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Liu Q, Duan X, Zhang Y, Duan L, Zhang X, Liu F, Li D, Zhang H. Rainfall seasonality shapes microbial assembly and niche characteristics in Yunnan Plateau lakes, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 257:119410. [PMID: 38871273 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119410] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Microorganisms are crucial components of freshwater ecosystems. Understanding the microbial community assembly processes and niche characteristics in freshwater ecosystems, which are poorly understood, is crucial for evaluating microbial ecological roles. The Yunnan Plateau lakes in China represent a freshwater ecosystem that is experiencing eutrophication due to anthropogenic activities. Here, variation in the assembly and niche characteristics of both prokaryotic and microeukaryotic communities was explored in Yunnan Plateau lakes across two seasons (dry season and rainy season) to determine the impacts of rainfall and environmental conditions on the microbial community and niche. The results showed that the environmental heterogeneity of the lakes decreased in the rainy season compared to the dry season. The microbial (bacterial and microeukaryotic) α-diversity significantly decreased during the rainy season. Deterministic processes were found to dominate microbial community assembly in both seasons. β-Diversity decomposition analysis revealed that microbial community compositional dissimilarities were dominated by species replacement processes. The co-occurrence networks indicated reduced species complexity for microbes and a destabilized network for prokaryotes prior to rainfall, while the opposite was found for microeukaryotes following rainfall. Microbial niche breadth decreased significantly in the rainy season. In addition, lower prokaryotic niche overlap, but greater microeukaryotic niche overlap, was observed after rainfall. Rainfall and environmental conditions significantly affected the microbial community assembly and niche characteristics. It can be concluded that rainfall and external pollutant input during the seasonal transition alter the lake environment, thereby regulating the microbial community and niche in these lakes. Our findings offer new insight into microbiota assembly and niche patterns in plateau lakes, further deepening the understanding of freshwater ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Xinlu Duan
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Lizeng Duan
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Fengwen Liu
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Donglin Li
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
| | - Hucai Zhang
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China; Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming, 650500, Yunnan, China.
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2
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He Y, Zhuo S, Gao D, Pan Y, Li M, Pan J, Jiang Y, Hu Y, Guo J, Lin Q, Sanford RA, Sun W, Shang J, Wei N, Peng S, Jiang Z, Li S, Li Y, Dong Y, Shi L. Viral communities in a pH>10 serpentinite-like environment: insight into diversity and potential roles in modulating the microbiomes by bioactive vitamin B 9 synthesis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0085024. [PMID: 39016614 PMCID: PMC11337834 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00850-24] [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: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Viral communities exist in a variety of ecosystems and play significant roles in mediating biogeochemical processes, whereas viruses inhabiting strongly alkaline geochemical systems remain underexplored. In this study, the viral diversity, potential functionalities, and virus-host interactions in a strongly alkaline environment (pH = 10.4-12.4) exposed to the leachates derived from the serpentinization-like reactions of smelting slags were investigated. The viral populations (e.g., Herelleviridae, Queuovirinae, and Inoviridae) were closely associated with the dominating prokaryotic hosts (e.g., Meiothermus, Trueperaceae, and Serpentinomonas) in this ultrabasic environment. Auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) suggested that viruses may enhance hosts' fitness by facilitating cofactor biosynthesis, hydrogen metabolism, and carbon cycling. To evaluate the activity of synthesis of essential cofactor vitamin B9 by the viruses, a viral folA (vfolA) gene encoding dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) was introduced into a thymidine-auxotrophic strain Escherichia coli MG1655 ΔfolA mutant, which restored the growth of the latter in the absence of thymidine. Notably, the homologs of the validated vDHFR were globally distributed in the viromes across various ecosystems. The present study sheds new light on the unique viral communities in hyperalkaline ecosystems and their potential beneficial impacts on the coexisting microbial consortia by supplying essential cofactors. IMPORTANCE This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the diversity, potential functionalities, and virus-microbe interactions in an artificially induced strongly alkaline environment. Functional validation of the detected viral folA genes encoding dihydrofolate reductase substantiated the synthesis of essential cofactors by viruses, which may be ubiquitous, considering the broad distribution of the viral genes associated with folate cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu He
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shiyan Zhuo
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Donghao Gao
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yue Pan
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Li
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jie Pan
- Archaeal Biology Center, Institute for Advanced Studies, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yongguang Jiang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yidan Hu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinzhi Guo
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Qin Lin
- Shanghai Biozeron Biological Technology Co. Ltd, China, Shanghai, China
| | - Robert A. Sanford
- Department of Earth Science & Environmental Change, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, llinois, USA
| | - Weimin Sun
- Guangdong Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Science, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianying Shang
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation in North China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Na Wei
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Shuming Peng
- Institute of Ecological Environment, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhou Jiang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuyi Li
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongzhe Li
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiran Dong
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, Wuhan, China
| | - Liang Shi
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing, China
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3
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Wu Z, Liu T, Chen Q, Chen T, Hu J, Sun L, Wang B, Li W, Ni J. Unveiling the unknown viral world in groundwater. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6788. [PMID: 39117653 PMCID: PMC11310336 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51230-y] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Viruses as the prevailing biological entities are poorly understood in underground realms. Here, we establish the first metagenomic Groundwater Virome Catalogue (GWVC) comprising 280,420 viral species ( ≥ 5 kb) detected from 607 monitored wells in seven geo-environmental zones throughout China. In expanding ~10-fold the global portfolio of known groundwater viruses, we uncover over 99% novel viruses and about 95% novel viral clusters. By linking viruses to hosts from 119 prokaryotic phyla, we double the number of microbial phyla known to be virus-infected in groundwater. As keystone ultrasmall symbionts in aquifers, CPR bacteria and DPANN archaea are susceptible to virulent viruses. Certain complete CPR viruses even likely infect non-CPR bacteria, while partial CPR/DPANN viruses harbor cell-surface modification genes that assist symbiont cell adhesion to free-living microbes. This study reveals the unknown viral world and auxiliary metabolism associated with methane, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus cycling in groundwater, and highlights the importance of subsurface virosphere in viral ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zongzhi Wu
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
- Environmental Microbiome and Innovative Genomics Laboratory, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
| | - Tang Liu
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China
| | - Qian Chen
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
- Environmental Microbiome and Innovative Genomics Laboratory, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
| | - Tianyi Chen
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Jinyun Hu
- Environmental Microbiome and Innovative Genomics Laboratory, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China
| | - Liyu Sun
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Bingxue Wang
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Wenpeng Li
- Center for Groundwater Monitoring, China Institute of Geo-environmental Monitoring, Beijing, 100081, PR China
| | - Jinren Ni
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China.
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, PR China.
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An L, Liu X, Wang J, Xu J, Chen X, Liu X, Hu B, Nie Y, Wu XL. Global diversity and ecological functions of viruses inhabiting oil reservoirs. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6789. [PMID: 39117673 PMCID: PMC11310422 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51101-6] [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: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Oil reservoirs, being one of the significant subsurface repositories of energy and carbon, host diverse microbial communities affecting energy production and carbon emissions. Viruses play crucial roles in the ecology of microbiomes, however, their distribution and ecological significance in oil reservoirs remain undetermined. Here, we assemble a catalogue encompassing viral and prokaryotic genomes sourced from oil reservoirs. The catalogue comprises 7229 prokaryotic genomes and 3,886 viral Operational Taxonomic Units (vOTUs) from 182 oil reservoir metagenomes. The results show that viruses are widely distributed in oil reservoirs, and 85% vOTUs in oil reservoir are detected in less than 10% of the samples, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of viral communities within oil reservoirs. Through combined microcosm enrichment experiments and bioinformatics analysis, we validate the ecological roles of viruses in regulating the community structure of sulfate reducing microorganisms, primarily through a virulent lifestyle. Taken together, this study uncovers a rich diversity of viruses and their ecological functions within oil reservoirs, offering a comprehensive understanding of the role of viral communities in the biogeochemical cycles of the deep biosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyun An
- College of architecture and environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Xinwu Liu
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jianwei Wang
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jinbo Xu
- School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiaoli Chen
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Institute of Ocean Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiaonan Liu
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Bingxin Hu
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yong Nie
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Xiao-Lei Wu
- College of architecture and environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China.
