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Zhu Y, Li R, Yan S, Chen X, Cen S, Xie S. Habitat- and lifestyle-dependent structural and functional characteristics of viruses in mangrove wetlands of different functional zonings. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:119070. [PMID: 38710431 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Mangrove wetlands, as one of the natural ecosystems with the most ecological services, have garnered widespread attention about their microbial driven biogeochemical cycling. Urbanization have led to different spatial patterns of environmental conditions and microbial communities in mangroves. However, viruses, as the pivotal drivers of biogeochemical cycling in mangroves, remain inadequately explored in terms of how their ecological potential and complex interactions with host respond to functional zonings. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a comprehensive investigation on the structural and functional properties of temperate and lytic viruses in mangrove wetlands from different functional zonings by jointly using high-throughput sequencing, prokaryotic and viral metagenomics. Multiple environmental factors were found to significantly influence the taxonomic and functional composition, as well as lysogen-lysis decision-making of mangrove viruses. Furthermore, enriched auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) involved in methane, nitrogen and sulfur metabolism, and heavy metal resistance were unveiled in mangrove viruses, whose community composition was closely related to lifestyle and host. The virus-host pairs with different lifestyles were also discovered to react to environmental changes in different ways, which provided an empirical evidence for how virus and bacteria dynamics were specific to viral lifestyles in nature. This study expands our comprehension of the intricate interactions among virus, prokaryotic host and the environment in mangrove wetlands from multiple perspectives, including viral lifestyles, virus-host interactions, and habitat dependence. Importantly, it provides a new ecological perspective on how mangrove viruses are adapted to the stress posed by urbanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Ruili Li
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Mangrove Engineering Technology Research Center, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Shuang Yan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiuli Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Shipeng Cen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Shuguang Xie
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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Zhu S, Tan Z, Guo Z, Zheng H, Zhang B, Qin Z, Xie J, Lin Y, Sheng B, Qiu G, Preis S, Wei C. Symbiotic virus-bacteria interactions in biological treatment of coking wastewater manipulating bacterial physiological activities. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 257:121741. [PMID: 38744061 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Biological treatment is commonly used in coking wastewater (CWW) treatment. Prokaryotic microbial communities in CWW treatment have been comprehensively studied. However, viruses, as the critical microorganisms affecting microbial processes and thus engineering parameters, still remain poorly understood in CWW treatment context. Employing viromics sequencing, the composition and function of the viral community in CWW treatment were discovered, revealing novel viral communities and key auxiliary metabolic functions. Caudovirales appeared to be the predominant viral order in the oxic-hydrolytic-oxic (OHO) CWW treatment combination, showing relative abundances of 62.47 %, 56.64 % and 92.20 % in bioreactors O1, H and O2, respectively. At the family level, Myoviridae, Podoviridae and Siphoviridae mainly prevailed in bioreactors O1 and H while Phycodnaviridae dominated in O2. A total of 56.23-92.24% of novel viral contigs defied family-level characterization in this distinct CWW habitat. The virus-host prediction results revealed most viruses infecting the specific functional taxa Pseudomonas, Acidovorax and Thauera in the entire OHO combination, demonstrating the viruses affecting bacterial physiology and pollutants removal from CWW. Viral auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were screened, revealing their involvement in the metabolism of contaminants and toxicity tolerance. In the bioreactor O1, AMGs were enriched in detoxification and phosphorus ingestion, where glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) and beta-ketoadipyl CoA thiolase (fadA) participated in biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols, respectively. In the bioreactors H and O2, the AMGs focused on cell division and epicyte formation of the hosts, where GDPmannose 4,6-dehydratase (gmd) related to lipopolysaccharides biosynthesis was considered to play an important role in the growth of nitrifiers. The diversities of viruses and AMGs decreased along the CWW treatment process, pointing to a reinforced virus-host adaptive strategy in stressful operation environments. In this study, the symbiotic virus-bacteria interaction patterns were proposed with a theoretical basis for promoting CWW biological treatment efficiency. The findings filled the gaps in the virus-bacteria interactions at the full-scale CWW treatment and provided great value for understanding the mechanism of biological toxicity and sludge activity in industrial wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhu
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Zhijie Tan
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Ziyu Guo
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Huijian Zheng
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Baoshan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Zhi Qin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Junting Xie
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yuexia Lin
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Binbin Sheng
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Guanglei Qiu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Sergei Preis
- Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn 19086, Estonia
| | - Chaohai Wei
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
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Hu J, Chen J, Nie Y, Zhou C, Hou Q, Yan X. Characterizing the gut phageome and phage-borne antimicrobial resistance genes in pigs. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:102. [PMID: 38840247 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01818-9] [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: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian intestine harbors a mass of phages that play important roles in maintaining gut microbial ecosystem and host health. Pig has become a common model for biomedical research and provides a large amount of meat for human consumption. However, the knowledge of gut phages in pigs is still limited. RESULTS Here, we investigated the gut phageome in 112 pigs from seven pig breeds using PhaBOX strategy based on the metagenomic data. A total of 174,897 non-redundant gut phage genomes were assembled from 112 metagenomes. A total of 33,487 gut phage genomes were classified and these phages mainly belonged to phage families such as Ackermannviridae, Straboviridae, Peduoviridae, Zierdtviridae, Drexlerviridae, and Herelleviridae. The gut phages in seven pig breeds exhibited distinct communities and the gut phage communities changed with the age of pig. These gut phages were predicted to infect a broad range of 212 genera of prokaryotes, such as Candidatus Hamiltonella, Mycoplasma, Colwellia, and Lactobacillus. The data indicated that broad KEGG and CAZy functions were also enriched in gut phages of pigs. The gut phages also carried the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and the most abundant antimicrobial resistance genotype was diaminopyrimidine resistance. CONCLUSIONS Our research delineates a landscape for gut phages in seven pig breeds and reveals that gut phages serve as a key reservoir of ARGs in pigs. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pig Precision Feeding and Feed Safety Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Jianwei Chen
- BGI Research, Qingdao, Shandong, 266555, China
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Yangfan Nie
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China
| | | | - Qiliang Hou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pig Precision Feeding and Feed Safety Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Xianghua Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China.
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China.
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pig Precision Feeding and Feed Safety Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China.
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Pourcel C, Essoh C, Ouldali M, Tavares P. Acinetobacter baumannii satellite phage Aci01-2-Phanie depends on a helper myophage for its multiplication. J Virol 2024:e0066724. [PMID: 38829140 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00667-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
We report the discovery of a satellite-helper phage system with a novel type of dependence on a tail donor. The Acinetobacter baumannii satellite podovirus Aci01-2-Phanie (short name Phanie) uses a phage phi29-like DNA replication and packaging mode. Its linear 11,885 bp dsDNA genome bears 171 bp inverted terminal repeats (ITR). Phanie is related to phage DU-PP-III from Pectobacterium and to members of the Astrithrvirus from Salmonella enterica. Together, they form a new clade of phages with 27% to 30% identity over the whole genome. Detailed 3D protein structure prediction and mass spectrometry analyses demonstrate that Phanie encodes its capsid structural genes and genes necessary to form a short tail. However, our study reveals that Phanie virions are non-infectious unless they associate with the contractile tail of an unrelated phage, Aci01-1, to produce chimeric myoviruses. Following the coinfection of Phanie with myovirus Aci01-1, hybrid viral particles composed of Phanie capsids and Aci01-1 contractile tails are assembled together with Phanie and Aci01-1 particles.IMPORTANCEThere are few reported cases of satellite-helper phage interactions but many more may be yet undiscovered. Here we describe a new mode of satellite phage dependence on a helper phage. Phanie, like phage phi29, replicates its linear dsDNA by a protein primed-mechanism and protects it inside podovirus-like particles. However, these particles are defective, requiring the acquisition of the tail from a myovirus helper for production of infectious virions. The formation of chimeras between a phi29-like podovirus and a helper contractile tail reveals an unexpected association between very different bacterial viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Pourcel
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Christiane Essoh
- Department of Biochemistry-Genetic, School of Biological Sciences, Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Malika Ouldali
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Paulo Tavares
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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Raman SK, Siva Reddy DV, Jain V, Bajpai U, Misra A, Singh AK. Mycobacteriophages: therapeutic approach for mycobacterial infections. Drug Discov Today 2024:104049. [PMID: 38830505 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health threat, and cases of infection with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) causing lung disease (NTM-LD) are rising. Bacteriophages and their gene products have garnered interest as potential therapeutic options for bacterial infections. Here, we have compiled information on bacteriophages and their products that can kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis or NTM. We summarize the mechanisms whereby viable phages can access macrophage-resident bacteria and not elicit immune responses, review methodologies of pharmaceutical product development containing mycobacteriophages and their gene products, mainly lysins, in the context of drug regulatory requirements and we discuss industrially relevant methods for producing pharmaceutical products comprising mycobacteriophages, emphasizing delivery of mycobacteriophages to the lungs. We conclude with an outline of some recent case studies on mycobacteriophage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar Raman
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - D V Siva Reddy
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Vikas Jain
- Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal 462066, India
| | - Urmi Bajpai
- Department of Biomedical Science, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Govindpuri, Kalkaji 10, 110019 New Delhi, India
| | - Amit Misra
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Amit Kumar Singh
- Experimental Animal Facility, ICMR-National JALMA Institute for Leprosy & Other Mycobacterial Diseases, M. Miyazaki Marg, Tajganj, Agra 282004, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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6
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Wang Z, Yang J, Yang L, Zhong Y, Wang P. Characteristics of a pseudolysogenic phage vB_YpM_HQ103 infecting Yersinia pestis. Virus Res 2024; 346:199395. [PMID: 38782263 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is a natural focal disease and the presence of Y. pestis in the environment is a critical ecological concern worldwide. The role of Y. pestis phages in the ecological life cycle of the plague is crucial. Previously, a temperature-sensitive phage named vB_YpM_HQ103 was isolated from plague foci in Yunnan province, China. Upon infecting the EV76 strain of Y. pestis, vB_YpM_HQ103 exhibits lysogenic behavior at 21 °C and lytic behavior at 37 °C. Various methods including continuous passage lysogenic tests, in vitro lysis tests, comparative genomic assays, fluorescence quantitative PCR and receptor identification tests were employed to demonstrate that the lysogenic life cycle of this phage is applicable to wild Y. pestis strains; its lysogeny is pseudolysogenic (carrying but not integrating), allowing it to replicate and proliferate within Y. pestis. Furthermore, we have identified the outer membrane protein OmpA of Y. pestis as the receptor for phage infection. In conclusion, our research provides insight into the characteristics and receptors of a novel Y. pestis phage infection with a pseudolysogenic cycle. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of Y. pestis phages and plague microecology, offering valuable insights for future studies on the conservation and genetic evolution of Y. pestis in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Jiao Yang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Lihua Yang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Youhong Zhong
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, China.
