Labrys neptuniae sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of the aquatic legume Neptunia oleracea

Description of Labrys sedimenti sp. nov., isolated from a diclofenac-degrading enrichment culture, and genome-based reclassification of Labrys portucalensis as a later heterotypic synonym of Labrys neptuniae

A Gram-stain-negative strain, designated as Zidic-5T, was isolated from diclofenac-degrading enrichment culture and characterized using a polyphasic approach to determine its taxonomic position. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain Zidic-5T belongs to the genus Labrys, with the highest 16S rRNA gene similarity to Labrys neptuniae LMG 23578T (99.13%), followed by Labrys portucalensis F11T (99.06%), Labrys methylaminiphilus JLW10T (98.58%) and Labrys okinawensis DSM 18385T (98.32%). The draft genome sequence of strain Zidic-5T is 7.64 Mb long, and the G+C content of the genome is 63.5 mol%. The orthologous average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain Zidic-5T and its closest relatives were below the threshold values for species demarcation, confirming that strain Zidic-5T is distinctly separated from its closest relatives. Additionally, comparative whole-genome analysis of type strains of L. neptuniae and L. portucalensis indicated that they belong to the same genomic species, suggesting that L. portucalensis is a later heterotypic synonym of L. neptuniae. Cells of strain Zidic-5T were strictly aerobic, coccoid-shaped and non-motile. The predominant fatty acids (>10% of the total) of strain Zidic-5T were C18 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0 and C19 : 0 cyclo ω7c. The major ubiquinone of strain Zidic-5T was Q-10, while the major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and aminophospholipid. Based on the polyphasic study, it is concluded that strain Zidic-5T represents a novel species of the genus Labrys; thus, the name of Labrys sedimenti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is strain Zidic-5T (=LMG 33565T=NCAIM B.02686T).

Removal of Ibuprofen in Water by Bioaugmentation with Labrys neptuniae CSW11 Isolated from Sewage Sludge-Assessment of Biodegradation Pathway Based on Metabolite Formation and Genomic Analysis

Ibuprofen (IBP) is one of the most consumed drugs in the world. It is only partially removed in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), being present in effluent wastewater and sewage sludge, causing the widespread introduction of IBP as an emergent xenobiotic in different environmental compartments. This study describes the use of Labrys neptuniae CSW11, recently described as an IBP degrader, through bioaugmentation processes for the removal of IBP from water under different conditions (additional carbon sources, various concentrations of glucose and IBP). L. neptuniae CSW11 showed very good results in a wide range of IBP concentrations, with 100% removal in only 4 days for 1 and 5 mg L-1 IBP and 7 days for 10 mg L-1, and up to 48.4% removal in 28 days for IBP 100 mg L-1 when using glucose 3 g L-1 as an additional carbon source. Three IBP metabolites were identified during the biotransformation process: 1-hydroxyibuprofen (1-OH-IBP), 2-hydroxyibuprofen (2-OH-IBP), and carboxyibuprofen (CBX-IBP), whose concentrations declined drastically in the presence of glucose. IBP metabolites maintained a certain degree of toxicity in solution, even when IBP was completely removed. The results indicate that L. neptuniae CSW11 can be quite effective in degrading IBP in water, but the bioaugmentation method should be improved using CSW11 in consortia with other bacterial strains able to degrade the toxic metabolites produced. A genome-based analysis of L. neptuniae CSW11 revealed different enzymes that could be involved in IBP biodegradation, and a potential metabolic pathway was proposed based on the metabolites observed and genome analysis.

Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Is Required in Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens for Efficient Soybean Root Colonization and Competition for Nodulation