- College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- Institute of Ocean Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- Institute of Ecology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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5
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Moore CJ, Bornemann TLV, Figueroa-Gonzalez PA, Esser SP, Moraru C, Soares AR, Hinzke T, Trautwein-Schult A, Maaß S, Becher D, Starke J, Plewka J, Rothe L, Probst AJ. Time-series metaproteogenomics of a high-CO 2 aquifer reveals active viruses with fluctuating abundances and broad host ranges. MICROLIFE 2024; 5:uqae011. [PMID: 38855384 PMCID: PMC11162154 DOI: 10.1093/femsml/uqae011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Ecosystems subject to mantle degassing are of particular interest for understanding global biogeochemistry, as their microbiomes are shaped by prolonged exposure to high CO2 and have recently been suggested to be highly active. While the genetic diversity of bacteria and archaea in these deep biosphere systems have been studied extensively, little is known about how viruses impact these microbial communities. Here, we show that the viral community in a high-CO2 cold-water geyser (Wallender Born, Germany) undergoes substantial fluctuations over a period of 12 days, although the corresponding prokaryotic community remains stable, indicating a newly observed "infect to keep in check" strategy that maintains prokaryotic community structure. We characterized the viral community using metagenomics and metaproteomics, revealing 8 654 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs). CRISPR spacer-to-protospacer matching linked 278 vOTUs to 32 hosts, with many vOTUs sharing hosts from different families. High levels of viral structural proteins present in the metaproteome (several structurally annotated based on AlphaFold models) indicate active virion production at the time of sampling. Viral genomes expressed many proteins involved in DNA metabolism and manipulation, and encoded for auxiliary metabolic genes, which likely bolster phosphate and sulfur metabolism of their hosts. The active viral community encodes genes to facilitate acquisition and transformation of host nutrients, and appears to consist of many nutrient-demanding members, based on abundant virion proteins. These findings indicate viruses are inextricably linked to the biogeochemical cycling in this high-CO2 environment and substantially contribute to prokaryotic community stability in the deep biosphere hotspots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie Julia Moore
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Centre One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Till L V Bornemann
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Centre One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Perla Abigail Figueroa-Gonzalez
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Centre One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Sarah P Esser
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Centre One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Cristina Moraru
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Centre One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - André Rodrigues Soares
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Centre One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Tjorven Hinzke
- Department for Microbial Physiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Pathogen Evolution, Helmholtz Institute for One Health, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Anke Trautwein-Schult
- Microbial Proteomics, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sandra Maaß
- Microbial Proteomics, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dörte Becher
- Microbial Proteomics, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Joern Starke
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Centre One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Julia Plewka
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Centre One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Lousia Rothe
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Alexander J Probst
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Centre One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, Faculty of Chemistry, University Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
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6
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Yan M, Yu Z. Viruses contribute to microbial diversification in the rumen ecosystem and are associated with certain animal production traits. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:82. [PMID: 38725064 PMCID: PMC11080232 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01791-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rumen microbiome enables ruminants to digest otherwise indigestible feedstuffs, thereby facilitating the production of high-quality protein, albeit with suboptimal efficiency and producing methane. Despite extensive research delineating associations between the rumen microbiome and ruminant production traits, the functional roles of the pervasive and diverse rumen virome remain to be determined. RESULTS Leveraging a recent comprehensive rumen virome database, this study analyzes virus-microbe linkages, at both species and strain levels, across 551 rumen metagenomes, elucidating patterns of microbial and viral diversity, co-occurrence, and virus-microbe interactions. Additionally, this study assesses the potential role of rumen viruses in microbial diversification by analyzing prophages found in rumen metagenome-assembled genomes. Employing CRISPR-Cas spacer-based matching and virus-microbe co-occurrence network analysis, this study suggests that the viruses in the rumen may regulate microbes at strain and community levels through both antagonistic and mutualistic interactions. Moreover, this study establishes that the rumen virome demonstrates responsiveness to dietary shifts and associations with key animal production traits, including feed efficiency, lactation performance, weight gain, and methane emissions. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide a substantive framework for further investigations to unravel the functional roles of the virome in the rumen in shaping the microbiome and influencing overall animal production performance. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yan
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Zhongtang Yu
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
- Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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7
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Wang Y, Gao Y, Wang X, Lin Y, Xu G, Yang F, Ni K. Insights into the phage community structure and potential function in silage fermentation. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 358:120837. [PMID: 38593737 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120837] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The virus that infects bacteria known as phage, plays a crucial role in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. However, the community structure and potential functions of phages in silage fermentation remain largely unexplored. In this study, we utilized viral metagenomics (viromics) to investigate the types, lifestyles, functions, and nutrient utilization patterns of phages in silage. Our findings indicated a high prevalence of annotated phages belonging to Caudovirales and Geplafuvirales, as well as unclassified phages in silage. The predominant host types for these phages were Campylobacterales and Enterobacterales. Virulent phages dominated the silage environment due to their broader range of hosts and enhanced survival capabilities. All identified phages present in silage were found to be non-pathogenic. Although temperate and virulent phages carried distinct genes associated with nutrient cycling processes, the shared genes (prsA) involved in carbon metabolism underscore the potential significance of phages in regulating carbon metabolism in silage. Overall, our findings provide a valuable foundation for further exploring the complex interactions between phages and microorganisms in regulating silage fermentation quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Yu Gao
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Xin Wang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Yanli Lin
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Gang Xu
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China
| | - Fuyu Yang
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China; College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, PR China.
| | - Kuikui Ni
- College of Grassland Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, PR China.
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8
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Hong W, Mei H, Shi X, Lin X, Wang S, Ni R, Wang Y, Song L. Viral community distribution, assembly mechanism, and associated hosts in an industrial park wastewater treatment plant. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 247:118156. [PMID: 38199475 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118156] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Viruses manipulate bacterial community composition and impact wastewater treatment efficiency. Some viruses pose threats to the environment and human populations through infection. Improving the efficiency of wastewater treatment and ensuring the health of the effluent and receptor pools requires an understanding of how viral communities assemble and interact with hosts in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). We used metagenomic analysis to study the distribution, assembly mechanism, and sensitive hosts for the viral communities in raw water, anaerobic tanks, and returned activated sludge units of a large-scale industrial park WWTP. Uroviricota (53.42% ± 0.14%) and Nucleocytoviricota (26.1% ± 0.19%) were dominant in all units. Viral community composition significantly differed between units, as measured by β diversity (P = 0.005). Compared to raw water, the relative viral abundance decreased by 29.8% in the anaerobic tank but increased by 9.9% in the activated sludge. Viral community assembly in raw water and anaerobic tanks was predominantly driven by deterministic processes (MST <0.5) versus stochastic processes (MST >0.5) in the activated sludge, indicating that differences in diffusion limits may fundamentally alter the assembly mechanisms of viral communities between the solid and liquid-phase environments. Acidobacteria was identified as the sensitive host contributing to viral abundance, exhibiting strong interactions and a mutual dependence (degree = 59). These results demonstrate the occurrence and prevalence of viruses in WWTPs, their different assembly mechanism, and sensitive hosts. These observations require further study of the mechanisms of viral community succession, ecological function, and roles in the successive wastewater treatment units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Hong
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China; Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi, 247230, China
| | - Hong Mei
- East China Engineering Science and Technology Co., Ltd, Hefei, 230024, China
| | - Xianyang Shi
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China; Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi, 247230, China.
| | - Xiaoxing Lin
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China; Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi, 247230, China
| | - Shuijing Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China; Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi, 247230, China
| | - Renjie Ni
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China; Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi, 247230, China
| | - Yan Wang
- East China Engineering Science and Technology Co., Ltd, Hefei, 230024, China
| | - Liyan Song
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China; Anhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi, 247230, China.
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9
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Marschmann GL, Tang J, Zhalnina K, Karaoz U, Cho H, Le B, Pett-Ridge J, Brodie EL. Predictions of rhizosphere microbiome dynamics with a genome-informed and trait-based energy budget model. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:421-433. [PMID: 38316928 PMCID: PMC10847045 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01582-w] [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: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Soil microbiomes are highly diverse, and to improve their representation in biogeochemical models, microbial genome data can be leveraged to infer key functional traits. By integrating genome-inferred traits into a theory-based hierarchical framework, emergent behaviour arising from interactions of individual traits can be predicted. Here we combine theory-driven predictions of substrate uptake kinetics with a genome-informed trait-based dynamic energy budget model to predict emergent life-history traits and trade-offs in soil bacteria. When applied to a plant microbiome system, the model accurately predicted distinct substrate-acquisition strategies that aligned with observations, uncovering resource-dependent trade-offs between microbial growth rate and efficiency. For instance, inherently slower-growing microorganisms, favoured by organic acid exudation at later plant growth stages, exhibited enhanced carbon use efficiency (yield) without sacrificing growth rate (power). This insight has implications for retaining plant root-derived carbon in soils and highlights the power of data-driven, trait-based approaches for improving microbial representation in biogeochemical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianna L Marschmann
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jinyun Tang
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Kateryna Zhalnina
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ulas Karaoz
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Heejung Cho
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Beatrice Le
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Pett-Ridge
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
- Life and Environmental Sciences Department, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Eoin L Brodie
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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10
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Goff JL, Lui LM, Nielsen TN, Poole FL, Smith HJ, Walker KF, Hazen TC, Fields MW, Arkin AP, Adams MWW. Mixed waste contamination selects for a mobile genetic element population enriched in multiple heavy metal resistance genes. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycae064. [PMID: 38800128 PMCID: PMC11128244 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae064] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) like plasmids, viruses, and transposable elements can provide fitness benefits to their hosts for survival in the presence of environmental stressors. Heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) are frequently observed on MGEs, suggesting that MGEs may be an important driver of adaptive evolution in environments contaminated with heavy metals. Here, we report the meta-mobilome of the heavy metal-contaminated regions of the Oak Ridge Reservation subsurface. This meta-mobilome was compared with one derived from samples collected from unimpacted regions of the Oak Ridge Reservation subsurface. We assembled 1615 unique circularized DNA elements that we propose to be MGEs. The circular elements from the highly contaminated subsurface were enriched in HMRG clusters relative to those from the nearby unimpacted regions. Additionally, we found that these HMRGs were associated with Gamma and Betaproteobacteria hosts in the contaminated subsurface and potentially facilitate the persistence and dominance of these taxa in this region. Finally, the HMRGs were associated with conjugative elements, suggesting their potential for future lateral transfer. We demonstrate how our understanding of MGE ecology, evolution, and function can be enhanced through the genomic context provided by completed MGE assemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Goff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States
| | - Lauren M Lui
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Torben N Nielsen
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Farris L Poole
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Heidi J Smith
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
| | - Kathleen F Walker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916, United States
| | - Terry C Hazen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916, United States
- Genome Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, United States
| | - Matthew W Fields
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
| | - Adam P Arkin
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Michael W W Adams
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
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11
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Carlson HK, Piya D, Moore ML, Magar RT, Elisabeth NH, Deutschbauer AM, Arkin AP, Mutalik VK. Geochemical constraints on bacteriophage infectivity in terrestrial environments. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:78. [PMID: 37596312 PMCID: PMC10439110 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00297-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
Lytic phages can be potent and selective inhibitors of microbial growth and can have profound impacts on microbiome composition and function. However, there is uncertainty about the biogeochemical conditions under which phage predation modulates microbial ecosystem function, particularly in terrestrial systems. Ionic strength is critical for infection of bacteria by many phages, but quantitative data is limited on the ion thresholds for phage infection that can be compared with environmental ion concentrations. Similarly, while carbon composition varies in the environment, we do not know how this variability influences the impact of phage predation on microbiome function. Here, we measured the half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) of 80 different inorganic ions for the infection of E. coli with two canonical dsDNA and ssRNA phages, T4 and MS2, respectively. Many alkaline earth metals and alkali metals enabled lytic infection but the ionic strength thresholds varied for different ions between phages. Additionally, using a freshwater nitrate-reducing microbiome, we found that the ability of lytic phages to influence nitrate reduction end-products depended upon the carbon source as well as ionic strength. For all phage:host pairs, the ion EC50s for phage infection exceeded the ion concentrations found in many terrestrial freshwater systems. Thus, our findings support a model where phages most influence terrestrial microbial functional ecology in hot spots and hot moments such as metazoan guts, drought influenced soils, or biofilms where ion concentration is locally or transiently elevated and nutrients are available to support the growth of specific phage hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans K Carlson
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Denish Piya
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Madeline L Moore
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Roniya T Magar
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Nathalie H Elisabeth
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Adam M Deutschbauer
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Adam P Arkin
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Vivek K Mutalik
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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12
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Amundson KK, Roux S, Shelton JL, Wilkins MJ. Long-term CRISPR locus dynamics and stable host-virus co-existence in subsurface fractured shales. Curr Biol 2023; 33:3125-3135.e4. [PMID: 37402375 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are the most ubiquitous biological entities on Earth. Even so, elucidating the impact of viruses on microbial communities and associated ecosystem processes often requires identification of unambiguous host-virus linkages-an undeniable challenge in many ecosystems. Subsurface fractured shales present a unique opportunity to first make these strong linkages via spacers in CRISPR-Cas arrays and subsequently reveal complex long-term host-virus dynamics. Here, we sampled two replicated sets of fractured shale wells for nearly 800 days, resulting in 78 metagenomes from temporal sampling of six wells in the Denver-Julesburg Basin (Colorado, USA). At the community level, there was strong evidence for CRISPR-Cas defense systems being used through time and likely in response to viral interactions. Within our host genomes, represented by 202 unique MAGs, we also saw that CRISPR-Cas systems were widely encoded. Together, spacers from host CRISPR loci facilitated 2,110 CRISPR-based viral linkages across 90 host MAGs spanning 25 phyla. We observed less redundancy in host-viral linkages and fewer spacers associated with hosts from the older, more established wells, possibly reflecting enrichment of more beneficial spacers through time. Leveraging temporal patterns of host-virus linkages across differing well ages, we report how host-virus co-existence dynamics develop and converge through time, possibly reflecting selection for viruses that can evade host CRISPR-Cas systems. Together, our findings shed light on the complexities of host-virus interactions as well as long-term dynamics of CRISPR-Cas defense among diverse microbial populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaela K Amundson
- Colorado State University, Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, 301 University Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Simon Roux
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jenna L Shelton
- United States Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20192, USA
| | - Michael J Wilkins
- Colorado State University, Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, 301 University Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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13
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Dick JM, Tan J. Chemical Links Between Redox Conditions and Estimated Community Proteomes from 16S rRNA and Reference Protein Sequences. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 85:1338-1355. [PMID: 35503575 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-01988-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Environmental influences on community structure are often assessed through multivariate analyses in order to relate microbial abundances to separately measured physicochemical variables. However, genes and proteins are themselves chemical entities; in combination with genome databases, differences in microbial abundances directly encode for chemical variability. We predicted that the carbon oxidation state of estimated community proteomes, obtained by combining taxonomic abundances from published 16S rRNA gene sequencing datasets with reference microbial proteomes from the NCBI Reference Sequence (RefSeq) database, would reflect environmental oxidation-reduction conditions. Analysis of multiple datasets confirms the geobiochemical predictions for environmental redox gradients in hydrothermal systems, stratified lakes and marine environments, and shale gas wells. The geobiochemical signal is largest for the steep redox gradients associated with hydrothermal systems and between injected water and produced fluids from shale gas wells, demonstrating that microbial community composition can be a chemical proxy for environmental redox gradients. Although estimates of oxidation state from 16S amplicon and metagenomic sequences are correlated, the 16S-based estimates show stronger associations with redox gradients in some environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Dick
- Key Laboratory of Metallogenic Prediction of Nonferrous Metals and Geological Environment Monitoring, Ministry of Education, School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, China.
| | - Jingqiang Tan
- Key Laboratory of Metallogenic Prediction of Nonferrous Metals and Geological Environment Monitoring, Ministry of Education, School of Geosciences and Info-Physics, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
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14
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Abstract
Microbial communities are shaped by positive and negative interactions ranging from competition to mutualism. In the context of the mammalian gut and its microbial inhabitants, the integrated output of the community has important impacts on host health. Cross-feeding, the sharing of metabolites between different microbes, has emergent roles in establishing communities of gut commensals that are stable, resistant to invasion, and resilient to external perturbation. In this review, we first explore the ecological and evolutionary implications of cross-feeding as a cooperative interaction. We then survey mechanisms of cross-feeding across trophic levels, from primary fermenters to H2 consumers that scavenge the final metabolic outputs of the trophic network. We extend this analysis to also include amino acid, vitamin, and cofactor cross-feeding. Throughout, we highlight evidence for the impact of these interactions on each species' fitness as well as host health. Understanding cross-feeding illuminates an important aspect of microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions that establishes and shapes our gut communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Culp
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Andrew L Goodman
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Microbial Sciences Institute, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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15
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Liao H, Liu C, Ai C, Gao T, Yang QE, Yu Z, Gao S, Zhou S, Friman VP. Mesophilic and thermophilic viruses are associated with nutrient cycling during hyperthermophilic composting. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:916-930. [PMID: 37031344 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01404-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
While decomposition of organic matter by bacteria plays a major role in nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, the significance of viruses remains poorly understood. Here we combined metagenomics and metatranscriptomics with temporal sampling to study the significance of mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria and their viruses on nutrient cycling during industrial-scale hyperthermophilic composting (HTC). Our results show that virus-bacteria density dynamics and activity are tightly coupled, where viruses specific to mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria track their host densities, triggering microbial community succession via top-down control during HTC. Moreover, viruses specific to mesophilic bacteria encoded and expressed several auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) linked to carbon cycling, impacting nutrient turnover alongside bacteria. Nutrient turnover correlated positively with virus-host ratio, indicative of a positive relationship between ecosystem functioning, viral abundances, and viral activity. These effects were predominantly driven by DNA viruses as most detected RNA viruses were associated with eukaryotes and not associated with nutrient cycling during the thermophilic phase of composting. Our findings suggest that DNA viruses could drive nutrient cycling during HTC by recycling bacterial biomass through cell lysis and by expressing key AMGs. Viruses could hence potentially be used as indicators of microbial ecosystem functioning to optimize productivity of biotechnological and agricultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanpeng Liao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Chaofan Ai
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tian Gao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Qiu-E Yang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Zhen Yu
- Institute of Eco-Environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Shaoming Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Shungui Zhou
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Ville-Petri Friman
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, YO10 5DD, York, UK.
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
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16
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Cai L, Weinbauer MG, Xie L, Zhang R. The smallest in the deepest: the enigmatic role of viruses in the deep biosphere. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwad009. [PMID: 36960220 PMCID: PMC10029852 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
It is commonly recognized that viruses control the composition, metabolism, and evolutionary trajectories of prokaryotic communities, with resulting vital feedback on ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling in a wide range of ecosystems. Although the deep biosphere has been estimated to be the largest reservoir for viruses and their prokaryotic hosts, the biology and ecology of viruses therein remain poorly understood. The deep virosphere is an enigmatic field of study in which many critical questions are still to be answered. Is the deep virosphere simply a repository for deeply preserved, non-functioning virus particles? Or are deep viruses infectious agents that can readily infect suitable hosts and subsequently shape microbial populations and nutrient cycling? Can the cellular content released by viral lysis, and even the organic structures of virions themselves, serve as the source of bioavailable nutrients for microbial activity in the deep biosphere as in other ecosystems? In this review, we synthesize our current knowledge of viruses in the deep biosphere and seek to identify topics with the potential for substantial discoveries in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanlan Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
- Department of Ocean Science, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Markus G Weinbauer
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Université Paris 06, CNRS, Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche (LOV), Villefranche BP28, France
| | - Le Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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17
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Kadyshevich EA, Ostrovskii VE. From Minerals to Simplest Living Matter: Life Origination Hydrate Theory. Acta Biotheor 2023; 71:13. [PMID: 36976380 PMCID: PMC10043859 DOI: 10.1007/s10441-023-09463-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Long since, people tried to solve the mystery of the way that led to the appearance and propagation of living entities. However, no harmonious understanding of this mystery existed, because neither the scientifically grounded source minerals nor the ambient conditions were proposed and because it was groundlessly taken that the process of living matter origination is endothermal. The Life Origination Hydrate Theory (LOH-Theory) first suggests the chemical way capable of leading from the specified abundant natural minerals to origination of multitudes of multitudes of simplest living entities and gives an original explanation for the phenomena of chirality and racemization delay. The LOH-Theory covers the period up to origination of the genetic code. The LOH-Theory is grounded on the following three discoveries based on the available information and on the results of our experimental works performed using original instrumentation and computer simulations. (1) There is the only one triad of natural minerals applicable for exothermal thermodynamically possible chemical syntheses of simplest living-matter components. (2) N-base, ribose, and phosphdiester radicals and nucleic acids as whole are size-compatible with structural gas-hydrate cavities. (3) The gas-hydrate structure arises around amido-groups in cooled undisturbed systems consisting of water and highly-concentrated functional polymers with amido-groups.The natural conditions and historic periods favorable for simplest living matter origination are revealed. The LOH-Theory is supported by results of observations, biophysical and biochemical experiments, and wide application of original three-dimensional and two-dimensional computer simulations of biochemical structures within gas-hydrate matrix. The instrumentation and procedures for experimental verification of the LOH-Theory are suggested. If future experiments are successful, they, possibly, could be the first step on the way to industrial synthesis of food from minerals, i.e., to execution of the work that is performed by plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena A Kadyshevich
- Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics RAS, Pyzhevsky Side-Str. 3, Moscow, 119017, Russia
| | - Victor E Ostrovskii
- Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry present address, Kiev Highway Str. 6 , Obninsk, Kaluga region, 249033, Russia.
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18
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Viruses Regulate Microbial Community Assembly Together with Environmental Factors in Acid Mine Drainage. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0197322. [PMID: 36656039 PMCID: PMC9973029 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01973-22] [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: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses are widespread in various ecosystems, and they play important roles in regulating the microbial community via host-virus interactions. Recently, metagenomic studies showed that there are extremely diverse viruses in different environments from the ocean to the human gut, but the influences of viral communities on microbial communities are poorly understood, especially in extreme environments. Here, we used metagenomics to characterize microbial communities and viral communities in acid mine drainage (AMD) and evaluated how viruses shape microbial community constrained by the harsh environments. Our results showed that AMD viral communities are significantly associated with the microbial communities, and viral diversity has positive correlations with microbial diversity. Viral community explained more variations of microbial community composition than environmental factors in AMD of a polymetallic mine. Moreover, we found that viruses harboring adaptive genes regulate a relative abundance of hosts under the modulation of environmental factors, such as pH. We also observed that viral diversity has significant correlations with the global properties of microbial cooccurrence networks, such as modularity. In addition, the results of null modeling analyses revealed that viruses significantly affect microbial community phylogeny and play important roles in regulating ecological processes of community assembly, such as dispersal limitation and homogenous dispersal. Together, these results revealed that AMD viruses are critical forces driving microbial network and community assembly via host-virus interactions. IMPORTANCE Viruses as mobile genetic elements play critical roles in the adaptive evolution of their hosts in extreme environments. However, how viruses further influence microbial community structure and assembly is still unclear. A recent metagenomic study observed diverse viruses unexplored in acid mine drainage, revealing the associations between the viral community and environmental factors. Here, we showed that viruses together with environmental factors can constrain the relative abundance of host and microbial community assembly in AMD of copper mines and polymetallic mines. Our results highlight the importance of viruses in shaping the microbial community from the individual host level to the community level.
