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Power JF, Carere CR, Welford HE, Hudson DT, Lee KC, Moreau JW, Ettema TJG, Reysenbach AL, Lee CK, Colman DR, Boyd ES, Morgan XC, McDonald IR, Craig Cary S, Stott MB. A genus in the bacterial phylum Aquificota appears to be endemic to Aotearoa-New Zealand. Nat Commun 2024; 15:179. [PMID: 38167814 PMCID: PMC10762115 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43960-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Allopatric speciation has been difficult to examine among microorganisms, with prior reports of endemism restricted to sub-genus level taxa. Previous microbial community analysis via 16S rRNA gene sequencing of 925 geothermal springs from the Taupō Volcanic Zone (TVZ), Aotearoa-New Zealand, revealed widespread distribution and abundance of a single bacterial genus across 686 of these ecosystems (pH 1.2-9.6 and 17.4-99.8 °C). Here, we present evidence to suggest that this genus, Venenivibrio (phylum Aquificota), is endemic to Aotearoa-New Zealand. A specific environmental niche that increases habitat isolation was identified, with maximal read abundance of Venenivibrio occurring at pH 4-6, 50-70 °C, and low oxidation-reduction potentials. This was further highlighted by genomic and culture-based analyses of the only characterised species for the genus, Venenivibrio stagnispumantis CP.B2T, which confirmed a chemolithoautotrophic metabolism dependent on hydrogen oxidation. While similarity between Venenivibrio populations illustrated that dispersal is not limited across the TVZ, extensive amplicon, metagenomic, and phylogenomic analyses of global microbial communities from DNA sequence databases indicates Venenivibrio is geographically restricted to the Aotearoa-New Zealand archipelago. We conclude that geographic isolation, complemented by physicochemical constraints, has resulted in the establishment of an endemic bacterial genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean F Power
- Thermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Carlo R Carere
- Te Tari Pūhanga Tukanga Matū | Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Holly E Welford
- Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora | School of Biological Sciences, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Daniel T Hudson
- Te Tari Moromoroiti me te Ārai Mate | Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou | University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Kevin C Lee
- Te Kura Pūtaiao | School of Science, Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau | Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 1010, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - John W Moreau
- School of Geographical & Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8RZ, UK
| | - Thijs J G Ettema
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, 6708, WE, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Charles K Lee
- Thermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Daniel R Colman
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Eric S Boyd
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
| | - Xochitl C Morgan
- Te Tari Moromoroiti me te Ārai Mate | Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou | University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, Aotearoa New Zealand
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ian R McDonald
- Thermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - S Craig Cary
- Thermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, Aotearoa New Zealand.
| | - Matthew B Stott
- Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora | School of Biological Sciences, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, Aotearoa New Zealand.
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2
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Kim HW, Kim NK, Phillips APR, Parker DA, Liu P, Whitaker RJ, Rao CV, Mackie RI. Genomic insight and physiological characterization of thermoacidophilic Alicyclobacillus isolated from Yellowstone National Park. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1232587. [PMID: 37822751 PMCID: PMC10562698 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1232587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Alicyclobacillus has been isolated from extreme environments such as hot springs, volcanoes, as well as pasteurized acidic beverages, because it can tolerate extreme temperatures and acidity. In our previous study, Alicyclobacillus was isolated during the enrichment of methane oxidizing bacteria from Yellowstone Hot Spring samples. Methods Physiological characterization and genomic exploration of two new Alicyclobacillus isolates, AL01A and AL05G, are the main focus of this study to identify their potential relationships with a thermoacidophilic methanotroph (Methylacidiphilum) isolated from the same hot spring sediments. Results and discussion In the present study, both Alicyclobacillus isolates showed optimal growth at pH 3.5 and 55°C, and contain ω-alicyclic fatty acids as a major lipid (ca. 60%) in the bacterial membrane. Genomic analysis of these strains revealed specific genes and pathways that the methanotroph genome does not have in the intermediary carbon metabolism pathway such as serC (phosphoserine aminotransferase), comA (phosphosulfolactate synthase), and DAK (glycerone kinase). Both Alicyclobacillus strains were also found to contain transporter systems for extracellular sulfate (ABC transporter), suggesting that they could play an important role in sulfur metabolism in this extreme environment. Genomic analysis of vitamin metabolism revealed Alicyclobacillus and Methylacidiphilum are able to complement each other's nutritional deficiencies, resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship, especially in vitamin B1(thiamin), B3 (niacin), and B7 (biotin) metabolism. These findings provide insights into the role of Alicyclobacillus isolates in geothermal environments and their unique metabolic adaptations to these environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Won Kim
