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Ziller L, Blum PC, Buhl EM, Krüttgen A, Horz HP, Tagliaferri TL. Newly isolated Drexlerviridae phage LAPAZ is physically robust and fosters eradication of Klebsiella pneumoniae in combination with meropenem. Virus Res 2024; 347:199417. [PMID: 38880333 PMCID: PMC11245953 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199417] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Due to the spread of multidrug resistance there is a renewed interest in using bacteriophages (briefly: phages) for controlling bacterial pathogens. The objective of this study was the characterization of a newly isolated phage (i.e. phage LAPAZ, vB_KpnD-LAPAZ), its antimicrobial activity against multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and potential synergistic interactions with antibiotics. LAPAZ belongs to the family Drexlerviridae (genus: Webervirus) and lysed 30 % of tested strains, whereby four distinct capsular types can be infected. The genome consists of 51,689 bp and encodes 84 ORFs. The latent period is 30 min with an average burst size of 27 PFU/cell. Long-term storage experiments show that LAPAZ is significantly more stable in wastewater compared to laboratory media. A phage titre of 90 % persists up to 30 min at 50 ˚C and entire phage loss was seen only at temperatures > 66 ˚C. Besides stability against UV-C, antibacterial activity in liquid culture medium was consistent at pH values ranging from 4 to 10. Unlike exposure to phage or antibiotic alone, synergistic interactions and a complete bacterial eradication was achieved when combining LAPAZ with meropenem. In addition, synergism with the co-presence of ciprofloxacin was observed and phage resistance emergence could be delayed. Without co-addition of the antibiotic, phage resistant mutants readily emerged and showed a mixed pattern of drug sensitivity alterations. Around 88 % became less sensitive towards ceftazidime, meropenem and gentamicin. Conversely, around 44 % showed decreased resistance levels against ciprofloxacin. Whole genome analysis of a phage-resistant mutant with a 16-fold increased sensitivity towards ciprofloxacin revealed one de novo frameshift mutation leading to a gene fusion affecting two transport proteins belonging to the major facilitator-superfamily (MFS). Apparently, this mutation compromises ciprofloxacin efflux efficiency and further studies are warranted to understand how the non-mutated protein might be involved in phage-host adsorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Ziller
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Eva Miriam Buhl
- Electron Microscopy Facility, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Alex Krüttgen
- Laboratory Diagnostic Center, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Horz
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
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2
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Zeng C, Wan SR, Guo M, Tan XZ, Zeng Y, Wu Q, Xie JJ, Yan P, Long Y, Zheng L, Jiang ZZ, Teng FY, Xu Y. Fecal virome transplantation: A promising strategy for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 177:117065. [PMID: 38971010 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117065] [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: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic diseases are a group of disorders caused by metabolic abnormalities, including obesity, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and more. Increasing research indicates that, beyond inherent metabolic irregularities, the onset and progression of metabolic diseases are closely linked to alterations in the gut microbiota, particularly gut bacteria. Additionally, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has demonstrated effectiveness in clinically treating metabolic diseases, notably diabetes. Recent attention has also focused on the role of gut viruses in disease onset. This review first introduces the characteristics and influencing factors of gut viruses, then summarizes their potential mechanisms in disease development, highlighting their impact on gut bacteria and regulation of host immunity. We also compare FMT, fecal filtrate transplantation (FFT), washed microbiota transplantation (WMT), and fecal virome transplantation (FVT). Finally, we review the current understanding of gut viruses in metabolic diseases and the application of FVT in treating these conditions. In conclusion, FVT may provide a novel and promising treatment approach for metabolic diseases, warranting further validation through basic and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zeng
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Sheng-Rong Wan
- Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Experimental Medicine Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Man Guo
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Xiao-Zhen Tan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Experimental Medicine Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao 999078, China
| | - Qi Wu
- Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao 999078, China; Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Jia-Jie Xie
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Pijun Yan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Experimental Medicine Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yang Long
- Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Experimental Medicine Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Lemin Zheng
- Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zong-Zhe Jiang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Fang-Yuan Teng
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
| | - Yong Xu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, and Metabolic Vascular Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Cooperation, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
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3
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Wang Z, Yang J, Yang L, Zhong Y, Wang P. Characteristics of a pseudolysogenic phage vB_YpM_HQ103 infecting Yersinia pestis. Virus Res 2024; 346:199395. [PMID: 38782263 PMCID: PMC11177050 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199395] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The plague, caused by Yersinia pestis, is a natural focal disease and the presence of Y. pestis in the environment is a critical ecological concern worldwide. The role of Y. pestis phages in the ecological life cycle of the plague is crucial. Previously, a temperature-sensitive phage named vB_YpM_HQ103 was isolated from plague foci in Yunnan province, China. Upon infecting the EV76 strain of Y. pestis, vB_YpM_HQ103 exhibits lysogenic behavior at 21 °C and lytic behavior at 37 °C. Various methods including continuous passage lysogenic tests, in vitro lysis tests, comparative genomic assays, fluorescence quantitative PCR and receptor identification tests were employed to demonstrate that the lysogenic life cycle of this phage is applicable to wild Y. pestis strains; its lysogeny is pseudolysogenic (carrying but not integrating), allowing it to replicate and proliferate within Y. pestis. Furthermore, we have identified the outer membrane protein OmpA of Y. pestis as the receptor for phage infection. In conclusion, our research provides insight into the characteristics and receptors of a novel Y. pestis phage infection with a pseudolysogenic cycle. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of Y. pestis phages and plague microecology, offering valuable insights for future studies on the conservation and genetic evolution of Y. pestis in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Jiao Yang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Lihua Yang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Youhong Zhong
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention, Yunnan Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Prevention, Dali, 671000, China.
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4
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Meidaninikjeh S, Mohammadi P, Elikaei A. Bacteriophages and bacterial extracellular vesicles, threat or opportunity? Life Sci 2024; 350:122749. [PMID: 38821215 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122749] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (AMR) is one of the health major problems worldwide. The scientists are looking for a novel method to treat infectious diseases. Phage therapy is considered a suitable approach for treating infectious diseases. However, there are different challenges in this way. Some biological aspects can probably influence on therapeutic results and further investigations are necessary to reach a successful phage therapy. Bacteriophage activity can influence by bacterial defense system. Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are one of the bacterial defense mechanisms which can modify the results of bacteriophage activity. BEVs have the significant roles in the gene transferring, invasion, escape, and spreading of bacteriophages. In this review, the defense mechanisms of bacteria against bacteriophages, especially BEVs secretion, the hidden linkage of BEVs and bacteriophages, and its possible consequences on the bacteriophage activity as well phage therapy will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Meidaninikjeh
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Parisa Mohammadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ameneh Elikaei
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran; Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.
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5
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Wu Z, Guo L, Wu Y, Yang M, Du S, Shao J, Zhang Z, Zhao Y. Novel phage infecting the Roseobacter CHUG lineage reveals a diverse and globally distributed phage family. mSphere 2024; 9:e0045824. [PMID: 38926906 PMCID: PMC11288001 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00458-24] [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: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages play an essential role in shaping the diversity and metabolism of bacterial communities. Marine Roseobacter group is an abundant heterotrophic bacterial group that is involved in many major element cycles, especially carbon and sulfur. Members of the Roseobacter CHUG (Clade Hidden and Underappreciated Globally) lineage are globally distributed and are activated in pelagic marine environments. In this study, we isolated and characterized a phage, CRP-810, that infects the CHUG strain FZCC0198. The genome of CRP-810 was dissimilar to those of other known phages. Additionally, 251 uncultured viral genomes (UViGs) closely related to CRP-810 were obtained from the uncultivated marine viral contig databases. Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that CRP-810 and these related UViGs exhibited conserved genome synteny, representing a new phage family with at least eight subgroups. Most of the CRP-810-type phages contain an integrase gene, and CRP-810 can be integrated into the host genome. Further analysis revealed that three CRP-810-type members were prophages found in the genomes of marine SAR11, Poseidonocella, and Sphingomonadaceae. Finally, viromic read-mapping analysis showed that CRP-810-type phages were globally distributed and displayed distinct biogeographic patterns related to temperature and latitude. Many members with a lower G + C content were mainly distributed in the trade station, whereas members with a higher G + C content were mainly distributed in polar and westerlies station, indicating that the niche differentiation of phages was subject to host adaptation. Collectively, these findings identify a novel phage family and expand our understanding of phylogenetic diversity, evolution, and biogeography of marine phages. IMPORTANCE The Roseobacter CHUG lineage, affiliated with the Pelagic Roseobacter Cluster (PRC), is widely distributed in the global oceans and is active in oligotrophic seawater. However, knowledge of the bacteriophages that infect CHUG members is limited. In this study, a CHUG phage, CRP-810, that infects the CHUG strain FZCC0198, was isolated and shown to have a novel genomic architecture. In addition, 251 uncultured viral genomes closely related to CRP-810 were recovered and included in the analyses. Phylogenomic analyses revealed that the CRP-810-type phages represent a new phage family containing at least eight genus-level subgroups. Members of this family were predicted to infect various marine bacteria. We also demonstrated that the CRP-810-type phages are widely distributed in global oceans and display distinct biogeographic patterns related to latitude. Collectively, this study provides important insights into the genomic organization, diversity, and ecology of a novel phage family that infect ecologically important bacteria in the global ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuqing Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processing and Safety Monitoring, College of JunCao Sciences and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Luyuan Guo
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processing and Safety Monitoring, College of JunCao Sciences and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ying Wu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processing and Safety Monitoring, College of JunCao Sciences and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mingyu Yang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processing and Safety Monitoring, College of JunCao Sciences and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Sen Du
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processing and Safety Monitoring, College of JunCao Sciences and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiabing Shao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processing and Safety Monitoring, College of JunCao Sciences and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zefeng Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processing and Safety Monitoring, College of JunCao Sciences and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanlin Zhao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processing and Safety Monitoring, College of JunCao Sciences and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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6
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Pourcel C, Essoh C, Ouldali M, Tavares P. Acinetobacter baumannii satellite phage Aci01-2-Phanie depends on a helper myophage for its multiplication. J Virol 2024; 98:e0066724. [PMID: 38829140 PMCID: PMC11264900 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00667-24] [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: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
We report the discovery of a satellite-helper phage system with a novel type of dependence on a tail donor. The Acinetobacter baumannii satellite podovirus Aci01-2-Phanie (short name Phanie) uses a phage phi29-like DNA replication and packaging mode. Its linear 11,885 bp dsDNA genome bears 171 bp inverted terminal repeats (ITR). Phanie is related to phage DU-PP-III from Pectobacterium and to members of the Astrithrvirus from Salmonella enterica. Together, they form a new clade of phages with 27% to 30% identity over the whole genome. Detailed 3D protein structure prediction and mass spectrometry analyses demonstrate that Phanie encodes its capsid structural genes and genes necessary to form a short tail. However, our study reveals that Phanie virions are non-infectious unless they associate with the contractile tail of an unrelated phage, Aci01-1, to produce chimeric myoviruses. Following the coinfection of Phanie with myovirus Aci01-1, hybrid viral particles composed of Phanie capsids and Aci01-1 contractile tails are assembled together with Phanie and Aci01-1 particles.IMPORTANCEThere are few reported cases of satellite-helper phage interactions but many more may be yet undiscovered. Here we describe a new mode of satellite phage dependence on a helper phage. Phanie, like phage phi29, replicates its linear dsDNA by a protein primed-mechanism and protects it inside podovirus-like particles. However, these particles are defective, requiring the acquisition of the tail from a myovirus helper for production of infectious virions. The formation of chimeras between a phi29-like podovirus and a helper contractile tail reveals an unexpected association between very different bacterial viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Pourcel
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Christiane Essoh
- Department of Biochemistry-Genetic, School of Biological Sciences, Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Malika Ouldali
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Paulo Tavares
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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7