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19
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Hernandez-Becerra N, Cliffe L, Xiu W, Boothman C, Lloyd JR, Nixon SL. New microbiological insights from the Bowland shale highlight heterogeneity of the hydraulically fractured shale microbiome. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2023; 18:14. [PMID: 36855215 PMCID: PMC9972762 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00465-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hydraulically fractured shales offer a window into the deep biosphere, where hydraulic fracturing creates new microbial ecosystems kilometers beneath the surface of the Earth. Studying the microbial communities from flowback fluids that are assumed to inhabit these environments provides insights into their ecophysiology, and in particular their ability to survive in these extreme environments as well as their influence on site operation e.g. via problematic biofouling processes and/or biocorrosion. Over the past decade, research on fractured shale microbiology has focused on wells in North America, with a few additional reported studies conducted in China. To extend the knowledge in this area, we characterized the geochemistry and microbial ecology of two exploratory shale gas wells in the Bowland Shale, UK. We then employed a meta-analysis approach to compare geochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequencing data from our study site with previously published research from geographically distinct formations spanning China, Canada and the USA. RESULTS Our findings revealed that fluids recovered from exploratory wells in the Bowland are characterized by moderate salinity and high microbial diversity. The microbial community was dominated by lineages known to degrade hydrocarbons, including members of Shewanellaceae, Marinobacteraceae, Halomonadaceae and Pseudomonadaceae. Moreover, UK fractured shale communities lacked the usually dominant Halanaerobium lineages. From our meta-analysis, we infer that chloride concentrations play a dominant role in controlling microbial community composition. Spatio-temporal trends were also apparent, with different shale formations giving rise to communities of distinct diversity and composition. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight an unexpected level of compositional heterogeneity across fractured shale formations, which is not only relevant to inform management practices but also provides insight into the ability of diverse microbial consortia to tolerate the extreme conditions characteristic of the engineered deep subsurface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natali Hernandez-Becerra
- Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Lisa Cliffe
- Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Wei Xiu
- Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, China
| | - Christopher Boothman
- Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jonathan R Lloyd
- Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Sophie L Nixon
- Williamson Research Centre for Molecular Environmental Science, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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20
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Yang K, Wang X, Hou R, Lu C, Fan Z, Li J, Wang S, Xu Y, Shen Q, Friman VP, Wei Z. Rhizosphere phage communities drive soil suppressiveness to bacterial wilt disease. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:16. [PMID: 36721270 PMCID: PMC9890766 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01463-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial viruses, phages, play a key role in nutrient turnover and lysis of bacteria in terrestrial ecosystems. While phages are abundant in soils, their effects on plant pathogens and rhizosphere bacterial communities are poorly understood. Here, we used metagenomics and direct experiments to causally test if differences in rhizosphere phage communities could explain variation in soil suppressiveness and bacterial wilt plant disease outcomes by plant-pathogenic Ralstonia solanacearum bacterium. Specifically, we tested two hypotheses: (1) that healthy plants are associated with stronger top-down pathogen control by R. solanacearum-specific phages (i.e. 'primary phages') and (2) that 'secondary phages' that target pathogen-inhibiting bacteria play a stronger role in diseased plant rhizosphere microbiomes by indirectly 'helping' the pathogen. RESULTS Using a repeated sampling of tomato rhizosphere soil in the field, we show that healthy plants are associated with distinct phage communities that contain relatively higher abundances of R. solanacearum-specific phages that exert strong top-down pathogen density control. Moreover, 'secondary phages' that targeted pathogen-inhibiting bacteria were more abundant in the diseased plant microbiomes. The roles of R. solanacearum-specific and 'secondary phages' were directly validated in separate greenhouse experiments where we causally show that phages can reduce soil suppressiveness, both directly and indirectly, via top-down control of pathogen densities and by alleviating interference competition between pathogen-inhibiting bacteria and the pathogen. CONCLUSIONS Together, our findings demonstrate that soil suppressiveness, which is most often attributed to bacteria, could be driven by rhizosphere phage communities that regulate R. solanacearum densities and strength of interference competition with pathogen-suppressing bacteria. Rhizosphere phage communities are hence likely to be important in determining bacterial wilt disease outcomes and soil suppressiveness in agricultural fields. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keming Yang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaofang Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rujiao Hou
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunxia Lu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhe Fan
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingxuan Li
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yangchun Xu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qirong Shen
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ville-Petri Friman
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Zhong Wei
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Soil Health, Jiangsu Provincial Key Lab of Solid Organic Waste Utilization, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China.
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21
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Roux S, Fischer MG, Hackl T, Katz LA, Schulz F, Yutin N. Updated Virophage Taxonomy and Distinction from Polinton-like Viruses. Biomolecules 2023; 13:204. [PMID: 36830574 PMCID: PMC9952930 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Virophages are small dsDNA viruses that hijack the machinery of giant viruses during the co-infection of a protist (i.e., microeukaryotic) host and represent an exceptional case of "hyperparasitism" in the viral world. While only a handful of virophages have been isolated, a vast diversity of virophage-like sequences have been uncovered from diverse metagenomes. Their wide ecological distribution, idiosyncratic infection and replication strategy, ability to integrate into protist and giant virus genomes and potential role in antiviral defense have made virophages a topic of broad interest. However, one limitation for further studies is the lack of clarity regarding the nomenclature and taxonomy of this group of viruses. Specifically, virophages have been linked in the literature to other "virophage-like" mobile genetic elements and viruses, including polinton-like viruses (PLVs), but there are no formal demarcation criteria and proper nomenclature for either group, i.e., virophage or PLVs. Here, as part of the ICTV Virophage Study Group, we leverage a large set of genomes gathered from published datasets as well as newly generated protist genomes to propose delineation criteria and classification methods at multiple taxonomic ranks for virophages 'sensu stricto', i.e., genomes related to the prototype isolates Sputnik and mavirus. Based on a combination of comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses, we show that this group of virophages forms a cohesive taxon that we propose to establish at the class level and suggest a subdivision into four orders and seven families with distinctive ecogenomic features. Finally, to illustrate how the proposed delineation criteria and classification method would be used, we apply these to two recently published datasets, which we show include both virophages and other virophage-related elements. Overall, we see this proposed classification as a necessary first step to provide a robust taxonomic framework in this area of the virosphere, which will need to be expanded in the future to cover other virophage-related viruses such as PLVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Roux
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Matthias G. Fischer
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Department of Biomolecular Mechanisms, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Hackl
- Groningen Institute of Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Laura A. Katz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063, USA
| | - Frederik Schulz
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Natalya Yutin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
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22
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Abstract
Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, and yet, they have not received enough consideration in astrobiology. Viruses are also extraordinarily diverse, which is evident in the types of relationships they establish with their host, their strategies to store and replicate their genetic information and the enormous diversity of genes they contain. A viral population, especially if it corresponds to a virus with an RNA genome, can contain an array of sequence variants that greatly exceeds what is present in most cell populations. The fact that viruses always need cellular resources to multiply means that they establish very close interactions with cells. Although in the short term these relationships may appear to be negative for life, it is evident that they can be beneficial in the long term. Viruses are one of the most powerful selective pressures that exist, accelerating the evolution of defense mechanisms in the cellular world. They can also exchange genetic material with the host during the infection process, providing organisms with capacities that favor the colonization of new ecological niches or confer an advantage over competitors, just to cite a few examples. In addition, viruses have a relevant participation in the biogeochemical cycles of our planet, contributing to the recycling of the matter necessary for the maintenance of life. Therefore, although viruses have traditionally been excluded from the tree of life, the structure of this tree is largely the result of the interactions that have been established throughout the intertwined history of the cellular and the viral worlds. We do not know how other possible biospheres outside our planet could be, but it is clear that viruses play an essential role in the terrestrial one. Therefore, they must be taken into account both to improve our understanding of life that we know, and to understand other possible lives that might exist in the cosmos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio de la Higuera
- Department of Biology, Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Ester Lázaro
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
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23
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Durham DM, Sieradzki ET, Ter Horst AM, Santos-Medellín C, Bess CWA, Geonczy SE, Emerson JB. Substantial differences in soil viral community composition within and among four Northern California habitats. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:100. [PMID: 37938790 PMCID: PMC9723544 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00171-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Viruses contribute to food web dynamics and nutrient cycles in diverse ecosystems, yet the biogeographical patterns that underlie these viral dynamics are poorly understood, particularly in soil. Here, we identified trends in soil viral community composition in relation to habitat, moisture content, and physical distance. We generated 30 soil viromes from four distinct habitats (wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, and chaparral) by selectively capturing virus-sized particles prior to DNA extraction, and we recovered 3432 unique viral 'species' (dsDNA vOTUs). Viral communities differed significantly by soil moisture content, with viral richness generally higher in wet compared to dry soil habitats. However, vOTUs were rarely shared between viromes, including replicates <10 m apart, suggesting that soil viruses may not disperse well and that future soil viral community sampling strategies may need to account for extreme community differences over small spatial scales. Of the 19% of vOTUs detected in more than one virome, 93% were from the same habitat and site, suggesting greater viral community similarity in closer proximity and under similar environmental conditions. Within-habitat differences indicate that extensive sampling would be required for rigorous cross-habitat comparisons, and results highlight emerging paradigms of high viral activity in wet soils and soil viral community spatial heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devyn M Durham
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ella T Sieradzki
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | | | - C Winston A Bess
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sara E Geonczy
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Joanne B Emerson
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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24
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Zhou YL, Mara P, Vik D, Edgcomb VP, Sullivan MB, Wang Y. Ecogenomics reveals viral communities across the Challenger Deep oceanic trench. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1055. [PMID: 36192584 PMCID: PMC9529941 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04027-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the environmental challenges and nutrient scarcity, the geographically isolated Challenger Deep in Mariana trench, is considered a dynamic hotspot of microbial activity. Hadal viruses are the least explored microorganisms in Challenger Deep, while their taxonomic and functional diversity and ecological impact on deep-sea biogeochemistry are poorly described. Here, we collect 13 sediment cores from slope and bottom-axis sites across the Challenger Deep (down to ~11 kilometers depth), and identify 1,628 previously undescribed viral operational taxonomic units at species level. Community-wide analyses reveals 1,299 viral genera and distinct viral diversity across the trench, which is significantly higher at the bottom-axis vs. slope sites of the trench. 77% of these viral genera have not been previously identified in soils, deep-sea sediments and other oceanic settings. Key prokaryotes involved in hadal carbon and nitrogen cycling are predicted to be potential hosts infected by these viruses. The detected putative auxiliary metabolic genes suggest that viruses at Challenger Deep could modulate the carbohydrate and sulfur metabolisms of their potential hosts, and stabilize host's cell membranes under extreme hydrostatic pressures. Our results shed light on hadal viral metabolic capabilities, contribute to understanding deep sea ecology and on functional adaptions of hadal viruses for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Li Zhou
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China
| | - Paraskevi Mara
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Dean Vik
- Department of Microbiology and Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Virginia P Edgcomb
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Matthew B Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology and Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Yong Wang
- Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan, China.
- Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China.
