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Marchetti A, Orlando M, Bombardi L, Fusco S, Mangiagalli M, Lotti M. Evolutionary history and activity towards oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of GH3 glycosidases from an Antarctic marine bacterium. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 275:133449. [PMID: 38944065 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) are pivotal in the hydrolysis of the glycosidic bonds of sugars, which are the main carbon and energy sources. The genome of Marinomonas sp. ef1, an Antarctic bacterium, contains three GHs belonging to family 3. These enzymes have distinct architectures and low sequence identity, suggesting that they originated from separate horizontal gene transfer events. M-GH3_A and M-GH3_B, were found to differ in cold adaptation and substrate specificity. M-GH3_A is a bona fide cold-active enzyme since it retains 20 % activity at 10 °C and exhibits poor long-term thermal stability. On the other hand, M-GH3_B shows mesophilic traits with very low activity at 10 °C (< 5 %) and higher long-term thermal stability. Substrate specificity assays highlight that M-GH3_A is a promiscuous β-glucosidase mainly active on cellobiose and cellotetraose, whereas M-GH3_B is a β-xylosidase active on xylan and arabinoxylan. Structural analysis suggests that such functional differences are due to their differently shaped active sites. The active site of M-GH3_A is wider but has a narrower entrance compared to that of M-GH3_B. Genome-based prediction of metabolic pathways suggests that Marinomonas sp. ef1 can use monosaccharides derived from the GH3-catalyzed hydrolysis of oligosaccharides either as a carbon source or for producing osmolytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Marchetti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, Milano 20126, Italy
| | - Marco Orlando
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, Milano 20126, Italy
| | - Luca Bombardi
- Biochemistry and Industrial Biotechnology (BIB) Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Salvatore Fusco
- Biochemistry and Industrial Biotechnology (BIB) Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marco Mangiagalli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, Milano 20126, Italy.
| | - Marina Lotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, Milano 20126, Italy
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Nagoth JA, John MS, Ramasamy KP, Mancini A, Zannotti M, Piras S, Giovannetti R, Rathnam L, Miceli C, Biondini MC, Pucciarelli S. Synthesis of Bioactive Nickel Nanoparticles Using Bacterial Strains from an Antarctic Consortium. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:89. [PMID: 38393060 PMCID: PMC10890439 DOI: 10.3390/md22020089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Marine microorganisms have been demonstrated to be an important source for bioactive molecules. In this paper we report the synthesis of Ni nanoparticles (NiSNPs) used as reducing and capping agents for five bacterial strains isolated from an Antarctic marine consortium: Marinomonas sp. ef1, Rhodococcus sp. ef1, Pseudomonas sp. ef1, Brevundimonas sp. ef1, and Bacillus sp. ef1. The NiSNPs were characterized by Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. The maximum absorbances in the UV-Vis spectra were in the range of 374 nm to 422 nm, corresponding to the Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Nickel. DLS revealed NiSNPs with sizes between 40 and 45 nm. All NiSNPs were polycrystalline with a face-centered cubic lattice, as revealed by XRD analyses. The NiSNPs zeta potential values were highly negative. TEM analysis showed that the NiSNPs were either spherical or rod shaped, well segregated, and with a size between 20 and 50 nm. The FTIR spectra revealed peaks of amino acid and protein binding to the NiSNPs. Finally, all the NiSNPs possess significant antimicrobial activity, which may play an important role in the management of infectious diseases affecting human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Amruthraj Nagoth
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (J.A.N.); (M.S.J.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (C.M.); (M.C.B.)
| | - Maria Sindhura John
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (J.A.N.); (M.S.J.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (C.M.); (M.C.B.)
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Kesava Priyan Ramasamy
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (J.A.N.); (M.S.J.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (C.M.); (M.C.B.)
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Alessio Mancini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (J.A.N.); (M.S.J.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (C.M.); (M.C.B.)
| | - Marco Zannotti
- Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), Chemistry Division, School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.Z.); (S.P.); (R.G.)
| | - Sara Piras
- Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), Chemistry Division, School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.Z.); (S.P.); (R.G.)
| | - Rita Giovannetti
- Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project (ChIP), Chemistry Division, School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.Z.); (S.P.); (R.G.)
| | - Lydia Rathnam
- Department of Physics, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India;
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (J.A.N.); (M.S.J.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (C.M.); (M.C.B.)
| | - Maria Chiara Biondini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (J.A.N.); (M.S.J.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (C.M.); (M.C.B.)
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (J.A.N.); (M.S.J.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (C.M.); (M.C.B.)
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Candelori A, Di Giuseppe G, Villalobo E, Sjödin A, Vallesi A. Bipolar Biogeographical Distribution of Parafrancisella Bacteria Carried by the Ciliate Euplotes. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 86:3128-3132. [PMID: 37433980 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02263-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Parafrancisella adeliensis, a Francisella-like endosymbiont, was found to reside in the cytoplasm of an Antarctic strain of the bipolar ciliate species, Euplotes petzi. To inquire whether Euplotes cells collected from distant Arctic and peri-Antarctic sites host Parafrancisella bacteria, wild-type strains of the congeneric bipolar species, E. nobilii, were screened for Parafrancisella by in situ hybridization and 16S gene amplification and sequencing. Results indicate that all Euplotes strains analyzed contained endosymbiotic bacteria with 16S nucleotide sequences closely similar to the P. adeliensis 16S gene sequence. This finding suggests that Parafrancisella/Euplotes associations are not endemic to Antarctica, but are common in both the Antarctic and Arctic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Candelori
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | | | - Eduardo Villalobo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- Division of CBRN Security and Defense, FOI - Swedish Defense Research Agency, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Adriana Vallesi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, MC, Italy.