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7
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Meidaninikjeh S, Mohammadi P, Elikaei A. Bacteriophages and bacterial extracellular vesicles, threat or opportunity? Life Sci 2024; 350:122749. [PMID: 38821215 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (AMR) is one of the health major problems worldwide. The scientists are looking for a novel method to treat infectious diseases. Phage therapy is considered a suitable approach for treating infectious diseases. However, there are different challenges in this way. Some biological aspects can probably influence on therapeutic results and further investigations are necessary to reach a successful phage therapy. Bacteriophage activity can influence by bacterial defense system. Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are one of the bacterial defense mechanisms which can modify the results of bacteriophage activity. BEVs have the significant roles in the gene transferring, invasion, escape, and spreading of bacteriophages. In this review, the defense mechanisms of bacteria against bacteriophages, especially BEVs secretion, the hidden linkage of BEVs and bacteriophages, and its possible consequences on the bacteriophage activity as well phage therapy will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Meidaninikjeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Parisa Mohammadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ameneh Elikaei
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
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8
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Chen Q, Zhang F, Bai J, Che Q, Xiang L, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Sjöling Å, Martín-Rodríguez AJ, Zhu B, Fu L, Zhou Y. Bacteriophage-Resistant Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Shows Reduced Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024:107221. [PMID: 38810938 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Phage therapy has shown great promise in the treatment of bacterial infections. However, the effectiveness of phage therapy is compromised by the inevitable emergence of phage-resistant strains. In this study, a phage-resistant Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) strain SWKP1711R, derived from parental CRKP strain SWKP1711 was identified. The mechanism of bacteriophage resistance in SWKP1711R was investigated and the molecular determinants causing altered growth characteristics, antibiotic resistance, and virulence of SWKP1711R were tested. Compared to SWKP1711, SWKP1711R showed slower growth, smaller colonies, filamentous cells visible under the microscope, reduced production of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and reduced resistance to various antibiotics accompanied by reduced virulence. Adsorption experiments showed that phage vB_kpnM_17-11 lost the ability to adsorb onto SWKP1711R, and the adsorption receptor was identified to be bacterial surface polysaccharides. Genetic variation analysis revealed that, compared to the parental strain, SWKP1711R had only one thymine deletion at position 78 of the open reading frame of the lpcA gene, resulting in a frameshift mutation that caused alteration of the bacterial surface polysaccharide and inhibition of phage adsorption, ultimately leading to phage resistance. Transcriptome analysis and quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed that genes encoding LPS synthesis, ompK35, blaTEM-1, and type II and Hha-TomB toxin antitoxin (TA) systems, were all downregulated in SWKP1711R. Taken together, the evidence presented here indicate that the phenotypic alterations and phage resistance displayed by the mutant may be related to the frameshift mutation of lpcA and altered gene expression. While evolution of phage resistance remains an issue, our study suggests that the reduced antibiotic resistance and virulence of phage-resistant strain derivatives might be beneficial in alleviating the burden caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Feiyang Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Jiawei Bai
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Qian Che
- Sichuan Center For Disease Control And Prevention, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Li Xiang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Zhikun Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Åsa Sjöling
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Baoli Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Fu
- The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
| | - Yingshun Zhou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
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Liu Y, Huang Q, Zhuang Z, Yang H, Gou X, Xu T, Liu K, Wang J, Liu B, Gao P, Cao F, Yang B, Zhang C, Chen M, Fan G. Gut virome alterations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0428723. [PMID: 38785444 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04287-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the primary causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The gut microbiome, particularly the bacteriome, has been demonstrated to contribute to the progression of COPD. However, the influence of gut virome on the pathogenesis of COPD is rarely studied. Recent advances in viral metagenomics have enabled the rapid discovery of its remarkable role in COPD. In this study, deep metagenomics sequencing of fecal virus-like particles and bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on 92 subjects from China to characterize alterations of the gut virome in COPD. Lower richness and diversity of the gut virome were observed in the COPD subjects compared with the healthy individuals. Sixty-four viral species, including Clostridium phage, Myoviridae sp., and Synechococcus phage, showed positive relationships with pulmonary ventilation functions and had markedly declined population in COPD subjects. Multiple viral functions, mainly involved in bacterial susceptibility and the interaction between bacteriophages and bacterial hosts, were significantly declined in COPD. In addition, COPD was characterized by weakened viral-bacterial interactions compared with those in the healthy cohort. The gut virome showed diagnostic performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 88.7%, which indicates the potential diagnostic value of the gut virome for COPD. These results suggest that gut virome may play an important role in the development of COPD. The information can provide a reference for the future investigation of diagnosis, treatment, and in-depth mechanism research of COPD. IMPORTANCE Previous studies showed that the bacteriome plays an important role in the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, little is known about the involvement of the gut virome in COPD. Our study explored the disease-specific virome signatures of patients with COPD. We found the diversity and compositions altered of the gut virome in COPD subjects compared with healthy individuals, especially those viral species positively correlated with pulmonary ventilation functions. Additionally, the declined bacterial susceptibility, the interaction between bacteriophages and bacterial hosts, and the weakened viral-bacterial interactions in COPD were observed. The findings also suggested the potential diagnostic value of the gut virome for COPD. The results highlight the significance of gut virome in COPD. The novel strategies for gut virome rectifications may help to restore the balance of gut microecology and represent promising therapeutics for COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Ethnic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingsong Huang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhenhua Zhuang
- Chengdu Life Baseline Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Hongjing Yang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoling Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Ethnic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Tong Xu
- Chengdu Life Baseline Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Ke Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Peiyang Gao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Cao
- Chengdu Life Baseline Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Chengdu Life Baseline Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Chuantao Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Mei Chen
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Gang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Ethnic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Kang Y, Wang J, Wang Y, Li Z. Profiles of phage in global hospital wastewater: Association with microbial hosts, antibiotic resistance genes, metal resistance genes, and mobile genetic elements. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171766. [PMID: 38513871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Hospital wastewater (HWW) is known to host taxonomically diverse microbial communities, yet limited information is available on the phages infecting these microorganisms. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted an in-depth analysis using 377 publicly available HWW metagenomic datasets from 16 countries across 4 continents in the NCBI SRA database to elucidate phage-host dynamics and phage contributions to resistance gene transmission. We first assembled a metagenomic HWW phage catalog comprising 13,812 phage operational taxonomic units (pOTUs). The majority of these pOTUs belonged to the Caudoviricetes order, representing 75.29 % of this catalog. Based on the lifestyle of phages, we found that potentially virulent phages predominated in HWW. Specifically, 583 pOTUs have been predicted to have the capability to lyse 81 potentially pathogenic bacteria, suggesting the promising role of HWW phages as a viable alternative to antibiotics. Among all pOTUs, 1.56 % of pOTUs carry 108 subtypes of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), 0.96 % of pOTUs carry 76 subtypes of metal resistance genes (MRGs), and 0.96 % of pOTUs carry 22 subtypes of non-phage mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Predictions indicate that certain phages carrying ARGs, MRGs, and non-phage MGEs could infect bacteria hosts, even potential pathogens. This suggests that phages in HWW may contribute to the dissemination of resistance-associated genes in the environment. This meta-analysis provides the first global catalog of HWW phages, revealing their correlations with microbial hosts and pahge-associated ARGs, MRG, and non-phage MGEs. The insights gained from this research hold promise for advancing the applications of phages in medical and industrial contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Kang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- North China University of Science and Technology, Basic Medical College, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Zhenjun Li
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102200, China.
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11
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Li X, Chen T, Ren Q, Lu J, Cao S, Liu C, Li Y. Phages in sludge from the A/O wastewater treatment process play an important role in the transmission of ARGs. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:172111. [PMID: 38565354 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Phages can influence the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through transduction, but their profiles and effects on the transmission of ARGs are unclear, especially in complex swine sludge. In this study, we investigated the characterization of phage and ARG profiles in sludge generated from anoxic/oxic (A/O) wastewater treatment processes on swine farms using metagenomes and viromes. The results demonstrated that 205-221 subtypes of ARGs could be identified in swine sludge, among which sul1, tet(M), and floR were the dominant ARGs, indicating that sludge is an important reservoir of ARGs, especially in sludge (S) tanks. The greater abundance of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the S tank could significantly contribute to the greater abundance of ARGs there compared to the anoxic (A) and oxic (O) tanks (P < 0.05). However, when we compared the abundances of ARGs and MGEs in the A and O tanks, we observed opposite significant differences (P < 0.05), suggesting that MGEs are not the only factor influencing the abundance of ARGs. The high proportion of lysogenic phages in sludge from the S tank can also have a major impact on the ARG profile. Siphoviridae, Myoviridae, and Podoviridae were the dominant phage families in sludge, and a network diagram of bacteria-ARG-phages revealed that dominant phages and bacteria acted simultaneously as potential hosts for ARGs, which may have led to phage-mediated HGT of ARGs. Therefore, the risk of phage-mediated HGT of ARGs cannot be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Li
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Tao Chen
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Qinghai Ren
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Jianbiao Lu
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Shengliang Cao
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Yubao Li
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China.
