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Schniete JK, Fernández-Martínez LT. Natural product discovery in soil actinomycetes: unlocking their potential within an ecological context. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102487. [PMID: 38733791 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Natural products (NPs) produced by bacteria, particularly soil actinomycetes, often possess diverse bioactivities and play a crucial role in human health, agriculture, and biotechnology. Soil actinomycete genomes contain a vast number of predicted biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) yet to be exploited. Understanding the factors governing NP production in an ecological context and activating cryptic and silent BGCs in soil actinomycetes will provide researchers with a wealth of molecules with potential novel applications. Here, we highlight recent advances in NP discovery strategies employing ecology-inspired approaches and discuss the importance of understanding the environmental signals responsible for activation of NP production, particularly in a soil microbial community context, as well as the challenges that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana K Schniete
- Institute of Microbiology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, 30419 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Lorena T Fernández-Martínez
- School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.
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Karimian S, Farahmandzad N, Mohammadipanah F. Manipulation and epigenetic control of silent biosynthetic pathways in actinobacteria. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:65. [PMID: 38191749 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03861-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Most biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) of Actinobacteria are either silent or expressed less than the detectable level. The non-genetic approaches including biological interactions, chemical agents, and physical stresses that can be used to awaken silenced pathways are compared in this paper. These non-genetic induction strategies often need screening approaches, including one strain many compounds (OSMAC), reporter-guided mutant selection, and high throughput elicitor screening (HiTES) have been developed. Different types of genetic manipulations applied in the induction of cryptic BGCs of Actinobacteria can be categorized as genome-wide pleiotropic and targeted approaches like manipulation of global regulatory systems, modulation of regulatory genes, ribosome and engineering of RNA polymerase or phosphopantheteine transferases. Targeted approaches including genome editing by CRISPR, mutation in transcription factors and modification of BGCs promoters, inactivation of the highly expressed biosynthetic pathways, deleting the suppressors or awakening the activators, heterologous expression, or refactoring of gene clusters can be applied for activation of pathways which are predicted to synthesize new bioactive structures in genome mining studies of Acinobacteria. In this review, the challenges and advantages of employing these approaches in induction of Actinobacteria BGCs are discussed. Further, novel natural products needed as drug for pharmaceutical industry or as biofertilizers in agricultural industry can be discovered even from known species of Actinobactera by the innovative approaches of metabolite biosynthesis elicitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Karimian
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Science, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Navid Farahmandzad
- Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn university, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Lab, School of Biology and Center of Excellence in Phylogeny of Living Organisms, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, 14155-6455, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Mohammadipanah
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Lab, School of Biology and Center of Excellence in Phylogeny of Living Organisms, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, 14155-6455, Iran.
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Georjon H, Tesson F, Shomar H, Bernheim A. Genomic characterization of the antiviral arsenal of Actinobacteria. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001374. [PMID: 37531269 PMCID: PMC10482375 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001374] [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: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Phages are ubiquitous in nature, and bacteria with very different genomics, metabolisms, and lifestyles are subjected to their predation. Yet, the defence systems that allow bacteria to resist their phages have rarely been explored experimentally outside a very limited number of model organisms. Actinobacteria (Actinomycetota) are a phylum of GC-rich Gram-positive bacteria, which often produce an important diversity of secondary metabolites. Despite being ubiquitous in a wide range of environments, from soil to fresh and sea water but also the gut microbiome, relatively little is known about the anti-phage arsenal of Actinobacteria. In this work, we used DefenseFinder to systematically detect 131 anti-phage defence systems in 22803 fully sequenced prokaryotic genomes, among which are 2253 Actinobacteria of more than 700 species. We show that, like other bacteria, Actinobacteria encode many diverse anti-phage systems that are often encoded on mobile genetic elements. We further demonstrate that most detected defence systems are absent or rarer in Actinobacteria than in other bacteria, while a few rare systems are enriched (notably gp29-gp30 and Wadjet). We characterize the spatial distribution of anti-phage systems on Streptomyces chromosomes and show that some defence systems (e.g. RM systems) tend to be encoded in the core region, while others (e.g. Lamassu and Wadjet) are enriched towards the extremities. Overall, our results suggest that Actinobacteria might be a source of novel anti-phage systems and provide clues to characterize mechanistic aspects of known anti-phage systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héloïse Georjon
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
| | - Florian Tesson
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
- UMR 1137, IAME, Université de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Helena Shomar
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
| | - Aude Bernheim
- Molecular Diversity of Microbes Lab, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1284, Paris, France
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Luthe T, Kever L, Thormann K, Frunzke J. Bacterial multicellular behavior in antiviral defense. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 74:102314. [PMID: 37030144 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Multicellular behavior benefits seemingly simple organisms such as bacteria, by improving nutrient uptake, resistance to stresses, or by providing advantages in predatory interactions. Several recent studies have shown that this also extends to the defense against bacteriophages, which are omnipresent in almost all habitats. In this review, we summarize strategies conferring protection against phage infection at the multicellular level, covering secretion of small antiphage molecules or membrane vesicles, the role of quorum sensing in phage defense, the development of transient phage resistance, and the impact of biofilm components and architecture. Recent studies focusing on these topics push the boundaries of our understanding of the bacterial immune system and set the ground for an appreciation of bacterial multicellular behavior in antiviral defense.
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Kronheim S, Solomon E, Ho L, Glossop M, Davidson AR, Maxwell KL. Complete genomes and comparative analyses of Streptomyces phages that influence secondary metabolism and sporulation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9820. [PMID: 37330527 PMCID: PMC10276819 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36938-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria in the genus Streptomyces are found ubiquitously in nature and are known for the number and diversity of specialized metabolites they produce, as well as their complex developmental lifecycle. Studies of the viruses that prey on Streptomyces, known as phages, have aided the development of tools for genetic manipulation of these bacteria, as well as contributing to a deeper understanding of Streptomyces and their behaviours in the environment. Here, we present the genomic and biological characterization of twelve Streptomyces phages. Genome analyses reveal that these phages are closely related genetically, while experimental approaches show that they have broad overlapping host ranges, infect early in the Streptomyces lifecycle, and induce secondary metabolite production and sporulation in some Streptomyces species. This work expands the group of characterized Streptomyces phages and improves our understanding of Streptomyces phage-host dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kronheim
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Ethan Solomon
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Louis Ho
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Michelle Glossop
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Alan R Davidson
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Karen L Maxwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, 661 University Avenue, Suite 1600, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada.
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