@article {44439,
	title = {Untapped bacterial diversity and metabolic potential within Unkeshwar hot springs, India},
	journal = {Archives of Microbiology},
	volume = {200},
	year = {2018},
	month = {JUL },
	pages = {753-770},
	type = {Journal Article},
	abstract = {<p>Hot springs support diverse and interesting groups of microorganisms adapted to extreme conditions and gaining attention in biotechnological applications. However, due to limitations of cultivation methods, a majority of such extremophiles remain uncultivated and unexplored. The advent of multiple cultivation conditions and specialized culture media could possibly aid to access the unexplored microbial portion of hot springs. In the present study, different media and isolation strategies were applied to isolate hitherto unexplored bacterial taxa in the water samples collected from Unkeshwar hot springs, India. Molecular, phylogenetic and predictive functional characterization of the isolated bacterial population was done using 16S rRNA sequencing coupled with Tax4Fun tools. Furthermore, representative isolates were screened for important enzymes (cellulase, xylanase, amylase, and protease) and heavy metal tolerance (chromium, arsenic) properties. A total of 454 bacterial isolates obtained were mapped into 57 unique bacterial genera and 4 different bacterial phyla. Interestingly, 37 genera not previously isolated from Indian hot springs, were isolated for the first time in the present study. However, most of these genera (23 out of 37) were reported only in metagenomics studies from Indian and global hot springs. Furthermore, around 14 genera not previously cultivated and not detected in metagenomics studies of hot springs are documented here. The metabolic potential was ascertained by determining the abundance of specific genes using in silico based Tax4Fun tool, which identified around 315 metabolic pathways for metabolism of carbohydrates, synthesis of secondary metabolites and degradation of xenobiotic compounds. Bioprospection study revealed that 33 and 25 bacterial genera were positive for enzyme production and resistance to the heavy metals, respectively. The present study revealed the advantages of cultivation methods using a comprehensive multiple isolation approach for exploring untapped and unique bacterial diversity, and also utilities for various biotechnological and environmental applications.</p>},
	keywords = {Bacterial diversity, Bioprospecting, Cultivation, Heavy metals, Untapped},
	issn = {3028933},
	doi = {10.1007/s00203-018-1484-4},
	author = {Mehetre, Gajanan T.},
	editor = {Shah, Manan}
}
@article {47315,
	title = {Metagenome sequencing to unveil microbial community composition and prevalence of antibiotic and metal resistance genes in hypersaline and hyperalkaline Lonar Lake, India},
	journal = {Ecological Indicators},
	volume = {110},
	year = {2020},
	month = {MAR},
	pages = {105827},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>Lonar Lake (India) is a hyperalkaline and hypersaline soda lake encompassing unique microbial composition and functions. This ecosystem has not been explored for taxonomic diversity and functional aspects (with emphasis on antibiotic and metal resistance genes) using whole metagenome sequencing for multiple years. Bacterial diversity analysis during year 2013, 2016, and 2018 depicted differences in the dominance of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. For archaeal diversity, a similar pattern persisted with higher abundance of Euryarchaeota. Functional metagenome analyses, indicated presence of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) and metal resistance gene (MRG) profiles in the lake. A wider continuum of resistance genes with dominant ARG types as multidrug resistance efflux pumps and beta-lactams were also observed. The lake resistome demonstrated fluoroquinolone and acriflavine resistance genes indicating sewage water contamination in the lake. The MRGs linked with resistance to toxic metals (arsenic, cobalt, cadmium, copper, and zinc) and cation efflux protein CusA and cobalt-zinc-cadmium resistance protein revealed metal contamination. This study could be a baseline for understanding prevalence of antibiotic and metal resistance mechanisms resulting from various anthropogenic activities nearby lake, and find integrated approaches for conservation of the precious Lonar Lake ecosystem.</p>},
	keywords = {Archaeal diversity, ARGs, Bacterial diversity, Illumina sequencing, Lonar lake, MRGs},
	issn = {1470-160X},
	doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105827},
	author = {Chakraborty, Jaya and Sapkale, Vibhavari and Shah, Manan and Rajput, Vinay and Mehetre, Gajanan and Agawane, Sachin and Kamble, Sanjay and Dharne, Mahesh}
}
