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Lado S, Thannesberger J, Spettel K, Arpović J, Ferreira BI, Lavitrano M, Steininger C. Unveiling Inter- and Intra-Patient Sequence Variability with a Multi-Sample Coronavirus Target Enrichment Approach. Viruses 2024; 16:786. [PMID: 38793667 PMCID: PMC11125942 DOI: 10.3390/v16050786] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Amid the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, unraveling the genomic intricacies of SARS-CoV-2 became crucial. This study explores viral evolution using an innovative high-throughput next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach. By taking advantage of nasal swab and mouthwash samples from patients who tested positive for COVID-19 across different geographical regions during sequential infection waves, our study applied a targeted enrichment protocol and pooling strategy to increase detection sensitivity. The approach was extremely efficient, yielding a large number of reads and mutations distributed across 10 distinct viral gene regions. Notably, the genes Envelope, Nucleocapsid, and Open Reading Frame 8 had the highest number of unique mutations per 1000 nucleotides, with both spike and Nucleocapsid genes showing evidence for positive selection. Focusing on the spike protein gene, crucial in virus replication and immunogenicity, our findings show a dynamic SARS-CoV-2 evolution, emphasizing the virus-host interplay. Moreover, the pooling strategy facilitated subtle sequence variability detection. Our findings painted a dynamic portrait of SARS-CoV-2 evolution, emphasizing the intricate interplay between the virus and its host populations and accentuating the importance of continuous genomic surveillance to understand viral dynamics. As SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, this approach proves to be a powerful, versatile, fast, and cost-efficient screening tool for unraveling emerging variants, fostering understanding of the virus's genetic landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lado
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (S.L.); (J.T.)
| | - Jakob Thannesberger
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (S.L.); (J.T.)
| | - Kathrin Spettel
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
- Division of Biomedical Science, University of Applied Sciences, FH Campus Wien, 1100 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jurica Arpović
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Mostar, Bijeli Brijeg b.b., 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Bibiana I. Ferreira
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Edf. 2, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal;
- Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute, Campus de Gambelas, Edf. 2, lab 3.67, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | | | - Christoph Steininger
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (S.L.); (J.T.)
- Karl-Landsteiner Institute for Microbiome Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Istvan P, Birkeland E, Avershina E, Kværner AS, Bemanian V, Pardini B, Tarallo S, de Vos WM, Rognes T, Berstad P, Rounge TB. Exploring the gut DNA virome in fecal immunochemical test stool samples reveals associations with lifestyle in a large population-based study. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1791. [PMID: 38424056 PMCID: PMC10904388 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46033-0] [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: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Stool samples for fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are collected in large numbers worldwide as part of colorectal cancer screening programs. Employing FIT samples from 1034 CRCbiome participants, recruited from a Norwegian colorectal cancer screening study, we identify, annotate and characterize more than 18000 DNA viruses, using shotgun metagenome sequencing. Only six percent of them are assigned to a known taxonomic family, with Microviridae being the most prevalent viral family. Linking individual profiles to comprehensive lifestyle and demographic data shows 17/25 of the variables to be associated with the gut virome. Physical activity, smoking, and dietary fiber consumption exhibit strong and consistent associations with both diversity and relative abundance of individual viruses, as well as with enrichment for auxiliary metabolic genes. We demonstrate the suitability of FIT samples for virome analysis, opening an opportunity for large-scale studies of this enigmatic part of the gut microbiome. The diverse viral populations and their connections to the individual lifestyle uncovered herein paves the way for further exploration of the role of the gut virome in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Istvan
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Einar Birkeland
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ekaterina Avershina
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ane S Kværner
- Section for Colorectal Cancer Screening, Cancer Registry of Norway, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vahid Bemanian
- Pathology Department, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Barbara Pardini
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Turin, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), c/o IRCCS Candiolo, Turin, Italy
| | - Sonia Tarallo
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Turin, Italy
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), c/o IRCCS Candiolo, Turin, Italy
| | - Willem M de Vos
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Torbjørn Rognes
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Microbiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Paula Berstad
- Section for Colorectal Cancer Screening, Cancer Registry of Norway, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trine B Rounge
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute of Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
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Salazar-Hamm PS, Johnson WL, Nofchissey RA, Salazar JR, Gonzalez P, Goodfellow SM, Dunnum JL, Bradfute SB, Armién B, Cook JA, Domman DB, Dinwiddie DL. Choclo virus (CHOV) recovered from deep metatranscriptomics of archived frozen tissues in natural history biorepositories. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011672. [PMID: 38215158 PMCID: PMC10810438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011672] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hantaviruses are negative-stranded RNA viruses that can sometimes cause severe disease in humans; however, they are maintained in mammalian host populations without causing harm. In Panama, sigmodontine rodents serve as hosts to transmissible hantaviruses. Due to natural and anthropogenic forces, these rodent populations are having increased contact with humans. METHODS We extracted RNA and performed Illumina deep metatranscriptomic sequencing on Orthohantavirus seropositive museum tissues from rodents. We acquired sequence reads mapping to Choclo virus (CHOV, Orthohantavirus chocloense) from heart and kidney tissue of a two-decade old frozen museum sample from a Costa Rican pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys costaricensis) collected in Panama. Reads mapped to the CHOV reference were assembled and then validated by visualization of the mapped reads against the assembly. RESULTS We recovered a 91% complete consensus sequence from a reference-guided assembly to CHOV with an average of 16X coverage. The S and M segments used in our phylogenetic analyses were nearly complete (98% and 99%, respectively). There were 1,199 ambiguous base calls of which 93% were present in the L segment. Our assembled genome varied 1.1% from the CHOV reference sequence resulting in eight nonsynonymous mutations. Further analysis of all publicly available partial S segment sequences support a clear relationship between CHOV clinical cases and O. costaricensis acquired strains. CONCLUSIONS Viruses occurring at extremely low abundances can be recovered from deep metatranscriptomics of archival tissues housed in research natural history museum biorepositories. Our efforts resulted in the second CHOV genome publicly available. This genomic data is important for future surveillance and diagnostic tools as well as understanding the evolution and pathogenicity of CHOV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paris S. Salazar-Hamm
- Clinical and Translational Science Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Center for Global Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - William L. Johnson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Robert A. Nofchissey
- Center for Global Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Jacqueline R. Salazar
- Department of Research in Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Publio Gonzalez
- Department of Research in Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
| | - Samuel M. Goodfellow
- Center for Global Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Jonathan L. Dunnum
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Steven B. Bradfute
- Center for Global Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Blas Armién
- Department of Research in Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Gorgas Memorial Institute of Health Studies, Panama City, Panama
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación (SNI), Secretaria Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovacion (SENACYT), Panama City, Panama
| | - Joseph A. Cook
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Daryl B. Domman
- Clinical and Translational Science Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
- Center for Global Health, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Darrell L. Dinwiddie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America
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Diallo K, Missa KF, Tuo JK, Amoikon TLS, Bla BK, Bonfoh B. Narrative review of application of metagenomic approaches to study the link between oropharyngeal microbiome and infectious diseases. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1292526. [PMID: 38163063 PMCID: PMC10755466 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1292526] [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: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Context Viral and bacterial infections are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The oropharyngeal microbiome could play an important role in preventing invasion of viral and bacterial pathogens by modulating its content and the host's innate immune response. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies now enable in-depth study of the genomes of microbial communities. The objective of this review is to highlight how metagenomics has contributed to establish links between changes in the oropharyngeal microbiome and emergence of bacterial and viral diseases. Method Two search engines, PubMed and Google scholar were used with filters to focus searches on peer-reviewed original articles published between January 2010 and September 2022. Different keywords were used and only articles with metagenomic approaches were included. Results This review shows that there were few articles studying the link between oropharyngeal microbiome and infectious diseases. Studies on viruses using metagenomic techniques have been growing exponentially in recent years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This review shows that most studies still focus on the basic identification of microorganisms in different disease states and multiple microorganisms (Alloprevotella, Prevotella, Bacteroides, Haemophilus, Streptococcus, Klebsiella sp., Acinetobacter sp…), have been associated with development of infections such as childhood wheezing, influenza, Covid-19, pneumonia, meningitis, and tuberculosis. Conclusion The oropharyngeal microbiome, despite its importance, remains poorly studied. A limited number of articles were identified but this number has increased exponentially since 2020 due to research conducted on Covid-19. These studies have shown that metagenomic has contributed to the unbiased identification of bacteria that could be used as biomarkers of various diseases and that further research is now needed to capitalize on those findings for human health benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanny Diallo
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Kouassi Firmin Missa
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Université Félix Houphouët Boigny de Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Jeremie Kolotioloman Tuo
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
- Institut National Polytechnique Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB), Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire
| | | | - Brice K. Bla
- Université Félix Houphouët Boigny de Cocody, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
| | - Bassirou Bonfoh
- Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
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Wielscher M, Pfisterer K, Samardzic D, Balsini P, Bangert C, Jäger K, Buchberger M, Selitsch B, Pjevac P, Willinger B, Weninger W. The phageome in normal and inflamed human skin. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg4015. [PMID: 37774017 PMCID: PMC10541010 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg4015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Dysbiosis of skin microbiota drives the progression of atopic dermatitis (AD). The contribution of bacteriophages to bacterial community compositions in normal and inflamed skin is unknown. Using shotgun metagenomics from skin swabs of healthy individuals and patients with AD, we found 13,586 potential viral contiguous DNA sequences, which could be combined into 164 putative viral genomes including 133 putative phages. The Shannon diversity index for the viral metagenome-assembled genomes (vMAGs) did not correlate with AD. In total, we identified 28 vMAGs that differed significantly between normal and AD skin. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation of three complete vMAGs revealed their independence from host bacterium abundance. Our data indicate that normal and inflamed skin harbor distinct phageomes and suggest a causative relationship between changing viral and bacterial communities as a driver of skin pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Wielscher
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - K. Pfisterer
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - D. Samardzic
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - P. Balsini
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - C. Bangert
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - K. Jäger
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - M. Buchberger
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - B. Selitsch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - P. Pjevac
- University of Vienna, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, Vienna, Austria
- Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - B. Willinger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - W. Weninger
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Kashnikov AY, Epifanova NV, Novikova NA. On the nature of picobirnaviruses. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2023; 27:264-275. [PMID: 37293447 PMCID: PMC10244588 DOI: 10.18699/vjgb-23-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The picobirnaviruses (Picobirnaviridae, Picobirnavirus, PBVs) are currently thought to be animal viruses, as they are usually found in animal stool samples. However, no animal model or cell culture for their propagation has yet been found. In 2018, a hypothetical assumption about PBVs belonging to prokaryotic viruses was put forward and experimentally substantiated. This hypothesis is based on the presence of Shine-Dalgarno sequences in the genome of all PBVs before three reading frames (ORF) at the ribosomal binding site, with which the prokaryotic genome is saturated, while in the eukaryotic genome such regions occur with low frequency. The genome saturation with the Shine-Dalgarno sequences, as well as the preservation of this saturation in the progeny, according to scientists, allows us to attribute PBVs to prokaryotic viruses. On the other hand, there is a possibility that PBVs belong to viruses of eukaryotic hosts - fungi or invertebrates, since PBV-like sequences similar to the genome of fungal viruses from the families of mitoviruses and partitiviruses have been identified. In this regard, the idea arose that, in terms of reproduction mode, PBVs resemble fungal viruses. The divergence of views on the true PBV host(s) has sparked discussions among scientists and required further research to elucidate their nature. The review highlights the results of the search for a PBV host. The reasons for the occurrence of atypical sequences among the PBV genome sequences that use an alternative mitochondrial code of lower eukaryotes (fungi and invertebrates) for the translation of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) instead of the standard genetic code are analyzed. The purpose of the review was to collect arguments in support of the hypothesis about the phage nature of PBVs and to find the most realistic explanation of the reasons for identifying non-standard genomic sequences for PBVs. Based on the hypothesis about the genealogical relationship of PBVs with RNA viruses from other families with similar segmented genomes, such as Reoviridae, Cystoviridae, Totiviridae and Partitiviridae, virologists support the assumption of a decisive role in the origin of atypical PBV-like reassortment strains between PBVs and viruses of the listed families. The collected arguments given in this review indicate a high probability of a phage nature of PBVs. The data presented in the review show that the belonging of PBV-like progeny to prokaryotic or eukaryotic viruses is determined not only by its genome saturation level with a prokaryotic motif, standard or mitochondrial genetic code. The primary structure of the gene encoding the viral capsid protein responsible for the presence or absence of specific proteolytic properties of the virus that determine its ability for independent horizontal transmission into new cells may also be a decisive factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Yu Kashnikov
- I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - N V Epifanova
- I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - N A Novikova
- I.N. Blokhina Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
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Munro-Ehrlich M, Nothaft DB, Fones EM, Matter JM, Templeton AS, Boyd ES. Parapatric speciation of Meiothermus in serpentinite-hosted aquifers in Oman. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1138656. [PMID: 37125170 PMCID: PMC10130571 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1138656] [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: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The factors that control the distribution and evolution of microbial life in subsurface environments remain enigmatic due to challenges associated with sampling fluids from discrete depth intervals via boreholes while avoiding mixing of fluids. Here, using an inflatable packer system, fracture waters were isolated and collected from three discrete depth intervals spanning >130 m in a borehole intersecting an ultramafic rock formation undergoing serpentinization in the Samail Ophiolite, Sultanate of Oman. Near surface aquifer waters were moderately reducing and had alkaline pH while deeper aquifer waters were reduced and had hyperalkaline pH, indicating extensive influence by serpentinization. Metagenomic sequencing and analysis of DNA from filtered biomass collected from discrete depth intervals revealed an abundance of aerobes in near surface waters and a greater proportion of anaerobes at depth. Yet the abundance of the putatively obligate aerobe, Meiothermus, increased with depth, providing an opportunity to evaluate the influence of chemical and spatial variation on its distribution and speciation. Two clades of Meiothermus metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) were identified that correspond to surface and deep populations termed Types I (S) and II (D), respectively; both clades comprised an apparently Oman-specific lineage indicating a common ancestor. Type II (D) clade MAGs encoded fewer genes and were undergoing slower genome replication as inferred from read mapping. Further, single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and mobile genetic elements identified among MAGs revealed detectable, albeit limited, evidence for gene flow/recombination between spatially segregated Type I (S) and Type II (D) populations. Together, these observations indicate that chemical variation generated by serpentinization, combined with physical barriers that reduce/limit dispersal and gene flow, allowed for the parapatric speciation of Meiothermus in the Samail Ophiolite or a geologic precursor. Further, Meiothermus genomic data suggest that deep and shallow aquifer fluids in the Samail Ophiolite may mix over shorter time scales than has been previously estimated from geochemical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason Munro-Ehrlich
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Daniel B. Nothaft
- Department of Geosciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Elizabeth M. Fones
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Juerg M. Matter
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Alexis S. Templeton
- Department of Geosciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Eric S. Boyd
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
- *Correspondence: Eric S. Boyd,
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Arunasri K, Sai Prashanthi G, Tyagi M, Pappuru RR, Shivaji S. Intraocular Viral Communities Associated With Post-fever Retinitis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:724195. [PMID: 34869420 PMCID: PMC8639604 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.724195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The virome of ocular fluids is naive. The results of this study highlight the virome in the vitreous fluid of the eye of individuals without any ocular infection and compare it with the virome of the vitreous fluid of individuals with retinitis. A total of 1,016,037 viral reads were generated from 25 vitreous fluid samples comprising control and post-fever retinitis (PFR) samples. The top 10 viral families in the vitreous fluids comprised of Myoviridae, Siphoviridae, Phycodnaviridae, Herpesviridae, Poxviridae, Iridoviridae, Podoviridae, Retroviridae, Baculoviridae, and Flaviviridae. Principal coordinate analysis and heat map analysis clearly discriminated the virome of the vitreous fluid of the controls from that of the PFR virome. The abundance of 10 viral genera increased significantly in the vitreous fluid virome of the post-fever retinitis group compared with the control group. Genus Lymphocryptovirus, comprising the human pathogen Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) that is also implicated in ocular infections was significantly abundant in eight out of the nine vitreous fluid viromes of post-fever retinitis group samples compared with the control viromes. Human viruses, such as Hepacivirus, Circovirus, and Kobuvirus, were also significantly increased in abundance in the vitreous fluid viromes of post-fever retinitis group samples compared with the control viromes. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional analysis and the network analysis depicted an increase in the immune response by the host in the post-fever retinitis group compared with the control group. All together, the results of the study indicate changes in the virome in the vitreous fluid of patients with the post-fever retinitis group compared to the control group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotakonda Arunasri
- Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Mudit Tyagi
- Smt. Kanuri Santhamma Center for Vitreo Retinal Diseases, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
| | - Rajeev R. Pappuru
- Smt. Kanuri Santhamma Center for Vitreo Retinal Diseases, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
| | - Sisinthy Shivaji
- Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L. V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
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Thannesberger J, Rascovan N, Eisenmann A, Klymiuk I, Zittra C, Fuehrer HP, Scantlebury-Manning T, Gittens-St Hilaire M, Austin S, Landis RC, Steininger C. Viral metagenomics reveals the presence of novel Zika virus variants in Aedes mosquitoes from Barbados. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:343. [PMID: 34187544 PMCID: PMC8244189 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04840-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic of 2015/2016 spread throughout numerous countries. It emerged in mainland Latin America and spread to neighboring islands, including the Caribbean island of Barbados. Recent studies have indicated that the virus must have already been circulating in local mosquito populations in Brazil for almost 2 years before it was identified by the World Health Organization in 2015. Metagenomic detection assays have the potential to detect emerging pathogens without prior knowledge of their genomic nucleic acid sequence. Yet their applicability as vector surveillance tools has been widely limited by the complexity of DNA populations from field-collected mosquito preparations. The aim of this study was to investigate local vector biology and characterize metagenomic arbovirus diversity in Aedes mosquitoes during the ongoing 2015/2016 ZIKV epidemic. Methods We performed a short-term vector screening study on the island of Barbados during the ongoing 2015/2016 ZIKV epidemic, where we sampled local Aedes mosquitoes. We reanalyzed mosquito viral microbiome data derived from standard Illumina MiSeq sequencing to detect arbovirus sequences. Additionally, we employed deep sequencing techniques (Illumina HiSeq) and designed a novel bait capture enrichment assay to increase sequencing efficiency for arbovirus sequences from complex DNA samples. Results We found that Aedes aegypti seemed to be the most likely vector of ZIKV, although it prevailed at a low density during the observed time period. The number of detected viruses increased with sequencing depth. Arbovirus sequence enrichment of metagenomic DNA preparations allowed the detection of arbovirus sequences of two different ZIKV genotypes, including a novel one. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the S3116W mutation in the NS5 gene region of ZIKV polyprotein. Conclusions The metagenomic arbovirus detection approach presented here may serve as a useful tool for the identification of epidemic-causing arboviruses with the additional benefit of enabling the collection of phylogenetic information on the source. Apart from detecting more than 88 viruses using this approach, we also found evidence of novel ZIKV variants circulating in the local mosquito population during the observed time period. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04840-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Thannesberger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - N Rascovan
- Department of Genomes & Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - A Eisenmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - I Klymiuk
- Department of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - C Zittra
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - H P Fuehrer
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - T Scantlebury-Manning
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Bridgetown, Barbados
| | | | - S Austin
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Cave Hill, Barbados
