1
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Ishida JK, Costa EC. What we know so far and what we can expect next: A molecular investigation of plant parasitism. Genet Mol Biol 2024; 47Suppl 1:e20240051. [PMID: 39348487 PMCID: PMC11441458 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2024-0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The review explores parasitic plants' evolutionary success and adaptability, highlighting their widespread occurrence and emphasizing the role of an invasive organ called haustorium in nutrient acquisition from hosts. It discusses the genetic and physiological adaptations that facilitate parasitism, including horizontal gene transfer, and the impact of environmental factors like climate change on these relationships. It addresses the need for further research into parasitic plants' genomes and interactions with their hosts to better predict environmental changes' impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Karine Ishida
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerias (UFMG), Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Botânica, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Elaine Cotrim Costa
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil
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2
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Coke MC, Bell CA, Urwin PE. The Use of Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model for Plant-Parasitic Nematodes: What Have We Learned? ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2024; 62:157-172. [PMID: 38848590 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-021622-113539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Nematoda is a diverse phylum that is estimated to contain more than a million species. More than 4,100 of these species have the ability to parasitize plants and cause agricultural losses estimated at US $173 billion annually. This has led to considerable research into their biology to minimize crop losses via control methods. At the infancy of plant-parasitic nematode molecular biology, researchers compared nematode genomes, genes, and biological processes to the model nematode species Caenorhabditis elegans, which is a free-living bacterial feeder. This well-annotated and researched model nematode assisted the molecular biology research, e.g., with genome assemblies, of plant-parasitic nematodes. However, as research into these plant parasites progressed, the necessity of relying on the free-living relative as a reference has reduced. This is partly driven by revealing the considerable divergence between the two types of nematodes both genomically and anatomically, forcing comparisons to be redundant as well as the increased quality of molecular plant nematology proposing more suitable model organisms for this clade of nematode. The major irregularity between the two types of nematodes is the unique anatomical structure and effector repertoire that plant nematodes utilize to establish parasitism, which C. elegans lacks, therefore reducing its value as a heterologous system to investigate parasitic processes. Despite this, C. elegans remains useful for investigating conserved genes via its utility as an expression system because of the current inability to transform plant-parasitic nematodes. Unfortunately, owing to the expertise that this requires, it is not a common and/or accessible tool. Furthermore, we believe that the application of C. elegans as an expression system for plant nematodes will be redundant once tools are established for stable reverse-genetics in these plant parasites. This will remove the restraints on molecular plant nematology and allow it to excel on par with the capabilities of C. elegans research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirela C Coke
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom;
| | | | - P E Urwin
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom;
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3
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Aguirre-Carvajal K, Munteanu CR, Armijos-Jaramillo V. Database Bias in the Detection of Interdomain Horizontal Gene Transfer Events in Pezizomycotina. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:469. [PMID: 39056664 PMCID: PMC11273514 DOI: 10.3390/biology13070469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a widely acknowledged phenomenon in prokaryotes for generating genetic diversity. However, the impact of this process in eukaryotes, particularly interdomain HGT, is a topic of debate. Although there have been observed biases in interdomain HGT detection, little exploration has been conducted on the effects of imbalanced databases. In our study, we conducted experiments to assess how different databases affect the detection of interdomain HGT using proteomes from the Pezizomycotina fungal subphylum as our focus group. Our objective was to simulate the database imbalance commonly found in public biological databases, where bacterial and eukaryotic sequences are unevenly represented, and demonstrate that an increase in uploaded eukaryotic sequences leads to a decrease in predicted HGTs. For our experiments, four databases with varying proportions of eukaryotic sequences but consistent proportions of bacterial sequences were utilized. We observed a significant reduction in detected interdomain HGT candidates as the proportion of eukaryotes increased within the database. Our data suggest that the imbalance in databases bias the interdomain HGT detection and highlights challenges associated with confirming the presence of interdomain HGT among Pezizomycotina fungi and potentially other groups within Eukarya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Aguirre-Carvajal
- Department of Computer Science and Information Technologies, Faculty of Computer Science, University of A Coruña, Campus Elviña s/n, 15071 Coruña, Spain; (K.A.-C.); (C.R.M.)
- Bio-Cheminformatics Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170513, Ecuador
| | - Cristian R. Munteanu
- Department of Computer Science and Information Technologies, Faculty of Computer Science, University of A Coruña, Campus Elviña s/n, 15071 Coruña, Spain; (K.A.-C.); (C.R.M.)
| | - Vinicio Armijos-Jaramillo
- Bio-Cheminformatics Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170513, Ecuador
- Carrera de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170513, Ecuador
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4
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Keeling PJ. Horizontal gene transfer in eukaryotes: aligning theory with data. Nat Rev Genet 2024; 25:416-430. [PMID: 38263430 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00688-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), or lateral gene transfer, is the non-sexual movement of genetic information between genomes. It has played a pronounced part in bacterial and archaeal evolution, but its role in eukaryotes is less clear. Behaviours unique to eukaryotic cells - phagocytosis and endosymbiosis - have been proposed to increase the frequency of HGT, but nuclear genomes encode fewer HGTs than bacteria and archaea. Here, I review the existing theory in the context of the growing body of data on HGT in eukaryotes, which suggests that any increased chance of acquiring new genes through phagocytosis and endosymbiosis is offset by a reduced need for these genes in eukaryotes, because selection in most eukaryotes operates on variation not readily generated by HGT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Keeling
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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5
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Puginier C, Libourel C, Otte J, Skaloud P, Haon M, Grisel S, Petersen M, Berrin JG, Delaux PM, Dal Grande F, Keller J. Phylogenomics reveals the evolutionary origins of lichenization in chlorophyte algae. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4452. [PMID: 38789482 PMCID: PMC11126685 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48787-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutualistic symbioses have contributed to major transitions in the evolution of life. Here, we investigate the evolutionary history and the molecular innovations at the origin of lichens, which are a symbiosis established between fungi and green algae or cyanobacteria. We de novo sequence the genomes or transcriptomes of 12 lichen algal symbiont (LAS) and closely related non-symbiotic algae (NSA) to improve the genomic coverage of Chlorophyte algae. We then perform ancestral state reconstruction and comparative phylogenomics. We identify at least three independent gains of the ability to engage in the lichen symbiosis, one in Trebouxiophyceae and two in Ulvophyceae, confirming the convergent evolution of the lichen symbioses. A carbohydrate-active enzyme from the glycoside hydrolase 8 (GH8) family was identified as a top candidate for the molecular-mechanism underlying lichen symbiosis in Trebouxiophyceae. This GH8 was acquired in lichenizing Trebouxiophyceae by horizontal gene transfer, concomitantly with the ability to associate with lichens fungal symbionts (LFS) and is able to degrade polysaccharides found in the cell wall of LFS. These findings indicate that a combination of gene family expansion and horizontal gene transfer provided the basis for lichenization to evolve in chlorophyte algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Puginier
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Cyril Libourel
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Juergen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Pavel Skaloud
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, CZ-12800, Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Mireille Haon
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques (BBF), 13009, Marseille, France
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Sacha Grisel
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques (BBF), 13009, Marseille, France
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Malte Petersen
- High Performance Computing & Analytics Lab, University of Bonn, Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jean-Guy Berrin
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques (BBF), 13009, Marseille, France
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre-Marc Delaux
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
| | - Jean Keller
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745, Jena, Germany.
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6
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Ko I, Kranse OP, Senatori B, Eves-van den Akker S. A Critical Appraisal of DNA Transfer from Plants to Parasitic Cyst Nematodes. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae030. [PMID: 38366574 PMCID: PMC10899095 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes are one of the most economically important pests of crops. It is widely accepted that horizontal gene transfer-the natural acquisition of foreign genes in parasitic nematodes-contributes to parasitism. However, an apparent paradox has emerged from horizontal gene transfer analyses: On the one hand, distantly related organisms with very dissimilar genetic structures (i.e. bacteria), and only transient interactions with nematodes as far as we know, dominate the list of putative donors, while on the other hand, considerably more closely related organisms (i.e. the host plant), with similar genetic structure (i.e. introns) and documented long-term associations with nematodes, are rare among the list of putative donors. Given that these nematodes ingest cytoplasm from a living plant cell for several weeks, there seems to be a conspicuous absence of plant-derived cases. Here, we used comparative genomic approaches to evaluate possible plant-derived horizontal gene transfer events in plant parasitic nematodes. Our evidence supports a cautionary message for plant-derived horizontal gene transfer cases in the sugar beet cyst nematode, Heterodera schachtii. We propose a 4-step model for horizontal gene transfer from plant to parasite in order to evaluate why the absence of plant-derived horizontal gene transfer cases is observed. We find that the plant genome is mobilized by the nematode during infection, but that uptake of the said "mobilome" is the first major barrier to horizontal gene transfer from host to nematode. These results provide new insight into our understanding of the prevalence/role of nucleic acid exchange in the arms race between plants and plant parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itsuhiro Ko
- Department of Plant Sciences, The Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
- Present address: Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99163, USA
| | - Olaf Prosper Kranse
- Department of Plant Sciences, The Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Beatrice Senatori
- Department of Plant Sciences, The Crop Science Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
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7
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Yuasa HJ. Metazoan tryptophan indole-lyase: Are they still active? Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2023; 263:110801. [PMID: 36228898 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2022.110801] [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: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Tryptophan indole-lyase (TIL), also known as tryptophanase, is a pyridoxal-5'-phosphate dependent bacterial enzyme that catalyzes the reversible hydrolytic cleavage of l-tryptophan (l-Trp) to indole and ammonium pyruvate. TIL is also found in some metazoans, and they may have been acquired by horizontal gene transfer. In this study, two metazoans, Nematostella vectensis (starlet sea anemone) and Bradysia coprophila (fungus gnat) TILs were bacterially expressed and characterized. The kcat values of metazoan TILs were low, < 1/200 of the kcat of Escherichia coli TIL. By contrast, metazoan TILs showed lower Km values than the TILs of common bacteria, indicating that their affinity for l-Trp is higher than that of bacterial TILs. Analysis of a series of chimeric enzymes based on B. coprophila and bacterial TILs revealed that the low Km value of B. coprophila TIL is not accidental due to the substitution of a single residue, but is due to the cooperative effect of multiple residues. This suggests that high affinity for l-Trp was positively selected during the molecular evolution of metazoan TIL. This is the first report that metazoan TILs have low but obvious activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajime Julie Yuasa
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, National University Corporation Kochi University, Kochi 780-8520, Japan.