The Hyphomicrobiales (Rhizobiales) order contains soil bacteria with an irregular distribution of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle (CBB). Key enzymes in the CBB cycle are ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), whose large and small subunits are encoded in cbbL and cbbS, and phosphoribulokinase (PRK), encoded by cbbP. These genes are often found in cbb operons, regulated by the LysR-type regulator CbbR. In Bradyrhizobium, pertaining to this order and bearing photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic species, the number of cbbL and cbbS copies varies, for example: zero in B. manausense, one in B. diazoefficiens, two in B. japonicum, and three in Bradyrhizobium sp. BTAi. Few studies addressed the role of CBB in Bradyrhizobium spp. symbiosis with leguminous plants. To investigate the horizontal transfer of the cbb operon among Hyphomicrobiales, we compared phylogenetic trees for concatenated cbbL-cbbP-cbbR and housekeeping genes (atpD-gyrB-recA-rpoB-rpoD). The distribution was consistent, indicating no horizontal transfer of the cbb operon in Hyphomicrobiales. We constructed a ΔcbbLS mutant in B. diazoefficiens, which lost most of the coding sequence of cbbL and has a frameshift creating a stop codon at the N-terminus of cbbS. This mutant nodulated normally but had reduced competitiveness for nodulation and long-term adhesion to soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) roots, indicating a CBB requirement for colonizing soybean rhizosphere.

Comparative microbiome diversity in root-nodules of three Desmodium species used in push-pull cropping system

Background

Desmodium species used as intercrops in push-pull cropping systems are known to repel insect-pests, suppress Striga species weeds, and shift soil microbiome. However, the mechanisms through which Desmodium species impact the soil microbiome, either through its root exudates, changes in soil nutrition, or shading microbes from its nodules into the rhizosphere, are less understood. Here, we investigated the diversity of root-nodule microbial communities of three Desmodium species- Desmodium uncinatum (SLD), Desmodium intortum (GLD), and Desmodium incanum (AID) which are currently used in smallholder maize push-pull technology (PPT).

Methods

Desmodium species root-nodule samples were collected from selected smallholder farms in western Kenya, and genomic DNA was extracted from the root-nodules. The amplicons underwent paired-end Illumina sequencing to assess bacterial and fungal populations.

Results

We found no significant differences in composition and relative abundance of bacterial and fungal species within the root-nodules of the three Desmodium species. While a more pronounced shift was observed for fungal community compositions compared to bacteria, no significant differences were observed in the general diversity (evenness and richness) of fungal and bacterial populations among the three Desmodium species. Similarly, beta diversity was not significantly different among the three Desmodium species. The root-nodule microbiome of the three Desmodium species was dominated by Bradyrhizobium and Fusarium species. Nevertheless, there were significant differences in the proportion of marker gene sequences responsible for energy and amino acid biosynthesis among the three Desmodium species, with higher sequence proportions observed in SLD.

Conclusion

There is no significant difference in the microbial community of the three Desmodium species used in PPT. However, root-nodule microbiome of SLD had significantly higher marker gene sequences responsible for energy and amino acid biosynthesis. Therefore, it is likely that the root-nodules of the three Desmodium species host similar microbiomes and influence soil health, consequently impacting plant growth and agroecosystem functioning.

Metabolite Production in Alkanna tinctoria Links Plant Development with the Recruitment of Individual Members of Microbiome Thriving at the Root-Soil Interface

Plants are naturally associated with diverse microbial communities, which play significant roles in plant performance, such as growth promotion or fending off pathogens. The roots of Alkanna tinctoria L. are rich in naphthoquinones, particularly the medicinally used enantiomers alkannin and shikonin and their derivatives. Former studies already have shown that microorganisms may modulate plant metabolism. To further investigate the potential interaction between A. tinctoria and associated microorganisms, we performed a greenhouse experiment in which A. tinctoria plants were grown in the presence of three distinct soil microbiomes. At four defined plant developmental stages, we made an in-depth assessment of bacterial and fungal root-associated microbiomes as well as all extracted primary and secondary metabolite content of root material. Our results showed that the plant developmental stage was the most important driver influencing the plant metabolite content, revealing peak contents of alkannin/shikonin derivatives at the fruiting stage. Plant root microbial diversity was influenced both by bulk soil origin and to a small extent by the developmental stage. The performed correlation analyses and cooccurrence networks on the measured metabolite content and the abundance of individual bacterial and fungal taxa suggested a dynamic and at times positive or negative relationship between root-associated microorganisms and root metabolism. In particular, the bacterial genera Labrys and Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium as well as four species of the fungal genus Penicillium were found to be positively correlated with higher content of alkannins. IMPORTANCE Previous studies have shown that individual, isolated microorganisms may influence secondary metabolism of plants and induce or stimulate the production of medicinally relevant secondary metabolism. Here, we analyzed the microbiome-metabolome linkage of the medicinal plant Alkanna tinctoria, which is known to produce valuable compounds, particularly the naphthoquinones alkannin and shikonin and their derivatives. A detailed bacterial and fungal microbiome and metabolome analysis of A. tinctoria roots revealed that the plant developmental stage influenced root metabolite production, whereas soil inoculants from three different geographical origins in which plants were grown shaped root-associated microbiota. Metabolomes of plant roots of the same developmental stage across different soils were highly similar, pinpointing to plant maturity as the primary driver of secondary metabolite production. Correlation and network analyses identified bacterial and fungal taxa showing a positive relationship between root-associated microorganisms and root metabolism. In particular, the bacterial genera Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium and Labrys as well as the fungal species of genus Penicillium were found to be positively correlated with higher content of alkannins.

