Microorganisms Isolated from Saharan Dust Intrusions in the Canary Islands and Processes of Mineral Atmospherogenesis
Global warming due to climate change has increased the frequency of sand and dust storms that affect air quality and ecosystems in general, contributing to air pollution. The Sahara Desert is the most potent emitter of atmospheric dust. The atmosphere is an extreme environment and microorganisms liv...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/5/1862 |
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| author | Azahara Navarro Ana del Moral Irene de Pablos Rafael Delgado Jesús Párraga Juan M. Martín-García Fernando Martínez-Checa |
| author_facet | Azahara Navarro Ana del Moral Irene de Pablos Rafael Delgado Jesús Párraga Juan M. Martín-García Fernando Martínez-Checa |
| author_sort | Azahara Navarro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Global warming due to climate change has increased the frequency of sand and dust storms that affect air quality and ecosystems in general, contributing to air pollution. The Sahara Desert is the most potent emitter of atmospheric dust. The atmosphere is an extreme environment and microorganisms living in the troposphere are exposed to greater ultraviolet radiation, desiccation, low temperatures and nutrient deprivation than in other habitats. The Iberian Peninsula, and specifically the Canary Islands—due to its strategic location—is one of the regions that receive more Saharan dust particles annually, increasing year after year, although culturable microorganisms had previously never been described. In the present work, dust samples were collected from three calima events in the Canary Islands between 2021 and 2022. The sizes, mineralogical compositions and chemical compositions of dust particles were determined by laser diffraction, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Particle morphology and biological features were also studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The mineral–bacteria interactions were described from microscopic observations, which revealed the presence of iberulites and small neoformed kaolinite crystals in association with bacteria. This article defines the term “mineral atmospherogenesis” and its variant, “mineral bioatmospherogenesis”, through microbial interaction. This is the first described case of kaolinite produced through mineral bioatmospherogenesis. The bacterial growth in atmospheric dust was illustrated in SEM images, constituting a novel finding. Twenty-three culturable microorganisms were isolated and identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Members of the phyla <i>Pseudomonadota</i>, <i>Bacillota</i> and <i>Actinomycetota</i> have been found. Some of these microorganisms, such as <i>Peribacillus frigoritolerans</i>, have Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) properties. Potential human pathogenic bacteria such as <i>Acinetobacter lwoffii</i> were also found. The presence of desert dust and iberulites in the Canary Islands, together with transported biological components such as bacteria, could have a significant impact on the ecosystem and human health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:35:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6c33658d7ccb47cdbae617a4647fb83e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:35:26Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-6c33658d7ccb47cdbae617a4647fb83e2024-03-12T16:39:16ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172024-02-01145186210.3390/app14051862Microorganisms Isolated from Saharan Dust Intrusions in the Canary Islands and Processes of Mineral AtmospherogenesisAzahara Navarro0Ana del Moral1Irene de Pablos2Rafael Delgado3Jesús Párraga4Juan M. Martín-García5Fernando Martínez-Checa6Department of Soil Science, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Microbiology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Soil Science, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Soil Science, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Soil Science, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Soil Science, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainDepartment of Microbiology, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainGlobal warming due to climate change has increased the frequency of sand and dust storms that affect air quality and ecosystems in general, contributing to air pollution. The Sahara Desert is the most potent emitter of atmospheric dust. The atmosphere is an extreme environment and microorganisms living in the troposphere are exposed to greater ultraviolet radiation, desiccation, low temperatures and nutrient deprivation than in other habitats. The Iberian Peninsula, and specifically the Canary Islands—due to its strategic location—is one of the regions that receive more Saharan dust particles annually, increasing year after year, although culturable microorganisms had previously never been described. In the present work, dust samples were collected from three calima events in the Canary Islands between 2021 and 2022. The sizes, mineralogical compositions and chemical compositions of dust particles were determined by laser diffraction, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Particle morphology and biological features were also studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The mineral–bacteria interactions were described from microscopic observations, which revealed the presence of iberulites and small neoformed kaolinite crystals in association with bacteria. This article defines the term “mineral atmospherogenesis” and its variant, “mineral bioatmospherogenesis”, through microbial interaction. This is the first described case of kaolinite produced through mineral bioatmospherogenesis. The bacterial growth in atmospheric dust was illustrated in SEM images, constituting a novel finding. Twenty-three culturable microorganisms were isolated and identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Members of the phyla <i>Pseudomonadota</i>, <i>Bacillota</i> and <i>Actinomycetota</i> have been found. Some of these microorganisms, such as <i>Peribacillus frigoritolerans</i>, have Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) properties. Potential human pathogenic bacteria such as <i>Acinetobacter lwoffii</i> were also found. The presence of desert dust and iberulites in the Canary Islands, together with transported biological components such as bacteria, could have a significant impact on the ecosystem and human health.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/5/1862extremophilesSaharan dustiberuliteatmospherogenesisCanary Islandscalima |
| spellingShingle | Azahara Navarro Ana del Moral Irene de Pablos Rafael Delgado Jesús Párraga Juan M. Martín-García Fernando Martínez-Checa Microorganisms Isolated from Saharan Dust Intrusions in the Canary Islands and Processes of Mineral Atmospherogenesis Applied Sciences extremophiles Saharan dust iberulite atmospherogenesis Canary Islands calima |
| title | Microorganisms Isolated from Saharan Dust Intrusions in the Canary Islands and Processes of Mineral Atmospherogenesis |
| title_full | Microorganisms Isolated from Saharan Dust Intrusions in the Canary Islands and Processes of Mineral Atmospherogenesis |
| title_fullStr | Microorganisms Isolated from Saharan Dust Intrusions in the Canary Islands and Processes of Mineral Atmospherogenesis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microorganisms Isolated from Saharan Dust Intrusions in the Canary Islands and Processes of Mineral Atmospherogenesis |
| title_short | Microorganisms Isolated from Saharan Dust Intrusions in the Canary Islands and Processes of Mineral Atmospherogenesis |
| title_sort | microorganisms isolated from saharan dust intrusions in the canary islands and processes of mineral atmospherogenesis |
| topic | extremophiles Saharan dust iberulite atmospherogenesis Canary Islands calima |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/5/1862 |
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