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, Energy and Biosciences Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Na Kyung Kim
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, Energy and Biosciences Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Alex P. R. Phillips
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - David A. Parker
- Materials Research Laboratory, Energy and Biosciences Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Westhollow Technology Center, Shell Exploration and Production Inc., Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ping Liu
- Materials Research Laboratory, Energy and Biosciences Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Westhollow Technology Center, Shell Exploration and Production Inc., Houston, TX, United States
| | - Rachel J. Whitaker
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Christopher V. Rao
- Materials Research Laboratory, Energy and Biosciences Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Roderick I. Mackie
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Materials Research Laboratory, Energy and Biosciences Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
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Papudeshi B, Rusch DB, VanInsberghe D, Lively CM, Edwards RA, Bashey F. Host Association and Spatial Proximity Shape but Do Not Constrain Population Structure in the Mutualistic Symbiont Xenorhabdus bovienii. mBio 2023:e0043423. [PMID: 37154562 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00434-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
To what extent are generalist species cohesive evolutionary units rather than a compilation of recently diverged lineages? We examine this question in the context of host specificity and geographic structure in the insect pathogen and nematode mutualist Xenorhabdus bovienii. This bacterial species partners with multiple nematode species across two clades in the genus Steinernema. We sequenced the genomes of 42 X. bovienii strains isolated from four different nematode species and three field sites within a 240-km2 region and compared them to globally available reference genomes. We hypothesized that X. bovienii would comprise several host-specific lineages, such that bacterial and nematode phylogenies would be largely congruent. Alternatively, we hypothesized that spatial proximity might be a dominant signal, as increasing geographic distance might lower shared selective pressures and opportunities for gene flow. We found partial support for both hypotheses. Isolates clustered largely by nematode host species but did not strictly match the nematode phylogeny, indicating that shifts in symbiont associations across nematode species and clades have occurred. Furthermore, both genetic similarity and gene flow decreased with geographic distance across nematode species, suggesting differentiation and constraints on gene flow across both factors, although no absolute barriers to gene flow were observed across the regional isolates. Several genes associated with biotic interactions were found to be undergoing selective sweeps within this regional population. The interactions included several insect toxins and genes implicated in microbial competition. Thus, gene flow maintains cohesiveness across host associations in this symbiont and may facilitate adaptive responses to a multipartite selective environment. IMPORTANCE Microbial populations and species are notoriously hard to delineate. We used a population genomics approach to examine the population structure and the spatial scale of gene flow in Xenorhabdus bovienii, an intriguing species that is both a specialized mutualistic symbiont of nematodes and a broadly virulent insect pathogen. We found a strong signature of nematode host association, as well as evidence for gene flow connecting isolates associated with different nematode host species and collected from distinct study sites. Furthermore, we saw signatures of selective sweeps for genes involved with nematode host associations, insect pathogenicity, and microbial competition. Thus, X. bovienii exemplifies the growing consensus that recombination not only maintains cohesion but can also allow the spread of niche-beneficial alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavya Papudeshi
- Flinders Accelerator for Microbiome Exploration, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
- National Centre for Genome Analysis Support, Pervasive Institute of Technology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Douglas B Rusch
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Curtis M Lively
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Robert A Edwards
- Flinders Accelerator for Microbiome Exploration, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Farrah Bashey
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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4