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8
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Yu J, Yu X, Li C, Ayaz M, Abdulsalam S, Peng D, Qi R, Peng H, Kong L, Jia J, Huang W. Silicon Mediated Plant Immunity against Nematodes: Summarizing the Underline Defence Mechanisms in Plant Nematodes Interaction. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214026. [PMID: 36430503 PMCID: PMC9692242 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Silicon (Si) is known to stimulate plant resistance against different phytopathogens, i.e., bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. It is an efficient plant growth regulator under various biotic and abiotic stresses. Silicon-containing compounds, including silicon dioxide, SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), nano-chelated silicon fertilizer (NCSF), sodium siliconate, and sodium metasilicate, are effective in damaging various nematodes that reduce their reproduction, galling, and disease severity. The defence mechanisms in plant-nematodes interaction may involve a physical barrier, plant defence-associated enzyme activity, synthesis of antimicrobial compounds, and transcriptional regulation of defence-related genes. In the current review, we focused on silicon and its compounds in controlling plant nematodes and regulating different defence mechanisms involved in plant-nematodes interaction. Furthermore, the review aims to evaluate the potential role of Si application in improving plant resistance against nematodes and highlight its need for efficient plant-nematodes disease management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiyue Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Caihong Li
- Cotton Sciences Research Institute of Hunan, Changde 415101, China
| | - Muhammad Ayaz
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Institute of Plant Protection and Agro-Products Safety, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei 230041, China
| | - Sulaiman Abdulsalam
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Department of Crop Protection, Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 810106, Nigeria
| | - Deliang Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Rende Qi
- Institute of Plant Protection and Agro-Products Safety, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei 230041, China
| | - Huan Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lingan Kong
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jianping Jia
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wenkun Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence:
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9
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Philips JG, Martin-Avila E, Robold AV. Horizontal gene transfer from genetically modified plants - Regulatory considerations. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:971402. [PMID: 36118580 PMCID: PMC9471246 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.971402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene technology regulators receive applications seeking permission for the environmental release of genetically modified (GM) plants, many of which possess beneficial traits such as improved production, enhanced nutrition and resistance to drought, pests and diseases. The regulators must assess the risks to human and animal health and to the environment from releasing these GM plants. One such consideration, of many, is the likelihood and potential consequence of the introduced or modified DNA being transferred to other organisms, including people. While such gene transfer is most likely to occur to sexually compatible relatives (vertical gene transfer), horizontal gene transfer (HGT), which is the acquisition of genetic material that has not been inherited from a parent, is also a possibility considered during these assessments. Advances in HGT detection, aided by next generation sequencing, have demonstrated that HGT occurrence may have been previously underestimated. In this review, we provide updated evidence on the likelihood, factors and the barriers for the introduced or modified DNA in GM plants to be horizontally transferred into a variety of recipients. We present the legislation and frameworks the Australian Gene Technology Regulator adheres to with respect to the consideration of risks posed by HGT. Such a perspective may generally be applicable to regulators in other jurisdictions as well as to commercial and research organisations who develop GM plants.
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10
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Rutter WB, Franco J, Gleason C. Rooting Out the Mechanisms of Root-Knot Nematode-Plant Interactions. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2022; 60:43-76. [PMID: 35316614 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-021621-120943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs; Meloidogyne spp.) engage in complex parasitic interactions with many different host plants around the world, initiating elaborate feeding sites and disrupting host root architecture. Although RKNs have been the focus of research for many decades, new molecular tools have provided useful insights into the biological mechanisms these pests use to infect and manipulate their hosts. From identifying host defense mechanisms underlying resistance to RKNs to characterizing nematode effectors that alter host cellular functions, the past decade of research has significantly expanded our understanding of RKN-plant interactions, and the increasing number of quality parasite and host genomes promises to enhance future research efforts into RKNs. In this review, we have highlighted recent discoveries, summarized the current understanding within the field, and provided links to new and useful resources for researchers. Our goal is to offer insights and tools to support the study of molecular RKN-plant interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- William B Rutter
- US Vegetable Laboratory, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Jessica Franco
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA;
| | - Cynthia Gleason
- Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA;
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11
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Diyapoglu A, Oner M, Meng M. Application Potential of Bacterial Volatile Organic Compounds in the Control of Root-Knot Nematodes. Molecules 2022; 27:4355. [PMID: 35889228 PMCID: PMC9318376 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) constitute the most damaging group of plant pathogens. Plant infections by root-knot nematodes (RKNs) alone could cause approximately 5% of global crop loss. Conventionally, chemical-based methods are used to control PPNs at the expense of the environment and human health. Accordingly, the development of eco-friendly and safer methods has been urged to supplement or replace chemical-based methods for the control of RKNs. Using microorganisms or their metabolites as biological control agents (BCAs) is a promising approach to controlling RKNs. Among the metabolites, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have gained increasing attention because of their potential in the control of not only RKNs but also other plant pathogens, such as insects, fungi, and bacteria. This review discusses the biology of RKNs as well as the status of various control strategies. The discovery of VOCs emitted by bacteria from various environmental sources and their application potential as BCAs in controlling RKNs are specifically addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Diyapoglu
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan;
| | - Muhammet Oner
- Department of Life Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan;
| | - Menghsiao Meng
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan;
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12
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Zarlenga D, Thompson P, Mitreva M, Rosa BA, Hoberg E. Horizontal gene transfer provides insights into the deep evolutionary history and biology of Trichinella. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2022; 27:e00155. [PMID: 35542181 PMCID: PMC9079694 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2022.e00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolution involves temporal changes in the characteristics of a species that are subsequently propagated or rejected through natural selection. In the case of parasites, host switching also plays a prominent role in the evolutionary process. These changes are rooted in genetic variation and gene flow where genes may be deleted, mutated (sequence), duplicated, rearranged and/or translocated and then transmitted through vertical gene transfer. However, the introduction of new genes is not driven only by Mendelian inheritance and mutation but also by the introduction of DNA from outside a lineage in the form of horizontal gene transfer between donor and recipient organisms. Once introduced and integrated into the biology of the recipient, vertical inheritance then perpetuates the newly acquired genetic factor, where further functionality may involve co-option of what has become a pre-existing physiological capacity. Upon sequencing the Trichinella spiralis (Clade I) genome, a cyanate hydratase (cyanase) gene was identified that is common among bacteria, fungi, and plants, but rarely observed among other eukaryotes. The sequence of the Trichinella cyanase gene clusters with those derived from the Kingdom Plantae in contrast to the genes found in some Clade III and IV nematodes that cluster with cyanases of bacterial origin. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that the Trichinella cyanase was acquired during the Devonian period and independently from those of other nematodes. These data may help inform us of the deep evolutionary history and ecological connectivity of early ancestors within the lineage of contemporary Trichinella. Further, in many extant organisms, cyanate detoxification has been largely superseded by energy requirements for metabolism. Thus, deciphering the function of Trichinella cyanase may provide new avenues for treatment and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dante Zarlenga
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, B1180 BARC-East Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Peter Thompson
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, B1180 BARC-East Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Makedonka Mitreva
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnel Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Bruce A. Rosa
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnel Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
| | - Eric Hoberg
- Department of Biology and Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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13
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Pu W, Xiao K, Luo S, Zhu H, Yuan Z, Gao C, Hu J. Characterization of Five Meloidogyne incognita Effectors Associated with PsoRPM3. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031498. [PMID: 35163425 PMCID: PMC8836280 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are devastating parasites that invade thousands of plants. In this study, five RKN effectors, which might interact with Prunussogdiana resistance protein PsoRPM3, were screened and identified. In situ hybridisation results showed that MiCal, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh and MiACPS are expressed in the subventral oesophageal glands (SvG), and MiTSPc hybridization signals are found in the dorsal esophageal gland (DG) of Meloidogyne incognita in the pre-J2. RT-qPCR data indicated that the expression of MiCal, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, and MiACPS genes are highly expressed in M. incognita of pra-J2 and J3/J4 stages. The expression of MiTSPc increased significantly in the female stage of M. incognita. Moreover, all effectors found in this study localize in the cytoplasm and nucleus when transiently expressed in plant cells. In addition, MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, MiACPS and MiTSPc can elicit the ROS burst and strong hypersensitive response (HR), as well as significant ion leakage. Our data suggest that MiGST_N_4, MiEFh, MiACPS and MiTSPc effectors may be involved in triggering the immune response of the host plant.