Metagenome-assembled genome of a Chitinophaga sp. and its potential in plant biomass degradation, as well of affiliated Pandoraea and Labrys species

The prospection of new degrading enzymes of the plant cell wall has been the subject of many studies and is fundamental for industries, due to the great biotechnological importance of achieving a more efficient depolymerization conversion from plant polysaccharides to fermentable sugars, which are useful not only for biofuel production but also for various bioproducts. Thus, we explored the shotgun metagenome data of a bacterial community (CB10) isolated from sugarcane bagasse and recovered three metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs). The genomic distance analyses, along with phylogenetic analysis, revealed the presence of a putative novel Chitinophaga species, a Pandoraea nosoerga, and Labrys sp. isolate. The isolation process for each one of these bacterial lineages from the community was carried out in order to relate them with the MAGs. The recovered draft genomes have reasonable completeness (72.67-100%) and contamination (0.26-2.66%) considering the respective marker lineage for Chitinophaga (Bacteroidetes), Pandoraea (Burkholderiales), and Labrys (Rhizobiales). The in-vitro assay detected cellulolytic activity (endoglucanases) only for the isolate Chitinophaga, and its genome analysis revealed 319 CAZymes, of which 115 are classified as plant cell wall degrading enzymes, which can act in fractions of hemicellulose and pectin. Our study highlights the potential of this Chitinophaga isolate provides several plant-polysaccharide-degrading enzymes.

Minimal standards for the description of new genera and species of rhizobia and agrobacteria

Herein the members of the Subcommittee on Taxonomy of Rhizobia and Agrobacteria of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes review recent developments in rhizobial and agrobacterial taxonomy and propose updated minimal standards for the description of new species (and genera) in these groups. The essential requirements (minimal standards) for description of a new species are (1) a genome sequence of at least the proposed type strain and (2) evidence for differentiation from other species based on genome sequence comparisons. It is also recommended that (3) genetic variation within the species is documented with sequence data from several clearly different strains and (4) phenotypic features are described, and their variation documented with data from a relevant set of representative strains. Furthermore, it is encouraged that information is provided on (5) nodulation or pathogenicity phenotypes, as appropriate, with relevant gene sequences. These guidelines supplement the current rules of general bacterial taxonomy, which require (6) a name that conforms to the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes, (7) validation of the name by publication either directly in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology or in a validation list when published elsewhere, and (8) deposition of the type strain in two international culture collections in separate countries.

Enhanced excess sludge hydrolysis and acidification in an activated sludge side-stream reactor process with single-stage sludge alkaline treatment: a pilot scale study

A pilot-scale side-stream reactor process with single-stage sludge alkaline treatment was employed to systematically investigate characteristics of excess sludge hydrolysis and acidification with alkaline treatment and evaluate feasibility of recovering a carbon source (C-source) from excess sludge to enhance nutrient removal at ambient temperature. The resulting C-source and volatile fatty acid specific yields reached 349.19 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/g volatile suspended solids (VSS) d^-1 and 121.3 mg COD/g VSS d^-1, respectively, the process had excellent C-source recovery potential. The propionic-to-acetic acid ratio of the recovered C-source was 3.0 times that in the influent, which beneficially enhanced biological phosphorus removal. Large populations and varieties of hydrolytic acid producing bacteria cooperated with alkaline treatment to accelerate sludge hydrolysis and acidification. Physicochemical characteristics indicated that recovered C-source was derived primarily from extracellular polymeric substances hydrolysis rather than from cells disruption during alkaline treatment. This study showed that excess sludge as carbon source was successfully recycled by alkaline treatment in the process.

