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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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2
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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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3
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Zhang J, Tang A, Jin T, Sun D, Guo F, Lei H, Lin L, Shu W, Yu P, Li X, Li B. A panoramic view of the virosphere in three wastewater treatment plants by integrating viral-like particle-concentrated and traditional non-concentrated metagenomic approaches. IMETA 2024; 3:e188. [PMID: 38898980 PMCID: PMC11183165 DOI: 10.1002/imt2.188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater biotreatment systems harbor a rich diversity of microorganisms, and the effectiveness of biotreatment systems largely depends on the activity of these microorganisms. Specifically, viruses play a crucial role in altering microbial behavior and metabolic processes throughout their infection phases, an aspect that has recently attracted considerable interest. Two metagenomic approaches, viral-like particle-concentrated (VPC, representing free viral-like particles) and non-concentrated (NC, representing the cellular fraction), were employed to assess their efficacy in revealing virome characteristics, including taxonomy, diversity, host interactions, lifestyle, dynamics, and functional genes across processing units of three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Our findings indicate that each approach offers unique insights into the viral community and functional composition. Their combined use proved effective in elucidating WWTP viromes. We identified nearly 50,000 viral contigs, with Cressdnaviricota and Uroviricota being the predominant phyla in the VPC and NC fractions, respectively. Notably, two pathogenic viral families, Asfarviridae and Adenoviridae, were commonly found in these WWTPs. We also observed significant differences in the viromes of WWTPs processing different types of wastewater. Additionally, various phage-derived auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were active at the RNA level, contributing to the metabolism of the microbial community, particularly in carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus cycling. Moreover, we identified 29 virus-carried antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) with potential for host transfer, highlighting the role of viruses in spreading ARGs in the environment. Overall, this study provides a detailed and integrated view of the virosphere in three WWTPs through the application of VPC and NC metagenomic approaches. Our findings enhance the understanding of viral communities, offering valuable insights for optimizing the operation and regulation of wastewater treatment systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Zhang
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate SchoolTsinghua UniversityShenzhenChina
- Research Center for Eco‐Environmental EngineeringDongguan University of TechnologyDongguanChina
| | - Aixi Tang
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate SchoolTsinghua UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Tao Jin
- Guangdong Magigene Biotechnology Co., Ltd.ShenzhenChina
| | - Deshou Sun
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate SchoolTsinghua UniversityShenzhenChina
- Shenzhen Tongchen Biotechnology Co., LimitedShenzhenChina
| | - Fangliang Guo
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate SchoolTsinghua UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Huaxin Lei
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate SchoolTsinghua UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Lin Lin
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate SchoolTsinghua UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Wensheng Shu
- Guangdong Magigene Biotechnology Co., Ltd.ShenzhenChina
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life SciencesSouth China Normal UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Pingfeng Yu
- College of Environmental and Resource SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate SchoolTsinghua UniversityShenzhenChina
| | - Bing Li
- Institute of Environment and Ecology, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate SchoolTsinghua UniversityShenzhenChina
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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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5
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Zhou K, Zhou H. Distribution patterns and functional diversity of DNA viruses determined by ecological niches in huge river ecosystems. Virology 2024; 593:110015. [PMID: 38359578 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110015] [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: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
While the vast number of DNA and RNA viruses participate in biogeochemical cycles in natural systems, little is known about virome in river ecosystems. Here, we analyzed the DNA viral composition and its metabolic potential in the Yangtze River, including freshwater (FW) and freshwater sediments (FWS). A total of 1237 river-derived virus contigs (RVCs) were obtained following de novo assembly from 62 metagenomics. We found that the viral diversity is significantly positively correlated longitudinally. Moreover, FW exhibited a greater viral variety and significantly different composition than FWS. The viral co-occurrence network suggested that positive correlations predominate between RVCs. Lastly, 1657 viral functions were predicted by gene ontology. Notably, 96 of 150 RVCs with higher weights identified by random-forest classier were more abundant in FW, which most engage organic cyclic compound metabolic processes and hydrolase activity. Together, this study highlights the previously unrecognized viruses and the importance of their distributions and functions in major river systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
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6
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Wu LY, Wijesekara Y, Piedade GJ, Pappas N, Brussaard CPD, Dutilh BE. Benchmarking bioinformatic virus identification tools using real-world metagenomic data across biomes. Genome Biol 2024; 25:97. [PMID: 38622738 PMCID: PMC11020464 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03236-4] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As most viruses remain uncultivated, metagenomics is currently the main method for virus discovery. Detecting viruses in metagenomic data is not trivial. In the past few years, many bioinformatic virus identification tools have been developed for this task, making it challenging to choose the right tools, parameters, and cutoffs. As all these tools measure different biological signals, and use different algorithms and training and reference databases, it is imperative to conduct an independent benchmarking to give users objective guidance. RESULTS We compare the performance of nine state-of-the-art virus identification tools in thirteen modes on eight paired viral and microbial datasets from three distinct biomes, including a new complex dataset from Antarctic coastal waters. The tools have highly variable true positive rates (0-97%) and false positive rates (0-30%). PPR-Meta best distinguishes viral from microbial contigs, followed by DeepVirFinder, VirSorter2, and VIBRANT. Different tools identify different subsets of the benchmarking data and all tools, except for Sourmash, find unique viral contigs. Performance of tools improved with adjusted parameter cutoffs, indicating that adjustment of parameter cutoffs before usage should be considered. CONCLUSIONS Together, our independent benchmarking facilitates selecting choices of bioinformatic virus identification tools and gives suggestions for parameter adjustments to viromics researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yi Wu
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Science4Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Yasas Wijesekara
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University Medicine Greifswald, Felix Hausdorff Str. 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Gonçalo J Piedade
- Department Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, PO Box 59, Texel, 1790 AB, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nikolaos Pappas
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Science4Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Corina P D Brussaard
- Department Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, PO Box 59, Texel, 1790 AB, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bas E Dutilh
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Science4Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands.
- Institute of Biodiversity, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany.
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7
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Zheng Y, Gao Z, Wu S, Ruan A. Community Structure, Drivers, and Potential Functions of Different Lifestyle Viruses in Chaohu Lake. Viruses 2024; 16:590. [PMID: 38675931 PMCID: PMC11053968 DOI: 10.3390/v16040590] [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: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Viruses, as the most prolific entities on Earth, constitute significant ecological groups within freshwater lakes, exerting pivotal ecological roles. In this study, we selected Chaohu Lake, a representative eutrophic freshwater lake in China, as our research site to explore the community distribution, driving mechanisms, and potential ecological functions of diverse viral communities, the intricate virus-host interaction systems, and the overarching influence of viruses on global biogeochemical cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zheng
- The National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China; (Y.Z.); (Z.G.); (S.W.)
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Zihao Gao
- The National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China; (Y.Z.); (Z.G.); (S.W.)
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Shuai Wu
- The National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China; (Y.Z.); (Z.G.); (S.W.)
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Aidong Ruan
- The National Key Laboratory of Water Disaster Prevention, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China; (Y.Z.); (Z.G.); (S.W.)
- College of Geography and Remote Sensing, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
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8
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Liang JL, Feng SW, Lu JL, Wang XN, Li FL, Guo YQ, Liu SY, Zhuang YY, Zhong SJ, Zheng J, Wen P, Yi X, Jia P, Liao B, Shu WS, Li JT. Hidden diversity and potential ecological function of phosphorus acquisition genes in widespread terrestrial bacteriophages. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2827. [PMID: 38565528 PMCID: PMC10987575 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47214-7] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) limitation of ecosystem processes is widespread in terrestrial habitats. While a few auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) in bacteriophages from aquatic habitats are reported to have the potential to enhance P-acquisition ability of their hosts, little is known about the diversity and potential ecological function of P-acquisition genes encoded by terrestrial bacteriophages. Here, we analyze 333 soil metagenomes from five terrestrial habitat types across China and identify 75 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) that encode 105 P-acquisition AMGs. These AMGs span 17 distinct functional genes involved in four primary processes of microbial P-acquisition. Among them, over 60% (11/17) have not been reported previously. We experimentally verify in-vitro enzymatic activities of two pyrophosphatases and one alkaline phosphatase encoded by P-acquisition vOTUs. Thirty-six percent of the 75 P-acquisition vOTUs are detectable in a published global topsoil metagenome dataset. Further analyses reveal that, under certain circumstances, the identified P-acquisition AMGs have a greater influence on soil P availability and are more dominant in soil metatranscriptomes than their corresponding bacterial genes. Overall, our results reinforce the necessity of incorporating viral contributions into biogeochemical P cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Liang Liang
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Shi-Wei Feng
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Jing-Li Lu
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Xiao-Nan Wang
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Feng-Lin Li
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Yu-Qian Guo
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Shen-Yan Liu
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Yuan-Yue Zhuang
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Sheng-Ji Zhong
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Jin Zheng
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Ping Wen
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Xinzhu Yi
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Pu Jia
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Bin Liao
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, PR China
| | - Wen-Sheng Shu
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China
| | - Jin-Tian Li
- Institute of Ecological Science, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Subtropical Biodiversity and Biomonitoring, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Plant Development, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, PR China.
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9
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Liu X, Liu Y, Liu J, Zhang H, Shan C, Guo Y, Gong X, Cui M, Li X, Tang M. Correlation between the gut microbiome and neurodegenerative diseases: a review of metagenomics evidence. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:833-845. [PMID: 37843219 PMCID: PMC10664138 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.382223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence suggests that the gut microbiota contributes to the development of neurodegenerative diseases via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. As a contributing factor, microbiota dysbiosis always occurs in pathological changes of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. High-throughput sequencing technology has helped to reveal that the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system is facilitated by the microbiota's diverse microorganisms, and for both neuroimmune and neuroendocrine systems. Here, we summarize the bioinformatics analysis and wet-biology validation for the gut metagenomics in neurodegenerative diseases, with an emphasis on multi-omics studies and the gut virome. The pathogen-associated signaling biomarkers for identifying brain disorders and potential therapeutic targets are also elucidated. Finally, we discuss the role of diet, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics and exercise interventions in remodeling the microbiome and reducing the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yi Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
- Institute of Animal Husbandry, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Junlin Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hantao Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chaofan Shan
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yinglu Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xun Gong
- Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Mengmeng Cui
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiubin Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, Shandong Province, China
| | - Min Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China
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10
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Tan Y, Su J, Luo D, Liang B, Liu S, Zeng H. Isolation and genome-wide analysis of the novel Acinetobacter baumannii bacteriophage vB_AbaM_AB3P2. Arch Virol 2024; 169:66. [PMID: 38451338 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-024-05986-9] [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: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
A lytic Acinetobacter baumannii phage, isolate vB_AbaM_AB3P2, was isolated from a sewage treatment plant in China. A. baumannii phage vB_AbaM_AB3P2 has a dsDNA genome that is 44,824 bp in length with a G + C content of 37.75%. Ninety-six open reading frames were identified, and no genes for antibiotic resistance or virulence factors were found. Genomic and phylogenetic analysis of this phage revealed that it represents a new species in the genus Obolenskvirus. Phage vB_AbaM_AB3P2 has a short latent period (10 min) and high stability at 30-70°C and pH 2-10 and is potentially useful for controlling multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Tan
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Waihuan West Road 100, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, China
| | - Jianhui Su
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Waihuan West Road 100, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, China
| | - Dandan Luo
- Yunnan Zhinong High-technology Company, Limited, Kunming, 650000, China
| | - Bingshao Liang
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shenshen Liu
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Waihuan West Road 100, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, China
| | - Haiyan Zeng
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Waihuan West Road 100, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510006, China.
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11
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Chen L, Banfield JF. COBRA improves the completeness and contiguity of viral genomes assembled from metagenomes. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:737-750. [PMID: 38321183 PMCID: PMC10914622 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01598-2] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Viruses are often studied using metagenome-assembled sequences, but genome incompleteness hampers comprehensive and accurate analyses. Contig Overlap Based Re-Assembly (COBRA) resolves assembly breakpoints based on the de Bruijn graph and joins contigs. Here we benchmarked COBRA using ocean and soil viral datasets. COBRA accurately joined the assembled sequences and achieved notably higher genome accuracy than binning tools. From 231 published freshwater metagenomes, we obtained 7,334 bacteriophage clusters, ~83% of which represent new phage species. Notably, ~70% of these were circular, compared with 34% before COBRA analyses. We expanded sampling of huge phages (≥200 kbp), the largest of which was curated to completion (717 kbp). Improved phage genomes from Rotsee Lake provided context for metatranscriptomic data and indicated the in situ activity of huge phages, whiB-encoding phages and cysC- and cysH-encoding phages. COBRA improves viral genome assembly contiguity and completeness, thus the accuracy and reliability of analyses of gene content, diversity and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- LinXing Chen
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Environmental Science Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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12
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Ghaly TM, Focardi A, Elbourne LDH, Sutcliffe B, Humphreys WF, Jaschke PR, Tetu SG, Paulsen IT. Exploring virus-host-environment interactions in a chemotrophic-based underground estuary. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:9. [PMID: 38291480 PMCID: PMC10829341 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00549-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Viruses play important roles in modulating microbial communities and influencing global biogeochemistry. There is now growing interest in characterising their ecological roles across diverse biomes. However, little is known about viral ecology in low-nutrient, chemotrophic-based environments. In such ecosystems, virus-driven manipulation of nutrient cycles might have profound impacts across trophic levels. In particular, anchialine environments, which are low-energy underground estuaries sustained by chemotrophic processes, represent ideal model systems to study novel virus-host-environment interactions. RESULTS Here, we employ metagenomic sequencing to investigate the viral community in Bundera Sinkhole, an anchialine ecosystem rich in endemic species supported by microbial chemosynthesis. We find that the viruses are highly novel, with less than 2% representing described viruses, and are hugely abundant, making up as much as 12% of microbial intracellular DNA. These highly abundant viruses largely infect important prokaryotic taxa that drive key metabolic processes in the sinkhole. Further, the abundance of viral auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) involved in nucleotide and protein synthesis was strongly correlated with declines in environmental phosphate and sulphate concentrations. These AMGs encoded key enzymes needed to produce sulphur-containing amino acids, and phosphorus metabolic enzymes involved in purine and pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. We hypothesise that this correlation is either due to selection of these AMGs under low phosphate and sulphate concentrations, highlighting the dynamic interactions between viruses, their hosts, and the environment; or, that these AMGs are driving increased viral nucleotide and protein synthesis via manipulation of host phosphorus and sulphur metabolism, consequently driving nutrient depletion in the surrounding water. CONCLUSION This study represents the first metagenomic investigation of viruses in anchialine ecosystems, and provides new hypotheses and insights into virus-host-environment interactions in such 'dark', low-energy environments. This is particularly important since anchialine ecosystems are characterised by diverse endemic species, both in their microbial and faunal assemblages, which are primarily supported by microbial chemosynthesis. Thus, virus-host-environment interactions could have profound effects cascading through all trophic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Ghaly
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Amaranta Focardi
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Liam D H Elbourne
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - William F Humphreys
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Paul R Jaschke
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sasha G Tetu
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Ian T Paulsen
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
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13
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Alipour F, Holmes C, Lu YY, Hill KA, Kari L. Leveraging machine learning for taxonomic classification of emerging astroviruses. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 10:1305506. [PMID: 38274100 PMCID: PMC10808839 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1305506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Astroviruses are a family of genetically diverse viruses associated with disease in humans and birds with significant health effects and economic burdens. Astrovirus taxonomic classification includes two genera, Avastrovirus and Mamastrovirus. However, with next-generation sequencing, broader interspecies transmission has been observed necessitating a reexamination of the current host-based taxonomic classification approach. In this study, a novel taxonomic classification method is presented for emergent and as yet unclassified astroviruses, based on whole genome sequence k-mer composition in addition to host information. An optional component responsible for identifying recombinant sequences was added to the method's pipeline, to counteract the impact of genetic recombination on viral classification. The proposed three-pronged classification method consists of a supervised machine learning method, an unsupervised machine learning method, and the consideration of host species. Using this three-pronged approach, we propose genus labels for 191 as yet unclassified astrovirus genomes. Genus labels are also suggested for an additional eight as yet unclassified astrovirus genomes for which incompatibility was observed with the host species, suggesting cross-species infection. Lastly, our machine learning-based approach augmented by a principal component analysis (PCA) analysis provides evidence supporting the hypothesis of the existence of human astrovirus (HAstV) subgenus of the genus Mamastrovirus, and a goose astrovirus (GoAstV) subgenus of the genus Avastrovirus. Overall, this multipronged machine learning approach provides a fast, reliable, and scalable prediction method of taxonomic labels, able to keep pace with emerging viruses and the exponential increase in the output of modern genome sequencing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Alipour
- School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Connor Holmes
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Yang Young Lu
- School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Kathleen A. Hill
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Lila Kari
- School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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14
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Xiong L, Li Y, Zeng K, Wei Y, Li H, Ji X. Revealing viral diversity in the Napahai plateau wetland based on metagenomics. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2023; 117:3. [PMID: 38153618 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-023-01912-2] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
We focused on exploring the diversity of viruses in the Napahai plateau wetland, a unique ecosystem located in Yunnan, China. While viruses in marine environments have been extensively studied for their influence on microbial metabolism and biogeochemical cycles, little is known about their composition and function in plateau wetlands. Metagenomic analysis was employed to investigate the viral diversity and biogeochemical impacts in the Napahai wetland. It revealed that the Caudoviricetes and Malgrandaviricetes class level was the most abundant viral category based on phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, a gene-sharing network highlighted the presence of numerous unexplored viruses and demonstrated their unique characteristics and significant variation within the viral community of the Napahai wetland. Furthermore, the study identified the auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs). AMGs provide phages with additional functions, such as protection against host degradation and involvement in metabolic pathways, such as the pentose phosphate pathway and DNA biosynthesis. The viruses in the Napahai wetland were found to influence carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and amino acid metabolism, indirectly contributing to biogeochemical cycling through these AMGs. Overall, the research sheds light on the diverse and unique viral communities in the Napahai plateau wetland and emphasizes the significant roles of viruses in microbial ecology. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the characteristics and ecological functions of viral communities in plateau wetland ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Xiong
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Yanmei Li
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Kun Zeng
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Yunlin Wei
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China.
| | - Xiuling Ji
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China.
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15
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Ding Y, Zhao L, Wang G, Shi Y, Guo G, Liu C, Chen Z, Coker OO, She J, Yu J. PacBio sequencing of human fecal samples uncovers the DNA methylation landscape of 22 673 gut phages. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:12140-12149. [PMID: 37904586 PMCID: PMC10711547 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad977] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut phages have an important impact on human health. Methylation plays key roles in DNA recognition, gene expression regulation and replication for phages. However, the DNA methylation landscape of gut phages is largely unknown. Here, with PacBio sequencing (2120×, 4785 Gb), we detected gut phage methylation landscape based on 22 673 gut phage genomes, and presented diverse methylation motifs and methylation differences in genomic elements. Moreover, the methylation rate of phages was associated with taxonomy and host, and N6-methyladenine methylation rate was higher in temperate phages than in virulent phages, suggesting an important role for methylation in phage-host interaction. In particular, 3543 (15.63%) phage genomes contained restriction-modification system, which could aid in evading clearance by the host. This study revealed the DNA methylation landscape of gut phage and its potential roles, which will advance the understanding of gut phage survival and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiang Ding
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Liuyang Zhao
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Guoping Wang
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yu Shi
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Gang Guo
- Center for Gut Microbiome Research, Department of Surgery, Med-X Institute, Department of High Talent, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Changan Liu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zigui Chen
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Olabisi Oluwabukola Coker
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Junjun She
- Center for Gut Microbiome Research, Department of Surgery, Med-X Institute, Department of High Talent, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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16
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Rahlff J, Esser SP, Plewka J, Heinrichs ME, Soares A, Scarchilli C, Grigioni P, Wex H, Giebel HA, Probst AJ. Marine viruses disperse bidirectionally along the natural water cycle. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6354. [PMID: 37816747 PMCID: PMC10564846 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42125-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine viruses in seawater have frequently been studied, yet their dispersal from neuston ecosystems at the air-sea interface towards the atmosphere remains a knowledge gap. Here, we show that 6.2% of the studied virus population were shared between air-sea interface ecosystems and rainwater. Virus enrichment in the 1-mm thin surface microlayer and sea foams happened selectively, and variant analysis proved virus transfer to aerosols collected at ~2 m height above sea level and rain. Viruses detected in rain and these aerosols showed a significantly higher percent G/C base content compared to marine viruses. CRISPR spacer matches of marine prokaryotes to foreign viruses from rainwater prove regular virus-host encounters at the air-sea interface. Our findings on aerosolization, adaptations, and dispersal support transmission of viruses along the natural water cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Rahlff
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany.
