Metagenomes and metatranscriptomes from boreal potential and actual acid sulfate soil materials.

Högfors-Rönnholm E, Lopez-Fernandez M, Christel S, Brambilla D, Huntemann M, Clum A, Foster B, Foster B, Roux S, Palaniappan K, Varghese N, Mukherjee S, Reddy TBK, Daum C, Copeland A, Chen IA, Ivanova NN, Kyrpides NC, Harmon-Smith M, Eloe-Fadrosh EA, Lundin D, Engblom S, Dopson M

Sci Data 6 (1) 207 [2019-10-16; online 2019-10-16]

Natural sulfide rich deposits are common in coastal areas worldwide, including along the Baltic Sea coast. When artificial drainage exposes these deposits to atmospheric oxygen, iron sulfide minerals in the soils are rapidly oxidized. This process turns the potential acid sulfate soils into actual acid sulfate soils and mobilizes large quantities of acidity and leachable toxic metals that cause severe environmental problems. It is known that acidophilic microorganisms living in acid sulfate soils catalyze iron sulfide mineral oxidation. However, only a few studies regarding these communities have been published. In this study, we sampled the oxidized actual acid sulfate soil, the transition zone where oxidation is actively taking place, and the deepest un-oxidized potential acid sulfate soil. Nucleic acids were extracted and 16S rRNA gene amplicons, metagenomes, and metatranscriptomes generated to gain a detailed insight into the communities and their activities. The project will be of great use to microbiologists, environmental biologists, geochemists, and geologists as there is hydrological and geochemical monitoring from the site stretching back for many years.

NGI Stockholm (Genomics Applications) [Service]

NGI Stockholm (Genomics Production) [Service]

National Genomics Infrastructure [Service]

PubMed 31619684

DOI 10.1038/s41597-019-0222-3

Crossref 10.1038/s41597-019-0222-3

pii: 10.1038/s41597-019-0222-3
pmc: PMC6795848