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25
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Wirth J, Young M. Viruses in Subsurface Environments. Annu Rev Virol 2022; 9:99-119. [PMID: 36173700 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-093020-015957] [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: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, our knowledge of virus diversity and abundance in subsurface environments has expanded dramatically through application of quantitative metagenomic approaches. In most subsurface environments, viral diversity and abundance rival viral diversity and abundance observed in surface environments. Most of these viruses are uncharacterized in terms of their hosts and replication cycles. Analysis of accessory metabolic genes encoded by subsurface viruses indicates that they evolved to replicate within the unique features of their environments. The key question remains: What role do these viruses play in the ecology and evolution of the environments in which they replicate? Undoubtedly, as more virologists examine the role of viruses in subsurface environments, new insights will emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Wirth
- Department of Plant Science and Plant Pathology and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA;
| | - Mark Young
- Department of Plant Science and Plant Pathology and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA;
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26
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Shewanella sp. T2.3D-1.1 a Novel Microorganism Sustaining the Iron Cycle in the Deep Subsurface of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081585. [PMID: 36014003 PMCID: PMC9415397 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) is one of the largest deposits of sulphidic minerals on Earth. Río Tinto raises from its core, presenting low a pH and high metal concentration. Several drilling cores were extracted from the IPB’s subsurface, and strain T2.3D-1.1 was isolated from a core at 121.8 m depth. We aimed to characterize this subterranean microorganism, revealing its phylogenomic affiliation (Average Nucleotide Identity, digital DNA-DNA Hybridization) and inferring its physiology through genome annotation, backed with physiological experiments to explore its relationship with the Fe biogeochemical cycle. Results determined that the isolate belongs to the Shewanella putrefaciens (with ANI 99.25 with S. putrefaciens CN-32). Its genome harbours the necessary genes, including omcA mtrCAB, to perform the Extracellular Electron Transfer (EET) and reduce acceptors such as Fe3+, napAB to reduce NO3− to NO2−, hydAB to produce H2 and genes sirA, phsABC and ttrABC to reduce SO32−, S2O32− and S4O62−, respectively. A full CRISPR-Cas 1F type system was found as well. S. putrefaciens T2.3D-1.1 can reduce Fe3+ and promote the oxidation of Fe2+ in the presence of NO3− under anaerobic conditions. Production of H2 has been observed under anaerobic conditions with lactate or pyruvate as the electron donor and fumarate as the electron acceptor. Besides Fe3+ and NO3−, the isolate also grows with Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Trimethyl N-oxide, S4O62− and S2O32− as electron acceptors. It tolerates different concentrations of heavy metals such as 7.5 mM of Pb, 5 mM of Cr and Cu and 1 mM of Cd, Co, Ni and Zn. This array of traits suggests that S. putrefaciens T2.3D-1.1 could have an important role within the Iberian Pyrite Belt subsurface participating in the iron cycle, through the dissolution of iron minerals and therefore contributing to generate the extreme conditions detected in the Río Tinto basin.
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27
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Chu Y, Zhao Z, Cai L, Zhang G. Viral diversity and biogeochemical potential revealed in different prawn-culture sediments by virus-enriched metagenome analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 210:112901. [PMID: 35227678 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As the most numerous biological entities on Earth, viruses affect the microbial dynamics, metabolism and biogeochemical cycles in the aquatic ecosystems. Viral diversity and functions in ocean have been relatively well studied, but our understanding of viruses in mariculture systems is limited. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied viral diversity and potential biogeochemical impacts of sediments from four different prawn-mariculture ecosystems (mono-culture of prawn and poly-culture of prawn with jellyfish, sea cucumber, and clam) using a metagenomic approach with prior virus-like particles (VLPs) separation. We found that the order Caudovirales was the predominant viral category and accounted for the most volume (78.39% of classified viruses). Sediment viruses were verified to have a high diversity by using the construct phylogenetic tree of terL gene, with three potential novel clades being identified. Meanwhile, compared with viruses inhabiting other ecosystems based on gene-sharing network, our results revealed that mariculture sediments harbored considerable unexplored viral diversity and that maricultural species were potentially important drivers of the viral community structure. Notably, viral auxiliary metabolic genes were identified and suggested that viruses influence carbon and sulfur cycling, as well as cofactors/vitamins and amino acid metabolism, which indirectly participate in biogeochemical cycling. Overall, our findings revealed the genomic diversity and ecological function of viral communities in prawn mariculture sediments, and suggested the role of viruses in microbial ecology and biogeochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunmeng Chu
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, Fujian, China
| | - Zelong Zhao
- Shanghai BIOZERON Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Lixi Cai
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, Fujian, China; Faculty of Basic Medicine, Putian University, Putian, 351100, Fujian, China
| | - Guangya Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, 361021, Fujian, China.
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28
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Wang L, Wang Y, Huang X, Ma R, Li J, Wang F, Jiao N, Zhang R. Potential metabolic and genetic interaction among viruses, methanogen and methanotrophic archaea, and their syntrophic partners. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:50. [PMID: 37938729 PMCID: PMC9723712 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-022-00135-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
The metabolism of methane in anoxic ecosystems is mainly mediated by methanogens and methane-oxidizing archaea (MMA), key players in global carbon cycling. Viruses are vital in regulating their host fate and ecological function. However, our knowledge about the distribution and diversity of MMA viruses and their interactions with hosts is rather limited. Here, by searching metagenomes containing mcrA (the gene coding for the α-subunit of methyl-coenzyme M reductase) from a wide variety of environments, 140 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) that potentially infect methanogens or methane-oxidizing archaea were retrieved. Four MMA vOTUs (three infecting the order Methanobacteriales and one infecting the order Methanococcales) were predicted to cross-domain infect sulfate-reducing bacteria. By facilitating assimilatory sulfur reduction, MMA viruses may increase the fitness of their hosts in sulfate-depleted anoxic ecosystems and benefit from synthesis of the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine. Moreover, cell-cell aggregation promoted by MMA viruses may be beneficial for both the viruses and their hosts by improving infectivity and environmental stress resistance, respectively. Our results suggest a potential role of viruses in the ecological and environmental adaptation of methanogens and methane-oxidizing archaea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
| | - Yinzhao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xingyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ruijie Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jiangtao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Geology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nianzhi Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China.
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29
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Patterns and ecological drivers of viral communities in acid mine drainage sediments across Southern China. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2389. [PMID: 35501347 PMCID: PMC9061769 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30049-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in environmental genomics have provided unprecedented opportunities for the investigation of viruses in natural settings. Yet, our knowledge of viral biogeographic patterns and the corresponding drivers is still limited. Here, we perform metagenomic deep sequencing on 90 acid mine drainage (AMD) sediments sampled across Southern China and examine the biogeography of viruses in this extreme environment. The results demonstrate that prokaryotic communities dictate viral taxonomic and functional diversity, abundance and structure, whereas other factors especially latitude and mean annual temperature also impact viral populations and functions. In silico predictions highlight lineage-specific virus-host abundance ratios and richness-dependent virus-host interaction structure. Further functional analyses reveal important roles of environmental conditions and horizontal gene transfers in shaping viral auxiliary metabolic genes potentially involved in phosphorus assimilation. Our findings underscore the importance of both abiotic and biotic factors in predicting the taxonomic and functional biogeographic dynamics of viruses in the AMD sediments. The biogeography of viral communities in extreme environments remains understudied. Here, the authors use metagenomic sequencing on 90 acid mine drainage sediments sampled across Southern China, showing the predominant effects of prokaryotic communities and the influence of environmental variables on viral taxonomy and function.
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30
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Abstract
Noncoding RNAs with secondary structures play important roles in CRISPR-Cas systems. Many of these structures likely remain undiscovered. We used a large-scale comparative genomics approach to predict 156 novel candidate structured RNAs from 36,111 CRISPR-Cas systems. A number of these were found to overlap with coding genes, including palindromic candidates that overlapped with a variety of Cas genes in type I and III systems. Among these 156 candidates, we identified 46 new models of CRISPR direct repeats and 1 tracrRNA. This tracrRNA model occasionally overlapped with predicted cas9 coding regions, emphasizing the importance of expanding our search windows for novel structure RNAs in coding regions. We also demonstrated that the antirepeat sequence in this tracrRNA model can be used to accurately assign thousands of predicted CRISPR arrays to type II-C systems. This study highlights the importance of unbiased identification of candidate structured RNAs across CRISPR-Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brayon J. Fremin
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nikos C. Kyrpides
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
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31
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Amundson KK, Borton MA, Daly RA, Hoyt DW, Wong A, Eder E, Moore J, Wunch K, Wrighton KC, Wilkins MJ. Microbial colonization and persistence in deep fractured shales is guided by metabolic exchanges and viral predation. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:5. [PMID: 35034639 PMCID: PMC8762873 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-021-01194-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microbial colonization of subsurface shales following hydraulic fracturing offers the opportunity to study coupled biotic and abiotic factors that impact microbial persistence in engineered deep subsurface ecosystems. Shale formations underly much of the continental USA and display geographically distinct gradients in temperature and salinity. Complementing studies performed in eastern USA shales that contain brine-like fluids, here we coupled metagenomic and metabolomic approaches to develop the first genome-level insights into ecosystem colonization and microbial community interactions in a lower-salinity, but high-temperature western USA shale formation. RESULTS We collected materials used during the hydraulic fracturing process (i.e., chemicals, drill muds) paired with temporal sampling of water produced from three different hydraulically fractured wells in the STACK (Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin, Canadian and Kingfisher) shale play in OK, USA. Relative to other shale formations, our metagenomic and metabolomic analyses revealed an expanded taxonomic and metabolic diversity of microorganisms that colonize and persist in fractured shales. Importantly, temporal sampling across all three hydraulic fracturing wells traced the degradation of complex polymers from the hydraulic fracturing process to the production and consumption of organic acids that support sulfate- and thiosulfate-reducing bacteria. Furthermore, we identified 5587 viral genomes and linked many of these to the dominant, colonizing microorganisms, demonstrating the key role that viral predation plays in community dynamics within this closed, engineered system. Lastly, top-side audit sampling of different source materials enabled genome-resolved source tracking, revealing the likely sources of many key colonizing and persisting taxa in these ecosystems. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the importance of resource utilization and resistance to viral predation as key traits that enable specific microbial taxa to persist across fractured shale ecosystems. We also demonstrate the importance of materials used in the hydraulic fracturing process as both a source of persisting shale microorganisms and organic substrates that likely aid in sustaining the microbial community. Moreover, we showed that different physicochemical conditions (i.e., salinity, temperature) can influence the composition and functional potential of persisting microbial communities in shale ecosystems. Together, these results expand our knowledge of microbial life in deep subsurface shales and have important ramifications for management and treatment of microbial biomass in hydraulically fractured wells. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaela K. Amundson
- Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Mikayla A. Borton
- Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Rebecca A. Daly
- Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - David W. Hoyt
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Richland, WA USA
| | - Allison Wong
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Richland, WA USA
| | - Elizabeth Eder
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Richland, WA USA
| | | | | | - Kelly C. Wrighton
- Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
| | - Michael J. Wilkins
- Department of Soil & Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO USA
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32
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Turzynski V, Monsees I, Moraru C, Probst AJ. Imaging Techniques for Detecting Prokaryotic Viruses in Environmental Samples. Viruses 2021; 13:2126. [PMID: 34834933 PMCID: PMC8622608 DOI: 10.3390/v13112126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth with an estimate of 1031 viral particles across all ecosystems. Prokaryotic viruses-bacteriophages and archaeal viruses-influence global biogeochemical cycles by shaping microbial communities through predation, through the effect of horizontal gene transfer on the host genome evolution, and through manipulating the host cellular metabolism. Imaging techniques have played an important role in understanding the biology and lifestyle of prokaryotic viruses. Specifically, structure-resolving microscopy methods, for example, transmission electron microscopy, are commonly used for understanding viral morphology, ultrastructure, and host interaction. These methods have been applied mostly to cultivated phage-host pairs. However, recent advances in environmental genomics have demonstrated that the majority of viruses remain uncultivated, and thus microscopically uncharacterized. Although light- and structure-resolving microscopy of viruses from environmental samples is possible, quite often the link between the visualization and the genomic information of uncultivated prokaryotic viruses is missing. In this minireview, we summarize the current state of the art of imaging techniques available for characterizing viruses in environmental samples and discuss potential links between viral imaging and environmental genomics for shedding light on the morphology of uncultivated viruses and their lifestyles in Earth's ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Turzynski
