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Cowan DA, Albers SV, Antranikian G, Atomi H, Averhoff B, Basen M, Driessen AJM, Jebbar M, Kelman Z, Kerou M, Littlechild J, Müller V, Schönheit P, Siebers B, Vorgias K. Extremophiles in a changing world. Extremophiles 2024; 28:26. [PMID: 38683238 PMCID: PMC11058618 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-024-01341-7] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Extremophiles and their products have been a major focus of research interest for over 40 years. Through this period, studies of these organisms have contributed hugely to many aspects of the fundamental and applied sciences, and to wider and more philosophical issues such as the origins of life and astrobiology. Our understanding of the cellular adaptations to extreme conditions (such as acid, temperature, pressure and more), of the mechanisms underpinning the stability of macromolecules, and of the subtleties, complexities and limits of fundamental biochemical processes has been informed by research on extremophiles. Extremophiles have also contributed numerous products and processes to the many fields of biotechnology, from diagnostics to bioremediation. Yet, after 40 years of dedicated research, there remains much to be discovered in this field. Fortunately, extremophiles remain an active and vibrant area of research. In the third decade of the twenty-first century, with decreasing global resources and a steadily increasing human population, the world's attention has turned with increasing urgency to issues of sustainability. These global concerns were encapsulated and formalized by the United Nations with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the presentation of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. In the run-up to 2030, we consider the contributions that extremophiles have made, and will in the future make, to the SDGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
| | - S V Albers
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - G Antranikian
- Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg University of Technology, 21073, Hamburg, Germany
| | - H Atomi
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - B Averhoff
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - M Basen
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - A J M Driessen
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - M Jebbar
- Univ. Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, Laboratoire de Biologie Et d'Écologie Des Écosystèmes Marins Profonds (BEEP), IUEM, Rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280, Plouzané, France
| | - Z Kelman
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - M Kerou
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - J Littlechild
- Henry Wellcome Building for Biocatalysis, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - V Müller
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bioenergetics, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - P Schönheit
- Institute of General Microbiology, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany
| | - B Siebers
- Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry (MEB), Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Centre for Water and Environmental Research (CWE), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117, Essen, Germany
| | - K Vorgias
- Biology Department and RI-Bio3, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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2
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Tittes C, Nijland J, Schoentag AMC, Hackl T, Di Cianni N, Marchfelder A, Quax TEF. Development of a genetic system for Haloferax gibbonsii LR2-5, model host for haloarchaeal viruses. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0012924. [PMID: 38470030 PMCID: PMC11022537 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00129-24] [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: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Archaeal viruses are among the most enigmatic members of the virosphere, and their diverse morphologies raise many questions about their infection mechanisms. The study of molecular mechanisms underlying virus-host interactions hinges upon robust model organisms with a system for gene expression and deletion. Currently, there are only a limited number of archaea that have associated viruses and have a well-developed genetic system. Here, we report the development of a genetic system for the euryarchaeon Haloferax gibbonsii LR2-5. This strain can be infected by multiple viruses and is a model for the study of virus-host interactions. We created a Hfx. gibbonsii LR2-5 ∆pyrE strain, resulting in uracil auxotrophy, which could be used as a selection marker. An expression plasmid carrying a pyrE gene from the well-established Haloferax volcanii system was tested for functionality. Expression of a GFP-MinD fusion under a tryptophan inducible promoter was fully functional and showed similar cellular localization as in Hfx. volcanii. Thus, the plasmids of the Hfx. volcanii system can be used directly for the Hfx. gibbonsii LR2-5 genetic system, facilitating the transfer of tools between the two. Finally, we tested for the functionality of gene deletions by knocking out two genes of the archaeal motility structure, the archaellum. These deletion mutants were as expected non-motile and the phenotype of one deletion could be rescued by the expression of the deleted archaellum gene from a plasmid. Thus, we developed a functional genetic toolbox for the euryarchaeal virus host Hfx. gibbonsii LR2-5, which will propel future studies on archaeal viruses. IMPORTANCE Species from all domains of life are infected by viruses. In some environments, viruses outnumber their microbial hosts by a factor of 10, and viruses are the most important predators of microorganisms. While much has been discovered about the infection mechanisms of bacterial and eukaryotic viruses, archaeal viruses remain understudied. Good model systems are needed to study their virus-host interactions in detail. The salt-loving archaeon Haloferax gibbonsii LR2-5 has been shown to be infected by a variety of different viruses and, thus, is an excellent model to study archaeal viruses. By establishing a genetic system, we have significantly expanded the toolbox for this model organism, which will fuel our understanding of infection strategies of the underexplored archaeal viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Tittes
- Biology of Archaea and Viruses, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen Nijland
- Biology of Archaea and Viruses, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Anna M. C. Schoentag
- Biology of Archaea and Viruses, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas Hackl
- Microbial Ecology Cluster, Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Tessa E. F. Quax
- Biology of Archaea and Viruses, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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3
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Koonin EV, Kuhn JH, Dolja VV, Krupovic M. Megataxonomy and global ecology of the virosphere. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrad042. [PMID: 38365236 PMCID: PMC10848233 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrad042] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Nearly all organisms are hosts to multiple viruses that collectively appear to be the most abundant biological entities in the biosphere. With recent advances in metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, the known diversity of viruses substantially expanded. Comparative analysis of these viruses using advanced computational methods culminated in the reconstruction of the evolution of major groups of viruses and enabled the construction of a virus megataxonomy, which has been formally adopted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. This comprehensive taxonomy consists of six virus realms, which are aspired to be monophyletic and assembled based on the conservation of hallmark proteins involved in capsid structure formation or genome replication. The viruses in different major taxa substantially differ in host range and accordingly in ecological niches. In this review article, we outline the latest developments in virus megataxonomy and the recent discoveries that will likely lead to reassessment of some major taxa, in particular, split of three of the current six realms into two or more independent realms. We then discuss the correspondence between virus taxonomy and the distribution of viruses among hosts and ecological niches, as well as the abundance of viruses versus cells in different habitats. The distribution of viruses across environments appears to be primarily determined by the host ranges, i.e. the virome is shaped by the composition of the biome in a given habitat, which itself is affected by abiotic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, United States
| | - Jens H Kuhn
- Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Division of Clinical Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, United States
| | - Valerian V Dolja
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Archaeal Virology Unit, 75015 Paris, France
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4
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Li J, Wu S, Zhang K, Sun X, Lin W, Wang C, Lin S. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat/CRISPR-Associated Protein and Its Utility All at Sea: Status, Challenges, and Prospects. Microorganisms 2024; 12:118. [PMID: 38257946 PMCID: PMC10820777 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Initially discovered over 35 years ago in the bacterium Escherichia coli as a defense system against invasion of viral (or other exogenous) DNA into the genome, CRISPR/Cas has ushered in a new era of functional genetics and served as a versatile genetic tool in all branches of life science. CRISPR/Cas has revolutionized the methodology of gene knockout with simplicity and rapidity, but it is also powerful for gene knock-in and gene modification. In the field of marine biology and ecology, this tool has been instrumental in the functional characterization of 'dark' genes and the documentation of the functional differentiation of gene paralogs. Powerful as it is, challenges exist that have hindered the advances in functional genetics in some important lineages. This review examines the status of applications of CRISPR/Cas in marine research and assesses the prospect of quickly expanding the deployment of this powerful tool to address the myriad fundamental marine biology and biological oceanography questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Shuaishuai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Kaidian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570203, China
| | - Xueqiong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Wenwen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Cong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Senjie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT 06340, USA
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5
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Guerra A. Human associated Archaea: a neglected microbiome worth investigating. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:60. [PMID: 38172371 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03842-7] [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: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
The majority of research in the field of human microbiota has predominantly focused on bacterial and fungal communities. Conversely, the human archaeome has received scant attention and remains poorly studied, despite its potential role in human diseases. Archaea have the capability to colonize various human body sites, including the gastrointestinal tract, skin, vagina, breast milk, colostrum, urinary tract, lungs, nasal and oral cavities. This colonization can occur through vertical transmission, facilitated by the transfer of breast milk or colostrum from mother to child, as well as through the consumption of dairy products, organic produce, salty foods, and fermented items. The involvement of these microorganisms in diseases, such as periodontitis, might be attributed to their production of toxic compounds and the detoxification of growth inhibitors for pathogens. However, the precise mechanisms through which these contributions occur remain incompletely understood, necessitating further studies to assess their impact on human health.
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6
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Kuiper BP, Schöntag AMC, Oksanen HM, Daum B, Quax TEF. Archaeal virus entry and egress. MICROLIFE 2024; 5:uqad048. [PMID: 38234448 PMCID: PMC10791045 DOI: 10.1093/femsml/uqad048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Archaeal viruses display a high degree of structural and genomic diversity. Few details are known about the mechanisms by which these viruses enter and exit their host cells. Research on archaeal viruses has lately made significant progress due to advances in genetic tools and imaging techniques, such as cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET). In recent years, a steady output of newly identified archaeal viral receptors and egress mechanisms has offered the first insight into how archaeal viruses interact with the archaeal cell envelope. As more details about archaeal viral entry and egress are unravelled, patterns are starting to emerge. This helps to better understand the interactions between viruses and the archaeal cell envelope and how these compare to infection strategies of viruses in other domains of life. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in the field of archaeal viral entry and egress, shedding light onto the most elusive part of the virosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastiaan P Kuiper
- Biology of Archaea and Viruses, Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, 7th floor, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Anna M C Schöntag
- Biology of Archaea and Viruses, Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, 7th floor, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Hanna M Oksanen
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bertram Daum
- Living Systems Institute, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Tessa E F Quax
- Biology of Archaea and Viruses, Department of Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, Faculty for Science and Engineering, University of Groningen, 7th floor, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands
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7
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Duan C, Liu Y, Liu Y, Liu L, Cai M, Zhang R, Zeng Q, Koonin EV, Krupovic M, Li M. Diversity of Bathyarchaeia viruses in metagenomes and virus-encoded CRISPR system components. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycad011. [PMID: 38328448 PMCID: PMC10848311 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycad011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Bathyarchaeia represent a class of archaea common and abundant in sedimentary ecosystems. Here we report 56 metagenome-assembled genomes of Bathyarchaeia viruses identified in metagenomes from different environments. Gene sharing network and phylogenomic analyses led to the proposal of four virus families, including viruses of the realms Duplodnaviria and Adnaviria, and archaea-specific spindle-shaped viruses. Genomic analyses uncovered diverse CRISPR elements in these viruses. Viruses of the proposed family "Fuxiviridae" harbor an atypical Type IV-B CRISPR-Cas system and a Cas4 protein that might interfere with host immunity. Viruses of the family "Chiyouviridae" encode a Cas2-like endonuclease and two mini-CRISPR arrays, one with a repeat identical to that in the host CRISPR array, potentially allowing the virus to recruit the host CRISPR adaptation machinery to acquire spacers that could contribute to competition with other mobile genetic elements or to inhibit host defenses. These findings present an outline of the Bathyarchaeia virome and offer a glimpse into their counter-defense mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhai Duan
- SZU-HKUST Joint PhD Program in Marine Environmental Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris 75015, France
| | - Lirui Liu
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Mingwei Cai
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Qinglu Zeng
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris 75015, France
| | - Meng Li
- SZU-HKUST Joint PhD Program in Marine Environmental Science, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
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8
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Marks TJ, Rowland IR. The Diversity of Bacteriophages in Hot Springs. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2738:73-88. [PMID: 37966592 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3549-0_4] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are ubiquitous in all environments that support microbial life. This includes hot springs, which can range in temperatures between 40 and 98 °C and pH levels between 1 and 9. Bacteriophages that survive in the higher temperatures of hot springs are known as thermophages. Thermophages have developed distinct adaptations allowing for thermostability in these extreme environments, including increased G + C DNA percentages, reliance upon the pentose phosphate metabolic pathway to avoid oxidative stress, and a codon preference for those with a GNA sequence leading to increased hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bonds. In this review, we discuss the diversity of characterized thermophages in hot spring environments that span five viral families: Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Tectiviridae, Sphaerolipoviridae, and Inoviridae. Potential industrial and medicinal applications of thermophages will also be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Marks
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Sciences, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC, USA.
| | - Isabella R Rowland
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Sciences, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC, USA
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9
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Leeks A, Bono LM, Ampolini EA, Souza LS, Höfler T, Mattson CL, Dye AE, Díaz-Muñoz SL. Open questions in the social lives of viruses. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1551-1567. [PMID: 37975507 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Social interactions among viruses occur whenever multiple viral genomes infect the same cells, hosts, or populations of hosts. Viral social interactions range from cooperation to conflict, occur throughout the viral world, and affect every stage of the viral lifecycle. The ubiquity of these social interactions means that they can determine the population dynamics, evolutionary trajectory, and clinical progression of viral infections. At the same time, social interactions in viruses raise new questions for evolutionary theory, providing opportunities to test and extend existing frameworks within social evolution. Many opportunities exist at this interface: Insights into the evolution of viral social interactions have immediate implications for our understanding of the fundamental biology and clinical manifestation of viral diseases. However, these opportunities are currently limited because evolutionary biologists only rarely study social evolution in viruses. Here, we bridge this gap by (1) summarizing the ways in which viruses can interact socially, including consequences for social evolution and evolvability; (2) outlining some open questions raised by viruses that could challenge concepts within social evolution theory; and (3) providing some illustrative examples, data sources, and conceptual questions, for studying the natural history of social viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asher Leeks
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Quantitative Biology Institute, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lisa M Bono
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Ampolini
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Lucas S Souza
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Thomas Höfler
- Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Courtney L Mattson
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Anna E Dye
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Samuel L Díaz-Muñoz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Genome Center, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
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10
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Cantero M, Cvirkaite-Krupovic V, Krupovic M, de Pablo PJ. Mechanical tomography of an archaeal lemon-shaped virus reveals membrane-like fluidity of the capsid and liquid nucleoprotein cargo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2307717120. [PMID: 37824526 PMCID: PMC10589707 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307717120] [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: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Archaeal lemon-shaped viruses have unique helical capsids composed of highly hydrophobic protein strands which can slide past each other resulting in remarkable morphological reorganization. Here, using atomic force microscopy, we explore the biomechanical properties of the lemon-shaped virions of Sulfolobus monocaudavirus 1 (SMV1), a double-stranded DNA virus which infects hyperthermophilic (~80 °C) and acidophilic (pH ~ 2) archaea. Our results reveal that SMV1 virions are extremely soft and withstand repeated extensive deformations, reaching remarkable strains of 80% during multiple cycles of consecutive mechanical assaults, yet showing scarce traces of disruption. SMV1 virions can reversibly collapse wall-to-wall, reducing their volume by ~90%. Beyond revealing the exceptional malleability of the SMV1 protein shell, our data also suggest a fluid-like nucleoprotein cargo which can flow inside the capsid, resisting and accommodating mechanical deformations without further alteration. Our experiments suggest a packing fraction of the virus core to be as low as 11%, with the amount of the accessory proteins almost four times exceeding that of the viral genome. Our findings indicate that SMV1 protein capsid displays biomechanical properties of lipid membranes, which is not found among protein capsids of other viruses. The remarkable malleability and fluidity of the SMV1 virions are likely necessary for the structural transformations during the infection and adaptation to extreme environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Cantero
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada C03, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid28049, Spain
| | | | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris75015, France
| | - Pedro J. de Pablo
- Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada C03, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid28049, Spain
- Instituto de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid28049, Spain
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11
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Banas I, Esser SP, Turzynski V, Soares A, Novikova P, May P, Moraru C, Hasenberg M, Rahlff J, Wilmes P, Klingl A, Probst AJ. Spatio-functional organization in virocells of small uncultivated archaea from the deep biosphere. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:1789-1792. [PMID: 37468677 PMCID: PMC10504349 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01474-1] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Despite important ecological roles posited for virocells (i.e., cells infected with viruses), studying individual cells in situ is technically challenging. We introduce here a novel correlative microscopic approach to study the ecophysiology of virocells. By conducting concerted virusFISH, 16S rRNA FISH, and scanning electron microscopy interrogations of uncultivated archaea, we linked morphologies of various altiarchaeal cells to corresponding phylogenetic signals and indigenous virus infections. While uninfected cells exhibited moderate separation between fluorescence signals of ribosomes and DNA, virocells displayed complete cellular segregation of chromosomal DNA from viral DNA, the latter co-localizing with host ribosome signals. A similar spatial separation was observed in dividing cells, with viral signals congregating near ribosomes at the septum. These observations suggest that replication of these uncultivated viruses occurs alongside host ribosomes, which are used to generate the required proteins for virion assembly. Heavily infected cells sometimes displayed virus-like particles attached to their surface, which agree with virus structures in cells observed via transmission electron microscopy. Consequently, this approach is the first to link genomes of uncultivated viruses to their respective structures and host cells. Our findings shed new light on the complex ecophysiology of archaeal virocells in deep subsurface biofilms and provide a solid framework for future in situ studies of virocells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indra Banas
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sarah P Esser
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Victoria Turzynski
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - André Soares
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Polina Novikova
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Patrick May
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Cristina Moraru
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky-University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | | | - Janina Rahlff
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Paul Wilmes
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Andreas Klingl
- Plant Development & Electron Microscopy, Biocenter LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Planegg, Germany.
| | - Alexander J Probst
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
- Center of Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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12
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Alarcón-Schumacher T, Lücking D, Erdmann S. Revisiting evolutionary trajectories and the organization of the Pleolipoviridae family. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010998. [PMID: 37831715 PMCID: PMC10599561 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Archaeal pleomorphic viruses belonging to the Pleolipoviridae family represent an enigmatic group as they exhibit unique genomic features and are thought to have evolved through recombination with different archaeal plasmids. However, most of our understanding of the diversity and evolutionary trajectories of this clade comes from a handful of isolated representatives. Here we present 164 new genomes of pleolipoviruses obtained from metagenomic data of Australian hypersaline lakes and publicly available metagenomic data. We perform a comprehensive analysis on the diversity and evolutionary relationships of the newly discovered viruses and previously described pleolipoviruses. We propose to classify the viruses into five genera within the Pleolipoviridae family, with one new genus represented only by virus genomes retrieved in this study. Our data support the current hypothesis that pleolipoviruses reshaped their genomes through recombining with multiple different groups of plasmids, which is reflected in the diversity of their predicted replication strategies. We show that the proposed genus Epsilonpleolipovirus has evolutionary ties to pRN1-like plasmids from Sulfolobus, suggesting that this group could be infecting other archaeal phyla. Interestingly, we observed that the genome size of pleolipoviruses is correlated to the presence or absence of an integrase. Analyses of the host range revealed that all but one virus exhibit an extremely narrow range, and we show that the predicted tertiary structure of the spike protein is strongly associated with the host family, suggesting a specific adaptation to the host S-layer glycoprotein organization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dominik Lücking
- Max-Planck-Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Susanne Erdmann
- Max-Planck-Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
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13
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Balbay MG, Shlafstein MD, Cockell C, Cady SL, Prescott RD, Lim DSS, Chain PSG, Donachie SP, Decho AW, Saw JH. Metabolic versatility of Caldarchaeales from geothermal features of Hawai'i and Chile as revealed by five metagenome-assembled genomes. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1216591. [PMID: 37799600 PMCID: PMC10547907 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1216591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Members of the archaeal order Caldarchaeales (previously the phylum Aigarchaeota) are poorly sampled and are represented in public databases by relatively few genomes. Additional representative genomes will help resolve their placement among all known members of Archaea and provide insights into their roles in the environment. In this study, we analyzed 16S rRNA gene amplicons belonging to the Caldarchaeales that are available in public databases, which demonstrated that archaea of the order Caldarchaeales are diverse, widespread, and most abundant in geothermal habitats. We also constructed five metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of Caldarchaeales from two geothermal features to investigate their metabolic potential and phylogenomic position in the domain Archaea. Two of the MAGs were assembled from microbial community DNA extracted from fumarolic lava rocks from Mauna Ulu, Hawai'i, and three were assembled from DNA obtained from hot spring sinters from the El Tatio geothermal field in Chile. MAGs from Hawai'i are high quality bins with completeness >95% and contamination <1%, and one likely belongs to a novel species in a new genus recently discovered at a submarine volcano off New Zealand. MAGs from Chile have lower completeness levels ranging from 27 to 70%. Gene content of the MAGs revealed that these members of Caldarchaeales are likely metabolically versatile and exhibit the potential for both chemoorganotrophic and chemolithotrophic lifestyles. The wide array of metabolic capabilities exhibited by these members of Caldarchaeales might help them thrive under diverse harsh environmental conditions. All the MAGs except one from Chile harbor putative prophage regions encoding several auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) that may confer a fitness advantage on their Caldarchaeales hosts by increasing their metabolic potential and make them better adapted to new environmental conditions. Phylogenomic analysis of the five MAGs and over 3,000 representative archaeal genomes showed the order Caldarchaeales forms a monophyletic group that is sister to the clade comprising the orders Geothermarchaeales (previously Candidatus Geothermarchaeota), Conexivisphaerales and Nitrososphaerales (formerly known as Thaumarchaeota), supporting the status of Caldarchaeales members as a clade distinct from the Thaumarchaeota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manolya Gul Balbay
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | | | - Charles Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sherry L. Cady
- Department of Geology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Rebecca D. Prescott
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS, United States
| | | | | | - Stuart P. Donachie
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, United States
| | - Alan W. Decho
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Jimmy H. Saw
- Department of Biological Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
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14
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Vik D, Bolduc B, Roux S, Sun CL, Pratama AA, Krupovic M, Sullivan MB. MArVD2: a machine learning enhanced tool to discriminate between archaeal and bacterial viruses in viral datasets. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:87. [PMID: 37620369 PMCID: PMC10449787 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00295-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Our knowledge of viral sequence space has exploded with advancing sequencing technologies and large-scale sampling and analytical efforts. Though archaea are important and abundant prokaryotes in many systems, our knowledge of archaeal viruses outside of extreme environments is limited. This largely stems from the lack of a robust, high-throughput, and systematic way to distinguish between bacterial and archaeal viruses in datasets of curated viruses. Here we upgrade our prior text-based tool (MArVD) via training and testing a random forest machine learning algorithm against a newly curated dataset of archaeal viruses. After optimization, MArVD2 presented a significant improvement over its predecessor in terms of scalability, usability, and flexibility, and will allow user-defined custom training datasets as archaeal virus discovery progresses. Benchmarking showed that a model trained with viral sequences from the hypersaline, marine, and hot spring environments correctly classified 85% of the archaeal viruses with a false detection rate below 2% using a random forest prediction threshold of 80% in a separate benchmarking dataset from the same habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean Vik
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Benjamin Bolduc
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Simon Roux
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Christine L Sun
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Akbar Adjie Pratama
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Paris, France
| | - Matthew B Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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15
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Doss RK, Palmer M, Mead DA, Hedlund BP. Functional biology and biotechnology of thermophilic viruses. Essays Biochem 2023; 67:671-684. [PMID: 37222046 PMCID: PMC10423840 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Viruses have developed sophisticated biochemical and genetic mechanisms to manipulate and exploit their hosts. Enzymes derived from viruses have been essential research tools since the first days of molecular biology. However, most viral enzymes that have been commercialized are derived from a small number of cultivated viruses, which is remarkable considering the extraordinary diversity and abundance of viruses revealed by metagenomic analysis. Given the explosion of new enzymatic reagents derived from thermophilic prokaryotes over the past 40 years, those obtained from thermophilic viruses should be equally potent tools. This review discusses the still-limited state of the art regarding the functional biology and biotechnology of thermophilic viruses with a focus on DNA polymerases, ligases, endolysins, and coat proteins. Functional analysis of DNA polymerases and primase-polymerases from phages infecting Thermus, Aquificaceae, and Nitratiruptor has revealed new clades of enzymes with strong proofreading and reverse transcriptase capabilities. Thermophilic RNA ligase 1 homologs have been characterized from Rhodothermus and Thermus phages, with both commercialized for circularization of single-stranded templates. Endolysins from phages infecting Thermus, Meiothermus, and Geobacillus have shown high stability and unusually broad lytic activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, making them targets for commercialization as antimicrobials. Coat proteins from thermophilic viruses infecting Sulfolobales and Thermus strains have been characterized, with diverse potential applications as molecular shuttles. To gauge the scale of untapped resources for these proteins, we also document over 20,000 genes encoded by uncultivated viral genomes from high-temperature environments that encode DNA polymerase, ligase, endolysin, or coat protein domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan K Doss
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A
| | - Marike Palmer
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A
| | | | - Brian P Hedlund
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A
- Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A
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16
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Cisneros-Martínez AM, Eguiarte LE, Souza V. Metagenomic comparisons reveal a highly diverse and unique viral community in a seasonally fluctuating hypersaline microbial mat. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen001063. [PMID: 37459167 PMCID: PMC10438804 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In spring 2016, a shallow hypersaline pond (50×25 m) was found in the Cuatro Cienegas Basin (CCB). This pond, known as Archaean Domes (AD) because of its elastic microbial mats that form dome-shaped structures due to the production of reducing gases reminiscent of the Archaean eon, such as methane and hydrogen sulfide, harbour a highly diverse microbial community, rich in halophilic and methanogenic archaea. AD is a seasonally fluctuating hypersaline site, with salinity ranging from low hypersaline (5.3%) during the wet season to high hypersaline (saturation) during the dry season. To characterize the viral community and to test whether it resembles those of other hypersaline sites (whose diversity is conditioned by salinity), or if it is similar to other CCB sites (with which it shares a common geological history), we generated 12 metagenomes from different seasons and depths over a 4 year period and compared them to 35 metagenomes from varied environments. Haloarchaeaviruses were detected, but were never dominant (average of 15.37 % of the total viral species), and the viral community structure and diversity were not affected by environmental fluctuations. In fact, unlike other viral communities at hypersaline sites, AD remained more diverse than other environments regardless of season. β-Diversity analyses show that AD is closely related to other CCB sites, although it has a unique viral community that forms a cluster of its own. The similarity of two surface samples to the 30 and 50 cm depth samples, as well as the observed increase in diversity at greater depths, supports the hypothesis that the diversity of CCB has evolved as a result of a long time environmental stability of a deep aquifer that functions as a 'seed bank' of great microbial diversity that is transported to the surface by sporadic groundwater upwelling events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Miguel Cisneros-Martínez
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Luis E. Eguiarte
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Valeria Souza
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
- Centro de Estudios del Cuaternario de Fuego-Patagonia y Antártica (CEQUA), Punta Arenas, Chile
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17
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Řezanka T, Kyselová L, Murphy DJ. Archaeal lipids. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 91:101237. [PMID: 37236370 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The major archaeal membrane glycerolipids are distinguished from those of bacteria and eukaryotes by the contrasting stereochemistry of their glycerol backbones, and by the use of ether-linked isoprenoid-based alkyl chains rather than ester-linked fatty acyl chains for their hydrophobic moieties. These fascinating compounds play important roles in the extremophile lifestyles of many species, but are also present in the growing numbers of recently discovered mesophilic archaea. The past decade has witnessed significant advances in our understanding of archaea in general and their lipids in particular. Much of the new information has come from the ability to screen large microbial populations via environmental metagenomics, which has revolutionised our understanding of the extent of archaeal biodiversity that is coupled with a strict conservation of their membrane lipid compositions. Significant additional progress has come from new culturing and analytical techniques that are gradually enabling archaeal physiology and biochemistry to be studied in real time. These studies are beginning to shed light on the much-discussed and still-controversial process of eukaryogenesis, which probably involved both bacterial and archaeal progenitors. Puzzlingly, although eukaryotes retain many attributes of their putative archaeal ancestors, their lipid compositions only reflect their bacterial progenitors. Finally, elucidation of archaeal lipids and their metabolic pathways have revealed potentially interesting applications that have opened up new frontiers for biotechnological exploitation of these organisms. This review is concerned with the analysis, structure, function, evolution and biotechnology of archaeal lipids and their associated metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Řezanka
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Kyselová
- Research Institute of Brewing and Malting, Lípová 511, 120 44 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Denis J Murphy
- School of Applied Sciences, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, CF37 1DL, United Kingdom.
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18
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Turzynski V, Griesdorn L, Moraru C, Soares AR, Simon SA, Stach TL, Rahlff J, Esser SP, Probst AJ. Virus-Host Dynamics in Archaeal Groundwater Biofilms and the Associated Bacterial Community Composition. Viruses 2023; 15:v15040910. [PMID: 37112890 PMCID: PMC10143303 DOI: 10.3390/v15040910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Spatial and temporal distribution of lytic viruses in deep groundwater remains unexplored so far. Here, we tackle this gap of knowledge by studying viral infections of Altivir_1_MSI in biofilms dominated by the uncultivated host Candidatus Altiarchaeum hamiconexum sampled from deep anoxic groundwater over a period of four years. Using virus-targeted direct-geneFISH (virusFISH) whose detection efficiency for individual viral particles was 15%, we show a significant and steady increase of virus infections from 2019 to 2022. Based on fluorescence micrographs of individual biofilm flocks, we determined different stages of viral infections in biofilms for single sampling events, demonstrating the progression of infection of biofilms in deep groundwater. Biofilms associated with many host cells undergoing lysis showed a substantial accumulation of filamentous microbes around infected cells probably feeding off host cell debris. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing across ten individual biofilm flocks from one sampling event, we determined that the associated bacterial community remains relatively constant and was dominated by sulfate-reducing members affiliated with Desulfobacterota. Given the stability of the virus-host interaction in these deep groundwater samples, we postulate that the uncultivated virus-host system described herein represents a suitable model system for studying deep biosphere virus-host interactions in future research endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Turzynski
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Department of Chemistry, Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr, University Alliance Ruhr, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Lea Griesdorn
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Department of Chemistry, Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr, University Alliance Ruhr, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Cristina Moraru
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky-University Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - André R. Soares
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Department of Chemistry, Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr, University Alliance Ruhr, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Sophie A. Simon
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Department of Chemistry, Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr, University Alliance Ruhr, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Tom L. Stach
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Department of Chemistry, Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr, University Alliance Ruhr, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Janina Rahlff
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Department of Chemistry, Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Sarah P. Esser
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Department of Chemistry, Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr, University Alliance Ruhr, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Alexander J. Probst
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Department of Chemistry, Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr, University Alliance Ruhr, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Centre for Medical Biotechnology (ZMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
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19
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Abstract
Viruses are highly abundant and the main predator of microorganisms. Microorganisms of each domain of life are infected by dedicated viruses. Viruses infecting archaea are genomically and structurally highly diverse. Archaea are undersampled for viruses in comparison with bacteria and eukaryotes. Consequently, the infection mechanisms of archaeal viruses are largely unknown, and most available knowledge stems from viruses infecting a select group of archaea, such as crenarchaea. We employed Haloferax tailed virus 1 (HFTV1) and its host, Haloferax gibbonsii LR2-5, to study viral infection in euryarchaea. We found that HFTV1, which has a siphovirus morphology, is virulent, and interestingly, viral particles adsorb to their host several orders of magnitude faster than most studied haloarchaeal viruses. As the binding site for infection, HFTV1 uses the cell wall component surface (S)-layer protein. Electron microscopy of infected cells revealed that viral particles often made direct contact with their heads to the cell surface, whereby the virion tails were perpendicular to the surface. This seemingly unfavorable orientation for genome delivery might represent a first reversible contact between virus and cell and could enhance viral adsorption rates. In a next irreversible step, the virion tail is orientated toward the cell surface for genome delivery. With these findings, we uncover parallels between entry mechanisms of archaeal viruses and those of bacterial jumbo phages and bacterial gene transfer agents. IMPORTANCE Archaeal viruses are the most enigmatic members of the virosphere. These viruses infect ubiquitous archaea and display an unusually high structural and genetic diversity. Unraveling their mechanisms of infection will shed light on the question if entry and egress mechanisms are highly conserved between viruses infecting a single domain of life or if these mechanisms are dependent on the morphology of the virus and the growth conditions of the host. We studied the entry mechanism of the tailed archaeal virus HFTV1. This showed that despite "typical" siphovirus morphology, the infection mechanism is different from standard laboratory models of tailed phages. We observed that particles bound first with their head to the host cell envelope, and, as such, we discovered parallels between archaeal viruses and nonmodel bacteriophages. This work contributes to a better understanding of entry mechanisms of archaeal viruses and a more complete view of microbial viruses in general.
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20
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Zhou Y, Zhou L, Yan S, Chen L, Krupovic M, Wang Y. Diverse viruses of marine archaea discovered using metagenomics. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:367-382. [PMID: 36385454 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
During the past decade, metagenomics became a method of choice for the discovery of novel viruses. However, host assignment for uncultured viruses remains challenging, especially for archaeal viruses, which are grossly undersampled compared to viruses of bacteria and eukaryotes. Here, we assessed the utility of CRISPR spacer targeting, tRNA gene matching and homology searches for viral signature proteins, such as major capsid proteins, for the assignment of archaeal hosts and validated these approaches on metaviromes from Yangshan Harbor (YSH). We report 35 new genomes of viruses which could be confidently assigned to hosts representing diverse lineages of marine archaea. We show that the archaeal YSH virome is highly diverse, with some viruses enriching the previously described virus groups, such as magroviruses of Marine Group II Archaea (Poseidoniales), and others representing novel groups of marine archaeal viruses. Metagenomic recruitment of Tara Oceans datasets on the YSH viral genomes demonstrated the presence of YSH Poseidoniales and Nitrososphaeria viruses in the global oceans, but also revealed the endemic YSH-specific viral lineages. Furthermore, our results highlight the relationship between the soil and marine thaumarchaeal viruses. We propose three new families within the class Caudoviricetes for the classification of the five complete viral genomes predicted to replicate in marine Poseidoniales and Nitrososphaeria, two ecologically important and widespread archaeal groups. This study illustrates the utility of viral metagenomics in exploring the archaeal virome and provides new insights into the diversity, distribution and evolution of marine archaeal viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Zhou
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, France
| | - Liang Zhou
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuling Yan
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Entwicklungsgenetik und Zellbiologie der Tiere, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lanming Chen
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai, China
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, France
| | - Yongjie Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
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21
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Yang Y, Liu J, Fu X, Zhou F, Zhang S, Zhang X, Huang Q, Krupovic M, She Q, Ni J, Shen Y. A novel RHH family transcription factor aCcr1 and its viral homologs dictate cell cycle progression in archaea. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:1707-1723. [PMID: 36715325 PMCID: PMC9976878 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell cycle regulation is of paramount importance for all forms of life. Here, we report that a conserved and essential cell cycle-specific transcription factor (designated as aCcr1) and its viral homologs control cell division in Sulfolobales. We show that the transcription level of accr1 reaches peak during active cell division (D-phase) subsequent to the expression of CdvA, an archaea-specific cell division protein. Cells over-expressing the 58-aa-long RHH (ribbon-helix-helix) family cellular transcription factor as well as the homologs encoded by large spindle-shaped viruses Acidianus two-tailed virus (ATV) and Sulfolobus monocaudavirus 3 (SMV3) display significant growth retardation and cell division failure, manifesting as enlarged cells with multiple chromosomes. aCcr1 over-expression results in downregulation of 17 genes (>4-fold), including cdvA. A conserved motif, aCcr1-box, located between the TATA-binding box and the translation initiation site of 13 out of the 17 highly repressed genes, is critical for aCcr1 binding. The aCcr1-box is present in the promoters and 5' UTRs of cdvA genes across Sulfolobales, suggesting that aCcr1-mediated cdvA repression is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism by which archaeal cells dictate cytokinesis progression, whereas their viruses take advantage of this mechanism to manipulate the host cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Yang
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Centre, Microbial Technology Institute and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Junfeng Liu.
| | - Xiaofei Fu
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Centre, Microbial Technology Institute and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Fan Zhou
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Centre, Microbial Technology Institute and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Centre, Microbial Technology Institute and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Centre, Microbial Technology Institute and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Qihong Huang
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Centre, Microbial Technology Institute and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, 75015, France
| | - Qunxin She
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Centre, Microbial Technology Institute and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
| | - Jinfeng Ni
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Centre, Microbial Technology Institute and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, P. R. China
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22
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Evseev P, Gutnik D, Shneider M, Miroshnikov K. Use of an Integrated Approach Involving AlphaFold Predictions for the Evolutionary Taxonomy of Duplodnaviria Viruses. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13010110. [PMID: 36671495 PMCID: PMC9855967 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The evaluation of the evolutionary relationships is exceptionally important for the taxonomy of viruses, which is a rapidly expanding area of research. The classification of viral groups belonging to the realm Duplodnaviria, which include tailed bacteriophages, head-tailed archaeal viruses and herpesviruses, has undergone many changes in recent years and continues to improve. One of the challenging tasks of Duplodnaviria taxonomy is the classification of high-ranked taxa, including families and orders. At the moment, only 17 of 50 families have been assigned to orders. The evaluation of the evolutionary relationships between viruses is complicated by the high level of divergence of viral proteins. However, the development of structure prediction algorithms, including the award-winning AlphaFold, encourages the use of the results of structural predictions to clarify the evolutionary history of viral proteins. In this study, the evolutionary relationships of two conserved viral proteins, the major capsid protein and terminase, representing different viruses, including all classified Duplodnaviria families, have been analysed using AlphaFold modelling. This analysis has been undertaken using structural comparisons and different phylogenetic methods. The results of the analyses mainly indicated the high quality of AlphaFold modelling and the possibility of using the AlphaFold predictions, together with other methods, for the reconstruction of the evolutionary relationships between distant viral groups. Based on the results of this integrated approach, assumptions have been made about refining the taxonomic classification of bacterial and archaeal Duplodnaviria groups, and problems relating to the taxonomic classification of Duplodnaviria have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Evseev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (P.E.); (K.M.)
| | - Daria Gutnik
- Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 664033 Irkutsk, Russia
| | - Mikhail Shneider
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Konstantin Miroshnikov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (P.E.); (K.M.)
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23
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Metagenomic analysis reveals unexplored diversity of archaeal virome in the human gut. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7978. [PMID: 36581612 PMCID: PMC9800368 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35735-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiome has been extensively explored, while the archaeal viruses remain largely unknown. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the archaeal viruses from the human gut metagenomes and the existing virus collections using the CRISPR spacer and viral signature-based approach. This results in 1279 viral species, of which, 95.2% infect Methanobrevibacteria_A, 56.5% shared high identity (>95%) with the archaeal proviruses, 37.2% have a host range across archaeal species, and 55.7% are highly prevalent in the human population (>1%). A methanogenic archaeal virus-specific gene for pseudomurein endoisopeptidase (PeiW) frequently occurs in the viral sequences (n = 150). Analysis of 33 Caudoviricetes viruses with a complete genome often discovers the genes (integrase, n = 29; mazE, n = 10) regulating the viral lysogenic-lytic cycle, implying the dominance of temperate viruses in the archaeal virome. Together, our work uncovers the unexplored diversity of archaeal viruses, revealing the novel facet of the human gut microbiome.
