Open AccessMicrobial diversity of thermophiles with biomass deconstruction potential in a foliage‐rich hot spring
Author(s) -
Lee Li Sin,
Goh Kian Mau,
Chan Chia Sing,
Annie Tan Geok Yuan,
Yin WaiFong,
Chong Chun Shiong,
Chan KokGan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
microbiologyopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.881
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 2045-8827
DOI - 10.1002/mbo3.615
Subject(s) - thermophile , hot spring , biomass (ecology) , thermostability , hemicellulose , biology , microorganism , microbial population biology , food science , botany , bacteria , ecology , lignin , enzyme , biochemistry , genetics , paleontology
The ability of thermophilic microorganisms and their enzymes to decompose biomass have attracted attention due to their quick reaction time, thermostability, and decreased risk of contamination. Exploitation of efficient thermostable glycoside hydrolases ( GH s) could accelerate the industrialization of biofuels and biochemicals. However, the full spectrum of thermophiles and their enzymes that are important for biomass degradation at high temperatures have not yet been thoroughly studied. We examined a Malaysian Y‐shaped Sungai Klah hot spring located within a wooded area. The fallen foliage that formed a thick layer of biomass bed under the heated water of the Y‐shaped Sungai Klah hot spring was an ideal environment for the discovery and analysis of microbial biomass decay communities. We sequenced the hypervariable regions of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes using total community DNA extracted from the hot spring. Data suggested that 25 phyla, 58 classes, 110 orders, 171 families, and 328 genera inhabited this hot spring. Among the detected genera, members of Acidimicrobium , Aeropyrum , Caldilinea , Caldisphaera , Chloracidobacterium , Chloroflexus , Desulfurobacterium , Fervidobacterium , Geobacillus , Meiothermus , Melioribacter , Methanothermococcus, Methanotorris , Roseiflexus , Thermoanaerobacter , Thermoanaerobacterium , Thermoanaerobaculum , and Thermosipho were the main thermophiles containing various GH s that play an important role in cellulose and hemicellulose breakdown. Collectively, the results suggest that the microbial community in this hot spring represents a good source for isolating efficient biomass degrading thermophiles and thermozymes.