ArticleBMC genomics2025
Comparative genomics reveals adaptive traits in novel Antarctic lithic cyanobacteria.
Article in BMC genomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTerrestrial polar cyanobacteria persist at the cold limits of life, enduring a suite of extreme stressors including sub-zero temperatures, frequent freeze–thaw cycles, oligotrophic soils, variable light regimes with long periods of darkness, and desiccation. To survive, cyanobacteria have evolved diverse physiological strategies. A key adaptation among Antarctic terrestrial cyanobacteria is niche colonization: inhabiting the undersides of translucent quartz rocks (hypoliths) and the interior spaces of porous rocks (endoliths), which buffer environmental extremes and sustains the potential for photoautotrophic carbon fixation. However, the full genomic repertoire facilitating their resilience is incomplete.
resultsWe cultivated cyanobacteria from endolithic and hypolithic niches in Victoria Valley, Eastern Antarctica, and recovered four near-complete genomes (100% completeness, < 1% contamination). Three hypolithic genomes showed near-identical sequence similarity (whole genome average nucleotide identity = 99.98%) and phylogenomic proximity to the genus Coleofasciculus, yet represent a novel species, Coleofasciculus caryii H7-2. The fourth genome, derived from an endolith, showed moderate similarity to Aliterella antarctica (whole genome average nucleotide identity = 79.1%), and is proposed as a new species, Aliterella bergstromii E5.1. C. caryii H7-2 possessed a larger genome (~ 6.1 Mbp) than A. bergstromii E5.1 (~ 5.4 Mbp). Both genomes encoded complete pathways for carbon fixation via oxygenic photosynthesis (RuBisCO and phosphoribulokinase), extensive phycobilisomes, and multiple photoprotective mechanisms. Predicted optimal growth temperatures were 21.7 °C and 23.2 °C, respectively. Shared stress-mitigation genes included those for osmotic, thermal and oxidative (superoxide dismutase) stress response. All genomes contained biosynthetic gene clusters associated with stress-adaptive secondary metabolites, including heterocyst glycolipids, siderophores, phenazines, compounds related to nostopeptolide and merocyclophane. The C. caryii H7-2 genome encoded multiple CRISPR-Cas systems, suggesting adaptive immunity and historical phage exposure. In contrast, A. bergstromii E5.1 harboured a single prophage and an array of 24 plasmids.
conclusionsThese finding reveal that the newly-described cyanobacteria possess a rich genomic repertoire of adaptations to withstand Antarctic extremes, emphasizing the resilience and ecological importance of lithobiontic cyanobacteria in polar deserts.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.