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Horton EN, Beach EK, Cook KT, Cronin KG, Haag AT, Salter SM, Stojanovic NA, Fry ZE, Connolly BM, Hare RF, Ettinger ASH, Poxleitner MK, Anders KR. Complete genome sequence of Microbacterium foliorum phage Curie, a podovirus isolated from soil in Spokane, Washington. Microbiol Resour Announc 2024:e0040824. [PMID: 39037314 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00408-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage Curie is a podovirus that infects Microbacterium foliorum. The Curie genome spans 16,810 bp, has 90 bp terminal inverted repeats, and includes 23 protein-coding genes. Its genome architecture resembles phage PineapplePizza and other phi29-like phages. Together, Curie and PineapplePizza form a new actinobacteriophage Cluster GI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma N Horton
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Erika K Beach
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Kathryn T Cook
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Kyra G Cronin
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Avery T Haag
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Sierra M Salter
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | | | - Zoe E Fry
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Brian M Connolly
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | - Rebekah F Hare
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Kirk R Anders
- Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, USA
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8
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Beggs GA, Bassler BL. Phage small proteins play large roles in phage-bacterial interactions. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 80:102519. [PMID: 39047312 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Phages have wide influence on bacterial physiology, and likewise, bacterial processes impinge on phage biology. Key to these interactions are phage small proteins (<100 aa). Long underappreciated, recent work has revealed millions of phage small proteins, and increasingly, mechanisms by which they function to dictate phage and/or bacterial behavior and evolution. Here, we describe select phage small proteins that mediate phage-bacterial interactions by modulating phage lifestyle decision-making components or by altering host gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace A Beggs
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Bonnie L Bassler
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
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9
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Huang K, Yang Q, Bao M, Wang S, Zhao L, Shi Q, Yang Y. Modulated Cell Internalization Behavior of Icosahedral DNA Framework with Programmable Surface Modification. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 39038211 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c04106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Surface modification could enhance the cell internalization efficiency of nanovehicles for targeted gene or drug delivery. However, the influence of surface modification parameters, including recognition manners, valences, and patterns, is often clouded, especially for the endocytosis of DNA nanostructures in customized shapes. Focusing on an icosahedral DNA framework, we systematically programmed three distinct types of ligands with diverse valence and spatial distribution on their outer surface to study the internalization efficiency, endocytic pathways, and postinternalization fate. The comparison in different aspects of parameters deepens our understanding of the intricate relationship between surface modification and cell entry behavior, offering insights crucial for designing and optimizing DNA framework nanostructures for potent cell-targeted purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Huang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Qiulan Yang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Min Bao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Shengwen Wang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China
| | - Luming Zhao
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Qian Shi
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Nanomedicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
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Peng S, Xu Y, Qu H, Nong F, Shu F, Yuan G, Ruan L, Zheng D. Trojan Horse virus delivering CRISPR-AsCas12f1 controls plant bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum. mBio 2024:e0061924. [PMID: 39012150 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00619-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum results in huge losses. Accordingly, developing an effective control method for this disease is urgently required. Filamentous phages, which do not lyse host bacteria and exert minimal burden, offer a potential biocontrol solution. A filamentous phage RSCq that infects R. solanacearum was isolated in this study through genome mining. We constructed engineered filamentous phages based on RSCq by employing our proposed approach with wide applicability to non-model phages, enabling the exogenous genes delivery into bacterial cells. CRISPR-AsCas12f1 is a miniature class 2 type V-F CRISPR-Cas system. A CRISPR-AsCas12f1-based gene editing system that targets the key virulence regulator gene hrpB was developed, generating the engineered phage RSCqCRISPR-Cas. Similar to the Greek soldiers in the Trojan Horse, our findings demonstrated that the engineered phage-delivered CRISPR-Cas system could disarm the key "weapon," hrpB, of R. solanacearum, in medium and plants. Remarkably, pretreatment with RSCqCRISPR-Cas significantly controlled tobacco bacterial wilt, highlighting the potential of engineered filamentous phages as promising biocontrol agents against plant bacterial diseases.IMPORTANCEBacterial disease, one of the major plant diseases, causes huge food and economic losses. Phage therapy, an environmentally friendly control strategy, has been frequently reported in plant bacterial disease control. However, host specificity, sensitivity to ultraviolet light and certain conditions, and bacterial resistance to phage impede the widespread application of phage therapy in crop production. Filamentous phages, which do not lyse host bacteria and exert minimal burden, offer a potential solution to overcome the limitations of lytic phage biocontrol. This study developed a genetic engineering approach with wide applicability to non-model filamentous phages and proved the application possibility of engineered phage-based gene delivery in plant bacterial disease biocontrol for the first.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiwen Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-product Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Yanan Xu
- Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Hao Qu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-product Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Fushang Nong
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-product Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Fangling Shu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-product Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Gaoqing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-product Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Lifang Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dehong Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agro-environment and Agro-product Safety, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
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11
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Dieppa-Colón E, Martin C, Anantharaman K. Prophage-DB: A comprehensive database to explore diversity, distribution, and ecology of prophages. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.11.603044. [PMID: 39071402 PMCID: PMC11275716 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.11.603044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Background Viruses that infect prokaryotes (phages) constitute the most abundant group of biological agents, playing pivotal roles in microbial systems. They are known to impact microbial community dynamics, microbial ecology, and evolution. Efforts to document the diversity, host range, infection dynamics, and effects of bacteriophage infection on host cell metabolism are extremely underexplored. Phages are classified as virulent or temperate based on their life cycles. Temperate phages adopt the lysogenic mode of infection, where the genome integrates into the host cell genome forming a prophage. Prophages enable viral genome replication without host cell lysis, and often contribute novel and beneficial traits to the host genome. Current phage research predominantly focuses on lytic phages, leaving a significant gap in knowledge regarding prophages, including their biology, diversity, and ecological roles. Results Here we develop and describe Prophage-DB, a database of prophages, their proteins, and associated metadata that will serve as a resource for viral genomics and microbial ecology. To create the database, we identified and characterized prophages from genomes in three of the largest publicly available databases. We applied several state-of-the-art tools in our pipeline to annotate these viruses, cluster and taxonomically classify them, and detect their respective auxiliary metabolic genes. In total, we identify and characterize over 350,000 prophages and 35,000 auxiliary metabolic genes. Our prophage database is highly representative based on statistical results and contains prophages from a diverse set of archaeal and bacterial hosts which show a wide environmental distribution. Conclusion Prophages are particularly overlooked in viral ecology and merit increased attention due to their vital implications for microbiomes and their hosts. Here, we created Prophage-DB to advance our comprehension of prophages in microbiomes through a comprehensive characterization of prophages in publicly available genomes. We propose that Prophage-DB will serve as a valuable resource for advancing phage research, offering insights into viral taxonomy, host relationships, auxiliary metabolic genes, and environmental distribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etan Dieppa-Colón
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Cody Martin
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison
| | - Karthik Anantharaman
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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12
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Kozlova AP, Muntyan VS, Vladimirova ME, Saksaganskaia AS, Kabilov MR, Gorbunova MK, Gorshkov AN, Grudinin MP, Simarov BV, Roumiantseva ML. Soil Giant Phage: Genome and Biological Characteristics of Sinorhizobium Jumbo Phage. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7388. [PMID: 39000497 PMCID: PMC11242549 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper presents the first in-depth research on the biological and genomic properties of lytic rhizobiophage AP-J-162 isolated from the soils of the mountainous region of Dagestan (North Caucasus), which belongs to the centers of origin of cultivated plants, according to Vavilov N.I. The rhizobiophage host strains are nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the genus Sinorhizobium spp., symbionts of leguminous forage grasses. The phage particles have a myovirus virion structure. The genome of rhizobiophage AP-J-162 is double-stranded DNA of 471.5 kb in length; 711 ORFs are annotated and 41 types of tRNAs are detected. The closest phylogenetic relative of phage AP-J-162 is Agrobacterium phage Atu-ph07, but no rhizobiophages are known. The replicative machinery, capsid, and baseplate proteins of phage AP-J-162 are structurally similar to those of Escherichia phage T4, but there is no similarity between their tail protein subunits. Amino acid sequence analysis shows that 339 of the ORFs encode hypothetical or functionally relevant products, while the remaining 304 ORFs are unique. Additionally, 153 ORFs are similar to those of Atu_ph07, with one-third of the ORFs encoding different enzymes. The biological properties and genomic characteristics of phage AP-J-162 distinguish it as a unique model for exploring phage-microbe interactions with nitrogen-fixing symbiotic microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra P Kozlova
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Victoria S Muntyan
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maria E Vladimirova
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alla S Saksaganskaia
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marsel R Kabilov
- SB RAS Genomics Core Facility, Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Maria K Gorbunova
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey N Gorshkov
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail P Grudinin
- Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Boris V Simarov
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina L Roumiantseva
- Laboratory of Genetics and Selection of Microorganisms, Federal State Budget Scientific Institution All-Russia Research Institute for Agricultural Microbiology (FSBSI ARRIAM), 196608 Saint Petersburg, Russia
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13
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Liu Y, Huang Q, Zhuang Z, Yang H, Gou X, Xu T, Liu K, Wang J, Liu B, Gao P, Cao F, Yang B, Zhang C, Chen M, Fan G. Gut virome alterations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0428723. [PMID: 38785444 PMCID: PMC11218493 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04287-23] [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: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the primary causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The gut microbiome, particularly the bacteriome, has been demonstrated to contribute to the progression of COPD. However, the influence of gut virome on the pathogenesis of COPD is rarely studied. Recent advances in viral metagenomics have enabled the rapid discovery of its remarkable role in COPD. In this study, deep metagenomics sequencing of fecal virus-like particles and bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing was performed on 92 subjects from China to characterize alterations of the gut virome in COPD. Lower richness and diversity of the gut virome were observed in the COPD subjects compared with the healthy individuals. Sixty-four viral species, including Clostridium phage, Myoviridae sp., and Synechococcus phage, showed positive relationships with pulmonary ventilation functions and had markedly declined population in COPD subjects. Multiple viral functions, mainly involved in bacterial susceptibility and the interaction between bacteriophages and bacterial hosts, were significantly declined in COPD. In addition, COPD was characterized by weakened viral-bacterial interactions compared with those in the healthy cohort. The gut virome showed diagnostic performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 88.7%, which indicates the potential diagnostic value of the gut virome for COPD. These results suggest that gut virome may play an important role in the development of COPD. The information can provide a reference for the future investigation of diagnosis, treatment, and in-depth mechanism research of COPD. IMPORTANCE Previous studies showed that the bacteriome plays an important role in the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, little is known about the involvement of the gut virome in COPD. Our study explored the disease-specific virome signatures of patients with COPD. We found the diversity and compositions altered of the gut virome in COPD subjects compared with healthy individuals, especially those viral species positively correlated with pulmonary ventilation functions. Additionally, the declined bacterial susceptibility, the interaction between bacteriophages and bacterial hosts, and the weakened viral-bacterial interactions in COPD were observed. The findings also suggested the potential diagnostic value of the gut virome for COPD. The results highlight the significance of gut virome in COPD. The novel strategies for gut virome rectifications may help to restore the balance of gut microecology and represent promising therapeutics for COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Ethnic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingsong Huang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhenhua Zhuang
- Chengdu Life Baseline Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Hongjing Yang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoling Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Ethnic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Tong Xu
- Chengdu Life Baseline Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Ke Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chengdu Fifth People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Peiyang Gao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Cao
- Chengdu Life Baseline Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Chengdu Life Baseline Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, China
