Although metagenomic sequencing has revealed a rich microbial biodiversity in the mammalian gut, methods to genetically alter specific species in the microbiome are highly limited. Here, we introduce ...

Microbial communities are essential to sustaining ecosystem functions in mangrove wetlands, yet their long-term responses to environmental changes remain poorly characterized. Here, we conducted a sev...

Microbial communities are essential to sustaining ecosystem functions in mangrove wetlands, yet their long-term responses to environmental changes remain poorly characterized. Here, we conducted a sev...

Arsenic (As) is a prevalent toxic element, posing significant risks to organisms, including microbes. While microbial arsenic detoxification has been extensively studied in bacteria, archaeal mechanisms remain understudied. Here, we investigated arsenic resistance genes in Bathyarchaeia, one of the most abundant archaeal lineages on Earth. Comprehensive genomic analysis of 318 Bathyarchaeia representatives revealed a widespread distribution of arsenic resistance genes, with 60% of genomes harboring genes for arsenate reduction (arsR1 and arsC2), arsenite methylation (arsM), and arsenic transport (acr3, arsP, and arsB). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these genes are widely distributed across 14 archaeal phyla, including Asgardarchaeota, Thermoproteota, and Thermoplasmatota, with close evolutionary relationships among these archaeal lineages. In situ investigation of sediment columns and laboratory microcosm experiments demonstrated a strong positive correlation between Bathyarchaeia abundance and arsenic concentrations, suggesting their adaptation to arsenic-rich environments. Molecular dating analysis placed the emergence of Bathyarchaeia at approximately 3.01 billion years ago, with the evolution of their arsenic resistance mechanisms closely tracking major geological events, including the Great Oxidation Event (2.4–2.1 Gya), Huronian Glaciation (2.29–2.25 Gya), and Cryogenian Glaciation (∼700 Mya). Our findings highlight the critical role of Archaea in the arsenic cycle and provide insights into the evolutionary history of arsenic resistance associated with paleogeochemical changes in Bathyarchaeia.

Cultivation-independent techniques have facilitated the discovery of a diversity of thus far uncultivated organisms and led to the identification of new branches within the tree of life. This has reshaped the general view of key evolutionary processes and ...

Uncultured open-ocean Asgard archaea can harvest light energy using rhodopsins and diverse hydroxylated carotenoid antennas.