Labrys soli sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of ginseng

In this study, we describe strain DCY64T that was isolated from the rhizosphere of three-year-old Korean ginseng root. Cells were Gram-reaction negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, strictly aerobic, capsulated, non-motile, non-sporulating and spherical to short rod-shaped. Multiplicative budding cells were produced. Vesicles covered the surface of cells. Phylogenetic analysis placed strain DCY64T within the genus Labrys with the highest similarity to Labrys monachus VKM B-1479T (97.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), followed by Labrys okinawensis MAFF 210191T (97.5 %), Labrys miyagiensis G24103T (97.4) and Labrys portucalensis F11T (97.0 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 63 mol%. The presences of summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), C19 : 1 cyclo ω8c and C16 : 0 as major fatty acids; phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and diphosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids; ubiquinone Q-10 as the predominant quinone and sym-homospermidine as the dominant polyamine were found in strain DCY64T. These chemotaxonomic results were in accordance with those of members of the genus Labrys. However, the absence of C16 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 0 3-OH and C18 : 1 2-OH from the fatty acids profile and differences in minor polar lipids and phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain DCY64T from the closest type strains. The discrimination was also supported by unique enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence PCR (ERIC-PCR) fingerprints, as well as DNA-DNA hybridization values ( ≤ 48 %) between strain DCY64T and related type strains. Therefore, we propose that strain DCY64T represents a novel species of the genus Labrys. The name Labrys soli sp. nov. is proposed, with DCY64T ( = KCTC 32173T = JCM 19895T) as the type strain.

Production and Metabolism of Indole Acetic Acid in Root Nodules and Symbiont (Rhizobium undicola) Isolated from Root Nodule of Aquatic Medicinal Legume Neptunia oleracea Lour

Indole acetic acid is a phytohormone which plays a vital role in plant growth and development. The purpose of this study was to shed some light on the production of IAA in roots, nodules, and symbionts of an aquatic legume Neptunia oleracea and its possible role in nodular symbiosis. The symbiont (N37) was isolated from nodules of this plant and identified as Rhizobium undicola based on biochemical characteristics, 16S rDNA sequence homology, and DNA-DNA hybridization results. The root nodules were found to contain more IAA and tryptophan than root; however, no detectable amount of IAA was found in root. The IAA metabolizing enzymes IAA oxidase, IAA peroxidase (E.C.1.11.1.7), and polyphenol oxidase (E.C.1.14.18.1) were higher in root than nodule but total phenol and IAA content were reversed. The strain N37 was found to produce copious amount of IAA in YEM broth medium with tryptophan and reached its stationary phase at 20 h. An enrichment of the medium with mannitol, ammonium sulphate, B12, and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde was found to promote the IAA production. The presence of IAA metabolizing enzymes and IAA production with PGPR traits including ACC deaminase activity of the symbionts was essential for plant microbe interaction and nodule function.

Legume-nodulating betaproteobacteria: diversity, host range, and future prospects

Rhizobia form specialized nodules on the roots of legumes (family Fabaceae) and fix nitrogen in exchange for carbon from the host plant. Although the majority of legumes form symbioses with members of genus Rhizobium and its relatives in class Alphaproteobacteria, some legumes, such as those in the large genus Mimosa, are nodulated predominantly by betaproteobacteria in the genera Burkholderia and Cupriavidus. The principal centers of diversity of these bacteria are in central Brazil and South Africa. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that betaproteobacteria have existed as legume symbionts for approximately 50 million years, and that, although they have a common origin, the symbiosis genes in both subclasses have evolved separately since then. Additionally, some species of genus Burkholderia, such as B. phymatum, are highly promiscuous, effectively nodulating several important legumes, including common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). In contrast to genus Burkholderia, only one species of genus Cupriavidus (C. taiwanensis) has so far been shown to nodulate legumes. The recent availability of the genome sequences of C. taiwanensis, B. phymatum, and B. tuberum has paved the way for a more detailed analysis of the evolutionary and mechanistic differences between nodulating strains of alpha- and betaproteobacteria. Initial analyses of genome sequences have suggested that plant-associated Burkholderia spp. have lower G+C contents than Burkholderia spp. that are opportunistic human pathogens, thus supporting previous suggestions that the plant- and human-associated groups of Burkholderia actually belong in separate genera.