| | - R C Landis
- Edmund Cohen Laboratory for Vascular Research, George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, The University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados
| | - C Steininger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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10
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Xiao W, Ma Z(S. Inter-Individual Diversity Scaling Analysis of the Human Virome With Classic Diversity-Area Relationship (DAR) Modeling. Front Genet 2021; 12:627128. [PMID: 33959147 PMCID: PMC8095712 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.627128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The human virome is a critical component of the human microbiome, and it is believed to hold the richest diversity within human microbiomes. Yet, the inter-individual scaling (changes) of the human virome has not been formally investigated to the best of our knowledge. Here we fill the gap by applying diversity-area relationship (DAR) modeling (a recent extension to the classic species-area law in biodiversity and biogeography research) for analyzing four large datasets of the human virome with three DAR profiles: DAR scaling (z)-measuring the inter-individual heterogeneity in virome diversity, MAD (maximal accrual diversity: D max ) and LGD ratio (ratio of local diversity to global diversity)-measuring the percentage of individual to population level diversity. Our analyses suggest: (i) The diversity scaling parameter (z) is rather resilient against the diseases as indicated by the lack of significant differences between the healthy and diseased treatments. (ii) The potential maximal accrual diversity (D max ) is less resilient and may vary between the healthy and diseased groups or between different body sites. (iii) The LGD ratio of bacterial communities is much smaller than for viral communities, and relates to the comparatively greater heterogeneity between local vs. global diversity levels found for bacterial-biomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanmeng Xiao
- Computational Biology and Medical Ecology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Kunming College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Zhanshan (Sam) Ma
- Computational Biology and Medical Ecology Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
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11
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Bashir AK, Wink L, Duller S, Schwendner P, Cockell C, Rettberg P, Mahnert A, Beblo-Vranesevic K, Bohmeier M, Rabbow E, Gaboyer F, Westall F, Walter N, Cabezas P, Garcia-Descalzo L, Gomez F, Malki M, Amils R, Ehrenfreund P, Monaghan E, Vannier P, Marteinsson V, Erlacher A, Tanski G, Strauss J, Bashir M, Riedo A, Moissl-Eichinger C. Taxonomic and functional analyses of intact microbial communities thriving in extreme, astrobiology-relevant, anoxic sites. MICROBIOME 2021; 9:50. [PMID: 33602336 PMCID: PMC7893877 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00989-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extreme terrestrial, analogue environments are widely used models to study the limits of life and to infer habitability of extraterrestrial settings. In contrast to Earth's ecosystems, potential extraterrestrial biotopes are usually characterized by a lack of oxygen. METHODS In the MASE project (Mars Analogues for Space Exploration), we selected representative anoxic analogue environments (permafrost, salt-mine, acidic lake and river, sulfur springs) for the comprehensive analysis of their microbial communities. We assessed the microbiome profile of intact cells by propidium monoazide-based amplicon and shotgun metagenome sequencing, supplemented with an extensive cultivation effort. RESULTS The information retrieved from microbiome analyses on the intact microbial community thriving in the MASE sites, together with the isolation of 31 model microorganisms and successful binning of 15 high-quality genomes allowed us to observe principle pathways, which pinpoint specific microbial functions in the MASE sites compared to moderate environments. The microorganisms were characterized by an impressive machinery to withstand physical and chemical pressures. All levels of our analyses revealed the strong and omnipresent dependency of the microbial communities on complex organic matter. Moreover, we identified an extremotolerant cosmopolitan group of 34 poly-extremophiles thriving in all sites. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal the presence of a core microbiome and microbial taxonomic similarities between saline and acidic anoxic environments. Our work further emphasizes the importance of the environmental, terrestrial parameters for the functionality of a microbial community, but also reveals a high proportion of living microorganisms in extreme environments with a high adaptation potential within habitability borders. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Kristin Bashir
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Department of Microbiology and Archaea Center, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Wink
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Stefanie Duller
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Petra Schwendner
- UK Center for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Charles Cockell
- UK Center for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Petra Rettberg
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Alexander Mahnert
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Kristina Beblo-Vranesevic
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Maria Bohmeier
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Elke Rabbow
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Radiation Biology Department, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Frederic Gaboyer
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherché Scientifique (CNRS), Orléans, France
| | - Frances Westall
- Centre de Biophysique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherché Scientifique (CNRS), Orléans, France
| | | | | | - Laura Garcia-Descalzo
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial – Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CAB), Madrid, Spain
| | - Felipe Gomez
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial – Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CAB), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mustapha Malki
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Euan Monaghan
- Leiden Observatory, Universiteit Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Viggo Marteinsson
- MATIS, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Armin Erlacher
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - George Tanski
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Periglacial Research Unit, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jens Strauss
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Periglacial Research Unit, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Mina Bashir
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Riedo
- Sackler Laboratory for Astrophysics, Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Moissl-Eichinger
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BioTechMed, Graz, Austria
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12
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Żaczek M, Weber-Dąbrowska B, Międzybrodzki R, Górski A. Phage Prevalence in the Human Urinary Tract-Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Implications. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111802. [PMID: 33212807 PMCID: PMC7696197 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent metagenomic analyses imply an immense abundance of phages in the human body. Samples collected from different sites (lungs, skin, oral cavity, intestines, ascitic fluid, and urine) reveal a generally greater number of phage particles than that of eukaryotic viruses. The presence of phages in those tissues and fluids reflects the paths they must overcome in the human body, but may also relate to the health statuses of individuals. Besides shaping bacterial metabolism and community structure, the role of phages circulating in body fluids has not been fully understood yet. The lack of relevant reports is especially visible with regard to the human urobiome. Certainly, phage presence and the role they have to fulfill in the human urinary tract raises questions on potential therapeutic connotations. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in humans and their treatment poses a difficult therapeutic dilemma. Despite effective antibiotic therapy, these infections tend to recur. In this review, we summarized the recent data on phage presence in the human urinary tract and its possible implications for health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Żaczek
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (M.Ż.); (B.W.-D.); (R.M.)
| | - Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (M.Ż.); (B.W.-D.); (R.M.)
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ryszard Międzybrodzki
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (M.Ż.); (B.W.-D.); (R.M.)
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Górski
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland; (M.Ż.); (B.W.-D.); (R.M.)