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24
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Ottmann M. [These viruses that inhabit and visit us: The human virome]. Med Sci (Paris) 2022; 38:1028-1038. [PMID: 36692282 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2022161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in new sequencing technologies have opened the way to the deciphering of human virome. So far, human virome is defined as the complete list of viruses found in human body. Those viruses could be endogenous, prokaryotic, archaeal and eukaryotic. In addition, each compartment of the human body constitutes a different microenvironment with its own virome. Viral infections can be categorized according to the outcome of the acute phase and until recently, only symptomatic and pathological infections were studied. It is now well established that a healthy person has an extremely diverse virome. This review summarizes the current state of our knowledge and also proposes another classification of the human virome based on principles of ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle Ottmann
- Centre international de recherche en infectiologie (CIRI), université Claude Bernard-Lyon 1, université de Lyon, Inserm U1111 - CNRS UMR 5308 - ENS, Laboratoire de virologie et pathologies humaines, Faculté de médecine RTH Laennec, 7 rue Guillaume Paradin, 69372 Lyon cedex 08, France
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25
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Dual-RNAseq Analysis Unravels Virus-Host Interactions of MetSV and Methanosarcina mazei. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112585. [PMID: 36423194 PMCID: PMC9694453 DOI: 10.3390/v14112585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Methanosarcina spherical virus (MetSV), infecting Methanosarcina species, encodes 22 genes, but their role in the infection process in combination with host genes has remained unknown. To study the infection process in detail, infected and uninfected M. mazei cultures were compared using dual-RNAseq, qRT-PCRs, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The transcriptome analysis strongly indicates a combined role of virus and host genes in replication, virus assembly, and lysis. Thereby, 285 host and virus genes were significantly regulated. Within these 285 regulated genes, a network of the viral polymerase, MetSVORF6, MetSVORF5, MetSVORF2, and the host genes encoding NrdD, NrdG, a CDC48 family protein, and a SSB protein with a role in viral replication was postulated. Ultrastructural analysis at 180 min p.i. revealed many infected cells with virus particles randomly scattered throughout the cytoplasm or attached at the cell surface, and membrane fragments indicating cell lysis. Dual-RNAseq and qRT-PCR analyses suggested a multifactorial lysis reaction in potential connection to the regulation of a cysteine proteinase, a pirin-like protein and a HicB-solo protein. Our study's results led to the first preliminary infection model of MetSV infecting M. mazei, summarizing the key infection steps as follows: replication, assembly, and host cell lysis.
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26
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Ngo VQH, Enault F, Midoux C, Mariadassou M, Chapleur O, Mazéas L, Loux V, Bouchez T, Krupovic M, Bize A. Diversity of novel archaeal viruses infecting methanogens discovered through coupling of stable isotope probing and metagenomics. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4853-4868. [PMID: 35848130 PMCID: PMC9796341 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Diversity of viruses infecting non-extremophilic archaea has been grossly understudied. This is particularly the case for viruses infecting methanogenic archaea, key players in the global carbon biogeochemical cycle. Only a dozen of methanogenic archaeal viruses have been isolated so far. In the present study, we implemented an original coupling between stable isotope probing and complementary shotgun metagenomic analyses to identify viruses of methanogens involved in the bioconversion of formate, which was used as the sole carbon source in batch anaerobic digestion microcosms. Under our experimental conditions, the microcosms were dominated by methanogens belonging to the order Methanobacteriales (Methanobacterium and Methanobrevibacter genera). Metagenomic analyses yielded several previously uncharacterized viral genomes, including a complete genome of a head-tailed virus (class Caudoviricetes, proposed family Speroviridae, Methanobacterium host) and several near-complete genomes of spindle-shaped viruses. The two groups of viruses are predicted to infect methanogens of the Methanobacterium and Methanosarcina genera and represent two new virus families. The metagenomics results are in good agreement with the electron microscopy observations, which revealed the dominance of head-tailed virus-like particles and the presence of spindle-shaped particles. The present study significantly expands the knowledge on the viral diversity of viruses of methanogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vuong Quoc Hoang Ngo
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'EnvironnementAntonyFrance
| | - François Enault
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LMGEClermont‐FerrandFrance
| | - Cédric Midoux
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'EnvironnementAntonyFrance,Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, MaIAGEJouy‐en‐JosasFrance,Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, BioinfOmics, MIGALE Bioinformatics FacilityJouy‐en‐JosasFrance
| | - Mahendra Mariadassou
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, MaIAGEJouy‐en‐JosasFrance,Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, BioinfOmics, MIGALE Bioinformatics FacilityJouy‐en‐JosasFrance
| | - Olivier Chapleur
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'EnvironnementAntonyFrance
| | - Laurent Mazéas
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'EnvironnementAntonyFrance
| | - Valentin Loux
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, MaIAGEJouy‐en‐JosasFrance,Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, BioinfOmics, MIGALE Bioinformatics FacilityJouy‐en‐JosasFrance
| | - Théodore Bouchez
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'EnvironnementAntonyFrance
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology UnitParisFrance
| | - Ariane Bize
- Université Paris‐Saclay, INRAE, PRocédés biOtechnologiques au Service de l'EnvironnementAntonyFrance
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27
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Aulitto M, Martinez-Alvarez L, Fusco S, She Q, Bartolucci S, Peng X, Contursi P. Genomics, Transcriptomics, and Proteomics of SSV1 and Related Fusellovirus: A Minireview. Viruses 2022; 14:v14102082. [PMID: 36298638 PMCID: PMC9608457 DOI: 10.3390/v14102082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Saccharolobus spindle-shaped virus 1 (SSV1) was one of the first viruses identified in the archaeal kingdom. Originally isolated from a Japanese species of Saccharolobus back in 1984, it has been extensively used as a model system for genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic studies, as well as to unveil the molecular mechanisms governing the host–virus interaction. The purpose of this mini review is to supply a compendium of four decades of research on the SSV1 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Aulitto
- Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Laura Martinez-Alvarez
- Archaea Centre, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-1165 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Salvatore Fusco
- Biochemistry and Industrial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Qunxin She
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 250100, China
| | | | - Xu Peng
- Archaea Centre, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, DK-1165 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Correspondence: (X.P.); (P.C.)
| | - Patrizia Contursi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- BAT Center—Interuniversity Center for Studies on Bioinspired Agro-Environmental Technology, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Naples, Italy
- Task Force on Microbiome Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence: (X.P.); (P.C.)
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28
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How to Shut Down Transcription in Archaea during Virus Infection. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091824. [PMID: 36144426 PMCID: PMC9501531 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Multisubunit RNA polymerases (RNAPs) carry out transcription in all domains of life; during virus infection, RNAPs are targeted by transcription factors encoded by either the cell or the virus, resulting in the global repression of transcription with distinct outcomes for different host–virus combinations. These repressors serve as versatile molecular probes to study RNAP mechanisms, as well as aid the exploration of druggable sites for the development of new antibiotics. Here, we review the mechanisms and structural basis of RNAP inhibition by the viral repressor RIP and the crenarchaeal negative regulator TFS4, which follow distinct strategies. RIP operates by occluding the DNA-binding channel and mimicking the initiation factor TFB/TFIIB. RIP binds tightly to the clamp and locks it into one fixed position, thereby preventing conformational oscillations that are critical for RNAP function as it progresses through the transcription cycle. TFS4 engages with RNAP in a similar manner to transcript cleavage factors such as TFS/TFIIS through the NTP-entry channel; TFS4 interferes with the trigger loop and bridge helix within the active site by occlusion and allosteric mechanisms, respectively. The conformational changes in RNAP described above are universally conserved and are also seen in inactive dimers of eukaryotic RNAPI and several inhibited RNAP complexes of both bacterial and eukaryotic RNA polymerases, including inactive states that precede transcription termination. A comparison of target sites and inhibitory mechanisms reveals that proteinaceous repressors and RNAP-specific antibiotics use surprisingly common ways to inhibit RNAP function.
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29
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Structural insights into a spindle-shaped archaeal virus with a sevenfold symmetrical tail. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2119439119. [PMID: 35895681 PMCID: PMC9351363 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2119439119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Archaeal viruses with a spindle-shaped virion are abundant and widespread in extremely diverse environments. However, efforts to obtain the high-resolution structure of a spindle-shaped virus have been unsuccessful. Here, we present the structure of SSV19, a spindle-shaped virus infecting the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus sp. E11-6. Our near-atomic structure reveals an unusual sevenfold symmetrical virus tail consisting of the tailspike, nozzle, and adaptor proteins. The spindle-shaped capsid shell is formed by seven left-handed helical strands, constructed of the hydrophobic major capsid protein, emanating from the highly glycosylated tail assembly. Sliding between adjacent strands is responsible for the variation of a virion in size. Ultrathin sections of the SSV19-infected cells show that SSV19 virions adsorb to the host cell membrane through the tail after penetrating the S-layer. The tailspike harbors a putative endo-mannanase domain, which shares structural similarity to a Bacteroides thetaiotaomicro endo-mannanase. Molecules of glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether lipid were observed in hydrophobic clefts between the tail and the capsid shell. The nozzle protein resembles the stem and clip domains of the portals of herpesviruses and bacteriophages, implying an evolutionary relationship among the archaeal, bacterial, and eukaryotic viruses.