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12
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Gonçalves-Oliveira J, Pattenden T, Nachum-Biala Y, de Sousa KCM, Wahl L, Harrus S. Exploring the diversity and evolutionary strategies of prophages in Hyphomicrobiales, comparing animal-associated with non-animal-associated bacteria. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:159. [PMID: 38724926 PMCID: PMC11080155 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03315-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The Hyphomicrobiales bacterial order (previously Rhizobiales) exhibits a wide range of lifestyle characteristics, including free-living, plant-association, nitrogen-fixing, and association with animals (Bartonella and Brucella). This study explores the diversity and evolutionary strategies of bacteriophages within the Hyphomicrobiales order, comparing animal-associated (AAB) with non-animal-associated bacteria (NAAB). We curated 560 high-quality complete genomes of 58 genera from this order and used the PHASTER server for prophage annotation and classification. For 19 genera with representative genomes, we curated 96 genomes and used the Defense-Finder server to summarize the type of anti-phage systems (APS) found in this order. We analyzed the genetic repertoire and length distributions of prophages, estimating evolutionary rates and comparing intact, questionable, and incomplete prophages in both groups. Analyses of best-fit parameters and bootstrap sensitivity were used to understand the evolutionary processes driving prophage gene content. A total of 1860 prophages distributed in Hyphomicrobiales were found, 695 in AAB and 1165 in the NAAB genera. The results revealed a similar number of prophages per genome in AAB and NAAB and a similar length distribution, suggesting shared mechanisms of genetic acquisition of prophage genes. Changes in the frequency of specific gene classes were observed between incomplete and intact prophages, indicating preferential loss or enrichment in both groups. The analysis of best-fit parameters and bootstrap sensitivity tests indicated a higher selection coefficient, induction rate, and turnover in NAAB genomes. We found 68 types of APS in Hyphomicrobiales; restriction modification (RM) and abortive infection (Abi) were the most frequent APS found for all Hyphomicrobiales, and within the AAB group. This classification of APS showed that NAAB genomes have a greater diversity of defense systems compared to AAB, which could be related to the higher rates of prophage induction and turnover in the latter group. Our study provides insights into the distributions of both prophages and APS in Hyphomicrobiales genomes, demonstrating that NAAB carry more defense systems against phages, while AAB show increased prophage stability and an increased number of incomplete prophages. These results suggest a greater role for domesticated prophages within animal-associated bacteria in Hyphomicrobiales.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tyler Pattenden
- School of Management, Economics and Mathematics, King's University College, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Yaarit Nachum-Biala
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Lindi Wahl
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Shimon Harrus
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
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13
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Yan M, Yu Z. Viruses contribute to microbial diversification in the rumen ecosystem and are associated with certain animal production traits. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:82. [PMID: 38725064 PMCID: PMC11080232 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01791-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rumen microbiome enables ruminants to digest otherwise indigestible feedstuffs, thereby facilitating the production of high-quality protein, albeit with suboptimal efficiency and producing methane. Despite extensive research delineating associations between the rumen microbiome and ruminant production traits, the functional roles of the pervasive and diverse rumen virome remain to be determined. RESULTS Leveraging a recent comprehensive rumen virome database, this study analyzes virus-microbe linkages, at both species and strain levels, across 551 rumen metagenomes, elucidating patterns of microbial and viral diversity, co-occurrence, and virus-microbe interactions. Additionally, this study assesses the potential role of rumen viruses in microbial diversification by analyzing prophages found in rumen metagenome-assembled genomes. Employing CRISPR-Cas spacer-based matching and virus-microbe co-occurrence network analysis, this study suggests that the viruses in the rumen may regulate microbes at strain and community levels through both antagonistic and mutualistic interactions. Moreover, this study establishes that the rumen virome demonstrates responsiveness to dietary shifts and associations with key animal production traits, including feed efficiency, lactation performance, weight gain, and methane emissions. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide a substantive framework for further investigations to unravel the functional roles of the virome in the rumen in shaping the microbiome and influencing overall animal production performance. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yan
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zhongtang Yu
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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14
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Wang Y, Zhang Z, Kang J, Chen B, Hong W, Lv B, Wang T, Qian H. Phages in different habitats and their ability to carry antibiotic resistance genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133941. [PMID: 38447371 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
As the most abundant organisms on Earth, phages play a key role in the evolution of bacterial antibiotic resistance. Although previous studies have demonstrated the molecular mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer mediated by mobile genetic elements, our understanding of the intertwined relationships between antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and phages is limited. In this study, we analysed 2781 metagenomic samples to reveal the composition and species interactions of phage communities in different habitats as well as their capacity to carry ARGs with health risks. The composition of phage communities varies in different habitats and mainly depends on environmental conditions. Terrestrial habitats display more complex and robust interactions between phages than aquatic and human-associated habitats, resulting in the highest biodiversity of phages. Several types of phages in certain taxa (4.95-7.67%, mainly belonging to Caudoviricetes) have the capacity to carry specific ARGs and display a high potential risk to human health, especially in human-associated habitats. Overall, our results provide insights into the assembly mechanisms of phage communities and their effects on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
| | - Zhenyan Zhang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
| | - Jian Kang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China; College of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, PR China
| | - Bingfeng Chen
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
| | - Wenjie Hong
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310012, PR China
| | - Binghai Lv
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
| | - Tingzhang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310012, PR China.
| | - Haifeng Qian
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China.
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15
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Wang Y, Gao Y, Wang X, Lin Y, Xu G, Yang F, Ni K. Insights into the phage community structure and potential function in silage fermentation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 358:120837. [PMID: 38593737 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The virus that infects bacteria known as phage, plays a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. However, the community structure and potential functions of phages in silage fermentation remain largely unexplored. In this study, we utilized viral metagenomics (viromics) to investigate the types, lifestyles, functions, and nutrient utilization patterns of phages in silage. Our findings indicated a high prevalence of annotated phages belonging to Caudovirales and Geplafuvirales, as well as unclassified phages in silage. The predominant host types for these phages were Campylobacterales and Enterobacterales. Virulent phages dominated the silage environment due to their broader range of hosts and enhanced survival capabilities. All identified phages present in silage were found to be non-pathogenic. Although temperate and virulent phages carried distinct genes associated with nutrient cycling processes, the shared genes (prsA) involved in carbon metabolism underscore the potential significance of phages in regulating carbon metabolism in silage. Overall, our findings provide a valuable foundation for further exploring the complex interactions between phages and microorganisms in regulating silage fermentation quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Yu Gao
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Xin Wang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Yanli Lin
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Gang Xu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Fuyu Yang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China; College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China.
| | - Kuikui Ni
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China.
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16
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Zhao M, Luo Z, Wang Y, Liao H, Yu Z, Zhou S. Phage lysate can regulate the humification process of composting. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 178:221-230. [PMID: 38412754 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Phages play a crucial role in orchestrating top-down control within microbial communities, influencing the dynamics of the composting process. Despite this, the impact of phage-induced thermophilic bacterial lysis on humification remains ambiguous. This study investigates the effects of phage lysate, derived explicitly from Geobacillus subterraneus, on simulated composting, employing ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA sequencing techniques. The results show the significant role of phage lysate in expediting humus formation over 40 days. Notably, the rapid transformation of protein-like precursors released from phage-induced lysis of the host bacterium resulted in a 14.8 % increase in the proportion of lignins/CRAM-like molecules. Furthermore, the phage lysate orchestrated a succession in bacterial communities, leading to the enrichment of core microbes, exemplified by the prevalence of Geobacillus. Through network analysis, it was revealed that these enriched microbes exhibit a capacity to convert protein and lignin into essential building blocks such as amino acids and phenols. Subsequently, these components were polymerized into humus, aligning with the phenol-protein theory. These findings enhance our understanding of the intricate microbial interactions during composting and provide a scientific foundation for developing engineering-ready composting humification regulation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihua Zhao
- School of Civil Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhibin Luo
- School of Civil Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Yueqiang Wang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Hanpeng Liao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Zhen Yu
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
| | - Shungui Zhou
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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17
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Chen T, Mo C, Yuan Y, Li S, Wu Y, Liao X, Yang Y. Short-, long-read metagenome and virome reveal the profile of phage-mediated ARGs in anoxic-oxic processes for swine wastewater treatment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 468:133789. [PMID: 38394893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Phages are among the most widely spread viruses, but their profiles and the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) they carry in swine wastewater remain underexplored. The present study investigated the distribution characteristics of phages and their ARG risk in anoxic/oxic (A/O) wastewater treatment processes of swine farms using short- and long-read metagenome and virome. The results demonstrated that the virome could extract more phage sequences than the total metagenome; thus, it was more suited for studying phages in wastewater settings. Intriguingly, phages had significantly lower abundance of ARG than ARGs harbored by total microorganisms (P < 0.01). Eleven ARGs co-occurred with phages and bacteria (R > 0.6 and P < 0.05), with Siphoviridae being the phage co-occurring with the most ARGs (5). Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events were observed between Proteobacteria and the major phyla except for Bacteroidota. Furthermore, there were prophage sequences and ARGs on the same contig in bacterial MAGs. These data strongly demonstrate that phages promote horizontal transfer of ARG between bacterial hosts in A/O processes for swine wastewater treatment. Therefore, the risk of phage-mediated horizontal transfer of ARGs cannot be overlooked despite the low abundance of phage ARGs (pARG).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunhao Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yilin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shengjie Li
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Yinbao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xindi Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
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18
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Wang X, Tang Y, Yue X, Wang S, Yang K, Xu Y, Shen Q, Friman VP, Wei Z. The role of rhizosphere phages in soil health. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae052. [PMID: 38678007 PMCID: PMC11065364 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae052] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
While the One Health framework has emphasized the importance of soil microbiomes for plant and human health, one of the most diverse and abundant groups-bacterial viruses, i.e. phages-has been mostly neglected. This perspective reviews the significance of phages for plant health in rhizosphere and explores their ecological and evolutionary impacts on soil ecosystems. We first summarize our current understanding of the diversity and ecological roles of phages in soil microbiomes in terms of nutrient cycling, top-down density regulation, and pathogen suppression. We then consider how phages drive bacterial evolution in soils by promoting horizontal gene transfer, encoding auxiliary metabolic genes that increase host bacterial fitness, and selecting for phage-resistant mutants with altered ecology due to trade-offs with pathogen competitiveness and virulence. Finally, we consider challenges and avenues for phage research in soil ecosystems and how to elucidate the significance of phages for microbial ecology and evolution and soil ecosystem functioning in the future. We conclude that similar to bacteria, phages likely play important roles in connecting different One Health compartments, affecting microbiome diversity and functions in soils. From the applied perspective, phages could offer novel approaches to modulate and optimize microbial and microbe-plant interactions to enhance soil health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Wang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yike Tang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiufeng Yue