- Phage Therapy Unit, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
- Infant Jesus Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-005 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
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13
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Brown JM, Labonté JM, Brown J, Record NR, Poulton NJ, Sieracki ME, Logares R, Stepanauskas R. Single Cell Genomics Reveals Viruses Consumed by Marine Protists. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:524828. [PMID: 33072003 PMCID: PMC7541821 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.524828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The predominant model of the role of viruses in the marine trophic web is that of the “viral shunt,” where viral infection funnels a substantial fraction of the microbial primary and secondary production back to the pool of dissolved organic matter. Here, we analyzed the composition of non-eukaryotic DNA associated with individual cells of small, planktonic protists in the Gulf of Maine (GoM) and the Mediterranean Sea. We found viral DNA associated with a substantial fraction cells from the GoM (51%) and the Mediterranean Sea (35%). While Mediterranean SAGs contained a larger proportion of cells containing bacterial sequences (49%), a smaller fraction of cells contained bacterial sequences in the GoM (19%). In GoM cells, nearly identical bacteriophage and ssDNA virus sequences where found across diverse lineages of protists, suggesting many of these viruses are non-infective. The fraction of cells containing viral DNA varied among protistan lineages and reached 100% in Picozoa and Choanozoa. These two groups also contained significantly higher numbers of viral sequences than other identified taxa. We consider mechanisms that may explain the presence of viral DNA in protistan cells and conclude that protistan predation on free viral particles contributed to the observed patterns. These findings confirm prior experiments with protistan isolates and indicate that the viral shunt is complemented by a viral link in the marine microbial food web. This link may constitute a sink of viral particles in the ocean and has implications for the flow of carbon through the microbial food web.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Brown
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, United States
| | - Jessica M Labonté
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Joseph Brown
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Nicholas R Record
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, United States
| | - Nicole J Poulton
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, United States
| | - Michael E Sieracki
- Division of Ocean Sciences, National Science Foundation, Alexandria, VA, United States
| | - Ramiro Logares
- Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
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14
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Thannesberger J, Rascovan N, Eisenmann A, Klymiuk I, Zittra C, Fuehrer HP, Scantlebury-Manning T, Gittens-St.Hilaire M, Austin S, Landis RC, Steininger C. Highly Sensitive Virome Characterization of Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens Complex from Central Europe and the Caribbean Reveals Potential for Interspecies Viral Transmission. Pathogens 2020; 9:E686. [PMID: 32839419 PMCID: PMC7559857 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9090686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Mosquitoes are the most important vectors for arthropod-borne viral diseases. Mixed viral infections of mosquitoes allow genetic recombination or reassortment of diverse viruses, turning mosquitoes into potential virologic mixing bowls. In this study, we field-collected mosquitoes of different species (Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens complex), from different geographic locations and environments (central Europe and the Caribbean) for highly sensitive next-generation sequencing-based virome characterization. We found a rich virus community associated with a great diversity of host species. Among those, we detected a large diversity of novel virus sequences that we could predominately assign to circular Rep-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses, including the full-length genome of a yet undescribed Gemykrogvirus species. Moreover, we report for the first time the detection of a potentially zoonotic CRESS-DNA virus (Cyclovirus VN) in mosquito vectors. This study expands the knowledge on virus diversity in medically important mosquito vectors, especially for CRESS-DNA viruses that have previously been shown to easily recombine and jump the species barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Thannesberger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (A.E.)
| | - Nicolas Rascovan
- Department of Genomes & Genetics, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France;
| | - Anna Eisenmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (A.E.)
| | - Ingeborg Klymiuk
- Center for Medical Research, Core Facility Molecular Biology, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria;
| | - Carina Zittra
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (C.Z.); (H.-P.F.)
- Unit Limnology, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hans-Peter Fuehrer
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (C.Z.); (H.-P.F.)
| | - Thea Scantlebury-Manning
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Cave Hill Campus, The University of the West Indies, Bridgetown BB11000, Barbados; (T.S.-M.); (S.A.)
| | - Marquita Gittens-St.Hilaire
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, St. Michael BB14004, Barbados;
| | - Shane Austin
- Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Cave Hill Campus, The University of the West Indies, Bridgetown BB11000, Barbados; (T.S.-M.); (S.A.)
| | - Robert Clive Landis
- Edmund Cohen Laboratory for Vascular Research, George Alleyne Chronic Disease Research Centre, The University of the West Indies, Bridgetown BB11115, Barbados;
| | - Christoph Steininger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (J.T.); (A.E.)
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15
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Khan Mirzaei M, Xue J, Costa R, Ru J, Schulz S, Taranu ZE, Deng L. Challenges of Studying the Human Virome - Relevant Emerging Technologies. Trends Microbiol 2020; 29:171-181. [PMID: 32622559 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
In this review we provide an overview of current challenges and advances in bacteriophage research within the growing field of viromics. In particular, we discuss, from a human virome study perspective, the current and emerging technologies available, their limitations in terms of de novo discoveries, and possible solutions to overcome present experimental and computational biases associated with low abundance of viral DNA or RNA. We summarize recent breakthroughs in metagenomics assembling tools and single-cell analysis, which have the potential to increase our understanding of phage biology, diversity, and interactions with both the microbial community and the human body. We expect that these recent and future advances in the field of viromics will have a strong impact on how we develop phage-based therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadali Khan Mirzaei
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich and Technical University of Munich, Neuherberg, Bavaria 85764, Germany
| | - Jinling Xue
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich and Technical University of Munich, Neuherberg, Bavaria 85764, Germany
| | - Rita Costa
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich and Technical University of Munich, Neuherberg, Bavaria 85764, Germany
| | - Jinlong Ru
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich and Technical University of Munich, Neuherberg, Bavaria 85764, Germany
| | - Sarah Schulz
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich and Technical University of Munich, Neuherberg, Bavaria 85764, Germany
| | - Zofia E Taranu
- Aquatic Contaminants Research Division (ACRD), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Montréal, QC H2Y 2E7, Canada
| | - Li Deng
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich and Technical University of Munich, Neuherberg, Bavaria 85764, Germany.
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16
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Abstract
The discovery of bacteria in the female urinary bladder has fundamentally changed current dogma regarding the urinary tract and related urinary disorders. Previous research characterized many of the bacterial components of the female urinary tract, but the viral fraction of this community is largely unknown. Viruses within the human microbiota far outnumber bacterial cells, with the most abundant viruses being those that infect bacteria (bacteriophages). Similar to observations within the microbiota of the gut and oral cavity, preliminary surveys of the urinary tract and bladder microbiota indicate a rich diversity of uncharacterized bacteriophage (phage) species. Phages are vital members of the microbiota, having critical roles in shaping bacterial metabolism and community structure. Although phages have been discovered in the urinary tract, such as phages that infect Escherichia coli, sampling them is challenging owing to low biomass, possible contamination when using non-invasive methods and the invasiveness of methods that reduce the potential for contamination. Phages could influence bladder health, but an understanding of the association between phage communities, bacterial populations and bladder health is in its infancy. However, evidence suggests that phages can defend the host against pathogenic bacteria and, therefore, modulation of the microbiome using phages has therapeutic potential for lower urinary tract symptoms. Furthermore, as natural predators of bacteria, phages have garnered renewed interest for their use as antimicrobial agents, for instance, in the treatment of urinary tract infections.
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17
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Żaczek M, Górski A, Skaradzińska A, Łusiak-Szelachowska M, Weber-Dąbrowska B. Phage penetration of eukaryotic cells: practical implications. Future Virol 2019. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2019-0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The inability to infect eukaryotic cells has been considered as the most undeniable feature of all bacterial viruses. Such specificity, limited only for bacterial hosts, raises questions about the paths and challenges phages should overcome when circulating through the human body. Recently, it has been shown that phages are able to continually penetrate human organs and tissues. Latest reports revealed that phages can cross eukaryotic cell barriers both para- and transcellularly and even reach the nucleus. Further, phages are capable of internalizing within cells through different endocytic mechanisms. Such phenomenon indicates that phages could shape human microbiome composition and affect all aspects of human health. Thus, herein, we summarize the current state of knowledge and describe this phenomenon with a particular emphasis on endocytic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Żaczek
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology & Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), R. Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Andrzej Górski
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology & Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), R. Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
- Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology & Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), R. Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aneta Skaradzińska
- Department of Biotechnology & Food Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology & Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental & Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 37, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marzanna Łusiak-Szelachowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology & Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), R. Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology & Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), R. Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
- Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology & Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), R. Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
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18
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Pacífico C, Hilbert M, Sofka D, Dinhopl N, Pap IJ, Aspöck C, Carriço JA, Hilbert F. Natural Occurrence of Escherichia coli-Infecting Bacteriophages in Clinical Samples. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2484. [PMID: 31736918 PMCID: PMC6834657 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between bacteriophages, bacteria and the human host as a tripartite system has recently captured attention. The taxonomic diversity of bacteriophages, as a natural parasite of bacteria, still remains obscure in human body biomes, representing a so-called “viral dark matter.” Here, we isolated and characterized coliphages from blood, urine and tracheal aspirates samples collected at a tertiary care hospital in Austria. Phages were more often isolated from blood, followed by urine and tracheal aspirates. Phylogenetic analysis and genome comparisons allowed the identification of phages belonging to the Tunavirinae subfamily, and to the Peduovirus and Tequintavirus genera. Tunavirinae phages cluster together and are found in samples from 14 patients, suggesting their prevalence across a variety of human samples. When compared with other phage genomes, the highest similarity level was at 87.69% average nucleotide identity (ANI), which suggests that these are in fact a newly isolated phage species. Tequintavirus phages share a 95.90% with phage 3_29, challenging the ANI threshold currently accepted to differentiate phage species. The isolated phages appear to be virulent, with the exception of the Peduovirus members, which are integrative and seem to reside as prophages in bacterial genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Pacífico
- Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Miriam Hilbert
- Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria
| | - Dmitrij Sofka
- Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nora Dinhopl
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ildiko-Julia Pap
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University Hospital St. Pölten, St. Pölten, Austria
| | - Christoph Aspöck
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria.,Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University Hospital St. Pölten, St. Pölten, Austria
| | - João André Carriço
- Faculty of Medicine, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Friederike Hilbert
- Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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19
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Ghose C, Ly M, Schwanemann LK, Shin JH, Atab K, Barr JJ, Little M, Schooley RT, Chopyk J, Pride DT. The Virome of Cerebrospinal Fluid: Viruses Where We Once Thought There Were None. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2061. [PMID: 31555247 PMCID: PMC6742758 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, medicine has held that some human body sites are sterile and that the introduction of microbes to these sites results in infections. This paradigm shifted significantly with the discovery of the human microbiome and acceptance of these commensal microbes living across the body. However, the central nervous system (CNS) is still believed by many to be sterile in healthy people. Using culture-independent methods, we examined the virome of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a cohort of mostly healthy human subjects. We identified a community of DNA viruses, most of which were identified as bacteriophages. Compared to other human specimen types, CSF viromes were not ecologically distinct. There was a high alpha diversity cluster that included feces, saliva, and urine, and a low alpha diversity cluster that included CSF, body fluids, plasma, and breast milk. The high diversity cluster included specimens known to have many bacteria, while other specimens traditionally assumed to be sterile formed the low diversity cluster. There was an abundance of viruses shared among CSF, breast milk, plasma, and body fluids, while each generally shared less with urine, feces, and saliva. These shared viruses ranged across different virus families, indicating that similarities between these viromes represent more than just a single shared virus family. By identifying a virome in the CSF of mostly healthy individuals, it is now less likely that any human body site is devoid of microbes, which further highlights the need to decipher the role that viral communities may play in human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melissa Ly
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Leila K Schwanemann
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Ji Hyun Shin
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Katayoon Atab
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jeremy J Barr
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark Little
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Robert T Schooley
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jessica Chopyk
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - David T Pride
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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20
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Space Station conditions are selective but do not alter microbial characteristics relevant to human health. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3990. [PMID: 31488812 PMCID: PMC6728350 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11682-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The International Space Station (ISS) is a unique habitat for humans and microorganisms. Here, we report the results of the ISS experiment EXTREMOPHILES, including the analysis of microbial communities from several areas aboard at three time points. We assess microbial diversity, distribution, functional capacity and resistance profile using a combination of cultivation-independent analyses (amplicon and shot-gun sequencing) and cultivation-dependent analyses (physiological and genetic characterization of microbial isolates, antibiotic resistance tests, co-incubation experiments). We show that the ISS microbial communities are highly similar to those present in ground-based confined indoor environments and are subject to fluctuations, although a core microbiome persists over time and locations. The genomic and physiological features selected by ISS conditions do not appear to be directly relevant to human health, although adaptations towards biofilm formation and surface interactions were observed. Our results do not raise direct reason for concern with respect to crew health, but indicate a potential threat towards material integrity in moist areas. The International Space Station is a unique habitat for humans and microbes. Here, Mora et al. analyze microbial communities from several areas aboard, finding similarities with those of ground-based indoor environments, as well as adaptations towards biofilm formation but not necessarily relevant to human health.
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21
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Garretto A, Hatzopoulos T, Putonti C. virMine: automated detection of viral sequences from complex metagenomic samples. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6695. [PMID: 30993039 PMCID: PMC6462185 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Metagenomics has enabled sequencing of viral communities from a myriad of different environments. Viral metagenomic studies routinely uncover sequences with no recognizable homology to known coding regions or genomes. Nevertheless, complete viral genomes have been constructed directly from complex community metagenomes, often through tedious manual curation. To address this, we developed the software tool virMine to identify viral genomes from raw reads representative of viral or mixed (viral and bacterial) communities. virMine automates sequence read quality control, assembly, and annotation. Researchers can easily refine their search for a specific study system and/or feature(s) of interest. In contrast to other viral genome detection tools that often rely on the recognition of viral signature sequences, virMine is not restricted by the insufficient representation of viral diversity in public data repositories. Rather, viral genomes are identified through an iterative approach, first omitting non-viral sequences. Thus, both relatives of previously characterized viruses and novel species can be detected, including both eukaryotic viruses and bacteriophages. Here we present virMine and its analysis of synthetic communities as well as metagenomic data sets from three distinctly different environments: the gut microbiota, the urinary microbiota, and freshwater viromes. Several new viral genomes were identified and annotated, thus contributing to our understanding of viral genetic diversity in these three environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Garretto
- Bioinformatics Program, Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Thomas Hatzopoulos
- Department of Computer Science, Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Catherine Putonti