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14
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Vieira P, Myers RY, Pellegrin C, Wram C, Hesse C, Maier TR, Shao J, Koutsovoulos GD, Zasada I, Matsumoto T, Danchin EGJ, Baum TJ, Eves-van den Akker S, Nemchinov LG. Targeted transcriptomics reveals signatures of large-scale independent origins and concerted regulation of effector genes in Radopholus similis. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010036. [PMID: 34748609 PMCID: PMC8601627 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis, is an economically important plant-parasitic nematode that inflicts damage and yield loss to a wide range of crops. This migratory endoparasite is widely distributed in warmer regions and causes extensive destruction to the root systems of important food crops (e.g., citrus, banana). Despite the economic importance of this nematode, little is known about the repertoire of effectors owned by this species. Here we combined spatially and temporally resolved next-generation sequencing datasets of R. similis to select a list of candidates for the identification of effector genes for this species. We confirmed spatial expression of transcripts of 30 new candidate effectors within the esophageal glands of R. similis by in situ hybridization, revealing a large number of pioneer genes specific to this nematode. We identify a gland promoter motif specifically associated with the subventral glands (named Rs-SUG box), a putative hallmark of spatial and concerted regulation of these effectors. Nematode transcriptome analyses confirmed the expression of these effectors during the interaction with the host, with a large number of pioneer genes being especially abundant. Our data revealed that R. similis holds a diverse and emergent repertoire of effectors, which has been shaped by various evolutionary events, including neofunctionalization, horizontal gene transfer, and possibly by de novo gene birth. In addition, we also report the first GH62 gene so far discovered for any metazoan and putatively acquired by lateral gene transfer from a bacterial donor. Considering the economic damage caused by R. similis, this information provides valuable data to elucidate the mode of parasitism of this nematode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Vieira
- USDA-ARS Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
- School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Roxana Y. Myers
- Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, USDA ARS, Hilo, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Clement Pellegrin
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Wram
- USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Unit, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Cedar Hesse
- USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Unit, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Thomas R. Maier
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Shao
- USDA-ARS Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Inga Zasada
- USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Unit, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Tracie Matsumoto
- Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center, USDA ARS, Hilo, Hawaii, United States of America
| | - Etienne G. J. Danchin
- INRAE, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS, Institute Sophia Agrobiotech, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Thomas J. Baum
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | | | - Lev G. Nemchinov
- USDA-ARS Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
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15
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Bubrig LT, Fierst JL. REVIEW OF THE DAUER HYPOTHESIS: WHAT NON-PARASITIC SPECIES CAN TELL US ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF PARASITISM. J Parasitol 2021; 107:717-725. [PMID: 34525204 DOI: 10.1645/21-40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic lineages have acquired suites of new traits compared to their nearest free-living relatives. When and why did these traits arise? We can envision lineages evolving through multiple stable intermediate steps such as a series of increasingly exploitative species interactions. This view allows us to use non-parasitic species that approximate those intermediate steps to uncover the timing and original function of parasitic traits, knowledge critical to understanding the evolution of parasitism. The dauer hypothesis proposes that free-living nematode lineages evolved into parasites through two intermediate steps, phoresy and necromeny. Here we delve into the proposed steps of the dauer hypothesis by collecting and organizing data from genetic, behavioral, and ecological studies in a range of nematode species. We argue that hypotheses on the evolution of parasites will be strengthened by complementing comparative genomic studies with ecological studies on non-parasites that approximate intermediate steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis T Bubrig
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, 485 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
| | - Janna L Fierst
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, 300 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0344
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16
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Topalović O, Vestergård M. Can microorganisms assist the survival and parasitism of plant-parasitic nematodes? Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:947-958. [PMID: 34162521 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) remain a hardly treatable problem in many crops worldwide. Low efficacy of many biocontrol agents may be due to negligence of the native microbiota that is naturally associated with nematodes in soil, and which may protect nematodes against microbial antagonists. This phenomenon is more extensively studied for other nematode parasites, so we compiled these studies and drew parallels to the existing knowledge on PPN. We describe how microbial-mediated modulation of host immune responses facilitate nematode parasitism and discuss the role of Caenorhabditis elegans-protective microbiota to get an insight into the microbial protection of PPNs in soil. Molecular mechanisms of PPN-microbial interactions are also discussed. An understanding of microbial-aided PPN performance is thus pivotal for efficient management of PPNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivera Topalović
- Aarhus University, Institute for Agroecology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, 4200, Slagelse, Denmark.
| | - Mette Vestergård
- Aarhus University, Institute for Agroecology, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, 4200, Slagelse, Denmark.
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17
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Sacristán S, Goss EM, Eves-van den Akker S. How Do Pathogens Evolve Novel Virulence Activities? MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS : MPMI 2021; 34:576-586. [PMID: 33522842 DOI: 10.1094/mpmi-09-20-0258-ia] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This article is part of the Top 10 Unanswered Questions in MPMI invited review series.We consider the state of knowledge on pathogen evolution of novel virulence activities, broadly defined as anything that increases pathogen fitness with the consequence of causing disease in either the qualitative or quantitative senses, including adaptation of pathogens to host immunity and physiology, host species, genotypes, or tissues, or the environment. The evolution of novel virulence activities as an adaptive trait is based on the selection exerted by hosts on variants that have been generated de novo or arrived from elsewhere. In addition, the biotic and abiotic environment a pathogen experiences beyond the host may influence pathogen virulence activities. We consider host-pathogen evolution, host range expansion, and external factors that can mediate pathogen evolution. We then discuss the mechanisms by which pathogens generate and recombine the genetic variation that leads to novel virulence activities, including DNA point mutation, transposable element activity, gene duplication and neofunctionalization, and genetic exchange. In summary, if there is an (epi)genetic mechanism that can create variation in the genome, it will be used by pathogens to evolve virulence factors. Our knowledge of virulence evolution has been biased by pathogen evolution in response to major gene resistance, leaving other virulence activities underexplored. Understanding the key driving forces that give rise to novel virulence activities and the integration of evolutionary concepts and methods with mechanistic research on plant-microbe interactions can help inform crop protection.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soledad Sacristán
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)-Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Campus Montegancedo-UPM, 28223-Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid), Spain
- Departamento de Biotecnología-Biología Vegetal, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040-Madrid, Spain
| | - Erica M Goss
- Department of Plant Pathology and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
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18
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Genome Expression Dynamics Reveal the Parasitism Regulatory Landscape of the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita and a Promoter Motif Associated with Effector Genes. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050771. [PMID: 34070210 PMCID: PMC8158474 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (genus Meloidogyne) are the major contributor to crop losses caused by nematodes. These nematodes secrete effector proteins into the plant, derived from two sets of pharyngeal gland cells, to manipulate host physiology and immunity. Successful completion of the life cycle, involving successive molts from egg to adult, covers morphologically and functionally distinct stages and will require precise control of gene expression, including effector genes. The details of how root-knot nematodes regulate transcription remain sparse. Here, we report a life stage-specific transcriptome of Meloidogyne incognita. Combined with an available annotated genome, we explore the spatio-temporal regulation of gene expression. We reveal gene expression clusters and predicted functions that accompany the major developmental transitions. Focusing on effectors, we identify a putative cis-regulatory motif associated with expression in the dorsal glands, providing an insight into effector regulation. We combine the presence of this motif with several other criteria to predict a novel set of putative dorsal gland effectors. Finally, we show this motif, and thereby its utility, is broadly conserved across the Meloidogyne genus, and we name it Mel-DOG. Taken together, we provide the first genome-wide analysis of spatio-temporal gene expression in a root-knot nematode and identify a new set of candidate effector genes that will guide future functional analyses.
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19
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What prevents mainstream evolutionists teaching the whole truth about how genomes evolve? PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 165:140-152. [PMID: 33933502 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2021.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The common belief that the neo-Darwinian Modern Synthesis (MS) was buttressed by the discoveries of molecular biology is incorrect. On the contrary those discoveries have undermined the MS. This article discusses the many processes revealed by molecular studies and genome sequencing that contribute to evolution but nonetheless lie beyond the strict confines of the MS formulated in the 1940s. The core assumptions of the MS that molecular studies have discredited include the idea that DNA is intrinsically a faithful self-replicator, the one-way transfer of heritable information from nucleic acids to other cell molecules, the myth of "selfish DNA", and the existence of an impenetrable Weismann Barrier separating somatic and germ line cells. Processes fundamental to modern evolutionary theory include symbiogenesis, biosphere interactions between distant taxa (including viruses), horizontal DNA transfers, natural genetic engineering, organismal stress responses that activate intrinsic genome change operators, and macroevolution by genome restructuring (distinct from the gradual accumulation of local microevolutionary changes in the MS). These 21st Century concepts treat the evolving genome as a highly formatted and integrated Read-Write (RW) database rather than a Read-Only Memory (ROM) collection of independent gene units that change by random copying errors. Most of the discoverers of these macroevolutionary processes have been ignored in mainstream textbooks and popularizations of evolutionary biology, as we document in some detail. Ironically, we show that the active view of evolution that emerges from genomics and molecular biology is much closer to the 19th century ideas of both Darwin and Lamarck. The capacity of cells to activate evolutionary genome change under stress can account for some of the most negative clinical results in oncology, especially the sudden appearance of treatment-resistant and more aggressive tumors following therapies intended to eradicate all cancer cells. Knowing that extreme stress can be a trigger for punctuated macroevolutionary change suggests that less lethal therapies may result in longer survival times.
