title: Insights into functional genes and taxonomical/phylogenetic diversity of microbial communities in biological heap leaching system and their correlation with functions.
abstract: Although the taxonomical/phylogenetic diversity of microbial communities in biological heap leaching systems has been investigated, the diversity of functional genes was still unclear, and, especially, the differentiation and the relationships of diversity and functions of microbial communities in leaching heap (LH) and leaching solution (LS) were also still unclear. In our study, a functional gene array (GeoChip 5.0) was employed to investigate the functional gene diversity, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to explore the taxonomical/phylogenetic diversity of microbial communities in LH and LS subsystems of Dexing copper mine (Jiangxi, China). Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) showed that both functional gene structure and taxonomical/phylogenetic structure of microbial communities were significantly different between LH and LS. Signal intensities of genes, including genes for sulfur oxidation (e.g., soxB), metal homeostasis (e.g., arsm), carbon fixation (e.g., rubisco), polyphosphate degradation (e.g., ppk), and organic remediation (e.g., hydrocarbons) were significantly higher in LH, while signal intensities of genes for carbon degradation (e.g., amyA), polyphosphate synthesis (e.g., ppx), and sulfur reduction (e.g., dsrA) were significantly higher in LS. Further inspection revealed that microbial communities in LS and LH were dominated by Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum. However, rare species were relatively higher abundant in LH. Additionally, diversity index of functional genes was significantly different in LS (9.915 ± 0.074) and LH (9.781 ± 0.165), and the taxonomical/phylogenetic diversity index was also significantly different in LH (4.398 ± 0.508) and LS (3.014 ± 0.707). Functional tests, including sulfur-oxidizing ability, iron-oxidizing ability, and pyrite bioleaching ability, showed that all abilities of microbial communities were significantly stronger in LH than those in LS. Further studies found that most key genes (e.g., soxC and dsrA), rather than functional gene diversity index, were significantly correlated with abilities of microbial communities by linear regression analysis and Pearson correlation tests. In addition, the abilities were significantly correlated with taxonomical/phylogenetic diversity index and some rare species (e.g., Ferrithrix).
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Yunhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Xueduan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Yili
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Jiaojiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Liyuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
authors.forename: Yabin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. yinhuaqun_cs@sina.com.|Key Laboratory of Biometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China. yinhuaqun_cs@sina.com.
authors.forename: Huaqun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D058448:Biota; D002681:China; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: 16S rRNA gene sequencing; Biological heap leaching systems; GeoChip 5.0; Microbial community function; Taxonomical/phylogenetic and functional diversity