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, 39231, Kalmar, Sweden.
- Aero-Aquatic Virus Research Group, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany.
| | - Sarah P Esser
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Julia Plewka
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Mara Elena Heinrichs
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - André Soares
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Claudio Scarchilli
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Grigioni
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Heike Wex
- Atmospheric Microphysics, Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Helge-Ansgar Giebel
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Center for Marine Sensors (ZfMarS), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, 26382, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Alexander J Probst
- Group for Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Department of Chemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology (EMB), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Environmental Metagenomics, Research Center One Health Ruhr of the University Alliance Ruhr, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
- Centre of Water and Environmental Research (ZWU), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141, Essen, Germany
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17
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Guan J, Peng C, Shang J, Tang X, Sun Y. PhaGenus: genus-level classification of bacteriophages using a Transformer model. Brief Bioinform 2023; 24:bbad408. [PMID: 37965809 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad408] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Bacteriophages (phages for short), which prey on and replicate within bacterial cells, have a significant role in modulating microbial communities and hold potential applications in treating antibiotic resistance. The advancement of high-throughput sequencing technology contributes to the discovery of phages tremendously. However, the taxonomic classification of assembled phage contigs still faces several challenges, including high genetic diversity, lack of a stable taxonomy system and limited knowledge of phage annotations. Despite extensive efforts, existing tools have not yet achieved an optimal balance between prediction rate and accuracy. RESULTS In this work, we develop a learning-based model named PhaGenus, which conducts genus-level taxonomic classification for phage contigs. PhaGenus utilizes a powerful Transformer model to learn the association between protein clusters and support the classification of up to 508 genera. We tested PhaGenus on four datasets in different scenarios. The experimental results show that PhaGenus outperforms state-of-the-art methods in predicting low-similarity datasets, achieving an improvement of at least 13.7%. Additionally, PhaGenus is highly effective at identifying previously uncharacterized genera that are not represented in reference databases, with an improvement of 8.52%. The analysis of the infants' gut and GOV2.0 dataset demonstrates that PhaGenus can be used to classify more contigs with higher accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojiao Guan
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong (SAR), China
| | - Cheng Peng
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong (SAR), China
| | - Jiayu Shang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong (SAR), China
| | - Xubo Tang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong (SAR), China
| | - Yanni Sun
- Department of Electrical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong (SAR), China
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18
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Rahlff J, Wietz M, Giebel HA, Bayfield O, Nilsson E, Bergström K, Kieft K, Anantharaman K, Ribas-Ribas M, Schweitzer HD, Wurl O, Hoetzinger M, Antson A, Holmfeldt K. Ecogenomics and cultivation reveal distinctive viral-bacterial communities in the surface microlayer of a Baltic Sea slick. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:97. [PMID: 37723220 PMCID: PMC10507051 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00307-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Visible surface films, termed slicks, can extensively cover freshwater and marine ecosystems, with coastal regions being particularly susceptible to their presence. The sea-surface microlayer (SML), the upper 1-mm at the air-water interface in slicks (herein slick SML) harbors a distinctive bacterial community, but generally little is known about SML viruses. Using flow cytometry, metagenomics, and cultivation, we characterized viruses and bacteria in a brackish slick SML in comparison to non-slick SML as well as seawater below slick and non-slick areas (subsurface water = SSW). Size-fractionated filtration of all samples distinguished viral attachment to hosts and particles. The slick SML contained higher abundances of virus-like particles, prokaryotic cells, and dissolved organic carbon compared to non-slick SML and SSW. The community of 428 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs), 426 predicted as lytic, distinctly differed across all size fractions in the slick SML compared to non-slick SML and SSW. Specific metabolic profiles of bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes and isolates in the slick SML included a prevalence of genes encoding motility and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Several vOTUs were enriched in slick SML, and many virus variants were associated with particles. Nine vOTUs were only found in slick SML, six of them being targeted by slick SML-specific clustered-regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) spacers likely originating from Gammaproteobacteria. Moreover, isolation of three previously unknown lytic phages for Alishewanella sp. and Pseudoalteromonas tunicata, abundant and actively replicating slick SML bacteria, suggests that viral activity in slicks contributes to biogeochemical cycling in coastal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Rahlff
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
| | - Matthias Wietz
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany
| | - Helge-Ansgar Giebel
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Center for Marine Sensors (ZfMarS), Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Oliver Bayfield
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, UK
| | - Emelie Nilsson
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Kristofer Bergström
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Kristopher Kieft
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Mariana Ribas-Ribas
- Center of Marine Sensors (ZfMarS), Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | | | - Oliver Wurl
- Center of Marine Sensors (ZfMarS), Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
| | - Matthias Hoetzinger
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Alfred Antson
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, UK
| | - Karin Holmfeldt
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
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19
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Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Yan S, Chen X, Xie S. Viral community structure and functional potential vary with lifestyle and altitude in soils of Mt. Everest. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108055. [PMID: 37356309 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
More and more focus has been placed on the processes by which viruses interact with bacteria to influence the biogeochemical cycles. The intricacy of soil matrix and the incompleteness of databases, however, constrains the investigation on the mechanisms of soil viruses exerting ecological functions. The modification of ICTV classification system in 2021 was also a huge shock to the results of the existing studies on virome. We used viral metagenomes combined with soil properties to investigate the viral community composition and auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) profiles of various lifestyles in soils of Mount Everest at different altitudes. Viral lifestyles and soil nutrient levels were found to significantly influence the diversity and composition of viral communities. Temperate virus lifestyle dominated in high-altitude soils with lower level of nutrients because of its stronger survival adaptability, and the structural and functional diversity of viral communities was positively correlated with the contents of nutrients (total carbon and total nitrogen). The primary types of AMGs carried by temperate and virulent viruses differed, while a variety of genes involved in carbon metabolism highlighted the potential importance of viruses in the soil carbon cycle of Mount Everest. Moreover, the abundance of AMGs encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes had a significant and positive correlation with soil C/N ratio. Overall, these findings provide a context for further exploration on the regulatory mechanisms of viruses in carbon cycle via interactions with microorganisms.
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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
| | - Yi Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, 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
| | - 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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20
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Zhang M, Hao Y, Yi Y, Liu S, Sun Q, Tan X, Tang S, Xiao X, Jian H. Unexplored diversity and ecological functions of transposable phages. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023:10.1038/s41396-023-01414-z. [PMID: 37069234 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01414-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Phages are prevalent in diverse environments and play major ecological roles attributed to their tremendous diversity and abundance. Among these viruses, transposable phages (TBPs) are exceptional in terms of their unique lifestyle, especially their replicative transposition. Although several TBPs have been isolated and the life cycle of the representative phage Mu has been extensively studied, the diversity distribution and ecological functions of TBPs on the global scale remain unknown. Here, by mining TBPs from enormous microbial genomes and viromes, we established a TBP genome dataset (TBPGD), that expands the number of accessible TBP genomes 384-fold. TBPs are prevalent in diverse biomes and show great genetic diversity. Based on taxonomic evaluations, we propose the categorization of TBPs into four viral groups, including 11 candidate subfamilies. TBPs infect multiple bacterial phyla, and seem to infect a wider range of hosts than non-TBPs. Diverse auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) are identified in the TBP genomes, and genes related to glycoside hydrolases and pyrimidine deoxyribonucleotide biosynthesis are highly enriched. Finally, the influences of TBPs on their hosts are experimentally examined by using the marine bacterium Shewanella psychrophila WP2 and its infecting transposable phage SP2. Collectively, our findings greatly expand the genetic diversity of TBPs, and comprehensively reveal their potential influences in various ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mujie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Development Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yali Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Development Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Development Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shunzhang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Development Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingyang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Development Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoli Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Development Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Development Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Development Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, China
- Yazhou Bay Institute of Deepsea Sci-Tech, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya, China
| | - Huahua Jian
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Development Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
- Yazhou Bay Institute of Deepsea Sci-Tech, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sanya, China.