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20
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Filip E, Skuza L. Horizontal Gene Transfer Involving Chloroplasts. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094484. [PMID: 33923118 PMCID: PMC8123421 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)- is defined as the acquisition of genetic material from another organism. However, recent findings indicate a possible role of HGT in the acquisition of traits with adaptive significance, suggesting that HGT is an important driving force in the evolution of eukaryotes as well as prokaryotes. It has been noted that, in eukaryotes, HGT is more prevalent than originally thought. Mitochondria and chloroplasts lost a large number of genes after their respective endosymbiotic events occurred. Even after this major content loss, organelle genomes still continue to lose their own genes. Many of these are subsequently acquired by intracellular gene transfer from the original plastid. The aim of our review was to elucidate the role of chloroplasts in the transfer of genes. This review also explores gene transfer involving mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, though recent studies indicate that chloroplast genomes are far more active in HGT as compared to these other two DNA-containing cellular compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Filip
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, 13 Wąska, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland;
- The Centre for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Szczecin, 13 Wąska, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Lidia Skuza
- Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, 13 Wąska, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland;
- The Centre for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Szczecin, 13 Wąska, 71-415 Szczecin, Poland
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21
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Palazzo A, Escuder E, D'Addabbo P, Lovero D, Marsano RM. A genomic survey of Tc1-mariner transposons in nematodes suggests extensive horizontal transposon transfer events. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 158:107090. [PMID: 33545274 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The number of reports concerning horizontal transposon transfers (HTT) in metazoan species is considerably increased, alongside with the exponential growth of genomic sequence data However, our understanding of the mechanisms of such phenomenon is still at an early stage. Nematodes constitute an animal phylum successfully adapted to almost every ecosystem and for this reason could potentially contribute to spreading the genetic information through horizontal transfer. To date, few studies describe HTT of nematode retrotransposons. This is due to the lack of annotation of transposable elements in the sequenced nematode genomes, especially DNA transposons, which are acknowledged as the best horizontal travelers among mobile sequences. We have therefore started a survey of DNA transposons and their possible involvement in HTT in sequenced nematode genomes. Here, we describe 83 new Tc1/mariner elements distributed in 17 nematode species. Among them, nine families were possibly horizontally transferred between nematodes and the most diverse animal species, including ants as preferred partner of HTT. The results obtained suggest that HTT events involving nematodes Tc1/mariner elements are not uncommon, and that nematodes could have a possible role as transposon reservoir that, in turn, can be redistributed among animal genomes. Overall, this could be relevant to understand how the inter-species genetic flows shape the landscape of genetic variation of organisms inhabiting specific environmental communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Palazzo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Elsa Escuder
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Pietro D'Addabbo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Domenica Lovero
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche ed Oncologia Umana (DIMO), Università degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
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22
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Li HS, Tang XF, Huang YH, Xu ZY, Chen ML, Du XY, Qiu BY, Chen PT, Zhang W, Ślipiński A, Escalona HE, Waterhouse RM, Zwick A, Pang H. Horizontally acquired antibacterial genes associated with adaptive radiation of ladybird beetles. BMC Biol 2021; 19:7. [PMID: 33446206 PMCID: PMC7807722 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00945-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has been documented in many herbivorous insects, conferring the ability to digest plant material and promoting their remarkable ecological diversification. Previous reports suggest HGT of antibacterial enzymes may have contributed to the insect immune response and limit bacterial growth. Carnivorous insects also display many evolutionary successful lineages, but in contrast to the plant feeders, the potential role of HGTs has been less well-studied. RESULTS Using genomic and transcriptomic data from 38 species of ladybird beetles, we identified a set of bacterial cell wall hydrolase (cwh) genes acquired by this group of beetles. Infection with Bacillus subtilis led to upregulated expression of these ladybird cwh genes, and their recombinantly produced proteins limited bacterial proliferation. Moreover, RNAi-mediated cwh knockdown led to downregulation of other antibacterial genes, indicating a role in antibacterial immune defense. cwh genes are rare in eukaryotes, but have been maintained in all tested Coccinellinae species, suggesting that this putative immune-related HGT event played a role in the evolution of this speciose subfamily of predominant predatory ladybirds. CONCLUSION Our work demonstrates that, in a manner analogous to HGT-facilitated plant feeding, enhanced immunity through HGT might have played a key role in the prey adaptation and niche expansion that promoted the diversification of carnivorous beetle lineages. We believe that this represents the first example of immune-related HGT in carnivorous insects with an association with a subsequent successful species radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Sen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Xue-Fei Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Yu-Hao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Ze-Yu Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Mei-Lan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
- School of Environment and Life Science, Nanning Normal University, Nanning, 530001, China
| | - Xue-Yong Du
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Bo-Yuan Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Pei-Tao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Adam Ślipiński
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Hermes E Escalona
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Robert M Waterhouse
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne and Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Zwick
- Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Hong Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences / School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
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23
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Montarry J, Mimee B, Danchin EGJ, Koutsovoulos GD, Ste-Croix DT, Grenier E. Recent Advances in Population Genomics of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2021; 111:40-48. [PMID: 33151824 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-09-20-0418-rvw] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes are a costly burden of crop production. Ubiquitous in nature, phytoparasitic nematodes are associated with nearly every important agricultural crop and represent a significant constraint on global food security. Population genetics is a key discipline in plant nematology to understand aspects of the life strategies of these parasites, in particular their modes of reproduction, geographic origins, evolutionary histories, and dispersion abilities. Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have enabled a recent but active effort in genomic analyses of plant-parasitic nematodes. Such genomic approaches applied to multiple populations are providing new insights into the molecular and evolutionary processes that underpin the establishment of these nematodes and into a better understanding of the genetic and mechanistic basis of their pathogenicity and adaptation to their host plants. In this review, we attempt to update information about genome resources and genotyping techniques useful for nematologists who are thinking about initiating population genomics or genome sequencing projects. This review is intended also to foster the development of population genomics in plant-parasitic nematodes through highlighting recent publications that illustrate the potential for this approach to identify novel molecular markers or genes of interest and improve our knowledge of the genome variability, pathogenicity, and evolutionary potential of plant-parasitic nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin Mimee
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada
| | - Etienne G J Danchin
- Institut Sophia Agrobiotech, Université Côte d'Azur, INRAE, CNRS, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | | | - Dave T Ste-Croix
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada
| | - Eric Grenier
- IGEPP, INRAE, Institut Agro, Univ Rennes, 35650, Le Rheu, France
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24
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Philbrick AN, Adhikari TB, Louws FJ, Gorny AM. Meloidogyne enterolobii, a Major Threat to Tomato Production: Current Status and Future Prospects for Its Management. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:606395. [PMID: 33304376 PMCID: PMC7701057 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.606395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The guava root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne enterolobii (Syn. M. mayaguensis), is an emerging pathogen to many crops in the world. This nematode can cause chlorosis, stunting, and reduce yields associated with the induction of many root galls on host plants. Recently, this pathogen has been considered as a global threat for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production due to the lack of known resistance in commercially accepted varieties and the aggressiveness of M. enterolobii. Both conventional morphological and molecular approaches have been used to identify M. enterolobii, an important first step in an integrated management. To combat root-knot nematodes, integrated disease management strategies such as crop rotation, field sanitation, biocontrol agents, fumigants, and resistant cultivars have been developed and successfully used in the past. However, the resistance in tomato varieties mediated by known Mi-genes does not control M. enterolobii. Here, we review the current knowledge on geographic distribution, host range, population biology, control measures, and proposed future strategies to improve M. enterolobii control in tomato.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N. Philbrick
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Tika B. Adhikari
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Frank J. Louws
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Adrienne M. Gorny
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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25
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Comparative Genomics Reveals Novel Target Genes towards Specific Control of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11111347. [PMID: 33202889 PMCID: PMC7696266 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-parasitic nematodes cause extensive annual yield losses to worldwide agricultural production. Most cultivated plants have no known resistance against nematodes and the few bearing a resistance gene can be overcome by certain species. Chemical methods that have been deployed to control nematodes have largely been banned from use due to their poor specificity and high toxicity. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of cleaner and more specific control methods. Recent advances in nematode genomics, including in phytoparasitic species, provide an unprecedented opportunity to identify genes and functions specific to these pests. Using phylogenomics, we compared 61 nematode genomes, including 16 for plant-parasitic species and identified more than 24,000 protein families specific to these parasites. In the genome of Meloidogyne incognita, one of the most devastating plant parasites, we found ca. 10,000 proteins with orthologs restricted only to phytoparasitic species and no further homology in protein databases. Among these phytoparasite-specific proteins, ca. 1000 shared the same properties as known secreted effectors involved in essential parasitic functions. Of these, 68 were novel and showed strong expression during the endophytic phase of the nematode life cycle, based on both RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses. Besides effector candidates, transcription-related and neuro-perception functions were enriched in phytoparasite-specific proteins, revealing interesting targets for nematode control methods. This phylogenomics analysis constitutes a unique resource for the further understanding of the genetic basis of nematode adaptation to phytoparasitism and for the development of more efficient control methods.
