Bacterial community in the East Rongbuk Glacier, Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) by culture and culture-independent methods.
The abundance of total and culturable bacteria deposited into the East Rongbuk ice core was investigated, and the bacterial content was examined through culture and culture-independent approaches. Total counts of bacteria in the ice core ranged from 0.02 x 10(3) to 6.4 x 10(3) cells ml(-1). Viable bacteria varied between 0 and 5.6 CFU ml(-1) on PYGV and R2A media. The phylogenetic trees placed the culturable bacteria into four major groups: Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Deinococcus-Thermus, with Firmicutes being the most prevalent. They exhibited unique phenotypic properties with large and non-pigmented cells. The diversity revealed by H' index of DGGE analysis was 0-0.75, and closer sections showed higher similarity of bacterial DNA structure. Members of two major lineages were found: Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The combined culture and culture-independent methods indicated layer distribution of bacterial community in the ice core section, which might reflect the ecological environments on glacier at time of their deposition.
Zhang
Shu hong
Sh
Department of Life Science, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu 476000, China. mariazhangsh@yahoo.com.cn
Hou
Shu gui
Sg
Yang
Guang li
Gl
Wang
Jian hui
Jh
D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001483:Base Sequence; D044822:Biodiversity; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D034301:Deinococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D046448:Ice Cover / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification