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Makopa TP, Ncube T, Alwasel S, Boekhout T, Zhou N. Yeast-insect interactions in southern Africa: Tapping the diversity of yeasts for modern bioprocessing. Yeast 2024; 41:330-348. [PMID: 38450792 DOI: 10.1002/yea.3935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Yeast-insect interactions are one of the most interesting long-standing relationships whose research has contributed to our understanding of yeast biodiversity and their industrial applications. Although insect-derived yeast strains are exploited for industrial fermentations, only a limited number of such applications has been documented. The search for novel yeasts from insects is attractive to augment the currently domesticated and commercialized production strains. More specifically, there is potential in tapping the insects native to southern Africa. Southern Africa is home to a disproportionately high fraction of global biodiversity with a cluster of biomes and a broad climate range. This review presents arguments on the roles of the mutualistic relationship between yeasts and insects, the presence of diverse pristine environments and a long history of spontaneous food and beverage fermentations as the potential source of novelty. The review further discusses the recent advances in novelty of industrial strains of insect origin, as well as various ancient and modern-day industries that could be improved by use yeasts from insect origin. The major focus of the review is on the relationship between insects and yeasts in southern African ecosystems as a potential source of novel industrial yeast strains for modern bioprocesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tawanda P Makopa
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana
| | - Thembekile Ncube
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Applied Science, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
| | - Saleh Alwasel
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Teun Boekhout
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nerve Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Palapye, Botswana
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2
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Guo W, Song Y, Chen H, Li X. Dietary potential of the symbiotic fungus Penicillium herquei for the larvae of a nonsocial fungus-cultivating weevil Euops chinensis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0153723. [PMID: 38445862 PMCID: PMC11022562 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01537-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Many insect taxa cultivate fungi for food. Compared to well-known fungus cultivation in social insects, our knowledge on fungus cultivation in nonsocial insects is still limited. Here, we studied the nutritional potentials of the fungal cultivar, Penicillium herquei, for the larvae of its nonsocial insect farmer, Euops chinensis, a specialist on Japanese knotweed Reynoutria japonica. Overall, fungal hyphae and leaf rolls contained significantly higher carbon (C), stable isotopes of C (δ13C), and nitrogen (δ15N) but significantly lower C/N ratios compared to unrolled leaves, whereas insect bodies contained significantly higher N contents but lower C and C/N ratios compared to other types of samples. The MixSIAR model indicated that fungal hyphae contributed a larger proportion (0.626-0.797) to the diet of E. chinensis larvae than leaf materials. The levels of ergosterol, six essential amino acids, seven nonessential amino acids, and three B vitamins tested in fungal hyphae and/or leaf rolls were significantly higher than in unrolled leaves and/or larvae. The P. herquei genome contains the complete set of genes required for the biosynthesis of ergosterol, the essential amino acids valine and threonine, nine nonessential amino acids, and vitamins B2 and B3, whereas some genes associated with five essential and one nonessential amino acid were lost in the P. herquei genome. These suggest that P. herquei is capable of providing the E. chinensis larvae food with ergosterol, amino acids, and B vitamins. P. herquei appears to be able to synthesize or concentrate these nutrients considering that they were specifically concentrated in fungal hyphae. IMPORTANCE The cultivation of fungi for food has occurred across divergent insect lineages such as social ants, termites, and ambrosia beetles, as well as some seldom-reported solitary insects. Although the fungal cultivars of these insects have been studied for decades, the dietary potential of fungal cultivars for their hosts (especially for those nonsocial insects) is largely unknown. Our research on the mutualistic system Euops chinensis-Penicillium herquei represents an example of the diverse nutritional potentials of the fungal cultivar P. herquei in the diet of the larvae of its solitary host, E. chinensis. These results demonstrate that P. herquei has the potential to synthesize or concentrate ergosterol, amino acids, and B vitamins and benefits the larvae of E. chinensis. Our findings would shed light on poorly understood fungal cultivation mutualisms in nonsocial insects and underscore the nutritional importance of fungal cultivars in fungal cultivation mutualisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Guo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Crop Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology Lab, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yu Song
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Hu Chen
- Wuhan Benagen Technology Co., Ltd, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoqiong Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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3
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Chavarría-Pizarro L, Núñez-Montero K, Gutiérrez-Araya M, Watson-Guido W, Rivera-Méndez W, Pizarro-Cerdá J. Novel strains of Actinobacteria associated with neotropical social wasps (Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini) with antimicrobial potential for natural product discovery. FEMS Microbes 2024; 5:xtae005. [PMID: 38476864 PMCID: PMC10929769 DOI: 10.1093/femsmc/xtae005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance has been considered a public health threat. The World Health Organization has warned about the urgency of detecting new antibiotics from novel sources. Social insects could be crucial in the search for new antibiotic metabolites, as some of them survive in places that favor parasite development. Recent studies have shown the potential of social insects to produce antimicrobial metabolites (e.g. ants, bees, and termites). However, most groups of social wasps remain unstudied. Here, we explored whether Actinobacteria are associated with workers in the Neotropical Social Wasps (Epiponini) of Costa Rica and evaluated their putative inhibitory activity against other bacteria. Most isolated strains (67%) have antagonistic effects, mainly against Bacillus thuringensis and Escherichia coli ATCC 25992. Based on genome analysis, some inhibitory Actinobacteria showed biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) related to the production of antimicrobial molecules such as Selvamycin, Piericidin A1, and Nystatin. The Actinobacteria could be associated with social wasps to produce antimicrobial compounds. For these reasons, we speculate that Actinobacteria associated with social wasps could be a novel source of antimicrobial compounds, mainly against Gram-negative bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Chavarría-Pizarro
- Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Biología-Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Calle 15, Avenida 14, 159-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Kattia Núñez-Montero
- Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Biología-Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Calle 15, Avenida 14, 159-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica
- Instituto de Ciencias Aplicadas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Avenida Alemania 1090, 4810101 Temuco, Chile
| | - Mariela Gutiérrez-Araya
- Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Biología-Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Calle 15, Avenida 14, 159-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - William Watson-Guido
- Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Biología-Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Calle 15, Avenida 14, 159-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - William Rivera-Méndez
- Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica, Escuela de Biología-Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Calle 15, Avenida 14, 159-7050 Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Javier Pizarro-Cerdá
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, CNRS UMR6047, Yersinia Research Unit - Institut Pasteur 28, rue du Docteur Roux - 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France
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4
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D'Agostino PM. Highlights of biosynthetic enzymes and natural products from symbiotic cyanobacteria. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:1701-1717. [PMID: 37233731 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00011g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2023Cyanobacteria have long been known for their intriguing repertoire of natural product scaffolds, which are often distinct from other phyla. Cyanobacteria are ecologically significant organisms that form a myriad of different symbioses including with sponges and ascidians in the marine environment or with plants and fungi, in the form of lichens, in terrestrial environments. Whilst there have been several high-profile discoveries of symbiotic cyanobacterial natural products, genomic data is scarce and discovery efforts have remained limited. However, the rise of (meta-)genomic sequencing has improved these efforts, emphasized by a steep increase in publications in recent years. This highlight focuses on selected examples of symbiotic cyanobacterial-derived natural products and their biosyntheses to link chemistry with corresponding biosynthetic logic. Further highlighted are remaining gaps in knowledge for the formation of characteristic structural motifs. It is anticipated that the continued rise of (meta-)genomic next-generation sequencing of symbiontic cyanobacterial systems will lead to many exciting discoveries in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M D'Agostino
- Technical University of Dresden, Chair of Technical Biochemistry, Bergstraβe 66, 01069 Dresden, Germany.
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5
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Chen S, Zhou A, Xu Y. Symbiotic Bacteria Regulating Insect-Insect/Fungus/Virus Mutualism. Insects 2023; 14:741. [PMID: 37754709 PMCID: PMC10531535 DOI: 10.3390/insects14090741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria associated with insects potentially provide many beneficial services and have been well documented. Mutualism that relates to insects is widespread in ecosystems. However, the interrelation between "symbiotic bacteria" and "mutualism" has rarely been studied. We introduce three systems of mutualism that relate to insects (ants and honeydew-producing Hemiptera, fungus-growing insects and fungi, and plant persistent viruses and vector insects) and review the species of symbiotic bacteria in host insects, as well as their functions in host insects and the mechanisms underlying mutualism regulation. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms and role of symbiotic bacteria, based on metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiology, will be required for describing the entire interaction network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Chen
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
| | - Aiming Zhou
- Hubei Insect Resources Utilization and Sustainable Pest Management, Key Laboratory, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yijuan Xu
- Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China;
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6
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Niego AGT, Rapior S, Thongklang N, Raspé O, Hyde KD, Mortimer P. Reviewing the contributions of macrofungi to forest ecosystem processes and services. FUNGAL BIOL REV 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbr.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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7
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Kreuzenbeck NB, Dhiman S, Roman D, Burkhardt I, Conlon BH, Fricke J, Guo H, Blume J, Görls H, Poulsen M, Dickschat JS, Köllner TG, Arndt HD, Beemelmanns C. Isolation, (bio)synthetic studies and evaluation of antimicrobial properties of drimenol-type sesquiterpenes of Termitomyces fungi. Commun Chem 2023; 6:79. [PMID: 37095327 PMCID: PMC10126200 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00871-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrotermitinae termites have farmed fungi in the genus Termitomyces as a food source for millions of years. However, the biochemical mechanisms orchestrating this mutualistic relationship are largely unknown. To deduce fungal signals and ecological patterns that relate to the stability of this symbiosis, we explored the volatile organic compound (VOC) repertoire of Termitomyces from Macrotermes natalensis colonies. Results show that mushrooms emit a VOC pattern that differs from mycelium grown in fungal gardens and laboratory cultures. The abundance of sesquiterpenoids from mushrooms allowed targeted isolation of five drimane sesquiterpenes from plate cultivations. The total synthesis of one of these, drimenol, and related drimanes assisted in structural and comparative analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and antimicrobial activity testing. Enzyme candidates putatively involved in terpene biosynthesis were heterologously expressed and while these were not involved in the biosynthesis of the complete drimane skeleton, they catalyzed the formation of two structurally related monocyclic sesquiterpenes named nectrianolins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina B Kreuzenbeck
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Seema Dhiman
- Institute for Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Dávid Roman
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Immo Burkhardt
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Benjamin H Conlon
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Janis Fricke
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Huijuan Guo
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Janis Blume
- Institute for Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Helmar Görls
- Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller University, Humboldtstrasse 8, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jeroen S Dickschat
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tobias G Köllner
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Hans-Dieter Arndt
- Institute for Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Humboldtstr. 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Beemelmanns
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745, Jena, Germany.
- Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI), Campus E8.1, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.
- Universität des Saarlandes, Campus E8, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany.
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8
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Fricke J, Schalk F, Kreuzenbeck NB, Seibel E, Hoffmann J, Dittmann G, Conlon BH, Guo H, Wilhelm de Beer Z, Vassão DG, Gleixner G, Poulsen M, Beemelmanns C. Adaptations of Pseudoxylaria towards a comb-associated lifestyle in fungus-farming termite colonies. ISME J 2023. [PMID: 36841903 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01374-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing ancient clades of fungal symbionts is necessary for understanding the evolutionary process underlying symbiosis development. In this study, we investigated a distinct subgeneric taxon of Xylaria (Xylariaceae), named Pseudoxylaria, whose members have solely been isolated from the fungus garden of farming termites. Pseudoxylaria are inconspicuously present in active fungus gardens of termite colonies and only emerge in the form of vegetative stromata, when the fungus comb is no longer attended ("sit and wait" strategy). Insights into the genomic and metabolic consequences of their association, however, have remained sparse. Capitalizing on viable Pseudoxylaria cultures from different termite colonies, we obtained genomes of seven and transcriptomes of two Pseudoxylaria isolates. Using a whole-genome-based comparison with free-living members of the genus Xylaria, we document that the association has been accompanied by significant reductions in genome size, protein-coding gene content, and reduced functional capacities related to oxidative lignin degradation, oxidative stress responses and secondary metabolite production. Functional studies based on growth assays and fungus-fungus co-cultivations, coupled with isotope fractionation analysis, showed that Pseudoxylaria only moderately antagonizes growth of the termite food fungus Termitomyces, and instead extracts nutrients from the food fungus biomass for its own growth. We also uncovered that Pseudoxylaria is still capable of producing structurally unique metabolites, which was exemplified by the isolation of two novel metabolites, and that the natural product repertoire correlated with antimicrobial and insect antifeedant activity.
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9
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Götze S, Vij R, Burow K, Thome N, Urbat L, Schlosser N, Pflanze S, Müller R, Hänsch VG, Schlabach K, Fazlikhani L, Walther G, Dahse HM, Regestein L, Brunke S, Hube B, Hertweck C, Franken P, Stallforth P. Ecological Niche-Inspired Genome Mining Leads to the Discovery of Crop-Protecting Nonribosomal Lipopeptides Featuring a Transient Amino Acid Building Block. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:2342-2353. [PMID: 36669196 PMCID: PMC9897216 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c11107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Investigating the ecological context of microbial predator-prey interactions enables the identification of microorganisms, which produce multiple secondary metabolites to evade predation or to kill the predator. In addition, genome mining combined with molecular biology methods can be used to identify further biosynthetic gene clusters that yield new antimicrobials to fight the antimicrobial crisis. In contrast, classical screening-based approaches have limitations since they do not aim to unlock the entire biosynthetic potential of a given organism. Here, we describe the genomics-based identification of keanumycins A-C. These nonribosomal peptides enable bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas to evade amoebal predation. While being amoebicidal at a nanomolar level, these compounds also exhibit a strong antimycotic activity in particular against the devastating plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea and they drastically inhibit the infection of Hydrangea macrophylla leaves using only supernatants of Pseudomonas cultures. The structures of the keanumycins were fully elucidated through a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance, tandem mass spectrometry, and degradation experiments revealing an unprecedented terminal imine motif in keanumycin C extending the family of nonribosomal amino acids by a highly reactive building block. In addition, chemical synthesis unveiled the absolute configuration of the unusual dihydroxylated fatty acid of keanumycin A, which has not yet been reported for this lipodepsipeptide class. Finally, a detailed genome-wide microarray analysis of Candida albicans exposed to keanumycin A shed light on the mode-of-action of this potential natural product lead, which will aid the development of new pharmaceutical and agrochemical antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Götze
- Department
of Paleobiotechnology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research
and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll
Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Raghav Vij
- Department
of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural
Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Katja Burow
- Research
Centre for Horticultural Crops (FGK), Fachhochschule
Erfurt, Kühnhäuser
Straße 101, 99090 Erfurt, Germany
| | - Nicola Thome
- Department
of Paleobiotechnology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research
and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll
Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Lennart Urbat
- Department
of Paleobiotechnology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research
and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll
Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Nicolas Schlosser
- Bio
Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection
Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Sebastian Pflanze
- Department
of Paleobiotechnology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research
and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll
Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Rita Müller
- Department
of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural
Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Veit G. Hänsch
- Department
of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research
and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll
Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Kevin Schlabach
- Department
of Paleobiotechnology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research
and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll
Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Leila Fazlikhani
- Research
Centre for Horticultural Crops (FGK), Fachhochschule
Erfurt, Kühnhäuser
Straße 101, 99090 Erfurt, Germany
| | - Grit Walther
- National
Reference Center for Invasive Fungal Infections, Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Hans-Martin Dahse
- Department
of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research
and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll
Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Lars Regestein
- Bio
Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection
Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunke
- Department
of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural
Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department
of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural
Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Department
of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research
and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll
Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Philipp Franken
- Research
Centre for Horticultural Crops (FGK), Fachhochschule
Erfurt, Kühnhäuser
Straße 101, 99090 Erfurt, Germany
- Molecular
Phytopathology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Pierre Stallforth
- Department
of Paleobiotechnology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research
and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll
Institute, Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Faculty
of Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry and
Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller
University Jena, Humboldtstraße 10, 07743 Jena, Germany
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10
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Abstract
Insect eggs are exposed to a plethora of abiotic and biotic threats. Their survival depends on both an innate developmental program and genetically determined protective traits provided by the parents. In addition, there is increasing evidence that (a) parents adjust the egg phenotype to the actual needs, (b) eggs themselves respond to environmental challenges, and (c) egg-associated microbes actively shape the egg phenotype. This review focuses on the phenotypic plasticity of insect eggs and their capability to adjust themselves to their environment. We outline the ways in which the interaction between egg and environment is two-way, with the environment shaping the egg phenotype but also with insect eggs affecting their environment. Specifically, insect eggs affect plant defenses, host biology (in the case of parasitoid eggs), and insect oviposition behavior. We aim to emphasize that the insect egg, although it is a sessile life stage, actively responds to and interacts with its environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Hilker
- Applied Zoology/Animal Ecology, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany;
| | - Hassan Salem
- Mutualisms Research Group, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Nina E Fatouros
- Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands;
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11
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Diehl JMC, Keller A, Biedermann PHW. Comparing the succession of microbial communities throughout development in field and laboratory nests of the ambrosia beetle Xyleborinus saxesenii. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1151208. [PMID: 37152720 PMCID: PMC10159272 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1151208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Some fungus-farming ambrosia beetles rely on multiple nutritional cultivars (Ascomycota: Ophiostomatales and/or yeasts) that seem to change in relative abundance over time. The succession of these fungi could benefit beetle hosts by optimal consumption of the substrate and extended longevity of the nest. However, abundances of fungal cultivars and other symbionts are poorly known and their culture-independent quantification over development has been studied in only a single species. Here, for the first time, we compared the diversity and succession of both fungal and bacterial communities of fungus gardens in the fruit-tree pinhole borer, Xyleborinus saxesenii, from field and laboratory nests over time. By amplicon sequencing of probed fungus gardens of both nest types at three development phases we showed an extreme reduction of diversity in both bacterial and fungal symbionts in laboratory nests. Furthermore, we observed a general transition from nutritional to non-beneficial fungal symbionts during beetle development. While one known nutritional mutualist, Raffaelea canadensis, was occurring more or less stable over time, the second mutualist R. sulphurea was dominating young nests and decreased in abundance at the expense of other secondary fungi. The quicker the succession proceeded, the slower offspring beetles developed, suggesting a negative role of these secondary symbionts. Finally, we found signs of transgenerational costs of late dispersal for daughters, possibly as early dispersers transmitted and started their own nests with less of the non-beneficial taxa. Future studies should focus on the functional roles of the few bacterial taxa that were present in both field and laboratory nests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina M. C. Diehl
- Chair of Forest Entomology and Protection, Institute of Forestry, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Insect-Fungus Interactions Research Group, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Janina M. C. Diehl,
| | - Alexander Keller
- Faculty of Biology, Cellular and Organismic Networks, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter H. W. Biedermann
- Chair of Forest Entomology and Protection, Institute of Forestry, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Peter H. W. Biedermann,
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12
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Guo W, Wang W, Tang J, Li T, Li X. Genome analysis and genomic comparison of a fungal cultivar of the nonsocial weevil Euops chinensis reveals its plant decomposition and protective roles in fungus-farming mutualism. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1048910. [PMID: 36876094 PMCID: PMC9978505 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1048910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungus-farming mutualisms are models for studying co-evolutionary among species. Compared to well-documented fungus-farming in social insects, the molecular aspects of fungus-farming mutualisms in nonsocial insects have been poorly explored. Euops chinensis is a solitary leaf-rolling weevil feeding on Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica). This pest has evolved a special proto-farming bipartite mutualism with the fungus Penicillium herquei, which provide nutrition and defensive protection for the E. chinensis larvae. Here, the genome of P. herquei was sequenced, and the structure and specific gene categories in the P. herquei genome were then comprehensively compared with the other two well-studied Penicillium species (P. decumbens and P. chrysogenum). The assembled P. herquei genome had a 40.25 Mb genome size with 46.7% GC content. A diverse set of genes associating with carbohydrate-active enzymes, cellulose and hemicellulose degradation, transporter, and terpenoid biosynthesis were detected in the P. herquei genome. Comparative genomics demonstrate that the three Penicillium species show similar metabolic and enzymatic potential, however, P. herquei has more genes associated with plant biomass degradation and defense but less genes associating with virulence pathogenicity. Our results provide molecular evidence for plant substrate breakdown and protective roles of P. herquei in E. chinensis mutualistic system. Large metabolic potential shared by Penicillium species at the genus level may explain why some Penicillium species are recruited by the Euops weevils as crop fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Guo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.,Guangxi Crop Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology Lab, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jun Tang
- Guangxi Crop Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology Lab, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Wuhan Benagen Technology Company Limited, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoqiong Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation, College of Forestry, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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13
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Büttner H, Pidot SJ, Scherlach K, Hertweck C. Endofungal bacteria boost anthelminthic host protection with the biosurfactant symbiosin. Chem Sci 2022; 14:103-112. [PMID: 36605741 PMCID: PMC9769094 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc04167g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective protection of soil fungi from predators is crucial for their survival in the niche. Thus, fungi have developed efficient defence strategies. We discovered that soil beneficial Mortierella fungi employ a potent cytotoxin (necroxime) against fungivorous nematodes. Interestingly, this anthelminthic agent is produced by bacterial endosymbionts (Candidatus Mycoavidus necroximicus) residing within the fungus. Analysis of the symbiont's genome indicated a rich biosynthetic potential, yet nothing has been known about additional metabolites and their potential synergistic functions. Here we report that two distinct Mortierella endosymbionts produce a novel cyclic lipodepsipeptide (symbiosin), that is clearly of bacterial origin, but has striking similarities to various fungal specialized metabolites. The structure and absolute configuration of symbiosin were fully elucidated. By comparative genomics of symbiosin-positive strains and in silico analyses of the deduced non-ribosomal synthetases, we assigned the (sym) biosynthetic gene cluster and proposed an assembly line model. Bioassays revealed that symbiosin is not only an antibiotic, in particular against mycobacteria, but also exhibits marked synergistic effects with necroxime in anti-nematode tests. By functional analyses and substitution experiments we found that symbiosin is a potent biosurfactant and that this particular property confers a boost in the anthelmintic action, similar to formulations of therapeutics in human medicine. Our findings illustrate that "combination therapies" against parasites already exist in ecological contexts, which may inspire the development of biocontrol agents and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Büttner
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI)Beutenbergstrasse 11a07745 JenaGermany
| | - Sacha J. Pidot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Doherty Institute792 Elizabeth StreetMelbourne3000Australia
| | - Kirstin Scherlach
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI)Beutenbergstrasse 11a07745 JenaGermany
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI)Beutenbergstrasse 11a07745 JenaGermany,Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena07743 JenaGermany
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14
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Baranova AA, Zakalyukina YV, Ovcharenko AA, Korshun VA, Tyurin AP. Antibiotics from Insect-Associated Actinobacteria. Biology (Basel) 2022; 11:1676. [PMID: 36421390 PMCID: PMC9687666 DOI: 10.3390/biology11111676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Actinobacteria are involved into multilateral relationships between insects, their food sources, infectious agents, etc. Antibiotics and related natural products play an essential role in such systems. The literature from the January 2016-August 2022 period devoted to insect-associated actinomycetes with antagonistic and/or enzyme-inhibiting activity was selected. Recent progress in multidisciplinary studies of insect-actinobacterial interactions mediated by antibiotics is summarized and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A. Baranova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Gause Institute of New Antibiotics, Bol’shaya Pirogovskaya 11, 119021 Moscow, Russia
| | - Yuliya V. Zakalyukina
- Department of Soil Science, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1-12, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A. Ovcharenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Higher Chemical College RAS, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Miusskaya sq. 9, 125047 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A. Korshun
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anton P. Tyurin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
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15
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Berasategui A, Breitenbach N, García-Lozano M, Pons I, Sailer B, Lanz C, Rodríguez V, Hipp K, Ziemert N, Windsor D, Salem H. The leaf beetle Chelymorpha alternans propagates a plant pathogen in exchange for pupal protection. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4114-4127.e6. [PMID: 35987210 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Many insects rely on microbial protection in the early stages of their development. However, in contrast to symbiont-mediated defense of eggs and young instars, the role of microbes in safeguarding pupae remains relatively unexplored, despite the susceptibility of the immobile stage to antagonistic challenges. Here, we outline the importance of symbiosis in ensuring pupal protection by describing a mutualistic partnership between the ascomycete Fusarium oxysporum and Chelymorpha alternans, a leaf beetle. The symbiont rapidly proliferates at the onset of pupation, extensively and conspicuously coating C. alternans during metamorphosis. The fungus confers defense against predation as symbiont elimination results in reduced pupal survivorship. In exchange, eclosing beetles vector F. oxysporum to their host plants, resulting in a systemic infection. By causing wilt disease, the fungus retained its phytopathogenic capacity in light of its symbiosis with C. alternans. Despite possessing a relatively reduced genome, F. oxysporum encodes metabolic pathways that reflect its dual lifestyle as a plant pathogen and a defensive insect symbiont. These include virulence factors underlying plant colonization, along with mycotoxins that may contribute to the defensive biochemistry of the insect host. Collectively, our findings shed light on a mutualism predicated on pupal protection of an herbivorous beetle in exchange for symbiont dissemination and propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen Berasategui
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Mutualisms Research Group, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany; University of Tübingen, Cluster of Excellence 'Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections', Auf der Morgenstelle 28, Tübingen 72076, Germany.
| | - Noa Breitenbach
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Mutualisms Research Group, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Marleny García-Lozano
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Mutualisms Research Group, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Inès Pons
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Mutualisms Research Group, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Brigitte Sailer
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Electron Microscopy Facility, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Christa Lanz
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Genome Center, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Viterbo Rodríguez
- Centro Regional Universitario de Veraguas, Centro de Capacitación, Investigación y Monitoreo de la Biodiversidad en Coiba, Calle Décima, vía San Francisco, Santiago 08001, Republic of Panama
| | - Katharina Hipp
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Electron Microscopy Facility, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Nadine Ziemert
- University of Tübingen, Cluster of Excellence 'Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections', Auf der Morgenstelle 28, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Donald Windsor
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Luis Clement Avenue, Bldg. 401 Tupper, Panama City 0843-03092, Republic of Panama
| | - Hassan Salem
- Max Planck Institute for Biology, Mutualisms Research Group, Max-Planck-Ring 5, Tübingen 72076, Germany.
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16
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Toopaang W, Bunnak W, Srisuksam C, Wattananukit W, Tanticharoen M, Yang YL, Amnuaykanjanasin A. Microbial polyketides and their roles in insect virulence: from genomics to biological functions. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:2008-2029. [PMID: 35822627 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00058f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covering: May 1966 up to January 2022Entomopathogenic microorganisms have potential for biological control of insect pests. Their main secondary metabolites include polyketides, nonribosomal peptides, and polyketide-nonribosomal peptide (PK-NRP) hybrids. Among these secondary metabolites, polyketides have mainly been studied for structural identification, pathway engineering, and for their contributions to medicine. However, little is known about the function of polyketides in insect virulence. This review focuses on the role of bacterial and fungal polyketides, as well as PK-NRP hybrids in insect infection and killing. We also discuss gene distribution and evolutional relationships among different microbial species. Further, the role of microbial polyketides and the hybrids in modulating insect-microbial symbiosis is also explored. Understanding the mechanisms of polyketides in insect pathogenesis, how compounds moderate the host-fungus interaction, and the distribution of PKS genes across different fungi and bacteria will facilitate the discovery and development of novel polyketide-derived bio-insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wachiraporn Toopaang
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Nueng, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand. .,Molecular and Biological Agricultural Sciences, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan.,Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
| | - Warapon Bunnak
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Nueng, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
| | - Chettida Srisuksam
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Nueng, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
| | - Wilawan Wattananukit
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Nueng, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
| | - Morakot Tanticharoen
- School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
| | - Yu-Liang Yang
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan. .,Biotechnology Center in Southern Taiwan, Academia Sinica, Tainan 711010, Taiwan
| | - Alongkorn Amnuaykanjanasin
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, 113 Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Khlong Nueng, Amphoe Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
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17