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany;
| | - Indra Monsees
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany;
| | - Cristina Moraru
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky-University Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Straße 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany;
| | - Alexander J. Probst
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany;
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141 Essen, Germany
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33
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Gralka M, Szabo R, Stocker R, Cordero OX. Trophic Interactions and the Drivers of Microbial Community Assembly. Curr Biol 2021; 30:R1176-R1188. [PMID: 33022263 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite numerous surveys of gene and species content in heterotrophic microbial communities, such as those found in animal guts, oceans, or soils, it is still unclear whether there are generalizable biological or ecological processes that control their dynamics and function. Here, we review experimental and theoretical advances to argue that networks of trophic interactions, in which the metabolic excretions of one species are the primary resource for another, constitute the central drivers of microbial community assembly. Trophic interactions emerge from the deconstruction of complex forms of organic matter into a wealth of smaller metabolic intermediates, some of which are released to the environment and serve as a nutritional buffet for the community. The structure of the emergent trophic network and the rate at which primary resources are supplied control many features of microbial community assembly, including the relative contributions of competition and cooperation and the emergence of alternative community states. Viewing microbial community assembly through the lens of trophic interactions also has important implications for the spatial dynamics of communities as well as the functional redundancy of taxonomic groups. Given the ubiquity of trophic interactions across environments, they impart a common logic that can enable the development of a more quantitative and predictive microbial community ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Gralka
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Rachel Szabo
- Microbiology Graduate Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Roman Stocker
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Otto X Cordero
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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34
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Li Z, Pan D, Wei G, Pi W, Zhang C, Wang JH, Peng Y, Zhang L, Wang Y, Hubert CRJ, Dong X. Deep sea sediments associated with cold seeps are a subsurface reservoir of viral diversity. THE ISME JOURNAL 2021; 15:2366-2378. [PMID: 33649554 PMCID: PMC8319345 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-00932-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In marine ecosystems, viruses exert control on the composition and metabolism of microbial communities, influencing overall biogeochemical cycling. Deep sea sediments associated with cold seeps are known to host taxonomically diverse microbial communities, but little is known about viruses infecting these microorganisms. Here, we probed metagenomes from seven geographically diverse cold seeps across global oceans to assess viral diversity, virus-host interaction, and virus-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs). Gene-sharing network comparisons with viruses inhabiting other ecosystems reveal that cold seep sediments harbour considerable unexplored viral diversity. Most cold seep viruses display high degrees of endemism with seep fluid flux being one of the main drivers of viral community composition. In silico predictions linked 14.2% of the viruses to microbial host populations with many belonging to poorly understood candidate bacterial and archaeal phyla. Lysis was predicted to be a predominant viral lifestyle based on lineage-specific virus/host abundance ratios. Metabolic predictions of prokaryotic host genomes and viral AMGs suggest that viruses influence microbial hydrocarbon biodegradation at cold seeps, as well as other carbon, sulfur and nitrogen cycling via virus-induced mortality and/or metabolic augmentation. Overall, these findings reveal the global diversity and biogeography of cold seep viruses and indicate how viruses may manipulate seep microbial ecology and biogeochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexin Li
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Donald Pan
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies, The Water School, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL, USA
| | - Guangshan Wei
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, China
| | - Weiling Pi
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Chuwen Zhang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Jiang-Hai Wang
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yongyi Peng
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Advanced Technology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Life Science, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, China
| | - Casey R J Hubert
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Xiyang Dong
- School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China.
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35
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Rahlff J, Turzynski V, Esser SP, Monsees I, Bornemann TLV, Figueroa-Gonzalez PA, Schulz F, Woyke T, Klingl A, Moraru C, Probst AJ. Lytic archaeal viruses infect abundant primary producers in Earth's crust. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4642. [PMID: 34330907 PMCID: PMC8324899 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24803-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The continental subsurface houses a major portion of life's abundance and diversity, yet little is known about viruses infecting microbes that reside there. Here, we use a combination of metagenomics and virus-targeted direct-geneFISH (virusFISH) to show that highly abundant carbon-fixing organisms of the uncultivated genus Candidatus Altiarchaeum are frequent targets of previously unrecognized viruses in the deep subsurface. Analysis of CRISPR spacer matches display resistances of Ca. Altiarchaea against eight predicted viral clades, which show genomic relatedness across continents but little similarity to previously identified viruses. Based on metagenomic information, we tag and image a putatively viral genome rich in protospacers using fluorescence microscopy. VirusFISH reveals a lytic lifestyle of the respective virus and challenges previous predictions that lysogeny prevails as the dominant viral lifestyle in the subsurface. CRISPR development over time and imaging of 18 samples from one subsurface ecosystem suggest a sophisticated interplay of viral diversification and adapting CRISPR-mediated resistances of Ca. Altiarchaeum. We conclude that infections of primary producers with lytic viruses followed by cell lysis potentially jump-start heterotrophic carbon cycling in these subsurface ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Rahlff
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Victoria Turzynski
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sarah P Esser
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Indra Monsees
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Till L V Bornemann
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Perla Abigail Figueroa-Gonzalez
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | | | - Tanja Woyke
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Andreas Klingl
- Plant Development & Electron Microscopy, Biocenter LMU Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Cristina Moraru
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl-von-Ossietzky-University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Alexander J Probst
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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Mehrshad M, Lopez-Fernandez M, Sundh J, Bell E, Simone D, Buck M, Bernier-Latmani R, Bertilsson S, Dopson M. Energy efficiency and biological interactions define the core microbiome of deep oligotrophic groundwater. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4253. [PMID: 34253732 PMCID: PMC8275790 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24549-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
While oligotrophic deep groundwaters host active microbes attuned to the low-end of the bioenergetics spectrum, the ecological constraints on microbial niches in these ecosystems and their consequences for microbiome convergence are unknown. Here, we provide a genome-resolved, integrated omics analysis comparing archaeal and bacterial communities in disconnected fracture fluids of the Fennoscandian Shield in Europe. Leveraging a dataset that combines metagenomes, single cell genomes, and metatranscriptomes, we show that groundwaters flowing in similar lithologies offer fixed niches that are occupied by a common core microbiome. Functional expression analysis highlights that these deep groundwater ecosystems foster diverse, yet cooperative communities adapted to this setting. We suggest that these communities stimulate cooperation by expression of functions related to ecological traits, such as aggregate or biofilm formation, while alleviating the burden on microorganisms producing compounds or functions that provide a collective benefit by facilitating reciprocal promiscuous metabolic partnerships with other members of the community. We hypothesize that an episodic lifestyle enabled by reversible bacteriostatic functions ensures the subsistence of the oligotrophic deep groundwater microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maliheh Mehrshad
- grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Department of Ecology and Genetics, Limnology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden ,grid.6341.00000 0000 8578 2742Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Margarita Lopez-Fernandez
- grid.8148.50000 0001 2174 3522Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden ,grid.4489.10000000121678994Present Address: Department of Microbiology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - John Sundh
- grid.10548.380000 0004 1936 9377Dept of Biochemistry and Biophysics, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Emma Bell
- grid.5333.60000000121839049Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland ,grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Present Address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta Canada
| | - Domenico Simone
- grid.8148.50000 0001 2174 3522Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden ,grid.6341.00000 0000 8578 2742SLU Bioinformatics Infrastructure, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Moritz Buck
- grid.6341.00000 0000 8578 2742Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rizlan Bernier-Latmani
- grid.5333.60000000121839049Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Engineering Institute, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Bertilsson
- grid.8993.b0000 0004 1936 9457Department of Ecology and Genetics, Limnology and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden ,grid.6341.00000 0000 8578 2742Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mark Dopson
- grid.8148.50000 0001 2174 3522Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
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37
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Martin G, Sharma S, Ryan W, Srinivasan NK, Senko JM. Identification of Microbiological Activities in Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization Systems. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:675628. [PMID: 34262541 PMCID: PMC8273512 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.675628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermoelectric power generation from coal requires large amounts of water, much of which is used for wet flue gas desulfurization (wFGD) systems that minimize sulfur emissions, and consequently, acid rain. The microbial communities in wFGDs and throughout thermoelectric power plants can influence system performance, waste processing, and the long term stewardship of residual wastes. Any microorganisms that survive in wFGD slurries must tolerate high total dissolved solids concentrations (TDS) and temperatures (50–60°C), but the inocula for wFGDs are typically from fresh surface waters (e.g., lakes or rivers) of low TDS and temperatures, and whose activity might be limited under the physicochemically extreme conditions of the wFGD. To determine the extents of microbiological activities in wFGDs, we examined the microbial activities and communities associated with three wFGDs. O2 consumption rates of three wFGD slurries were optimal at 55°C, and living cells could be detected microscopically, indicating that living and active communities of organisms were present in the wFGD and could metabolize at the high temperature of the wFGD. A 16S rRNA gene-based survey revealed that the wFGD-associated microbial communities included taxa attributable to both thermophilic and mesophilic lineages. Metatranscriptomic analysis of one of the wFGDs indicated an abundance of active Burholderiaceae and several Gammaproteobacteria, and production of transcripts associated with carbohydrate metabolism, osmotic stress response, as well as phage, prophages, and transposable elements. These results illustrate that microbial activities can be sustained in physicochemically extreme wFGDs, and these activities may influence the performance and environmental impacts of thermoelectric power plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Martin
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States
| | - Shagun Sharma
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States.,Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States
| | - William Ryan
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States
| | | | - John M Senko
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States.,Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States.,Department of Geosciences, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States
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38
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Abstract
In the ocean, viruses impact microbial mortality, regulate biogeochemical cycling, and alter the metabolic potential of microbial lineages. At deep-sea hydrothermal vents, abundant viruses infect a wide range of hosts among the archaea and bacteria that inhabit these dynamic habitats. However, little is known about viral diversity, host range, and biogeography across different vent ecosystems, which has important implications for how viruses manipulate microbial function and evolution. Here, we examined viral diversity, viral and host distribution, and virus-host interactions in microbial metagenomes generated from venting fluids from several vent sites within three different geochemically and geographically distinct hydrothermal systems: Piccard and Von Damm vent fields at the Mid-Cayman Rise in the Caribbean Sea, and at several vent sites within Axial Seamount in the Pacific Ocean. Analysis of viral sequences and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) spacers revealed highly diverse viral assemblages and evidence of active infection. Network analysis revealed that viral host range was relatively narrow, with very few viruses infecting multiple microbial lineages. Viruses were largely endemic to individual vent sites, indicating restricted dispersal, and in some cases, viral assemblages persisted over time. Thus, we show that hydrothermal vent fluids are home to novel, diverse viral assemblages that are highly localized to specific regions and taxa. IMPORTANCE Viruses play important roles in manipulating microbial communities and their evolution in the ocean, yet not much is known about viruses in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. However, viral ecology and evolution are of particular interest in hydrothermal vent habitats because of their unique nature: previous studies have indicated that most viruses in hydrothermal vents are temperate rather than lytic, and it has been established that rates of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) are particularly high among thermophilic vent microbes, and viruses are common vectors for HGT. If viruses have broad host range or are widespread across vent sites, they have increased potential to act as gene-sharing "highways" between vent sites. By examining viral diversity, distribution, and infection networks across disparate vent sites, this study provides the opportunity to better characterize and constrain the viral impact on hydrothermal vent microbial communities. We show that viruses in hydrothermal vents are diverse and apparently active, but most have restricted host range and are not widely distributed among vent sites. Thus, the impacts of viral infection are likely to be highly localized and constrained to specific taxa in these habitats.
