation of Deep Subsurface Microbes in the Presence of C-1 Compounds

Microorganisms in the deep biosphere are believed to conduct little metabolic activity due to low nutrient availability in these environments. However, destructive penetration to long-isolated bedrock environments during construction of underground waste repositories can lead to increased nutrient availability and potentially affect the long-term stability of the repository systems, Here, we studied how microorganisms present in fracture fluid from a depth of 500 m in Outokumpu, Finland, respond to simple carbon compounds (C-1 compounds) in the presence or absence of sulphate as an electron acceptor. C-1 compounds such as methane and methanol are important intermediates in the deep subsurface carbon cycle, and electron acceptors such as sulphate are critical components of oxidation processes. Fracture fluid samples were incubated in vitro with either methane or methanol in the presence or absence of sulphate as an electron acceptor. Metabolic response was measured by staining the microbial cells with fluorescent dyes that indicate metabolic activity and transcriptional response with RT-qPCR. Our results show that deep subsurface microbes exist in dormant states but rapidly reactivate their transcription and respiration systems in the presence of C-1 substrates, particularly methane. Microbial activity was further enhanced by the addition of sulphate as an electron acceptor. Sulphate- and nitrate-reducing microbes were particularly responsive to the addition of C-1 compounds and sulphate. These taxa are common in deep biosphere environments and may be affected by conditions disturbed by bedrock intrusion, as from drilling and excavation for long-term storage of hazardous waste.Peer reviewe

Convivendo com o câncer: do diagnóstico ao tratamento

Aim: to describe the difficulties faced by cancer patients, from diagnosis to treatment. Method: descriptive and exploratory research with, a qualitative approach, developed with six people diagnosed with cancer, in both genders. The data was carried out through individual semi-structured interviews between February and July 2014. In interpreting the data, we used the content analysis. Results: two categories emerged: "the difficulties in discovering the disease" and "difficulties in the treatment of cancer." It is evident that the difficulties faced by cancer patients are influenced by the delay in diagnosis, difficulties in access to tests, side effects and barriers to completion of the treatment. Conclusion: the results confirm the need for continuing education in service of the professionals working in the health care network. Knowing how is the process of illness and treatment of cancer patients can improve the service conditions of the multidisciplinary teamObjetivo: describir las dificultades de los pacientes con cáncer, del diagnóstico al tratamiento. Método: estudio descriptivo-exploratório, cualitativo, desarrollado con seis personas diagnosticadas con cáncer, de ambos sexos. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas entre febrero y julio de 2014. En la interpretación se utilizó el análisis del contenido. Resultados: dos categorías surgieron: "las dificultades en el descubrimiento de la enfermedad" y "dificultades en el tratamiento del cáncer." Es evidente que las dificultades que enfrentan los pacientes son influidos por el retraso en el diagnóstico, las dificultades en el acceso a las pruebas, los efectos secundarios y las barreras a la finalización del tratamiento. Conclusión: los resultados confirman la necesidad de educación continua en el servicio de los profesionales de la red de atención de salud. Saber cómo experimentó el proceso de la enfermedad y el tratamiento de los pacientes con cáncer puede mejorar los servicios del equipo multidisciplinar.http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/2179769215709Objetivo: descrever as dificuldades enfrentadas pelo paciente oncológico, do diagnóstico ao tratamento. Método: pesquisa descritiva e exploratória, com abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvida com seis pessoas diagnosticadas com câncer, de ambos os sexos. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas, no período de fevereiro a julho de 2014. Na interpretação dos dados, utilizou-se a análise de conteúdo. Resultados: emergiram duas categorias: “as dificuldades na descoberta da doença” e “as dificuldades no tratamento do câncer”. Evidencia-se que as dificuldades enfrentadas pelos pacientes oncológicos são influenciadas pela demora no diagnóstico, dificuldades no acesso a exames, os efeitos colaterais e as barreiras para realização do tratamento. Conclusão: os resultados confirmam a necessidade de educação permanente em serviço dos profissionais que trabalham na rede de atenção à saúde. Conhecer como é vivenciado o processo de adoecimento e tratamento do paciente oncológico pode contribuir para melhorar as condições de assistência da equipe multiprofissional