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Keming Yang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yangchun Xu
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Qirong Shen
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ville-Petri Friman
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Zhong Wei
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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19
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Woudstra C, Sørensen AN, Sørensen MCH, Brøndsted L. Strategies for developing phages into novel antimicrobial tailocins. Trends Microbiol 2024:S0966-842X(24)00069-6. [PMID: 38580606 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Tailocins are high-molecular-weight bacteriocins produced by bacteria to kill related environmental competitors by binding and puncturing their target. Tailocins are promising alternative antimicrobials, yet the diversity of naturally occurring tailocins is limited. The structural similarities between phage tails and tailocins advocate using phages as scaffolds for developing new tailocins. This article reviews three strategies for producing tailocins: disrupting the capsid-tail junction of phage particles, blocking capsid assembly during phage propagation, and creating headless phage particles synthetically. Particularly appealing is the production of tailocins through synthetic biology using phages with contractile tails as scaffolds to unlock the antimicrobial potential of tailocins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cedric Woudstra
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Anders Nørgaard Sørensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Martine C Holst Sørensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Lone Brøndsted
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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20
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Flores VS, Amgarten DE, Iha BKV, Ryon KA, Danko D, Tierney BT, Mason C, da Silva AM, Setubal JC. Discovery and description of novel phage genomes from urban microbiomes sampled by the MetaSUB consortium. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7913. [PMID: 38575625 PMCID: PMC10994904 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58226-0] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are recognized as the most abundant members of microbiomes and have therefore a profound impact on microbial communities through the interactions with their bacterial hosts. The International Metagenomics and Metadesign of Subways and Urban Biomes Consortium (MetaSUB) has sampled mass-transit systems in 60 cities over 3 years using metagenomics, throwing light into these hitherto largely unexplored urban environments. MetaSUB focused primarily on the bacterial community. In this work, we explored MetaSUB metagenomic data in order to recover and analyze bacteriophage genomes. We recovered and analyzed 1714 phage genomes with size at least 40 kbp, from the class Caudoviricetes, the vast majority of which (80%) are novel. The recovered genomes were predicted to belong to temperate (69%) and lytic (31%) phages. Thirty-three of these genomes have more than 200 kbp, and one of them reaches 572 kbp, placing it among the largest phage genomes ever found. In general, the phages tended to be site-specific or nearly so, but 194 genomes could be identified in every city from which phage genomes were retrieved. We predicted hosts for 48% of the phages and observed general agreement between phage abundance and the respective bacterial host abundance, which include the most common nosocomial multidrug-resistant pathogens. A small fraction of the phage genomes are carriers of antibiotic resistance genes, and such genomes tended to be particularly abundant in the sites where they were found. We also detected CRISPR-Cas systems in five phage genomes. This study expands the previously reported MetaSUB results and is a contribution to the knowledge about phage diversity, global distribution, and phage genome content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius S Flores
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Deyvid E Amgarten
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Koshin Vázquez Iha
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | | | | | - Braden T Tierney
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Aline Maria da Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - João Carlos Setubal
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil.
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21
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Moghadam MT, Mojtahedi A, Salamy S, Shahbazi R, Satarzadeh N, Delavar M, Ashoobi MT. Phage therapy as a glimmer of hope in the fight against the recurrence or emergence of surgical site bacterial infections. Infection 2024; 52:385-402. [PMID: 38308075 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-024-02178-0] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Over the last decade, surgery rates have risen alarmingly, and surgical-site infections are expanding these concerns. In spite of advances in infection control practices, surgical infections continue to be a significant cause of death, prolonged hospitalization, and morbidity. As well as the presence of bacterial infections and their antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation is one of the challenges in the treatment of surgical wounds. METHODS This review article was based on published studies on inpatients and laboratory animals receiving phage therapy for surgical wounds, phage therapy for tissue and bone infections treated with surgery to prevent recurrence, antibiotic-resistant wound infections treated with phage therapy, and biofilm-involved surgical wounds treated with phage therapy which were searched without date restrictions. RESULTS It has been shown in this review article that phage therapy can be used to treat surgical-site infections in patients and animals, eliminate biofilms at the surgical site, prevent infection recurrence in wounds that have been operated on, and eradicate antibiotic-resistant infections in surgical wounds, including multi-drug resistance (MDR), extensively drug resistance (XDR), and pan-drug resistance (PDR). A cocktail of phages and antibiotics can also reduce surgical-site infections more effectively than phages alone. CONCLUSION In light of these encouraging results, clinical trials and research with phages will continue in the near future to treat surgical-site infections, biofilm removal, and antibiotic-resistant wounds, all of which could be used to prescribe phages as an alternative to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Taati Moghadam
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Ali Mojtahedi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shakiba Salamy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Razieh Shahbazi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Naghmeh Satarzadeh
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Majid Delavar
- Vice President of Health and Executive Vice President, Rey Health Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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22
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Alseth EO, Custodio R, Sundius SA, Kuske RA, Brown SP, Westra ER. The impact of phage and phage resistance on microbial community dynamics. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002346. [PMID: 38648198 PMCID: PMC11034675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Where there are bacteria, there will be bacteriophages. These viruses are known to be important players in shaping the wider microbial community in which they are embedded, with potential implications for human health. On the other hand, bacteria possess a range of distinct immune mechanisms that provide protection against bacteriophages, including the mutation or complete loss of the phage receptor, and CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity. While our previous work showed how a microbial community may impact phage resistance evolution, little is known about the inverse, namely how interactions between phages and these different phage resistance mechanisms affect the wider microbial community in which they are embedded. Here, we conducted a 10-day, fully factorial evolution experiment to examine how phage impact the structure and dynamics of an artificial four-species bacterial community that includes either Pseudomonas aeruginosa wild-type or an isogenic mutant unable to evolve phage resistance through CRISPR-Cas. Additionally, we used mathematical modelling to explore the ecological interactions underlying full community behaviour, as well as to identify general principles governing the impacts of phage on community dynamics. Our results show that the microbial community structure is drastically altered by the addition of phage, with Acinetobacter baumannii becoming the dominant species and P. aeruginosa being driven nearly extinct, whereas P. aeruginosa outcompetes the other species in the absence of phage. Moreover, we find that a P. aeruginosa strain with the ability to evolve CRISPR-based resistance generally does better when in the presence of A. baumannii, but that this benefit is largely lost over time as phage is driven extinct. Finally, we show that pairwise data alone is insufficient when modelling our microbial community, both with and without phage, highlighting the importance of higher order interactions in governing multispecies dynamics in complex communities. Combined, our data clearly illustrate how phage targeting a dominant species allows for the competitive release of the strongest competitor while also contributing to community diversity maintenance and potentially preventing the reinvasion of the target species, and underline the importance of mapping community composition before therapeutically applying phage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellinor O. Alseth
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Rafael Custodio
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah A. Sundius
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Math, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Program in Quantitative Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Rachel A. Kuske
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Math, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Sam P. Brown
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Edze R. Westra
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
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23
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Du S, Wu Y, Ying H, Wu Z, Yang M, Chen F, Shao J, Liu H, Zhang Z, Zhao Y. Genome sequences of the first Autographiviridae phages infecting marine Roseobacter. Microb Genom 2024; 10. [PMID: 38630615 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001240] [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: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous and abundant marine phages play critical roles in shaping the composition and function of bacterial communities, impacting biogeochemical cycling in marine ecosystems. Autographiviridae is among the most abundant and ubiquitous phage families in the ocean. However, studies on the diversity and ecology of Autographiviridae phages in marine environments are restricted to isolates that infect SAR11 bacteria and cyanobacteria. In this study, ten new roseophages that infect marine Roseobacter strains were isolated from coastal waters. These new roseophages have a genome size ranging from 38 917 to 42 634 bp and G+C content of 44.6-50 %. Comparative genomics showed that they are similar to known Autographiviridae phages regarding gene content and architecture, thus representing the first Autographiviridae roseophages. Phylogenomic analysis based on concatenated conserved genes showed that the ten roseophages form three distinct subgroups within the Autographiviridae, and sequence analysis revealed that they belong to eight new genera. Finally, viromic read-mapping showed that these new Autographiviridae phages are widely distributed in global oceans, mostly inhabiting polar and estuarine locations. This study has expanded the current understanding of the genomic diversity, evolution and ecology of Autographiviridae phages and roseophages. We suggest that Autographiviridae phages play important roles in the mortality and community structure of roseobacters, and have broad ecological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Du
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Ying Wu
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Hanqi Ying
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Zuqing Wu
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Mingyu Yang
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Feng Chen
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jiabing Shao
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - He Liu
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Zefeng Zhang
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Yanlin Zhao
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Fujian Province, Institute of Oceanology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
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24
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Kim B, Lee SY, Park J, Song S, Kim KP, Roh E. Bacteriophage Cocktail Comprising Fifi044 and Fifi318 for Biocontrol of Erwinia amylovora. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 40:160-170. [PMID: 38606446 PMCID: PMC11016559 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.oa.01.2024.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Erwinia amylovora is a plant pathogen that causes fire blight on apples and pears. Bacteriophages, which are viruses that selectively infect specific species of bacteria and are harmless to animal cells, have been considered as biological control agents for the prevention of bacterial pathogens. In this study, we aimed to use bacteriophages that infect E. amylovora as biocontrol agents against fire blight. We isolated bacteriophages Fifi044 and Fifi318 infecting E. amylovora, and characterized their morphology, plaque form, and genetic diversity to use as cocktails for disease control. The stabilities of the two phages were investigated at various temperatures and pH values and under sunlight, and long-term storage experiment was conducted for a year. To evaluate whether the two phages were suitable for use in cocktail form, growth curves of E. amylovora were prepared after treating the bacterial cells with single phages and a phage cocktail. In addition, a disease control test was conducted using immature apples and in vitro cultured apple plantlets to determine the biocontrol effects of the phage cocktail. The two phages were morphologically and genetically different, and highly stable up to 50°C and pH value from 4 to 10. The phages showed synergistic effect when used as a cocktail in the inhibition of host bacterial growth and the disease control. This study demonstrated that the potential of the phage cocktail as a biocontrol agent for commercial use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeori Kim
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Seung Yeup Lee