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30
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Genomes of six viruses that infect Asgard archaea from deep-sea sediments. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:953-961. [PMID: 35760837 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01150-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Asgard archaea are globally distributed prokaryotic microorganisms related to eukaryotes; however, viruses that infect these organisms have not been described. Here, using metagenome sequences recovered from deep-sea hydrothermal sediments, we characterize six relatively large (up to 117 kb) double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viral genomes that infected two Asgard archaeal phyla, Lokiarchaeota and Helarchaeota. These viruses encode Caudovirales-like structural proteins, as well as proteins distinct from those described in known archaeal viruses. Their genomes contain around 1-5% of genes associated with eukaryotic nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs) and appear to be capable of semi-autonomous genome replication, repair, epigenetic modifications and transcriptional regulation. Moreover, Helarchaeota viruses may hijack host ubiquitin systems similar to eukaryotic viruses. Genomic analysis of these Asgard viruses reveals that they contain features of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses, and provides insights into their potential infection and host interaction mechanisms.
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31
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Medvedeva S, Sun J, Yutin N, Koonin EV, Nunoura T, Rinke C, Krupovic M. Three families of Asgard archaeal viruses identified in metagenome-assembled genomes. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:962-973. [PMID: 35760839 PMCID: PMC11165672 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-022-01144-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Asgardarchaeota harbour many eukaryotic signature proteins and are widely considered to represent the closest archaeal relatives of eukaryotes. Whether similarities between Asgard archaea and eukaryotes extend to their viromes remains unknown. Here we present 20 metagenome-assembled genomes of Asgardarchaeota from deep-sea sediments of the basin off the Shimokita Peninsula, Japan. By combining a CRISPR spacer search of metagenomic sequences with phylogenomic analysis, we identify three family-level groups of viruses associated with Asgard archaea. The first group, verdandiviruses, includes tailed viruses of the class Caudoviricetes (realm Duplodnaviria); the second, skuldviruses, consists of viruses with predicted icosahedral capsids of the realm Varidnaviria; and the third group, wyrdviruses, is related to spindle-shaped viruses previously identified in other archaea. More than 90% of the proteins encoded by these viruses of Asgard archaea show no sequence similarity to proteins encoded by other known viruses. Nevertheless, all three proposed families consist of viruses typical of prokaryotes, providing no indication of specific evolutionary relationships between viruses infecting Asgard archaea and eukaryotes. Verdandiviruses and skuldviruses are likely to be lytic, whereas wyrdviruses potentially establish chronic infection and are released without host cell lysis. All three groups of viruses are predicted to play important roles in controlling Asgard archaea populations in deep-sea ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Medvedeva
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, France
- Center of Life Science, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell Unit, Paris, France
| | - Jiarui Sun
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Natalya Yutin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eugene V Koonin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Takuro Nunoura
- Research Center for Bioscience and Nanoscience, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan.
| | - Christian Rinke
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, France.
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32
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The Viral Susceptibility of the Haloferax Species. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061344. [PMID: 35746816 PMCID: PMC9229481 DOI: 10.3390/v14061344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses can infect members of all three domains of life. However, little is known about viruses infecting archaea and the mechanisms that determine their host interactions are poorly understood. Investigations of molecular mechanisms of viral infection rely on genetically accessible virus–host model systems. Euryarchaea belonging to the genus Haloferax are interesting models, as a reliable genetic system and versatile microscopy methods are available. However, only one virus infecting the Haloferax species is currently available. In this study, we tested ~100 haloarchaeal virus isolates for their infectivity on 14 Haloferax strains. From this, we identified 10 virus isolates in total capable of infecting Haloferax strains, which represented myovirus or siphovirus morphotypes. Surprisingly, the only susceptible strain of all 14 tested was Haloferax gibbonsii LR2-5, which serves as an auspicious host for all of these 10 viruses. By applying comparative genomics, we shed light on factors determining the host range of haloarchaeal viruses on Haloferax. We anticipate our study to be a starting point in the study of haloarchaeal virus–host interactions.
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33
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Queiroz VF, Rodrigues RAL, Boratto PVDM, La Scola B, Andreani J, Abrahão JS. Amoebae: Hiding in Plain Sight: Unappreciated Hosts for the Very Large Viruses. Annu Rev Virol 2022; 9:79-98. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-100520-125832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
For decades, viruses have been isolated primarily from humans and other organisms. Interestingly, one of the most complex sides of the virosphere was discovered using free-living amoebae as hosts. The discovery of giant viruses in the early twenty-first century opened a new chapter in the field of virology. Giant viruses are included in the phylum Nucleocytoviricota and harbor large and complex DNA genomes (up to 2.7 Mb) encoding genes never before seen in the virosphere and presenting gigantic particles (up to 1.5 μm). Different amoebae have been used to isolate and characterize a plethora of new viruses with exciting details about novel viral biology. Through distinct isolation techniques and metagenomics, the diversity and complexity of giant viruses have astonished the scientific community. Here, we discuss the latest findings on amoeba viruses and how using these single-celled organisms as hosts has revealed entities that have remained hidden in plain sight for ages. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Virology, Volume 9 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victória Fulgêncio Queiroz
- Laboratório de Vírus, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Araújo Lima Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Vírus, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Bernard La Scola
- Department of Microbes, Evolution, Phylogeny and Infection, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Julien Andreani
- Department of Microbes, Evolution, Phylogeny and Infection, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
- Laboratoire de Virologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Jônatas Santos Abrahão
- Laboratório de Vírus, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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34
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Evseev P, Shneider M, Miroshnikov K. Evolution of Phage Tail Sheath Protein. Viruses 2022; 14:v14061148. [PMID: 35746620 PMCID: PMC9230969 DOI: 10.3390/v14061148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sheath proteins comprise a part of the contractile molecular machinery present in bacteriophages with myoviral morphology, contractile injection systems, and the type VI secretion system (T6SS) found in many Gram-negative bacteria. Previous research on sheath proteins has demonstrated that they share common structural features, even though they vary in their size and primary sequence. In this study, 112 contractile phage tail sheath proteins (TShP) representing different groups of bacteriophages and archaeal viruses with myoviral morphology have been modelled with the novel machine learning software, AlphaFold 2. The obtained structures have been analysed and conserved and variable protein parts and domains have been identified. The common core domain of all studied sheath proteins, including viral and T6SS proteins, comprised both N-terminal and C-terminal parts, whereas the other parts consisted of one or several moderately conserved domains, presumably added during phage evolution. The conserved core appears to be responsible for interaction with the tail tube protein and assembly of the phage tail. Additional domains may have evolved to maintain the stability of the virion or for adsorption to the host cell. Evolutionary relations between TShPs representing distinct viral groups have been proposed using a phylogenetic analysis based on overall structural similarity and other analyses.
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35
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Spindle-shaped archaeal viruses evolved from rod-shaped ancestors to package a larger genome. Cell 2022; 185:1297-1307.e11. [PMID: 35325592 PMCID: PMC9018610 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Spindle- or lemon-shaped viruses infect archaea in diverse environments. Due to the highly pleomorphic nature of these virions, which can be found with cylindrical tails emanating from the spindle-shaped body, structural studies of these capsids have been challenging. We have determined the atomic structure of the capsid of Sulfolobus monocaudavirus 1, a virus that infects hosts living in nearly boiling acid. A highly hydrophobic protein, likely integrated into the host membrane before the virions assemble, forms 7 strands that slide past each other in both the tails and the spindle body. We observe the discrete steps that occur as the tail tubes expand, and these are due to highly conserved quasiequivalent interactions with neighboring subunits maintained despite significant diameter changes. Our results show how helical assemblies can vary their diameters, becoming nearly spherical to package a larger genome and suggest how all spindle-shaped viruses have evolved from archaeal rod-like viruses.
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36
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RNA Viruses in Aquatic Ecosystems through the Lens of Ecological Genomics and Transcriptomics. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040702. [PMID: 35458432 PMCID: PMC9029791 DOI: 10.3390/v14040702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Massive amounts of data from nucleic acid sequencing have changed our perspective about diversity and dynamics of marine viral communities. Here, we summarize recent metatranscriptomic and metaviromic studies targeting predominantly RNA viral communities. The analysis of RNA viromes reaffirms the abundance of lytic (+) ssRNA viruses of the order Picornavirales, but also reveals other (+) ssRNA viruses, including RNA bacteriophages, as important constituents of extracellular RNA viral communities. Sequencing of dsRNA suggests unknown diversity of dsRNA viruses. Environmental metatranscriptomes capture the dynamics of ssDNA, dsDNA, ssRNA, and dsRNA viruses simultaneously, unravelling the full complexity of viral dynamics in the marine environment. RNA viruses are prevalent in large size fractions of environmental metatranscriptomes, actively infect marine unicellular eukaryotes larger than 3 µm, and can outnumber bacteriophages during phytoplankton blooms. DNA and RNA viruses change abundance on hourly timescales, implying viral control on a daily temporal basis. Metatranscriptomes of cultured protists host a diverse community of ssRNA and dsRNA viruses, often with multipartite genomes and possibly persistent intracellular lifestyles. We posit that RNA viral communities might be more diverse and complex than formerly anticipated and that the influence they exert on community composition and global carbon flows in aquatic ecosystems may be underestimated.
