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Benning S, Pritsch K, Radl V, Siani R, Wang Z, Schloter M. (Pan)genomic analysis of two Rhodococcus isolates and their role in phenolic compound degradation. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0378323. [PMID: 38376357 PMCID: PMC10986565 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03783-23] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The genus Rhodococcus is recognized for its potential to degrade a large range of aromatic substances, including plant-derived phenolic compounds. We used comparative genomics in the context of the broader Rhodococcus pan-genome to study genomic traits of two newly described Rhodococcus strains (type-strain Rhodococcus pseudokoreensis R79T and Rhodococcus koreensis R85) isolated from apple rhizosphere. Of particular interest was their ability to degrade phenolic compounds as part of an integrated approach to treat apple replant disease (ARD) syndrome. The pan-genome of the genus Rhodococcus based on 109 high-quality genomes was open with a small core (1.3%) consisting of genes assigned to basic cell functioning. The range of genome sizes in Rhodococcus was high, from 3.7 to 10.9 Mbp. Genomes from host-associated strains were generally smaller compared to environmental isolates which were characterized by exceptionally large genome sizes. Due to large genomic differences, we propose the reclassification of distinct groups of rhodococci like the Rhodococcus equi cluster to new genera. Taxonomic species affiliation was the most important factor in predicting genetic content and clustering of the genomes. Additionally, we found genes that discriminated between the strains based on habitat. All members of the genus Rhodococcus had at least one gene involved in the pathway for the degradation of benzoate, while biphenyl degradation was mainly restricted to strains in close phylogenetic relationships with our isolates. The ~40% of genes still unclassified in larger Rhodococcus genomes, particularly those of environmental isolates, need more research to explore the metabolic potential of this genus.IMPORTANCERhodococcus is a diverse, metabolically powerful genus, with high potential to adapt to different habitats due to the linear plasmids and large genome sizes. The analysis of its pan-genome allowed us to separate host-associated from environmental strains, supporting taxonomic reclassification. It was shown which genes contribute to the differentiation of the genomes based on habitat, which can possibly be used for targeted isolation and screening for desired traits. With respect to apple replant disease (ARD), our isolates showed genome traits that suggest potential for application in reducing plant-derived phenolic substances in soil, which makes them good candidates for further testing against ARD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Benning
- Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Karin Pritsch
- Research Unit for Environmental Simulations, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Viviane Radl
- Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Roberto Siani
- Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Zhongjie Wang
- Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Michael Schloter
- Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, Helmholtz Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair for Environmental Microbiology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
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Sengupta K, Swain MT, Livingstone PG, Whitworth DE, Saha P. Genome Sequencing and Comparative Transcriptomics Provide a Holistic View of 4-Nitrophenol Degradation and Concurrent Fatty Acid Catabolism by Rhodococcus sp. Strain BUPNP1. Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3209. [PMID: 30662435 PMCID: PMC6328493 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodococcus sp.strain BUPNP1 can utilize the priority environmental pollutant 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) as its sole source of carbon and energy. In this study, genome and transcriptome sequencing were used to gain mechanistic insights into 4-NP degradation. The draft BUPNP1 genome is 5.56 Mbp and encodes 4,963 proteins, which are significantly enriched in hypothetical proteins compared to other Rhodococcus sp. A novel 4-NP catabolic 43 gene cluster “nph” was identified that encodes all the genes required for the conversion of 4-NP into acetyl-CoA and succinate, via 4-nitrocatechol. The cluster also encodes pathways for the catabolism of other diverse aromatic compounds. Comparisons between BUPN1 growing on either 4-NP or glucose resulted in significant changes in the expression of many nph cluster genes, and, during 4-NP growth, a loss of lipid inclusions. Moreover, fatty acid degradation/synthesis genes were found within the nph cluster, suggesting fatty acids may be concurrently catabolised with 4-NP. A holistic model for the action of the nph gene cluster is proposed which incorporates genetic architecture, uptake and metabolism of aromatic compounds, enzymatic activities and transcriptional regulation. The model provides testable hypotheses for further biochemical investigations into the genes of the nph cluster, for potential exploitation in bioremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kriti Sengupta
- Department of Microbiology, Burdwan University, Bardhaman, India
| | - Martin T Swain
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Paul G Livingstone
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - David E Whitworth
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Pradipta Saha
- Department of Microbiology, Burdwan University, Bardhaman, India
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Tang B, Xie F, Zhao W, Wang J, Dai S, Zheng H, Ding X, Cen X, Liu H, Yu Y, Zhou H, Zhou Y, Zhang L, Goodfellow M, Zhao GP. A systematic study of the whole genome sequence of Amycolatopsis methanolica strain 239 T provides an insight into its physiological and taxonomic properties which correlate with its position in the genus. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2016; 1:169-186. [PMID: 29062941 PMCID: PMC5640789 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The complete genome of methanol-utilizing Amycolatopsis methanolica strain 239T was generated, revealing a single 7,237,391 nucleotide circular chromosome with 7074 annotated protein-coding sequences (CDSs). Comparative analyses against the complete genome sequences of Amycolatopsis japonica strain MG417-CF17T, Amycolatopsis mediterranei strain U32 and Amycolatopsis orientalis strain HCCB10007 revealed a broad spectrum of genomic structures, including various genome sizes, core/quasi-core/non-core configurations and different kinds of episomes. Although polyketide synthase gene clusters were absent from the A. methanolica genome, 12 gene clusters related to the biosynthesis of other specialized (secondary) metabolites were identified. Complete pathways attributable to the facultative methylotrophic physiology of A. methanolica strain 239T, including both the mdo/mscR encoded methanol oxidation and the hps/hpi encoded formaldehyde assimilation via the ribulose monophosphate cycle, were identified together with evidence that the latter might be the result of horizontal gene transfer. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rDNA or orthologues of AMETH_3452, a novel actinobacterial class-specific conserved gene against 62 or 18 Amycolatopsis type strains, respectively, revealed three major phyletic lineages, namely the mesophilic or moderately thermophilic A. orientalis subclade (AOS), the mesophilic Amycolatopsis taiwanensis subclade (ATS) and the thermophilic A. methanolica subclade (AMS). The distinct growth temperatures of members of the subclades correlated with corresponding genetic variations in their encoded compatible solutes. This study shows the value of integrating conventional taxonomic with whole genome sequence data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences and Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.,CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Feng Xie
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Jian Wang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Shengwang Dai
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Huajun Zheng
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Disease and Health Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiaoming Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences and Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Xufeng Cen
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Haican Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yucong Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences and Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Haokui Zhou
- Department of Microbiology and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences and Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.,Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Disease and Health Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Michael Goodfellow
- School of Biology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Guo-Ping Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences and Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.,CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.,Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Disease and Health Genomics, Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai, 201203, China.,Department of Microbiology and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Táncsics A, Benedek T, Szoboszlay S, Veres PG, Farkas M, Máthé I, Márialigeti K, Kukolya J, Lányi S, Kriszt B. The detection and phylogenetic analysis of the alkane 1-monooxygenase gene of members of the genus Rhodococcus. Syst Appl Microbiol 2014; 38:1-7. [PMID: 25466921 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2014.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Revised: 10/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Naturally occurring and anthropogenic petroleum hydrocarbons are potential carbon sources for many bacteria. The AlkB-related alkane hydroxylases, which are integral membrane non-heme iron enzymes, play a key role in the microbial degradation of many of these hydrocarbons. Several members of the genus Rhodococcus are well-known alkane degraders and are known to harbor multiple alkB genes encoding for different alkane 1-monooxygenases. In the present study, 48 Rhodococcus strains, representing 35 species of the genus, were investigated to find out whether there was a dominant type of alkB gene widespread among species of the genus that could be used as a phylogenetic marker. Phylogenetic analysis of rhodococcal alkB gene sequences indicated that a certain type of alkB gene was present in almost every member of the genus Rhodococcus. These alkB genes were common in a unique nucleotide sequence stretch absent from other types of rhodococcal alkB genes that encoded a conserved amino acid motif: WLG(I/V/L)D(G/D)GL. The sequence identity of the targeted alkB gene in Rhodococcus ranged from 78.5 to 99.2% and showed higher nucleotide sequence variation at the inter-species level compared to the 16S rRNA gene (93.9-99.8%). The results indicated that the alkB gene type investigated might be applicable for: (i) differentiating closely related Rhodococcus species, (ii) properly assigning environmental isolates to existing Rhodococcus species, and finally (iii) assessing whether a new Rhodococcus isolate represents a novel species of the genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Táncsics
- Regional University Center of Excellence in Environmental Industry, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary.
| | - Tibor Benedek
- Regional University Center of Excellence in Environmental Industry, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Sándor Szoboszlay
- Department of Environmental Protection and Environmental Safety, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Péter G Veres
- Department of Environmental Protection and Environmental Safety, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Milán Farkas
- Department of Environmental Protection and Environmental Safety, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - István Máthé
- Bioengineering Department, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania
| | | | - József Kukolya
- Department of Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Research Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences, National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Lányi
- Bioengineering Department, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Miercurea Ciuc, Romania
| | - Balázs Kriszt
- Department of Environmental Protection and Environmental Safety, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary
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Sangal V, Jones AL, Goodfellow M, Sutcliffe IC, Hoskisson PA. Comparative genomic analyses reveal a lack of a substantial signature of host adaptation in Rhodococcus equi ('Prescottella equi'). Pathog Dis 2014; 71:352-6. [PMID: 24376240 DOI: 10.1111/2049-632x.12126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Revised: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhodococcus equi ('Prescottella equi') is a pathogenic actinomycete primarily infecting horses but has emerged as an opportunistic human pathogen. We have sequenced the genome of the type strain of this species, R. equi strain C7(T) , and compared the genome with that of another foal isolate 103S and of a human isolate ATCC 33707. The R. equi strains are closely related to each other and yet distantly related to other rhodococci and Nocardia brasiliensis. The comparison of gene contents among R. equi strains revealed minor differences that could be associated with host adaptation from foals to humans, including the presence of a paa operon in the human isolate, which is potentially involved in pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vartul Sangal
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK; Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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