Metagenome-assembled Genomes of Six Novel Ammonia-oxidizing Archaea (AOA) from Agricultural Upland Soil

Abstract

Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), key players in agricultural upland soil nitrification, convert soil ammonium to nitrite. The microbial oxidation of ammonia to nitrite is an important part of the global biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. In the present study, we recovered six novel AOA metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) containing genes for carbon (C) fixation and nitrogen (N) metabolism by using a deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing strategy. We also found that these AOA MAGs possessed cobalamin synthesis genes, suggesting that AOA are vitamin suppliers in agricultural upland soil. Collectively, the present results deepen our understanding of the metabolic potential and phylogeny of AOA in agroecosystems.