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Harper CP, Day A, Tsingos M, Ding E, Zeng E, Stumpf SD, Qi Y, Robinson A, Greif J, Blodgett JAV. Critical analysis of polycyclic tetramate macrolactam biosynthetic gene cluster phylogeny and functional diversity. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0060024. [PMID: 38771054 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00600-24] [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: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Polycyclic tetramate macrolactams (PTMs) are bioactive natural products commonly associated with certain actinobacterial and proteobacterial lineages. These molecules have been the subject of numerous structure-activity investigations since the 1970s. New members continue to be pursued in wild and engineered bacterial strains, and advances in PTM biosynthesis suggest their outwardly simplistic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) belie unexpected product complexity. To address the origins of this complexity and understand its influence on PTM discovery, we engaged in a combination of bioinformatics to systematically classify PTM BGCs and PTM-targeted metabolomics to compare the products of select BGC types. By comparing groups of producers and BGC mutants, we exposed knowledge gaps that complicate bioinformatics-driven product predictions. In sum, we provide new insights into the evolution of PTM BGCs while systematically accounting for the PTMs discovered thus far. The combined computational and metabologenomic findings presented here should prove useful for guiding future discovery.IMPORTANCEPolycyclic tetramate macrolactam (PTM) pathways are frequently found within the genomes of biotechnologically important bacteria, including Streptomyces and Lysobacter spp. Their molecular products are typically bioactive, having substantial agricultural and therapeutic interest. Leveraging bacterial genomics for the discovery of new related molecules is thus desirable, but drawing accurate structural predictions from bioinformatics alone remains challenging. This difficulty stems from a combination of previously underappreciated biosynthetic complexity and remaining knowledge gaps, compounded by a stream of yet-uncharacterized PTM biosynthetic loci gleaned from recently sequenced bacterial genomes. We engaged in the following study to create a useful framework for cataloging historic PTM clusters, identifying new cluster variations, and tracing evolutionary paths for these molecules. Our data suggest new PTM chemistry remains discoverable in nature. However, our metabolomic and mutational analyses emphasize the practical limitations of genomics-based discovery by exposing hidden complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Harper
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Anna Day
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Maya Tsingos
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Edward Ding
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Elizabeth Zeng
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Spencer D Stumpf
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yunci Qi
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Adam Robinson
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jennifer Greif
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Joshua A V Blodgett
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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2
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Salim AA, Butler MS, Blaskovich MAT, Henderson IR, Capon RJ. Natural products as anthelmintics: safeguarding animal health. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:1754-1808. [PMID: 37555325 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00019b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Covering literature to December 2022This review provides a comprehensive account of all natural products (500 compounds, including 17 semi-synthetic derivatives) described in the primary literature up to December 2022, reported to be capable of inhibiting the egg hatching, motility, larval development and/or the survival of helminths (i.e., nematodes, flukes and tapeworms). These parasitic worms infect and compromise the health and welfare, productivity and lives of commercial livestock (i.e., sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, poultry and fish), companion animals (i.e., dogs and cats) and other high value, endangered and/or exotic animals. Attention is given to chemical structures, as well as source organisms and anthelmintic properties, including the nature of bioassay target species, in vivo animal hosts, and measures of potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela A Salim
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 4072.
| | - Mark S Butler
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 4072.
| | - Mark A T Blaskovich
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 4072.
| | - Ian R Henderson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 4072.
| | - Robert J Capon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 4072.
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3
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Cera G, Risdian C, Pira H, Wink J. Antimicrobial potential of culturable actinobacteria isolated from the Pacific oyster
Crassostrea gigas
(Bivalvia, Ostreidae). J Appl Microbiol 2022; 133:1099-1114. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.15635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Cera
- Microbial Strain Collection (MISG), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig Germany
- Marine Biology Program, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano Santa Marta Colombia
| | - Chandra Risdian
- Microbial Strain Collection (MISG), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig Germany
- Research Unit for Clean Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), 40135 Bandung Indonesia
| | - Hani Pira
- Microbial Strain Collection (MISG), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig Germany
| | - Joachim Wink
- Microbial Strain Collection (MISG), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), 38124 Braunschweig Germany
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Salim AA, Khalil ZG, Elbanna AH, Wu T, Capon RJ. Methods in Microbial Biodiscovery. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:503. [PMID: 34564165 PMCID: PMC8464790 DOI: 10.3390/md19090503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This review presents an account of the microbial biodiscovery methodology developed and applied in our laboratory at The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, with examples drawn from our experiences studying natural products produced by Australian marine-derived (and terrestrial) fungi and bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Robert J. Capon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; (A.A.S.); (Z.G.K.); (A.H.E.); (T.W.)
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5
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Brescia F, Vlassi A, Bejarano A, Seidl B, Marchetti-Deschmann M, Schuhmacher R, Puopolo G. Characterisation of the Antibiotic Profile of Lysobacter capsici AZ78, an Effective Biological Control Agent of Plant Pathogenic Microorganisms. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061320. [PMID: 34204563 PMCID: PMC8235233 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Determining the mode of action of microbial biocontrol agents plays a key role in their development and registration as commercial biopesticides. The biocontrol rhizobacterium Lysobacter capsici AZ78 (AZ78) is able to inhibit a vast array of plant pathogenic oomycetes and Gram-positive bacteria due to the release of antimicrobial secondary metabolites. A combination of MALDI-qTOF-MSI and UHPLC-HRMS/M was applied to finely dissect the AZ78 metabolome and identify the main secondary metabolites involved in the inhibition of plant pathogenic microorganisms. Under nutritionally limited conditions, MALDI-qTOF-MSI revealed that AZ78 is able to release a relevant number of antimicrobial secondary metabolites belonging to the families of 2,5-diketopiperazines, cyclic lipodepsipeptides, macrolactones and macrolides. In vitro tests confirmed the presence of secondary metabolites toxic against Pythium ultimum and Rhodococcus fascians in AZ78 cell-free extracts. Subsequently, UHPLC-HRMS/MS was used to confirm the results achieved with MALDI-qTOF-MSI and investigate for further putative antimicrobial secondary metabolites known to be produced by Lysobacter spp. This technique confirmed the presence of several 2,5-diketopiperazines in AZ78 cell-free extracts and provided the first evidence of the production of the cyclic depsipeptide WAP-8294A2 in a member of L. capsici species. Moreover, UHPLC-HRMS/MS confirmed the presence of dihydromaltophilin/Heat Stable Antifungal Factor (HSAF) in AZ78 cell-free extracts. Due to the production of HSAF by AZ78, cell-free supernatants were effective in controlling Plasmopara viticola on grapevine leaf disks after exposure to high temperatures. Overall, our work determined the main secondary metabolites involved in the biocontrol activity of AZ78 against plant pathogenic oomycetes and Gram-positive bacteria. These results might be useful for the future development of this bacterial strain as the active ingredient of a microbial biopesticide that might contribute to a reduction in the chemical input in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Brescia
- Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems and Bioresources, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy; (F.B.); (A.B.)
- Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Torino, Italy
| | - Anthi Vlassi
- Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), 3430 Tulln, Austria; (A.V.); (B.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Ana Bejarano
- Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems and Bioresources, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy; (F.B.); (A.B.)
- Center of Agriculture, Food, Environment, University of Trento, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
| | - Bernard Seidl
- Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), 3430 Tulln, Austria; (A.V.); (B.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Martina Marchetti-Deschmann
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, TU Wien (Vienna University of Technology), 1060 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Rainer Schuhmacher
- Department of Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), 3430 Tulln, Austria; (A.V.); (B.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Gerardo Puopolo
- Research and Innovation Centre, Department of Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems and Bioresources, Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy; (F.B.); (A.B.)
- Center of Agriculture, Food, Environment, University of Trento, 38098 San Michele all’Adige, Italy
- Correspondence:
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6
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Incipient genome erosion and metabolic streamlining for antibiotic production in a defensive symbiont. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2023047118. [PMID: 33883280 PMCID: PMC8092579 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2023047118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome reduction is commonly observed in bacteria of several phyla engaging in obligate nutritional symbioses with insects. In Actinobacteria, however, little is known about the process of genome evolution, despite their importance as prolific producers of antibiotics and their increasingly recognized role as defensive partners of insects and other organisms. Here, we show that “Streptomyces philanthi,” a defensive symbiont of digger wasps, has a G+C-enriched genome in the early stages of erosion, with inactivating mutations in a large proportion of genes, causing dependency on its hosts for certain nutrients, which was validated in axenic symbiont cultures. Additionally, overexpressed catabolic and biosynthetic pathways of the bacteria inside the host indicate host–symbiont metabolic integration for streamlining and control of antibiotic production. Genome erosion is a frequently observed result of relaxed selection in insect nutritional symbionts, but it has rarely been studied in defensive mutualisms. Solitary beewolf wasps harbor an actinobacterial symbiont of the genus Streptomyces that provides protection to the developing offspring against pathogenic microorganisms. Here, we characterized the genomic architecture and functional gene content of this culturable symbiont using genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics in combination with in vitro assays. Despite retaining a large linear chromosome (7.3 Mb), the wasp symbiont accumulated frameshift mutations in more than a third of its protein-coding genes, indicative of incipient genome erosion. Although many of the frameshifted genes were still expressed, the encoded proteins were not detected, indicating post-transcriptional regulation. Most pseudogenization events affected accessory genes, regulators, and transporters, but “Streptomyces philanthi” also experienced mutations in central metabolic pathways, resulting in auxotrophies for biotin, proline, and arginine that were confirmed experimentally in axenic culture. In contrast to the strong A+T bias in the genomes of most obligate symbionts, we observed a significant G+C enrichment in regions likely experiencing reduced selection. Differential expression analyses revealed that—compared to in vitro symbiont cultures—“S. philanthi” in beewolf antennae showed overexpression of genes for antibiotic biosynthesis, the uptake of host-provided nutrients and the metabolism of building blocks required for antibiotic production. Our results show unusual traits in the early stage of genome erosion in a defensive symbiont and suggest tight integration of host–symbiont metabolic pathways that effectively grants the host control over the antimicrobial activity of its bacterial partner.