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21
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Liao H, Liu C, Ai C, Gao T, Yang QE, Yu Z, Gao S, Zhou S, Friman VP. Mesophilic and thermophilic viruses are associated with nutrient cycling during hyperthermophilic composting. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:916-930. [PMID: 37031344 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01404-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
While decomposition of organic matter by bacteria plays a major role in nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, the significance of viruses remains poorly understood. Here we combined metagenomics and metatranscriptomics with temporal sampling to study the significance of mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria and their viruses on nutrient cycling during industrial-scale hyperthermophilic composting (HTC). Our results show that virus-bacteria density dynamics and activity are tightly coupled, where viruses specific to mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria track their host densities, triggering microbial community succession via top-down control during HTC. Moreover, viruses specific to mesophilic bacteria encoded and expressed several auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) linked to carbon cycling, impacting nutrient turnover alongside bacteria. Nutrient turnover correlated positively with virus-host ratio, indicative of a positive relationship between ecosystem functioning, viral abundances, and viral activity. These effects were predominantly driven by DNA viruses as most detected RNA viruses were associated with eukaryotes and not associated with nutrient cycling during the thermophilic phase of composting. Our findings suggest that DNA viruses could drive nutrient cycling during HTC by recycling bacterial biomass through cell lysis and by expressing key AMGs. Viruses could hence potentially be used as indicators of microbial ecosystem functioning to optimize productivity of biotechnological and agricultural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanpeng Liao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Chaofan Ai
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Tian Gao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Qiu-E Yang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Zhen Yu
- Institute of Eco-Environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650, China
| | - Shaoming Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Shungui Zhou
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China.
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Ville-Petri Friman
- Department of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, YO10 5DD, York, UK.
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00014, Finland.
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22
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Tundra Soil Viruses Mediate Responses of Microbial Communities to Climate Warming. mBio 2023; 14:e0300922. [PMID: 36786571 PMCID: PMC10127799 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03009-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The rise of global temperature causes the degradation of the substantial reserves of carbon (C) stored in tundra soils, in which microbial processes play critical roles. Viruses are known to influence the soil C cycle by encoding auxiliary metabolic genes and infecting key microorganisms, but their regulation of microbial communities under climate warming remains unexplored. In this study, we evaluated the responses of viral communities for about 5 years of experimental warming at two depths (15 to 25 cm and 45 to 55 cm) in the Alaskan permafrost region. Our results showed that the viral community and functional gene composition and abundances (including viral functional genes related to replication, structure, infection, and lysis) were significantly influenced by environmental conditions such as total nitrogen (N), total C, and soil thawing duration. Although long-term warming did not impact the viral community composition at the two depths, some glycoside hydrolases encoded by viruses were more abundant at both depths of the warmed plots. With the continuous reduction of total C, viruses may alleviate methane release by altering infection strategies on methanogens. Importantly, viruses can adopt lysogenic and lytic lifestyles to manipulate microbial communities at different soil depths, respectively, which could be one of the major factors causing the differences in microbial responses to warming. This study provides a new ecological perspective on how viruses regulate the responses of microbes to warming at community and functional scales. IMPORTANCE Permafrost thawing causes microbial release of greenhouse gases, exacerbating climate warming. Some previous studies examined the responses of the microbial communities and functions to warming in permafrost region, but the roles of viruses in mediating the responses of microbial communities to warming are poorly understood. This study revealed that warming induced changes in some viral functional classes and in the virus/microbe ratios for specific lineages, which might influence the entire microbial community. Furthermore, differences in viral communities and functions, along with soil depths, are important factors influencing microbial responses to warming. Collectively, our study revealed the regulation of microbial communities by viruses and demonstrated the importance of viruses in the microbial ecology research.
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