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37
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Spang A, Mahendrarajah TA, Offre P, Stairs CW. Evolving perspective on the origin and diversification of cellular life and the virosphere. Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6537539. [PMID: 35218347 PMCID: PMC9169541 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The tree of life (TOL) is a powerful framework to depict the evolutionary history of cellular organisms through time, from our microbial origins to the diversification of multicellular eukaryotes that shape the visible biosphere today. During the past decades, our perception of the TOL has fundamentally changed, in part, due to profound methodological advances, which allowed a more objective approach to studying organismal and viral diversity and led to the discovery of major new branches in the TOL as well as viral lineages. Phylogenetic and comparative genomics analyses of these data have, among others, revolutionized our understanding of the deep roots and diversity of microbial life, the origin of the eukaryotic cell, eukaryotic diversity, as well as the origin, and diversification of viruses. In this review, we provide an overview of some of the recent discoveries on the evolutionary history of cellular organisms and their viruses and discuss a variety of complementary techniques that we consider crucial for making further progress in our understanding of the TOL and its interconnection with the virosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Spang
- NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Utrecht University, The Netherlands and 1790 AB Den Burg.,Department of Cell- and Molecular Biology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden SE-75123, Uppsala
| | - Tara A Mahendrarajah
- NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Utrecht University, The Netherlands and 1790 AB Den Burg
| | - Pierre Offre
- NIOZ, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, Utrecht University, The Netherlands and 1790 AB Den Burg
| | - Courtney W Stairs
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Sweden Sölvegatan 35, 223 62 Lund
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38
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Adam PS, Bornemann TLV, Probst AJ. Progress and Challenges in Studying the Ecophysiology of Archaea. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2522:469-486. [PMID: 36125771 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2445-6_32] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
It has been less than two decades since the study of archaeal ecophysiology has become unshackled from the limitations of cultivation and amplicon sequencing through the advent of metagenomics. As a primer to the guide on producing archaeal genomes from metagenomes, we briefly summarize here how different meta'omics, imaging, and wet lab methods have contributed to progress in understanding the ecophysiology of Archaea. We then peer into the history of how our knowledge on two particularly important lineages was assembled: the anaerobic methane and alkane oxidizers, encountered primarily among Euryarchaeota, and the nanosized, mainly parasitic, members of the DPANN superphylum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis S Adam
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, UniversitätsstraÔe, Essen, Germany.
| | - Till L V Bornemann
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, UniversitätsstraÔe, Essen, Germany
| | - Alexander J Probst
- Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen, UniversitätsstraÔe, Essen, Germany.
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, UniversitätsstraÔe, Essen, Germany.
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39
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Forterre P. Archaea: A Goldmine for Molecular Biologists and Evolutionists. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2522:1-21. [PMID: 36125740 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2445-6_1] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The rebuttal of the prokaryote-eukaryote dichotomy and the elaboration of the three domains concept by Carl Woese and colleagues has been a breakthrough in biology. With the methodologies available at this time, they have shown that a single molecule, the 16S ribosomal RNA, could reveal the global organization of the living world. Later on, mining archaeal genomes led to major discoveries in archaeal molecular biology, providing a third model for comparative molecular biology. These analyses revealed the strong eukaryal flavor of the basic molecular fabric of Archaea and support rooting the universal tree between Bacteria and Arcarya (the clade grouping Archaea and Eukarya). However, in contradiction with this conclusion, it remains to understand why the archaeal and bacterial mobilomes are so similar and so different from the eukaryal one. These last years, the number of recognized archaea lineages (phyla?) has exploded. The archaeal nomenclature is now in turmoil and debates about the nature of the last universal common ancestor, the last archaeal common ancestor, and the topology of the tree of life are still going on. Interestingly, the expansion of the archaeal eukaryome, especially in the Asgard archaea, has provided new opportunities to study eukaryogenesis. In recent years, the application to Archaea of the new methodologies described in the various chapters of this book have opened exciting avenues to study the molecular biology and the physiology of these fascinating microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Forterre
- Institut Pasteur, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015, Paris, France.
- Institute for Integrative biology of the Cell. université Paris-Saclay, Gif sur Yvette, France.
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40
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Chibani CM, Mahnert A, Borrel G, Almeida A, Werner A, Brugère JF, Gribaldo S, Finn RD, Schmitz RA, Moissl-Eichinger C. A catalogue of 1,167 genomes from the human gut archaeome. Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:48-61. [PMID: 34969981 PMCID: PMC8727293 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-021-01020-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The human gut microbiome plays an important role in health, but its archaeal diversity remains largely unexplored. In the present study, we report the analysis of 1,167 nonredundant archaeal genomes (608 high-quality genomes) recovered from human gastrointestinal tract, sampled across 24 countries and rural and urban populations. We identified previously undescribed taxa including 3 genera, 15 species and 52 strains. Based on distinct genomic features, we justify the split of the Methanobrevibacter smithii clade into two separate species, with one represented by the previously undescribed 'Candidatus Methanobrevibacter intestini'. Patterns derived from 28,581 protein clusters showed significant associations with sociodemographic characteristics such as age groups and lifestyle. We additionally show that archaea are characterized by specific genomic and functional adaptations to the host and carry a complex virome. Our work expands our current understanding of the human archaeome and provides a large genome catalogue for future analyses to decipher its impact on human physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Maria Chibani
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Institute for Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Alexander Mahnert
- grid.11598.340000 0000 8988 2476Diagnostic & Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Guillaume Borrel
- grid.428999.70000 0001 2353 6535Department of Microbiology, Unit of Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Almeida
- grid.225360.00000 0000 9709 7726European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, UK ,grid.10306.340000 0004 0606 5382Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Almut Werner
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Institute for Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jean-François Brugère
- grid.494717.80000000115480420Institut Universitaire de Technologie Clermont Auvergne, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, UMR 6023 Laboratoire Microorganismes: Genome et Environnement, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Simonetta Gribaldo
- grid.428999.70000 0001 2353 6535Department of Microbiology, Unit of Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Robert D. Finn
- grid.225360.00000 0000 9709 7726European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ruth A. Schmitz
- grid.9764.c0000 0001 2153 9986Institute for Microbiology, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christine Moissl-Eichinger
- Diagnostic & Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria. .,BioTechMed, Graz, Austria.
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41
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Multiple novel filamentous phages detected in the cloacal swab samples of birds using viral metagenomics approach. Virol J 2021; 18:240. [PMID: 34872580 PMCID: PMC8647464 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01710-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the family Inoviridae (inoviruses) are characterized by their unique filamentous morphology and infection cycle. The viral genome of inovirus is able to integrate into the host genome and continuously releases virions without lysing the host, establishing chronic infection. A large number of inoviruses have been obtained from microbial genomes and metagenomes recently, but putative novel inoviruses remaining to be identified. Here, using viral metagenomics, we identified four novel inoviruses from cloacal swab samples of wild and breeding birds. The circular genome of those four inoviruses are 6732 to 7709 nt in length with 51.4% to 56.5% GC content and encodes 9 to 13 open reading frames, respectively. The zonula occludens toxin gene implicated in the virulence of pathogenic host bacteria were identified in all four inoviruses and shared the highest amino acid sequences identity (< 37.3%) to other reference strains belonging to different genera of the family Inoviridae and among themselves. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all the four inoviruses were genetically far away from other strains belonging to the family Inoviridae and formed an independent clade. According to the genetic distance-based criteria, all the four inoviruses identified in the present study respectively belong to four novel putative genera in the family Inoviridae.
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42
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Liu Y, Demina TA, Roux S, Aiewsakun P, Kazlauskas D, Simmonds P, Prangishvili D, Oksanen HM, Krupovic M. Diversity, taxonomy, and evolution of archaeal viruses of the class Caudoviricetes. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001442. [PMID: 34752450 PMCID: PMC8651126 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The archaeal tailed viruses (arTV), evolutionarily related to tailed double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacteriophages of the class Caudoviricetes, represent the most common isolates infecting halophilic archaea. Only a handful of these viruses have been genomically characterized, limiting our appreciation of their ecological impacts and evolution. Here, we present 37 new genomes of haloarchaeal tailed virus isolates, more than doubling the current number of sequenced arTVs. Analysis of all 63 available complete genomes of arTVs, which we propose to classify into 14 new families and 3 orders, suggests ancient divergence of archaeal and bacterial tailed viruses and points to an extensive sharing of genes involved in DNA metabolism and counterdefense mechanisms, illuminating common strategies of virus-host interactions with tailed bacteriophages. Coupling of the comparative genomics with the host range analysis on a broad panel of haloarchaeal species uncovered 4 distinct groups of viral tail fiber adhesins controlling the host range expansion. The survey of metagenomes using viral hallmark genes suggests that the global architecture of the arTV community is shaped through recurrent transfers between different biomes, including hypersaline, marine, and anoxic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, France
| | - Tatiana A. Demina
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Simon Roux
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Pakorn Aiewsakun
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Pornchai Matangkasombut Center for Microbial Genomics, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Darius Kazlauskas
- Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Peter Simmonds
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - David Prangishvili
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, France
- Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
| | - Hanna M. Oksanen
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, Archaeal Virology Unit, Paris, France
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43
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Characterization of Blf4, an Archaeal Lytic Virus Targeting a Member of the Methanomicrobiales. Viruses 2021; 13:v13101934. [PMID: 34696364 PMCID: PMC8540584 DOI: 10.3390/v13101934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Today, the number of known viruses infecting methanogenic archaea is limited. Here, we report on a novel lytic virus, designated Blf4, and its host strain Methanoculleus bourgensis E02.3, a methanogenic archaeon belonging to the Methanomicrobiales, both isolated from a commercial biogas plant in Germany. The virus consists of an icosahedral head 60 nm in diameter and a long non-contractile tail of 125 nm in length, which is consistent with the new isolate belonging to the Siphoviridae family. Electron microscopy revealed that Blf4 attaches to the vegetative cells of M. bourgensis E02.3 as well as to cellular appendages. Apart from M. bourgensis E02.3, none of the tested Methanoculleus strains were lysed by Blf4, indicating a narrow host range. The complete 37 kb dsDNA genome of Blf4 contains 63 open reading frames (ORFs), all organized in the same transcriptional direction. For most of the ORFs, potential functions were predicted. In addition, the genome of the host M. bourgensis E02.3 was sequenced and assembled, resulting in a 2.6 Mbp draft genome consisting of nine contigs. All genes required for a hydrogenotrophic lifestyle were predicted. A CRISPR/Cas system (type I-U) was identified with six spacers directed against Blf4, indicating that this defense system might not be very efficient in fending off invading Blf4 virus.