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Genome assembly and annotation of Meloidogyne enterolobii, an emerging parthenogenetic root-knot nematode. Sci Data 2020; 7:324. [PMID: 33020495 PMCID: PMC7536185 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-020-00666-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Root-knot nematodes (genus Meloidogyne) are plant parasites causing huge economic loss in the agricultural industry and affecting severely numerous developing countries. Control methods against these plant pests are sparse, the preferred one being the deployment of plant cultivars bearing resistance genes against Meloidogyne species. However, M. enterolobii is not controlled by the resistance genes deployed in the crop plants cultivated in Europe. The recent identification of this species in Europe is thus a major concern. Here, we sequenced the genome of M. enterolobii using short and long-read technologies. The genome assembly spans 240 Mbp with contig N50 size of 143 kbp, enabling high-quality annotations of 59,773 coding genes, 4,068 non-coding genes, and 10,944 transposable elements (spanning 8.7% of the genome). We validated the genome size by flow cytometry and the structure, quality and completeness by bioinformatics metrics. This ensemble of resources will fuel future projects aiming at pinpointing the genome singularities, the origin, diversity, and adaptive potential of this emerging plant pest. Measurement(s) | genome • sequence_assembly • sequence feature annotation | Technology Type(s) | DNA sequencing assay • sequence assembly process • sequence annotation | Sample Characteristic - Organism | Meloidogyne enterolobii |
Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.12410363
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Phan NT, Orjuela J, Danchin EGJ, Klopp C, Perfus‐Barbeoch L, Kozlowski DK, Koutsovoulos GD, Lopez‐Roques C, Bouchez O, Zahm M, Besnard G, Bellafiore S. Genome structure and content of the rice root-knot nematode ( Meloidogyne graminicola). Ecol Evol 2020; 10:11006-11021. [PMID: 33144944 PMCID: PMC7593179 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Discovered in the 1960s, Meloidogyne graminicola is a root-knot nematode species considered as a major threat to rice production. Yet, its origin, genomic structure, and intraspecific diversity are poorly understood. So far, such studies have been limited by the unavailability of a sufficiently complete and well-assembled genome. In this study, using a combination of Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina sequencing data, we generated a highly contiguous reference genome (283 scaffolds with an N50 length of 294 kb, totaling 41.5 Mb). The completeness scores of our assembly are among the highest currently published for Meloidogyne genomes. We predicted 10,284 protein-coding genes spanning 75.5% of the genome. Among them, 67 are identified as possibly originating from horizontal gene transfers (mostly from bacteria), which supposedly contribute to nematode infection, nutrient processing, and plant defense manipulation. Besides, we detected 575 canonical transposable elements (TEs) belonging to seven orders and spanning 2.61% of the genome. These TEs might promote genomic plasticity putatively related to the evolution of M. graminicola parasitism. This high-quality genome assembly constitutes a major improvement regarding previously available versions and represents a valuable molecular resource for future phylogenomic studies of Meloidogyne species. In particular, this will foster comparative genomic studies to trace back the evolutionary history of M. graminicola and its closest relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngan Thi Phan
- IRD‐CIRAD‐University of MontpellierUMR Interactions Plantes Microorganismes Environnement (IPME)MontpellierFrance
| | - Julie Orjuela
- IRD‐CIRAD‐University of MontpellierUMR Interactions Plantes Microorganismes Environnement (IPME)MontpellierFrance
| | | | - Christophe Klopp
- Plateforme BioInfo GenotoulUR875INRAECastanet‐Tolosan cedexFrance
| | | | - Djampa K. Kozlowski
- Institut Sophia AgrobiotechINRAECNRSUniversité Côte d’AzurSophia AntipolisFrance
| | | | | | | | - Margot Zahm
- Plateforme BioInfo GenotoulUR875INRAECastanet‐Tolosan cedexFrance
| | | | - Stéphane Bellafiore
- IRD‐CIRAD‐University of MontpellierUMR Interactions Plantes Microorganismes Environnement (IPME)MontpellierFrance
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Tiwari P, Bae H. Horizontal Gene Transfer and Endophytes: An Implication for the Acquisition of Novel Traits. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 9:E305. [PMID: 32121565 PMCID: PMC7154830 DOI: 10.3390/plants9030305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT), an important evolutionary mechanism observed in prokaryotes, is the transmission of genetic material across phylogenetically distant species. In recent years, the availability of complete genomes has facilitated the comprehensive analysis of HGT and highlighted its emerging role in the adaptation and evolution of eukaryotes. Endophytes represent an ecologically favored association, which highlights its beneficial attributes to the environment, in agriculture and in healthcare. The HGT phenomenon in endophytes, which features an important biological mechanism for their evolutionary adaptation within the host plant and simultaneously confers "novel traits" to the associated microbes, is not yet completely understood. With a focus on the emerging implications of HGT events in the evolution of biological species, the present review discusses the occurrence of HGT in endophytes and its socio-economic importance in the current perspective. To our knowledge, this review is the first report that provides a comprehensive insight into the impact of HGT in the adaptation and evolution of endophytes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hanhong Bae
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea;
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Horizontal Transfer and Gene Loss Shaped the Evolution of Alpha-Amylases in Bilaterians. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:709-719. [PMID: 31810981 PMCID: PMC7003070 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The subfamily GH13_1 of alpha-amylases is typical of Fungi, but it is also found in some unicellular eukaryotes (e.g., Amoebozoa, choanoflagellates) and non-bilaterian Metazoa. Since a previous study in 2007, GH13_1 amylases were considered ancestral to the Unikonts, including animals, except Bilateria, such that it was thought to have been lost in the ancestor of this clade. The only alpha-amylases known to be present in Bilateria so far belong to the GH13_15 and 24 subfamilies (commonly called bilaterian alpha-amylases) and were likely acquired by horizontal transfer from a proteobacterium. The taxonomic scope of Eukaryota genomes in databases has been greatly increased ever since 2007. We have surveyed GH13_1 sequences in recent data from ca. 1600 bilaterian species, 60 non-bilaterian animals and also in unicellular eukaryotes. As expected, we found a number of those sequences in non-bilaterians: Anthozoa (Cnidaria) and in sponges, confirming the previous observations, but none in jellyfishes and in Ctenophora. Our main and unexpected finding is that such fungal (also called Dictyo-type) amylases were also consistently retrieved in several bilaterian phyla: hemichordates (deuterostomes), brachiopods and related phyla, some molluscs and some annelids (protostomes). We discuss evolutionary hypotheses possibly explaining the scattered distribution of GH13_1 across bilaterians, namely, the retention of the ancestral gene in those phyla only and/or horizontal transfers from non-bilaterian donors.
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Verster KI, Wisecaver JH, Karageorgi M, Duncan RP, Gloss AD, Armstrong EE, Price DK, Menon AR, Ali ZM, Whiteman NK. Horizontal Transfer of Bacterial Cytolethal Distending Toxin B Genes to Insects. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 36:2105-2110. [PMID: 31236589 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer events have played a major role in the evolution of microbial species, but their importance in animals is less clear. Here, we report horizontal gene transfer of cytolethal distending toxin B (cdtB), prokaryotic genes encoding eukaryote-targeting DNase I toxins, into the genomes of vinegar flies (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae). We found insect-encoded cdtB genes are most closely related to orthologs from bacteriophage that infect Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa, a bacterial mutualistic symbiont of aphids that confers resistance to parasitoid wasps. In drosophilids, cdtB orthologs are highly expressed during the parasitoid-prone larval stage and encode a protein with ancestral DNase activity. We show that cdtB has been domesticated by diverse insects and hypothesize that it functions in defense against their natural enemies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten I Verster
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | | | - Marianthi Karageorgi
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Rebecca P Duncan
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Andrew D Gloss
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | | | - Donald K Price
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
| | - Aruna R Menon
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Zainab M Ali
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Noah K Whiteman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
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Schiffer PH, Danchin EGJ, Burnell AM, Creevey CJ, Wong S, Dix I, O'Mahony G, Culleton BA, Rancurel C, Stier G, Martínez-Salazar EA, Marconi A, Trivedi U, Kroiher M, Thorne MAS, Schierenberg E, Wiehe T, Blaxter M. Signatures of the Evolution of Parthenogenesis and Cryptobiosis in the Genomes of Panagrolaimid Nematodes. iScience 2019; 21:587-602. [PMID: 31759330 PMCID: PMC6889759 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Most animal species reproduce sexually and fully parthenogenetic lineages are usually short lived in evolution. Still, parthenogenesis may be advantageous as it avoids the cost of sex and permits colonization by single individuals. Panagrolaimid nematodes have colonized environments ranging from arid deserts to Arctic and Antarctic biomes. Many are obligatory meiotic parthenogens, and most have cryptobiotic abilities, being able to survive repeated cycles of complete desiccation and freezing. To identify systems that may contribute to these striking abilities, we sequenced and compared the genomes and transcriptomes of parthenogenetic and outcrossing panagrolaimid species, including cryptobionts and non-cryptobionts. The parthenogens are triploids, most likely originating through hybridization. Adaptation to cryptobiosis shaped the genomes of panagrolaimid nematodes and is associated with the expansion of gene families and signatures of selection on genes involved in cryptobiosis. All panagrolaimids have acquired genes through horizontal gene transfer, some of which are likely to contribute to cryptobiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp H Schiffer
- CLOE, Department for Biosciences, University College London, London, UK; Zoologisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, 50674 Köln, Germany; Institut für Genetik, Universität zu Köln, 50674 Köln, Germany.