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Power JF, Lowe CL, Carere CR, McDonald IR, Cary SC, Stott MB. Temporal dynamics of geothermal microbial communities in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1094311. [PMID: 37020721 PMCID: PMC10068964 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1094311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial biogeography studies, in particular for geothermal-associated habitats, have focused on spatial patterns and/or individual sites, which have limited ability to describe the dynamics of ecosystem behaviour. Here, we report the first comprehensive temporal study of bacterial and archaeal communities from an extensive range of geothermal features in Aotearoa-New Zealand. One hundred and fifteen water column samples from 31 geothermal ecosystems were taken over a 34-month period to ascertain microbial community stability (control sites), community response to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances in the local environment (disturbed sites) and temporal variation in spring diversity across different pH values (pH 3, 5, 7, 9) all at a similar temperature of 60–70°C (pH sites). Identical methodologies were employed to measure microbial diversity via 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, along with 44 physicochemical parameters from each feature, to ensure confidence in comparing samples across timeframes. Our results indicated temperature and associated groundwater physicochemistry were the most likely parameters to vary stochastically in these geothermal features, with community abundances rather than composition more readily affected by a changing environment. However, variation in pH (pH ±1) had a more significant effect on community structure than temperature (±20°C), with alpha diversity failing to adequately measure temporal microbial disparity in geothermal features outside of circumneutral conditions. While a substantial physicochemical disturbance was required to shift community structures at the phylum level, geothermal ecosystems were resilient at this broad taxonomic rank and returned to a pre-disturbed state if environmental conditions re-established. These findings highlight the diverse controls between different microbial communities within the same habitat-type, expanding our understanding of temporal dynamics in extreme ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean F. Power
- Thermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Caitlin L. Lowe
- Thermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Carlo R. Carere
- Te Tari Pūhanga Tukanga Matū | Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Aotearoa-New Zealand
| | - Ian R. McDonald
- Thermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - S. Craig Cary
- Thermophile Research Unit, Te Aka Mātuatua | School of Science, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
- S. Craig Cary,
| | - Matthew B. Stott
- Biomolecular Interaction Centre, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Aotearoa-New Zealand
- Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora | School of Biological Sciences, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
- *Correspondence: Matthew B. Stott,
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5
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Peach JT, Mueller RC, Skorupa DJ, Mesle MM, Kanta S, Boltinghouse E, Sharon B, Copié V, Bothner B, Peyton BM. Longitudinal analysis of the Five Sisters hot springs in Yellowstone National Park reveals a dynamic thermoalkaline environment. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18707. [PMID: 36333441 PMCID: PMC9636164 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22047-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Research focused on microbial populations of thermoalkaline springs has been driven in a large part by the lure of discovering functional enzymes with industrial applications in high-pH and high temperature environments. While several studies have focused on understanding the fundamental ecology of these springs, the small molecule profiles of thermoalkaline springs have largely been overlooked. To better understand how geochemistry, small molecule composition, and microbial communities are connected, we conducted a three-year study of the Five Sisters (FS) springs that included high-resolution geochemical measurements, 16S rRNA sequencing of the bacterial and archaeal community, and mass spectrometry-based metabolite and extracellular small molecule characterization. Integration of the four datasets facilitated a comprehensive analysis of the interwoven thermoalkaline spring system. Over the course of the study, the microbial population responded to changing environmental conditions, with archaeal populations decreasing in both relative abundance and diversity compared to bacterial populations. Decreases in the relative abundance of Archaea were associated with environmental changes that included decreased availability of specific nitrogen- and sulfur-containing extracellular small molecules and fluctuations in metabolic pathways associated with nitrogen cycling. This multi-factorial analysis demonstrates that the microbial community composition is more closely correlated with pools of extracellular small molecules than with the geochemistry of the thermal springs. This is a novel finding and suggests that a previously overlooked component of thermal springs may have a significant impact on microbial community composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse T. Peach
- grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
| | - Rebecca C. Mueller
- grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA ,grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
| | - Dana J. Skorupa
- grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA ,grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
| | - Margaux M. Mesle
- grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA ,grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
| | - Sutton Kanta
- grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
| | - Eric Boltinghouse
- grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
| | - Bailey Sharon
- grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
| | - Valerie Copié
- grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
| | - Brian Bothner
- grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA ,grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
| | - Brent M. Peyton
- grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA ,grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Chemical and Biological Engineering Department, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA ,grid.41891.350000 0001 2156 6108Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 USA
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6
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Wirth J, Young M. Viruses in Subsurface Environments. Annu Rev Virol 2022; 9:99-119. [PMID: 36173700 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-093020-015957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, our knowledge of virus diversity and abundance in subsurface environments has expanded dramatically through application of quantitative metagenomic approaches. In most subsurface environments, viral diversity and abundance rival viral diversity and abundance observed in surface environments. Most of these viruses are uncharacterized in terms of their hosts and replication cycles. Analysis of accessory metabolic genes encoded by subsurface viruses indicates that they evolved to replicate within the unique features of their environments. The key question remains: What role do these viruses play in the ecology and evolution of the environments in which they replicate? Undoubtedly, as more virologists examine the role of viruses in subsurface environments, new insights will emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Wirth
- Department of Plant Science and Plant Pathology and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA;
| | - Mark Young
- Department of Plant Science and Plant Pathology and Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA;
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7
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DeWerff SJ, Zhang C, Schneider J, Whitaker RJ. Intraspecific antagonism through viral toxin encoded by chronic Sulfolobus spindle-shaped virus. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20200476. [PMID: 34839697 PMCID: PMC8628083 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus-host interactions evolve along a symbiosis continuum from antagonism to mutualism. Long-term associations between virus and host, such as those in chronic infection, will select for traits that drive the interaction towards mutualism, especially when susceptible hosts are rare in the population. Virus-host mutualism has been demonstrated in thermophilic archaeal populations where Sulfolobus spindle-shaped viruses (SSVs) provide a competitive advantage to their host Sulfolobus islandicus by producing a toxin that kills uninfected strains. Here, we determine the genetic basis of this killing phenotype by identifying highly transcribed genes in cells that are chronically infected with a diversity of SSVs. We demonstrate that these genes alone confer growth inhibition by being expressed in uninfected cells via a Sulfolobus expression plasmid. Challenge of chronically infected strains with vector-expressed toxins revealed a nested network of cross-toxicity among divergent SSVs, with both broad and specific toxin efficacies. This suggests that competition between viruses and/or their hosts could maintain toxin diversity. We propose that competitive interactions among chronic viruses to promote their host fitness form the basis of virus-host mutualism. This article is part of the theme issue 'The secret lives of microbial mobile genetic elements'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J. DeWerff
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Changyi Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - John Schneider
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Rachel J. Whitaker
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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8
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Genome Sequence of a Thermoacidophilic Methanotroph Belonging to the Verrucomicrobiota Phylum from Geothermal Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park: A Metagenomic Assembly and Reconstruction. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10010142. [PMID: 35056591 PMCID: PMC8779874 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Verrucomicrobiotal methanotrophs are thermoacidophilic methane oxidizers that have been isolated from volcanic and geothermal regions of the world. We used a metagenomic approach that entailed obtaining the whole genome sequence of a verrucomicrobiotal methanotroph from a microbial consortium enriched from samples obtained from Nymph Lake (89.9 °C, pH 2.73) in Yellowstone National Park in the USA. To identify and reconstruct the verrucomicrobiotal genome from Illumina NovaSeq 6000 sequencing data, we constructed a bioinformatic pipeline with various combinations of de novo assembly, alignment, and binning algorithms. Based on the marker gene (pmoA), we identified and assembled the Candidatus Methylacidiphilum sp. YNP IV genome (2.47 Mbp, 2392 ORF, and 41.26% GC content). In a comparison of average nucleotide identity between Ca. Methylacidiphilum sp. YNP IV and Ca. Methylacidiphilum fumariolicum SolV, its closest 16S rRNA gene sequence relative, is lower than 95%, suggesting that Ca. Methylacidiphilum sp. YNP IV can be regarded as a different species. The Ca. Methylacidiphilum sp. YNP IV genome assembly showed most of the key genes for methane metabolism, the CBB pathway for CO2 fixation, nitrogen fixation and assimilation, hydrogenases, and rare earth elements transporter, as well as defense mechanisms. The assembly and reconstruction of a thermoacidophilic methanotroph belonging to the Verrucomicrobiota phylum from a geothermal environment adds further evidence and knowledge concerning the diversity of biological methane oxidation and on the adaptation of this geochemically relevant reaction in extreme environments.