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Zannotti M, Ramasamy KP, Loggi V, Vassallo A, Pucciarelli S, Giovannetti R. Hydrocarbon degradation strategy and pyoverdine production using the salt tolerant Antarctic bacterium Marinomonas sp. ef1. RSC Adv 2023; 13:19276-19285. [PMID: 37377865 PMCID: PMC10291279 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra02536e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most concerning environmental problems is represented by petroleum and its derivatives causing contamination of aquatic and underground environments. In this work, the degradation treatment of diesel using Antarctic bacteria is proposed. Marinomonas sp. ef1 is a bacterial strain isolated from a consortium associated with the Antarctic marine ciliate Euplotes focardii. Its potential in the degradation of hydrocarbons commonly present in diesel oil were studied. The bacterial growth was evaluated in culturing conditions that resembled the marine environment with 1% (v/v) of either diesel or biodiesel added; in both cases, Marinomonas sp. ef1 was able to grow. The chemical oxygen demand measured after the incubation of bacteria with diesel decreased, demonstrating the ability of bacteria to use diesel hydrocarbons as a carbon source and degrade them. The metabolic potential of Marinomonas to degrade aromatic compounds was supported by the identification in the genome of sequences encoding various enzymes involved in benzene and naphthalene degradation. Moreover, in the presence of biodiesel, a fluorescent yellow pigment was produced; this was isolated, purified and characterized by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, leading to its identification as a pyoverdine. These results suggest that Marinomonas sp. ef1 can be used in hydrocarbon bioremediation and in the transformation of these pollutants in molecules of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Zannotti
- Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project, School of Science and Technology, Chemistry Division, University of Camerino 62032 Camerino Italy
- IridES s.r.l. Via Via Gentile III da Varano n° 1 62032 Camerino Italy
| | | | - Valentina Loggi
- Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project, School of Science and Technology, Chemistry Division, University of Camerino 62032 Camerino Italy
| | - Alberto Vassallo
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, University of Camerino 62032 Camerino Italy
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, University of Camerino 62032 Camerino Italy
- IridES s.r.l. Via Via Gentile III da Varano n° 1 62032 Camerino Italy
| | - Rita Giovannetti
- Chemistry Interdisciplinary Project, School of Science and Technology, Chemistry Division, University of Camerino 62032 Camerino Italy
- IridES s.r.l. Via Via Gentile III da Varano n° 1 62032 Camerino Italy
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Ramasamy KP, Mahawar L, Rajasabapathy R, Rajeshwari K, Miceli C, Pucciarelli S. Comprehensive insights on environmental adaptation strategies in Antarctic bacteria and biotechnological applications of cold adapted molecules. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1197797. [PMID: 37396361 PMCID: PMC10312091 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1197797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change and the induced environmental disturbances is one of the major threats that have a strong impact on bacterial communities in the Antarctic environment. To cope with the persistent extreme environment and inhospitable conditions, psychrophilic bacteria are thriving and displaying striking adaptive characteristics towards severe external factors including freezing temperature, sea ice, high radiation and salinity which indicates their potential in regulating climate change's environmental impacts. The review illustrates the different adaptation strategies of Antarctic microbes to changing climate factors at the structural, physiological and molecular level. Moreover, we discuss the recent developments in "omics" approaches to reveal polar "blackbox" of psychrophiles in order to gain a comprehensive picture of bacterial communities. The psychrophilic bacteria synthesize distinctive cold-adapted enzymes and molecules that have many more industrial applications than mesophilic ones in biotechnological industries. Hence, the review also emphasizes on the biotechnological potential of psychrophilic enzymes in different sectors and suggests the machine learning approach to study cold-adapted bacteria and engineering the industrially important enzymes for sustainable bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lovely Mahawar
- Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture, Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Raju Rajasabapathy
- Department of Marine Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India
| | | | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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John MS, Nagoth JA, Ramasamy KP, Mancini A, Giuli G, Miceli C, Pucciarelli S. Synthesis of Bioactive Silver Nanoparticles Using New Bacterial Strains from an Antarctic Consortium. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20090558. [PMID: 36135747 PMCID: PMC9505403 DOI: 10.3390/md20090558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we report on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) achieved by using three bacterial strains Rhodococcus, Brevundimonas and Bacillus as reducing and capping agents, newly isolated from a consortium associated with the Antarctic marine ciliate Euplotes focardii. After incubation of these bacteria with a 1 mM solution of AgNO3 at 22 °C, AgNPs were synthesized within 24 h. Unlike Rhodococcus and Bacillus, the reduction of Ag+ from AgNO3 into Ag0 has never been reported for a Brevundimonas strain. The maximum absorbances of these AgNPs in the UV-Vis spectra were in the range of 404 nm and 406 nm. EDAX spectra showed strong signals from the Ag atom and medium signals from C, N and O due to capping protein emissions. TEM analysis showed that the NPs were spherical and rod-shaped, with sizes in the range of 20 to 50 nm, and they were clustered, even though not in contact with one another. Besides aggregation, all the AgNPs showed significant antimicrobial activity. This biosynthesis may play a dual role: detoxification of AgNO3 and pathogen protection against both the bacterium and ciliate. Biosynthetic AgNPs also represent a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics against common nosocomial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sindhura John
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Joseph Amruthraj Nagoth
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Kesava Priyan Ramasamy
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Alessio Mancini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giuli
- School of Sciences and Technology, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Temperature- and Nutrients-Induced Phenotypic Changes of Antarctic Green Snow Bacteria Probed by High-Throughput FTIR Spectroscopy. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11060890. [PMID: 35741411 PMCID: PMC9220083 DOI: 10.3390/biology11060890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Green snow microorganisms play an important role in biogeochemical cycle and carbon sink processes and they can be a source of biotechnologically interesting cell factories. A wide temperature tolerance is a unique property of bacteria isolated from cold environments, which has received great attention in the last years. The present paper examines the growth and chemical profile flexibility for green snow bacteria exposed to different temperature and nutrient fluctuations. By applying high-throughput chemical phenotyping with FTIR spectroscopy we discovered chemical changes possessed by green snow bacteria when grown at high/low temperature and rich/minimal media. Abstract Temperature fluctuations and nutrient composition are the main parameters influencing green snow microbiome. In this study we investigated the influence of temperature and nutrient conditions on the growth and cellular chemical profile of bacteria isolated from green snow. Chemical profiling of the green snow bacteria was done by high-throughput FTIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis. We showed that temperature and nutrients fluctuations strongly affect growth ability and chemical profile of the green snow bacteria. The size of colonies for green snow bacteria grown at higher (25 °C) and lower (4 °C and 10 °C) than optimal temperature (18 °C) was smaller. All isolates grew on rich medium, and only 19 isolates were able to grow on synthetic minimal media. Lipid and mixed spectral regions showed to be phylogeny related. FTIR fingerprinting indicates that lipids are often affected by the temperature fluctuations. Growth on different media resulted in the change of the whole chemical profile, where lipids showed to be more affected than proteins and polysaccharides. Correlation analysis showed that nutrient composition is clearly strongly influencing chemical changes in the cells, followed by temperature.
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Wintertime Simulations Induce Changes in the Structure, Diversity and Function of Antarctic Sea Ice-Associated Microbial Communities. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030623. [PMID: 35336197 PMCID: PMC8950563 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Antarctic sea-ice is exposed to a wide range of environmental conditions during its annual existence; however, there is very little information describing the change in sea-ice-associated microbial communities (SIMCOs) during the changing seasons. It is well known that during the solar seasons, SIMCOs play an important role in the polar carbon-cycle, by increasing the total photosynthetic primary production of the South Ocean and participating in the remineralization of phosphates and nitrogen. What remains poorly understood is the dynamic of SIMCO populations and their ecological contribution to carbon and nutrient cycling throughout the entire annual life of Antarctic sea-ice, especially in winter. Sea ice at this time of the year is an extreme environment, characterized by complete darkness (which stops photosynthesis), extremely low temperatures in its upper horizons (down to −45 °C) and high salinity (up to 150–250 psu) in its brine inclusions, where SIMCOs thrive. Without a permanent station, wintering expeditions in Antarctica are technically difficult; therefore, in this study, the process of autumn freezing was modelled under laboratory conditions, and the resulting ‘young ice’ was further incubated in cold and darkness for one month. The ice formation experiment was primarily designed to reproduce two critical conditions: (i) total darkness, causing the photosynthesis to cease, and (ii) the presence of a large amount of algae-derived organic matter. As expected, in the absence of photosynthesis, the activity of aerobic heterotrophs quickly created micro-oxic conditions, which caused the emergence of new players, namely facultative anaerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Following this finding, we can state that Antarctic pack-ice and its surrounding ambient (under-ice seawater and platelet ice) are likely to be very dynamic and can quickly respond to environmental changes caused by the seasonal fluctuations. Given the size of Antarctic pack-ice, even in complete darkness and cessation of photosynthesis, its ecosystem appears to remain active, continuing to participate in global carbon-and-sulfur cycling under harsh conditions.