| | | | - Ann M Burnell
- Maynooth University Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | | | - Simon Wong
- Irish Centre for High-End Computing, Tower Building, Trinity Technology & Enterprise Campus, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin D02 HP83, Ireland
| | - Ilona Dix
- Maynooth University Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Georgina O'Mahony
- Maynooth University Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Bridget A Culleton
- Maynooth University Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; Megazyme, Bray Business Park, Bray, Co. Wicklow A98 YV29, Ireland
| | | | - Gary Stier
- Zoologisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, 50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Elizabeth A Martínez-Salazar
- Unidad Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Colecciones Biológicas y Sistemática Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Zacatecas, México
| | - Aleksandra Marconi
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Urmi Trivedi
- Edinburgh Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Michael Kroiher
- Zoologisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, 50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Michael A S Thorne
- British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | | | - Thomas Wiehe
- Institut für Genetik, Universität zu Köln, 50674 Köln, Germany
| | - Mark Blaxter
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK; Edinburgh Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
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Consoli E, Ruthes AC, Reinhard E, Dahlin P. First Morphological and Molecular Report of Aphelenchoides blastophthorus on Strawberry Plants in Switzerland. PLANT DISEASE 2019; 103:2851-2856. [PMID: 31486741 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-07-18-1241-re] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Foliar nematodes represent a minor feeding group within the genus Aphelenchoides Fischer, 1894. The facultative plant parasitic species A. blastophthorus can cause crinkling of leaves, reduced vigor, and stunting of agricultural and ornamental plants. Here we report the first finding of A. blastophthorus in leaves, crowns, and roots of strawberry plants collected in Switzerland in 2018. Species identification was confirmed by morphological and morphometric characterization supported by molecular barcoding of 18S ribosomal RNA (18S), 28S ribosomal RNA (28S), and cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene fragment analyses. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S indicated that A. blastophthorus was grouped within close distance to A. fragariae, a well-known foliar nematode affecting strawberry plants. Furthermore, the newly generated molecular barcodes of the partial 28S and COI of A. blastophthorus will support species identification in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Consoli
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Phytopathology and Zoology in Fruit and Vegetable Production, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | | | - Eder Reinhard
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Phytopathology and Zoology in Fruit and Vegetable Production, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Paul Dahlin
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Phytopathology and Zoology in Fruit and Vegetable Production, Wädenswil, Switzerland
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Mathew R, Opperman CH. The genome of the migratory nematode, Radopholus similis, reveals signatures of close association to the sedentary cyst nematodes. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224391. [PMID: 31652297 PMCID: PMC6814228 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Radopholus similis, commonly known as the burrowing nematode, is an important pest of myriad crops and ornamentals including banana (Musa spp.) and Citrus spp. In order to characterize the potential role of putative effectors encoded by R. similis genes we compared predicted proteins from a draft R. similis genome with other plant-parasitic nematodes in order to define the suite of excreted/secreted proteins that enable it to function as a parasite and to ascertain the phylogenetic position of R. similis in the Tylenchida order. Identification and analysis of candidate genes encoding for key plant cell-wall degrading enzymes including GH5 cellulases, PL3 pectate lyases and GH28 polygalactouranase revealed a pattern of occurrence similar to other PPNs, although with closest phylogenetic associations to the sedentary cyst nematodes. We also observed the absence of a suite of effectors essential for feeding site formation in the cyst nematodes. Clustering of various orthologous genes shared by R. similis with other nematodes showed higher overlap with the cyst nematodes than with the root-knot or other migratory endoparasitic nematodes. The data presented here support the hypothesis that R. similis is evolutionarily closer to the cyst nematodes, however, differences in the effector repertoire delineate ancient divergence of parasitism, probably as a consequence of niche specialization. These similarities and differences further underscore distinct evolutionary relationships during the evolution of parasitism in this group of nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reny Mathew
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC United States of America
| | - Charles H. Opperman
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC United States of America
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Sabeh M, Lord E, Grenier É, St-Arnaud M, Mimee B. What determines host specificity in hyperspecialized plant parasitic nematodes? BMC Genomics 2019; 20:457. [PMID: 31170914 PMCID: PMC6555003 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5853-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In hyperspecialized parasites, the ability to grow on a particular host relies on specific virulence factors called effectors. These excreted proteins are involved in the molecular mechanisms of parasitism and distinguish virulent pathogens from non-virulent related species. The potato cyst nematodes (PCN) Globodera rostochiensis and G. pallida are major plant-parasitic nematodes developing on numerous solanaceous species including potato. Their close relatives, G. tabacum and G. mexicana are stimulated by potato root diffusate but unable to establish a feeding site on this plant host. Results RNA sequencing was used to characterize transcriptomic differences among these four Globodera species and to identify genes associated with host specificity. We identified seven transcripts that were unique to PCN species, including a protein involved in ubiquitination. We also found 545 genes that were differentially expressed between PCN and non-PCN species, including 78 genes coding for effector proteins, which represent more than a 6-fold enrichment compared to the whole transcriptome. Gene polymorphism analysis identified 359 homozygous non-synonymous variants showing a strong evidence for selection in PCN species. Conclusions Overall, we demonstrated that the determinant of host specificity resides in the regulation of essential effector gene expression that could be under the control of a single or of very few regulatory genes. Such genes are therefore promising targets for the development of novel and more sustainable resistances against potato cyst nematodes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5853-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Sabeh
- St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada.,Biodiversity Center, Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal and Jardin botanique de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Etienne Lord
- St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada
| | - Éric Grenier
- INRA, UMR1349 IGEPP (Institute of Genetics, Environment and Plant Protection), F-35653, Le Rheu, France
| | - Marc St-Arnaud
- Biodiversity Center, Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal and Jardin botanique de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Benjamin Mimee
- St-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada.
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Huang X, Xu CL, Yang SH, Li JY, Wang HL, Zhang ZX, Chen C, Xie H. Life-stage specific transcriptomes of a migratory endoparasitic plant nematode, Radopholus similis elucidate a different parasitic and life strategy of plant parasitic nematodes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6277. [PMID: 31000750 PMCID: PMC6472380 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42724-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Radopholus similis is an important migratory endoparasitic nematode, severely harms banana, citrus and many other commercial crops. Little is known about the molecular mechanism of infection and pathogenesis of R. similis. In this study, 64761 unigenes were generated from eggs, juveniles, females and males of R. similis. 11443 unigenes showed significant expression difference among these four life stages. Genes involved in host parasitism, anti-host defense and other biological processes were predicted. There were 86 and 102 putative genes coding for cell wall degrading enzymes and antioxidase respectively. The amount and type of putative parasitic-related genes reported in sedentary endoparasitic plant nematodes are variable from those of migratory parasitic nematodes on plant aerial portion. There were no sequences annotated to effectors in R. similis, involved in feeding site formation of sedentary endoparasites nematodes. This transcriptome data provides a new insight into the parasitic and pathogenic molecular mechanisms of the migratory endoparasitic nematodes. It also provides a broad idea for further research on R. similis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Huang
- Laboratory of Plant Nematology and Research Center of Nematodes of Plant Quarantine, Department of Plant Pathology Pathology/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun-Ling Xu
- Laboratory of Plant Nematology and Research Center of Nematodes of Plant Quarantine, Department of Plant Pathology Pathology/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Si-Hua Yang
- Laboratory of Plant Nematology and Research Center of Nematodes of Plant Quarantine, Department of Plant Pathology Pathology/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Yi Li
- Laboratory of Plant Nematology and Research Center of Nematodes of Plant Quarantine, Department of Plant Pathology Pathology/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Le Wang
- Laboratory of Plant Nematology and Research Center of Nematodes of Plant Quarantine, Department of Plant Pathology Pathology/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi-Xu Zhang
- Laboratory of Plant Nematology and Research Center of Nematodes of Plant Quarantine, Department of Plant Pathology Pathology/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Chun Chen
- Laboratory of Plant Nematology and Research Center of Nematodes of Plant Quarantine, Department of Plant Pathology Pathology/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Xie
- Laboratory of Plant Nematology and Research Center of Nematodes of Plant Quarantine, Department of Plant Pathology Pathology/Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Microbial Signals and Disease Control, Integrative Microbiology Research Centre, College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
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Di Lelio I, Illiano A, Astarita F, Gianfranceschi L, Horner D, Varricchio P, Amoresano A, Pucci P, Pennacchio F, Caccia S. Evolution of an insect immune barrier through horizontal gene transfer mediated by a parasitic wasp. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1007998. [PMID: 30835731 PMCID: PMC6420030 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome sequencing data have recently demonstrated that eukaryote evolution has been remarkably influenced by the acquisition of a large number of genes by horizontal gene transfer (HGT) across different kingdoms. However, in depth-studies on the physiological traits conferred by these accidental DNA acquisitions are largely lacking. Here we elucidate the functional role of Sl gasmin, a gene of a symbiotic virus of a parasitic wasp that has been transferred to an ancestor of the moth species Spodoptera littoralis and domesticated. This gene is highly expressed in circulating immune cells (haemocytes) of larval stages, where its transcription is rapidly boosted by injection of microorganisms into the body cavity. RNAi silencing of Sl gasmin generates a phenotype characterized by a precocious suppression of phagocytic activity by haemocytes, which is rescued when these immune cells are incubated in plasma samples of control larvae, containing high levels of the encoded protein. Proteomic analysis demonstrates that the protein Sl gasmin is released by haemocytes into the haemolymph, where it opsonizes the invading bacteria to promote their phagocytosis, both in vitro and in vivo. Our results show that important physiological traits do not necessarily originate from evolution of pre-existing genes, but can be acquired by HGT events, through unique pathways of symbiotic evolution. These findings indicate that insects can paradoxically acquire selective advantages with the help of their natural enemies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Di Lelio
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici (NA), Italy
| | - Anna Illiano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Federica Astarita
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici (NA), Italy
| | | | - David Horner
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Varricchio
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici (NA), Italy
| | - Angela Amoresano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Pietro Pucci
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesco Pennacchio
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici (NA), Italy
| | - Silvia Caccia
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Napoli Federico II, Portici (NA), Italy
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Perrine-Walker F. Interactions of endoparasitic and ectoparasitic nematodes within the plant root system. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2019; 46:295-303. [PMID: 32172739 DOI: 10.1071/fp18176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Root-knot and cyst nematodes have sophisticated mechanisms to invade their plant hosts to reprogram the plant developmental program to induce feeding structures essential for nematode survival and reproduction. This has a detrimental effect on the plant as this sedentary endoparasitic interaction affects the growth and yields of many crop plants. However, other migratory endoparasitic nematodes that do not establish root feeding sites are as aggressive on many crop plants. With new information gained from the genome and transcriptomes of the migratory endoparasitic nematode, Pratylenchus spp., this review compares the different lifestyles and the pathogenic interactions these nematodes have with their plant host. Pratylenchus spp. utilises a common arsenal of effectors involved in plant cell wall degradation and the manipulation of plant host innate immunity. The absence of specific cell reprogramming effector genes may explain its migratory endoparasitic lifestyle, making it relevant to pest management approaches in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francine Perrine-Walker
- Sydney Institute of Agriculture, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Biomedical Building C81, 1 Central Avenue, Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh, NSW 2015, Australia. Email
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38
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Vicente CSL, Nemchinov LG, Mota M, Eisenback JD, Kamo K, Vieira P. Identification and characterization of the first pectin methylesterase gene discovered in the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212540. [PMID: 30794636 PMCID: PMC6386239 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Similar to other plant-parasitic nematodes, root lesion nematodes possess an array of enzymes that are involved in the degradation of the plant cell wall. Here we report the identification of a gene encoding a cell wall-degrading enzyme, pectin methylesterase PME (EC 3.1.1.11), in the root lesion nematode Pratylenchus penetrans. Both genomic and coding sequences of the gene were cloned for this species, that included the presence of four introns which eliminated a possible contamination from bacteria. Expression of the Pp-pme gene was localized in the esophageal glands of P. penetrans as determined by in situ hybridization. Temporal expression of Pp-pme in planta was validated at early time points of infection. The possible function and activity of the gene were assessed by transient expression of Pp-pme in plants of Nicotiana benthamiana plants via a Potato virus X-based vector. To our knowledge, this is the first report on identification and characterization of a PME gene within the phylum Nematoda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudia S. L. Vicente