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39
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Temporal Changes of Virus-Like Particle Abundance and Metagenomic Comparison of Viral Communities in Cropland and Prairie Soils. mSphere 2021; 6:e0116020. [PMID: 34077260 PMCID: PMC8265675 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.01160-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
During the last several decades, viruses have been increasingly recognized for their abundance, ubiquity, and important roles in different ecosystems. Despite known contributions to aquatic systems, few studies examine viral abundance and community structure over time in terrestrial ecosystems. The effects of land conversion and land management on soil microbes have been previously investigated, but their effects on virus population are not well studied. This study examined annual dynamics of viral abundance in soils from a native tallgrass prairie and two croplands, conventional till winter wheat and no-till canola, in Oklahoma. Virus-like particle (VLP) abundance varied across sites, and showed clear seasonal shifts. VLP abundance significantly correlated with environmental variables that were generally reflective of land use, including air temperature, soil nitrogen, and plant canopy coverage. Structural equation modeling supported the effects of land use on soil communities by emphasizing interactions between management, environmental factors, and viral and bacterial abundance. Between the viral metagenomes from the prairie and tilled wheat field, 1,231 unique viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) were identified, and only five were shared that were rare in the contrasting field. Only 13% of the vOTUs had similarity to previously identified viruses in the RefSeq database, with only 7% having known taxonomic classification. Together, our findings indicated land use and tillage practices influence virus abundance and community structure. Analyses of viromes over time and space are vital to viral ecology in providing insight on viral communities and key information on interactions between viruses, their microbial hosts, and the environment. IMPORTANCE Conversion of land alters the physiochemical and biological environments by not only changing the aboveground community, but also modifying the soil environment for viruses and microbes. Soil microbial communities are critical to nutrient cycling, carbon mineralization, and soil quality; and viruses are known for influencing microbial abundance, community structure, and evolution. Therefore, viruses are considered an important part of soil functions in terrestrial ecosystems. In aquatic environments, virus abundance generally exceeds bacterial counts by an order of magnitude, and they are thought to be one of the greatest genetic reservoirs on the planet. However, data are extremely limited on viruses in soils, and even less is known about their responses to the disturbances associated with land use and management. The study provides important insights into the temporal dynamics of viral abundance and the structure of viral communities in response to the common practice of turning native habitats into arable soils.
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40
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Hockenberry AJ, Wilke CO. BACPHLIP: predicting bacteriophage lifestyle from conserved protein domains. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11396. [PMID: 33996289 PMCID: PMC8106911 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are broadly classified into two distinct lifestyles: temperate and virulent. Temperate phages are capable of a latent phase of infection within a host cell (lysogenic cycle), whereas virulent phages directly replicate and lyse host cells upon infection (lytic cycle). Accurate lifestyle identification is critical for determining the role of individual phage species within ecosystems and their effect on host evolution. Here, we present BACPHLIP, a BACterioPHage LIfestyle Predictor. BACPHLIP detects the presence of a set of conserved protein domains within an input genome and uses this data to predict lifestyle via a Random Forest classifier that was trained on a dataset of 634 phage genomes. On an independent test set of 423 phages, BACPHLIP has an accuracy of 98% greatly exceeding that of the previously existing tools (79%). BACPHLIP is freely available on GitHub (https://github.com/adamhockenberry/bacphlip) and the code used to build and test the classifier is provided in a separate repository (https://github.com/adamhockenberry/bacphlip-model-dev) for users wishing to interrogate and re-train the underlying classification model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J. Hockenberry
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, United States of America
| | - Claus O. Wilke
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, United States of America
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41
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Hallsworth JE, Mancinelli RL, Conley CA, Dallas TD, Rinaldi T, Davila AF, Benison KC, Rapoport A, Cavalazzi B, Selbmann L, Changela H, Westall F, Yakimov MM, Amils R, Madigan MT. Astrobiology of life on Earth. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:3335-3344. [PMID: 33817931 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Astrobiology is mistakenly regarded by some as a field confined to studies of life beyond Earth. Here, we consider life on Earth through an astrobiological lens. Whereas classical studies of microbiology historically focused on various anthropocentric sub-fields (such as fermented foods or commensals and pathogens of crop plants, livestock and humans), addressing key biological questions via astrobiological approaches can further our understanding of all life on Earth. We highlight potential implications of this approach through the articles in this Environmental Microbiology special issue 'Ecophysiology of Extremophiles'. They report on the microbiology of places/processes including low-temperature environments and chemically diverse saline- and hypersaline habitats; aspects of sulphur metabolism in hypersaline lakes, dysoxic marine waters, and thermal acidic springs; biology of extremophile viruses; the survival of terrestrial extremophiles on the surface of Mars; biological soils crusts and rock-associated microbes of deserts; subsurface and deep biosphere, including a salticle formed within Triassic halite; and interactions of microbes with igneous and sedimentary rocks. These studies, some of which we highlight here, contribute to our understanding of the spatiotemporal reach of Earth'sfunctional biosphere, and the tenacity of terrestrial life. Their findings will help set the stage for future work focused on the constraints for life, and how organisms adapt and evolve to circumvent these constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Hallsworth
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Rocco L Mancinelli
- Bay Area Environmental Research Institute, NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA, 94035, USA
| | | | - Tiffany D Dallas
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Teresa Rinaldi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | | | - Kathleen C Benison
- Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6300, USA
| | - Alexander Rapoport
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia, Jelgavas Str., 1-537, Riga, LV-1004, Latvia
| | - Barbara Cavalazzi
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, 01100, Italy.,Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, Genoa, 16128, Italy
| | - Hitesh Changela
- Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China.,Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Frances Westall
- CNRS, Ctr Biophys Mol UPR 4301, Rue Charles Sadron, CS 80054, Orleans, F-45071, France
| | - Michail M Yakimov
- Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology, IRBIM-CNR, Messina, 98122, Italy
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (CBMSO, CSICUAM), Cantoblanco, Madrid, 28049, Spain.,Centro de Astrobiología (CAB, INTA-CSIC), Torrejón de Ardoz, 28055, Spain
| | - Michael T Madigan
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
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Sheik CS, Badalamenti JP, Telling J, Hsu D, Alexander SC, Bond DR, Gralnick JA, Lollar BS, Toner BM. Novel Microbial Groups Drive Productivity in an Archean Iron Formation. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:627595. [PMID: 33859627 PMCID: PMC8042283 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.627595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Deep subsurface environments are decoupled from Earth's surface processes yet diverse, active, and abundant microbial communities thrive in these isolated environments. Microbes inhabiting the deep biosphere face unique challenges such as electron donor/acceptor limitations, pore space/fracture network limitations, and isolation from other microbes within the formation. Of the few systems that have been characterized, it is apparent that nutrient limitations likely facilitate diverse microbe-microbe interactions (i.e., syntrophic, symbiotic, or parasitic) and that these interactions drive biogeochemical cycling of major elements. Here we describe microbial communities living in low temperature, chemically reduced brines at the Soudan Underground Mine State Park, United States. The Soudan Iron mine intersects a massive hematite formation at the southern extent of the Canadian Shield. Fractured rock aquifer brines continuously flow from exploratory boreholes drilled circa 1960 and are enriched in deuterium compared to the global meteoric values, indicating brines have had little contact with surface derived waters, and continually degas low molecular weight hydrocarbons C1-C4. Microbial enrichments suggest that once brines exit the boreholes, oxidation of the hydrocarbons occur. Amplicon sequencing show these borehole communities are low in diversity and dominated by Firmicute and Proteobacteria phyla. From the metagenome assemblies, we recovered approximately thirty genomes with estimated completion over 50%. Analysis of genome taxonomy generally followed the amplicon data, and highlights that several of the genomes represent novel families and genera. Metabolic reconstruction shows two carbon-fixation pathways were dominant, the Wood-Ljungdahl (acetogenesis) and Calvin-Benson-Bassham (via RuBisCo), indicating that inorganic carbon likely enters into the microbial foodweb with differing carbon fractionation potentials. Interestingly, methanogenesis is likely driven by Methanolobus and suggests cycling of methylated compounds and not H2/CO2 or acetate. Furthermore, the abundance of sulfate in brines suggests cryptic sulfur cycling may occur, as we detect possible sulfate reducing and thiosulfate oxidizing microorganisms. Finally, a majority of the microorganisms identified contain genes that would allow them to participate in several element cycles, highlighting that in these deep isolated systems metabolic flexibility may be an important life history trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody S. Sheik
- Department of Biology and the Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, MN, United States
| | - Jonathan P. Badalamenti
- University of Minnesota Genomics Center, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | - Jon Telling
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - David Hsu
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN, United States
- Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | - Scott C. Alexander
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Daniel R. Bond
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN, United States
- Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | - Jeffrey A. Gralnick
- Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN, United States
- Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | | | - Brandy M. Toner
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Saint Paul, MN, United States
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Abstract
Freshwater iron mats are dynamic geochemical environments with broad ecological diversity, primarily formed by the iron-oxidizing bacteria. The community features functional groups involved in biogeochemical cycles for iron, sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen. Despite this complexity, iron mat communities provide an excellent model system for exploring microbial ecological interactions and ecological theories in situ Syntrophies and competition between the functional groups in iron mats, how they connect cycles, and the maintenance of these communities by taxons outside bacteria (the eukaryota, archaea, and viruses) have been largely unstudied. Here, we review what is currently known about freshwater iron mat communities, the taxa that reside there, and the interactions between these organisms, and we propose ways in which future studies may uncover exciting new discoveries. For example, the archaea in these mats may play a greater role than previously thought as they are diverse and widespread in iron mats based on 16S rRNA genes and include methanogenic taxa. Studies with a holistic view of the iron mat community members focusing on their diverse interactions will expand our understanding of community functions, such as those involved in pollution removal. To begin addressing questions regarding the fundamental interactions and to identify the conditions in which they occur, more laboratory culturing techniques and coculture studies, more network and keystone species analyses, and the expansion of studies to more freshwater iron mat systems are necessary. Increasingly accessible bioinformatic, geochemical, and culturing tools now open avenues to address the questions that we pose herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chequita N Brooks
