Scientific and technological progress in the microbial exploration of the hadal zone

Abstract

The hadal zone is the deepest point in the ocean with a depth that exceeds 6000 m. Exploration of the biological communities in hadal zone began in the 1950s (the first wave of hadal exploration) and substantial advances have been made since the turn of the twenty-first century (the second wave of hadal exploration), resulting in a focus on the hadal sphere as a research hotspot because of its unique physical and chemical conditions. A variety of prokaryotes are found in the hadal zone. The mechanisms used by these prokaryotes to manage the high hydrostatic pressures and acquire energy from the environment are of substantial interest. Moreover, the symbioses between microbes and hadal animals have barely been studied. In addition, equipment has been developed that can now mimic hadal environments in the laboratory and allow cultivation of microbes under simulated in situ pressure. This review provides a brief summary of recent progress in the mechanisms by which microbes adapt to high hydrostatic pressures, manage limited energy resources and coexist with animals in the hadal zone, as well as technical developments in the exploration of hadal microbial life.