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9
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Lewis AM, Recalde A, Bräsen C, Counts JA, Nussbaum P, Bost J, Schocke L, Shen L, Willard DJ, Quax TEF, Peeters E, Siebers B, Albers SV, Kelly RM. The biology of thermoacidophilic archaea from the order Sulfolobales. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:fuaa063. [PMID: 33476388 PMCID: PMC8557808 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuaa063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermoacidophilic archaea belonging to the order Sulfolobales thrive in extreme biotopes, such as sulfuric hot springs and ore deposits. These microorganisms have been model systems for understanding life in extreme environments, as well as for probing the evolution of both molecular genetic processes and central metabolic pathways. Thermoacidophiles, such as the Sulfolobales, use typical microbial responses to persist in hot acid (e.g. motility, stress response, biofilm formation), albeit with some unusual twists. They also exhibit unique physiological features, including iron and sulfur chemolithoautotrophy, that differentiate them from much of the microbial world. Although first discovered >50 years ago, it was not until recently that genome sequence data and facile genetic tools have been developed for species in the Sulfolobales. These advances have not only opened up ways to further probe novel features of these microbes but also paved the way for their potential biotechnological applications. Discussed here are the nuances of the thermoacidophilic lifestyle of the Sulfolobales, including their evolutionary placement, cell biology, survival strategies, genetic tools, metabolic processes and physiological attributes together with how these characteristics make thermoacidophiles ideal platforms for specialized industrial processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- April M Lewis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Alejandra Recalde
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Bräsen
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - James A Counts
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Phillip Nussbaum
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jan Bost
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Larissa Schocke
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel J Willard
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Tessa E F Quax
- Archaeal Virus–Host Interactions, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eveline Peeters
- Research Group of Microbiology, Department of Bioengineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bettina Siebers
- Department of Molecular Enzyme Technology and Biochemistry, Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany
| | - Sonja-Verena Albers
- Institute for Biology, Molecular Biology of Archaea, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert M Kelly
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University. Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
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10
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Reichart NJ, Bowers RM, Woyke T, Hatzenpichler R. High Potential for Biomass-Degrading Enzymes Revealed by Hot Spring Metagenomics. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:668238. [PMID: 33968004 PMCID: PMC8098120 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.668238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Enzyme stability and activity at elevated temperatures are important aspects in biotechnological industries, such as the conversion of plant biomass into biofuels. In order to reduce the costs and increase the efficiency of biomass conversion, better enzymatic processing must be developed. Hot springs represent a treasure trove of underexplored microbiological and protein chemistry diversity. Herein, we conduct an exploratory study into the diversity of hot spring biomass-degrading potential. We describe the taxonomic diversity and carbohydrate active enzyme (CAZyme) coding potential in 71 publicly available metagenomic datasets from 58 globally distributed terrestrial geothermal features. Through taxonomic profiling, we detected a wide diversity of microbes unique to varying temperature and pH ranges. Biomass-degrading enzyme potential included all five classes of CAZymes and we described the presence or absence of genes encoding 19 glycosyl hydrolases hypothesized to be involved with cellulose, hemicellulose, and oligosaccharide degradation. Our results highlight hot springs as a promising system for the further discovery and development of thermo-stable biomass-degrading enzymes that can be applied toward generation of renewable biofuels. This study lays a foundation for future research to further investigate the functional diversity of hot spring biomass-degrading enzymes and their potential utility in biotechnological processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Reichart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States.,Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States.,Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Robert M Bowers
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Tanja Woyke
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Roland Hatzenpichler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States.,Thermal Biology Institute, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States.,Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
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11
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The network structure and eco-evolutionary dynamics of CRISPR-induced immune diversification. Nat Ecol Evol 2020; 4:1650-1660. [PMID: 33077929 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-01312-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
As a heritable sequence-specific adaptive immune system, CRISPR-Cas is a powerful force shaping strain diversity in host-virus systems. While the diversity of CRISPR alleles has been explored, the associated structure and dynamics of host-virus interactions have not. We explore the role of CRISPR in mediating the interplay between host-virus interaction structure and eco-evolutionary dynamics in a computational model and compare the results with three empirical datasets from natural systems. We show that the structure of the networks describing who infects whom and the degree to which strains are immune, are respectively modular (containing groups of hosts and viruses that interact strongly) and weighted-nested (specialist hosts are more susceptible to subsets of viruses that in turn also infect the more generalist hosts with many spacers matching many viruses). The dynamic interplay between these networks influences transitions between dynamical regimes of virus diversification and host control. The three empirical systems exhibit weighted-nested immunity networks, a pattern our theory shows is indicative of hosts able to suppress virus diversification. Previously missing from studies of microbial host-pathogen systems, the immunity network plays a key role in the coevolutionary dynamics.
