Iron reduction under oxic conditions by Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKT
Abstract Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKT is a metabolically versatile Gram-positive bacterium isolated from the oxic-anoxic interface of freshwater sediments colonised by cable bacteria. Here, we report the metabolic ability of M. deferre A1-JKT to simultaneously reduce oxygen and soluble Fe(...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61424-7 |
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| author | Jamie J. M. Lustermans Naja Basu Leonid Digel Kartik Aiyer |
| author_facet | Jamie J. M. Lustermans Naja Basu Leonid Digel Kartik Aiyer |
| author_sort | Jamie J. M. Lustermans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKT is a metabolically versatile Gram-positive bacterium isolated from the oxic-anoxic interface of freshwater sediments colonised by cable bacteria. Here, we report the metabolic ability of M. deferre A1-JKT to simultaneously reduce oxygen and soluble Fe(III), challenging the long-standing paradigm that microbial Fe(III) reduction is restricted to anaerobic conditions. Electrochemical analyses demonstrate that M. deferre A1-JKT is capable of extracellular electron transfer (EET) mediated by secreted flavins. It retains electroactivity under mildly alkaline and halophilic conditions, reflecting its broad environmental tolerance. Genomic analyses reveal a non-canonical system involving cytochrome FccA and flavin reductase FmnA, without the involvement of conventional flavin-based extracellular electron transfer (FLEET) components. The ability to couple oxygen and Fe(III) reduction under oxic conditions demonstrates respiratory flexibility, enabling M. deferre A1-JKT to utilize both aerobic and anaerobic processes simultaneously in fluctuating environments. These findings offer insights into microbial adaptation to dynamic geochemical gradients and potentially explain strategies used by bacterial life during oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3b027e69413442b9be3a78bd3b1fa7c1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-3b027e69413442b9be3a78bd3b1fa7c12025-08-20T03:45:31ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-61424-7Iron reduction under oxic conditions by Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKTJamie J. M. Lustermans0Naja Basu1Leonid Digel2Kartik Aiyer3Microbial Systems Technology Excellence Centre, University of AntwerpDepartment of Biology, Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Biology, Center for Electromicrobiology, Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Biology, Center for Electromicrobiology, Aarhus UniversityAbstract Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKT is a metabolically versatile Gram-positive bacterium isolated from the oxic-anoxic interface of freshwater sediments colonised by cable bacteria. Here, we report the metabolic ability of M. deferre A1-JKT to simultaneously reduce oxygen and soluble Fe(III), challenging the long-standing paradigm that microbial Fe(III) reduction is restricted to anaerobic conditions. Electrochemical analyses demonstrate that M. deferre A1-JKT is capable of extracellular electron transfer (EET) mediated by secreted flavins. It retains electroactivity under mildly alkaline and halophilic conditions, reflecting its broad environmental tolerance. Genomic analyses reveal a non-canonical system involving cytochrome FccA and flavin reductase FmnA, without the involvement of conventional flavin-based extracellular electron transfer (FLEET) components. The ability to couple oxygen and Fe(III) reduction under oxic conditions demonstrates respiratory flexibility, enabling M. deferre A1-JKT to utilize both aerobic and anaerobic processes simultaneously in fluctuating environments. These findings offer insights into microbial adaptation to dynamic geochemical gradients and potentially explain strategies used by bacterial life during oxygenation of Earth’s atmosphere.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61424-7 |
| spellingShingle | Jamie J. M. Lustermans Naja Basu Leonid Digel Kartik Aiyer Iron reduction under oxic conditions by Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKT Nature Communications |
| title | Iron reduction under oxic conditions by Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKT |
| title_full | Iron reduction under oxic conditions by Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKT |
| title_fullStr | Iron reduction under oxic conditions by Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKT |
| title_full_unstemmed | Iron reduction under oxic conditions by Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKT |
| title_short | Iron reduction under oxic conditions by Microbacterium deferre sp. nov. A1-JKT |
| title_sort | iron reduction under oxic conditions by microbacterium deferre sp nov a1 jkt |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61424-7 |
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