Minerals function as signals to modulate microbial adaptation
Abstract Minerals are pivotal environmental factors influencing the adaptation and evolution of microbial communities. Conventional wisdom has long regarded the impact of minerals as a byproduct of their role in providing nutrients and energy to organisms, largely overlooking the significance of non...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02429-4 |
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| author | Jianchao Zhang Beibei Wang Sumin Qu Xiangyu Zhu Yuebo Wang Hui Henry Teng |
| author_facet | Jianchao Zhang Beibei Wang Sumin Qu Xiangyu Zhu Yuebo Wang Hui Henry Teng |
| author_sort | Jianchao Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Minerals are pivotal environmental factors influencing the adaptation and evolution of microbial communities. Conventional wisdom has long regarded the impact of minerals as a byproduct of their role in providing nutrients and energy to organisms, largely overlooking the significance of non-nutritive and energy-neutral mineral species. In this study, we explore the influence of minerals on microbial development in nutrient- and energy-rich media through a serial passage evolution experiment. Our results show both the inert mineral kaolinite and the energy/nutrient-rich olivine exert evident effects on the microorganisms. Both minerals induced substantial shifts in community structure. Notably, kaolinite and olivine selectively enriched specific taxa, including Acinetobacter and Clostridium. Metatranscriptomic analyses revealed substantial changes in gene expression, with both minerals enriching unique metabolic pathways. Interestingly, kaolinite specifically enriched pathways related to streptomycin biosynthesis. Both minerals stimulated the expression of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), particularly those associated with multidrug and macrolide resistance. Furthermore, both minerals induced the upregulation of genes involved in the degradation of complex organic matter, highlighting their potential role in soil carbon cycling. These findings underscore the intricate interplay between minerals and microbes, challenging the conventional notion that minerals function solely as material sources for organism growth. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e506f8327be84c629fe7916c7cacbdde |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-e506f8327be84c629fe7916c7cacbdde2025-08-20T02:10:34ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-06-016111210.1038/s43247-025-02429-4Minerals function as signals to modulate microbial adaptationJianchao Zhang0Beibei Wang1Sumin Qu2Xiangyu Zhu3Yuebo Wang4Hui Henry Teng5School of Earth System Science, Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin UniversitySchool of Earth System Science, Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin UniversitySchool of Earth System Science, Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin UniversitySchool of Earth System Science, Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin UniversitySchool of Earth System Science, Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin UniversitySchool of Earth System Science, Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin UniversityAbstract Minerals are pivotal environmental factors influencing the adaptation and evolution of microbial communities. Conventional wisdom has long regarded the impact of minerals as a byproduct of their role in providing nutrients and energy to organisms, largely overlooking the significance of non-nutritive and energy-neutral mineral species. In this study, we explore the influence of minerals on microbial development in nutrient- and energy-rich media through a serial passage evolution experiment. Our results show both the inert mineral kaolinite and the energy/nutrient-rich olivine exert evident effects on the microorganisms. Both minerals induced substantial shifts in community structure. Notably, kaolinite and olivine selectively enriched specific taxa, including Acinetobacter and Clostridium. Metatranscriptomic analyses revealed substantial changes in gene expression, with both minerals enriching unique metabolic pathways. Interestingly, kaolinite specifically enriched pathways related to streptomycin biosynthesis. Both minerals stimulated the expression of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), particularly those associated with multidrug and macrolide resistance. Furthermore, both minerals induced the upregulation of genes involved in the degradation of complex organic matter, highlighting their potential role in soil carbon cycling. These findings underscore the intricate interplay between minerals and microbes, challenging the conventional notion that minerals function solely as material sources for organism growth.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02429-4 |
| spellingShingle | Jianchao Zhang Beibei Wang Sumin Qu Xiangyu Zhu Yuebo Wang Hui Henry Teng Minerals function as signals to modulate microbial adaptation Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Minerals function as signals to modulate microbial adaptation |
| title_full | Minerals function as signals to modulate microbial adaptation |
| title_fullStr | Minerals function as signals to modulate microbial adaptation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Minerals function as signals to modulate microbial adaptation |
| title_short | Minerals function as signals to modulate microbial adaptation |
| title_sort | minerals function as signals to modulate microbial adaptation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02429-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jianchaozhang mineralsfunctionassignalstomodulatemicrobialadaptation AT beibeiwang mineralsfunctionassignalstomodulatemicrobialadaptation AT suminqu mineralsfunctionassignalstomodulatemicrobialadaptation AT xiangyuzhu mineralsfunctionassignalstomodulatemicrobialadaptation AT yuebowang mineralsfunctionassignalstomodulatemicrobialadaptation AT huihenryteng mineralsfunctionassignalstomodulatemicrobialadaptation |