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Perini L, Sipes K, Zervas A, Bellas C, Lutz S, Moniruzzaman M, Mourot R, Benning LG, Tranter M, Anesio AM. Giant viral signatures on the Greenland ice sheet. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:91. [PMID: 38760842 PMCID: PMC11100222 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01796-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dark pigmented snow and glacier ice algae on glaciers and ice sheets contribute to accelerating melt. The biological controls on these algae, particularly the role of viruses, remain poorly understood. Giant viruses, classified under the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDV) supergroup (phylum Nucleocytoviricota), are diverse and globally distributed. NCLDVs are known to infect eukaryotic cells in marine and freshwater environments, providing a biological control on the algal population in these ecosystems. However, there is very limited information on the diversity and ecosystem function of NCLDVs in terrestrial icy habitats. RESULTS In this study, we investigate for the first time giant viruses and their host connections on ice and snow habitats, such as cryoconite, dark ice, ice core, red and green snow, and genomic assemblies of five cultivated Chlorophyta snow algae. Giant virus marker genes were present in almost all samples; the highest abundances were recovered from red snow and the snow algae genomic assemblies, followed by green snow and dark ice. The variety of active algae and protists in these GrIS habitats containing NCLDV marker genes suggests that infection can occur on a range of eukaryotic hosts. Metagenomic data from red and green snow contained evidence of giant virus metagenome-assembled genomes from the orders Imitervirales, Asfuvirales, and Algavirales. CONCLUSION Our study highlights NCLDV family signatures in snow and ice samples from the Greenland ice sheet. Giant virus metagenome-assembled genomes (GVMAGs) were found in red snow samples, and related NCLDV marker genes were identified for the first time in snow algal culture genomic assemblies; implying a relationship between the NCLDVs and snow algae. Metatranscriptomic viral genes also aligned with metagenomic sequences, suggesting that NCLDVs are an active component of the microbial community and are potential "top-down" controls of the eukaryotic algal and protistan members. This study reveals the unprecedented presence of a diverse community of NCLDVs in a variety of glacial habitats dominated by algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Perini
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark.
| | - Katie Sipes
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
| | - Athanasios Zervas
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
| | | | - Stefanie Lutz
- Department of Agroecology and Environment, Plant-Soil Interactions, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, 14473, Germany
| | - Mohammad Moniruzzaman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Rey Mourot
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, 14473, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, 12249, Germany
| | - Liane G Benning
- German Research Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Centre Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, 14473, Germany
- Department of Earth Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, 12249, Germany
| | - Martyn Tranter
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, 4000, Denmark
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Heinrichs ME, Piedade GJ, Popa O, Sommers P, Trubl G, Weissenbach J, Rahlff J. Breaking the Ice: A Review of Phages in Polar Ecosystems. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2738:31-71. [PMID: 37966591 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3549-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect and replicate within bacterial hosts, playing a significant role in regulating microbial populations and ecosystem dynamics. However, phages from extreme environments such as polar regions remain relatively understudied due to challenges such as restricted ecosystem access and low biomass. Understanding the diversity, structure, and functions of polar phages is crucial for advancing our knowledge of the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of these environments. In this review, we will explore the current state of knowledge on phages from the Arctic and Antarctic, focusing on insights gained from -omic studies, phage isolation, and virus-like particle abundance data. Metagenomic studies of polar environments have revealed a high diversity of phages with unique genetic characteristics, providing insights into their evolutionary and ecological roles. Phage isolation studies have identified novel phage-host interactions and contributed to the discovery of new phage species. Virus-like particle abundance and lysis rate data, on the other hand, have highlighted the importance of phages in regulating bacterial populations and nutrient cycling in polar environments. Overall, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge about polar phages, and by synthesizing these different sources of information, we can better understand the diversity, dynamics, and functions of polar phages in the context of ongoing climate change, which will help to predict how polar ecosystems and residing phages may respond to future environmental perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Elena Heinrichs
