The sequence capture by hybridization: a new approach for revealing the potential of mono-aromatic hydrocarbons bioattenuation in a deep oligotrophic aquifer

Magali Ranchou-Peyruse (1) , Cyrielle Gasc (2) , Marion Guignard (1) , Thomas Aüllo , David Dequidt (3) , Pierre Peyret (2) , Anthony Ranchou-Peyruse (1)

1 IPREM - Institut des sciences analytiques et de physico-chimie pour l'environnement et les materiaux
2 MEDIS - Microbiologie Environnement Digestif Santé
3 Storengy France

The formation water of a deep aquifer (853 m of depth) used for geological storage of natural gas was sampled to assess the mono-aromatic hydrocarbons attenuation potential of the indigenous microbiota. The study of bacterial diversity suggests that Firmicutes and, in particular, sulphate-reducing bacteria (Peptococcaceae) predominate in this microbial community. The capacity of the microbial community to biodegrade toluene and m- and p-xylenes was demonstrated using a culture-based approach after several hundred days of incubation. In order to reveal the potential for biodegradation of these compounds within a shorter time frame, an innovative approach named the solution hybrid selection method, which combines sequence capture by hybridization and next-generation sequencing, was applied to the same original water sample. The bssA and bssA-like genes were investigated as they are considered good biomarkers for the potential of toluene and xylene biodegradation. Unlike a PCR approach which failed to detect these genes directly from formation water, this innovative strategy demonstrated the presence of the bssA and bssA-like genes in this oligotrophic ecosystem, probably harboured by Peptococcaceae. The sequence capture by hybridization shows significant potential to reveal the presence of genes of functional interest which have low-level representation in the biosphere.

Domaines: Biotechnologies; Bactériologie

Magali Ranchou-Peyruse, Cyrielle Gasc, Marion Guignard, Thomas Aüllo, David Dequidt, et al.. The sequence capture by hybridization: a new approach for revealing the potential of mono-aromatic hydrocarbons bioattenuation in a deep oligotrophic aquifer. Microbial Biotechnology, 2017, 10 (2), pp.469-479. ⟨10.1111/1751-7915.12426⟩. ⟨hal-01658765⟩