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Project Progress

Environmental genomics reveals a single species ecosystem deep within the Earth.

A manuscript describing the metagenome of Desulforudis Audaxviator was sent to Science where it was accepted for review. In response to a request by one reviewer, CARD-FISH and SEM analyses were performed on some stored water samples from the same suite of samples that was the source of the metagenomic DNA in order to verify that the cells were actually cells and not spores and that the cells were Desulforudis Audaxviator. New data was incorporated into the manuscript. After a second review, the manuscript was returned with additional reviewer questions regarding the FISH technique and interpretation of the trace species with respect to the “rare biosphere” hypothesis. These second-round questions have been addressed and the manuscript has been sent back to the editor for what we hope is the final step toward acceptance for publication.

Several additional manuscripts on deep-subsurface microorganisms from gold mines in South Africa are accepted for publication or are in review. These papers describe microbially-mediated sulfur and methane cycling in a dolomite aquifer, an anaerobic biofilm from a deep borehole, and microorganisms associated with a deep mafic sill. All of these papers derive from field campaigns in previous years.