Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41703668›Full record

ArticleEnvironmental microbiome2026

Cross-feeding options define genome evolution and community assembly of deep groundwater microbiome.

Maryam Rezaei Somee, Carolina González-Rosales, Matti Gralka, Stephanie Turner, Stefan Bertilsson, Mark Dopson, Maliheh Mehrshad

Abstract read
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Article in Environmental microbiome, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Maryam Rezaei SomeeCentre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, 391 82, Kalmar, Sweden. maryam.rezaeisomee@lnu.se.
Carolina González-RosalesCentre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, 391 82, Kalmar, Sweden.
Matti GralkaSystems Biology Group, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE) and Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Stephanie TurnerCentre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, 391 82, Kalmar, Sweden.
Stefan BertilssonDepartment of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Science for Life Laboratory, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
Mark DopsonCentre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, 391 82, Kalmar, Sweden.
Maliheh MehrshadDepartment of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Science for Life Laboratory, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden. maliheh.mehrshad@slu.se.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDeep groundwaters populated by diverse and active microbes are among the most energy and nutrient-limited ecosystems. Characteristics of this ecosystem (including nutrient and dispersal limitations, low cell densities, and an episodic growth strategy) interactively underpin the so far elusive eco-evolutionary dynamics of its microbiome. Here, we used genome-resolved modular metabolic analyses of disconnected deep groundwater sites in the Fennoscandian Shield to test how eco-evolutionary constraints in these deep groundwater ecosystems shape microbial genome architecture, metabolic versatility, and community assembly at different depths.

resultsThe analysis revealed that lineages with larger genomes (≥ 2.6 Mb) maintained higher population sizes in the deepest and most oligotrophic groundwaters, whereas lineages with known metabolic dependencies, such as and DPANN, declined in relative abundance with depth. This pattern was interpreted as consistent with limited opportunities for sustained metabolic cross-feeding in these ecosystems. Moreover, while similar ecological niches based on cross-feeding interactions and potential primary production were available across different boreholes, distinct microbial lineages appeared to occupy these niches at each site.

conclusionThe findings provided new insights into the role of metabolic cross-feeding in genome evolution and community assembly of deep groundwater microbiomes. By extending the streamlining theory, this study underscores the critical influence of ecological interactions, particularly metabolic exchanges, in shaping microbial life under severe nutrient limitation, offering new insights into subsurface microbial communities.

Indexed as

Deep groundwaterGenome sizeMetabolic cross-feedingModular metabolic analyses

Identifiers

PMID41703668
PMCPMC13014828

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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.