Rock Surface Fungi in Deep Continental Biosphere—Exploration of Microbial Community Formation with Subsurface In Situ Biofilm Trap

Fungi have an important role in nutrient cycling in most ecosystems on Earth, yet their ecology and functionality in deep continental subsurface remain unknown. Here, we report the first observations of active fungal colonization of mica schist in the deep continental biosphere and the ability of deep subsurface fungi to attach to rock surfaces under in situ conditions in groundwater at 500 and 967 m depth in Precambrian bedrock. We present an in situ subsurface biofilm trap, designed to reveal sessile microbial communities on rock surface in deep continental groundwater, using Outokumpu Deep Drill Hole, in eastern Finland, as a test site. The observed fungal phyla in Outokumpu subsurface were Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, and Mortierellomycota. In addition, significant proportion of the community represented unclassified Fungi. Sessile fungal communities on mica schist surfaces differed from the planktic fungal communities. The main bacterial phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota. Biofilm formation on rock surfaces is a slow process and our results indicate that fungal and bacterial communities dominate the early surface attachment process, when pristine mineral surfaces are exposed to deep subsurface ecosystems. Various fungi showed statistically significant cross-kingdom correlation with both thiosulfate and sulfate reducing bacteria, e.g., SRB2 with fungi Debaryomyces hansenii

Rock Surface Fungi in Deep Continental Biosphere—Exploration of Microbial Community Formation with Subsurface In Situ Biofilm Trap

Fungi have an important role in nutrient cycling in most ecosystems on Earth, yet their ecology and functionality in deep continental subsurface remain unknown. Here, we report the first observations of active fungal colonization of mica schist in the deep continental biosphere and the ability of deep subsurface fungi to attach to rock surfaces under in situ conditions in groundwater at 500 and 967 m depth in Precambrian bedrock. We present an in situ subsurface biofilm trap, designed to reveal sessile microbial communities on rock surface in deep continental groundwater, using Outokumpu Deep Drill Hole, in eastern Finland, as a test site. The observed fungal phyla in Outokumpu subsurface were Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, and Mortierellomycota. In addition, significant proportion of the community represented unclassified Fungi. Sessile fungal communities on mica schist surfaces differed from the planktic fungal communities. The main bacterial phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota. Biofilm formation on rock surfaces is a slow process and our results indicate that fungal and bacterial communities dominate the early surface attachment process, when pristine mineral surfaces are exposed to deep subsurface ecosystems. Various fungi showed statistically significant cross-kingdom correlation with both thiosulfate and sulfate reducing bacteria, e.g., SRB2 with fungi Debaryomyces hansenii

Active Microbial Communities Inhabit Sulphate-Methane Interphase in Deep Bedrock Fracture Fluids in Olkiluoto, Finland

Active microbial communities of deep crystalline bedrock fracture water were investigated from seven different boreholes in Olkiluoto (Western Finland) using bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA, dsrB, and mcrA gene transcript targeted 454 pyrosequencing. Over a depth range of 296–798 m below ground surface the microbial communities changed according to depth, salinity gradient, and sulphate and methane concentrations. The highest bacterial diversity was observed in the sulphate-methane mixing zone (SMMZ) at 250–350 m depth, whereas archaeal diversity was highest in the lowest boundaries of the SMMZ. Sulphide-oxidizing ε-proteobacteria (Sulfurimonas sp.) dominated in the SMMZ and γ-proteobacteria (Pseudomonas spp.) below the SMMZ. The active archaeal communities consisted mostly of ANME-2D and Thermoplasmatales groups, although Methermicoccaceae, Methanobacteriaceae, and Thermoplasmatales (SAGMEG, TMG) were more common at 415–559 m depth. Typical indicator microorganisms for sulphate-methane transition zones in marine sediments, such as ANME-1 archaea, α-, β- and δ-proteobacteria, JS1, Actinomycetes, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, and MBGB Crenarchaeota were detected at specific depths. DsrB genes were most numerous and most actively transcribed in the SMMZ while the mcrA gene concentration was highest in the deep methane rich groundwater. Our results demonstrate that active and highly diverse but sparse and stratified microbial communities inhabit the Fennoscandian deep bedrock ecosystems