title: Microbial life in Champagne Pool, a geothermal spring in Waiotapu, New Zealand.
abstract: Surveys of Champagne Pool, one of New Zealand's largest terrestrial hot springs and rich in arsenic ions and compounds, have been restricted to geological and geochemical descriptions, and a few microbiological studies applying culture-independent methods. In the current investigation, a combination of culture and culture-independent approaches were chosen to determine microbial density and diversity in Champagne Pool. Recovered total DNA and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) content of spring water revealed relatively low values compared to other geothermal springs within New Zealand and are in good agreement with low cell numbers of 5.6 +/- 0.5 x 10(6) cells/ml obtained for Champagne Pool water samples by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) and 16S rRNA (small-subunit ribosomal nucleic acid) gene clone library analyses of environmental DNA indicated the abundance of Sulfurihydrogenibium, Sulfolobus, and Thermofilum-like populations in Champagne Pool. From these results, media were selected to target the enrichment of hydrogen-oxidizing and sulfur-dependent microorganisms. Three isolates were successfully obtained having 16S rRNA gene sequences with similarities of approximately 98% to Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis, 94% to Sulfurihydrogenibium azorense, and 99% to Thermococcus waiotapuensis, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Thermophile Research Unit, University of Waikato, Te Whare Wananga o Waikato, Gate 1 Knighton Road, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand. hetzer.adrian@web.de
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hetzer
authors.forename: Hugh W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Ian R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Daughney
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis; D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D044822:Biodiversity; D003470:Culture Media; D019641:DNA, Archaeal / Q000032:analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D015723:Gene Library; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D045482:Hot Springs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009520:New Zealand; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D021521:Ribotyping; D016944:Sulfolobus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013696:Temperature; D046968:Thermoanaerobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019712:Thermococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D041561:Thermofilaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D019641:DNA, Archaeal; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate