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Acar T, Moreau S, Jardinaud MF, Houdinet G, Maviane-Macia F, De Meyer F, Hoste B, Leroux O, Coen O, Le Ru A, Peeters N, Carlier A. The association between Dioscorea sansibarensis and Orrella dioscoreae as a model for hereditary leaf symbiosis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302377. [PMID: 38648204 PMCID: PMC11034651 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hereditary, or vertically-transmitted, symbioses affect a large number of animal species and some plants. The precise mechanisms underlying transmission of functions of these associations are often difficult to describe, due to the difficulty in separating the symbiotic partners. This is especially the case for plant-bacteria hereditary symbioses, which lack experimentally tractable model systems. Here, we demonstrate the potential of the leaf symbiosis between the wild yam Dioscorea sansibarensis and the bacterium Orrella dioscoreae (O. dioscoreae) as a model system for hereditary symbiosis. O. dioscoreae is easy to grow and genetically manipulate, which is unusual for hereditary symbionts. These properties allowed us to design an effective antimicrobial treatment to rid plants of bacteria and generate whole aposymbiotic plants, which can later be re-inoculated with bacterial cultures. Aposymbiotic plants did not differ morphologically from symbiotic plants and the leaf forerunner tip containing the symbiotic glands formed normally even in the absence of bacteria, but microscopic differences between symbiotic and aposymbiotic glands highlight the influence of bacteria on the development of trichomes and secretion of mucilage. This is to our knowledge the first leaf symbiosis where both host and symbiont can be grown separately and where the symbiont can be genetically altered and reintroduced to the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Acar
- LIPME, INRAE, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, France
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sandra Moreau
- LIPME, INRAE, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Bart Hoste
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Olivier Coen
- LIPME, INRAE, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Aurélie Le Ru
- Plateforme Imagerie TRI-FRAIB, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Nemo Peeters
- LIPME, INRAE, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Aurelien Carlier
- LIPME, INRAE, CNRS, Université de Toulouse, Castanet-Tolosan, France
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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2
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Fazio NT, Reichhardt C. Structural biology: Proteobacterial accessories for diverse cellulose synthesis. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R69-R72. [PMID: 38262364 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.029] [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: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
BcsD is broadly present throughout Proteobacteria and is predicted to contribute to cellulose crystallinity via interaction with BcsH. However, new work shows that, in non-crystalline forming Proteobacteria, BcsD contains an amino-terminal a1-helix, forms a tetrahedron-like structure, and interacts with alternative proline-rich protein partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole T Fazio
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
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3
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Sana TG, Notopoulou A, Puygrenier L, Decossas M, Moreau S, Carlier A, Krasteva PV. Structures and roles of BcsD and partner scaffold proteins in proteobacterial cellulose secretion. Curr Biol 2024; 34:106-116.e6. [PMID: 38141614 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Cellulose is the world's most abundant biopolymer, and similar to its role as a cell wall component in plants, it is a prevalent constituent of the extracellular matrix in bacterial biofilms. Although bacterial cellulose (BC) was first described in the 19th century, it was only recently revealed that it is produced by several distinct types of Bcs secretion systems that feature multiple accessory subunits in addition to a catalytic BcsAB synthase tandem. We recently showed that crystalline cellulose secretion in the Gluconacetobacter genus (α-Proteobacteria) is driven by a supramolecular BcsH-BcsD scaffold-the "cortical belt"-which stabilizes the synthase nanoarrays through an unexpected inside-out mechanism for secretion system assembly. Interestingly, while bcsH is specific for Gluconacetobacter, bcsD homologs are widespread in Proteobacteria. Here, we examine BcsD homologs and their gene neighborhoods from several plant-colonizing β- and γ-Proteobacteria proposed to secrete a variety of non-crystalline and/or chemically modified cellulosic polymers. We provide structural and mechanistic evidence that through different quaternary structure assemblies BcsD acts with proline-rich BcsH, BcsP, or BcsO partners across the proteobacterial clade to form synthase-interacting intracellular scaffolds that, in turn, determine the biofilm strength and architecture in species with strikingly different physiology and secreted biopolymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault G Sana
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, Pessac 33600, France; "Structural Biology of Biofilms" Group, European Institute of Chemistry and Biology (IECB), 2 Rue Robert Escarpit, Pessac 33600, France
| | - Areti Notopoulou
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, Pessac 33600, France; "Structural Biology of Biofilms" Group, European Institute of Chemistry and Biology (IECB), 2 Rue Robert Escarpit, Pessac 33600, France
| | - Lucie Puygrenier
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, Pessac 33600, France; "Structural Biology of Biofilms" Group, European Institute of Chemistry and Biology (IECB), 2 Rue Robert Escarpit, Pessac 33600, France
| | - Marion Decossas
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, Pessac 33600, France; "Structural Biology of Biofilms" Group, European Institute of Chemistry and Biology (IECB), 2 Rue Robert Escarpit, Pessac 33600, France
| | - Sandra Moreau
- LIPME, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CNRS, Castanet-Tolosan 31326, France
| | - Aurélien Carlier
- LIPME, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CNRS, Castanet-Tolosan 31326, France; Laboratory of Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Petya V Krasteva
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, Pessac 33600, France; "Structural Biology of Biofilms" Group, European Institute of Chemistry and Biology (IECB), 2 Rue Robert Escarpit, Pessac 33600, France.
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4
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Wilkinson H, Coppock A, Richmond BL, Lagunas B, Gifford ML. Plant-Environment Response Pathway Regulation Uncovered by Investigating Non-Typical Legume Symbiosis and Nodulation. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1964. [PMID: 37653881 PMCID: PMC10223263 DOI: 10.3390/plants12101964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen is an essential element needed for plants to survive, and legumes are well known to recruit rhizobia to fix atmospheric nitrogen. In this widely studied symbiosis, legumes develop specific structures on the roots to host specific symbionts. This review explores alternate nodule structures and their functions outside of the more widely studied legume-rhizobial symbiosis, as well as discussing other unusual aspects of nodulation. This includes actinorhizal-Frankia, cycad-cyanobacteria, and the non-legume Parasponia andersonii-rhizobia symbioses. Nodules are also not restricted to the roots, either, with examples found within stems and leaves. Recent research has shown that legume-rhizobia nodulation brings a great many other benefits, some direct and some indirect. Rhizobial symbiosis can lead to modifications in other pathways, including the priming of defence responses, and to modulated or enhanced resistance to biotic and abiotic stress. With so many avenues to explore, this review discusses recent discoveries and highlights future directions in the study of nodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Wilkinson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Alice Coppock
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Beatriz Lagunas
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Miriam L. Gifford
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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5
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Abstract
Hereditary symbioses have the potential to drive transgenerational effects, yet the mechanisms responsible for transmission of heritable plant symbionts are still poorly understood. The leaf symbiosis between Dioscorea sansibarensis and the bacterium Orrella dioscoreae offers an appealing model system to study how heritable bacteria are transmitted to the next generation. Here, we demonstrate that inoculation of apical buds with a bacterial suspension is sufficient to colonize newly formed leaves and propagules, and to ensure transmission to the next plant generation. Flagellar motility is not required for movement inside the plant but is important for the colonization of new hosts. Further, tissue-specific regulation of putative symbiotic functions highlights the presence of two distinct subpopulations of bacteria in the leaf gland and at the shoot meristem. We propose that bacteria in the leaf gland dedicate resources to symbiotic functions, while dividing bacteria in the shoot tip ensure successful colonization of meristematic tissue, glands, and propagules. Compartmentalization of intrahost populations together with tissue-specific regulation may serve as a robust mechanism for the maintenance of mutualism in leaf symbiosis.
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6
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Schindler F, Fragner L, Herpell JB, Berger A, Brenner M, Tischler S, Bellaire A, Schönenberger J, Li W, Sun X, Schinnerl J, Brecker L, Weckwerth W. Dissecting Metabolism of Leaf Nodules in Ardisia crenata and Psychotria punctata. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:683671. [PMID: 34395523 PMCID: PMC8362603 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.683671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Root-microbe interaction and its specialized root nodule structures and functions are well studied. In contrast, leaf nodules harboring microbial endophytes in special glandular leaf structures have only recently gained increased interest as plant-microbe phyllosphere interactions. Here, we applied a comprehensive metabolomics platform in combination with natural product isolation and characterization to dissect leaf and leaf nodule metabolism and functions in Ardisia crenata (Primulaceae) and Psychotria punctata (Rubiaceae). The results indicate that abiotic stress resilience plays an important part within the leaf nodule symbiosis of both species. Both species showed metabolic signatures of enhanced nitrogen assimilation/dissimilation pattern and increased polyamine levels in nodules compared to leaf lamina tissue potentially involved in senescence processes and photosynthesis. Multiple links to cytokinin and REDOX-active pathways were found. Our results further demonstrate that secondary metabolite production by endophytes is a key feature of this symbiotic system. Multiple anhydromuropeptides (AhMP) and their derivatives were identified as highly characteristic biomarkers for nodulation within both species. A novel epicatechin derivative was structurally elucidated with NMR and shown to be enriched within the leaf nodules of A. crenata. This enrichment within nodulated tissues was also observed for catechin and other flavonoids indicating that flavonoid metabolism may play an important role for leaf nodule symbiosis of A. crenata. In contrast, pavettamine was only detected in P. punctata and showed no nodule specific enrichment but a developmental effect. Further natural products were detected, including three putative unknown depsipeptide structures in A. crenata leaf nodules. The analysis presents a first metabolomics reference data set for the intimate interaction of microbes and plants in leaf nodules, reveals novel metabolic processes of plant-microbe interaction as well as the potential of natural product discovery in these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Schindler
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lena Fragner
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes B Herpell
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Berger
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Brenner
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences/Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonja Tischler
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anke Bellaire
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürg Schönenberger
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Weimin Li
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Xiaoliang Sun
- Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johann Schinnerl
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lothar Brecker
- Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wolfram Weckwerth
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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7
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Danneels B, Viruel J, Mcgrath K, Janssens SB, Wales N, Wilkin P, Carlier A. Patterns of transmission and horizontal gene transfer in the Dioscorea sansibarensis leaf symbiosis revealed by whole-genome sequencing. Curr Biol 2021; 31:2666-2673.e4. [PMID: 33852872 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Leaves of the wild yam species Dioscorea sansibarensis display prominent forerunner or "drip" tips filled with extracellular bacteria of the species Orrella dioscoreae.1 This species of yam is native to Madagascar and tropical Africa and reproduces mainly asexually through aerial bulbils and underground tubers, which also contain a small population of O. dioscoreae.2,3 Despite apparent vertical transmission, the genome of O. dioscoreae does not show any of the hallmarks of genome erosion often found in hereditary symbionts (e.g., small genome size and accumulation of pseudogenes).4-6 We investigated here the range and distribution of leaf symbiosis between D. sansibarensis and O. dioscoreae using preserved leaf samples from herbarium collections that were originally collected from various locations in Africa. We recovered DNA from the extracellular symbiont in all samples, showing that the symbiosis is widespread throughout continental Africa and Madagascar. Despite the degraded nature of this DNA, we constructed 17 symbiont genomes using de novo methods without relying on a reference. Phylogenetic and genomic analyses revealed that horizontal transmission of symbionts and horizontal gene transfer have shaped the evolution of the symbiont. These mechanisms could help explain lack of signs of reductive genome evolution despite an obligate host-associated lifestyle. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of D. sansibarensis based on plastid genomes revealed a strong geographical clustering of samples and provided evidence that the symbiosis originated at least 13 mya, earlier than previously estimated.3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram Danneels
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Juan Viruel
- Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Krista Mcgrath
- Department of Prehistory and Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain; Department of Archaeology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Steven B Janssens
- Meise Botanic Garden, 1860 Meise, Belgium; Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathan Wales
- Department of Archaeology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Paul Wilkin
- Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AE, UK
| | - Aurélien Carlier
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; LIPME, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CNRS, 31320 Castanet-Tolosan, France.
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8
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Qi SS, Bogdanov A, Cnockaert M, Acar T, Ranty-Roby S, Coenye T, Vandamme P, König GM, Crüsemann M, Carlier A. Induction of antibiotic specialized metabolism by co-culturing in a collection of phyllosphere bacteria. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:2132-2151. [PMID: 33393154 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
A diverse set of bacteria live on the above-ground parts of plants, composing the phyllosphere, and play important roles for plant health. Phyllosphere microbial communities assemble in a predictable manner and diverge from communities colonizing other plant organs or the soil. However, how these communities differ functionally remains obscure. We assembled a collection of 258 bacterial isolates representative of the most abundant taxa of the phyllosphere of Arabidopsis and a shared soil inoculum. We screened the collection for the production of metabolites that inhibit the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria either in isolation or in co-culture. We found that isolates capable of constitutive antibiotic production in monoculture were significantly enriched in the soil fraction. In contrast, the proportion of binary cultures resulting in the production of growth inhibitory compounds differed only marginally between the phyllosphere and soil fractions. This shows that the phyllosphere may be a rich resource for potentially novel molecules with antibiotic activity, but that production or activity is dependent upon induction by external signals or cues. Finally, we describe the isolation of antimicrobial acyloin metabolites from a binary culture of Arabidopsis phyllosphere isolates, which inhibit the growth of clinically relevant Acinetobacter baumannii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Shan Qi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alexander Bogdanov
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 6, Bonn, 53115, Germany.,Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Margo Cnockaert
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tessa Acar
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,LIPME, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CNRS, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Sarah Ranty-Roby
- LIPME, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CNRS, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Tom Coenye
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Vandamme
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Gabriele M König
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 6, Bonn, 53115, Germany
| | - Max Crüsemann
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Bonn, Nussallee 6, Bonn, 53115, Germany
| | - Aurélien Carlier
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,LIPME, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CNRS, Castanet-Tolosan, France
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9
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Herpell JB, Schindler F, Bejtović M, Fragner L, Diallo B, Bellaire A, Kublik S, Foesel BU, Gschwendtner S, Kerou M, Schloter M, Weckwerth W. The Potato Yam Phyllosphere Ectosymbiont Paraburkholderia sp. Msb3 Is a Potent Growth Promotor in Tomato. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:581. [PMID: 32373084 PMCID: PMC7186400 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Paraburkholderia includes a variety of species with promising features for sustainable biotechnological solutions in agriculture through increasing crop productivity. Here, we present a novel Paraburkholderia isolate, a permanent and predominant member of the Dioscoreae bulbifera (yam family, Dioscoreaceae) phyllosphere, making up to 25% of the microbial community on leaf acumens. The 8.5 Mbp genome of isolate Msb3 encodes an unprecedented combination of features mediating a beneficial plant-associated lifestyle, including biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), plant hormone regulation, detoxification of various xenobiotics, degradation of aromatic compounds and multiple protein secretion systems including both T3SS and T6SS. The isolate exhibits significant growth promotion when applied to agriculturally important plants such as tomato, by increasing the total dry biomass by up to 40%. The open question about the “beneficial” nature of this strain led us to investigate ecological and generic boundaries in Burkholderia sensu lato. In a refined phylogeny including 279 Burkholderia sensu lato isolates strain Msb3 clusters within Clade I Paraburkholderia, which also includes few opportunistic strains that can potentially act as pathogens, as revealed by our ecological meta-data analysis. In fact, we demonstrate that all genera originating from the “plant beneficial and environmental” (PBE) Burkholderia species cluster include opportunists. This indicates that further functional examinations are needed before safe application of these strains in sustainable agricultural settings can be assured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes B Herpell
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Schindler
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mersad Bejtović
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lena Fragner
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bocar Diallo
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anke Bellaire
- Division of Structural and Functional Botany, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Susanne Kublik
- Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Bärbel U Foesel
- Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Silvia Gschwendtner
- Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Melina Kerou
- Archaea Biology and Ecogenomics Division, Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Schloter
- Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Wolfram Weckwerth
- Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Vienna Metabolomics Center (VIME), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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10
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Sinnesael A, Leroux O, Janssens SB, Smets E, Panis B, Verstraete B. Is the bacterial leaf nodule symbiosis obligate for Psychotria umbellata? The development of a Burkholderia-free host plant. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0219863. [PMID: 31310638 PMCID: PMC6634412 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0219863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The bacterial leaf nodule symbiosis is an interaction where bacteria are housed in specialised structures in the leaves of their plant host. In the Rubiaceae plant family, host plants interact with Burkholderia bacteria. This interaction might play a role in the host plant defence system. It is unique due to its high specificity; the vertical transmission of the endophyte to the next generation of the host plant; and its supposedly obligatory character. Although previous attempts have been made to investigate this obligatory character by developing Burkholderia-free plants, none have succeeded and nodulating plants were still produced. In order to investigate the obligatory character of this endosymbiosis, our aims were to develop Burkholderia-free Psychotria umbellata plants and to investigate the effect of the absence of the endophytes on the host in a controlled environment. METHODS The Burkholderia-free plants were obtained via embryo culture, a plant cultivation technique. In order to analyse the endophyte-free status, we screened the plants morphologically, microscopically and molecularly over a period of three years. To characterise the phenotype and growth of the in vitro aposymbiotic plants, we compared the growth of the Burkholderia-free plants to the nodulating plants under the same in vitro conditions. KEY RESULTS All the developed plants were Burkholderia-free and survived in a sterile in vitro environment. The growth analysis showed that plants without endophytes had a slower development. CONCLUSIONS Embryo culture is a cultivation technique with a high success rate for the development of Burkholderia-free plants of P. umbellata. The increased growth rate in vitro when the specific endophyte is present cannot be explained by possible benefits put forward in previous studies. This might indicate that the benefits of the endosymbiosis are not yet completely understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Sinnesael
- Plant Conservation and Population Biology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Meise Botanic Garden, Meise, Belgium
| | | | - Steven B. Janssens
- Plant Conservation and Population Biology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Meise Botanic Garden, Meise, Belgium
| | - Erik Smets
- Plant Conservation and Population Biology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Bart Panis
- Bioversity International, Leuven, Belgium
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