Archaea as 'flexitarians': Ammonia-oxidizing microbes also feed on amino acids
Symbiotic ammonia-oxidizing archaea in marine sponges are not strict specialists but true "flexitarians." A team led by microbiologists Bettina Glasl and Katharina Kitzinger from the University of Vienna, in collaboration with partners from Australia, has shown that, unlike their free-living relatives studied thus far, these microbes dine not only on ammonia but also on amino acids such as…
Ammonia-oxidizing archaea, which collaborate with marine sponges, are not exclusive in their diet. These microorganisms, found primarily in the ancient creatures known as sponges, are capable of consuming not only ammonia but also amino acids like valine, leucine, and isoleucine. This flexibility, termed mixotrophy, was uncovered through experimental evidence provided by the research led by microbiologists Bettina Glasl and Katharina Kitzinger from the University of Vienna.
The study, published in Science Advances, suggests that these archaea may play a more significant role in the sponge's survival than previously thought. The sponge's survival is largely dependent on the ammonia-oxidizing archaea, which are often viewed as the sponge's microscopic sanitation crew due to their role in removing toxic ammonia.
However, these archaea also produce and consume amino acids, potentially modulating signaling molecules that could serve as a form of communication between the microbe and the animal host. This research, a collaborative effort between scientists in Austria and Australia, was made possible by the support from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) for the Cluster of Excellence "Microbiomes drive planetary health."
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