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Jungkum Park
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Sujin Song
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Kwang-Pyo Kim
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
- Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Eunjung Roh
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
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25
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Beck C, Krusche J, Elsherbini AMA, Du X, Peschel A. Phage susceptibility determinants of the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102434. [PMID: 38364502 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102434] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common member of the human skin and nose microbiomes and a frequent cause of invasive infections. Transducing phages accomplish the horizontal transfer of resistance and virulence genes by mispackaging of mobile-genetic elements, contributing to severe, therapy-refractory S. epidermidis infections. Lytic phages on the other hand can be interesting candidates for new anti-S. epidermidis phage therapies. Despite the importance of phages, we are only beginning to unravel S. epidermidis phage interactions. Recent studies shed new light on S. epidermidis phage diversity, host range, and receptor specificities. Modulation of cell wall teichoic acids, the major phage receptor structures, along with other phage defense mechanisms, are crucial determinants for S. epidermidis susceptibility to different phage groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Beck
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Janes Krusche
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ahmed M A Elsherbini
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Xin Du
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Peschel
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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26
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Zhang M, Zhou Y, Cui X, Zhu L. The Potential of Co-Evolution and Interactions of Gut Bacteria-Phages in Bamboo-Eating Pandas: Insights from Dietary Preference-Based Metagenomic Analysis. Microorganisms 2024; 12:713. [PMID: 38674657 PMCID: PMC11051890 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040713] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria and phages are two of the most abundant biological entities in the gut microbiome, and diet and host phylogeny are two of the most critical factors influencing the gut microbiome. A stable gut bacterial community plays a pivotal role in the host's physiological development and immune health. A phage is a virus that directly infects bacteria, and phages' close associations and interactions with bacteria are essential for maintaining the stability of the gut bacterial community and the entire microbial ecosystem. Here, we utilized 99 published metagenomic datasets from 38 mammalian species to investigate the relationship (diversity and composition) and potential interactions between gut bacterial and phage communities and the impact of diet and phylogeny on these communities. Our results highlight the co-evolutionary potential of bacterial-phage interactions within the mammalian gut. We observed a higher alpha diversity in gut bacteria than in phages and identified positive correlations between bacterial and phage compositions. Furthermore, our study revealed the significant influence of diet and phylogeny on mammalian gut bacterial and phage communities. We discovered that the impact of dietary factors on these communities was more pronounced than that of phylogenetic factors at the order level. In contrast, phylogenetic characteristics had a more substantial influence at the family level. The similar omnivorous dietary preference and closer phylogenetic relationship (family Ursidae) may contribute to the similarity of gut bacterial and phage communities between captive giant panda populations (GPCD and GPYA) and omnivorous animals (OC; including Sun bear, brown bear, and Asian black bear). This study employed co-occurrence microbial network analysis to reveal the potential interaction patterns between bacteria and phages. Compared to other mammalian groups (carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores), the gut bacterial and phage communities of bamboo-eating species (giant pandas and red pandas) exhibited a higher level of interaction. Additionally, keystone species and modular analysis showed the potential role of phages in driving and maintaining the interaction patterns between bacteria and phages in captive giant pandas. In sum, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between the gut microbiota and phages in mammals is of great significance, which is of great value in promoting healthy and sustainable mammals and may provide valuable insights into the conservation of wildlife populations, especially endangered animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lifeng Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210098, China; (M.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.)
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27
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Yu X, Cheng L, Yi X, Li B, Li X, Liu X, Liu Z, Kong X. Gut phageome: challenges in research and impact on human microbiota. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1379382. [PMID: 38585689 PMCID: PMC10995246 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1379382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining our health. Fluctuations in the diversity and structure of the gut microbiota have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several metabolic and inflammatory conditions. Dietary patterns, medication, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity can all influence the abundance of different types of microbiota in the gut, which in turn can affect the health of individuals. Intestinal phages are an essential component of the gut microbiome, but most studies predominantly focus on the structure and dynamics of gut bacteria while neglecting the role of phages in shaping the gut microbiome. As bacteria-killing viruses, the distribution of bacteriophages in the intestine, their role in influencing the intestinal microbiota, and their mechanisms of action remain elusive. Herein, we present an overview of the current knowledge of gut phages, their lifestyles, identification, and potential impact on the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Li Cheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory and Pathology, Hospital of Shanxi People’s Armed Police, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xin Yi
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Bing Li
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xueqin Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The General Hospital of Jincheng Coal Industry Group, Jincheng, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaomei Kong
- NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
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28
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Wang J, Zhang M, Pei J, Yi W, Fan L, Wang C, Xiao X. Isolation and identification of a novel phage targeting clinical multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium striatum isolates. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1361045. [PMID: 38572320 PMCID: PMC10987712 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1361045] [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: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Over the past decade, Corynebacterium striatum (C. striatum), an emerging multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen, has significantly challenged healthcare settings, especially those involving individuals with weakened immune systems. The rise of these superbugs necessitates innovative solutions. Methods This study aimed to isolate and characterize bacteriophages targeting MDR-C. striatum. Utilizing 54 MDR-C. striatum isolates from a local hospital as target strains, samples were collected from restroom puddles for phage screening. Dot Plaque and Double-layer plate Assays were employed for screening. Results A novel temperate bacteriophage, named CSP1, was identified through a series of procedures, including purification, genome extraction, sequencing, and one-step growth curves. CSP1 possesses a 39,752 base pair circular double-stranded DNA genome with HK97-like structural proteins and potential for site-specific recombination. It represents a new species within the unclassified Caudoviricetes class, as supported by transmission electron microscopy, genomic evolutionary analysis, and collinearity studies. Notably, CSP1 infected and lysed 21 clinical MDR-C. striatum isolates, demonstrating a wide host range. The phage remained stable in conditions ranging from -40 to 55°C, pH 4 to 12, and in 0.9% NaCl buffer, showing no cytotoxicity. Discussion The identification of CSP1 as the first phage targeting clinical C. striatum strains opens new possibilities in bacteriophage therapy research, and the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools against pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Jiao Pei
- Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Wei Yi
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Li Fan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang, China
| | - Chunhua Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xiangyang No.1 People’s Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Xiangyang, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
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29
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Dicks LMT, Vermeulen W. Bacteriophage-Host Interactions and the Therapeutic Potential of Bacteriophages. Viruses 2024; 16:478. [PMID: 38543843 PMCID: PMC10975011 DOI: 10.3390/v16030478] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Healthcare faces a major problem with the increased emergence of antimicrobial resistance due to over-prescribing antibiotics. Bacteriophages may provide a solution to the treatment of bacterial infections given their specificity. Enzymes such as endolysins, exolysins, endopeptidases, endosialidases, and depolymerases produced by phages interact with bacterial surfaces, cell wall components, and exopolysaccharides, and may even destroy biofilms. Enzymatic cleavage of the host cell envelope components exposes specific receptors required for phage adhesion. Gram-positive bacteria are susceptible to phage infiltration through their peptidoglycan, cell wall teichoic acid (WTA), lipoteichoic acids (LTAs), and flagella. In Gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), pili, and capsules serve as targets. Defense mechanisms used by bacteria differ and include physical barriers (e.g., capsules) or endogenous mechanisms such as clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein (Cas) systems. Phage proteins stimulate immune responses against specific pathogens and improve antibiotic susceptibility. This review discusses the attachment of phages to bacterial cells, the penetration of bacterial cells, the use of phages in the treatment of bacterial infections, and the limitations of phage therapy. The therapeutic potential of phage-derived proteins and the impact that genomically engineered phages may have in the treatment of infections are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon M. T. Dicks
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa;
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30
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Addablah AA, Ngazoa-Kakou SE, Adioumani EA, Labrie SJ, Tremblay DM, Gunathilake D, Moineau S. Complete genome of Escherichia phages Carena and JoYop. Microbiol Resour Announc 2024; 13:e0123323. [PMID: 38294213 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01233-23] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Escherichia phages Carena and JoYop were isolated from water samples in Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire). Their genomes comprise 39,283 and 169,193 bp, encoding 44 and 246 predicted genes, respectively. Carena shares 93.4% nucleotide identity with Escherichia podophage CarlSpitteler (Berlinvirus), and JoYop shows 95.6% identity with Escherichia myophage ADUt (Tequatrovirus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey A Addablah
- Plateforme de biologie moléculaire, Institut Pasteur, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Denise M Tremblay
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
- Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Damitha Gunathilake
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Moineau
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
- Félix d'Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
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31
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Liu Y, Wang J, Zhao R, Liu X, Dong Y, Shi W, Jiang H, Guan X. Bacterial isolation and genome analysis of a novel Klebsiella quasipneumoniae phage in southwest China's karst area. Virol J 2024; 21:56. [PMID: 38448926 PMCID: PMC10916049 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02321-1] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Southwest China is one of the largest karst regions in the world. Karst environment is relatively fragile and vulnerable to human activities. Due to the discharge of sewage and domestic garbage, the karst system may be polluted by pathogenic bacteria. The detection of bacterial distribution and identification of phage capable of infecting them is an important approach for environmental assessment and resource acquisition. METHODS Bacteria and phages were isolated from karst water in southwest China using the plate scribing and double plate method, respectively. Isolated phage was defined by transmission electron microscopy, one-step growth curve and optimal multiplicity of infection (MOI). Genomic sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, comparative genomic and proteomic analysis were performed. RESULTS A Klebsiella quasipneumoniae phage was isolated from 32 isolates and named KL01. KL01 is morphologically identified as Caudoviricetes with an optimal MOI of 0.1, an incubation period of 10 min, and a lysis period of 60 min. The genome length of KL01 is about 45 kb, the GC content is 42.5%, and it contains 59 open reading frames. The highest average nucleotide similarity between KL01 and a known Klebsiella phage 6939 was 83.04%. CONCLUSIONS KL01 is a novel phage, belonging to the Autophagoviridae, which has strong lytic ability. This study indicates that there were not only some potential potentially pathogenic bacteria in the karst environment, but also phage resources for exploration and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanju Liu
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), No. 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Jinfeng Wang
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Ruoyu Zhao
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), No. 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), No. 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Dong
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), No. 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Wenyu Shi
- College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Hongchen Jiang
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), No. 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangyu Guan
- School of Ocean Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), No. 29 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, 100083, Beijing, China.