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Gonçalo J Piedade
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, 't Horntje, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ovidiu Popa
- Institute of Quantitative and Theoretical Biology Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Gareth Trubl
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Julia Weissenbach
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Janina Rahlff
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
- Aero-Aquatic Virus Research Group, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
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Varghese R, Patel P, Kumar D, Sharma R. Climate change and glacier melting: risks for unusual outbreaks? J Travel Med 2023; 30:taad015. [PMID: 36721991 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taad015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Varghese
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research, and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Pal Patel
- Department of Genetic Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankalathur, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Dileep Kumar
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
- UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Department of Rasashastra and Bhaishajya Kalpana, Faculty of Ayurveda, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Nair A, Ghugare GS, Khairnar K. An Appraisal of Bacteriophage Isolation Techniques from Environment. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 83:519-535. [PMID: 34136953 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01782-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Researchers have recently renewed interest in bacteriophages. Being valuable models for the study of eukaryotic viruses, and more importantly, natural killers of bacteria, bacteriophages are being tapped for their potential role in multiple applications. Bacteriophages are also being increasingly sought for bacteriophage therapy due to rising antimicrobial resistance among pathogens. Reports show that there is an increasing trend in therapeutic application of natural bacteriophages, genetically engineered bacteriophages, and bacteriophage-encoded products as antimicrobial agents. In view of these applications, the isolation and characterization of bacteriophages from the environment has caught attention. In this review, various methods for isolation of bacteriophages from environmental sources like water, soil, and air are comprehensively described. The review also draws attention towards a handful on-field bacteriophage isolation techniques and the need for their further rapid development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparna Nair
- Environmental Virology Cell, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440020, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Gaurav S Ghugare
- Environmental Virology Cell, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440020, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Krishna Khairnar
- Environmental Virology Cell, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440020, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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The Beauty of Bacteriophage T4 Research: Lindsay W. Black and the T4 Head Assembly. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040700. [PMID: 35458430 PMCID: PMC9026906 DOI: 10.3390/v14040700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses are biochemically complex structures and mainly consist of folded proteins that contain nucleic acids. Bacteriophage T4 is one of most prominent examples, having a tail structure that contracts during the infection process. Intracellular phage multiplication leads to separate self-directed assembly reactions of proheads, tails and tail fibers. The proheads are packaged with concatemeric DNA produced by tandem replication reactions of the parental DNA molecule. Once DNA packaging is completed, the head is joined with the tail and six long fibers are attached. The mature particles are then released from the cell via lysis, another tightly regulated process. These processes have been studied in molecular detail leading to a fascinating view of the protein-folding dynamics that direct the structural interplay of assembled complexes. Lindsay W. Black dedicated his career to identifying and defining the molecular events required to form the T4 virion. He leaves us with rich insights into the astonishingly precise molecular clockwork that co-ordinates all of the players in T4 assembly, both viral and cellular. Here, we summarize Lindsay’s key research contributions that are certain to stimulate our future science for many years to come.
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Potapov SA, Tikhonova IV, Krasnopeev AY, Suslova MY, Zhuchenko NA, Drucker VV, Belykh OI. Communities of T4-like bacteriophages associated with bacteria in Lake Baikal: diversity and biogeography. PeerJ 2022. [DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lake Baikal phage communities are important for lake ecosystem functioning. Here we describe the diversity of T4-bacteriophage associated with the bacterial fraction of filtered water samples collected from the pelagic zone, coastal zone and shallow bays. Although the study of the diversity of phages for the g23 gene has been carried out at Lake Baikal for more than ten years, shallow bays that comprise a significant part of the lake’s area have been neglected, and this gene has not previously been studied in the bacterial fraction. Phage communities were probed using amplicon sequencing methods targeting the gene of major capsid protein (g23) and compared phylogenetically across sample locations and with sequences previously retrieved from non-bacterial fractions (<0.2 um) and biofilms (non-fractionated). In this study, we examined six water samples, in which 24 to 74 viral OTUs were obtained. The sequences from shallow bays largely differed from those in the pelagic and coastal samples and formed individual subcluster in the UPGMA tree that was obtained from the comparison of phylogenetic distances of g23 sequence sets from various ecosystems, reflecting differences in viral communities depending on the productivity of various sites of Lake Baikal. According to the RefSeq database, from 58.3 to 73% of sequences of each sample had cultivated closest relatives belonging to cyanophages. In this study, for phylogenetic analysis, we chose the closest relatives not only from the RefSeq and GenBank NR databases but also from two marine and one freshwater viromes: eutrophic Osaka Bay (Japan), oligotrophic area of the Pacific Ocean (Station ALOHA) and mesotrophic and ancient Lake Biwa (Japan), which allowed us to more fully compare the diversity of marine and freshwater phages. The identity with marine sequences at the amino acid level ranged from 35 to 80%, and with the sequences from the viral fraction and bacterial one from Lake Biwa—from 35.3 to 98% and from 33.9 to 89.1%, respectively. Therefore, the sequences from marine viromes had a greater difference than those from freshwater viromes, which may indicate a close relationship between freshwater viruses and differences from marine viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maria Yurjevna Suslova
- Limnological Institute Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
| | | | | | - Olga Ivanovna Belykh
- Limnological Institute Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Russia
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Zang L, Liu Y, Song X, Cai L, Liu K, Luo T, Zhang R. Unique T4-like phages in high-altitude lakes above 4500 m on the Tibetan Plateau. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 801:149649. [PMID: 34428653 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are the most abundant biological entities in the biosphere; however, little is known about viral ecology in high altitude lakes. Here, we characterized viruses from 13 lakes, nine of which located ≥4500 m above sea level, on the Tibetan Plateau, the highest plateau on Earth. The abundance of virus-like particle (VLP) in Tibetan lakes ranged from 4.8 ± 0.2 × 105 VLPs mL-1 to 6.0 ± 0.2 × 107 VLPs mL-1 and the virus-to-bacterium ratio was in the lower range of values reported for other lakes. The viral population size was positively correlated with turbidity and negatively correlated with particulate organic carbon concentration. Highly diverse VLP morphologies, including large (~300 nm) morphotypes, were observed. Phylogenetic analysis of T4-like bacteriophages based on major capsid gene (g23) identified a novel viral group, which were detected in abundance in hyposaline and mesosaline Tibetan lakes. Adaptation to lake evolution, water source (glacier-fed or non-glacier-fed) and environmental conditions (e.g., salinity, phosphorus concentration and productivity) are likely responsible for the variation in T4-like myovirus community composition in contrasting Tibetan lakes. This first investigation of viruses in high-altitude alpine lakes above 4500 m could contribute to our understanding of viral ecology in global alpine lakes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yongqin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Center for the Pan-Third Pole Environment, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Xuanying Song
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Lanlan Cai
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai 519080, China
| | - Keshao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Resources and Environment (TPESRE), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Tingwei Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China.
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Role of Phylogenetic Structure in the Dynamics of Coastal Viral Assemblages. Appl Environ Microbiol 2021; 87:AEM.02704-20. [PMID: 33741635 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02704-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine microbes, including viruses, are an essential part of the marine ecosystem, forming the base of the food web and driving biogeochemical cycles. Within this system, the composition of viral assemblages changes markedly with time, and some of these changes are repeatable through time; however, the extent to which these dynamics are reflected within versus among evolutionarily related groups of viruses is largely unexplored. To examine these dynamics, changes in the composition of two groups of ecologically important viruses and communities of their potential hosts were sampled every 2 weeks for 13 months at a coastal site in British Columbia, Canada. We sequenced two marker genes for viruses-the gene encoding the major capsid protein of T4-like phages and their relatives (gp23) and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of marnavirus-like RNA viruses-as well as marker genes for their bacterial and eukaryotic host communities, the genes encoding 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA. There were strong lagged correlations between viral diversity and community similarity of putative hosts, implying that the viruses influenced the composition of the host communities. The results showed that for both viral assemblages, the dominant clusters of phylogenetically related viruses shifted over time, and this was correlated with environmental changes. Viral clusters contained many ephemeral taxa and few persistent taxa, but within a viral assemblage, the ephemeral and persistent taxa were closely related, implying ecological dynamics within these clusters. Furthermore, these dynamics occurred in both the RNA and DNA viral assemblages surveyed, implying that this structure is common in natural viral assemblages.IMPORTANCE Viruses are major agents of microbial mortality in marine systems, yet little is known about changes in the composition of viral assemblages in relation to those of the microbial communities that they infect. Here, we sampled coastal seawater every 2 weeks for 1 year and used high-throughput sequencing of marker genes to follow changes in the composition of two groups of ecologically important viruses, as well as the communities of bacteria and protists that serve as their respective hosts. Different subsets of genetically related viruses dominated at different times. These results demonstrate that although the genetic composition of viral assemblages is highly dynamic temporally, for the most part the shuffling of genotypes occurs within a few clusters of phylogenetically related viruses. Thus, it appears that even in temperate coastal waters with large seasonal changes, the highly dynamic shuffling of viral genotypes occurs largely within a few subsets of related individuals.
