1
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Zhou M, Ma L, Wang Z, Li S, Cai Y, Li M, Zhang L, Wang C, Wu B, Yan Q, He Z, Shu L. Nano- and microplastics drive the dynamic equilibrium of amoeba-associated bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:134958. [PMID: 38905974 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
As emerging pollutants, microplastics have become pervasive on a global scale, inflicting significant harm upon ecosystems. However, the impact of these microplastics on the symbiotic relationship between protists and bacteria remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms through which nano- and microplastics of varying sizes and concentrations influence the amoeba-bacterial symbiotic system. The findings reveal that nano- and microplastics exert deleterious effects on the adaptability of the amoeba host, with the magnitude of these effects contingent upon particle size and concentration. Furthermore, nano- and microplastics disrupt the initial equilibrium in the symbiotic relationship between amoeba and bacteria, with nano-plastics demonstrating a reduced ability to colonize symbiotic bacteria within the amoeba host when compared to their microplastic counterparts. Moreover, nano- and microplastics enhance the relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes and heavy metal resistance genes in the bacteria residing within the amoeba host, which undoubtedly increases the potential transmission risk of both human pathogens and resistance genes within the environment. In sum, the results presented herein provide a novel perspective and theoretical foundation for the study of interactions between microplastics and microbial symbiotic systems, along with the establishment of risk assessment systems for ecological environments and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhou
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lu Ma
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zihe Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shicheng Li
- School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yijun Cai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Meicheng Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bo Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qingyun Yan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhili He
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Longfei Shu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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2
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Scott TJ, Queller DC, Strassmann JE. Complex third-party effects in the Dictyostelium-Paraburkholderia symbiosis: prey bacteria that are eaten, carried or left behind. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20241111. [PMID: 39016123 PMCID: PMC11253208 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1111] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic interactions may change depending on third parties like predators or prey. Third-party interactions with prey bacteria are central to the symbiosis between Dictyostelium discoideum social amoeba hosts and Paraburkholderia bacterial symbionts. Symbiosis with inedible Paraburkholderia allows host D. discoideum to carry prey bacteria through the dispersal stage where hosts aggregate and develop into fruiting bodies that disperse spores. Carrying prey bacteria benefits hosts when prey are scarce but harms hosts when prey bacteria are plentiful, possibly because hosts leave some prey bacteria behind while carrying. Thus, understanding benefits and costs in this symbiosis requires measuring how many prey bacteria are eaten, carried and left behind by infected hosts. We found that Paraburkholderia infection makes hosts leave behind both symbionts and prey bacteria. However, the number of prey bacteria left uneaten was too small to explain why infected hosts produced fewer spores than uninfected hosts. Turning to carried bacteria, we found that hosts carry prey bacteria more often after developing in prey-poor environments than in prey-rich ones. This suggests that carriage is actively modified to ensure hosts have prey in the harshest conditions. Our results show that multi-faceted interactions with third parties shape the evolution of symbioses in complex ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trey J. Scott
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO63130, USA
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138, USA
| | - David C. Queller
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO63130, USA
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3
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Scott TJ, Stephenson CJ, Rao S, Queller DC, Strassmann JE. Unpredictable soil conditions can affect the prevalence of a microbial symbiosis. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17445. [PMID: 38784393 PMCID: PMC11114107 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The evolution of symbiotic interactions may be affected by unpredictable conditions. However, a link between prevalence of these conditions and symbiosis has not been widely demonstrated. We test for these associations using Dictyostelium discoideum social amoebae and their bacterial endosymbionts. D. discoideum commonly hosts endosymbiotic bacteria from three taxa: Paraburkholderia, Amoebophilus and Chlamydiae. Three species of facultative Paraburkholderia endosymbionts are the best studied and give hosts the ability to carry prey bacteria through the dispersal stage to new environments. Amoebophilus and Chlamydiae are obligate endosymbiont lineages with no measurable impact on host fitness. We tested whether the frequency of both single infections and coinfections of these symbionts were associated with the unpredictability of their soil environments by using symbiont presence-absence data from D. discoideum isolates from 21 locations across the eastern United States. We found that symbiosis across all infection types, symbiosis with Amoebophilus and Chlamydiae obligate endosymbionts, and symbiosis involving coinfections were not associated with any of our measures. However, unpredictable precipitation was associated with symbiosis in two species of Paraburkholderia, suggesting a link between unpredictable conditions and symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trey J. Scott
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Calum J. Stephenson
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Sandeep Rao
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - David C. Queller
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Joan E. Strassmann
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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4
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Michalik A, Bauer E, Szklarzewicz T, Kaltenpoth M. Nutrient supplementation by genome-eroded Burkholderia symbionts of scale insects. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:2221-2231. [PMID: 37833524 PMCID: PMC10689751 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01528-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Hemipterans are known as hosts to bacterial or fungal symbionts that supplement their unbalanced diet with essential nutrients. Among them, scale insects (Coccomorpha) are characterized by a particularly large diversity of symbiotic systems. Here, using microscopic and genomic approaches, we functionally characterized the symbionts of two scale insects belonging to the Eriococcidae family, Acanthococcus aceris and Gossyparia spuria. These species host Burkholderia bacteria that are localized in the cytoplasm of the fat body cells. Metagenome sequencing revealed very similar and highly reduced genomes (<900KBp) with a low GC content (~38%), making them the smallest and most AT-biased Burkholderia genomes yet sequenced. In their eroded genomes, both symbionts retain biosynthetic pathways for the essential amino acids leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, lysine, arginine, histidine, phenylalanine, and precursors for the semi-essential amino acid tyrosine, as well as the cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase MetH. A tryptophan biosynthesis pathway is conserved in the symbiont of G. spuria, but appeared pseudogenized in A. aceris, suggesting differential availability of tryptophan in the two host species' diets. In addition to the pathways for essential amino acid biosynthesis, both symbionts maintain biosynthetic pathways for multiple cofactors, including riboflavin, cobalamin, thiamine, and folate. The localization of Burkholderia symbionts and their genome traits indicate that the symbiosis between Burkholderia and eriococcids is younger than other hemipteran symbioses, but is functionally convergent. Our results add to the emerging picture of dynamic symbiont replacements in sap-sucking Hemiptera and highlight Burkholderia as widespread and versatile intra- and extracellular symbionts of animals, plants, and fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Michalik
- Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland.
| | - Eugen Bauer
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology, Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Teresa Szklarzewicz
- Department of Developmental Biology and Morphology of Invertebrates, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Martin Kaltenpoth
- Department for Evolutionary Ecology, Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
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5
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Steele MI, Peiser JM, Shreenidhi PM, Strassmann JE, Queller DC. Predation-resistant Pseudomonas bacteria engage in symbiont-like behavior with the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:2352-2361. [PMID: 37884792 PMCID: PMC10689837 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01535-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The soil amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum acts as both a predator and potential host for diverse bacteria. We tested fifteen Pseudomonas strains that were isolated from transiently infected wild D. discoideum for ability to escape predation and infect D. discoideum fruiting bodies. Three predation-resistant strains frequently caused extracellular infections of fruiting bodies but were not found within spores. Furthermore, infection by one of these species induces secondary infections and suppresses predation of otherwise edible bacteria. Another strain can persist inside of amoebae after being phagocytosed but is rarely taken up. We sequenced isolate genomes and discovered that predation-resistant isolates are not monophyletic. Many Pseudomonas isolates encode secretion systems and toxins known to improve resistance to phagocytosis in other species, as well as diverse secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters that may contribute to predation resistance. However, the distribution of these genes alone cannot explain why some strains are edible and others are not. Each lineage may employ a unique mechanism for resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret I Steele
- Biology Department, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Jessica M Peiser
- Biology Department, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - P M Shreenidhi
- Biology Department, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joan E Strassmann
- Biology Department, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - David C Queller
- Biology Department, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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6
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Scott TJ, Larsen TJ, Brock DA, Uhm SYS, Queller DC, Strassmann JE. Symbiotic bacteria, immune-like sentinel cells, and the response to pathogens in a social amoeba. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230727. [PMID: 37593719 PMCID: PMC10427822 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Some endosymbionts living within a host must modulate their hosts' immune systems in order to infect and persist. We studied the effect of a bacterial endosymbiont on a facultatively multicellular social amoeba host. Aggregates of the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum contain a subpopulation of sentinel cells that function akin to the immune systems of more conventional multicellular organisms. Sentinel cells sequester and discard toxins from D. discoideum aggregates and may play a central role in defence against pathogens. We measured the number and functionality of sentinel cells in aggregates of D. discoideum infected by bacterial endosymbionts in the genus Paraburkholderia. Infected D. discoideum produced fewer and less functional sentinel cells, suggesting that Paraburkholderia may interfere with its host's immune system. Despite impaired sentinel cells, however, infected D. discoideum were less sensitive to ethidium bromide toxicity, suggesting that Paraburkholderia may also have a protective effect on its host. By contrast, D. discoideum infected by Paraburkholderia did not show differences in their sensitivity to two non-symbiotic pathogens. Our results expand previous work on yet another aspect of the complicated relationship between D. discoideum and Paraburkholderia, which has considerable potential as a model for the study of symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trey J. Scott
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Tyler J. Larsen
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Debra A. Brock
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - So Yeon Stacey Uhm
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - David C. Queller
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Joan E. Strassmann
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
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7
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Mather RV, Larsen TJ, Brock DA, Queller DC, Strassmann JE. Paraburkholderia symbionts isolated from Dictyostelium discoideum induce bacterial carriage in other Dictyostelium species. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230977. [PMID: 37464760 PMCID: PMC10354463 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0977] [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: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum engages in a complex relationship with bacterial endosymbionts in the genus Paraburkholderia, which can benefit their host by imbuing it with the ability to carry prey bacteria throughout its life cycle. The relationship between D. discoideum and Paraburkholderia has been shown to take place across many strains and a large geographical area, but little is known about Paraburkholderia's potential interaction with other dictyostelid species. We explore the ability of three Paraburkholderia species to stably infect and induce bacterial carriage in other dictyostelid hosts. We found that all three Paraburkholderia species successfully infected and induced carriage in seven species of Dictyostelium hosts. While the overall behaviour was qualitatively similar to that previously observed in infections of D. discoideum, differences in the outcomes of different host/symbiont combinations suggest a degree of specialization between partners. Paraburkholderia was unable to maintain a stable association with the more distantly related host Polysphondylium violaceum. Our results suggest that the mechanisms and evolutionary history of Paraburkholderia's symbiotic relationships may be general within Dictyostelium hosts, but not so general that it can associate with hosts of other genera. Our work further develops an emerging model system for the study of symbiosis in microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory Vu Mather
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115-6027, USA
| | - Tyler J. Larsen
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA
| | - Debra A. Brock
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA
| | - David C. Queller
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA
| | - Joan E. Strassmann
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA
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8
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Medina JM, Queller DC, Strassmann JE, Garcia JR. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum rescues Paraburkholderia hayleyella, but not P. agricolaris, from interspecific competition. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2023; 99:fiad055. [PMID: 37226596 PMCID: PMC10243984 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiad055] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial endosymbionts can provide benefits for their eukaryotic hosts, but it is often unclear if endosymbionts benefit from these relationships. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum associates with three species of Paraburkholderia endosymbionts, including P. agricolaris and P. hayleyella. These endosymbionts can be costly to the host but are beneficial in certain contexts because they allow D. discoideum to carry prey bacteria through the dispersal stage. In experiments where no other species are present, P. hayleyella benefits from D. discoideum while P. agricolaris does not. However, the presence of other species may influence this symbiosis. We tested if P. agricolaris and P. hayleyella benefit from D. discoideum in the context of resource competition with Klebsiella pneumoniae, the typical laboratory prey of D. discoideum. Without D. discoideum, K. pneumoniae depressed the growth of both Paraburkholderia symbionts, consistent with competition. P. hayleyella was more harmed by interspecific competition than P. agricolaris. We found that P. hayleyella was rescued from competition by D. discoideum, while P. agricolaris was not. This may be because P. hayleyella is more specialized as an endosymbiont; it has a highly reduced genome compared to P. agricolaris and may have lost genes relevant for resource competition outside of its host.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M Medina
- Department of Biology, One Brookings Drive, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - David C Queller
- Department of Biology, One Brookings Drive, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Joan E Strassmann
- Department of Biology, One Brookings Drive, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Justine R Garcia
- Department of Biology, New Mexico Highlands University, 1005 Diamond Ave, Las Vegas, NM 87701, USA
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9
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Complexities of Inferring Symbiont Function: Paraburkholderia Symbiont Dynamics in Social Amoeba Populations and Their Impacts on the Amoeba Microbiota. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0128522. [PMID: 36043858 PMCID: PMC9499018 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01285-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum and its endosymbiotic bacteria Paraburkholderia provides a model system for studying the development of symbiotic relationships. Laboratory experiments have shown that any of three species of the Paraburkholderia symbiont allow D. discoideum food bacteria to persist through the amoeba life cycle and survive in amoeba spores rather than being fully digested. This phenomenon is termed "farming," as it potentially allows spores dispersed to food-poor locations to grow their own. The occurrence and impact of farming in natural populations, however, have been a challenge to measure. Here, we surveyed natural D. discoideum populations and found that only one of the three symbiont species, Paraburkholderia agricolaris, remained prevalent. We then explored the effect of Paraburkholderia on the amoeba microbiota, expecting that by facilitating bacterial food carriage, it would diversify the microbiota. Contrary to our expectations, Paraburkholderia tended to infectiously dominate the D. discoideum microbiota, in some cases decreasing diversity. Similarly, we found little evidence for Paraburkholderia facilitating the carriage of particular food bacteria. These findings highlight the complexities of inferring symbiont function in nature and suggest the possibility that Paraburkholderia could be playing multiple roles for its host. IMPORTANCE The functions of symbionts in natural populations can be difficult to completely discern. The three Paraburkholderia bacterial farming symbionts of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum have been shown in the laboratory environment to allow the amoebas to carry, rather than fully digest, food bacteria. This potentially provides a fitness benefit to the amoebas upon dispersal to food-poor environments, as they could grow their food. We expected that meaningful food carriage would manifest as a more diverse microbiota. Surprisingly, we found that Paraburkholderia tended to infectiously dominate the D. discoideum microbiota rather than diversifying it. We determined that only one of the three Paraburkholderia symbionts has increased in prevalence in natural populations in the past 20 years, suggesting that this symbiont may be beneficial, however. These findings suggest that Paraburkholderia may have an alternative function for its host, which drives its prevalence in natural populations.
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10
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Scott TJ, Queller DC, Strassmann JE. Context dependence in the symbiosis between
Dictyostelium discoideum
and
Paraburkholderia. Evol Lett 2022; 6:245-254. [PMID: 35784451 PMCID: PMC9233174 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Trey J. Scott
- Department of Biology Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis Missouri 63130
| | - David C. Queller
- Department of Biology Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis Missouri 63130
| | - Joan E. Strassmann
- Department of Biology Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis Missouri 63130
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11
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Ghanavi HR, Twort VG, Duplouy A. Exploring bycatch diversity of organisms in whole genome sequencing of Erebidae moths (Lepidoptera). Sci Rep 2021; 11:24499. [PMID: 34969947 PMCID: PMC8718532 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03327-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Models estimate that up to 80% of all butterfly and moth species host vertically transmitted endosymbiotic microorganisms, which can affect the host fitness, metabolism, reproduction, population dynamics, and genetic diversity, among others. The supporting empirical data are however currently highly biased towards the generally more colourful butterflies, and include less information about moths. Additionally, studies of symbiotic partners of Lepidoptera predominantly focus on the common bacterium Wolbachia pipientis, while infections by other inherited microbial partners have more rarely been investigated. Here, we mine the whole genome sequence data of 47 species of Erebidae moths, with the aims to both inform on the diversity of symbionts potentially associated with this Lepidoptera group, and discuss the potential of metagenomic approaches to inform on host associated microbiome diversity. Based on the result of Kraken2 and MetaPhlAn2 analyses, we found clear evidence of the presence of Wolbachia in four species. Our result also suggests the presence of three other bacterial symbionts (Burkholderia spp., Sodalis spp. and Arsenophonus spp.) in three other moth species. Additionally, we recovered genomic material from bracovirus in about half of our samples. The detection of the latter, usually found in mutualistic association to braconid parasitoid wasps, may inform on host-parasite interactions that take place in the natural habitat of the Erebidae moths, suggesting either contamination with material from species of the host community network, or horizontal transfer of members of the microbiome between interacting species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Reza Ghanavi
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, 22362, Lund, Skåne, Sweden.
| | - Victoria G Twort
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, 22362, Lund, Skåne, Sweden.,The Finnish Museum of Natural History, Luomus, Zoology Unit, The University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Duplouy
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, Sölvegatan 37, 22362, Lund, Skåne, Sweden.,Insect Symbiosis Ecology and Evolution, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, The University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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12
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Haselkorn TS, Jimenez D, Bashir U, Sallinger E, Queller DC, Strassmann JE, DiSalvo S. Novel Chlamydiae and Amoebophilus endosymbionts are prevalent in wild isolates of the model social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2021; 13:708-719. [PMID: 34159734 PMCID: PMC8518690 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Amoebae interact with bacteria in multifaceted ways. Amoeba predation can serve as a selective pressure for the development of bacterial virulence traits. Bacteria may also adapt to life inside amoebae, resulting in symbiotic relationships. Indeed, particular lineages of obligate bacterial endosymbionts have been found in different amoebae. Here, we screened an extensive collection of Dictyostelium discoideum wild isolates for the presence of these bacterial symbionts using endosymbiont specific PCR primers. We find that these symbionts are surprisingly common, identified in 42% of screened isolates (N = 730). Members of the Chlamydiae phylum are particularly prevalent, occurring in 27% of the amoeba isolated. They are novel and phylogenetically distinct from other Chlamydiae. We also found Amoebophilus symbionts in 8% of screened isolates (N = 730). Antibiotic-cured amoebae behave similarly to their Chlamydiae or Amoebophilus-infected counterparts, suggesting that these endosymbionts do not significantly impact host fitness, at least in the laboratory. We found several natural isolates were co-infected with multiple endosymbionts, with no obvious fitness effect of co-infection under laboratory conditions. The high prevalence and novelty of amoeba endosymbiont clades in the model organism D. discoideum opens the door to future research on the significance and mechanisms of amoeba-symbiont interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara S. Haselkorn
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Central Arkansas201 Donaghey Avenue, ConwayAR72035USA
| | - Daniela Jimenez
- Department of BiologyWashington University in St. LouisOne Brookings Drive St. LouisMO63130USA
| | - Usman Bashir
- Department of BiologyWashington University in St. LouisOne Brookings Drive St. LouisMO63130USA
| | - Eleni Sallinger
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Central Arkansas201 Donaghey Avenue, ConwayAR72035USA