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32
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Dong Z, Wu R, Liu L, Ai S, Yang J, Li Q, Fu K, Zhou Y, Fu H, Zhou Z, Liu H, Zhong Z, Qiu X, Peng G. Phage P2-71 against multi-drug resistant Proteus mirabilis: isolation, characterization, and non-antibiotic antimicrobial potential. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1347173. [PMID: 38500503 PMCID: PMC10945010 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1347173] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Proteus mirabilis, a prevalent urinary tract pathogen and formidable biofilm producer, especially in Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection, has seen a worrying rise in multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. This upsurge calls for innovative approaches in infection control, beyond traditional antibiotics. Our research introduces bacteriophage (phage) therapy as a novel non-antibiotic strategy to combat these drug-resistant infections. We isolated P2-71, a lytic phage derived from canine feces, demonstrating potent activity against MDR P. mirabilis strains. P2-71 showcases a notably brief 10-minute latent period and a significant burst size of 228 particles per infected bacterium, ensuring rapid bacterial clearance. The phage maintains stability over a broad temperature range of 30-50°C and within a pH spectrum of 4-11, highlighting its resilience in various environmental conditions. Our host range assessment solidifies its potential against diverse MDR P. mirabilis strains. Through killing curve analysis, P2-71's effectiveness was validated at various MOI levels against P. mirabilis 37, highlighting its versatility. We extended our research to examine P2-71's stability and bactericidal kinetics in artificial urine, affirming its potential for clinical application. A detailed genomic analysis reveals P2-71's complex genetic makeup, including genes essential for morphogenesis, lysis, and DNA modification, which are crucial for its therapeutic action. This study not only furthers the understanding of phage therapy as a promising non-antibiotic antimicrobial but also underscores its critical role in combating emerging MDR infections in both veterinary and public health contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyou Dong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ruihu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lijuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shengquan Ai
- New Ruipeng Pet Healthcare Group, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinpeng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qianlan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Keyi Fu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yunian Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hualin Fu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ziyao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Haifeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhijun Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xianmeng Qiu
- New Ruipeng Pet Healthcare Group, Chengdu, China
| | - Guangneng Peng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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33
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Ni Y, Chu T, Yan S, Wang Y. Forty-nine metagenomic-assembled genomes from an aquatic virome expand Caudoviricetes by 45 potential new families and the newly uncovered Gossevirus of Bamfordvirae. J Gen Virol 2024; 105. [PMID: 38446011 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001967] [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: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Twenty complete genomes (29-63 kb) and 29 genomes with an estimated completeness of over 90 % (30-90 kb) were identified for novel dsDNA viruses in the Yangshan Harbor metavirome. These newly discovered viruses contribute to the expansion of viral taxonomy by introducing 46 potential new families. Except for one virus, all others belong to the class Caudoviricetes. The exception is a novel member of the recently characterized viral group known as Gossevirus. Fifteen viruses were predicted to be temperate. The predicted hosts for the viruses appear to be involved in various aspects of the nitrogen cycle, including nitrogen fixation, oxidation and denitrification. Two viruses were identified to have a host of Flavobacterium and Tepidimonas fonticaldi, respectively, by matching CRISPR spacers with viral protospacers. Our findings provide an overview for characterizing and identifying specific viruses from Yangshan Harbor. The Gossevirus-like virus uncovered emphasizes the need for further comprehensive isolation and investigation of polinton-like viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimin Ni
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Ting Chu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Shuling Yan
- Entwicklungsgenetik und Zellbiologie der Tiere, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Yongjie Wang
- College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, PR China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, PR China
- Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Aquatic Products on Storage and Preservation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, PR China
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34
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Chen L, Banfield JF. COBRA improves the completeness and contiguity of viral genomes assembled from metagenomes. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:737-750. [PMID: 38321183 PMCID: PMC10914622 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01598-2] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Viruses are often studied using metagenome-assembled sequences, but genome incompleteness hampers comprehensive and accurate analyses. Contig Overlap Based Re-Assembly (COBRA) resolves assembly breakpoints based on the de Bruijn graph and joins contigs. Here we benchmarked COBRA using ocean and soil viral datasets. COBRA accurately joined the assembled sequences and achieved notably higher genome accuracy than binning tools. From 231 published freshwater metagenomes, we obtained 7,334 bacteriophage clusters, ~83% of which represent new phage species. Notably, ~70% of these were circular, compared with 34% before COBRA analyses. We expanded sampling of huge phages (≥200 kbp), the largest of which was curated to completion (717 kbp). Improved phage genomes from Rotsee Lake provided context for metatranscriptomic data and indicated the in situ activity of huge phages, whiB-encoding phages and cysC- and cysH-encoding phages. COBRA improves viral genome assembly contiguity and completeness, thus the accuracy and reliability of analyses of gene content, diversity and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- LinXing Chen
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Environmental Science Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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35
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Bisen M, Kharga K, Mehta S, Jabi N, Kumar L. Bacteriophages in nature: recent advances in research tools and diverse environmental and biotechnological applications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:22199-22242. [PMID: 38411907 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32535-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages infect and replicate within bacteria and play a key role in the environment, particularly in microbial ecosystems and bacterial population dynamics. The increasing recognition of their significance stems from their wide array of environmental and biotechnological uses, which encompass the mounting issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Beyond their therapeutic potential in combating antibiotic-resistant infections, bacteriophages also find vast applications such as water quality monitoring, bioremediation, and nutrient cycling within environmental sciences. Researchers are actively involved in isolating and characterizing bacteriophages from different natural sources to explore their applications. Gaining insights into key aspects such as the life cycle of bacteriophages, their host range, immune interactions, and physical stability is vital to enhance their application potential. The establishment of diverse phage libraries has become indispensable to facilitate their wide-ranging uses. Consequently, numerous protocols, ranging from traditional to cutting-edge techniques, have been developed for the isolation, detection, purification, and characterization of bacteriophages from diverse environmental sources. This review offers an exploration of tools, delves into the methods of isolation, characterization, and the extensive environmental applications of bacteriophages, particularly in areas like water quality assessment, the food sector, therapeutic interventions, and the phage therapy in various infections and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monish Bisen
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Kusum Kharga
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Sakshi Mehta
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Nashra Jabi
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India
| | - Lokender Kumar
- School of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173229, India.
- Cancer Biology Laboratory, Raj Khosla Centre for Cancer Research, Shoolini University, Himachal Pradesh, Solan, 173229, India.
