Diversification, niche adaptation, and evolution of a candidate phylum thriving in the deep Critical Zone.

ABSTRACT: The deep subsurface soil microbiome encompasses a vast amount of understudied phylogenetic diversity and metabolic novelty, and the metabolic capabilities and ecological roles of these communities remain largely unknown. We observed a widespread and relatively abundant bacterial phylum (CSP1-3) in deep soils and evaluated its phylogeny, ecology, metabolism, and evolutionary history. Genome analysis indicated that members of CSP1-3 were actively replicating in situ and were widely involved in the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles. We identified potential adaptive traits of CSP1-3 members for the oligotrophic deep soil environments, including a mixotrophic lifestyle, flexible energy metabolisms, and conservation pathways. The ancestor of CSP1-3 likely originated in an aquatic environment,

SUBMITTER: Feng W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11962464 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature