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Differential hypo-osmotic stress responses and regulatory mechanisms of Aspergillus sydowii in amphipod guts and hadal sediments

Summary

Scientists isolated a fungus from the gut of deep-sea amphipods in the Mariana Trench and discovered how it uniquely adapts to low-salt conditions. Unlike other fungal strains from different habitats, this gut fungus showed special abilities to survive and even thrive when salt levels dropped dramatically. The researchers found that the fungus rapidly rewired its genes and cellular structures to maintain water balance and protect itself, revealing how life in extreme deep-sea environments drives evolution of novel survival strategies.

Background

Hadal amphipods harbor gut microbiota that significantly influence host physiology and environmental adaptation in deep-sea ecosystems. While research on Aspergillus sydowii has focused on high-salinity adaptation, understanding of culturable gut fungi responses to low-osmotic environments remains limited.

Objective

This study reports isolation of Aspergillus sydowii XTO612 from hadal amphipod guts and compares its hypo-osmotic stress responses with A. sydowii DM1 from hadal sediments to elucidate divergent osmoregulatory strategies across habitat-driven strains.

Results

A. sydowii XTO612 demonstrated enhanced stress responsiveness and lacked mycelial swelling under hypo-osmotic conditions. Transcriptomic analysis revealed comprehensive regulatory strategies including membrane permeability modulation, cell wall restructuring, energy metabolism alterations, and osmolyte biosynthesis pathway optimization to maintain osmotic homeostasis.

Conclusion

Habitat-driven evolution generated distinct osmotic regulation mechanisms between conspecific strains from different hadal ecosystems. Hypo-osmotic stress significantly shapes fungal secondary metabolite biosynthesis and osmoregulation, providing insights into fungal adaptation strategies in extreme deep-sea environments.
  • Published in:Applied and Environmental Microbiology,
  • Study Type:Comparative Experimental Study,
  • Source: 41159890
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