- ICAAM - Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Évora, Portugal
| | - Lev G. Nemchinov
- Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Manuel Mota
- Departamento de Biologia & ICAAM - Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Évora, Portugal
| | - Jonathan D. Eisenback
- School of Plant Environmental Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Kathryn Kamo
- Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, United States of National Arboretum, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Paulo Vieira
- Molecular Plant Pathology Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
- School of Plant Environmental Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
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39
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Masonbrink R, Maier TR, Muppirala U, Seetharam AS, Lord E, Juvale PS, Schmutz J, Johnson NT, Korkin D, Mitchum MG, Mimee B, den Akker SEV, Hudson M, Severin AJ, Baum TJ. The genome of the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) reveals complex patterns of duplications involved in the evolution of parasitism genes. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:119. [PMID: 30732586 PMCID: PMC6367775 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5485-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterodera glycines, commonly referred to as the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), is an obligatory and sedentary plant parasite that causes over a billion-dollar yield loss to soybean production annually. Although there are genetic determinants that render soybean plants resistant to certain nematode genotypes, resistant soybean cultivars are increasingly ineffective because their multi-year usage has selected for virulent H. glycines populations. The parasitic success of H. glycines relies on the comprehensive re-engineering of an infection site into a syncytium, as well as the long-term suppression of host defense to ensure syncytial viability. At the forefront of these complex molecular interactions are effectors, the proteins secreted by H. glycines into host root tissues. The mechanisms of effector acquisition, diversification, and selection need to be understood before effective control strategies can be developed, but the lack of an annotated genome has been a major roadblock. RESULTS Here, we use PacBio long-read technology to assemble a H. glycines genome of 738 contigs into 123 Mb with annotations for 29,769 genes. The genome contains significant numbers of repeats (34%), tandem duplicates (18.7 Mb), and horizontal gene transfer events (151 genes). A large number of putative effectors (431 genes) were identified in the genome, many of which were found in transposons. CONCLUSIONS This advance provides a glimpse into the host and parasite interplay by revealing a diversity of mechanisms that give rise to virulence genes in the soybean cyst nematode, including: tandem duplications containing over a fifth of the total gene count, virulence genes hitchhiking in transposons, and 107 horizontal gene transfers not reported in other plant parasitic nematodes thus far. Through extensive characterization of the H. glycines genome, we provide new insights into H. glycines biology and shed light onto the mystery underlying complex host-parasite interactions. This genome sequence is an important prerequisite to enable work towards generating new resistance or control measures against H. glycines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick Masonbrink
- Department of Plant Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA
- Genome Informatics Facility, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA
| | - Tom R. Maier
- Department of Plant Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA
| | - Usha Muppirala
- Department of Plant Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA
- Genome Informatics Facility, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA
| | - Arun S. Seetharam
- Department of Plant Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA
- Genome Informatics Facility, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA
| | - Etienne Lord
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC Canada
| | | | - Jeremy Schmutz
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA USA
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL USA
| | - Nathan T. Johnson
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA USA
| | - Dmitry Korkin
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA USA
- Department of Computer Science, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA USA
| | | | - Benjamin Mimee
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC Canada
| | | | - Matthew Hudson
- Department of Crop Sciences University of Illinois, Urbana, IL USA
| | | | - Thomas J. Baum
- Department of Plant Pathology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA USA
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40
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Fanelli E, Troccoli A, De Luca F. Functional Variation of Two Novel Cellulases, Pv-eng-5 and Pv-eng-8, and the Heat Shock 90 Gene, Pv-hsp-90, in Pratylenchus vulnus and Their Expression in Response to Different Temperature Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 20:E107. [PMID: 30597892 PMCID: PMC6337429 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20010107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional characterization of two novel endoglucanase genes, Pv-eng-5 and Pv-eng-8, of the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus vulnus was carried out. In situ-hybridization experiments revealed that Pv-eng-8 transcript was localized in the pharyngeal glands. Silencing of Pv-eng-5 and Pv-eng-8 resulted in a significant reduction of expression level (52% and 67%, respectively). Furthermore, the silencing of Pv-eng-8 determined a reduction (41%) in nematode reproduction, suggesting that treated nematodes are much less able to process food. Surprisingly, no significant difference on reproduction rate was observed with Pv-eng-5 dsRNA nematodes, suggesting a neofunctionalization of Pv-eng-5 despite the high similarity with nematode endoglucanases. Pratylenchus species are poikilothermic organisms showing close relationships with the environmental temperature. The effects of different temperature ranges revealed that the reproductive potential of P. vulnus increased with increasing temperature from 23 °C to 28 °C, but no reproduction was observed at 33 °C. In real time, increasing temperature from 23 °C to 28 °C the heat shock gene Pv-hsp-90 was differentially expressed in adult stages, while the levels of the effector genes Pv-eng-1 and Pv-eng-8 in females showed no significant differences compared to those observed at 23 °C, only in males Pv-eng-8 level decreased (45%). The upregulation of Pv-hsp-90 in both adult stages suggests a protective mechanism in order to cope with unfavorable environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Fanelli
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante (IPSP), SS-Bari, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy.
| | - Alberto Troccoli
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante (IPSP), SS-Bari, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy.
| | - Francesca De Luca
- Istituto per la Protezione Sostenibile delle Piante (IPSP), SS-Bari, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, (CNR), 70126 Bari, Italy.
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41
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Dong X, Chaisiri K, Xia D, Armstrong SD, Fang Y, Donnelly MJ, Kadowaki T, McGarry JW, Darby AC, Makepeace BL. Genomes of trombidid mites reveal novel predicted allergens and laterally transferred genes associated with secondary metabolism. Gigascience 2018; 7:5160133. [PMID: 30445460 PMCID: PMC6275457 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giy127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trombidid mites have a unique life cycle in which only the larval stage is ectoparasitic. In the superfamily Trombiculoidea ("chiggers"), the larvae feed preferentially on vertebrates, including humans. Species in the genus Leptotrombidium are vectors of a potentially fatal bacterial infection, scrub typhus, that affects 1 million people annually. Moreover, chiggers can cause pruritic dermatitis (trombiculiasis) in humans and domesticated animals. In the Trombidioidea (velvet mites), the larvae feed on other arthropods and are potential biological control agents for agricultural pests. Here, we present the first trombidid mites genomes, obtained both for a chigger, Leptotrombidium deliense, and for a velvet mite, Dinothrombium tinctorium. Results Sequencing was performed using Illumina technology. A 180 Mb draft assembly for D. tinctorium was generated from two paired-end and one mate-pair library using a single adult specimen. For L. deliense, a lower-coverage draft assembly (117 Mb) was obtained using pooled, engorged larvae with a single paired-end library. Remarkably, both genomes exhibited evidence of ancient lateral gene transfer from soil-derived bacteria or fungi. The transferred genes confer functions that are rare in animals, including terpene and carotenoid synthesis. Thirty-seven allergenic protein families were predicted in the L. deliense genome, of which nine were unique. Preliminary proteomic analyses identified several of these putative allergens in larvae. Conclusions Trombidid mite genomes appear to be more dynamic than those of other acariform mites. A priority for future research is to determine the biological function of terpene synthesis in this taxon and its potential for exploitation in disease control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Dong
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom.,Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China.,School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, China.,Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom
| | - Kittipong Chaisiri
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Dong Xia
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom.,The Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart D Armstrong
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom
| | - Yongxiang Fang
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - Martin J Donnelly
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom
| | - Tatsuhiko Kadowaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - John W McGarry
- Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L3 5RP, United Kingdom
| | - Alistair C Darby
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin L Makepeace
- Institute of Infection & Global Health, University of Liverpool, L3 5RF, United Kingdom
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42
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Brown AMV, Wasala SK, Howe DK, Peetz AB, Zasada IA, Denver DR. Comparative Genomics of Wolbachia- Cardinium Dual Endosymbiosis in a Plant-Parasitic Nematode. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2482. [PMID: 30459726 PMCID: PMC6232779 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Wolbachia and Cardinium are among the most important and widespread of all endosymbionts, occurring in nematodes and more than half of insect and arachnid species, sometimes as coinfections. These symbionts are of significant interest as potential biocontrol agents due to their abilities to cause major effects on host biology and reproduction through cytoplasmic incompatibility, sex ratio distortion, or obligate mutualism. The ecological and metabolic effects of coinfections are not well understood. This study examined a Wolbachia-Cardinium coinfection in the plant-parasitic nematode (PPN), Pratylenchus penetrans, producing the first detailed study of such a coinfection using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and comparative genomic analysis. Results from FISH and single-nematode PCR showed 123/127 individuals in a focal population carried Cardinium (denoted strain cPpe), and 48% were coinfected with Wolbachia strain wPpe. Both endosymbionts showed dispersed tissue distribution with highest densities in the anterior intestinal walls and gonads. Phylogenomic analyses confirmed an early place of cPpe and long distance from a sister strain in another PPN, Heterodera glycines, supporting a long history of both Cardinium and Wolbachia in PPNs. The genome of cPpe was 1.36 Mbp with 35.8% GC content, 1,131 predicted genes, 41% having no known function, and missing biotin and lipoate synthetic capacity and a plasmid present in other strains, despite having a slightly larger genome compared to other sequenced Cardinium. The larger genome revealed expansions of gene families likely involved in host-cellular interactions. More than 2% of the genes of cPpe and wPpe were identified as candidate horizontally transferred genes, with some of these from eukaryotes, including nematodes. A model of the possible Wolbachia-Cardinium interaction is proposed with possible complementation in function for pathways such as methionine and fatty acid biosynthesis and biotin transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M V Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Sulochana K Wasala
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Dana K Howe
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Amy B Peetz
- USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Inga A Zasada
- USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Dee R Denver
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
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43
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Siddique S, Grundler FM. Parasitic nematodes manipulate plant development to establish feeding sites. Curr Opin Microbiol 2018; 46:102-108. [PMID: 30326406 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cyst and root-knot nematodes, the two economically most important groups of plant parasitic nematodes, induce neoplastic feeding sites in the roots of their host plants. The formation of feeding sites is accompanied by large-scale transcriptomic, metabolomic, and structural changes in host plants. However, the mechanisms that lead to such remarkable changes have remained poorly understood until recently. Now, genomic and genetic analyses have greatly enhanced our understanding of all aspects of plant-nematode interaction. Here, we review some of the recent advances in understanding cyst and root-knot nematode parasitism. In particular, we highlight new findings on the role of plant hormones and small RNAs in nematode feeding site formation and function. Finally, we touch on our emerging understanding of the function of nematode-associated secretions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Siddique
- Molecular Phytomedicine, INRES, University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - Florian Mw Grundler
- Molecular Phytomedicine, INRES, University of Bonn, Karlrobert-Kreiten-Straße 13, D-53115 Bonn, Germany. grundler@uni.-bonn.de
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44
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A tale of three kingdoms: members of the Phylum Nematoda independently acquired the detoxifying enzyme cyanase through horizontal gene transfer from plants and bacteria. Parasitology 2018; 146:445-452. [PMID: 30301483 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018001701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has played an important role in the evolution of nematodes. Among candidate genes, cyanase, which is typically found only in plants, bacteria and fungi, is present in more than 35 members of the Phylum Nematoda, but absent from free-living and clade V organisms. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the cyanases of clade I organisms Trichinella spp., Trichuris spp. and Soboliphyme baturini (Subclass: Dorylaimia) represent a well-supported monophyletic clade with plant cyanases. In contrast, all cyanases found within the Subclass Chromadoria which encompasses filarioids, ascaridoids and strongyloids are homologous to those of bacteria. Western blots exhibited typical multimeric forms of the native molecule in protein extracts of Trichinella spiralis muscle larvae, where immunohistochemical staining localized the protein to the worm hypodermis and underlying muscle. Recombinant Trichinella cyanase was bioactive where gene transcription profiles support functional activity in vivo. Results suggest that: (1) independent HGT in parasitic nematodes originated from different Kingdoms; (2) cyanase acquired an active role in the biology of extant Trichinella; (3) acquisition occurred more than 400 million years ago (MYA), prior to the divergence of the Trichinellida and Dioctophymatida, and (4) early, free-living ancestors of the genus Trichinella had an association with terrestrial plants.