| | - David C. Queller
- Department of BiologyWashington University in St. LouisOne Brookings Drive St. LouisMO63130USA
| | - Joan E. Strassmann
- Department of BiologyWashington University in St. LouisOne Brookings Drive St. LouisMO63130USA
| | - Susanne DiSalvo
- Department of Biological SciencesSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville44 Circle Drive, EdwardsvilleIL62026USA
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13
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Bates KA, Bolton JS, King KC. A globally ubiquitous symbiont can drive experimental host evolution. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:3882-3892. [PMID: 34037279 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Organisms harbour myriad microbes which can be parasitic or protective against harm. The costs and benefits resulting from these symbiotic relationships can be context-dependent, but the evolutionary consequences to hosts of these transitions remain unclear. Here, we mapped the Leucobacter genus across 13,715 microbiome samples (163 studies) to reveal a global distribution as a free-living microbe or a symbiont of animals and plants. We showed that across geographically distant locations (South Africa, France, Cape Verde), Leucobacter isolates vary substantially in their virulence to an associated animal host, Caenorhabditis nematodes. We further found that multiple Leucobacter sequence variants co-occur in wild Caenorhabditis spp. which combined with natural variation in virulence provides real-world potential for Leucobacter community composition to influence host fitness. We examined this by competing C. elegans genotypes that differed in susceptibility to different Leucobacter species in an evolution experiment. One Leucobacter species was found to be host-protective against another, virulent parasitic species. We tested the impact of host genetic background and Leucobacter community composition on patterns of host-based defence evolution. We found host genotypes conferring defence against the parasitic species were maintained during infection. However, when hosts were protected during coinfection, host-based defences were nearly lost from the population. Overall, our results provide insight into the role of community context in shaping host evolution during symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jai S Bolton
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kayla C King
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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14
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Chomkatekaew C, Boonklang P, Sangphukieo A, Chewapreecha C. An Evolutionary Arms Race Between Burkholderia pseudomallei and Host Immune System: What Do We Know? Front Microbiol 2021; 11:612568. [PMID: 33552023 PMCID: PMC7858667 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.612568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A better understanding of co-evolution between pathogens and hosts holds promise for better prevention and control strategies. This review will explore the interactions between Burkholderia pseudomallei, an environmental and opportunistic pathogen, and the human host immune system. B. pseudomallei causes "Melioidosis," a rapidly fatal tropical infectious disease predicted to affect 165,000 cases annually worldwide, of which 89,000 are fatal. Genetic heterogeneities were reported in both B. pseudomallei and human host population, some of which may, at least in part, contribute to inter-individual differences in disease susceptibility. Here, we review (i) a multi-host-pathogen characteristic of the interaction; (ii) selection pressures acting on B. pseudomallei and human genomes with the former being driven by bacterial adaptation across ranges of ecological niches while the latter are driven by human encounter of broad ranges of pathogens; (iii) the mechanisms that generate genetic diversity in bacterial and host population particularly in sequences encoding proteins functioning in host-pathogen interaction; (iv) reported genetic and structural variations of proteins or molecules observed in B. pseudomallei-human host interactions and their implications in infection outcomes. Together, these predict bacterial and host evolutionary trajectory which continues to generate genetic diversity in bacterium and operates host immune selection at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Apiwat Sangphukieo
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Bangkok, Thailand
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, School of Bioresource and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Claire Chewapreecha
- Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Bangkok, Thailand
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, School of Bioresource and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom
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15
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Sallinger E, Robeson MS, Haselkorn TS. Characterization of the bacterial microbiomes of social amoebae and exploration of the roles of host and environment on microbiome composition. Environ Microbiol 2020; 23:126-142. [PMID: 33063404 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