- Bioinformatics Program, Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America.,Department of Computer Science, Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America.,Department of Biology, Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States of America.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University of Chicago, Maywood, IL, United States of America
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22
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MUW researcher of the month. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00508-019-1477-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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23
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Wally N, Schneider M, Thannesberger J, Kastner MT, Bakonyi T, Indik S, Rattei T, Bedarf J, Hildebrand F, Law J, Jovel J, Steininger C. Plasmid DNA contaminant in molecular reagents. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1652. [PMID: 30733546 PMCID: PMC6367390 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38733-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background noise in metagenomic studies is often of high importance and its removal requires extensive post-analytic, bioinformatics filtering. This is relevant as significant signals may be lost due to a low signal-to-noise ratio. The presence of plasmid residues, that are frequently present in reagents as contaminants, has not been investigated so far, but may pose a substantial bias. Here we show that plasmid sequences from different sources are omnipresent in molecular biology reagents. Using a metagenomic approach, we identified the presence of the (pol) of equine infectious anemia virus in human samples and traced it back to the expression plasmid used for generation of a commercial reverse transcriptase. We found fragments of multiple other expression plasmids in human samples as well as commercial polymerase preparations. Plasmid contamination sources included production chain of molecular biology reagents as well as contamination of reagents from environment or human handling of samples and reagents. Retrospective analyses of published metagenomic studies revealed an inaccurate signal-to-noise differentiation. Hence, the plasmid sequences that seem to be omnipresent in molecular biology reagents may misguide conclusions derived from genomic/metagenomics datasets and thus also clinical interpretations. Critical appraisal of metagenomic data sets for the possibility of plasmid background noise is required to identify reliable and significant signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Wally
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Schneider
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - J Thannesberger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - M T Kastner
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - T Bakonyi
- University of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Indik
- University of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Virology, Vienna, Austria
| | - T Rattei
- CUBE-Division of Computational Systems Biology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - J Bedarf
- German Centre for neurodegenerative disease research (DZNE), Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - F Hildebrand
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Law
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - J Jovel
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - C Steininger
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine 1, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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24
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Fernández-Orth D, Miró E, Brown-Jaque M, Rodríguez-Rubio L, Espinal P, Rodriguez-Navarro J, González-López JJ, Muniesa M, Navarro F. Faecal phageome of healthy individuals: presence of antibiotic resistance genes and variations caused by ciprofloxacin treatment. J Antimicrob Chemother 2019; 74:854-864. [DOI: 10.1093/jac/dky540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisenda Miró
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau, Sant Quintí 89, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maryury Brown-Jaque
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, Annex, Floor 0, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lorena Rodríguez-Rubio
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, Annex, Floor 0, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Espinal
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau, Sant Quintí 89, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Judith Rodriguez-Navarro
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau, Sant Quintí 89, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan José González-López
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), Pg Vall d’Hebron 119-129, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maite Muniesa
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, Annex, Floor 0, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferran Navarro
- Servei de Microbiologia, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau, Sant Quintí 89, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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25
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Bacteriocins and Bacteriophages: Therapeutic Weapons for Gastrointestinal Diseases? Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20010183. [PMID: 30621339 PMCID: PMC6337595 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20010183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriocins are bactericidal peptides, ribosomally synthesized, with an inhibitory activity against diverse groups of undesirable microorganisms. Bacteriocins are produced by both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and to a lesser extent by some archaea. Bacteriophages are viruses that are able to infect bacterial cells and force them to produce viral components, using a lytic or lysogenic cycle. They constitute a large community in the human gut called the phageome, the most abundant part of the gut virome. Bacteriocins and bacteriophages may have an influence on both human health and diseases, thanks to their ability to modulate the gut microbiota and regulate the competitive relationship among the different microorganisms, strains and cells living in the human intestine. In this review, we explore the role of bacteriocins and bacteriophages in the most frequent gastrointestinal diseases by dissecting their interaction with the complex environment of the human gut, analyzing a possible link with extra-intestinal diseases, and speculating on their possible therapeutic application with the end goal of promoting gut health.
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26
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Abstract
The human body is colonized by a diverse collective of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. The smallest entity of this microbial conglomerate are the bacterial viruses. Bacteriophages, or phages for short, exert significant selective pressure on their bacterial hosts, undoubtedly influencing the human microbiome and its impact on our health and well-being. Phages colonize all niches of the body, including the skin, oral cavity, lungs, gut, and urinary tract. As such our bodies are frequently and continuously exposed to diverse collections of phages. Despite the prevalence of phages throughout our bodies, the extent of their interactions with human cells, organs, and immune system is still largely unknown. Phages physically interact with our mucosal surfaces, are capable of bypassing epithelial cell layers, disseminate throughout the body and may manipulate our immune system. Here, I establish the novel concept of an "intra-body phageome," which encompasses the collection of phages residing within the classically "sterile" regions of the body. This review will take a phage-centric view of the microbiota, human body, and immune system with the ultimate goal of inspiring a greater appreciation for both the indirect and direct interactions between bacteriophages and their mammalian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J Barr
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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27
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Górski A, Jończyk-Matysiak E, Międzybrodzki R, Weber-Dąbrowska B, Łusiak-Szelachowska M, Bagińska N, Borysowski J, Łobocka MB, Węgrzyn A, Węgrzyn G. Phage Therapy: Beyond Antibacterial Action. Front Med (Lausanne) 2018; 5:146. [PMID: 29876350 PMCID: PMC5974148 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2018.00146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Until recently, phages were considered as mere “bacteria eaters” with potential for use in combating antimicrobial resistance. The real value of phage therapy assessed according to the standards of evidence-based medicine awaits confirmation by clinical trials. However, the progress in research on phage biology has shed more light on the significance of phages. Accumulating data indicate that phages may also interact with eukaryotic cells. How such interactions could be translated into advances in medicine (especially novel means of therapy) is discussed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Górski
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.,Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.,Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Jończyk-Matysiak
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ryszard Międzybrodzki
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.,Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.,Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.,Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marzanna Łusiak-Szelachowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Natalia Bagińska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Jan Borysowski
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata B Łobocka
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.,Autonomous Department of Microbial Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alicja Węgrzyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Węgrzyn
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
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28
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The mitochondrial genome of the oribatid mite Paraleius leontonychus: new insights into tRNA evolution and phylogenetic relationships in acariform mites. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7558. [PMID: 29765106 PMCID: PMC5954100 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25981-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bilaterian mitochondrial (mt) genomes are circular molecules that typically contain 37 genes. To date, only a single complete mitogenome sequence is available for the species-rich sarcoptiform mite order Oribatida. We sequenced the mitogenome of Paraleius leontonychus, another species of this suborder. It is 14,186 bp long and contains 35 genes, including only 20 tRNAs, lacking tRNAGly and tRNATyr. Re-annotation of the mitogenome of Steganacarus magnus increased the number of mt tRNAs for this species to 12. As typical for acariform mites, many tRNAs are highly truncated in both oribatid species. The total number of tRNAs and the number of tRNAs with a complete cloverleaf-like structure in P. leontonychus, however, clearly exceeds the numbers previously reported for Sarcoptiformes. This indicates, contrary to what has been previously assumed, that reduction of tRNAs is not a general characteristic for sarcoptiform mites. Compared to other Sarcoptiformes, the two oribatid species have the least rearranged mt genome with respect to the pattern observed in Limulus polyphemus, a basal arachnid species. Phylogenetic analysis of the newly sequenced mt genome and previously published data on other acariform mites confirms paraphyly of the Oribatida and an origin of the Astigmata within the Oribatida.
