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Shimwell C, Atkinson L, Graham MR, Murdoch B. A first molecular characterization of the scorpion telson microbiota of Hadrurus arizonensis and Smeringurus mesaensis. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0277303. [PMID: 36649362 PMCID: PMC9844838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Scorpions represent an ancient lineage of arachnids that have radiated across the globe and are incredibly resilient-since some thrive in harsh environments and can exist on minimal and intermittent feedings. Given the emerging importance of microbiomes to an organism's health, it is intriguing to suggest that the long-term success of the scorpion bauplan may be linked to the microbiome. Little is known about scorpion microbiomes, and what is known, concentrates on the gut. The microbiome is not limited to the gut, rather it can be found within tissues, fluids and on external surfaces. We tested whether the scorpion telson, the venom-producing organ, of two species, Smeringurus mesaensis and Hadrurus arizonensis, contain bacteria. We isolated telson DNA from each species, amplified bacterial 16S rRNA genes, and identified the collection of bacteria present within each scorpion species. Our results show for the first time that telsons of non-buthid scorpion species do indeed contain bacteria. Interestingly, each scorpion species has a phylogenetically unique telson microbiome including Mollicutes symbionts. This study may change how we view scorpion biology and their venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Shimwell
- Department of Biology, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT, United States of America
| | - Lauren Atkinson
- Department of Biology, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT, United States of America
| | - Matthew R. Graham
- Department of Biology, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT, United States of America
| | - Barbara Murdoch
- Department of Biology, Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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García-Santibañez T, Rosenblueth M, Bolaños LM, Martínez-Romero J, Martínez-Romero E. The divergent genome of Scorpion Group 1 (SG1) intracellular bacterium from the venom glands of Vaejovis smithi (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Syst Appl Microbiol 2022; 45:126358. [PMID: 36174465 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2022.126358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Scorpions were among the first animals on land around 430 million years ago. Like many arachnids, scorpions have evolved complex venoms used to paralyze their prey and for self-defense. Here we sequenced and analyzed the metagenomic DNA from venom glands from Vaejovis smithi scorpions. A metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) of 624,025 bp was obtained corresponding to the previously reported Scorpion Group 1 (SG1). The SG1 genome from venom glands had a low GC content (25.8%) characteristic of reduced genomes, many hypothetical genes and genes from the reported minimal set of bacterial genes. Phylogenomic reconstructions placed the uncultured SG1 distant from other reported bacteria constituting a taxonomic novelty. By PCR we detected SG1 in all tested venom glands from 30 independent individuals. Microscopically, we observed SG1 inside epithelial cells from the venom glands using FISH and its presence in scorpion embryos suggested that SG1 is transferred from mother to offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mónica Rosenblueth
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Luis M Bolaños
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico; School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Julio Martínez-Romero
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico
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Busck MM, Lund MB, Bird TL, Bechsgaard JS, Bilde T, Schramm A. Temporal and spatial microbiome dynamics across natural populations of the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2022; 98:6526868. [PMID: 35147190 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiac015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Host symbiont interactions may form obligatory or facultative associations that are context dependent. Long-term studies on microbiome composition from wild populations should assess the temporal and spatial dynamics of host-microbe associations. We characterized the temporal and spatial variation in the bacterial microbiome composition in six populations of the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola for 2.5 years, using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of whole spiders. Individuals within a nest exhibit highly similar microbiomes, which remain stable over several generations and are not predictably affected by seasonal variation in temperature or humidity. This stability in nest microbiome is likely due to social transmission, whereas drift-like processes during new nest foundations explain variation in host microbiomes between nests. This is supported by the lack of obligate symbionts (i.e. no symbionts are present in all spider individuals). Quantitative PCR analyses showed that the bacterial load of individual spiders is stable in healthy nests but can increase dramatically in perishing nests. These increases are not driven by specific bacterial taxa but likely caused by loss of host immune control under deteriorating conditions. Spider nests show an annual survival rate of approximately 45%, but nest death is not correlated to microbiome composition, and the bacteria found in S. dumicola are not considered to be high virulence pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette M Busck
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Marie B Lund
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tharina L Bird
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Botswana.,Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,General Entomology, Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jesper S Bechsgaard
- Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Trine Bilde
- Section for Genetics, Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Andreas Schramm
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Lian CA, Yan GY, Huang JM, Danchin A, Wang Y, He LS. Genomic Characterization of a Novel Gut Symbiont From the Hadal Snailfish. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:2978. [PMID: 31998265 PMCID: PMC6965317 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02978] [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: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hadal trenches are characterized by not only high hydrostatic pressure but also scarcity of nutrients and high diversity of viruses. Snailfishes, as the dominant vertebrates, play an important role in hadal ecology. Although studies have suggested possible reasons for the tolerance of hadal snailfish to high hydrostatic pressure, little is known about the strategies employed by hadal snailfish to cope with low-nutrient and virus-rich conditions. In this study, the gut microbiota of hadal snailfish was investigated. A novel bacterium named "Candidatus Mycoplasma liparidae" was dominant in the guts of three snailfish individuals from both the Mariana and Yap trenches. A draft genome of "Ca. Mycoplasma liparidae" was successfully assembled with 97.8% completeness by hybrid sequencing. A set of genes encoding riboflavin biosynthesis proteins and a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system was present in the genome of "Ca. Mycoplasma liparidae," which was unusual for Mycoplasma. The functional repertoire of the "Ca. Mycoplasma liparidae" genome is likely set to help the host in riboflavin supplementation and to provide protection against viruses via a super CRISPR system. Remarkably, genes encoding common virulence factors usually exist in Tenericutes pathogens but were lacking in the genome of "Ca. Mycoplasma liparidae." All of these characteristics supported an essential role of "Ca. Mycoplasma liparidae" in snailfish living in the hadal zone. Our findings provide further insights into symbiotic associations in the hadal biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Ang Lian
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
- College of Earth Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guo-Yong Yan
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
- College of Earth Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiao-Mei Huang
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
- College of Earth Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Antoine Danchin
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016 – CNRS UMR 8104 – Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Yong Wang
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Li-Sheng He
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
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Bolaños LM, Rosenblueth M, Manrique de Lara A, Migueles-Lozano A, Gil-Aguillón C, Mateo-Estrada V, González-Serrano F, Santibáñez-López CE, García-Santibáñez T, Martínez-Romero E. Cophylogenetic analysis suggests cospeciation between the Scorpion Mycoplasma Clade symbionts and their hosts. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0209588. [PMID: 30625167 PMCID: PMC6326461 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Scorpions are predator arachnids of ancient origin and worldwide distribution. Two scorpion species, Vaejovis smithi and Centruroides limpidus, were found to harbor two different Mollicutes phylotypes: a Scorpion Mycoplasma Clade (SMC) and Scorpion Group 1 (SG1). Here we investigated, using a targeted gene sequencing strategy, whether these Mollicutes were present in 23 scorpion morphospecies belonging to the Vaejovidae, Carboctonidae, Euscorpiidae, Diplocentridae, and Buthidae families. Our results revealed that SMC is found in a species-specific association with Vaejovidae and Buthidae, whereas SG1 is uniquely found in Vaejovidae. SMC and SG1 co-occur only in Vaejovis smithi where 43% of the individuals host both phylotypes. A phylogenetic analysis of Mollicutes 16S rRNA showed that SMC and SG1 constitute well-delineated phylotypes. Additionally, we found that SMC and scorpion phylogenies are significantly congruent, supporting the observation that a cospeciation process may have occurred. This study highlights the phylogenetic diversity of the scorpion associated Mollicutes through different species revealing a possible cospeciation pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M. Bolaños
- Laboratorio de Ecología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Mónica Rosenblueth
- Laboratorio de Ecología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Amaranta Manrique de Lara
- Laboratorio de Ecología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Analí Migueles-Lozano
- Laboratorio de Ecología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Citlali Gil-Aguillón
- Laboratorio de Ecología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Valeria Mateo-Estrada
- Laboratorio de Ecología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Francisco González-Serrano
- Laboratorio de Ecología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Carlos E. Santibáñez-López
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Tonalli García-Santibáñez
- Laboratorio de Ecología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
| | - Esperanza Martínez-Romero
- Laboratorio de Ecología Genómica, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mor, Mexico
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