As predators of bacteria, amoebae select for traits that allow bacteria to become symbionts by surviving phagocytosis and exploiting the eukaryotic intracellular environment. Soil-dwelling social amoebae can help us answer questions about the natural ecology of these amoeba-bacteria symbioses along the pathogen-mutualist spectrum. Our objective was to characterize the natural bacterial microbiome of phylogenetically and morphologically diverse social amoeba species using next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons directly from amoeba fruiting bodies. We found six phyla of amoeba-associated bacteria: Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Chlamydiae, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria. The most common associates of amoebae were classified to order Chlamydiales and genus Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia. These bacteria were present in multiple amoeba species across multiple locations. While there was substantial intraspecific variation, there was some evidence for host specificity and differentially abundant taxa between different amoeba hosts. Amoebae microbiomes were distinct from the microbiomes of their soil habitat, and soil pH affected amoeba microbiome diversity. Alpha-diversity was unsurprisingly lower in amoebae samples compared with soil, but beta-diversity between amoebae samples was higher than between soil samples. Further exploration of social amoebae microbiomes may help us understand the roles of bacteria, host, and environment on symbiotic interactions and microbiome formation in basal eukaryotic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Sallinger
- Department of Biology, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR, 72035, USA
| | - Michael S Robeson
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Tamara S Haselkorn
- Department of Biology, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR, 72035, USA
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16
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Paraburkholderia Symbionts Display Variable Infection Patterns That Are Not Predictive of Amoeba Host Outcomes. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11060674. [PMID: 32575747 PMCID: PMC7349545 DOI: 10.3390/genes11060674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic interactions exist within a parasitism to mutualism continuum that is influenced, among others, by genes and context. Dynamics of intracellular invasion, replication, and prevalence may underscore both host survivability and symbiont stability. More infectious symbionts might exert higher corresponding costs to hosts, which could ultimately disadvantage both partners. Here, we quantify infection patterns of diverse Paraburkholderia symbiont genotypes in their amoeba host Dictyostelium discoideum and probe the relationship between these patterns and host outcomes. We exposed D. discoideum to thirteen strains of Paraburkholderia each belonging to one of the three symbiont species found to naturally infect D. discoideum: Paraburkholderia agricolaris, Paraburkholderia hayleyella, and Paraburkholderia bonniea. We quantified the infection prevalence and intracellular density of fluorescently labeled symbionts along with the final host population size using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. We find that infection phenotypes vary across symbiont strains. Symbionts belonging to the same species generally display similar infection patterns but are interestingly distinct when it comes to host outcomes. This results in final infection loads that do not strongly correlate to final host outcomes, suggesting other genetic factors that are not a direct cause or consequence of symbiont abundance impact host fitness.
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17
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Garcia JR, Larsen TJ, Queller DC, Strassmann JE. Fitness costs and benefits vary for two facultative Burkholderia symbionts of the social amoeba, Dictyostelium discoideum. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:9878-9890. [PMID: 31534701 PMCID: PMC6745654 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hosts and their associated microbes can enter into different relationships, which can range from mutualism, where both partners benefit, to exploitation, where one partner benefits at the expense of the other. Many host-microbe relationships have been presumed to be mutualistic, but frequently only benefits to the host, and not the microbial symbiont, have been considered. Here, we address this issue by looking at the effect of host association on the fitness of two facultative members of the Dictyostelium discoideum microbiome (Burkholderia agricolaris and Burkholderia hayleyella). Using two indicators of bacterial fitness, growth rate and abundance, we determined the effect of D. discoideum on Burkholderia fitness. In liquid culture, we found that D. discoideum amoebas lowered the growth rate of both Burkholderia species. In soil microcosms, we tracked the abundance of Burkholderia grown with and without D. discoideum over a month and found that B. hayleyella had larger populations when associating with D. discoideum while B. agricolaris was not significantly affected. Overall, we find that both B. agricolaris and B. hayleyella pay a cost to associate with D. discoideum, but B. hayleyella can also benefit under some conditions. Understanding how fitness varies in facultative symbionts will help us understand the persistence of host-symbiont relationships. OPEN RESEARCH BADGES This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally-shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/data/15/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine R. Garcia
- Department of BiologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMOUSA
- Present address:
Department of BiologyNew Mexico Highlands UniversityLas VegasNMUSA
| | - Tyler J. Larsen
- Department of BiologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMOUSA
| | - David C. Queller
- Department of BiologyWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMOUSA
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