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29
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Enteric Virome Sensing-Its Role in Intestinal Homeostasis and Immunity. Viruses 2018; 10:v10040146. [PMID: 29570694 PMCID: PMC5923440 DOI: 10.3390/v10040146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) sensing commensal microorganisms in the intestine induce tightly controlled tonic signaling in the intestinal mucosa, which is required to maintain intestinal barrier integrity and immune homeostasis. At the same time, PRR signaling pathways rapidly trigger the innate immune defense against invasive pathogens in the intestine. Intestinal epithelial cells and mononuclear phagocytes in the intestine and the gut-associated lymphoid tissues are critically involved in sensing components of the microbiome and regulating immune responses in the intestine to sustain immune tolerance against harmless antigens and to prevent inflammation. These processes have been mostly investigated in the context of the bacterial components of the microbiome so far. The impact of viruses residing in the intestine and the virus sensors, which are activated by these enteric viruses, on intestinal homeostasis and inflammation is just beginning to be unraveled. In this review, we will summarize recent findings indicating an important role of the enteric virome for intestinal homeostasis as well as pathology when the immune system fails to control the enteric virome. We will provide an overview of the virus sensors and signaling pathways, operative in the intestine and the mononuclear phagocyte subsets, which can sense viruses and shape the intestinal immune response. We will discuss how these might interact with resident enteric viruses directly or in context with the bacterial microbiome to affect intestinal homeostasis.
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30
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Abstract
Bacterial viruses are among the most numerous biological entities within the human body. These viruses are found within regions of the body that have conventionally been considered sterile, including the blood, lymph, and organs. However, the primary mechanism that bacterial viruses use to bypass epithelial cell layers and access the body remains unknown. Here, we used in vitro studies to demonstrate the rapid and directional transcytosis of diverse bacteriophages across confluent cell layers originating from the gut, lung, liver, kidney, and brain. Bacteriophage transcytosis across cell layers had a significant preferential directionality for apical-to-basolateral transport, with approximately 0.1% of total bacteriophages applied being transcytosed over a 2-h period. Bacteriophages were capable of crossing the epithelial cell layer within 10 min with transport not significantly affected by the presence of bacterial endotoxins. Microscopy and cellular assays revealed that bacteriophages accessed both the vesicular and cytosolic compartments of the eukaryotic cell, with phage transcytosis suggested to traffic through the Golgi apparatus via the endomembrane system. Extrapolating from these results, we estimated that 31 billion bacteriophage particles are transcytosed across the epithelial cell layers of the gut into the average human body each day. The transcytosis of bacteriophages is a natural and ubiquitous process that provides a mechanistic explanation for the occurrence of phages within the body. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria. They cannot infect eukaryotic cells but can penetrate epithelial cell layers and spread throughout sterile regions of our bodies, including the blood, lymph, organs, and even the brain. Yet how phages cross these eukaryotic cell layers and gain access to the body remains unknown. In this work, epithelial cells were observed to take up and transport phages across the cell, releasing active phages on the opposite cell surface. Based on these results, we posit that the human body is continually absorbing phages from the gut and transporting them throughout the cell structure and subsequently the body. These results reveal that phages interact directly with the cells and organs of our bodies, likely contributing to human health and immunity.
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31
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Łusiak-Szelachowska M, Weber-Dąbrowska B, Jończyk-Matysiak E, Wojciechowska R, Górski A. Bacteriophages in the gastrointestinal tract and their implications. Gut Pathog 2017; 9:44. [PMID: 28811841 PMCID: PMC5553654 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-017-0196-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota plays an essential role in health and disease of humans. Bacteriophages are the most abundant members of the gut virobiota and display great diversity. Phages can translocate through the mucosa to lymph and internal organs and play a role as regulators of the bacterial population in the gut. Increasing abundance of phages in the gut mucosa may reduce colonization by bacteria. Moreover, phages may have an immunomodulatory role in the immune response in the human gut. The role of phages in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains unknown. Phages may take part in the development of IBD, but there are also data suggesting the protective role of phages in the gut of patients with IBD. Furthermore, recent data suggest that phages may mediate the beneficial effects of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Therefore, evidence is accumulating to highlight the protective immunomodulating activity of the gut phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzanna Łusiak-Szelachowska
- Laboratory of Bacteriophages, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
- Laboratory of Bacteriophages, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ewa Jończyk-Matysiak
- Laboratory of Bacteriophages, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Renata Wojciechowska
- Laboratory of Bacteriophages, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Andrzej Górski
- Laboratory of Bacteriophages, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences (HIIET PAS), 53-114 Wrocław, Poland.,Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-006 Warsaw, Poland
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32
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Międzybrodzki R, Kłak M, Jończyk-Matysiak E, Bubak B, Wójcik A, Kaszowska M, Weber-Dąbrowska B, Łobocka M, Górski A. Means to Facilitate the Overcoming of Gastric Juice Barrier by a Therapeutic Staphylococcal Bacteriophage A5/80. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:467. [PMID: 28386250 PMCID: PMC5362586 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article we compare the efficacy of different pharmacological agents (ranitidine, and omeprazole) to support phage transit from stomach to distal portions of the gastrointestinal tract in rats. We show that a temporal modification of environment in the animal stomach may protect Twort-like therapeutic antistaphylococcal phage A5/80 (from bacteriophage collection of the Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy PAS in Wroclaw, Poland) from the inactivation by gastric juice effectively enough to enable a significant fraction of orally administered A5/80 to pass to the intestine. Interestingly, we found that yogurt may be a relatively strong in enhancing phage transit. Given the immunomodulating activities of phages our data may suggest that phages and yogurt can act synergistically in mediating their probiotic activities and enhancing the effectiveness of oral phage therapy. We also demonstrate that orally applied phages of similar size, morphology, and sensitivity to acidic environment may differ in their translocation into the bloodstream. This was evident in mice in which a therapeutic staphylococcal phage A5/80 reached the blood upon oral administration combined with antacid agent whilst T4 phage was not detected even when applied in 103 times higher dose. Our findings also suggest that phage penetration from digestive tract to the blood may be species-specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryszard Międzybrodzki
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of SciencesWroclaw, Poland; Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of SciencesWroclaw, Poland; Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of WarsawWarsaw, Poland
| | - Marlena Kłak
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of SciencesWroclaw, Poland; Research and Development Center, Regional Specialized HospitalWrocław, Poland
| | - Ewa Jończyk-Matysiak
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Barbara Bubak
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Anna Wójcik
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Marta Kaszowska
- Laboratory of Microbial Immunochemistry and Vaccines, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Beata Weber-Dąbrowska
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Łobocka
- Autonomous Department of Microbial Biology, Faculty of Agriculture and Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGWWarsaw, Poland; Department of Microbial Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of SciencesWarsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Górski
- Bacteriophage Laboratory, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of SciencesWroclaw, Poland; Phage Therapy Unit, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of SciencesWroclaw, Poland; Department of Clinical Immunology, Transplantation Institute, Medical University of WarsawWarsaw, Poland
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