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Rusanova A, Fedorchuk V, Toshchakov S, Dubiley S, Sutormin D. An Interplay between Viruses and Bacteria Associated with the White Sea Sponges Revealed by Metagenomics. Life (Basel) 2021; 12:25. [PMID: 35054418 PMCID: PMC8777954 DOI: 10.3390/life12010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sponges are remarkable holobionts harboring extremely diverse microbial and viral communities. However, the interactions between the components within holobionts and between a holobiont and environment are largely unknown, especially for polar organisms. To investigate possible interactions within and between sponge-associated communities, we probed the microbiomes and viromes of cold-water sympatric sponges Isodictya palmata (n = 2), Halichondria panicea (n = 3), and Halichondria sitiens (n = 3) by 16S and shotgun metagenomics. We showed that the bacterial and viral communities associated with these White Sea sponges are species-specific and different from the surrounding water. Extensive mining of bacterial antiphage defense systems in the metagenomes revealed a variety of defense mechanisms. The abundance of defense systems was comparable in the metagenomes of the sponges and the surrounding water, thus distinguishing the White Sea sponges from those inhabiting the tropical seas. We developed a network-based approach for the combined analysis of CRISPR-spacers and protospacers. Using this approach, we showed that the virus-host interactions within the sponge-associated community are typically more abundant (three out of four interactions studied) than the inter-community interactions. Additionally, we detected the occurrence of viral exchanges between the communities. Our work provides the first insight into the metagenomics of the three cold-water sponge species from the White Sea and paves the way for a comprehensive analysis of the interactions between microbial communities and associated viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiia Rusanova
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia; (A.R.); (S.D.)
| | - Victor Fedorchuk
- The Faculty of Geology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Stepan Toshchakov
- Kurchatov Center for Genome Research, National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, 123182 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Svetlana Dubiley
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia; (A.R.); (S.D.)
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 121205 Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Sutormin
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia; (A.R.); (S.D.)
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 121205 Moscow, Russia
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Mozzicafreddo M, Pucciarelli S, Swart EC, Piersanti A, Emmerich C, Migliorelli G, Ballarini P, Miceli C. The macronuclear genome of the Antarctic psychrophilic marine ciliate Euplotes focardii reveals new insights on molecular cold adaptation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18782. [PMID: 34548559 PMCID: PMC8455672 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98168-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The macronuclear (MAC) genomes of ciliates belonging to the genus Euplotes species are comprised of numerous small DNA molecules, nanochromosomes, each typically encoding a single gene. These genomes are responsible for all gene expression during vegetative cell growth. Here, we report the analysis of the MAC genome from the Antarctic psychrophile Euplotes focardii. Nanochromosomes containing bacterial sequences were not found, suggesting that phenomena of horizontal gene transfer did not occur recently, even though this ciliate species has a substantial associated bacterial consortium. As in other euplotid species, E. focardii MAC genes are characterized by a high frequency of translational frameshifting. Furthermore, in order to characterize differences that may be consequent to cold adaptation and defense to oxidative stress, the main constraints of the Antarctic marine microorganisms, we compared E. focardii MAC genome with those available from mesophilic Euplotes species. We focussed mainly on the comparison of tubulin, antioxidant enzymes and heat shock protein (HSP) 70 families, molecules which possess peculiar characteristic correlated with cold adaptation in E. focardii. We found that α-tubulin genes and those encoding SODs and CATs antioxidant enzymes are more numerous than in the mesophilic Euplotes species. Furthermore, the phylogenetic trees showed that these molecules are divergent in the Antarctic species. In contrast, there are fewer hsp70 genes in E. focardii compared to mesophilic Euplotes and these genes do not respond to thermal stress but only to oxidative stress. Our results suggest that molecular adaptation to cold and oxidative stress in the Antarctic environment may not only be due to particular amino acid substitutions but also due to duplication and divergence of paralogous genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Mozzicafreddo
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Estienne C Swart
- Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Angela Piersanti
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | | | - Giovanna Migliorelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Patrizia Ballarini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
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Mohammed ABA, Hegazy AE, Salah A. Novelty of synergistic and cytotoxicity activities of silver nanoparticles produced by Lactobacillus acidophilus. APPLIED NANOSCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13204-021-01878-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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12
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Biogenic Synthesis of Copper Nanoparticles Using Bacterial Strains Isolated from an Antarctic Consortium Associated to a Psychrophilic Marine Ciliate: Characterization and Potential Application as Antimicrobial Agents. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:md19050263. [PMID: 34066868 PMCID: PMC8151786 DOI: 10.3390/md19050263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, metal nanoparticles (NPs) have gained significant interest in the field of biotechnology due to their unique physiochemical properties and potential uses in a wide range of applications. Metal NP synthesis using microorganisms has emerged as an eco-friendly, clean, and viable strategy alternative to chemical and physical approaches. Herein, an original and efficient route for the microbial synthesis of copper NPs using bacterial strains newly isolated from an Antarctic consortium is described. UV-visible spectra of the NPs showed a maximum absorbance in the range of 380–385 nm. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed that these NPs are all monodispersed, spherical in nature, and well segregated without any agglomeration and with an average size of 30 nm. X-ray powder diffraction showed a polycrystalline nature and face centered cubic lattice and revealed characteristic diffraction peaks indicating the formation of CuONPs. Fourier-transform infrared spectra confirmed the presence of capping proteins on the NP surface that act as stabilizers. All CuONPs manifested antimicrobial activity against various types of Gram-negative; Gram-positive bacteria; and fungi pathogen microorganisms including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The cost-effective and eco-friendly biosynthesis of these CuONPs make them particularly attractive in several application from nanotechnology to biomedical science.
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Yang G, Mozzicafreddo M, Ballarini P, Pucciarelli S, Miceli C. An In-Silico Comparative Study of Lipases from the Antarctic Psychrophilic Ciliate Euplotes focardii and the Mesophilic Congeneric Species Euplotes crassus: Insight into Molecular Cold-Adaptation. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:md19020067. [PMID: 33513970 PMCID: PMC7912073 DOI: 10.3390/md19020067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold-adapted enzymes produced by psychrophilic organisms have elevated catalytic activities at low temperatures compared to their mesophilic counterparts. This is largely due to amino acids changes in the protein sequence that often confer increased molecular flexibility in the cold. Comparison of structural changes between psychrophilic and mesophilic enzymes often reveal molecular cold adaptation. In the present study, we performed an in-silico comparative analysis of 104 hydrolytic enzymes belonging to the family of lipases from two evolutionary close marine ciliate species: The Antarctic psychrophilic Euplotes focardii and the mesophilic Euplotes crassus. By applying bioinformatics approaches, we compared amino acid composition and predicted secondary and tertiary structures of these lipases to extract relevant information relative to cold adaptation. Our results not only confirm the importance of several previous recognized amino acid substitutions for cold adaptation, as the preference for small amino acid, but also identify some new factors correlated with the secondary structure possibly responsible for enhanced enzyme activity at low temperatures. This study emphasizes the subtle sequence and structural modifications that may help to transform mesophilic into psychrophilic enzymes for industrial applications by protein engineering.
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14
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Orlando M, Pucciarelli S, Lotti M. Endolysins from Antarctic Pseudomonas Display Lysozyme Activity at Low Temperature. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:E579. [PMID: 33233712 PMCID: PMC7699920 DOI: 10.3390/md18110579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms specialized to thrive in cold environments (so-called psychrophiles) produce enzymes with the remarkable ability to catalyze chemical reactions at low temperature. Cold activity relies on adaptive changes in the proteins' sequence and structural organization that result in high conformational flexibility. As a consequence of flexibility, several such enzymes are inherently heat sensitive. Cold-active enzymes are of interest for application in a number of bioprocesses, where cold activity coupled with easy thermal inactivation can be of advantage. We describe the biochemical and functional properties of two glycosyl hydrolases (named LYS177 and LYS188) of family 19 (GH19), identified in the genome of an Antarctic marine Pseudomonas. Molecular evolutionary analysis placed them in a group of characterized GH19 endolysins active on lysozyme substrates, such as peptidoglycan. Enzyme activity peaks at about 25-35 °C and 40% residual activity is retained at 5 °C. LYS177 and LYS188 are thermolabile, with Tm of 52 and 45 °C and half-lives of 48 and 12 h at 37 °C, respectively. Bioinformatics analyses suggest that low heat stability may be associated to temperature-driven increases in local flexibility occurring mainly in a specific region of the polypeptide that is predicted to contain hot spots for aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Orlando
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, State University of Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy;
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy;
| | - Marina Lotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, State University of Milano Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy;
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15
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John MS, Nagoth JA, Ramasamy KP, Ballarini P, Mozzicafreddo M, Mancini A, Telatin A, Liò P, Giuli G, Natalello A, Miceli C, Pucciarelli S. Horizontal gene transfer and silver nanoparticles production in a new Marinomonas strain isolated from the Antarctic psychrophilic ciliate Euplotes focardii. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10218. [PMID: 32576860 PMCID: PMC7311414 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66878-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We isolated a novel bacterial strain from a prokaryotic consortium associated to the psychrophilic marine ciliate Euplotes focardii, endemic of the Antarctic coastal seawater. The 16S rDNA sequencing and the phylogenetic analysis revealed the close evolutionary relationship to the Antarctic marine bacterium Marinomonas sp. BSw10506 and the sub antarctic Marinomonas polaris. We named this new strain Marinomonas sp. ef1. The optimal growth temperature in LB medium was 22 °C. Whole genome sequencing and analysis showed a reduced gene loss limited to regions encoding for transposases. Additionally, five genomic islands, e.g. DNA fragments that facilitate horizontal gene transfer phenomena, were identified. Two open reading frames predicted from the genomic islands coded for enzymes belonging to the Nitro-FMN-reductase superfamily. One of these, the putative NAD(P)H nitroreductase YfkO, has been reported to be involved in the bioreduction of silver (Ag) ions and the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). After the Marinomonas sp. ef1 biomass incubation with 1 mM of AgNO3 at 22 °C, we obtained AgNPs within 24 h. The AgNPs were relatively small in size (50 nm) and had a strong antimicrobial activity against twelve common nosocomial pathogenic microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus and two Candida strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report of AgNPs biosynthesis by a Marinomonas strain. This biosynthesis may play a dual role in detoxification from silver nitrate and protection from pathogens for the bacterium and potentially for the associated ciliate. Biosynthetic AgNPs also represent a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics against common pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sindhura John
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Joseph Amruthraj Nagoth
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Kesava Priyan Ramasamy
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Patrizia Ballarini
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Matteo Mozzicafreddo
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Alessio Mancini
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Andrea Telatin
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Gut Microbes and Health Institute Strategic Program, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Pietro Liò
- Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 15 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gabriele Giuli
- School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Antonino Natalello
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 1, 62032, Camerino, Italy.
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16
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Mangiagalli M, Lapi M, Maione S, Orlando M, Brocca S, Pesce A, Barbiroli A, Camilloni C, Pucciarelli S, Lotti M, Nardini M. The co-existence of cold activity and thermal stability in an Antarctic GH42 β-galactosidase relies on its hexameric quaternary arrangement. FEBS J 2020; 288:546-565. [PMID: 32363751 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To survive in cold environments, psychrophilic organisms produce enzymes endowed with high specific activity at low temperature. The structure of these enzymes is usually flexible and mostly thermolabile. In this work, we investigate the structural basis of cold adaptation of a GH42 β-galactosidase from the psychrophilic Marinomonas ef1. This enzyme couples cold activity with astonishing robustness for a psychrophilic protein, for it retains 23% of its highest activity at 5 °C and it is stable for several days at 37 °C and even 50 °C. Phylogenetic analyses indicate a close relationship with thermophilic β-galactosidases, suggesting that the present-day enzyme evolved from a thermostable scaffold modeled by environmental selective pressure. The crystallographic structure reveals the overall similarity with GH42 enzymes, along with a hexameric arrangement (dimer of trimers) not found in psychrophilic, mesophilic, and thermophilic homologues. In the quaternary structure, protomers form a large central cavity, whose accessibility to the substrate is promoted by the dynamic behavior of surface loops, even at low temperature. A peculiar cooperative behavior of the enzyme is likely related to the increase of the internal cavity permeability triggered by heating. Overall, our results highlight a novel strategy of enzyme cold adaptation, based on the oligomerization state of the enzyme, which effectively challenges the paradigm of cold activity coupled with intrinsic thermolability. DATABASE: Structural data are available in the Protein Data Bank database under the accession number 6Y2K.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Mangiagalli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Michela Lapi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Italy
| | - Serena Maione
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Marco Orlando
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Stefania Brocca
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | | | - Alberto Barbiroli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, University of Milano, Italy
| | | | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Italy
| | - Marina Lotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
| | - Marco Nardini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Italy
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17
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Vallesi A, Pucciarelli S, Buonanno F, Fontana A, Mangiagalli M. Bioactive molecules from protists: Perspectives in biotechnology. Eur J Protistol 2020; 75:125720. [PMID: 32569992 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2020.125720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
For hundreds of years, mankind has benefited from the natural metabolic processes of microorganisms to obtain basic products such as fermented foods and alcoholic beverages. More recently, microorganisms have been exploited for the production of antibiotics, vitamins and enzymes to be used in medicine and chemical industries. Additionally, several modern drugs, including those for cancer therapy, are natural products or their derivatives. Protists are a still underexplored source of natural products potentially of interest for biotechnological and biomedical applications. This paper focuses on some examples of bioactive molecules from protists and associated bacteria and their possible use in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Vallesi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Camerino (MC), Italy.
