由Methiophaga、Sulfitobacter和Roseovarius表示的深海热液喷口中不同和显著的由微生物作用的矿物转化.

Diverse and significant microbe-mediated mineral transformation in deep-sea hydrothermal vent indicated by Methylophaga, Sulfitobacter and Roseovarius.

Microbe-mineral interactions play a crucial role in microbial energy conservation and mineral mobilization within deep-sea hydrothermal vents, yet the specific microorganisms involved remain largely underexplored. In this study, sulfide minerals and iron-rich sediment samples from a hydrothermal field on the Indian Ocean Ridge were obtained and subjected to long-term enrichment experiments to simulate microbe-mineral interaction. Sulfur-oxidizing communities were established with 36 isolated sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB). Among them, Methylophaga sp. F7, Sulfitobacter sp. L-8 and Roseovarius sp. B-10 exhibited thiosulfate oxidation capabilities. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) showed diverse nanoscale signatures of microbial weathering after 30 and 90 days incubation, including metal oxide particles, secondary mineral precipitates, and irregular dissolution pits. Overall, this research connects microbial sulfur-oxidizing metabolisms with morphological transformation of polymetallic sulfide minerals, highlighting the important role of SOB in mineral weathering, metal mobilization, and resource sharing on hydrothermal environments.