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36
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Oechslin F, Zhu X, Morency C, Somerville V, Shi R, Moineau S. Fermentation Practices Select for Thermostable Endolysins in Phages. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae055. [PMID: 38489607 PMCID: PMC10980517 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae055] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Endolysins are produced by (bacterio)phages and play a crucial role in degrading the bacterial cell wall and the subsequent release of new phage progeny. These lytic enzymes exhibit a remarkable diversity, often occurring in a multimodular form that combines different catalytic and cell wall-binding domains, even in phages infecting the same species. Yet, our current understanding lacks insight into how environmental factors and ecological niches may have influenced the evolution of these enzymes. In this study, we focused on phages infecting Streptococcus thermophilus, as this bacterial species has a well-defined and narrow ecological niche, namely, dairy fermentation. Among the endolysins found in phages targeting this species, we observed limited diversity, with a singular structural type dominating in most of identified S. thermophilus phages. Within this prevailing endolysin type, we discovered a novel and highly conserved calcium-binding motif. This motif proved to be crucial for the stability and activity of the enzyme at elevated temperatures. Ultimately, we demonstrated its positive selection within the host's environmental conditions, particularly under the temperature profiles encountered in the production of yogurt, mozzarella, and hard cheeses that rely on S. thermophilus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Oechslin
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en écologie buccale, Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Xiaojun Zhu
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Carlee Morency
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en écologie buccale, Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Vincent Somerville
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en écologie buccale, Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rong Shi
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
| | - Sylvain Moineau
- Département de biochimie, de microbiologie, et de bio-informatique, Faculté des sciences et de génie, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Pavillon Charles-Eugène-Marchand, Université Laval, Quebec City, Canada
- Groupe de recherche en écologie buccale, Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
- Félix d’Hérelle Reference Center for Bacterial Viruses, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
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37
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Wang M, Zhang J, Wei J, Jiang L, Jiang L, Sun Y, Zeng Z, Wang Z. Phage-inspired strategies to combat antibacterial resistance. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:196-211. [PMID: 38400715 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2181056] [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: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in clinically priority pathogensis now a major threat to public health worldwide. Phages are bacterial parasites that efficiently infect or kill specific strains and represent the most abundant biological entities on earth, showing great attraction as potential antibacterial therapeutics in combating AMR. This review provides a summary of phage-inspired strategies to combat AMR. We firstly cover the phage diversity, and then explain the biological principles of phage therapy that support the use of phages in the post-antimicrobial era. Furthermore, we state the versatility methods of phage therapy both from direct access as well as collateral access. Among the direct access approaches, we discuss the use of phage cocktail therapy, phage-encoded endolysins and the bioengineering for function improvement of used phages or endolysins. On the other hand, we introduce the collateral access, including the phages antimicrobial immunity combined therapy and phage-based novel antibacterial mimic molecules. Nowadays, more and more talented and enthusiastic scientist, doctors, pharmacists, media, authorities, and industry are promoting the progress of phage therapy, and proposed more phages-inspired strategy to make them more tractable to combat AMR and benefit more people, more animal and diverse environment in "one health" framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mianzhi Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Junxuan Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingyi Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Li Jiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yongxue Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenling Zeng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
- National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou, China
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38
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Putzeys L, Wicke L, Boon M, van Noort V, Vogel J, Lavigne R. Refining the transcriptional landscapes for distinct clades of virulent phages infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. MICROLIFE 2024; 5:uqae002. [PMID: 38444699 PMCID: PMC10914365 DOI: 10.1093/femsml/uqae002] [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: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The introduction of high-throughput sequencing has resulted in a surge of available bacteriophage genomes, unveiling their tremendous genomic diversity. However, our current understanding of the complex transcriptional mechanisms that dictate their gene expression during infection is limited to a handful of model phages. Here, we applied ONT-cappable-seq to reveal the transcriptional architecture of six different clades of virulent phages infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This long-read microbial transcriptomics approach is tailored to globally map transcription start and termination sites, transcription units, and putative RNA-based regulators on dense phage genomes. Specifically, the full-length transcriptomes of LUZ19, LUZ24, 14-1, YuA, PAK_P3, and giant phage phiKZ during early, middle, and late infection were collectively charted. Beyond pinpointing traditional promoter and terminator elements and transcription units, these transcriptional profiles provide insights in transcriptional attenuation and splicing events and allow straightforward validation of Group I intron activity. In addition, ONT-cappable-seq data can guide genome-wide discovery of novel regulatory element candidates, including noncoding RNAs and riboswitches. This work substantially expands the number of annotated phage-encoded transcriptional elements identified to date, shedding light on the intricate and diverse gene expression regulation mechanisms in Pseudomonas phages, which can ultimately be sourced as tools for biotechnological applications in phage and bacterial engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Putzeys
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Wicke
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maarten Boon
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vera van Noort
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-Based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 21, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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Javorčík PN, Harms A. Isolation and sequencing of a novel inovirus, "Copypasta," from Rhine River water. Microbiol Resour Announc 2024; 13:e0118023. [PMID: 38265206 PMCID: PMC10868210 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01180-23] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We present a new inovirus named Copypasta isolated from the Rhine River that infects Escherichia coli and shows the expected filamentous morphology. Copypasta has a circular single-stranded DNA genome that is 6,408 nt long and harbors 12 protein-coding genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Nathael Javorčík
- Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, D-HEST, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Harms
- Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, D-HEST, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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40
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Zhang J, Li W, Zhang X, Wang X, Lv L. Combined applications of UV and chlorine on antibiotic resistance control: A critical review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 243:117884. [PMID: 38072103 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental health problems caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) have become a global concern. ARB and ARGs have been continuously detected in various water environments, which pose a new challenge for water quality safety assurance. Disinfection is a key water treatment process to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms in water, and combined chlorine and UV processes (the UV/Cl2 process, the UV-Cl2 process, and the Cl2-UV process) are considered potential disinfection methods to control antibiotic resistance. This review documented the efficacy and mechanism of combined UV and chlorine processes for the control of antibiotic resistance, as well as the effects of chlorine dose, solution pH, UV wavelength, and water matrix on the effectiveness of the processes. There are knowledge gaps in research on the combined chlorine and UV processes for antibiotic resistance control, in particular the UV-Cl2 process and the Cl2-UV process. In addition, changes in the structure of microbial communities and the distribution of ARGs, which are closely related to the spread of antibiotic resistance in the water, induced by combined processes were also addressed. Whether these changes could lead to the re-transmission of antibiotic resistance and harm human health may need to be further evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Weiguang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China.
| | - Xinran Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Xuhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China
| | - Longyi Lv
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Clean Energy and Pollution Control, School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin, 300401, China
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Putzeys L, Wicke L, Brandão A, Boon M, Pires DP, Azeredo J, Vogel J, Lavigne R, Gerovac M. Exploring the transcriptional landscape of phage-host interactions using novel high-throughput approaches. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102419. [PMID: 38271748 PMCID: PMC10884466 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
In the last decade, powerful high-throughput sequencing approaches have emerged to analyse microbial transcriptomes at a global scale. However, to date, applications of these approaches to microbial viruses such as phages remain scarce. Tailoring these techniques to virus-infected bacteria promises to obtain a detailed picture of the underexplored RNA biology and molecular processes during infection. In addition, transcriptome study of stress and perturbations induced by phages in their infected bacterial hosts is likely to reveal new fundamental mechanisms of bacterial metabolism and gene regulation. Here, we provide references and blueprints to implement emerging transcriptomic approaches towards addressing transcriptome architecture, RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions, RNA modifications, structures and heterogeneity of transcription profiles in infected cells that will provide guides for future directions in phage-centric therapeutic applications and microbial synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Putzeys
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Wicke
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ana Brandão
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Maarten Boon
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diana P Pires
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Joana Azeredo
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Milan Gerovac
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany.
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Ouyang R, Ongenae V, Muok A, Claessen D, Briegel A. Phage fibers and spikes: a nanoscale Swiss army knife for host infection. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102429. [PMID: 38277900 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102429] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages are being rediscovered as potent agents for medical and industrial applications. However, finding a suitable phage relies on numerous factors, including host specificity, burst size, and infection cycle. The host range of a phage is, besides phage defense systems, initially determined by the recognition and attachment of receptor-binding proteins (RBPs) to the target receptors of susceptible bacteria. RBPs include tail (or occasionally head) fibers and tailspikes. Owing to the potential flexibility and heterogeneity of these structures, they are often overlooked during structural studies. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy studies and computational approaches have begun to unravel their structural and fundamental mechanisms during phage infection. In this review, we discuss the current state of research on different phage tail and head fibers, spike models, and molecular mechanisms. These details may facilitate the manipulation of phage-host specificity, which in turn will have important implications for science and society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Ouyang
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands; MOE Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, School of Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xianning West Road 28, Xi'an 710049, China
| | - Véronique Ongenae
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands; Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Alise Muok
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Dennis Claessen
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands; Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Ariane Briegel
- Department of Microbial Sciences, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, the Netherlands; Centre for Microbial Cell Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Nweze JE, Schweichhart JS, Angel R. Viral communities in millipede guts: Insights into the diversity and potential role in modulating the microbiome. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16586. [PMID: 38356108 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Millipedes are important detritivores harbouring a diverse microbiome. Previous research focused on bacterial and archaeal diversity, while the virome remained neglected. We elucidated the DNA and RNA viral diversity in the hindguts of two model millipede species with distinct microbiomes: the tropical Epibolus pulchripes (methanogenic, dominated by Bacillota) and the temperate Glomeris connexa (non-methanogenic, dominated by Pseudomonadota). Based on metagenomic and metatranscriptomic assembled viral genomes, the viral communities differed markedly and preferentially infected the most abundant prokaryotic taxa. The majority of DNA viruses were Caudoviricetes (dsDNA), Cirlivirales (ssDNA) and Microviridae (ssDNA), while RNA viruses consisted of Leviviricetes (ssRNA), Potyviridae (ssRNA) and Eukaryotic viruses. A high abundance of subtypes I-C, I-B and II-C CRISPR-Cas systems was found, primarily from Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota and Bacillota. In addition, auxiliary metabolic genes that modulate chitin degradation, vitamins and amino acid biosynthesis and sulphur metabolism were also detected. Lastly, we found low virus-to-microbe-ratios and a prevalence of lysogenic viruses, supporting a Piggyback-the-Winner dynamic in both hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Eyiuche Nweze
- Institute of Soil Biology and Biogeochemistry, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Johannes Sergej Schweichhart
- Institute of Soil Biology and Biogeochemistry, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czechia
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Roey Angel
- Institute of Soil Biology and Biogeochemistry, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czechia