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Camerino, Camerino (MC), Italy.
| | - Federico Buonanno
- Laboratory of Protistology and Biology Education, Department of E.C.H.T. Università degli Studi di Macerata, Macerata, Italy
| | - Angelo Fontana
- Bio-Organic Chemistry Unit, CNR-Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Marco Mangiagalli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
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18
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Zhao W, Li M, Xiong F, Zhang D, Wu S, Zou H, Li W, Wang G. Identification of Intracellular Bacteria in the Ciliate
Balantidium ctenopharyngodoni
(Ciliophora, Litostomatea). J Eukaryot Microbiol 2020; 67:417-426. [DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Weishan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan 430072 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Fan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan 430072 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Shangong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Hong Zou
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Wenxiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan 430072 China
| | - Guitang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquaculture Disease Control Ministry of Agriculture, and State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan 430072 China
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19
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John MS, Nagoth JA, Ramasamy KP, Mancini A, Giuli G, Natalello A, Ballarini P, Miceli C, Pucciarelli S. Synthesis of Bioactive Silver Nanoparticles by a Pseudomonas Strain Associated with the Antarctic Psychrophilic Protozoon Euplotes focardii. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:E38. [PMID: 31947807 PMCID: PMC7024347 DOI: 10.3390/md18010038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by microorganisms recently gained a greater interest due to its potential to produce them in various sizes and morphologies. In this study, for AgNP biosynthesis, we used a new Pseudomonas strain isolated from a consortium associated with the Antarctic marine ciliate Euplotes focardii. After incubation of Pseudomonas cultures with 1 mM of AgNO3 at 22 °C, we obtained AgNPs within 24 h. Scanning electron (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed spherical polydispersed AgNPs in the size range of 20-70 nm. The average size was approximately 50 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed the presence of a high intensity absorption peak at 3 keV, a distinctive property of nanocrystalline silver products. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy found the presence of a high amount of AgNP-stabilizing proteins and other secondary metabolites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed a face-centred cubic (fcc) diffraction spectrum with a crystalline nature. A comparative study between the chemically synthesized and Pseudomonas AgNPs revealed a higher antibacterial activity of the latter against common nosocomial pathogen microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. This study reports an efficient, rapid synthesis of stable AgNPs by a new Pseudomonas strain with high antimicrobial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Sindhura John
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.S.J.); (J.A.N.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (P.B.); (C.M.)
| | - Joseph Amruthraj Nagoth
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.S.J.); (J.A.N.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (P.B.); (C.M.)
| | - Kesava Priyan Ramasamy
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.S.J.); (J.A.N.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (P.B.); (C.M.)
| | - Alessio Mancini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.S.J.); (J.A.N.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (P.B.); (C.M.)
| | - Gabriele Giuli
- School of Sciences and Technology, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy;
| | - Antonino Natalello
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126 Milano, Italy;
| | - Patrizia Ballarini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.S.J.); (J.A.N.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (P.B.); (C.M.)
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.S.J.); (J.A.N.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (P.B.); (C.M.)
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (M.S.J.); (J.A.N.); (K.P.R.); (A.M.); (P.B.); (C.M.)
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20
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Draft Genome Sequence of a New Pseudomonas sp. Strain, ef1, Associated with the Psychrophilic Antarctic Ciliate Euplotes focardii. Microbiol Resour Announc 2019; 8:8/41/e00867-19. [PMID: 31601665 PMCID: PMC6787322 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00867-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We announce here the draft genome sequence of a new Pseudomonas strain, named Pseudomonas sp. strain ef1, associated with the cold-adapted Antarctic ciliate Euplotes focardii The genome sequence is 6,228,167 bp long with a G+C content of 59.7%.
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21
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Lanzoni O, Plotnikov A, Khlopko Y, Munz G, Petroni G, Potekhin A. The core microbiome of sessile ciliate Stentor coeruleus is not shaped by the environment. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11356. [PMID: 31388025 PMCID: PMC6684585 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-47701-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbiomes of multicellular organisms are one of the hottest topics in microbiology and physiology, while only few studies addressed bacterial communities associated with protists. Protists are widespread in all environments and can be colonized by plethora of different bacteria, including also human pathogens. The aim of this study was to characterize the prokaryotic community associated with the sessile ciliate Stentor coeruleus. 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding was performed on single cells of S. coeruleus and on their environment, water from the sewage stream. Our results showed that the prokaryotic community composition differed significantly between Stentor cells and their environment. The core microbiome common for all ciliate specimens analyzed could be defined, and it was composed mainly by representatives of bacterial genera which include also potential human pathogens and commensals, such as Neisseria, Streptococcus, Capnocytophaga, Porphyromonas. Numerous 16S rRNA gene contigs belonged to endosymbiont “Candidatus Megaira polyxenophila”. Our data suggest that each ciliate cell can be considered as an ecological microniche harboring diverse prokaryotic organisms. Possible benefits for persistence and transmission in nature for bacteria associated with protists are discussed. Our results support the hypothesis that ciliates attract potentially pathogenic bacteria and play the role of natural reservoirs for them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrey Plotnikov
- Center of Shared Scientific Equipment, Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Division of RAS, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Yuri Khlopko
- Center of Shared Scientific Equipment, Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis, Ural Division of RAS, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Giulio Munz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Alexey Potekhin
- Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
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22
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Plotnikov AO, Balkin AS, Gogoleva NE, Lanzoni O, Khlopko YA, Cherkasov SV, Potekhin AA. High-Throughput Sequencing of the 16S rRNA Gene as a Survey to Analyze the Microbiomes of Free-Living Ciliates Paramecium. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2019; 78:286-298. [PMID: 30661111 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-019-01321-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Ciliates are the largest group of ubiquitous aquatic bacterivorous protists, and many species are easily cultivated. However, only few studies reported prokaryotic communities naturally associated with ciliate cells. Herein, we analyzed the microbiome composition of several strains of Paramecium (Ciliophora) originating from different locations and belonging to two morpho-species by high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of the 16S rRNA gene. Possible reasons of HTS results bias were addressed comparing DNA libraries obtained using different primers and different number of ciliate cells. Microbiomes associated with ciliates and their environments were always significantly different by prokaryotic taxonomic composition and bacterial richness. There were also pronounced differences between Paramecium strains. Interestingly, potentially pathogenic bacteria were revealed in Paramecium microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey O Plotnikov
- "Persistence of microorganisms" Center of Shared Scientific Equipment, Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis UrB RAS, Orenburg, Russia.