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Wei X, Ge T, Wu C, Wang S, Mason-Jones K, Li Y, Zhu Z, Hu Y, Liang C, Shen J, Wu J, Kuzyakov Y. T4-like Phages Reveal the Potential Role of Viruses in Soil Organic Matter Mineralization. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:6440-6448. [PMID: 33852292 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are the most abundant biological entities in the world, but their ecological functions in soil are virtually unknown. We hypothesized that greater abundance of T4-like phages will increase bacterial death and thereby suppress soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization. A range of phage and bacterial abundances were established in sterilized soil by reinoculation with 10-3 and 10-6 dilutions of suspensions of unsterilized soil. The total and viable 16S rRNA gene abundance (a universal marker for bacteria) was measured by qPCR to determine bacterial abundance, with propidium monoazide (PMA) preapplication to eliminate DNA from non-viable cells. Abundance of the g23 marker gene was used to quantify T4-like phages. A close negative correlation between g23 abundance and viable 16S rRNA gene abundance was observed. High abundance of g23 led to lower viable ratios for bacteria, which suggested that phages drove microbial necromass production. The CO2 efflux from soil increased with bacterial abundance but decreased with higher abundance of T4-like phages. Elimination of extracellular DNA by PMA strengthened the relationship between CO2 efflux and bacterial abundance, suggesting that SOC mineralization by bacteria is strongly reduced by the T4-like phages. A random forest model revealed that abundance of T4-like phages and the abundance ratio of T4-like phages to bacteria are better predictors of SOC mineralization (measured as CO2 efflux) than bacterial abundance. Our study provides experimental evidence of phages' role in organic matter turnover in soil: they can retard SOC decomposition but accelerate bacterial turnover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomeng Wei
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region & Changsha Research Station for Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, PR China
| | - Tida Ge
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region & Changsha Research Station for Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, PR China
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Chuanfa Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Shuang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of Ministry of Agriculture and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, PR China
| | - Kyle Mason-Jones
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen 106708, The Netherlands
| | - Yong Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Zhenke Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region & Changsha Research Station for Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, PR China
| | - Yajun Hu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region & Changsha Research Station for Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, PR China
| | - Chao Liang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, PR China
| | - JianLin Shen
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region & Changsha Research Station for Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, PR China
| | - Jinshui Wu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region & Changsha Research Station for Agricultural and Environmental Monitoring, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan 410125, PR China
| | - Yakov Kuzyakov
- Department of Soil Science of Temperate Ecosystems, Department of Agricultural Soil Science, University of Goettingen, Goettingen 37073, Germany
- Agro-Technological Institute, RUDN University, 117198 Moscow, Russia
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10
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Nikulin NA, Zimin AA. Influence of Non-canonical DNA Bases on the Genomic Diversity of Tevenvirinae. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:632686. [PMID: 33889139 PMCID: PMC8056088 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.632686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tevenvirinae viruses are some of the most common viruses on Earth. Representatives of this subfamily have long been used in the molecular biology studies as model organisms – since the emergence of the discipline. Tevenvirinae are promising agents for phage therapy in animals and humans, since their representatives have only lytic life cycle and many of their host bacteria are pathogens. As confirmed experimentally, some Tevenvirinae have non-canonical DNA bases. Non-canonical bases can play an essential role in the diversification of closely related viruses. The article performs a comparative and evolutionary analysis of Tevenvirinae genomes and components of Tevenvirinae genomes. A comparative analysis of these genomes and the genes associated with the synthesis of non-canonical bases allows us to conclude that non-canonical bases have a major influence on the divergence of Tevenvirinae viruses within the same habitats. Supposedly, Tevenvirinae developed a strategy for changing HGT frequency in individual populations, which was based on the accumulation of proteins for the synthesis of non-canonical bases and proteins that used those bases as substrates. Owing to this strategy, ancestors of Tevenvirinae with the highest frequency of HGT acquired genes that allowed them to exist in a certain niche, and ancestors with the lowest HGT frequency preserved the most adaptive of those genes. Given the origin and characteristics of genes associated with the synthesis of non-canonical bases in Tevenvirinae, one can assume that other phages may have similar strategies. The article demonstrates the dependence of genomic diversity of closely related Tevenvirinae on non-canonical bases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita A Nikulin
- Laboratory of Bacteriophage Biology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Andrei A Zimin
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, G.K. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Russia
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11
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Li H, Liu L, Wang Y, Cai L, He M, Wang L, Hu C, Jiao N, Zhang R. T4-like myovirus community shaped by dispersal and deterministic processes in the South China Sea. Environ Microbiol 2020; 23:1038-1052. [PMID: 33089595 PMCID: PMC7984403 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
As the most abundant and genetically diverse biological entities, viruses significantly influence ecological, biogeographical and evolutionary processes in the ocean. However, the biogeography of marine viruses and the drivers shaping viral community are unclear. Here, the biogeographic patterns of T4-like viruses and the relative impacts of deterministic (environmental selection) and dispersal (spatial distance) processes were investigated in the northern South China Sea. The dominant viral operational taxonomic units were affiliated with previously defined Marine, Estuary, Lake and Paddy Groups. A clear viral biogeographic pattern was observed along the environmental gradient from the estuary to open sea. Marine Groups I and IV had a wide geographical distribution, whereas Marine Groups II, III and V were abundant in lower-salinity continental or eutrophic environments. A significant distance-decay pattern was noted for the T4-like viral community, especially for those infecting cyanobacteria. Both deterministic and dispersal processes influenced viral community assembly, although environmental selection (e.g. temperature, salinity, bacterial abundance and community, etc.) had a greater impact than spatial distance. Network analysis confirmed the strong association between viral and bacterial community composition, and suggested a diverse ecological relationship (e.g. lysis, co-infection or mutualistic) between and within viruses and their potential bacterial hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huifang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University (Xiang'an), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Lu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University (Xiang'an), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University (Xiang'an), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Lanlan Cai
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Maoqiu He
- State Key Laboratory of Trophic Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Long Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University (Xiang'an), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Chen Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University (Xiang'an), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Nianzhi Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University (Xiang'an), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Carbon Sequestration, Xiamen University (Xiang'an), Xiamen, Fujian, China
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12
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Sajjad W, Rafiq M, Din G, Hasan F, Iqbal A, Zada S, Ali B, Hayat M, Irfan M, Kang S. Resurrection of inactive microbes and resistome present in the natural frozen world: Reality or myth? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 735:139275. [PMID: 32480145 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The present world faces a new threat of ancient microbes and resistomes that are locked in the cryosphere and now releasing upon thawing due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. The cryosphere act as the best preserving place for these microbes and resistomes that stay alive for millions of years. Current reviews extensively discussed whether the resurrection of microbes and resistomes existing in these pristine environments is true or just a hype. Release of these ancient microorganisms and naked DNA is of great concern for society as these microbes can either cause infections directly or they can interact with contemporary microorganisms and affect their fitness, survival, and mutation rate. Moreover, the contemporary microorganisms may uptake the unlocked naked DNA, which might transform non-pathogenic microorganisms into deadly antibiotic-resistant microbes. Additionally, the resurrection of glacial microorganisms can cause adverse effects on ecosystems downstream. The release of glacial pathogens and naked DNA is real and can lead to fatal outbreaks; therefore, we must prepare ourselves for the possible reemergence of diseases caused by these microbes. This study provides a scientific base for the adoption of actions by international cooperation to develop preventive measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasim Sajjad
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Ghufranud Din
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Fariha Hasan
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Awais Iqbal
- School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Sahib Zada
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Barkat Ali
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Muhammad Hayat
- Institute of Microbial Technology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao Campus, China
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- College of Dentistry, Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. USA
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing, China.
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13
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Liu L, Cai L, Zhang R. Co-existence of freshwater and marine T4-like myoviruses in a typical subtropical estuary. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2018; 93:4584463. [PMID: 29099976 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fix119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth and play an important role in microbial community dynamics and biogeochemical cycling, yet their ecological characteristics in estuarine ecosystems are unclear. Here, virioplankton communities in a typical subtropical estuary, the Jiulong River estuary (JRE) in China, were investigated. The abundance of virioplankton ranged from 1.01 ± 0.05 × 107 to 1.62 ± 0.09 × 107 particles mL-1 in JRE, and the population size of viruses was correlated with temperature and nutrient levels. Three tailed viral morphotypes (myovirus, siphovirus and podovirus) were observed. Phylogenetic analysis showed that most of the g23 sequences in the JRE fell into three previously established groups (Marine, Paddy and Lake Groups) and two potential Estuary Groups. This demonstrates the co-existence of typical freshwater and marine T4-like myoviruses in the estuarine ecosystem, suggesting the movement of viruses and their hosts among biomes. Additionally, the spatial variation of g23 sequences suggests a geographic distribution pattern of T4-like myoviruses in the JRE, which might be shaped by the environmental gradient and/or their host distribution. These results provide valuable insights into the abundance, diversity and distribution patterns of virioplankton, as well as the factors influencing them, in subtropical estuarine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, Xiamen University, Xiang'an, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, People's Republic of China
| | - Lanlan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, Xiamen University, Xiang'an, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, Xiamen University, Xiang'an, Xiamen, Fujian 361102, People's Republic of China
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14
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He M, Cai L, Zhang C, Jiao N, Zhang R. Phylogenetic Diversity of T4-Type Phages in Sediments from the Subtropical Pearl River Estuary. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:897. [PMID: 28572798 PMCID: PMC5436276 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses are an abundant and active component of marine sediments and play a significant role in microbial ecology and biogeochemical cycling at local and global scales. To obtain a better understanding of the ecological characteristics of the viriobenthos, the abundance and morphology of viruses and the diversity and community structure of T4-type phages were systematically investigated in the surface sediments of the subtropical Pearl River Estuary (PRE). Viral abundances ranged from 4.49 × 108 to 11.7 × 108 viruses/g and prokaryotic abundances ranged from 2.63 × 108 to 9.55 × 108 cells/g, and both decreased from freshwater to saltwater. Diverse viral morphotypes, including tailed, spherical, filamentous, and rod-shaped viruses, were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Analysis of the major capsid gene (g23) indicated that the sediment T4-type phages were highly diverse and, similar to the trend in viral abundances, their diversity decreased as the salinity increased. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that most of the g23 operational taxonomic units were affiliated with marine, paddy soil, and lake groups. The T4-type phage communities in freshwater and saltwater sediments showed obvious differences, which were related to changes in the Pearl River discharge. The results of this study demonstrated both allochthonous and autochthonous sources of the viral community in the PRE sediments and the movement of certain T4-type viral groups between the freshwater and saline water biomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoqiu He
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, Xiamen UniversityXiamen, China
| | - Lanlan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, Xiamen UniversityXiamen, China
| | - Chuanlun Zhang
- Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, South University of Science and TechnologyShenzhen, China
| | - Nianzhi Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, Xiamen UniversityXiamen, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, Xiamen UniversityXiamen, China
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15
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Abstract
The large diversity of marine microorganisms harboured by oceans plays an important role in planet sustainability by driving globally important biogeochemical cycles; all primary and most secondary production in the oceans is performed by microorganisms. The largest part of the planet is covered by cold environments; consequently, cold-adapted microorganisms have crucial functional roles in globally important environmental processes and biogeochemical cycles cold-adapted extremophiles are a remarkable model to shed light on the molecular basis of survival at low temperature. The indigenous populations of Antarctic and Arctic microorganisms are endowed with genetic and physiological traits that allow them to live and effectively compete at the temperatures prevailing in polar regions. Some genes, e.g. glycosyltransferases and glycosylsynthetases involved in the architecture of the cell wall, may have been acquired/retained during evolution of polar strains or lost in tropical strains. This present work focusses on temperature and its role in shaping microbial adaptations; however, in assessing the impacts of climate changes on microbial diversity and biogeochemical cycles in polar oceans, it should not be forgotten that physiological studies need to include the interaction of temperature with other abiotic and biotic factors.
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16
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Millard AD, Pearce D, Zwirglmaier K. Biogeography of bacteriophages at four hydrothermal vent sites in the Antarctic based on g23 sequence diversity. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2016; 363:fnw043. [PMID: 26903011 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnw043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, which was carried out within the ChEsSO consortium project (Chemosynthetically driven ecosystems south of the Polar Front), we sampled two hydrothermal vent sites on the East Scotia Ridge, Scotia Sea, one in the Kemp Caldera, South Sandwich Arc and one in the Bransfield Strait, north-west of the Antarctic Peninsula, which exhibit strong differences in their chemical characteristics. We compared a subset of their bacteriophage population by Sanger- and 454-sequencing of g23, which codes for the major capsid protein of T4likeviruses. We found that the sites differ vastly in their bacteriophage diversity, which reflects the differences in the chemical conditions and therefore putatively the differences in microbial hosts living at these sites. Comparing phage diversity in the vent samples to other aquatic samples, the vent samples formed a distinct separate cluster, which also included the non-vent control samples that were taken several hundred meters above the vent chimneys. This indicates that the influence of the vents on the microbial population and therefore also the bacteriophage population extends much further than anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Millard
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - David Pearce
- British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), P.O. Box 156, N-9171, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway
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Maccario L, Sanguino L, Vogel TM, Larose C. Snow and ice ecosystems: not so extreme. Res Microbiol 2015; 166:782-95. [PMID: 26408452 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Snow and ice environments cover up to 21% of the Earth's surface. They have been regarded as extreme environments because of their low temperatures, high UV irradiation, low nutrients and low water availability, and thus, their microbial activity has not been considered relevant from a global microbial ecology viewpoint. In this review, we focus on why snow and ice habitats might not be extreme from a microbiological perspective. Microorganisms interact closely with the abiotic conditions imposed by snow and ice habitats by having diverse adaptations, that include genetic resistance mechanisms, to different types of stresses in addition to inhabiting various niches where these potential stresses might be reduced. The microbial communities inhabiting snow and ice are not only abundant and taxonomically diverse, but complex in terms of their interactions. Altogether, snow and ice seem to be true ecosystems with a role in global biogeochemical cycles that has likely been underestimated. Future work should expand past resistance studies to understanding the function of these ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorrie Maccario
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Université de Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France
| | - Laura Sanguino
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Université de Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France
| | - Timothy M Vogel
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Université de Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Université de Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France.