Rhizobium tubonense sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Oxytropis glabra

Four rhizobial strains, designated CCBAU 85046T, CCBAU 85051, CCBAU 85048 and CCBAU 85049, isolated from root nodules of Oxytropis glabra grown in Tibet, China, were previously defined, using amplified 16S rRNA gene restriction analysis, as a novel group within the genus Rhizobium. To clarify their taxonomic position, these strains were further analysed and compared with reference strains of related bacteria using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene analysis showed that the four isolates formed a distinct phylogenetic lineage in the genus Rhizobium. The isolates showed highest sequence similarity (97.8 %) to Rhizobium indigoferae CCBAU 71042T. Phenotypic and physiological tests, DNA–DNA hybridization, phylogenetic analyses of housekeeping genes recA, atpD and glnII and fatty acid profiles also indicated that these four strains constitute a novel group distinct from recognized species of the genus Rhizobium. Based on this evidence, strains CCBAU 85046T, CCBAU 85051, CCBAU 85048 and CCBAU 85049 represent a novel species in the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium tubonense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCBAU 85046T (=LMG 25225T =HAMBI 3066T) and its DNA G+C content is 59.52 mol% (T m). Strain CCBAU 85046T could form effective nodules on plant species Vigna unguiculata and Medicago sativa but not on its host of origin Oxytropis glabra.

Labrys wisconsinensis sp. nov., a budding bacterium isolated from Lake Michigan water, and emended description of the genus Labrys

Two facultatively anaerobic, budding bacterial strains, designated W1215-PCA4(T) and SRNK-1, were isolated from water from Lake Michigan, USA. The two strains showed identical ERIC-PCR-generated genomic fingerprints and shared 99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Strain W1215-PCA4(T) showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Labrys monachus VKM B-1479(T) (95.8 %), Labrys methylaminiphilus DSM 16812(T) (95.1 %), Labrys okinawensis MAFF 210191(T) (96.0 %), Labrys miyagiensis G24103(T) (95.4 %), Labrys neptuniae BCRC 17578(T) (95.7 %) and Labrys portucalensis DSM 17916(T) (95.8 %). Data suggested that the two strains were members of a single novel species of the genus Labrys. The major cellular fatty acids of the two isolates were C(18 : 1)omega7c, C(19 : 0) cyclo omega8c and C(16 : 0). Their polar lipid profiles were highly similar to that of Labrys monachus DSM 5896(T). The primary quinone was ubiquinone Q-10, with minor amounts of Q-9 and Q-11. sym-Homospermidine was the predominant polyamine, with putrescine present in moderate amounts. The two strains were identical in terms of their biochemical and physiological traits, but were distinguishable from other species of the genus Labrys. Hence, the description of a novel species in this genus appears to be justified. The name Labrys wisconsinensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is W1215-PCA4(T) (=DSM 19619(T)=NRRL B-51088(T)).

Shinella kummerowiae sp. nov., a symbiotic bacterium isolated from root nodules of the herbal legume Kummerowia stipulacea

Bacterial strain CCBAU 25048(T) was isolated from root nodules of Kummerowia stipulacea grown in Shandong province of China. Cells of the strain were Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, non-spore-forming, motile short rods. Phylogeny of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the strain belonged to the genus Shinella, a member of family Rhizobiaceae. Its closest phylogenetic relatives were Shinella granuli Ch06(T) and Shinella zoogloeoides IAM 12669(T), respectively showing 98.3 and 98.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Strain CCBAU 25048(T) had DNA-DNA relatedness of 43.5 and 34.8 %, respectively, with S. zoogloeoides JCM 20728(T) and S. granuli JCM 13254(T). In addition, in TP-RAPD analysis, different patterns were obtained for these three strains and some rhizobial strains. The nifH, nodC and nodD sequences of CCBAU 25048(T) were identical or very similar to those of bean-nodulating Rhizobium tropici strains. Several phenotypic characteristics, including the use of citrate and d-ribose as carbon sources and growth at pH 11.0, as well as the fatty acid composition, could differentiate CCBAU 25048(T) from the two defined Shinella species. Therefore, a novel species Shinella kummerowiae sp. nov. is proposed, with strain CCBAU 25048(T) (=JCM 14778(T) =LMG 24136(T)) as the type strain.