The microbiota associated with vermiculations from karst caves is largely unknown. Vermiculations are enigmatic deposits forming worm-like patterns on cave walls all over the world. They represent a precious focus for geomicrobiological studies aimed at exploring both the microbial life of these ecosystems and the vermiculation genesis. This study comprises the first approach on the microbial communities thriving in Pertosa-Auletta Cave (southern Italy) vermiculations by next-generation sequencing. The most abundant phylum in vermiculations was Proteobacteria, followed by Acidobacteria > Actinobacteria > Nitrospirae > Firmicutes > Planctomycetes > Chloroflexi > Gemmatimonadetes > Bacteroidetes > Latescibacteria. Numerous less-represented taxonomic groups (< 1%), as well as unclassified ones, were also detected. From an ecological point of view, all the groups co-participate in the biogeochemical cycles in these underground environments, mediating oxidation-reduction reactions, promoting host rock dissolution and secondary mineral precipitation, and enriching the matrix in organic matter. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy brought evidence of a strong interaction between the biotic community and the abiotic matrix, supporting the role of microbial communities in the formation process of vermiculations.

与喀斯特洞穴中的蠕虫相关的微生物群在很大程度上是未知的。蠕虫是一种神秘的沉积物，在世界各地的洞穴壁上形成蠕虫状图案。它们代表了地球微生物学研究的一个宝贵焦点，旨在探索这些生态系统的微生物生命和蠕虫起源。这项研究首次采用新一代测序方法研究 Pertosa-Auletta Cave（意大利南部）蠕虫中繁盛的微生物群落。蠕虫中最丰富的门是Proteobacteria ，其次是Acidobacteria > Actinobacteria > Nitrospirae > Firmicutes > Planctomycetes > Chloroflexi > Gemmatimonadetes > Bacteroidetes > Latescibacteria 。还检测到了许多代表性较低的分类群 (< 1%) 以及未分类的分类群。从生态角度来看，所有群体共同参与这些地下环境中的生物地球化学循环，介导氧化还原反应，促进围岩溶解和次生矿物沉淀，并富集有机质基质。共焦激光扫描显微镜和场发射扫描电子显微镜提供了生物群落与非生物基质之间强烈相互作用的证据，支持微生物群落在蠕虫形成过程中的作用。