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Li H, Greening C. Termite-engineered microbial communities of termite nest structures: a new dimension to the extended phenotype. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:6631553. [PMID: 35790132 PMCID: PMC9779920 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Termites are a prototypical example of the 'extended phenotype' given their ability to shape their environments by constructing complex nesting structures and cultivating fungus gardens. Such engineered structures provide termites with stable, protected habitats, and nutritious food sources, respectively. Recent studies have suggested that these termite-engineered structures harbour Actinobacteria-dominated microbial communities. In this review, we describe the composition, activities, and consequences of microbial communities associated with termite mounds, other nests, and fungus gardens. Culture-dependent and culture-independent studies indicate that these structures each harbour specialized microbial communities distinct from those in termite guts and surrounding soils. Termites select microbial communities in these structures through various means: opportunistic recruitment from surrounding soils; controlling physicochemical properties of nesting structures; excreting hydrogen, methane, and other gases as bacterial energy sources; and pretreating lignocellulose to facilitate fungal cultivation in gardens. These engineered communities potentially benefit termites by producing antimicrobial compounds, facilitating lignocellulose digestion, and enhancing energetic efficiency of the termite 'metaorganism'. Moreover, mound-associated communities have been shown to be globally significant in controlling emissions of methane and enhancing agricultural fertility. Altogether, these considerations suggest that the microbiomes selected by some animals extend much beyond their bodies, providing a new dimension to the 'extended phenotype'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Li
- Corresponding author. State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211. China. E-mail:
| | - Chris Greening
- Corresponding author. Department of Microbiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia. E-mail:
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18
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Lee SR, Schalk F, Schwitalla JW, Guo H, Yu JS, Song M, Jung WH, de Beer ZW, Beemelmanns C, Kim KH. GNPS‐Guided Discovery of Madurastatin Siderophores from the Termite‐Associated
Actinomadura
sp. RB99**. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202200612. [PMID: 35404539 PMCID: PMC9325478 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202200612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we analyzed if Actinomadura sp. RB99 produces siderophores that that could be responsible for the antimicrobial activity observed in co‐cultivation studies. Dereplication of high‐resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRMS/MS) and global natural product social molecular networking platform (GNPS) analysis of fungus‐bacterium co‐cultures resulted in the identification of five madurastatin derivatives (A1, A2, E1, F, and G1), of which were four new derivatives. Chemical structures were unambiguously confirmed by HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as MS/MS data and their absolute structures were elucidated based on Marfey's analysis, DP4+ probability calculation and total synthesis. Structure analysis revealed that madurastatin E1 (2) contained a rare 4‐imidazolidinone cyclic moiety and madurastatin A1 (5) was characterized as a Ga3+‐complex. The function of madurastatins as siderophores was evaluated using the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans as model organism. Based on homology models, we identified the putative NRPS‐based gene cluster region of the siderophores in Actinomadura sp. RB99.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seoung Rak Lee
- School of Pharmacy Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 (Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry Princeton University New Jersey 08544 USA
| | - Felix Schalk
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions Hans-Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstraße 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Jan W. Schwitalla
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions Hans-Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstraße 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Huijuan Guo
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions Hans-Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstraße 11a 07745 Jena Germany
| | - Jae Sik Yu
- School of Pharmacy Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 (Republic of Korea
| | - Moonyong Song
- Department of Systems Biotechnology Chung-Ang University Anseong 17546 Republic of Korea
| | - Won Hee Jung
- Department of Systems Biotechnology Chung-Ang University Anseong 17546 Republic of Korea
| | - Z. Wilhelm de Beer
- Department of Biochemistry Genetics and Microbiology Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) University of Pretoria Hatfield 0028 Pretoria South Africa
| | - Christine Beemelmanns
- Chemical Biology of Microbe-Host Interactions Hans-Knöll Institute (HKI) Beutenbergstraße 11a 07745 Jena Germany
- Biochemistry of Microbial Metabolism Institute of Biochemistry Leipzig University Johannisallee 21–23 Leipzig 04103 Germany
| | - Ki Hyun Kim
- School of Pharmacy Sungkyunkwan University Suwon 16419 (Republic of Korea
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19
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Litov AG, Zueva AI, Tiunov AV, Van Thinh N, Belyaeva NV, Karganova GG. Virome of Three Termite Species from Southern Vietnam. Viruses 2022; 14:860. [PMID: 35632601 PMCID: PMC9143207 DOI: 10.3390/v14050860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern metagenomic approaches enable the effective discovery of novel viruses in previously unexplored organisms. Termites are significant ecosystem converters and influencers. As with the majority of tropical forest insects, termites are studied insufficiently, and termite virome remains especially understudied. Here, we studied the virome of lichenophagous and mycophagous termites (Hospitalitermes bicolor, Macrotermes carbonarius and Odontotermes wallonensis) collected in the Cat Tien National Park (Vietnam). We assembled four full genomes of novel viruses related to Solemoviridae, Lispiviridae, Polycipiviridae and Kolmioviridae. We also found several contigs with relation to Chuviridae and Deltaflexiviridae that did not correspond to complete virus genomes. All the novel viruses clustered phylogenetically with previously identified viruses of the termites. Deltaflexi-like contigs were identified in the fungi-cultivating M. carbonarius and showed homology with viruses recently discovered in the edible basidiomycete mushrooms.