| | - Alexander S Balkin
- "Persistence of microorganisms" Center of Shared Scientific Equipment, Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis UrB RAS, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Natalia E Gogoleva
- Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Kazan Scientific Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan, Russia
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | | | - Yuri A Khlopko
- "Persistence of microorganisms" Center of Shared Scientific Equipment, Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis UrB RAS, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Sergey V Cherkasov
- Laboratory of biomedical technologies, Institute for Cellular and Intracellular Symbiosis UrB RAS, Orenburg, Russia
| | - Alexey A Potekhin
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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23
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Vallesi A, Sjödin A, Petrelli D, Luporini P, Taddei AR, Thelaus J, Öhrman C, Nilsson E, Di Giuseppe G, Gutiérrez G, Villalobo E. A New Species of the γ-Proteobacterium Francisella, F. adeliensis Sp. Nov., Endocytobiont in an Antarctic Marine Ciliate and Potential Evolutionary Forerunner of Pathogenic Species. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2019; 77:587-596. [PMID: 30187088 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-018-1256-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The study of the draft genome of an Antarctic marine ciliate, Euplotes petzi, revealed foreign sequences of bacterial origin belonging to the γ-proteobacterium Francisella that includes pathogenic and environmental species. TEM and FISH analyses confirmed the presence of a Francisella endocytobiont in E. petzi. This endocytobiont was isolated and found to be a new species, named F. adeliensis sp. nov.. F. adeliensis grows well at wide ranges of temperature, salinity, and carbon dioxide concentrations implying that it may colonize new organisms living in deeply diversified habitats. The F. adeliensis genome includes the igl and pdp gene sets (pdpC and pdpE excepted) of the Francisella pathogenicity island needed for intracellular growth. Consistently with an F. adeliensis ancient symbiotic lifestyle, it also contains a single insertion-sequence element. Instead, it lacks genes for the biosynthesis of essential amino acids such as cysteine, lysine, methionine, and tyrosine. In a genome-based phylogenetic tree, F. adeliensis forms a new early branching clade, basal to the evolution of pathogenic species. The correlations of this clade with the other clades raise doubts about a genuine free-living nature of the environmental Francisella species isolated from natural and man-made environments, and suggest to look at F. adeliensis as a pioneer in the Francisella colonization of eukaryotic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Vallesi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- Department of Chemistry, Computational Life Science Cluster (CLiC), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dezemona Petrelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Luporini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Taddei
- Center of Large Equipment-section of Electron Microscopy, University of Tuscia, Largo dell'Università, snc, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Johanna Thelaus
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Caroline Öhrman
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Elin Nilsson
- Division of CBRN Defence and Security, Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Gabriel Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Sevilla, Av Reina Mercedes 6, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Eduardo Villalobo
- Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, Av Reina Mercedes 6, 41012, Seville, Spain.
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24
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Zhao Y, Yi Z, Warren A, Song W. Species delimitation for the molecular taxonomy and ecology of the widely distributed microbial eukaryote genus Euplotes (Alveolata, Ciliophora). Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.2159. [PMID: 29367393 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and metabarcoding technologies are revolutionizing our understanding of the diversity and ecology of microbial eukaryotes (protists). The interpretation of protist diversity and the elucidation of their ecosystem function are, however, impeded by problems with species delimitation, especially as it applies to molecular taxonomy. Here, using the ciliate Euplotes as an example, we describe approaches for species delimitation based on integrative taxonomy by using evolutionary and ecological perspectives and selecting the most appropriate metabarcoding gene markers as proxies for species units. Our analyses show that: Euplotes (sensu lato) comprises six distinct clades, mainly as result of ecological speciation; the validity of the genera Euplotes (sensu stricto), Euplotoides, Euplotopsis and Moneuplotes are not supported; the vannus-type group, which includes species without distinct morphological differences, seems to be undergoing incipient speciation and contains cryptic species; the hypervariable V4 region of the small subunit rDNA and D1-D2 region of the large subunit rDNA are the promising candidates for general species delimitation in Euplotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhao
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, People's Republic of China .,Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenzhen Yi
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, People's Republic of China
| | - Alan Warren
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Weibo Song
- Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China.,Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
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25
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Vďačný P, Érseková E, Šoltys K, Budiš J, Pecina L, Rurik I. Co-existence of multiple bacterivorous clevelandellid ciliate species in hindgut of wood-feeding cockroaches in light of their prokaryotic consortium. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17749. [PMID: 30532066 PMCID: PMC6288088 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36245-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The hindgut of wood-feeding Panesthia cockroaches harbours a diverse microbial community, whose most morphologically prominent members are bacterivorous clevelandellid ciliates. Co-occurrence and correlation patterns of prokaryotes associated with these endosymbiotic ciliates were investigated. Multidimensional scaling based on taxa interaction-adjusted index showed a very clear separation of the hindgut ciliate samples from the ciliate-free hindgut samples. This division was corroborated also by SparCC analysis which revealed strong negative associations between prokaryotic taxa that were relatively more abundant in the ciliate-free hindgut samples and prokaryotic taxa that were more abundant in the ciliate samples. This very likely reflects the grazing behaviour of hindgut ciliates which prefer Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, causing their abundances to be increased in the ciliate samples at the expense of abundances of Euryarchaeota and Bacteroidetes which prevail in the hindgut content. Ciliate species do not distinctly differ in the associated prokaryotes, indicating that minute variations in the proportion of associated bacteria might be sufficient to avoid competition between bacterivorous ciliate species and hence enable their co-occurrence in the same host. The nearest free-living relatives of hindgut ciliates have a different pattern of associations with prokaryotes, i.e., alphaproteobacteria are predominantly associated with free-living ciliates while gammaproteobacteria with hindgut ciliates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Vďačný
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Emese Érseková
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katarína Šoltys
- Comenius University Science Park, Comenius University in Bratislava, 841 04, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jaroslav Budiš
- Department of Computer Science, Comenius University in Bratislava, Mlynská dolina F-1, 842 48, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lukáš Pecina
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Ivan Rurik
- Private computer laboratory, 821 07, Bratislava, Slovakia
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26
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Brock DA, Haselkorn TS, Garcia JR, Bashir U, Douglas TE, Galloway J, Brodie F, Queller DC, Strassmann JE. Diversity of Free-Living Environmental Bacteria and Their Interactions With a Bactivorous Amoeba. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:411. [PMID: 30533398 PMCID: PMC6266680 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A small subset of bacteria in soil interact directly with eukaryotes. Which ones do so can reveal what is important to a eukaryote and how eukaryote defenses might be breached. Soil amoebae are simple eukaryotic organisms and as such could be particularly good for understanding how eukaryote microbiomes originate and are maintained. One such amoeba, Dictyostelium discoideum, has both permanent and temporary associations with bacteria. Here we focus on culturable bacterial associates in order to interrogate their relationship with D. discoideum. To do this, we isolated over 250 D. discoideum fruiting body samples from soil and deer feces at Mountain Lake Biological Station. In one-third of the wild D. discoideum we tested, one to six bacterial species were found per fruiting body sorus (spore mass) for a total of 174 bacterial isolates. The remaining two-thirds of D. discoideum fruiting body samples did not contain culturable bacteria, as is thought to be the norm. A majority (71.4%) of the unique bacterial haplotypes are in Proteobacteria. The rest are in either Actinobacteria, Bacteriodetes, or Firmicutes. The highest bacterial diversity was found in D. discoideum fruiting bodies originating from deer feces (27 OTUs), greater than either of those originating in shallow (11 OTUs) or in deep soil (4 OTUs). Rarefaction curves and the Chao1 estimator for species richness indicated the diversity in any substrate was not fully sampled, but for soil it came close. A majority of the D. discoideum-associated bacteria were edible by D. discoideum and supported its growth (75.2% for feces and 81.8% for soil habitats). However, we found several bacteria genera were able to evade phagocytosis and persist in D. discoideum cells through one or more social cycles. This study focuses not on the entire D. discoideum microbiome, but on the culturable subset of bacteria that have important eukaryote interactions as prey, symbionts, or pathogens. These eukaryote and bacteria interactions may provide fertile ground for investigations of bacteria using amoebas to gain an initial foothold in eukaryotes and of the origins of symbiosis and simple microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra A Brock