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45
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Abstract
Some of the most agriculturally important plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) harbor endosymbionts. Extensive work in other systems has shown that endosymbionts can have major effects on host virulence and biology. This review highlights the discovery, development, and diversity of PPN endosymbionts, incorporating inferences from genomic data. Cardinium, reported from five PPN hosts to date, is characterized by its presence in the esophageal glands and other tissues, with a discontinuous distribution across populations, and genomic data suggestive of horizontal gene exchange. Xiphinematobacter occurs in at least 27 species of dagger nematode in the ovaries and gut epithelial cells, where genomic data suggest it may serve in nutritional supplementation. Wolbachia, reported in just three PPNs, appears to have an ancient history in the Pratylenchidae and displays broad tissue distribution and genomic features intermediate between parasitic and reproductive groups. Finally, a model is described that integrates these insights to explain patterns of endosymbiont replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M V Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79410, USA;
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46
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Catharina L, Carels N. Specific enzyme functionalities of Fusarium oxysporum compared to host plants. Gene 2018; 676:219-226. [PMID: 29981422 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The genus Fusarium contains some of the most studied and important species of plant pathogens that economically affect world agriculture and horticulture. Fusarium spp. are ubiquitous fungi widely distributed in soil, plants as well as in different organic substrates and are also considered as opportunistic human pathogens. The identification of specific enzymes essential to the metabolism of these fungi is expected to provide molecular targets to control the diseases they induce to their hosts. Through applications of traditional techniques of sequence homology comparison by similarity search and Markov modeling, this report describes the characterization of enzymatic functionalities associated to protein targets that could be considered for the control of root rots induced by Fusarium oxysporum. From the analysis of 318 F. graminearum enzymes, we retrieved 30 enzymes that are specific of F. oxysporum compared to 15 species of host plants. By comparing these 30 specific enzymes of F. oxysporum with the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica rapa, Glycine max, Jatropha curcas and Ricinus communis, we found 7 key specific enzymes whose inhibition is expected to affect significantly the development of the fungus and 5 specific enzymes that were considered here to be secondary because they are inserted in pathways with alternative routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Catharina
- Laboratório de Modelagem de Sistemas Biológicos, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Inovação em Doenças de Populações Negligenciadas (INCT-IDPN), Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil, 4036, Prédio da Expansão, 8° andar, sala 814, CEP: 21040-361 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Nicolas Carels
- Laboratório de Modelagem de Sistemas Biológicos, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Inovação em Doenças de Populações Negligenciadas (INCT-IDPN), Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Av. Brasil, 4036, Prédio da Expansão, 8° andar, sala 814, CEP: 21040-361 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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47
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Hernandez AM, Ryan JF. Horizontally transferred genes in the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5067. [PMID: 29922518 PMCID: PMC6005172 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has had major impacts on the biology of a wide range of organisms from antibiotic resistance in bacteria to adaptations to herbivory in arthropods. A growing body of literature shows that HGT between non-animals and animals is more commonplace than previously thought. In this study, we present a thorough investigation of HGT in the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi. We applied tests of phylogenetic incongruence to identify nine genes that were likely transferred horizontally early in ctenophore evolution from bacteria and non-metazoan eukaryotes. All but one of these HGTs (an uncharacterized protein) are homologous to characterized enzymes, supporting previous observations that genes encoding enzymes are more likely to be retained after HGT events. We found that the majority of these nine horizontally transferred genes were expressed during development, suggesting that they are active and play a role in the biology of M. leidyi. This is the first report of HGT in ctenophores, and contributes to an ever-growing literature on the prevalence of genetic information flowing between non-animals and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Hernandez
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, St. Augustine, FL, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Joseph F Ryan
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, St. Augustine, FL, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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48
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Wybouw N, Van Leeuwen T, Dermauw W. A massive incorporation of microbial genes into the genome of Tetranychus urticae, a polyphagous arthropod herbivore. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 27:333-351. [PMID: 29377385 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
A number of horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) have been identified in the spider mite Tetranychus urticae, a chelicerate herbivore. However, the genome of this mite species has at present not been thoroughly mined for the presence of HGT genes. Here, we performed a systematic screen for HGT genes in the T. urticae genome using the h-index metric. Our results not only validated previously identified HGT genes but also uncovered 25 novel HGT genes. In addition to HGT genes with a predicted biochemical function in carbohydrate, lipid and folate metabolism, we also identified the horizontal transfer of a ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase and a pantoate β-alanine ligase gene. In plants and bacteria, both genes are essential for vitamin B5 biosynthesis and their presence in the mite genome strongly suggests that spider mites, similar to Bemisia tabaci and nematodes, can synthesize their own vitamin B5. We further show that HGT genes were physically embedded within the mite genome and were expressed in different life stages. By screening chelicerate genomes and transcriptomes, we were able to estimate the evolutionary histories of these HGTs during chelicerate evolution. Our study suggests that HGT has made a significant and underestimated impact on the metabolic repertoire of plant-feeding spider mites.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Wybouw
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - T Van Leeuwen
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - W Dermauw
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Shapiro JA. Living Organisms Author Their Read-Write Genomes in Evolution. BIOLOGY 2017; 6:E42. [PMID: 29211049 PMCID: PMC5745447 DOI: 10.3390/biology6040042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary variations generating phenotypic adaptations and novel taxa resulted from complex cellular activities altering genome content and expression: (i) Symbiogenetic cell mergers producing the mitochondrion-bearing ancestor of eukaryotes and chloroplast-bearing ancestors of photosynthetic eukaryotes; (ii) interspecific hybridizations and genome doublings generating new species and adaptive radiations of higher plants and animals; and, (iii) interspecific horizontal DNA transfer encoding virtually all of the cellular functions between organisms and their viruses in all domains of life. Consequently, assuming that evolutionary processes occur in isolated genomes of individual species has become an unrealistic abstraction. Adaptive variations also involved natural genetic engineering of mobile DNA elements to rewire regulatory networks. In the most highly evolved organisms, biological complexity scales with "non-coding" DNA content more closely than with protein-coding capacity. Coincidentally, we have learned how so-called "non-coding" RNAs that are rich in repetitive mobile DNA sequences are key regulators of complex phenotypes. Both biotic and abiotic ecological challenges serve as triggers for episodes of elevated genome change. The intersections of cell activities, biosphere interactions, horizontal DNA transfers, and non-random Read-Write genome modifications by natural genetic engineering provide a rich molecular and biological foundation for understanding how ecological disruptions can stimulate productive, often abrupt, evolutionary transformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Shapiro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago GCIS W123B, 979 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
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Lerner A, Matthias T, Aminov R. Potential Effects of Horizontal Gene Exchange in the Human Gut. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1630. [PMID: 29230215 PMCID: PMC5711824 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Many essential functions of the human body are dependent on the symbiotic microbiota, which is present at especially high numbers and diversity in the gut. This intricate host-microbe relationship is a result of the long-term coevolution between the two. While the inheritance of mutational changes in the host evolution is almost exclusively vertical, the main mechanism of bacterial evolution is horizontal gene exchange. The gut conditions, with stable temperature, continuous food supply, constant physicochemical conditions, extremely high concentration of microbial cells and phages, and plenty of opportunities for conjugation on the surfaces of food particles and host tissues, represent one of the most favorable ecological niches for horizontal gene exchange. Thus, the gut microbial system genetically is very dynamic and capable of rapid response, at the genetic level, to selection, for example, by antibiotics. There are many other factors to which the microbiota may dynamically respond including lifestyle, therapy, diet, refined food, food additives, consumption of pre- and probiotics, and many others. The impact of the changing selective pressures on gut microbiota, however, is poorly understood. Presumably, the gut microbiome responds to these changes by genetic restructuring of gut populations, driven mainly via horizontal gene exchange. Thus, our main goal is to reveal the role played by horizontal gene exchange in the changing landscape of the gastrointestinal microbiome and potential effect of these changes on human health in general and autoimmune diseases in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Lerner
- B. Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.,AESKU.KIPP Institute, Wendelsheim, Germany
| | | | - Rustam Aminov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia.,School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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