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Mayer AMS, Guerrero AJ, Rodríguez AD, Taglialatela-Scafati O, Nakamura F, Fusetani N. Marine Pharmacology in 2016-2017: Marine Compounds with Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, Anti-Inflammatory, Antiprotozoal, Antituberculosis and Antiviral Activities; Affecting the Immune and Nervous Systems, and Other Miscellaneous Mechanisms of Action. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:49. [PMID: 33494402 PMCID: PMC7910995 DOI: 10.3390/md19020049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The review of the 2016-2017 marine pharmacology literature was prepared in a manner similar as the 10 prior reviews of this series. Preclinical marine pharmacology research during 2016-2017 assessed 313 marine compounds with novel pharmacology reported by a growing number of investigators from 54 countries. The peer-reviewed literature reported antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antituberculosis, and antiviral activities for 123 marine natural products, 111 marine compounds with antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities as well as affecting the immune and nervous system, while in contrast 79 marine compounds displayed miscellaneous mechanisms of action which upon further investigation may contribute to several pharmacological classes. Therefore, in 2016-2017, the preclinical marine natural product pharmacology pipeline generated both novel pharmacology as well as potentially new lead compounds for the growing clinical marine pharmaceutical pipeline, and thus sustained with its contributions the global research for novel and effective therapeutic strategies for multiple disease categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro M. S. Mayer
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, 555 31st Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA;
| | - Aimee J. Guerrero
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, 555 31st Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA;
| | - Abimael D. Rodríguez
- Molecular Sciences Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, 1390 Ponce de León Avenue, San Juan, PR 00926, USA;
| | | | - Fumiaki Nakamura
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan;
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Safaei N, Mast Y, Steinert M, Huber K, Bunk B, Wink J. Angucycline-like Aromatic Polyketide from a Novel Streptomyces Species Reveals Freshwater Snail Physa acuta as Underexplored Reservoir for Antibiotic-Producing Actinomycetes. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 10:antibiotics10010022. [PMID: 33383910 PMCID: PMC7823578 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The current study shows that freshwater snails can be considered as new sources for bioactive metabolites, since a novel Streptomyces species 7NS3 produced four active compounds against Gram-positive bacteria. One of the compounds was an angucycline-like aromatic polyketide matched with a known compound, emycin A. Genome mining studies based on the whole-genome sequence of 7NS3 resulted in the identification of a gene cluster potentially coding for emycin A biosynthesis. Abstract Antibiotic producers have mainly been isolated from soil, which often has led to the rediscovery of known compounds. In this study, we identified the freshwater snail Physa acuta as an unexplored source for new antibiotic producers. The bacterial diversity associated with the snail was characterized by a metagenomic approach using cultivation-independent high-throughput sequencing. Although Actinobacteria represented only 2% of the bacterial community, the focus was laid on the isolation of the genus Streptomyces due to its potential to produce antibiotics. Three Streptomyces strains (7NS1, 7NS2 and 7NS3) were isolated from P. acuta, and the antimicrobial activity of the crude extracts were tested against a selection of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. 7NS3 showed the strongest activity against Gram-positive bacteria and, thus, was selected for genome sequencing and a phylogenomic analysis. 7NS3 represents a novel Streptomyces species, which was deposited as Streptomyces sp. DSM 110735 at the Leibniz Institute-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ). Bioassay-guided high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and high-resolution electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) analyses of crude extract fractions resulted in the detection of four compounds, one of which matched the compound characteristics of emycin A, an angucycline-like aromatic polyketide. Genome mining studies based on the whole-genome sequence of 7NS3 resulted in the identification of a gene cluster potentially coding for emycin A biosynthesis. Our study demonstrates that freshwater snails like P. acuta can represent promising reservoirs for the isolation of new antibiotic-producing actinobacterial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Safaei
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Department of microbial Strain Collection, Inhoffenstrasse 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany;
| | - Yvonne Mast
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Leibniz Institute DSMZ, Inhoffenstrasse 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (Y.M.); (K.H.); (B.B.)
| | - Michael Steinert
- Technical University of Braunschweig, Spielmannstr. 7, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany;
| | - Katharina Huber
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Leibniz Institute DSMZ, Inhoffenstrasse 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (Y.M.); (K.H.); (B.B.)
| | - Boyke Bunk
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Leibniz Institute DSMZ, Inhoffenstrasse 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany; (Y.M.); (K.H.); (B.B.)
| | - Joachim Wink
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Department of microbial Strain Collection, Inhoffenstrasse 7, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-531-6181-4223
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9
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The Biological and Chemical Diversity of Tetramic Acid Compounds from Marine-Derived Microorganisms. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:md18020114. [PMID: 32075282 PMCID: PMC7074263 DOI: 10.3390/md18020114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tetramic acid (pyrrolidine-2,4-dione) compounds, isolated from a variety of marine and terrestrial organisms, have attracted considerable attention for their diverse, challenging structural complexity and promising bioactivities. In the past decade, marine-derived microorganisms have become great repositories of novel tetramic acids. Here, we discuss the biological activities of 277 tetramic acids of eight classifications (simple 3-acyl tetramic acids, 3-oligoenoyltetramic acids, 3-decalinoyltetramic acid, 3-spirotetramic acids, macrocyclic tetramic acids, N-acylated tetramic acids, α-cyclopiazonic acid-type tetramic acids, and other tetramic acids) from marine-derived microbes, including fungi, actinobacteria, bacteria, and cyanobacteria, as reported in 195 research studies up to 2019.
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Ul-Hasan S, Rodríguez-Román E, Reitzel AM, Adams RMM, Herzig V, Nobile CJ, Saviola AJ, Trim SA, Stiers EE, Moschos SA, Keiser CN, Petras D, Moran Y, Colston TJ. The emerging field of venom-microbiomics for exploring venom as a microenvironment, and the corresponding Initiative for Venom Associated Microbes and Parasites (iVAMP). Toxicon X 2019; 4:100016. [PMID: 32550573 PMCID: PMC7286055 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2019.100016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Venom is a known source of novel antimicrobial natural products. The substantial, increasing number of these discoveries have unintentionally culminated in the misconception that venom and venom-producing glands are largely sterile environments. Culture-dependent and -independent studies on the microbial communities in venom microenvironments reveal the presence of archaea, algae, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. Venom-centric microbiome studies are relatively sparse to date with the adaptive advantages that venom-associated microbes might offer to their hosts, or that hosts might provide to venom-associated microbes, remaining largely unknown. We highlight the potential for the discovery of venom microbiomes within the adaptive landscape of venom systems. The considerable number of convergently evolved venomous animals, juxtaposed with the comparatively few known studies to identify microbial communities in venom, provides new possibilities for both biodiversity and therapeutic discoveries. We present an evidence-based argument for integrating microbiology as part of venomics (i.e., venom-microbiomics) and introduce iVAMP, the Initiative for Venom Associated Microbes and Parasites (https://ivamp-consortium.github.io/), as a growing collaborative consortium. We express commitment to the diversity, inclusion and scientific collaboration among researchers interested in this emerging subdiscipline through expansion of the iVAMP consortium. Venom-microbiome studies as an integrative field of venomics and microbiology. Argument for multi-omics-based discovery through a microenvironment framework. Introduction of a venom-microbiome research consortium (iVAMP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabah Ul-Hasan
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Eduardo Rodríguez-Román
- Center for Microbiology and Cell Biology, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research. Caracas, 1020A, Venezuela
| | - Adam M Reitzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Rachelle M M Adams
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43212, USA
| | - Volker Herzig
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Clarissa J Nobile
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Anthony J Saviola
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Neurobiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Steven A Trim
- Venomtech Ltd, Discovery Park, Sandwich, Kent, CT13 9ND, UK
| | - Erin E Stiers
- Department of Biological Science, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, 29634, USA
| | - Sterghios A Moschos
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Carl N Keiser
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Daniel Petras
- Collaborative Mass Spectrometry Innovation Center, University of California, San Diego, USA.,Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, USA
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 9190401, Israel
| | - Timothy J Colston
- Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA
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