| | - Chuantao Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Mei Chen
- School of Medical and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Gang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Ethnic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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14
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Zheng X, Wang X, Zhou Y, Liu M, Li P, Gao L, Wang H, Ma X, Wang L, Huo X, Zhang W. Isolation, whole genome sequencing and application of a broad-spectrum Salmonella phage. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:335. [PMID: 38953983 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04061-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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Salmonella is considered as one of the most common zoonotic /foodborne pathogens in the world. The application of bacteriophages as novel antibacterial agents in food substrates has become an emerging strategy. Bacteriophages have the potential to control Salmonella contamination.We have isolated and characterized a broad-spectrum Salmonella phage, SP154, which can lyse 9 serotypes, including S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, S. Pullorum, S. Arizonae, S. Dublin, S. Cholerasuis, S. Chester, S. 1, 4, [5], 12: i: -, and S. Derby, accounting for 81.9% of 144 isolates. SP154 showed a short latent period (40 min) and a high burst size (with the first rapid burst size at 107 PFUs/cell and the second rapid burst size at approximately 40 PFUs/cell). Furthermore, SP154 activity has higher survival rates across various environmental conditions, including pH 4.0-12.0 and temperatures ranging from 4 to 50 °C for 60 min, making it suitable for diverse food processing and storage applications. Significant reductions in live Salmonella were observed in different foods matrices such as milk and chicken meat, with a decrease of up to 1.9 log10 CFU/mL in milk contamination and a 1 log10 CFU/mL reduction in chicken meat. Whole genome sequencing analysis revealed that SP154 belongs to the genus Ithacavirus, subfamily Humphriesvirinae, within the family Schitoviridae. Phylogenetic analysis based on the terminase large subunit supported this classification, although an alternate tree using the tail spike protein gene suggested affiliation with the genus Kuttervirus, underscoring the limitations of relying on a single gene for phylogenetic inference. Importantly, no virulence or antibiotic resistance genes were detected in SP154. Our research highlights the potential of using SP154 for biocontrol of Salmonella in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Zheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, 572024, China
- Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, 210095, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, China
| | - Xin Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, 572024, China
- Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, 572024, China
- Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Meihan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, 572024, China
- Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Pei Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, 572024, China
- Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Linyun Gao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, 572024, China
- Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Hui Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, 572024, China
- Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Xuelian Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, 830052, China
| | - Liqun Wang
- School of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Jiangsu Polytechnic College Agriculture and Forestry, Jurong, 212400, China
| | - Xiang Huo
- Jiangsu Provincial Medical Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology in Emerging Major Infectious Diseases, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Health Emergency, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
- The Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Sanya, 572024, China.
- Key Lab of Animal Bacteriology, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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15
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Zhu Y, Li R, Yan S, Chen X, Cen S, Xie S. Habitat- and lifestyle-dependent structural and functional characteristics of viruses in mangrove wetlands of different functional zonings. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:119070. [PMID: 38710431 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119070] [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: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Mangrove wetlands, as one of the natural ecosystems with the most ecological services, have garnered widespread attention about their microbial driven biogeochemical cycling. Urbanization have led to different spatial patterns of environmental conditions and microbial communities in mangroves. However, viruses, as the pivotal drivers of biogeochemical cycling in mangroves, remain inadequately explored in terms of how their ecological potential and complex interactions with host respond to functional zonings. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a comprehensive investigation on the structural and functional properties of temperate and lytic viruses in mangrove wetlands from different functional zonings by jointly using high-throughput sequencing, prokaryotic and viral metagenomics. Multiple environmental factors were found to significantly influence the taxonomic and functional composition, as well as lysogen-lysis decision-making of mangrove viruses. Furthermore, enriched auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) involved in methane, nitrogen and sulfur metabolism, and heavy metal resistance were unveiled in mangrove viruses, whose community composition was closely related to lifestyle and host. The virus-host pairs with different lifestyles were also discovered to react to environmental changes in different ways, which provided an empirical evidence for how virus and bacteria dynamics were specific to viral lifestyles in nature. This study expands our comprehension of the intricate interactions among virus, prokaryotic host and the environment in mangrove wetlands from multiple perspectives, including viral lifestyles, virus-host interactions, and habitat dependence. Importantly, it provides a new ecological perspective on how mangrove viruses are adapted to the stress posed by urbanization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Ruili Li
- School of Environment and Energy, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Guangdong Mangrove Engineering Technology Research Center, Peking University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Shuang Yan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xiuli Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Shipeng Cen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Shuguang Xie
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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16
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Le S, Wei L, Wang J, Tian F, Yang Q, Zhao J, Zhong Z, Liu J, He X, Zhong Q, Lu S, Liang H. Bacteriophage protein Dap1 regulates evasion of antiphage immunity and Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence impacting phage therapy in mice. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:1828-1841. [PMID: 38886583 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01719-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages have evolved diverse strategies to overcome host defence mechanisms and to redirect host metabolism to ensure successful propagation. Here we identify a phage protein named Dap1 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa phage PaoP5 that both modulates bacterial host behaviour and contributes to phage fitness. We show that expression of Dap1 in P. aeruginosa reduces bacterial motility and promotes biofilm formation through interference with DipA, a c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase, which causes an increase in c-di-GMP levels that trigger phenotypic changes. Results also show that deletion of dap1 in PaoP5 significantly reduces genome packaging. In this case, Dap1 directly binds to phage HNH endonuclease, prohibiting host Lon-mediated HNH degradation and promoting phage genome packaging. Moreover, PaoP5Δdap1 fails to rescue P. aeruginosa-infected mice, implying the significance of dap1 in phage therapy. Overall, these results highlight remarkable dual functionality in a phage protein, enabling the modulation of host behaviours and ensuring phage fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Le
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Chongqing, China
| | - Leilei Wei
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- College of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Chongqing, China
| | - Fang Tian
- College of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qian Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingru Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhuojun Zhong
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiazhen Liu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuesong He
- The ADA Forsyth Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Qiu Zhong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuguang Lu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Microbial Engineering Under the Educational Committee in Chongqing, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Chongqing, China
| | - Haihua Liang
- College of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
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17
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Raman SK, Siva Reddy DV, Jain V, Bajpai U, Misra A, Singh AK. Mycobacteriophages: therapeutic approach for mycobacterial infections. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:104049. [PMID: 38830505 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.104049] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health threat, and cases of infection with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) causing lung disease (NTM-LD) are rising. Bacteriophages and their gene products have garnered interest as potential therapeutic options for bacterial infections. Here, we have compiled information on bacteriophages and their products that can kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis or NTM. We summarize the mechanisms whereby viable phages can access macrophage-resident bacteria and not elicit immune responses, review methodologies of pharmaceutical product development containing mycobacteriophages and their gene products, mainly lysins, in the context of drug regulatory requirements and we discuss industrially relevant methods for producing pharmaceutical products comprising mycobacteriophages, emphasizing delivery of mycobacteriophages to the lungs. We conclude with an outline of some recent case studies on mycobacteriophage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar Raman
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - D V Siva Reddy
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Vikas Jain
- Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal 462066, India
| | - Urmi Bajpai
- Department of Biomedical Science, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Govindpuri, Kalkaji , New Delhi 110019, India
| | - Amit Misra
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Amit Kumar Singh
- Experimental Animal Facility, ICMR-National JALMA Institute for Leprosy & Other Mycobacterial Diseases, M. Miyazaki Marg, Tajganj, Agra 282004, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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18
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Wang C, Wang S, Jing S, Zeng Y, Yang L, Mu Y, Ding Z, Song Y, Sun Y, Zhang G, Wei D, Li M, Ma Y, Zhou H, Wu L, Feng J. Data-Driven Engineering of Phages with Tunable Capsule Tropism for Klebsiella pneumoniae. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2309972. [PMID: 38937990 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae, a major clinical pathogen known for causing severe infections, is attracting heightened attention due to its escalating antibiotic resistance. Phages are emerging as a promising alternative to antibiotics; however, their specificity to particular hosts often restricts their use. In this study, a collection of 114 phages is obtained and subjected to analysis against 238 clinical K. pneumoniae strains, revealing a spectrum of lytic behaviors. A correlation between putative tail protein clusters and lysis patterns leads to the discovery of six receptor-binding protein (RBP) clusters that determine host capsule tropism. Significantly, RBPs with cross-capsular lysis capabilities are identified. The newly-identified RBPs provide a toolbox for customizing phages to target diverse capsular types. Building on the toolbox, the engineered phages with altered RBPs successfully shifted and broadened their host capsule tropism, setting the stage for tunable phage that offer a precise and flexible solution to combat K. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Shiwei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, the College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Shisong Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yuan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Lili Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, China
| | - Yongqi Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zixuan Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, 250117, China
| | - Yuqin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yanmei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Resources Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology of Shaanxi Province, the College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Gang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Dawei Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Ming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yingfei Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Haijian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Linhuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Jie Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
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Parra B, Lutz VT, Brøndsted L, Carmona JL, Palomo A, Nesme J, Van Hung Le V, Smets BF, Dechesne A. Characterization and Abundance of Plasmid-Dependent Alphatectivirus Bacteriophages. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2024; 87:85. [PMID: 38935220 PMCID: PMC11211187 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-024-02401-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health threat, exacerbated by the ability of bacteria to rapidly disseminate antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG). Since conjugative plasmids of the incompatibility group P (IncP) are ubiquitous mobile genetic elements that often carry ARG and are broad-host-range, they are important targets to prevent the dissemination of AMR. Plasmid-dependent phages infect plasmid-carrying bacteria by recognizing components of the conjugative secretion system as receptors. We sought to isolate plasmid-dependent phages from wastewater using an avirulent strain of Salmonella enterica carrying the conjugative IncP plasmid pKJK5. Irrespective of the site, we only obtained bacteriophages belonging to the genus Alphatectivirus. Eleven isolates were sequenced, their genomes analyzed, and their host range established using S. enterica, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas putida carrying diverse conjugative plasmids. We confirmed that Alphatectivirus are abundant in domestic and hospital wastewater using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. However, these results are not consistent with their low or undetectable occurrence in metagenomes. Therefore, overall, our results emphasize the importance of performing phage isolation to uncover diversity, especially considering the potential of plasmid-dependent phages to reduce the spread of ARG carried by conjugative plasmids, and to help combat the AMR crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Parra
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Laboratorio de Investigación de Agentes Antibacterianos (LIAA), Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Agronomía, Universidad de las Américas, Concepción, Chile
| | - Veronika T Lutz
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lone Brøndsted
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Javiera L Carmona
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alejandro Palomo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Joseph Nesme
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vuong Van Hung Le
- Section of Microbiology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Barth F Smets
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Arnaud Dechesne
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofs Plads, Building 221, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, Denmark.