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12
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Weitzel CS, Li L, Zhang C, Eilts KK, Bretz NM, Gatten AL, Whitaker RJ, Martinis SA. Duplication of leucyl-tRNA synthetase in an archaeal extremophile may play a role in adaptation to variable environmental conditions. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:4563-4576. [PMID: 32102848 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) are ancient enzymes that play a fundamental role in protein synthesis. They catalyze the esterification of specific amino acids to the 3'-end of their cognate tRNAs and therefore play a pivotal role in protein synthesis. Although previous studies suggest that aaRS-dependent errors in protein synthesis can be beneficial to some microbial species, evidence that reduced aaRS fidelity can be adaptive is limited. Using bioinformatics analyses, we identified two distinct leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS) genes within all genomes of the archaeal family Sulfolobaceae. Remarkably, one copy, designated LeuRS-I, had key amino acid substitutions within its editing domain that would be expected to disrupt hydrolytic editing of mischarged tRNALeu and to result in variation within the proteome of these extremophiles. We found that another copy, LeuRS-F, contains canonical active sites for aminoacylation and editing. Biochemical and genetic analyses of the paralogs within Sulfolobus islandicus supported the hypothesis that LeuRS-F, but not LeuRS-I, functions as an essential tRNA synthetase that accurately charges leucine to tRNALeu for protein translation. Although LeuRS-I was not essential, its expression clearly supported optimal S. islandicus growth. We conclude that LeuRS-I may have evolved to confer a selective advantage under the extreme and fluctuating environmental conditions characteristic of the volcanic hot springs in which these archaeal extremophiles reside.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Li Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801.,Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Changyi Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Kristen K Eilts
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois 61761
| | - Nicholas M Bretz
- Department of Chemistry, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois 61761
| | - Alex L Gatten
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Rachel J Whitaker
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
| | - Susan A Martinis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801.,Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
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13
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Pauly MD, Bautista MA, Black JA, Whitaker RJ. Diversified local CRISPR-Cas immunity to viruses of Sulfolobus islandicus. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20180093. [PMID: 30905292 PMCID: PMC6452263 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The population diversity and structure of CRISPR-Cas immunity provides key insights into virus-host interactions. Here, we examined two geographically and genetically distinct natural populations of the thermophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus islandicus and their interactions with Sulfolobus spindle-shaped viruses (SSVs) and S. islandicus rod-shaped viruses (SIRVs). We found that both virus families can be targeted with high population distributed immunity, whereby most immune strains target a virus using unique unshared CRISPR spacers. In Kamchatka, Russia, we observed high immunity to chronic SSVs that increases over time. In this context, we found that some SSVs had shortened genomes lacking genes that are highly targeted by the S. islandicus population, indicating a potential mechanism of immune evasion. By contrast, in Yellowstone National Park, we found high inter- and intra-strain immune diversity targeting lytic SIRVs and low immunity to chronic SSVs. In this population, we observed evidence of SIRVs evolving immunity through mutations concentrated in the first five bases of protospacers. These results indicate that diversity and structure of antiviral CRISPR-Cas immunity for a single microbial species can differ by both the population and virus type, and suggest that different virus families use different mechanisms to evade CRISPR-Cas immunity. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The ecology and evolution of prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Pauly
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 601 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Maria A. Bautista
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 601 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Jesse A. Black
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 601 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Rachel J. Whitaker
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 601 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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14