- Queller/Strassmann Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biology, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Tamara S Haselkorn
- Queller/Strassmann Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biology, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Justine R Garcia
- Queller/Strassmann Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biology, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Usman Bashir
- Queller/Strassmann Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biology, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Tracy E Douglas
- Queller/Strassmann Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biology, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Jesse Galloway
- Mountain Lake Biological Laboratory, University of Virginia, Mountain Lake, VA, United States
| | - Fisher Brodie
- Mountain Lake Biological Laboratory, University of Virginia, Mountain Lake, VA, United States
| | - David C Queller
- Queller/Strassmann Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biology, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Joan E Strassmann
- Queller/Strassmann Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis, Department of Biology, St. Louis, MO, United States
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Koo H, Hakim JA, Morrow CD, Crowley MR, Andersen DT, Bej AK. Metagenomic Analysis of Microbial Community Compositions and Cold-Responsive Stress Genes in Selected Antarctic Lacustrine and Soil Ecosystems. Life (Basel) 2018; 8:life8030029. [PMID: 29997353 PMCID: PMC6161096 DOI: 10.3390/life8030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study describes microbial community compositions, and various cold-responsive stress genes, encompassing cold-induced proteins (CIPs) and cold-associated general stress-responsive proteins (CASPs) in selected Antarctic lake water, sediment, and soil metagenomes. Overall, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the major taxa in all metagenomes. Prochlorococcus and Thiomicrospira were highly abundant in waters, while Myxococcus, Anaeromyxobacter, Haliangium, and Gloeobacter were dominant in the soil and lake sediment metagenomes. Among CIPs, genes necessary for DNA replication, translation initiation, and transcription termination were highly abundant in all metagenomes. However, genes for fatty acid desaturase (FAD) and trehalose synthase (TS) were common in the soil and lake sediment metagenomes. Interestingly, the Lake Untersee water and sediment metagenome samples contained histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) and all genes for CIPs. As for the CASPs, high abundances of a wide range of genes for cryo- and osmo-protectants (glutamate, glycine, choline, and betaine) were identified in all metagenomes. However, genes for exopolysaccharide biosynthesis were dominant in Lake Untersee water, sediment, and other soil metagenomes. The results from this study indicate that although diverse microbial communities are present in various metagenomes, they share common cold-responsive stress genes necessary for their survival and sustenance in the extreme Antarctic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunmin Koo
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Joseph A Hakim
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Casey D Morrow
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Michael R Crowley
- Department of Genetics, Heflin Center Genomics Core, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Dale T Andersen
- Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute, Mountain View, California, CA 94043, USA.
| | - Asim K Bej
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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28
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Investigating the biodiversity of ciliates in the ‘Age of Integration’. Eur J Protistol 2017; 61:314-322. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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29
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Abstract
Constraint-based metabolic modelling (CBMM) consists in the use of computational methods and tools to perform genome-scale simulations and predict metabolic features at the whole cellular level. This approach is rapidly expanding in microbiology, as it combines reliable predictive abilities with conceptually and technically simple frameworks. Among the possible outcomes of CBMM, the capability to i) guide a focused planning of metabolic engineering experiments and ii) provide a system-level understanding of (single or community-level) microbial metabolic circuits also represent primary aims in present-day marine microbiology. In this work we briefly introduce the theoretical formulation behind CBMM and then review the most recent and effective case studies of CBMM of marine microbes and communities. Also, the emerging challenges and possibilities in the use of such methodologies in the context of marine microbiology/biotechnology are discussed. As the potential applications of CBMM have a very broad range, the topics presented in this review span over a large plethora of fields such as ecology, biotechnology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Fondi
- Dep. of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Renato Fani
- Dep. of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
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30
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Omar A, Zhang Q, Zou S, Gong J. Morphology and Phylogeny of the Soil Ciliate Metopus yantaiensis
n. sp. (Ciliophora, Metopida), with Identification of the Intracellular Bacteria. J Eukaryot Microbiol 2017; 64:792-805. [DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Atef Omar
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles; Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Yantai 264003 China
- Department of Zoology; Al-Azhar University; Assiut 71524 Egypt
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles; Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Yantai 264003 China
| | - Songbao Zou
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles; Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Yantai 264003 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
| | - Jun Gong
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles; Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Yantai 264003 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing 100049 China
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31
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Mangiagalli M, Bar‐Dolev M, Tedesco P, Natalello A, Kaleda A, Brocca S, Pascale D, Pucciarelli S, Miceli C, Braslavsky I, Lotti M. Cryo‐protective effect of an ice‐binding protein derived from Antarctic bacteria. FEBS J 2016; 284:163-177. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.13965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Mangiagalli
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences State University of Milano‐Bicocca Italy
| | - Maya Bar‐Dolev
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rehovot Israel
| | - Pietro Tedesco
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry National Research Council Naples Italy
| | - Antonino Natalello
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences State University of Milano‐Bicocca Italy
| | - Aleksei Kaleda
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rehovot Israel
- Department of Food Processing Faculty of Chemical and Materials Technology Tallinn University of Technology Estonia
| | - Stefania Brocca
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences State University of Milano‐Bicocca Italy
| | - Donatella Pascale
- Institute of Protein Biochemistry National Research Council Naples Italy
| | - Sandra Pucciarelli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine University of Camerino Italy
| | - Cristina Miceli
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine University of Camerino Italy
| | - Ido Braslavsky
- Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rehovot Israel
| | - Marina Lotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences State University of Milano‐Bicocca Italy
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32
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A Novel Colonial Ciliate Zoothamnium ignavum sp. nov. (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) and Its Ectosymbiont Candidatus Navis piranensis gen. nov., sp. nov. from Shallow-Water Wood Falls. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162834. [PMID: 27683199 PMCID: PMC5040259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbioses between ciliate hosts and prokaryote or unicellular eukaryote symbionts are widespread. Here, we report on a novel ciliate species within the genus Zoothamnium Bory de St. Vincent, 1824, isolated from shallow-water sunken wood in the North Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Sea), proposed as Zoothamnium ignavum sp. nov. We found this ciliate species to be associated with a novel genus of bacteria, here proposed as “Candidatus Navis piranensis” gen. nov., sp. nov. The descriptions of host and symbiont species are based on morphological and ultrastructural studies, the SSU rRNA sequences, and in situ hybridization with symbiont-specific probes. The host is characterized by alternate microzooids on alternate branches arising from a long, common stalk with an adhesive disc. Three different types of zooids are present: microzooids with a bulgy oral side, roundish to ellipsoid macrozooids, and terminal zooids ellipsoid when dividing or bulgy when undividing. The oral ciliature of the microzooids runs 1¼ turns in a clockwise direction around the peristomial disc when viewed from inside the cell and runs into the infundibulum, where it makes another ¾ turn. The ciliature consists of a paroral membrane (haplokinety), three adoral membranelles (polykineties), and one stomatogenic kinety (germinal kinety). One circular row of barren kinetosomes is present aborally (trochal band). Phylogenetic analyses placed Z. ignavum sp. nov. within the clade II of the polyphyletic family Zoothamniidae (Oligohymenophorea). The ectosymbiont was found to occur in two different morphotypes, as rods with pointed ends and coccoid rods. It forms a monophyletic group with two uncultured Gammaproteobacteria within an unclassified group of Gammaproteobacteria, and is only distantly related to the ectosymbiont of the closely related peritrich Z. niveum (Hemprich and Ehrenberg, 1831) Ehrenberg, 1838.