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44
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Baquero DP, Liu J, Prangishvili D. Egress of archaeal viruses. Cell Microbiol 2021; 23:e13394. [PMID: 34515400 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.13394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Viruses of Archaea, arguably the most mysterious part of the virosphere due to their unique morphotypes and genome contents, exploit diverse mechanisms for releasing virus progeny from the host cell. These include virus release as a result of the enzymatic degradation of the cell wall or budding through it, common for viruses of Bacteria and Eukarya, as well as a unique mechanism of virus egress through small polygonal perforations on the cell surface. The process of the formation of these perforations includes the development of pyramidal structures on the membrane of the infected cell, which gradually grow by the expansion of their faces and eventually open like flower petals. This mechanism of virion release is operating exclusively in cells of hyperthermophilic hosts from the phylum Crenarchaeota, which are encased solely by a layer of surface proteins, S-layer. The review focuses on recent developments in understanding structural and biochemical details of all three types of egress mechanisms of archaeal viruses. TAKE AWAYS: Many archaeal viruses exit the host via polygonal perforations on the cell membrane. The molecular mechanism of exit via specific apertures is unique for archaeal viruses. Some enveloped archaeal viruses exploit the budding mechanism for egress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana P Baquero
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Junfeng Liu
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - David Prangishvili
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.,Faculty of Medicine, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
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45
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Lewis AM, Recalde A, Bräsen C, Counts JA, Nussbaum P, Bost J, Schocke L, Shen L, Willard DJ, Quax TEF, Peeters E, Siebers B, Albers SV, Kelly RM. The biology of thermoacidophilic archaea from the order Sulfolobales. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:fuaa063. [PMID: 33476388 PMCID: PMC8557808 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermoacidophilic archaea belonging to the order Sulfolobales thrive in extreme biotopes, such as sulfuric hot springs and ore deposits. These microorganisms have been model systems for understanding life in extreme environments, as well as for probing the evolution of both molecular genetic processes and central metabolic pathways. Thermoacidophiles, such as the Sulfolobales, use typical microbial responses to persist in hot acid (e.g. motility, stress response, biofilm formation), albeit with some unusual twists. They also exhibit unique physiological features, including iron and sulfur chemolithoautotrophy, that differentiate them from much of the microbial world. Although first discovered >50 years ago, it was not until recently that genome sequence data and facile genetic tools have been developed for species in the Sulfolobales. These advances have not only opened up ways to further probe novel features of these microbes but also paved the way for their potential biotechnological applications. Discussed here are the nuances of the thermoacidophilic lifestyle of the Sulfolobales, including their evolutionary placement, cell biology, survival strategies, genetic tools, metabolic processes and physiological attributes together with how these characteristics make thermoacidophiles ideal platforms for specialized industrial processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- April M Lewis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Alejandra Recalde
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Bräsen
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - James A Counts
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Phillip Nussbaum
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jan Bost
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Larissa Schocke
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel J Willard
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Tessa E F Quax
- Archaeal Virus–Host Interactions, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eveline Peeters
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bettina Siebers
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert M Kelly
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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46
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A filamentous archaeal virus is enveloped inside the cell and released through pyramidal portals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2105540118. [PMID: 34341107 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2105540118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of viruses infecting hyperthermophilic archaea display unique virion architectures and are evolutionarily unrelated to viruses of bacteria and eukaryotes. The lack of relationships to other known viruses suggests that the mechanisms of virus-host interaction in Archaea are also likely to be distinct. To gain insights into archaeal virus-host interactions, we studied the life cycle of the enveloped, ∼2-μm-long Sulfolobus islandicus filamentous virus (SIFV), a member of the family Lipothrixviridae infecting a hyperthermophilic and acidophilic archaeon Saccharolobus islandicus LAL14/1. Using dual-axis electron tomography and convolutional neural network analysis, we characterize the life cycle of SIFV and show that the virions, which are nearly two times longer than the host cell diameter, are assembled in the cell cytoplasm, forming twisted virion bundles organized on a nonperfect hexagonal lattice. Remarkably, our results indicate that envelopment of the helical nucleocapsids takes place inside the cell rather than by budding as in the case of most other known enveloped viruses. The mature virions are released from the cell through large (up to 220 nm in diameter), six-sided pyramidal portals, which are built from multiple copies of a single 89-amino-acid-long viral protein gp43. The overexpression of this protein in Escherichia coli leads to pyramid formation in the bacterial membrane. Collectively, our results provide insights into the assembly and release of enveloped filamentous viruses and illuminate the evolution of virus-host interactions in Archaea.
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47
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Feng M, She Q. Purification and characterization of ribonucleoprotein effector complexes of Sulfolobus islandicus CRISPR-Cas systems. Methods Enzymol 2021; 659:327-347. [PMID: 34752293 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Archaea are preferred hosts for CRISPR-Cas systems. This adaptive immune system is not only widespread in archaeal organisms, but different types of CRISPR-Cas also co-exist in the same organism. Sulfolobus islandicus provides a good model for CRISPR research as genetic assays have been developed for revealing CRISPR immunity for the crenarchaeal model, and native ribonucleoprotein effector complexes have been expressed in this crenarchaeon and purified for characterization. Here we report a detailed protocol of purification and characterization of the Sulfolobus islandicus Cmr-β, the largest CRISPR effector known to date. The method can readily be applied to the purification of effectors encoded by other CRISPR-Cas systems in this organism, with the possibility to extend the application to other Sulfolobales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxia Feng
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, Microbial Technology Institute and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, PR, China
| | - Qunxin She
- CRISPR and Archaea Biology Research Center, Microbial Technology Institute and State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, PR, China.
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48
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The Baltimore Classification of Viruses 50 Years Later: How Does It Stand in the Light of Virus Evolution? Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2021; 85:e0005321. [PMID: 34259570 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00053-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fifty years ago, David Baltimore published a brief conceptual paper delineating the classification of viruses by the routes of genome expression. The six "Baltimore classes" of viruses, with a subsequently added 7th class, became the conceptual framework for the development of virology during the next five decades. During this time, it became clear that the Baltimore classes, with relatively minor additions, indeed cover the diversity of virus genome expression schemes that also define the replication cycles. Here, we examine the status of the Baltimore classes 50 years after their advent and explore their links with the global ecology and biology of the respective viruses. We discuss an extension of the Baltimore scheme and why many logically admissible expression-replication schemes do not appear to be realized in nature. Recent phylogenomic analyses allow tracing the complex connections between the Baltimore classes and the monophyletic realms of viruses. The five classes of RNA viruses and reverse-transcribing viruses share an origin, whereas both the single-stranded DNA viruses and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses evolved on multiple independent occasions. Most of the Baltimore classes of viruses probably emerged during the earliest era of life evolution, at the stage of the primordial pool of diverse replicators, and before the advent of modern-like cells with large dsDNA genomes. The Baltimore classes remain an integral part of the conceptual foundation of biology, providing the essential structure for the logical space of information transfer processes, which is nontrivially connected with the routes of evolution of viruses and other replicators.
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49
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Medvedeva S, Brandt D, Cvirkaite-Krupovic V, Liu Y, Severinov K, Ishino S, Ishino Y, Prangishvili D, Kalinowski J, Krupovic M. New insights into the diversity and evolution of the archaeal mobilome from three complete genomes of Saccharolobus shibatae. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:4612-4630. [PMID: 34190379 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Saccharolobus (formerly Sulfolobus) shibatae B12, isolated from a hot spring in Beppu, Japan in 1982, is one of the first hyperthermophilic and acidophilic archaeal species to be discovered. It serves as a natural host to the extensively studied spindle-shaped virus SSV1, a prototype of the Fuselloviridae family. Two additional Sa. shibatae strains, BEU9 and S38A, sensitive to viruses of the families Lipothrixviridae and Portogloboviridae, respectively, have been isolated more recently. However, none of the strains has been fully sequenced, limiting their utility for studies on archaeal biology and virus-host interactions. Here, we present the complete genome sequences of all three Sa. shibatae strains and explore the rich diversity of their integrated mobile genetic elements (MGE), including transposable insertion sequences, integrative and conjugative elements, plasmids, and viruses, some of which were also detected in the extrachromosomal form. Analysis of related MGEs in other Sulfolobales species and patterns of CRISPR spacer targeting revealed a complex network of MGE distributions, involving horizontal spread and relatively frequent host switching by MGEs over large phylogenetic distances, involving species of the genera Saccharolobus, Sulfurisphaera and Acidianus. Furthermore, we characterize a remarkable case of a virus-to-plasmid transition, whereby a fusellovirus has lost the genes encoding for the capsid proteins, while retaining the replication module, effectively becoming a plasmid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Medvedeva
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, 75015, France.,Center of Life Science, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia
| | - David Brandt
- Center for Biotechnology, Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld, 33615, Germany
| | | | - Ying Liu
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, 75015, France
| | - Konstantin Severinov
- Center of Life Science, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia.,Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA.,Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 123182, Russia
| | - Sonoko Ishino
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - Yoshizumi Ishino
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan
| | - David Prangishvili
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, 75015, France.,Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, 0179, Georgia
| | - Jörn Kalinowski
- Center for Biotechnology, Universität Bielefeld, Bielefeld, 33615, Germany
| | - Mart Krupovic
- Archaeal Virology Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, 75015, France
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50
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Adnaviria: a New Realm for Archaeal Filamentous Viruses with Linear A-Form Double-Stranded DNA Genomes. J Virol 2021; 95:e0067321. [PMID: 34011550 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00673-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) has recently adopted a comprehensive, hierarchical system of virus taxa. The highest ranks in this hierarchy are realms, each of which is considered monophyletic but apparently originated independently of other realms. Here, we announce the creation of a new realm, Adnaviria, which unifies archaeal filamentous viruses with linear A-form double-stranded DNA genomes and characteristic major capsid proteins unrelated to those encoded by other known viruses.
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