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18
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Using signature genes as tools to assess environmental viral ecology and diversity. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 80:4470-80. [PMID: 24837394 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00878-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses (including bacteriophages) are the most abundant biological entities on the planet. As such, they are thought to have a major impact on all aspects of microbial community structure and function. Despite this critical role in ecosystem processes, the study of virus/phage diversity has lagged far behind parallel studies of the bacterial and eukaryotic kingdoms, largely due to the absence of any universal phylogenetic marker. Here we review the development and use of signature genes to investigate viral diversity, as a viable strategy for data sets of specific virus groups. Genes that have been used include those encoding structural proteins, such as portal protein, major capsid protein, and tail sheath protein, auxiliary metabolism genes, such as psbA, psbB,and phoH, and several polymerase genes. These marker genes have been used in combination with PCR-based fingerprinting and/or sequencing strategies to investigate spatial, temporal, and seasonal variations and diversity in a wide range of habitats.
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19
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Bellas CM, Anesio AM, Barker G. Analysis of virus genomes from glacial environments reveals novel virus groups with unusual host interactions. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:656. [PMID: 26191051 PMCID: PMC4490671 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial communities in glacial ecosystems are diverse, active, and subjected to strong viral pressures and infection rates. In this study we analyse putative virus genomes assembled from three dsDNA viromes from cryoconite hole ecosystems of Svalbard and the Greenland Ice Sheet to assess the potential hosts and functional role viruses play in these habitats. We assembled 208 million reads from the virus-size fraction and developed a procedure to select genuine virus scaffolds from cellular contamination. Our curated virus library contained 546 scaffolds up to 230 Kb in length, 54 of which were circular virus consensus genomes. Analysis of virus marker genes revealed a wide range of viruses had been assembled, including bacteriophages, cyanophages, nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses and a virophage, with putative hosts identified as Cyanobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, eukaryotic algae and amoebae. Whole genome comparisons revealed the majority of circular genome scaffolds (CGS) formed 12 novel groups, two of which contained multiple phage members with plasmid-like properties, including a group of phage-plasmids possessing plasmid-like partition genes and toxin-antitoxin addiction modules to ensure their replication and a satellite phage-plasmid group. Surprisingly we also assembled a phage that not only encoded plasmid partition genes, but a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas adaptive bacterial immune system. One of the spacers was an exact match for another phage in our virome, indicating that in a novel use of the system, the lysogen was potentially capable of conferring immunity on its bacterial host against other phage. Together these results suggest that highly novel and diverse groups of viruses are present in glacial environments, some of which utilize very unusual life strategies and genes to control their replication and maintain a long-term relationship with their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Bellas
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol Bristol, UK
| | - Alexandre M Anesio
- Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol Bristol, UK
| | - Gary Barker
- Cereal Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol Bristol, UK
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20
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Sanguino L, Franqueville L, Vogel TM, Larose C. Linking environmental prokaryotic viruses and their host through CRISPRs. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2015; 91:fiv046. [PMID: 25908869 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiv046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The ecological pressure that viruses place on microbial communities is not only based on predation, but also on gene transfer. In order to determine the potential impact of viruses and transduction, we need a better understanding of the dynamics of interactions between viruses and their hosts in the environment. Data on environmental viruses are scarce, and methods for tracking their interactions with prokaryotes are needed. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs), which contain viral sequences in bacterial genomes, might help document the history of virus-host interactions in the environment. In this study, a bioinformatics network linking viruses and their hosts using CRISPR sequences obtained from metagenomic data was developed and applied to metagenomes from Arctic glacial ice and soil. The application of our network approach showed that putative interactions were more commonly detected in the ice samples than the soil which would be consistent with the ice viral-bacterial interactions being more dynamic than those in soil. Further analysis of the viral sequences in the CRISPRs indicated that Ralstonia phages might be agents of transduction in the Arctic glacial ice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sanguino
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France
| | - Laure Franqueville
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France
| | - Timothy M Vogel
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France
| | - Catherine Larose
- Environmental Microbial Genomics, Laboratoire Ampère, CNRS UMR 5005, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 36 Avenue Guy de Collongue, 69134 Ecully, France
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21
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Seasonal variations in PCR-DGGE fingerprinted viruses infecting phytoplankton in large and deep peri-alpine lakes. Ecol Res 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s11284-013-1121-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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