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Power JF, Carere CR, Lee CK, Wakerley GLJ, Evans DW, Button M, White D, Climo MD, Hinze AM, Morgan XC, McDonald IR, Cary SC, Stott MB. Microbial biogeography of 925 geothermal springs in New Zealand. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2876. [PMID: 30038374 PMCID: PMC6056493 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05020-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Geothermal springs are model ecosystems to investigate microbial biogeography as they represent discrete, relatively homogenous habitats, are distributed across multiple geographical scales, span broad geochemical gradients, and have reduced metazoan interactions. Here, we report the largest known consolidated study of geothermal ecosystems to determine factors that influence biogeographical patterns. We measured bacterial and archaeal community composition, 46 physicochemical parameters, and metadata from 925 geothermal springs across New Zealand (13.9–100.6 °C and pH < 1–9.7). We determined that diversity is primarily influenced by pH at temperatures <70 °C; with temperature only having a significant effect for values >70 °C. Further, community dissimilarity increases with geographic distance, with niche selection driving assembly at a localised scale. Surprisingly, two genera (Venenivibrio and Acidithiobacillus) dominated in both average relative abundance (11.2% and 11.1%, respectively) and prevalence (74.2% and 62.9%, respectively). These findings provide an unprecedented insight into ecological behaviour in geothermal springs, and a foundation to improve the characterisation of microbial biogeographical processes. Power et al. catalogue the microbial biodiversity and physicochemistry of around 1000 hotsprings across New Zealand, providing insights into the ecological conditions that drive community assembly in these ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean F Power
- Geomicrobiology Research Group, Department of Geothermal Sciences, GNS Science, Taupō, 3384, New Zealand.,Thermophile Research Unit, School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Carlo R Carere
- Geomicrobiology Research Group, Department of Geothermal Sciences, GNS Science, Taupō, 3384, New Zealand.,Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand
| | - Charles K Lee
- Thermophile Research Unit, School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Georgia L J Wakerley
- Thermophile Research Unit, School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - David W Evans
- Geomicrobiology Research Group, Department of Geothermal Sciences, GNS Science, Taupō, 3384, New Zealand
| | - Mathew Button
- Department of Computer Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Duncan White
- Wairakei Research Centre, GNS Science, Taupō, 3384, New Zealand
| | - Melissa D Climo
- Wairakei Research Centre, GNS Science, Taupō, 3384, New Zealand.,School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand
| | - Annika M Hinze
- Department of Computer Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Xochitl C Morgan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Ian R McDonald
- Thermophile Research Unit, School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - S Craig Cary
- Thermophile Research Unit, School of Science, University of Waikato, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand.
| | - Matthew B Stott
- Geomicrobiology Research Group, Department of Geothermal Sciences, GNS Science, Taupō, 3384, New Zealand. .,School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand.
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15
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Anderson RE, Kouris A, Seward CH, Campbell KM, Whitaker RJ. Structured Populations of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius with Susceptibility to Mobile Genetic Elements. Genome Biol Evol 2018. [PMID: 28633403 PMCID: PMC5554439 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The impact of a structured environment on genome evolution can be determined through comparative population genomics of species that live in the same habitat. Recent work comparing three genome sequences of Sulfolobus acidocaldarius suggested that highly structured, extreme, hot spring environments do not limit dispersal of this thermoacidophile, in contrast to other co-occurring Sulfolobus species. Instead, a high level of conservation among these three S. acidocaldarius genomes was hypothesized to result from rapid, global-scale dispersal promoted by low susceptibility to viruses that sets S. acidocaldarius apart from its sister Sulfolobus species. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a comparative analysis of 47 genomes of S. acidocaldarius from spatial and temporal sampling of two hot springs in Yellowstone National Park. While we confirm the low diversity in the core genome, we observe differentiation among S. acidocaldarius populations, likely resulting from low migration among hot spring “islands” in Yellowstone National Park. Patterns of genomic variation indicate that differing geological contexts result in the elimination or preservation of diversity among differentiated populations. We observe multiple deletions associated with a large genomic island rich in glycosyltransferases, differential integrations of the Sulfolobus turreted icosahedral virus, as well as two different plasmid elements. These data demonstrate that neither rapid dispersal nor lack of mobile genetic elements result in low diversity in the S. acidocaldarius genomes. We suggest instead that significant differences in the recent evolutionary history, or the intrinsic evolutionary rates, of sister Sulfolobus species result in the relatively low diversity of the S. acidocaldarius genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rika E Anderson
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.,Biology Department, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota
| | - Angela Kouris
- Energy, Bioengineering and Geomicrobiology Group, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Christopher H Seward
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
| | - Kate M Campbell
- U.S. Geological Survey National Research Program, Boulder, Colorado
| | - Rachel J Whitaker
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.,Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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