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20
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Ruan C, Ramoneda J, Kan A, Rudge TJ, Wang G, Johnson DR. Phage predation accelerates the spread of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5397. [PMID: 38926498 PMCID: PMC11208555 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49840-7] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Phage predation is generally assumed to reduce microbial proliferation while not contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance. However, this assumption does not consider the effect of phage predation on the spatial organization of different microbial populations. Here, we show that phage predation can increase the spread of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance during surface-associated microbial growth by reshaping spatial organization. Using two strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli, we demonstrate that phage predation slows the spatial segregation of the strains during growth. This increases the number of cell-cell contacts and the extent of conjugation-mediated plasmid transfer between them. The underlying mechanism is that phage predation shifts the location of fastest growth from the biomass periphery to the interior where cells are densely packed and aligned closer to parallel with each other. This creates straighter interfaces between the strains that are less likely to merge together during growth, consequently slowing the spatial segregation of the strains and enhancing plasmid transfer between them. Our results have implications for the design and application of phage therapy and reveal a mechanism for how microbial functions that are deleterious to human and environmental health can proliferate in the absence of positive selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chujin Ruan
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland
| | - Josep Ramoneda
- Spanish Research Council (CSIC), Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB), Blanes, Spain
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Anton Kan
- Department of Materials, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Timothy J Rudge
- Interdisciplinary Computing and Complex Biosystems (ICOS) Research Group, School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Gang Wang
- College of Land Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
- National Black Soil & Agriculture Research, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
| | - David R Johnson
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag), Dübendorf, Switzerland.
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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21
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Wang H, Yang Y, Xu Y, Chen Y, Zhang W, Liu T, Chen G, Wang K. Phage-based delivery systems: engineering, applications, and challenges in nanomedicines. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:365. [PMID: 38918839 PMCID: PMC11197292 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02576-4] [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: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages (phages) represent a unique category of viruses with a remarkable ability to selectively infect host bacteria, characterized by their assembly from proteins and nucleic acids. Leveraging their exceptional biological properties and modifiable characteristics, phages emerge as innovative, safe, and efficient delivery vectors. The potential drawbacks associated with conventional nanocarriers in the realms of drug and gene delivery include a lack of cell-specific targeting, cytotoxicity, and diminished in vivo transfection efficiency. In contrast, engineered phages, when employed as cargo delivery vectors, hold the promise to surmount these limitations and attain enhanced delivery efficacy. This review comprehensively outlines current strategies for the engineering of phages, delineates the principal types of phages utilized as nanocarriers in drug and gene delivery, and explores the application of phage-based delivery systems in disease therapy. Additionally, an incisive analysis is provided, critically examining the challenges confronted by phage-based delivery systems within the domain of nanotechnology. The primary objective of this article is to furnish a theoretical reference that contributes to the reasoned design and development of potent phage-based delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
- Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Medical Group), Qingdao, 266024, China
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266024, China
| | - Ying Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yan Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yi Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Wenjie Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Tianqing Liu
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, 2145, Australia.
| | - Gang Chen
- Qingdao Central Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Central Medical Group), Qingdao, 266024, China.
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences and Engineering, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266024, China.
| | - Kaikai Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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22
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Zhu S, Tan Z, Guo Z, Zheng H, Zhang B, Qin Z, Xie J, Lin Y, Sheng B, Qiu G, Preis S, Wei C. Symbiotic virus-bacteria interactions in biological treatment of coking wastewater manipulating bacterial physiological activities. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 257:121741. [PMID: 38744061 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121741] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Biological treatment is commonly used in coking wastewater (CWW) treatment. Prokaryotic microbial communities in CWW treatment have been comprehensively studied. However, viruses, as the critical microorganisms affecting microbial processes and thus engineering parameters, still remain poorly understood in CWW treatment context. Employing viromics sequencing, the composition and function of the viral community in CWW treatment were discovered, revealing novel viral communities and key auxiliary metabolic functions. Caudovirales appeared to be the predominant viral order in the oxic-hydrolytic-oxic (OHO) CWW treatment combination, showing relative abundances of 62.47 %, 56.64 % and 92.20 % in bioreactors O1, H and O2, respectively. At the family level, Myoviridae, Podoviridae and Siphoviridae mainly prevailed in bioreactors O1 and H while Phycodnaviridae dominated in O2. A total of 56.23-92.24% of novel viral contigs defied family-level characterization in this distinct CWW habitat. The virus-host prediction results revealed most viruses infecting the specific functional taxa Pseudomonas, Acidovorax and Thauera in the entire OHO combination, demonstrating the viruses affecting bacterial physiology and pollutants removal from CWW. Viral auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were screened, revealing their involvement in the metabolism of contaminants and toxicity tolerance. In the bioreactor O1, AMGs were enriched in detoxification and phosphorus ingestion, where glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) and beta-ketoadipyl CoA thiolase (fadA) participated in biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols, respectively. In the bioreactors H and O2, the AMGs focused on cell division and epicyte formation of the hosts, where GDPmannose 4,6-dehydratase (gmd) related to lipopolysaccharides biosynthesis was considered to play an important role in the growth of nitrifiers. The diversities of viruses and AMGs decreased along the CWW treatment process, pointing to a reinforced virus-host adaptive strategy in stressful operation environments. In this study, the symbiotic virus-bacteria interaction patterns were proposed with a theoretical basis for promoting CWW biological treatment efficiency. The findings filled the gaps in the virus-bacteria interactions at the full-scale CWW treatment and provided great value for understanding the mechanism of biological toxicity and sludge activity in industrial wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhu
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Zhijie Tan
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Ziyu Guo
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Huijian Zheng
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Baoshan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Zhi Qin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Junting Xie
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yuexia Lin
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Binbin Sheng
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Guanglei Qiu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Sergei Preis
- Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn 19086, Estonia
| | - Chaohai Wei
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
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23
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Li Y, Fan L, Xu X, Sun Y, Wang W, Li B, Veroneau SS, Ji P. Hierarchical organic microspheres from diverse molecular building blocks. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5041. [PMID: 38871694 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49379-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Microspherical structures find broad application in chemistry and materials science, including in separations and purifications, energy storage and conversion, organic and biocatalysis, and as artificial and bioactive scaffolds. Despite this utility, the systematic diversification of their morphology and function remains hindered by the limited range of their molecular building blocks. Drawing upon the design principles of reticular synthesis, where diverse organic molecules generate varied porous frameworks, we show herein how analogous microspherical structures can be generated under mild conditions. The assembly of simple organic molecules into microspherical structures with advanced morphologies represents a grand challenge. Beginning with a partially condensed Schiff base which self-assembles into a hierarchical organic microsphere, we systematically synthesized sixteen microspheres from diverse molecular building blocks. We subsequently explicate the mechanism of hierarchical assembly through which these hierarchical organic microspheres are produced, isolating the initial monomer, intermediate substructures, and eventual microspheres. Furthermore, the open cavities present on the surfaces of these constructs provided distinctive adsorptive properties, which we harnessed for the immobilization of enzymes and bacteriophages. Holistically, these hierarchical organic microspheres provide an approach for designing multi-functional superstructures with advanced morphologies derived from simple organic molecules, revealing an extended length scale for reticular synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yintao Li
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Longlong Fan
- Institute of High Energy Physics, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xinyan Xu
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Bin Li
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Samuel S Veroneau
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Pengfei Ji
- Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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24
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Ortiz de Ora L, Wiles ET, Zünd M, Bañuelos MS, Haro-Ramirez N, Suder DS, Ujagar N, Angulo JA, Trinh C, Knitter C, Gonen S, Nicholas DA, Wiles TJ. Phollow: Visualizing Gut Bacteriophage Transmission within Microbial Communities and Living Animals. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.12.598711. [PMID: 38915633 PMCID: PMC11195241 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.12.598711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial viruses (known as "phages") shape the ecology and evolution of microbial communities, making them promising targets for microbiome engineering. However, knowledge of phage biology is constrained because it remains difficult to study phage transmission dynamics within multi-member communities and living animal hosts. We therefore created "Phollow": a live imaging-based approach for tracking phage replication and spread in situ with single-virion resolution. Combining Phollow with optically transparent zebrafish enabled us to directly visualize phage outbreaks within the vertebrate gut. We observed that virions can be rapidly taken up by intestinal tissues, including by enteroendocrine cells, and quickly disseminate to extraintestinal sites, including the liver and brain. Moreover, antibiotics trigger waves of interbacterial transmission leading to sudden shifts in spatial organization and composition of defined gut communities. Phollow ultimately empowers multiscale investigations connecting phage transmission to transkingdom interactions that have the potential to open new avenues for viral-based microbiome therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizett Ortiz de Ora
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth T Wiles
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Mirjam Zünd
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Maria S Bañuelos
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Nancy Haro-Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Diana S Suder
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Naveena Ujagar
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Julio Ayala Angulo
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Calvin Trinh
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Courtney Knitter
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Shane Gonen
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Dequina A Nicholas
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Center for Epigenetics and Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Travis J Wiles
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine, California, USA
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25
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Xu Q, Tang L, Liu W, Xu N, Hu Y, Zhang Y, Chen S. Phage protein Gp11 blocks Staphylococcus aureus cell division by inhibiting peptidoglycan biosynthesis. mBio 2024; 15:e0067924. [PMID: 38752726 PMCID: PMC11237401 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00679-24] [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: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Phages and bacteria have a long history of co-evolution. However, these dynamics of phage-host interactions are still largely unknown; identification of phage inhibitors that remodel host metabolism will provide valuable information for target development for antimicrobials. Here, we perform a comprehensive screen for early-gene products of ΦNM1 that inhibit cell growth in Staphylococcus aureus. A small membrane protein, Gp11, with inhibitory effects on S. aureus cell division was identified. A bacterial two-hybrid library containing 345 essential S. aureus genes was constructed to screen for targets of Gp11, and Gp11 was found to interact with MurG and DivIC. Defects in cell growth and division caused by Gp11 were dependent on MurG and DivIC, which was further confirmed using CRISPRi hypersensitivity assay. Gp11 interacts with MurG, the protein essential for cell wall formation, by inhibiting the production of lipid II to regulate peptidoglycan (PG) biosynthesis on the cell membrane. Gp11 also interacts with cell division protein DivIC, an essential part of the division machinery necessary for septal cell wall assembly, to disrupt the recruitment of division protein FtsW. Mutations in Gp11 result in loss of its ability to cause growth defects, whereas infection with phage in which the gp11 gene has been deleted showed a significant increase in lipid II production in S. aureus. Together, our findings reveal that a phage early-gene product interacts with essential host proteins to disrupt PG biosynthesis and block S. aureus cell division, suggesting a potential pathway for the development of therapeutic approaches to treat pathogenic bacterial infections. IMPORTANCE Understanding the interplay between phages and their hosts is important for the development of novel therapies against pathogenic bacteria. Although phages have been used to control methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, our knowledge related to the processes in the early stages of phage infection is still limited. Owing to the fact that most of the phage early proteins have been classified as hypothetical proteins with uncertain functions, we screened phage early-gene products that inhibit cell growth in S. aureus, and one protein, Gp11, selectively targets essential host genes to block the synthesis of the peptidoglycan component lipid II, ultimately leading to cell growth arrest in S. aureus. Our study provides a novel insight into the strategy by which Gp11 blocks essential host cellular metabolism to influence phage-host interaction. Importantly, dissecting the interactions between phages and host cells will contribute to the development of new and effective therapies to treat bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weilin Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Neng Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangbo Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Shiyun Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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26
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Hu J, Chen J, Nie Y, Zhou C, Hou Q, Yan X. Characterizing the gut phageome and phage-borne antimicrobial resistance genes in pigs. MICROBIOME 2024; 12:102. [PMID: 38840247 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01818-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian intestine harbors a mass of phages that play important roles in maintaining gut microbial ecosystem and host health. Pig has become a common model for biomedical research and provides a large amount of meat for human consumption. However, the knowledge of gut phages in pigs is still limited. RESULTS Here, we investigated the gut phageome in 112 pigs from seven pig breeds using PhaBOX strategy based on the metagenomic data. A total of 174,897 non-redundant gut phage genomes were assembled from 112 metagenomes. A total of 33,487 gut phage genomes were classified and these phages mainly belonged to phage families such as Ackermannviridae, Straboviridae, Peduoviridae, Zierdtviridae, Drexlerviridae, and Herelleviridae. The gut phages in seven pig breeds exhibited distinct communities and the gut phage communities changed with the age of pig. These gut phages were predicted to infect a broad range of 212 genera of prokaryotes, such as Candidatus Hamiltonella, Mycoplasma, Colwellia, and Lactobacillus. The data indicated that broad KEGG and CAZy functions were also enriched in gut phages of pigs. The gut phages also carried the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and the most abundant antimicrobial resistance genotype was diaminopyrimidine resistance. CONCLUSIONS Our research delineates a landscape for gut phages in seven pig breeds and reveals that gut phages serve as a key reservoir of ARGs in pigs. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pig Precision Feeding and Feed Safety Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Jianwei Chen
- BGI Research, Qingdao, Shandong, 266555, China
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, 2100, Denmark
| | - Yangfan Nie
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350002, China
| | | | - Qiliang Hou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pig Precision Feeding and Feed Safety Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Xianghua Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China.
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China.
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pig Precision Feeding and Feed Safety Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China.
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Erdrich SH, Schurr U, Frunzke J, Arsova B. Seed coating with phages for sustainable plant biocontrol of plant pathogens and influence of the seed coat mucilage. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14507. [PMID: 38884488 PMCID: PMC11181459 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathogens resistant to classical control strategies pose a significant threat to crop yield, with seeds being a major transmission route. Bacteriophages, viruses targeting bacteria, offer an environmentally sustainable biocontrol solution. In this study, we isolated and characterized two novel phages, Athelas and Alfirin, which infect Pseudomonas syringae and Agrobacterium fabrum, respectively, and included the recently published Pfeifenkraut phage infecting Xanthomonas translucens. Using a simple immersion method, phages coated onto seeds successfully lysed bacteria post air-drying. The seed coat mucilage (SCM), a polysaccharide-polymer matrix exuded by seeds, plays a critical role in phage binding. Seeds with removed mucilage formed five to 10 times less lysis zones compared to those with mucilage. The podovirus Athelas showed the highest mucilage dependency. Phages from the Autographiviridae family also depended on mucilage for seed adhesion. Comparative analysis of Arabidopsis SCM mutants suggested the diffusible cellulose as a key component for phage binding. Long-term activity tests demonstrated high phage stability on seed surfaces and significantly increasing seedling survival rates in the presence of pathogens. Using non-virulent host strains enhanced phage presence on seeds but also has potential limitations. These findings highlight phage-based interventions as promising, sustainable strategies for combating pathogen resistance and improving crop yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian H. Erdrich
- Forschungszentrum JülichDepartment for Plant Sciences (IBG‐2), Institute of Bio‐ and GeosciencesJülichGermany
- Forschungszentrum JülichDepartment for Biotechnology (IBG‐1), Institute of Bio‐ and GeosciencesJülichGermany
| | - Ulrich Schurr
- Forschungszentrum JülichDepartment for Plant Sciences (IBG‐2), Institute of Bio‐ and GeosciencesJülichGermany
| | - Julia Frunzke
- Forschungszentrum JülichDepartment for Biotechnology (IBG‐1), Institute of Bio‐ and GeosciencesJülichGermany
| | - Borjana Arsova
- Forschungszentrum JülichDepartment for Plant Sciences (IBG‐2), Institute of Bio‐ and GeosciencesJülichGermany
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28
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Brauer A, Rosendahl S, Kängsep A, Lewańczyk AC, Rikberg R, Hõrak R, Tamman H. Isolation and characterization of a phage collection against Pseudomonas putida. Environ Microbiol 2024; 26:e16671. [PMID: 38863081 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The environmental bacterium, Pseudomonas putida, possesses a broad spectrum of metabolic pathways. This makes it highly promising for use in biotechnological production as a cell factory, as well as in bioremediation strategies to degrade various aromatic pollutants. For P. putida to flourish in its environment, it must withstand the continuous threats posed by bacteriophages. Interestingly, until now, only a handful of phages have been isolated for the commonly used laboratory strain, P. putida KT2440, and no phage defence mechanisms have been characterized. In this study, we present a new Collection of Environmental P. putida Phages from Estonia, or CEPEST. This collection comprises 67 double-stranded DNA phages, which belong to 22 phage species and 9 phage genera. Our findings reveal that most phages in the CEPEST collection are more infectious at lower temperatures, have a narrow host range, and require an intact lipopolysaccharide for P. putida infection. Furthermore, we show that cryptic prophages present in the P. putida chromosome provide strong protection against the infection of many phages. However, the chromosomal toxin-antitoxin systems do not play a role in the phage defence of P. putida. This research provides valuable insights into the interactions between P. putida and bacteriophages, which could have significant implications for biotechnological and environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Age Brauer
- Department of Bioinformatics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sirli Rosendahl
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anu Kängsep
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Alicja Cecylia Lewańczyk
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Roger Rikberg
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Rita Hõrak
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Hedvig Tamman
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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29
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Dantas CWD, Martins DT, Nogueira WG, Alegria OVC, Ramos RTJ. Tools and methodology to in silico phage discovery in freshwater environments. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1390726. [PMID: 38881659 PMCID: PMC11176557 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1390726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Freshwater availability is essential, and its maintenance has become an enormous challenge. Due to population growth and climate changes, freshwater sources are becoming scarce, imposing the need for strategies for its reuse. Currently, the constant discharge of waste into water bodies from human activities leads to the dissemination of pathogenic bacteria, negatively impacting water quality from the source to the infrastructure required for treatment, such as the accumulation of biofilms. Current water treatment methods cannot keep pace with bacterial evolution, which increasingly exhibits a profile of multidrug resistance to antibiotics. Furthermore, using more powerful disinfectants may affect the balance of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, there is a need to explore sustainable ways to control the spreading of pathogenic bacteria. Bacteriophages can infect bacteria and archaea, hijacking their host machinery to favor their replication. They are widely abundant globally and provide a biological alternative to bacterial treatment with antibiotics. In contrast to common disinfectants and antibiotics, bacteriophages are highly specific, minimizing adverse effects on aquatic microbial communities and offering a lower cost-benefit ratio in production compared to antibiotics. However, due to the difficulty involving cultivating and identifying environmental bacteriophages, alternative approaches using NGS metagenomics in combination with some bioinformatic tools can help identify new bacteriophages that can be useful as an alternative treatment against resistant bacteria. In this review, we discuss advances in exploring the virome of freshwater, as well as current applications of bacteriophages in freshwater treatment, along with current challenges and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Willian Dias Dantas
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Laboratory of Simulation and Computational Biology - SIMBIC, High Performance Computing Center - CCAD, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomics of Microorganisms, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - David Tavares Martins
- Laboratory of Simulation and Computational Biology - SIMBIC, High Performance Computing Center - CCAD, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomics of Microorganisms, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Wylerson Guimarães Nogueira
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Oscar Victor Cardenas Alegria
- Laboratory of Simulation and Computational Biology - SIMBIC, High Performance Computing Center - CCAD, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomics of Microorganisms, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Rommel Thiago Jucá Ramos
- Laboratory of Simulation and Computational Biology - SIMBIC, High Performance Computing Center - CCAD, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Genomics of Microorganisms, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
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Bloch S, Wegrzyn A. Editorial: Bacteriophage and host interactions. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1422076. [PMID: 38881653 PMCID: PMC11177086 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1422076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Bloch
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Alicja Wegrzyn
- University Center for Applied and Interdisciplinary Research, University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
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31
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Shymialevich D, Błażejak S, Średnicka P, Cieślak H, Ostrowska A, Sokołowska B, Wójcicki M. Biological Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Three Novel Serratia- and Enterobacter-Specific Virulent Phages. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5944. [PMID: 38892136 PMCID: PMC11172527 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115944] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to the high microbiological contamination of raw food materials and the increase in the incidence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, new methods of ensuring microbiological food safety are being sought. One solution may be to use bacteriophages (so-called phages) as natural bacterial enemies. Therefore, the aim of this study was the biological and genomic characterization of three newly isolated Serratia- and Enterobacter-specific virulent bacteriophages as potential candidates for food biocontrol. Serratia phage KKP_3708 (vB_Sli-IAFB_3708), Serratia phage KKP_3709 (vB_Sma-IAFB_3709), and Enterobacter phage KKP_3711 (vB_Ecl-IAFB_3711) were isolated from municipal sewage against Serratia liquefaciens strain KKP 3654, Serratia marcescens strain KKP 3687, and Enterobacter cloacae strain KKP 3684, respectively. The effect of phage addition at different multiplicity of infection (MOI) rates on the growth kinetics of the bacterial hosts was determined using a Bioscreen C Pro growth analyzer. The phages retained high activity in a wide temperature range (from -20 °C to 60 °C) and active acidity values (pH from 3 to 12). Based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging and whole-genome sequencing (WGS), the isolated bacteriophages belong to the tailed bacteriophages from the Caudoviricetes class. Genomic analysis revealed that the phages have linear double-stranded DNA of size 40,461 bp (Serratia phage KKP_3708), 67,890 bp (Serratia phage KKP_3709), and 113,711 bp (Enterobacter phage KKP_3711). No virulence, toxins, or antibiotic resistance genes were detected in the phage genomes. The lack of lysogenic markers indicates that all three bacteriophages may be potential candidates for food biocontrol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dziyana Shymialevich
- Culture Collection of Industrial Microorganisms—Microbiological Resources Center, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Wacław Dąbrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Str., 02-532 Warsaw, Poland; (D.S.); (H.C.)
| | - Stanisław Błażejak
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Microbiology, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS–SGGW), Nowoursynowska 166 Str., 02-776 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Paulina Średnicka
- Department of Microbiology, Prof. Wacław Dąbrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Str., 02-532 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Hanna Cieślak
- Culture Collection of Industrial Microorganisms—Microbiological Resources Center, Department of Microbiology, Prof. Wacław Dąbrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Str., 02-532 Warsaw, Poland; (D.S.); (H.C.)
| | - Agnieszka Ostrowska
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (WULS–SGGW), Ciszewskiego 8 Str., 02-786 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Barbara Sokołowska
- Department of Microbiology, Prof. Wacław Dąbrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Str., 02-532 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Michał Wójcicki
- Department of Microbiology, Prof. Wacław Dąbrowski Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology—State Research Institute, Rakowiecka 36 Str., 02-532 Warsaw, Poland;
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32
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Chen Q, Zhang F, Bai J, Che Q, Xiang L, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Sjöling Å, Martín-Rodríguez AJ, Zhu B, Fu L, Zhou Y. Bacteriophage-resistant carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae shows reduced antibiotic resistance and virulence. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 64:107221. [PMID: 38810938 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Phage therapy has shown great promise in the treatment of bacterial infections. However, the effectiveness of phage therapy is compromised by the inevitable emergence of phage-resistant strains. In this study, a phage-resistant carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain SWKP1711R, derived from parental carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae strain SWKP1711 was identified. The mechanism of bacteriophage resistance in SWKP1711R was investigated and the molecular determinants causing altered growth characteristics, antibiotic resistance, and virulence of SWKP1711R were tested. Compared to SWKP1711, SWKP1711R showed slower growth, smaller colonies, filamentous cells visible under the microscope, reduced production of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and lipopolysaccharide, and reduced resistance to various antibiotics accompanied by reduced virulence. Adsorption experiments showed that phage vB_kpnM_17-11 lost the ability to adsorb onto SWKP1711R, and the adsorption receptor was identified to be bacterial surface polysaccharides. Genetic variation analysis revealed that, compared to the parental strain, SWKP1711R had only one thymine deletion at position 78 of the open reading frame of the lpcA gene, resulting in a frameshift mutation that caused alteration of the bacterial surface polysaccharide and inhibition of phage adsorption, ultimately leading to phage resistance. Transcriptome analysis and quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR revealed that genes encoding lipopolysaccharide synthesis, ompK35, blaTEM-1, and type II and Hha-TomB toxin-antitoxin systems, were all downregulated in SWKP1711R. Taken together, the evidence presented here indicates that the phenotypic alterations and phage resistance displayed by the mutant may be related to the frameshift mutation of lpcA and altered gene expression. While evolution of phage resistance remains an issue, our study suggests that the reduced antibiotic resistance and virulence of phage-resistant strain derivatives might be beneficial in alleviating the burden caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Chen
- Department of Pathogeic Biology, School of Basic Medical, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Feiyang Zhang
- Department of Pathogeic Biology, School of Basic Medical, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Jiawei Bai
- Department of Pathogeic Biology, School of Basic Medical, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Qian Che
- Sichuan Center For Disease Control And Prevention, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Li Xiang
- Department of Pathogeic Biology, School of Basic Medical, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Zhikun Zhang
- Department of Pathogeic Biology, School of Basic Medical, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pathogeic Biology, School of Basic Medical, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Åsa Sjöling
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Alberto J Martín-Rodríguez
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 17165, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Baoli Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Fu
- The Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
| | - Yingshun Zhou
- Department of Pathogeic Biology, School of Basic Medical, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China; Public Center of Experimental Technology of Pathogen Biology Technology Platform, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
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33
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Kang Y, Wang J, Wang Y, Li Z. Profiles of phage in global hospital wastewater: Association with microbial hosts, antibiotic resistance genes, metal resistance genes, and mobile genetic elements. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171766. [PMID: 38513871 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171766] [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: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Hospital wastewater (HWW) is known to host taxonomically diverse microbial communities, yet limited information is available on the phages infecting these microorganisms. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted an in-depth analysis using 377 publicly available HWW metagenomic datasets from 16 countries across 4 continents in the NCBI SRA database to elucidate phage-host dynamics and phage contributions to resistance gene transmission. We first assembled a metagenomic HWW phage catalog comprising 13,812 phage operational taxonomic units (pOTUs). The majority of these pOTUs belonged to the Caudoviricetes order, representing 75.29 % of this catalog. Based on the lifestyle of phages, we found that potentially virulent phages predominated in HWW. Specifically, 583 pOTUs have been predicted to have the capability to lyse 81 potentially pathogenic bacteria, suggesting the promising role of HWW phages as a viable alternative to antibiotics. Among all pOTUs, 1.56 % of pOTUs carry 108 subtypes of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), 0.96 % of pOTUs carry 76 subtypes of metal resistance genes (MRGs), and 0.96 % of pOTUs carry 22 subtypes of non-phage mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Predictions indicate that certain phages carrying ARGs, MRGs, and non-phage MGEs could infect bacteria hosts, even potential pathogens. This suggests that phages in HWW may contribute to the dissemination of resistance-associated genes in the environment. This meta-analysis provides the first global catalog of HWW phages, revealing their correlations with microbial hosts and pahge-associated ARGs, MRG, and non-phage MGEs. The insights gained from this research hold promise for advancing the applications of phages in medical and industrial contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Kang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102200, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Farmland Soil Pollution Prevention and Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- North China University of Science and Technology, Basic Medical College, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, P.R. China
| | - Zhenjun Li
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102200, China.
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Li X, Chen T, Ren Q, Lu J, Cao S, Liu C, Li Y. Phages in sludge from the A/O wastewater treatment process play an important role in the transmission of ARGs. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:172111. [PMID: 38565354 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172111] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Phages can influence the horizontal gene transfer (HGT) of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) through transduction, but their profiles and effects on the transmission of ARGs are unclear, especially in complex swine sludge. In this study, we investigated the characterization of phage and ARG profiles in sludge generated from anoxic/oxic (A/O) wastewater treatment processes on swine farms using metagenomes and viromes. The results demonstrated that 205-221 subtypes of ARGs could be identified in swine sludge, among which sul1, tet(M), and floR were the dominant ARGs, indicating that sludge is an important reservoir of ARGs, especially in sludge (S) tanks. The greater abundance of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the S tank could significantly contribute to the greater abundance of ARGs there compared to the anoxic (A) and oxic (O) tanks (P < 0.05). However, when we compared the abundances of ARGs and MGEs in the A and O tanks, we observed opposite significant differences (P < 0.05), suggesting that MGEs are not the only factor influencing the abundance of ARGs. The high proportion of lysogenic phages in sludge from the S tank can also have a major impact on the ARG profile. Siphoviridae, Myoviridae, and Podoviridae were the dominant phage families in sludge, and a network diagram of bacteria-ARG-phages revealed that dominant phages and bacteria acted simultaneously as potential hosts for ARGs, which may have led to phage-mediated HGT of ARGs. Therefore, the risk of phage-mediated HGT of ARGs cannot be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Li
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Tao Chen
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Qinghai Ren
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Jianbiao Lu
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Shengliang Cao
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China
| | - Yubao Li
- Phage Research Center, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong 252000, China.
