Mineralizing Filamentous Bacteria from the Prony Bay Hydrothermal Field Give New Insights into the Functioning of Serpentinization-Based Subseafloor Ecosystems

摘要: Despite their potential importance as analogs of primitive microbial metabolisms, the knowledge structure and functioning deep ecosystems associated with serpentinizing environments is hampered by lack accessibility to relevant systems. These hyperalkaline are depleted in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), making sources assimilation pathways highly enigmatic. The Prony Bay Hydrothermal Field (PHF) an active serpentinization site where, similar Lost City (Mid-Atlantic Ridge), high-pH fluids rich H 2 CH 4 discharged from carbonate chimneys at seafloor, but a shallower lagoonal environment. This study aimed characterize subsurface ecology this environment focusing on earliest stages chimney construction, dominated discharge hydrothermal subseafloor origin. By jointly examining mineralogy diversity conduits juvenile edifices micrometric scale, we find central role uncultivated bacteria belonging Firmicutes PHF. bacteria, along members phyla Acetothermia Omnitrophica, identified first inhabitants before archaeal Methanosarcinales. They involved construction early consolidation structures via organomineralization processes.