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erin K Field
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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Shaffer M, Borton MA, McGivern BB, Zayed AA, La Rosa SL, Solden LM, Liu P, Narrowe AB, Rodríguez-Ramos J, Bolduc B, Gazitúa MC, Daly RA, Smith GJ, Vik DR, Pope PB, Sullivan MB, Roux S, Wrighton KC. DRAM for distilling microbial metabolism to automate the curation of microbiome function. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:8883-8900. [PMID: 32766782 PMCID: PMC7498326 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 344] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial and viral communities transform the chemistry of Earth's ecosystems, yet the specific reactions catalyzed by these biological engines are hard to decode due to the absence of a scalable, metabolically resolved, annotation software. Here, we present DRAM (Distilled and Refined Annotation of Metabolism), a framework to translate the deluge of microbiome-based genomic information into a catalog of microbial traits. To demonstrate the applicability of DRAM across metabolically diverse genomes, we evaluated DRAM performance on a defined, in silico soil community and previously published human gut metagenomes. We show that DRAM accurately assigned microbial contributions to geochemical cycles and automated the partitioning of gut microbial carbohydrate metabolism at substrate levels. DRAM-v, the viral mode of DRAM, established rules to identify virally-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs), resulting in the metabolic categorization of thousands of putative AMGs from soils and guts. Together DRAM and DRAM-v provide critical metabolic profiling capabilities that decipher mechanisms underpinning microbiome function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Shaffer
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Mikayla A Borton
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Bridget B McGivern
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Ahmed A Zayed
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | | | - Lindsey M Solden
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Adrienne B Narrowe
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Josué Rodríguez-Ramos
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Benjamin Bolduc
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - M Consuelo Gazitúa
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Rebecca A Daly
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Garrett J Smith
- Department of Microbiology, Radboud University, Nijmegen 6525, Netherlands
| | - Dean R Vik
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Phil B Pope
- Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas 1432, Norway
| | - Matthew B Sullivan
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Simon Roux
- Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kelly C Wrighton
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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45
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The network structure and eco-evolutionary dynamics of CRISPR-induced immune diversification. Nat Ecol Evol 2020; 4:1650-1660. [PMID: 33077929 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-01312-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
As a heritable sequence-specific adaptive immune system, CRISPR-Cas is a powerful force shaping strain diversity in host-virus systems. While the diversity of CRISPR alleles has been explored, the associated structure and dynamics of host-virus interactions have not. We explore the role of CRISPR in mediating the interplay between host-virus interaction structure and eco-evolutionary dynamics in a computational model and compare the results with three empirical datasets from natural systems. We show that the structure of the networks describing who infects whom and the degree to which strains are immune, are respectively modular (containing groups of hosts and viruses that interact strongly) and weighted-nested (specialist hosts are more susceptible to subsets of viruses that in turn also infect the more generalist hosts with many spacers matching many viruses). The dynamic interplay between these networks influences transitions between dynamical regimes of virus diversification and host control. The three empirical systems exhibit weighted-nested immunity networks, a pattern our theory shows is indicative of hosts able to suppress virus diversification. Previously missing from studies of microbial host-pathogen systems, the immunity network plays a key role in the coevolutionary dynamics.
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Acharya SM, Chakraborty R, Tringe SG. Emerging Trends in Biological Treatment of Wastewater From Unconventional Oil and Gas Extraction. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:569019. [PMID: 33013800 PMCID: PMC7509137 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.569019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Unconventional oil and gas exploration generates an enormous quantity of wastewater, commonly referred to as flowback and produced water (FPW). Limited freshwater resources and stringent disposal regulations have provided impetus for FPW reuse. Organic and inorganic compounds released from the shale/brine formation, microbial activity, and residual chemicals added during hydraulic fracturing bestow a unique as well as temporally varying chemical composition to this wastewater. Studies indicate that many of the compounds found in FPW are amenable to biological degradation, indicating biological treatment may be a viable option for FPW processing and reuse. This review discusses commonly characterized contaminants and current knowledge on their biodegradability, including the enzymes and organisms involved. Further, a perspective on recent novel hybrid biological treatments and application of knowledge gained from omics studies in improving these treatments is explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shwetha M Acharya
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Romy Chakraborty
- Department of Ecology, Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Susannah G Tringe
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
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47
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The Role of Rhizosphere Bacteriophages in Plant Health. Trends Microbiol 2020; 28:709-718. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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48
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Wang YQ, Li W, Zhuang JL, Liu YD, Shapleigh JP. Bacteriophage-mediated extracellular DNA release is important for the structural stability of aerobic granular sludge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 726:138392. [PMID: 32334351 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial characteristics and the structural role of exDNA in different size AGSs. Metagenomic results showed that exDNA has a significantly lower GC content, ~46.0%, than the ~65.0% GC of intracellular DNA (inDNA). Taxonomic predictions showed most of the reads from the exDNA that could be taxonomically assigned were from members of the phyla Bacteroidetes (55.0-64.2% of the total exDNA reads). Assigned inDNA reads were mainly from Proteobacteria (50.9-57.8%) or Actinobacteria (18.0-28.0%). Reads mapping showed that exDNA read depths were similar across all predicted open reading frames from assembled genomes that were assigned as Bacteroidetes which is consistent with cell lysis as a source of exDNA. Enrichment of CRISPR-CAS proteins in exDNA reads and CRISPR spacers in Bacteroidetes associated draft genomes suggested that bacteriophage infection may be an important cause of lysis of these cells. A critical role for this exDNA was found using DNase I digestion experiments which showed that the exDNA was vital for the structural stability of relatively small sized AGS but not for the larger sized AGS. The characteristics of exDNA in AGSs revealed in this work provide a new perspective on AGS components and structural stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Qiao Wang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Wastewater Treatment, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jin-Long Zhuang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong-di Liu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Wastewater Treatment, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, China
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49
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Khot V, Strous M, Hawley AK. Computational approaches in viral ecology. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:1605-1612. [PMID: 32670501 PMCID: PMC7334295 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynamic virus-host interactions play a critical role in regulating microbial community structure and function. Yet for decades prior to the genomics era, viruses were largely overlooked in microbial ecology research, as only low-throughput culture-based methods of discovering viruses were available. With the advent of metagenomics, culture-independent techniques have provided exciting opportunities to discover and study new viruses. Here, we review recently developed computational methods for identifying viral sequences, exploring viral diversity in environmental samples, and predicting hosts from metagenomic sequence data. Methods to analyze viruses in silico utilize unconventional approaches to tackle challenges unique to viruses, such as vast diversity, mosaic viral genomes, and the lack of universal marker genes. As the field of viral ecology expands exponentially, computational advances have become increasingly important to gain insight into the role viruses in diverse habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varada Khot
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Marc Strous
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Alyse K. Hawley
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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50
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Zhong ZP, Rapp JZ, Wainaina JM, Solonenko NE, Maughan H, Carpenter SD, Cooper ZS, Jang HB, Bolduc B, Deming JW, Sullivan MB. Viral Ecogenomics of Arctic Cryopeg Brine and Sea Ice. mSystems 2020; 5:e00246-20. [PMID: 32546670 PMCID: PMC7300359 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00246-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Arctic regions, which are changing rapidly as they warm 2 to 3 times faster than the global average, still retain microbial habitats that serve as natural laboratories for understanding mechanisms of microbial adaptation to extreme conditions. Seawater-derived brines within both sea ice (sea-ice brine) and ancient layers of permafrost (cryopeg brine) support diverse microbes adapted to subzero temperatures and high salinities, yet little is known about viruses in these extreme environments, which, if analogous to other systems, could play important evolutionary and ecosystem roles. Here, we characterized viral communities and their functions in samples of cryopeg brine, sea-ice brine, and melted sea ice. Viral abundance was high in cryopeg brine (1.2 × 108 ml-1) and much lower in sea-ice brine (1.3 × 105 to 2.1 × 105 ml-1), which roughly paralleled the differences in cell concentrations in these samples. Five low-input, quantitative viral metagenomes were sequenced to yield 476 viral populations (i.e., species level; ≥10 kb), only 12% of which could be assigned taxonomy by traditional database approaches, indicating a high degree of novelty. Additional analyses revealed that these viruses: (i) formed communities that differed between sample type and vertically with sea-ice depth; (ii) infected hosts that dominated these extreme ecosystems, including Marinobacter, Glaciecola, and Colwellia; and (iii) encoded fatty acid desaturase (FAD) genes that likely helped their hosts overcome cold and salt stress during infection, as well as mediated horizontal gene transfer of FAD genes between microbes. Together, these findings contribute to understanding viral abundances and communities and how viruses impact their microbial hosts in subzero brines and sea ice.IMPORTANCE This study explores viral community structure and function in remote and extreme Arctic environments, including subzero brines within marine layers of permafrost and sea ice, using a modern viral ecogenomics toolkit for the first time. In addition to providing foundational data sets for these climate-threatened habitats, we found evidence that the viruses had habitat specificity, infected dominant microbial hosts, encoded host-derived metabolic genes, and mediated horizontal gene transfer among hosts. These results advance our understanding of the virosphere and how viruses influence extreme ecosystems. More broadly, the evidence that virally mediated gene transfers may be limited by host range in these extreme habitats contributes to a mechanistic understanding of genetic exchange among microbes under stressful conditions in other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Ping Zhong
- Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Josephine Z Rapp
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - James M Wainaina
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | | | - Shelly D Carpenter
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Zachary S Cooper
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ho Bin Jang
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Benjamin Bolduc
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jody W Deming
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Matthew B Sullivan
- Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Center of Microbiome Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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