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33
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Gong J, Qing Y, Zou S, Fu R, Su L, Zhang X, Zhang Q. Protist-Bacteria Associations: Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria Are Prevalent as Digestion-Resistant Bacteria in Ciliated Protozoa. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:498. [PMID: 27148188 PMCID: PMC4826875 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Protistan bacterivory, a microbial process involving ingestion and digestion, is ecologically important in the microbial loop in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. While bacterial resistance to protistan ingestion has been relatively well understood, little is known about protistan digestion in which some ingested bacteria could not be digested in cells of major protistan grazers in the natural environment. Here we report the phylogenetic identities of digestion-resistant bacteria (DRB) that could survive starvation and form relatively stable associations with 11 marine and one freshwater ciliate species. Using clone library and sequencing of 16S rRNA genes, we found that the protistan predators could host a high diversity of DRB, most of which represented novel bacterial taxa that have not been cultivated. The localization inside host cells, quantity, and viability of these bacteria were checked using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The DRB were affiliated with Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Parcubacteria (OD1), Planctomycetes, and Proteobacteria, with Gammaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria being the most frequently occurring classes. The dominance of Gamma- and Alphaproteobacteria corresponds well to a previous study of Global Ocean Sampling metagenomic data showing the widespread types of bacterial type VI and IV secretion systems (T6SS and T4SS) in these two taxa, suggesting a putatively significant role of secretion systems in promoting marine protist-bacteria associations. In the DRB assemblages, opportunistic bacteria such as Alteromonadaceae, Pseudoalteromonadaceae, and Vibrionaceae often presented with high proportions, indicating these bacteria could evade protistan grazing thus persist and accumulate in the community, which, however, contrasts with their well-known rarity in nature. This begs the question whether viral lysis is significant in killing these indigestible bacteria in microbial communities. Taken together, our study on the identity of DRB sheds new light on microbial interactions and generates further hypotheses including the potential importance of bacterial protein secretion systems in structuring bacterial community composition and functioning of “microbial black box” in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Gong
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesYantai, China; School of Life Science, South China Normal UniversityGuangzhou, China
| | - Yao Qing
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesYantai, China; School of Life Science, South China Normal UniversityGuangzhou, China
| | - Songbao Zou
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of SciencesYantai, China; School of Life Science, South China Normal UniversityGuangzhou, China
| | - Rao Fu
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Yantai, China
| | - Lei Su
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Yantai, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Yantai, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Matter Cycles, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Yantai, China
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34
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Castelli M, Lanzoni O, Rossi L, Potekhin A, Schrallhammer M, Petroni G. Evaluation of Enrichment Protocols for Bacterial Endosymbionts of Ciliates by Real-Time PCR. Curr Microbiol 2016; 72:723-32. [PMID: 26894821 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-016-1006-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 01/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Large-scale studies on obligate bacterial endosymbionts may frequently require preliminary purification and enrichment protocols, which are often elaborate to set up and to evaluate, especially if the host organism is a protist. The purpose of this study was to develop a real-time PCR-based strategy and employ it for assessing two of such enrichment protocols for Holospora caryophila, hosted by the ciliate Paramecium. Four SSU rRNA gene-targeted real-time PCR assays were designed, which allowed to compare the amount of H. caryophila to other organisms, namely the host, its food bacterium (Raoultella planticola), and free-living bacteria present in the culture medium. By the use of the real-time PCR assays in combination, it was possible to conclude that the "cell fractionation" protocol was quite successful in the enrichment of the symbiont, while the "Percoll gradient" protocol will need further refinements to be fully repeatable. The proposed approach has the potential to facilitate and encourage future studies on the yet underexplored field of bacterial endosymbionts of ciliates and other protists. It can also find valuable applications for experimental questions other than those tested, such as fast and precise assessment of symbiont abundance in natural populations and comparison among multiple coexisting symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia Lanzoni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Leonardo Rossi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alexey Potekhin
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia, 199034
| | - Martina Schrallhammer
- Microbiology, Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Giulio Petroni
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
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35
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Dickinson I, Goodall-Copestake W, Thorne MAS, Schlitt T, Ávila-Jiménez ML, Pearce DA. Extremophiles in an Antarctic Marine Ecosystem. Microorganisms 2016; 4:microorganisms4010008. [PMID: 27681902 PMCID: PMC5029513 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms4010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent attempts to explore marine microbial diversity and the global marine microbiome have indicated a large proportion of previously unknown diversity. However, sequencing alone does not tell the whole story, as it relies heavily upon information that is already contained within sequence databases. In addition, microorganisms have been shown to present small-to-large scale biogeographical patterns worldwide, potentially making regional combinations of selection pressures unique. Here, we focus on the extremophile community in the boundary region located between the Polar Front and the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current in the Southern Ocean, to explore the potential of metagenomic approaches as a tool for bioprospecting in the search for novel functional activity based on targeted sampling efforts. We assessed the microbial composition and diversity from a region north of the current limit for winter sea ice, north of the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Front (SACCF) but south of the Polar Front. Although, most of the more frequently encountered sequences were derived from common marine microorganisms, within these dominant groups, we found a proportion of genes related to secondary metabolism of potential interest in bioprospecting. Extremophiles were rare by comparison but belonged to a range of genera. Hence, they represented interesting targets from which to identify rare or novel functions. Ultimately, future shifts in environmental conditions favoring more cosmopolitan groups could have an unpredictable effect on microbial diversity and function in the Southern Ocean, perhaps excluding the rarer extremophiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain Dickinson
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK.
| | - William Goodall-Copestake
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET, UK.
| | - Michael A S Thorne
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET, UK.
| | - Thomas Schlitt
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET, UK.
| | | | - David A Pearce
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 8ST, UK.
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 OET, UK.
- The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), P.O. Box 156, Svalbard, Longyearbyen N-9171, Norway.
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