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35
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Gonçalves-Oliveira J, Pattenden T, Nachum-Biala Y, de Sousa KCM, Wahl L, Harrus S. Exploring the diversity and evolutionary strategies of prophages in Hyphomicrobiales, comparing animal-associated with non-animal-associated bacteria. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:159. [PMID: 38724926 PMCID: PMC11080155 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03315-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The Hyphomicrobiales bacterial order (previously Rhizobiales) exhibits a wide range of lifestyle characteristics, including free-living, plant-association, nitrogen-fixing, and association with animals (Bartonella and Brucella). This study explores the diversity and evolutionary strategies of bacteriophages within the Hyphomicrobiales order, comparing animal-associated (AAB) with non-animal-associated bacteria (NAAB). We curated 560 high-quality complete genomes of 58 genera from this order and used the PHASTER server for prophage annotation and classification. For 19 genera with representative genomes, we curated 96 genomes and used the Defense-Finder server to summarize the type of anti-phage systems (APS) found in this order. We analyzed the genetic repertoire and length distributions of prophages, estimating evolutionary rates and comparing intact, questionable, and incomplete prophages in both groups. Analyses of best-fit parameters and bootstrap sensitivity were used to understand the evolutionary processes driving prophage gene content. A total of 1860 prophages distributed in Hyphomicrobiales were found, 695 in AAB and 1165 in the NAAB genera. The results revealed a similar number of prophages per genome in AAB and NAAB and a similar length distribution, suggesting shared mechanisms of genetic acquisition of prophage genes. Changes in the frequency of specific gene classes were observed between incomplete and intact prophages, indicating preferential loss or enrichment in both groups. The analysis of best-fit parameters and bootstrap sensitivity tests indicated a higher selection coefficient, induction rate, and turnover in NAAB genomes. We found 68 types of APS in Hyphomicrobiales; restriction modification (RM) and abortive infection (Abi) were the most frequent APS found for all Hyphomicrobiales, and within the AAB group. This classification of APS showed that NAAB genomes have a greater diversity of defense systems compared to AAB, which could be related to the higher rates of prophage induction and turnover in the latter group. Our study provides insights into the distributions of both prophages and APS in Hyphomicrobiales genomes, demonstrating that NAAB carry more defense systems against phages, while AAB show increased prophage stability and an increased number of incomplete prophages. These results suggest a greater role for domesticated prophages within animal-associated bacteria in Hyphomicrobiales.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tyler Pattenden
- School of Management, Economics and Mathematics, King's University College, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Yaarit Nachum-Biala
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Lindi Wahl
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Shimon Harrus
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
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36
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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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Wang Y, Zhang Z, Kang J, Chen B, Hong W, Lv B, Wang T, Qian H. Phages in different habitats and their ability to carry antibiotic resistance genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:133941. [PMID: 38447371 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133941] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
As the most abundant organisms on Earth, phages play a key role in the evolution of bacterial antibiotic resistance. Although previous studies have demonstrated the molecular mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer mediated by mobile genetic elements, our understanding of the intertwined relationships between antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and phages is limited. In this study, we analysed 2781 metagenomic samples to reveal the composition and species interactions of phage communities in different habitats as well as their capacity to carry ARGs with health risks. The composition of phage communities varies in different habitats and mainly depends on environmental conditions. Terrestrial habitats display more complex and robust interactions between phages than aquatic and human-associated habitats, resulting in the highest biodiversity of phages. Several types of phages in certain taxa (4.95-7.67%, mainly belonging to Caudoviricetes) have the capacity to carry specific ARGs and display a high potential risk to human health, especially in human-associated habitats. Overall, our results provide insights into the assembly mechanisms of phage communities and their effects on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
| | - Zhenyan Zhang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
| | - Jian Kang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China; College of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, PR China
| | - Bingfeng Chen
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
| | - Wenjie Hong
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310012, PR China
| | - Binghai Lv
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
| | - Tingzhang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology and Bioinformatics of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310012, PR China.
| | - Haifeng Qian
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China.
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Zheng L, Shen J, Chen R, Hu Y, Zhao W, Leung ELH, Dai L. Genome engineering of the human gut microbiome. J Genet Genomics 2024; 51:479-491. [PMID: 38218395 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.01.002] [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: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
The human gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem, significantly influences host health, impacting crucial aspects such as metabolism and immunity. To enhance our comprehension and control of the molecular mechanisms orchestrating the intricate interplay between gut commensal bacteria and human health, the exploration of genome engineering for gut microbes is a promising frontier. Nevertheless, the complexities and diversities inherent in the gut microbiome pose substantial challenges to the development of effective genome engineering tools for human gut microbes. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of the current progress and challenges in genome engineering of human gut commensal bacteria, whether executed in vitro or in situ. A specific focus is directed towards the advancements and prospects in cargo DNA delivery and high-throughput techniques. Additionally, we elucidate the immense potential of genome engineering methods to enhance our understanding of the human gut microbiome and engineer the microorganisms to enhance human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linggang Zheng
- Dr Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery/State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau 999078, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Juntao Shen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ruiyue Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yucan Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Elaine Lai-Han Leung
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Science, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China; MOE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China.
| | - Lei Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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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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Zhao M, Luo Z, Wang Y, Liao H, Yu Z, Zhou S. Phage lysate can regulate the humification process of composting. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 178:221-230. [PMID: 38412754 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.02.039] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Phages play a crucial role in orchestrating top-down control within microbial communities, influencing the dynamics of the composting process. Despite this, the impact of phage-induced thermophilic bacterial lysis on humification remains ambiguous. This study investigates the effects of phage lysate, derived explicitly from Geobacillus subterraneus, on simulated composting, employing ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA sequencing techniques. The results show the significant role of phage lysate in expediting humus formation over 40 days. Notably, the rapid transformation of protein-like precursors released from phage-induced lysis of the host bacterium resulted in a 14.8 % increase in the proportion of lignins/CRAM-like molecules. Furthermore, the phage lysate orchestrated a succession in bacterial communities, leading to the enrichment of core microbes, exemplified by the prevalence of Geobacillus. Through network analysis, it was revealed that these enriched microbes exhibit a capacity to convert protein and lignin into essential building blocks such as amino acids and phenols. Subsequently, these components were polymerized into humus, aligning with the phenol-protein theory. These findings enhance our understanding of the intricate microbial interactions during composting and provide a scientific foundation for developing engineering-ready composting humification regulation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihua Zhao
- School of Civil Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhibin Luo
- School of Civil Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Yueqiang Wang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - 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
| | - Zhen Yu
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
| | - Shungui Zhou
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
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Chen T, Mo C, Yuan Y, Li S, Wu Y, Liao X, Yang Y. Short-, long-read metagenome and virome reveal the profile of phage-mediated ARGs in anoxic-oxic processes for swine wastewater treatment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 468:133789. [PMID: 38394893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133789] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Phages are among the most widely spread viruses, but their profiles and the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) they carry in swine wastewater remain underexplored. The present study investigated the distribution characteristics of phages and their ARG risk in anoxic/oxic (A/O) wastewater treatment processes of swine farms using short- and long-read metagenome and virome. The results demonstrated that the virome could extract more phage sequences than the total metagenome; thus, it was more suited for studying phages in wastewater settings. Intriguingly, phages had significantly lower abundance of ARG than ARGs harbored by total microorganisms (P < 0.01). Eleven ARGs co-occurred with phages and bacteria (R > 0.6 and P < 0.05), with Siphoviridae being the phage co-occurring with the most ARGs (5). Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events were observed between Proteobacteria and the major phyla except for Bacteroidota. Furthermore, there were prophage sequences and ARGs on the same contig in bacterial MAGs. These data strongly demonstrate that phages promote horizontal transfer of ARG between bacterial hosts in A/O processes for swine wastewater treatment. Therefore, the risk of phage-mediated horizontal transfer of ARGs cannot be overlooked despite the low abundance of phage ARGs (pARG).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunhao Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yilin Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shengjie Li
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Yinbao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xindi Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yiwen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.
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Wang X, Tang Y, Yue X, Wang S, Yang K, Xu Y, Shen Q, Friman VP, Wei Z. The role of rhizosphere phages in soil health. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae052. [PMID: 38678007 PMCID: PMC11065364 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae052] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
While the One Health framework has emphasized the importance of soil microbiomes for plant and human health, one of the most diverse and abundant groups-bacterial viruses, i.e. phages-has been mostly neglected. This perspective reviews the significance of phages for plant health in rhizosphere and explores their ecological and evolutionary impacts on soil ecosystems. We first summarize our current understanding of the diversity and ecological roles of phages in soil microbiomes in terms of nutrient cycling, top-down density regulation, and pathogen suppression. We then consider how phages drive bacterial evolution in soils by promoting horizontal gene transfer, encoding auxiliary metabolic genes that increase host bacterial fitness, and selecting for phage-resistant mutants with altered ecology due to trade-offs with pathogen competitiveness and virulence. Finally, we consider challenges and avenues for phage research in soil ecosystems and how to elucidate the significance of phages for microbial ecology and evolution and soil ecosystem functioning in the future. We conclude that similar to bacteria, phages likely play important roles in connecting different One Health compartments, affecting microbiome diversity and functions in soils. From the applied perspective, phages could offer novel approaches to modulate and optimize microbial and microbe-plant interactions to enhance soil health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Wang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yike Tang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiufeng Yue
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Keming Yang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yangchun Xu
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Qirong Shen
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ville-Petri Friman
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Zhong Wei
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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Woudstra C, Sørensen AN, Sørensen MCH, Brøndsted L. Strategies for developing phages into novel antimicrobial tailocins. Trends Microbiol 2024:S0966-842X(24)00069-6. [PMID: 38580606 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Tailocins are high-molecular-weight bacteriocins produced by bacteria to kill related environmental competitors by binding and puncturing their target. Tailocins are promising alternative antimicrobials, yet the diversity of naturally occurring tailocins is limited. The structural similarities between phage tails and tailocins advocate using phages as scaffolds for developing new tailocins. This article reviews three strategies for producing tailocins: disrupting the capsid-tail junction of phage particles, blocking capsid assembly during phage propagation, and creating headless phage particles synthetically. Particularly appealing is the production of tailocins through synthetic biology using phages with contractile tails as scaffolds to unlock the antimicrobial potential of tailocins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cedric Woudstra
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Anders Nørgaard Sørensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Martine C Holst Sørensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Lone Brøndsted
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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Flores VS, Amgarten DE, Iha BKV, Ryon KA, Danko D, Tierney BT, Mason C, da Silva AM, Setubal JC. Discovery and description of novel phage genomes from urban microbiomes sampled by the MetaSUB consortium. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7913. [PMID: 38575625 PMCID: PMC10994904 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58226-0] [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: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are recognized as the most abundant members of microbiomes and have therefore a profound impact on microbial communities through the interactions with their bacterial hosts. The International Metagenomics and Metadesign of Subways and Urban Biomes Consortium (MetaSUB) has sampled mass-transit systems in 60 cities over 3 years using metagenomics, throwing light into these hitherto largely unexplored urban environments. MetaSUB focused primarily on the bacterial community. In this work, we explored MetaSUB metagenomic data in order to recover and analyze bacteriophage genomes. We recovered and analyzed 1714 phage genomes with size at least 40 kbp, from the class Caudoviricetes, the vast majority of which (80%) are novel. The recovered genomes were predicted to belong to temperate (69%) and lytic (31%) phages. Thirty-three of these genomes have more than 200 kbp, and one of them reaches 572 kbp, placing it among the largest phage genomes ever found. In general, the phages tended to be site-specific or nearly so, but 194 genomes could be identified in every city from which phage genomes were retrieved. We predicted hosts for 48% of the phages and observed general agreement between phage abundance and the respective bacterial host abundance, which include the most common nosocomial multidrug-resistant pathogens. A small fraction of the phage genomes are carriers of antibiotic resistance genes, and such genomes tended to be particularly abundant in the sites where they were found. We also detected CRISPR-Cas systems in five phage genomes. This study expands the previously reported MetaSUB results and is a contribution to the knowledge about phage diversity, global distribution, and phage genome content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius S Flores
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Deyvid E Amgarten
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Koshin Vázquez Iha
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil
| | | | | | - Braden T Tierney
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Aline Maria da Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - João Carlos Setubal
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-000, Brazil.
