Mapping Archaeal Diversity in Soda Lakes by Coupling 16S rRNA PCR-DGGE Analysis with Remote Sensing and GIS Technology
Naglaa Elshafey,
Samy Selim,
Asmaa H. Mohammed,
Nashwa Hagagy,
Mennatalla Samy,
Ehab M. Mostafa,
Fatmah A. Safhi,
Salha M. Alshamrani,
Amna Saddiq,
Salam S. Alsharari,
Dalia G. Aseel,
Iram Hafiz,
Amr Elkelish,
Leonardo M. Pérez
Affiliations
Naglaa Elshafey
Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Arish University, Al-Arish 45511, Egypt
Samy Selim
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
Asmaa H. Mohammed
Marine Sciences Department, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, Cairo P.O. Box 1564, Egypt
Nashwa Hagagy
Department of Biology, College of Science & Arts at Khulis, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia
Mennatalla Samy
Department of Communications and Computers Engineering, The Higher Institute of Engineering, El-Shorouk City 11837, Egypt
Ehab M. Mostafa
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka 72341, Saudi Arabia
Fatmah A. Safhi
Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Salha M. Alshamrani
Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21577, Saudi Arabia
Amna Saddiq
Department of Biology, College of Science & Arts at Khulis, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21959, Saudi Arabia
Salam S. Alsharari
Biology Department, College of Science, Jouf University, Sakaka P.O. Box 72341, Saudi Arabia
Dalia G. Aseel
Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute (ALCRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA, City), New Borg El-Arab City 21934, Egypt
Iram Hafiz
Institute of Chemistry, University of Sargodha, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan
Amr Elkelish
Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
Leonardo M. Pérez
Facultad de Química e Ingeniería del Rosario, Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA), Av. Pellegrini 3314, Rosario S2002QEO, Argentina
The haloarchaeal diversity of four hypersaline alkaline lakes from the Wadi El-Natrun depression (Northern Egypt) was investigated using culture-independent polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) of 16S rRNA gene phylotypes, which was combined with remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) data to highlight the distribution pattern of the microbial diversity in water and sediment samples. The majority of archaeal sequences identified in all four lakes belonged to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. Sediment samples from Beida Lake and water samples from El-Hamra Lake showed the highest levels of archaeal diversity. Sequence similarities ≥ 95% were found between six of the acquired clones and uncultured Halorhabdus, Euryarchaeota, and archaeon clones. In addition, two clones shared a high level of sequence similarity (97%) with unclassified archaea, while other nine clones exhibited 96% to 99% sequence similarity with uncultured archaeon clones, and only one clone showed 97% identity with an uncultured Crenarchaeota. Likewise, 7 DGGE bands presented a sequence similarity of 90 to 98% to Halogranum sp., Halalkalicoccus tibetensis, Halalkalicoccus jeotgali, uncultured Halorubrum, Halobacteriaceae sp., or uncultured haloarchaeon. In conclusion, while the variety of alkaliphilic haloarchaea in the examined soda lakes was restricted, the possibility of uncovering novel species for biotechnological applications from these extreme habitats remains promising.