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20
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Kreuzenbeck NB, Seibel E, Schwitalla JW, Fricke J, Conlon BH, Schmidt S, Hammerbacher A, Köllner TG, Poulsen M, Hoffmeister D, Beemelmanns C. Comparative Genomic and Metabolomic Analysis of Termitomyces Species Provides Insights into the Terpenome of the Fungal Cultivar and the Characteristic Odor of the Fungus Garden of Macrotermes natalensis Termites. mSystems 2022;:e0121421. [PMID: 35014870 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.01214-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrotermitinae termites have domesticated fungi of the genus Termitomyces as food for their colony, analogously to human farmers growing crops. Termites propagate the fungus by continuously blending foraged and predigested plant material with fungal mycelium and spores (fungus comb) within designated subterranean chambers. To test the hypothesis that the obligate fungal symbiont emits specific volatiles (odor) to orchestrate its life cycle and symbiotic relations, we determined the typical volatile emission of fungus comb biomass and Termitomyces nodules, revealing α-pinene, camphene, and d-limonene as the most abundant terpenes. Genome mining of Termitomyces followed by gene expression studies and phylogenetic analysis of putative enzymes related to secondary metabolite production encoded by the genomes uncovered a conserved and specific biosynthetic repertoire across strains. Finally, we proved by heterologous expression and in vitro enzymatic assays that a highly expressed gene sequence encodes a rare bifunctional mono-/sesquiterpene cyclase able to produce the abundant comb volatiles camphene and d-limonene. IMPORTANCE The symbiosis between macrotermitinae termites and Termitomyces is obligate for both partners and is one of the most important contributors to biomass conversion in the Old World tropic’s ecosystems. To date, research efforts have dominantly focused on acquiring a better understanding of the degradative capabilities of Termitomyces to sustain the obligate nutritional symbiosis, but our knowledge of the small-molecule repertoire of the fungal cultivar mediating interspecies and interkingdom interactions has remained fragmented. Our omics-driven chemical, genomic, and phylogenetic study provides new insights into the volatilome and biosynthetic capabilities of the evolutionarily conserved fungal genus Termitomyces, which allows matching metabolites to genes and enzymes and, thus, opens a new source of unique and rare enzymatic transformations.
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21
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Vidkjær NH, Schmidt S, Hu H, Bodawatta KH, Beemelmanns C, Poulsen M. Species- and Caste-Specific Gut Metabolomes in Fungus-Farming Termites. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11120839. [PMID: 34940597 PMCID: PMC8707012 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11120839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungus-farming termites host gut microbial communities that contribute to the pre-digestion of plant biomass for manuring the fungal mutualist, and potentially to the production of defensive compounds that suppress antagonists. Termite colonies are characterized by complex division of labor and differences in diet between termite size (minor and major) and morphological (worker and soldier) castes, and this extends to the composition of their gut microbial communities. We hypothesized that gut metabolomes should mirror these differences and tested this through untargeted LC-MS/MS analyses of three South African species of fungus-farming termites. We found distinct metabolomes between species and across castes, especially between soldiers and workers. Primary metabolites dominate the metabolomes and the high number of overlapping features with the mutualistic fungus and plant material show distinct impacts of diet and the environment. The identification of a few bioactive compounds of likely microbial origin underlines the potential for compound discovery among the many unannotated features. Our untargeted approach provides a first glimpse into the complex gut metabolomes and our dereplication suggests the presence of bioactive compounds with potential defensive roles to be targeted in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanna Hjort Vidkjær
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.S.); (H.H.)
- Correspondence: (N.H.V.); (M.P.); Tel.: +45-353-324-41 (N.H.V.); +45-353-303-77 (M.P.)
| | - Suzanne Schmidt
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.S.); (H.H.)
| | - Haofu Hu
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.S.); (H.H.)
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Kasun H. Bodawatta
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Christine Beemelmanns
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology e.V., Hans-Knöll-Institute (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany;
| | - Michael Poulsen
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (S.S.); (H.H.)
- Correspondence: (N.H.V.); (M.P.); Tel.: +45-353-324-41 (N.H.V.); +45-353-303-77 (M.P.)
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