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Li Y, Yu H, Xiong L, Wei Y, Li H, Ji X. Viral AMGs-driven pentose phosphate pathway in natural wetland. J Basic Microbiol 2024; 64:e2300569. [PMID: 38078780 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202300569] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Viruses exist anywhere on earth where there is life, and among them, virus-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) can maintain ecosystem balance and play a major role in the global ecosystem. Although the function of AMGs has been widely reported, the genetic diversity of AMGs in natural ecosystems is still poorly understood. Exploring the genetic diversity of viral community-wide AMGs is essential to gain insight into the complex interactions between viruses and hosts. In this article, we studied the phylogenetic tree, principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA), α diversity, and metabolic pathways of viral auxiliary metabolism genes involved in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) through metagenomics, and the changes of metabolites and genes of host bacteria were further studied by using Pseudomonas mandelii SW-3 and its lytic phage based on metabolic flow and AMGs expression. We found that the viral AMGs in the Napahai plateau wetland were created by a combination of various external forces, which contributed to the rich genetic diversity, uniqueness, and differences of the virus, which promoted the reproduction of offspring and better adaptation to the environment. Overall, this study systematically describes the genetic diversity of AMGs associated with the PPP in plateau wetland ecosystems and further expands the understanding of phage-host unique interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Hang Yu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Lingling Xiong
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Yunlin Wei
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Research and Development of Crop Safety Production on Heavy Metal Pollution Areas, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Xiuling Ji
- Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Research and Development of Crop Safety Production on Heavy Metal Pollution Areas, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
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Oliveira A, Dias C, Oliveira R, Almeida C, Fuciños P, Sillankorva S, Oliveira H. Paving the way forward: Escherichia coli bacteriophages in a One Health approach. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:87-104. [PMID: 36608263 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2161869] [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: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli is one of the most notorious pathogens for its ability to adapt, colonize, and proliferate in different habitats through a multitude of acquired virulence factors. Its presence affects the food-processing industry and causes food poisoning, being also a major economic burden for the food, agriculture, and health sectors. Bacteriophages are emerging as an appealing strategy to mitigate bacterial pathogens, including specific E. coli pathovars, without exerting a deleterious effect on humans and animals. This review globally analyzes the applied research on E. coli phages for veterinary, food, and human use. It starts by describing the pathogenic E. coli pathotypes and their relevance in human and animal context. The idea that phages can be used as a One Health approach to control and interrupt the transmission routes of pathogenic E. coli is sustained through an exhaustive revision of the recent literature. The emerging phage formulations, genetic engineering and encapsulation technologies are also discussed as a means of improving phage-based control strategies, with a particular focus on E. coli pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Oliveira
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Carla Dias
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Oliveira
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carina Almeida
- INIAV, IP-National Institute for Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Vairão, Vila do Conde, Portugal
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| | - Pablo Fuciños
- ALiCE - Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sanna Sillankorva
- INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre José Veiga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Hugo Oliveira
- CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
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Li XT, Peng SY, Feng SM, Bao TY, Li SZ, Li SY. Recent Progress in Phage-Based Nanoplatforms for Tumor Therapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2307111. [PMID: 37806755 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202307111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Nanodrug delivery systems have demonstrated a great potential for tumor therapy with the development of nanotechnology. Nonetheless, traditional drug delivery systems are faced with issues such as complex synthetic procedures, low reproducibility, nonspecific distribution, impenetrability of biological barrier, systemic toxicity, etc. In recent years, phage-based nanoplatforms have attracted increasing attention in tumor treatment for their regular structure, fantastic carrying property, high transduction efficiency and biosafety. Notably, therapeutic or targeting peptides can be expressed on the surface of the phages through phage display technology, enabling the phage vectors to possess multifunctions. As a result, the drug delivery efficiency on tumor will be vastly improved, thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy while reducing the side effects on normal tissues. Moreover, phages can overcome the hindrance of biofilm barrier to elicit antitumor effects, which exhibit great advantages compared with traditional synthetic drug delivery systems. Herein, this review not only summarizes the structure and biology of the phages, but also presents their potential as prominent nanoplatforms against tumor in different pathways to inspire the development of effective nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Tong Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, P. R. China
| | - Shu-Yi Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, P. R. China
| | - Shao-Mei Feng
- Department of Anesthesiology, the Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, P. R. China
| | - Ting-Yu Bao
- Department of Clinical Medicine, the Third Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Sheng-Zhang Li
- Department of Clinical Medicine, the Second Clinical School of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, China
| | - Shi-Ying Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Target and Clinical Pharmacology, the NMPA and State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, P. R. China
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Liu S, Chen Z, Liu B, Wen Q, Wang Z, Lin X, Wang Y. Ecological succession and community assembly of mixed microbial culture polyhydroxyalkanoate production systems: Drivers of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthesis and Bdellovibrio predation. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 394:130204. [PMID: 38104663 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.130204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by mixed microbial culture (MMC) can reduce the pollution of plastics. Ecophysiological study of the microbial community assembly and succession is helpful for comprehensive understanding the MMC PHA production process. The operation mode of sequential aerobic dynamic discharge - aerobic dynamic feeding (ADD-ADF) was applied and the operation can be divided into acclimation phase and maturation phase. Deterministic process caused by selective pressure dominated the community assembly throughout the operation. In the acclimation phase, the physical selective pressure recovered the settling capacity of the system, and settling ability of the MMC was closely related to function of PHA synthesis. However, in the maturation phase, stochastic process caused sludge bulking, making the settling ability and PHA synthesis function of the MMC independent on each other. Stochastic process led to the succession of the dominant PHA-producing bacteria, for example, the predation of Paracoccus and Thauera by Bdellovibrio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Baozhen Liu
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan, 250101, China
| | - Qinxue Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
| | - Zifan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Xiao Lin
- Beijing General Municipal Engineering Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd, Beijing 100082, China
| | - Yuhan Wang
- China Aviation Planning and Design Institute (Group) Co., Ltd, Beijing 100082, China
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Liu K, Wang C, Zhou X, Guo X, Yang Y, Liu W, Zhao R, Song H. Bacteriophage therapy for drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1336821. [PMID: 38357445 PMCID: PMC10864608 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1336821] [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: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus stands as a prominent pathogen in nosocomial and community-acquired infections, capable of inciting various infections at different sites in patients. This includes Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SaB), which exhibits a severe infection frequently associated with significant mortality rate of approximately 25%. In the absence of better alternative therapies, antibiotics is still the main approach for treating infections. However, excessive use of antibiotics has, in turn, led to an increase in antimicrobial resistance. Hence, it is imperative that new strategies are developed to control drug-resistant S. aureus infections. Bacteriophages are viruses with the ability to infect bacteria. Bacteriophages, were used to treat bacterial infections before the advent of antibiotics, but were subsequently replaced by antibiotics due to limited theoretical understanding and inefficient preparation processes at the time. Recently, phages have attracted the attention of many researchers again because of the serious problem of antibiotic resistance. This article provides a comprehensive overview of phage biology, animal models, diverse clinical case treatments, and clinical trials in the context of drug-resistant S. aureus phage therapy. It also assesses the strengths and limitations of phage therapy and outlines the future prospects and research directions. This review is expected to offer valuable insights for researchers engaged in phage-based treatments for drug-resistant S. aureus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixin Liu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xudong Zhou
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- College of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xudong Guo
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Wanying Liu
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Rongtao Zhao
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Hongbin Song
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Chinese PLA Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
- College of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Ghaly TM, Focardi A, Elbourne LDH, Sutcliffe B, Humphreys WF, Jaschke PR, Tetu SG, Paulsen IT. Exploring virus-host-environment interactions in a chemotrophic-based underground estuary. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:9. [PMID: 38291480 PMCID: PMC10829341 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00549-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Viruses play important roles in modulating microbial communities and influencing global biogeochemistry. There is now growing interest in characterising their ecological roles across diverse biomes. However, little is known about viral ecology in low-nutrient, chemotrophic-based environments. In such ecosystems, virus-driven manipulation of nutrient cycles might have profound impacts across trophic levels. In particular, anchialine environments, which are low-energy underground estuaries sustained by chemotrophic processes, represent ideal model systems to study novel virus-host-environment interactions. RESULTS Here, we employ metagenomic sequencing to investigate the viral community in Bundera Sinkhole, an anchialine ecosystem rich in endemic species supported by microbial chemosynthesis. We find that the viruses are highly novel, with less than 2% representing described viruses, and are hugely abundant, making up as much as 12% of microbial intracellular DNA. These highly abundant viruses largely infect important prokaryotic taxa that drive key metabolic processes in the sinkhole. Further, the abundance of viral auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) involved in nucleotide and protein synthesis was strongly correlated with declines in environmental phosphate and sulphate concentrations. These AMGs encoded key enzymes needed to produce sulphur-containing amino acids, and phosphorus metabolic enzymes involved in purine and pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. We hypothesise that this correlation is either due to selection of these AMGs under low phosphate and sulphate concentrations, highlighting the dynamic interactions between viruses, their hosts, and the environment; or, that these AMGs are driving increased viral nucleotide and protein synthesis via manipulation of host phosphorus and sulphur metabolism, consequently driving nutrient depletion in the surrounding water. CONCLUSION This study represents the first metagenomic investigation of viruses in anchialine ecosystems, and provides new hypotheses and insights into virus-host-environment interactions in such 'dark', low-energy environments. This is particularly important since anchialine ecosystems are characterised by diverse endemic species, both in their microbial and faunal assemblages, which are primarily supported by microbial chemosynthesis. Thus, virus-host-environment interactions could have profound effects cascading through all trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Ghaly
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Amaranta Focardi
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Liam D H Elbourne
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - William F Humphreys
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Paul R Jaschke
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sasha G Tetu
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Ian T Paulsen
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
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50
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Smith LM, Hampton HG, Yevstigneyeva MS, Mahler M, Paquet ZM, Fineran PC. CRISPR-Cas immunity is repressed by the LysR-type transcriptional regulator PigU. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:755-768. [PMID: 38059344 PMCID: PMC10810281 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria protect themselves from infection by bacteriophages (phages) using different defence systems, such as CRISPR-Cas. Although CRISPR-Cas provides phage resistance, fitness costs are incurred, such as through autoimmunity. CRISPR-Cas regulation can optimise defence and minimise these costs. We recently developed a genome-wide functional genomics approach (SorTn-seq) for high-throughput discovery of regulators of bacterial gene expression. Here, we applied SorTn-seq to identify loci influencing expression of the two type III-A Serratia CRISPR arrays. Multiple genes affected CRISPR expression, including those involved in outer membrane and lipopolysaccharide synthesis. By comparing loci affecting type III CRISPR arrays and cas operon expression, we identified PigU (LrhA) as a repressor that co-ordinately controls both arrays and cas genes. By repressing type III-A CRISPR-Cas expression, PigU shuts off CRISPR-Cas interference against plasmids and phages. PigU also represses interference and CRISPR adaptation by the type I-F system, which is also present in Serratia. RNA sequencing demonstrated that PigU is a global regulator that controls secondary metabolite production and motility, in addition to CRISPR-Cas immunity. Increased PigU also resulted in elevated expression of three Serratia prophages, indicating their likely induction upon sensing PigU-induced cellular changes. In summary, PigU is a major regulator of CRISPR-Cas immunity in Serratia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah M Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Hannah G Hampton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Mariya S Yevstigneyeva
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Marina Mahler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Zacharie S M Paquet
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein 10, 6703 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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