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Moghadam MT, Mojtahedi A, Salamy S, Shahbazi R, Satarzadeh N, Delavar M, Ashoobi MT. Phage therapy as a glimmer of hope in the fight against the recurrence or emergence of surgical site bacterial infections. Infection 2024; 52:385-402. [PMID: 38308075 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-024-02178-0] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Over the last decade, surgery rates have risen alarmingly, and surgical-site infections are expanding these concerns. In spite of advances in infection control practices, surgical infections continue to be a significant cause of death, prolonged hospitalization, and morbidity. As well as the presence of bacterial infections and their antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation is one of the challenges in the treatment of surgical wounds. METHODS This review article was based on published studies on inpatients and laboratory animals receiving phage therapy for surgical wounds, phage therapy for tissue and bone infections treated with surgery to prevent recurrence, antibiotic-resistant wound infections treated with phage therapy, and biofilm-involved surgical wounds treated with phage therapy which were searched without date restrictions. RESULTS It has been shown in this review article that phage therapy can be used to treat surgical-site infections in patients and animals, eliminate biofilms at the surgical site, prevent infection recurrence in wounds that have been operated on, and eradicate antibiotic-resistant infections in surgical wounds, including multi-drug resistance (MDR), extensively drug resistance (XDR), and pan-drug resistance (PDR). A cocktail of phages and antibiotics can also reduce surgical-site infections more effectively than phages alone. CONCLUSION In light of these encouraging results, clinical trials and research with phages will continue in the near future to treat surgical-site infections, biofilm removal, and antibiotic-resistant wounds, all of which could be used to prescribe phages as an alternative to antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Taati Moghadam
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Ali Mojtahedi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shakiba Salamy
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Razieh Shahbazi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Naghmeh Satarzadeh
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Majid Delavar
- Vice President of Health and Executive Vice President, Rey Health Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Alseth EO, Custodio R, Sundius SA, Kuske RA, Brown SP, Westra ER. The impact of phage and phage resistance on microbial community dynamics. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002346. [PMID: 38648198 PMCID: PMC11034675 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Where there are bacteria, there will be bacteriophages. These viruses are known to be important players in shaping the wider microbial community in which they are embedded, with potential implications for human health. On the other hand, bacteria possess a range of distinct immune mechanisms that provide protection against bacteriophages, including the mutation or complete loss of the phage receptor, and CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity. While our previous work showed how a microbial community may impact phage resistance evolution, little is known about the inverse, namely how interactions between phages and these different phage resistance mechanisms affect the wider microbial community in which they are embedded. Here, we conducted a 10-day, fully factorial evolution experiment to examine how phage impact the structure and dynamics of an artificial four-species bacterial community that includes either Pseudomonas aeruginosa wild-type or an isogenic mutant unable to evolve phage resistance through CRISPR-Cas. Additionally, we used mathematical modelling to explore the ecological interactions underlying full community behaviour, as well as to identify general principles governing the impacts of phage on community dynamics. Our results show that the microbial community structure is drastically altered by the addition of phage, with Acinetobacter baumannii becoming the dominant species and P. aeruginosa being driven nearly extinct, whereas P. aeruginosa outcompetes the other species in the absence of phage. Moreover, we find that a P. aeruginosa strain with the ability to evolve CRISPR-based resistance generally does better when in the presence of A. baumannii, but that this benefit is largely lost over time as phage is driven extinct. Finally, we show that pairwise data alone is insufficient when modelling our microbial community, both with and without phage, highlighting the importance of higher order interactions in governing multispecies dynamics in complex communities. Combined, our data clearly illustrate how phage targeting a dominant species allows for the competitive release of the strongest competitor while also contributing to community diversity maintenance and potentially preventing the reinvasion of the target species, and underline the importance of mapping community composition before therapeutically applying phage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellinor O. Alseth
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Rafael Custodio
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah A. Sundius
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Math, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Program in Quantitative Biosciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Rachel A. Kuske
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Math, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Sam P. Brown
- Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Edze R. Westra
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, United Kingdom
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Du S, Wu Y, Ying H, Wu Z, Yang M, Chen F, Shao J, Liu H, Zhang Z, Zhao Y. Genome sequences of the first Autographiviridae phages infecting marine Roseobacter. Microb Genom 2024; 10. [PMID: 38630615 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitous and abundant marine phages play critical roles in shaping the composition and function of bacterial communities, impacting biogeochemical cycling in marine ecosystems. Autographiviridae is among the most abundant and ubiquitous phage families in the ocean. However, studies on the diversity and ecology of Autographiviridae phages in marine environments are restricted to isolates that infect SAR11 bacteria and cyanobacteria. In this study, ten new roseophages that infect marine Roseobacter strains were isolated from coastal waters. These new roseophages have a genome size ranging from 38 917 to 42 634 bp and G+C content of 44.6-50 %. Comparative genomics showed that they are similar to known Autographiviridae phages regarding gene content and architecture, thus representing the first Autographiviridae roseophages. Phylogenomic analysis based on concatenated conserved genes showed that the ten roseophages form three distinct subgroups within the Autographiviridae, and sequence analysis revealed that they belong to eight new genera. Finally, viromic read-mapping showed that these new Autographiviridae phages are widely distributed in global oceans, mostly inhabiting polar and estuarine locations. This study has expanded the current understanding of the genomic diversity, evolution and ecology of Autographiviridae phages and roseophages. We suggest that Autographiviridae phages play important roles in the mortality and community structure of roseobacters, and have broad ecological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Du
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Ying Wu
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Hanqi Ying
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Zuqing Wu
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Mingyu Yang
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Feng Chen
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jiabing Shao
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - He Liu
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Zefeng Zhang
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
| | - Yanlin Zhao
- College of Juncao Science and Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Fujian Province, Institute of Oceanology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, PR China
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Kim B, Lee SY, Park J, Song S, Kim KP, Roh E. Bacteriophage Cocktail Comprising Fifi044 and Fifi318 for Biocontrol of Erwinia amylovora. THE PLANT PATHOLOGY JOURNAL 2024; 40:160-170. [PMID: 38606446 PMCID: PMC11016559 DOI: 10.5423/ppj.oa.01.2024.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Erwinia amylovora is a plant pathogen that causes fire blight on apples and pears. Bacteriophages, which are viruses that selectively infect specific species of bacteria and are harmless to animal cells, have been considered as biological control agents for the prevention of bacterial pathogens. In this study, we aimed to use bacteriophages that infect E. amylovora as biocontrol agents against fire blight. We isolated bacteriophages Fifi044 and Fifi318 infecting E. amylovora, and characterized their morphology, plaque form, and genetic diversity to use as cocktails for disease control. The stabilities of the two phages were investigated at various temperatures and pH values and under sunlight, and long-term storage experiment was conducted for a year. To evaluate whether the two phages were suitable for use in cocktail form, growth curves of E. amylovora were prepared after treating the bacterial cells with single phages and a phage cocktail. In addition, a disease control test was conducted using immature apples and in vitro cultured apple plantlets to determine the biocontrol effects of the phage cocktail. The two phages were morphologically and genetically different, and highly stable up to 50°C and pH value from 4 to 10. The phages showed synergistic effect when used as a cocktail in the inhibition of host bacterial growth and the disease control. This study demonstrated that the potential of the phage cocktail as a biocontrol agent for commercial use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeori Kim
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Seung Yeup Lee
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Jungkum Park
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
| | - Sujin Song
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Kwang-Pyo Kim
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
- Department of Agricultural Convergence Technology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Eunjung Roh
- Crop Protection Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Korea
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Beck C, Krusche J, Elsherbini AMA, Du X, Peschel A. Phage susceptibility determinants of the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102434. [PMID: 38364502 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common member of the human skin and nose microbiomes and a frequent cause of invasive infections. Transducing phages accomplish the horizontal transfer of resistance and virulence genes by mispackaging of mobile-genetic elements, contributing to severe, therapy-refractory S. epidermidis infections. Lytic phages on the other hand can be interesting candidates for new anti-S. epidermidis phage therapies. Despite the importance of phages, we are only beginning to unravel S. epidermidis phage interactions. Recent studies shed new light on S. epidermidis phage diversity, host range, and receptor specificities. Modulation of cell wall teichoic acids, the major phage receptor structures, along with other phage defense mechanisms, are crucial determinants for S. epidermidis susceptibility to different phage groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Beck
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Janes Krusche
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ahmed M A Elsherbini
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Xin Du
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Peschel
- Cluster of Excellence "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections (CMFI)", University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, Infection Biology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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50
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Zhang M, Zhou Y, Cui X, Zhu L. The Potential of Co-Evolution and Interactions of Gut Bacteria-Phages in Bamboo-Eating Pandas: Insights from Dietary Preference-Based Metagenomic Analysis. Microorganisms 2024; 12:713. [PMID: 38674657 PMCID: PMC11051890 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria and phages are two of the most abundant biological entities in the gut microbiome, and diet and host phylogeny are two of the most critical factors influencing the gut microbiome. A stable gut bacterial community plays a pivotal role in the host's physiological development and immune health. A phage is a virus that directly infects bacteria, and phages' close associations and interactions with bacteria are essential for maintaining the stability of the gut bacterial community and the entire microbial ecosystem. Here, we utilized 99 published metagenomic datasets from 38 mammalian species to investigate the relationship (diversity and composition) and potential interactions between gut bacterial and phage communities and the impact of diet and phylogeny on these communities. Our results highlight the co-evolutionary potential of bacterial-phage interactions within the mammalian gut. We observed a higher alpha diversity in gut bacteria than in phages and identified positive correlations between bacterial and phage compositions. Furthermore, our study revealed the significant influence of diet and phylogeny on mammalian gut bacterial and phage communities. We discovered that the impact of dietary factors on these communities was more pronounced than that of phylogenetic factors at the order level. In contrast, phylogenetic characteristics had a more substantial influence at the family level. The similar omnivorous dietary preference and closer phylogenetic relationship (family Ursidae) may contribute to the similarity of gut bacterial and phage communities between captive giant panda populations (GPCD and GPYA) and omnivorous animals (OC; including Sun bear, brown bear, and Asian black bear). This study employed co-occurrence microbial network analysis to reveal the potential interaction patterns between bacteria and phages. Compared to other mammalian groups (carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores), the gut bacterial and phage communities of bamboo-eating species (giant pandas and red pandas) exhibited a higher level of interaction. Additionally, keystone species and modular analysis showed the potential role of phages in driving and maintaining the interaction patterns between bacteria and phages in captive giant pandas. In sum, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between the gut microbiota and phages in mammals is of great significance, which is of great value in promoting healthy and sustainable mammals and may provide valuable insights into the conservation of wildlife populations, especially endangered animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lifeng Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210098, China; (M.Z.); (Y.Z.); (X.C.)
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