| Molecular analysis of the microbial communities of Mars analog lakes in Western Australia. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20041745 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Unique, shallow interdune lakes and groundwaters with extremely low pH and high salinity exist in Australia, along with nearby lakes that possess higher pH values. These acidic hypersaline environments are possibly the best modern terrestrial analogues for past martian environments. However, no previous microbiological analyses of these lakes have been conducted. During the Australian winter of 2005, water samples were taken from several hypersaline lakes located in southern Western Australia that possessed acidic to slightly alkaline pH. These samples were subjected to molecular analysis to identify bacterial communities. DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, by using universal bacterial primers, were also performed on the samples. Extracted DNA was amplified with 1070 forward and 1392 GC-clamped reverse primers and analyzed by using denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). In addition, libraries were developed from DNA retrieved from four lakes, including a marginal marine neutral lake, an inland neutral lake, and two inland acid lakes, and selected clones with distinct operational taxonomic units were sequenced. The DGGE profiles and clone sequence data indicate that there are distinct, abundant, and diverse microbial populations in these Australian hypersaline environments, especially the acidic ones. These results are significant for two reasons: (1) they provide the first microbiological survey of natural acid saline lakes and (2) they hint at the possibility that there could have been a diverse microbial population in acidic hypersaline environments on Mars. |
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Authors:
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Melanie R Mormile; Bo-Young Hong; Kathleen C Benison |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Astrobiology Volume: 9 ISSN: 1557-8070 ISO Abbreviation: Astrobiology Publication Date: 2009 Dec |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2009-12-31 Completed Date: 2010-06-02 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101088083 Medline TA: Astrobiology Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 919-30 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biological Sciences, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, Missouri 65409-1120, USA. mmormile@mst.edu |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Australia Bacteria / genetics*, isolation & purification* Clone Cells Electrophoresis, Agar Gel Extraterrestrial Environment* Fresh Water / microbiology* Geography Mars* Nucleic Acid Denaturation Phylogeny Salinity Time Factors Water Microbiology* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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