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Ariaeenejad S, Gharechahi J, Foroozandeh Shahraki M, Fallah Atanaki F, Han JL, Ding XZ, Hildebrand F, Bahram M, Kavousi K, Hosseini Salekdeh G. Precision enzyme discovery through targeted mining of metagenomic data. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2024; 14:7. [PMID: 38200389 PMCID: PMC10781932 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-023-00426-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Metagenomics has opened new avenues for exploring the genetic potential of uncultured microorganisms, which may serve as promising sources of enzymes and natural products for industrial applications. Identifying enzymes with improved catalytic properties from the vast amount of available metagenomic data poses a significant challenge that demands the development of novel computational and functional screening tools. The catalytic properties of all enzymes are primarily dictated by their structures, which are predominantly determined by their amino acid sequences. However, this aspect has not been fully considered in the enzyme bioprospecting processes. With the accumulating number of available enzyme sequences and the increasing demand for discovering novel biocatalysts, structural and functional modeling can be employed to identify potential enzymes with novel catalytic properties. Recent efforts to discover new polysaccharide-degrading enzymes from rumen metagenome data using homology-based searches and machine learning-based models have shown significant promise. Here, we will explore various computational approaches that can be employed to screen and shortlist metagenome-derived enzymes as potential biocatalyst candidates, in conjunction with the wet lab analytical methods traditionally used for enzyme characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shohreh Ariaeenejad
- Department of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran
| | - Javad Gharechahi
- Human Genetics Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Foroozandeh Shahraki
- Laboratory of Complex Biological Systems and Bioinformatics (CBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Fallah Atanaki
- Laboratory of Complex Biological Systems and Bioinformatics (CBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jian-Lin Han
- Livestock Genetics Program, International Livestock Research, Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
- CAAS-ILRI Joint Laboratory On Livestock and Forage Genetic Resources, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xue-Zhi Ding
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou, 730050, China
| | - Falk Hildebrand
- Gut Microbes and Health, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
- Digital Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Mohammad Bahram
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls Väg 16, 756 51, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 40 Lai St, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kaveh Kavousi
- Laboratory of Complex Biological Systems and Bioinformatics (CBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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Mullins E, Bresson J, Dalmay T, Dewhurst IC, Epstein MM, Firbank LG, Guerche P, Hejatko J, Naegeli H, Moreno FJ, Nogué F, Rostoks N, Sánchez Serrano JJ, Savoini G, Veromann E, Veronesi F, Ardizzone M, De Sanctis G, Fernández A, Gennaro A, Gómez Ruiz JÁ, Goumperis T, Kagli DM, Lenzi P, Lewandowska A, Camargo AM, Neri FM, Papadopoulou N, Raffaello T. Assessment of genetically modified cotton COT102 for food and feed uses, under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (application EFSA-GMO-DE-2017-141). EFSA J 2023; 21:e08031. [PMID: 37377664 PMCID: PMC10291446 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetically modified cotton COT102 was developed to confer resistance against several lepidopteran species. The molecular characterisation data and bioinformatic analyses do not identify issues requiring food/feed safety assessment. None of the differences in the agronomic-phenotypic and compositional characteristics between cotton COT102 and its non-GM comparator needs further assessment, except for levels of acid detergent fibre, which do not raise safety or nutritional concerns. The GMO Panel does not identify safety concerns regarding the toxicity and allergenicity of the Vip3Aa19 and APH4 proteins as expressed in cotton COT102 and finds no evidence that the genetic modification would change the overall allergenicity of cotton COT102. In the context of this application, the consumption of food and feed from cotton COT102 does not represent a nutritional concern for humans and animals. The GMO Panel concludes that cotton COT102 is as safe as the non-GM comparator and non-GM cotton varieties tested, and no post-market monitoring of food/feed is considered necessary. In the case of accidental release of viable cotton COT102 seeds into the environment, this would not raise environmental safety concerns. The post-market environmental monitoring plan and reporting intervals are in line with the intended uses of cotton COT102. The GMO Panel concludes that cotton COT102 is as safe as its non-GM comparator and the tested non-GM cotton varieties with respect to potential effects on human and animal health and the environment.
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Elbehery AHA, Beason E, Siam R. Metagenomic profiling of antibiotic resistance genes in Red Sea brine pools. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:195. [PMID: 37061654 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03531-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance (AR) is an alarming global health concern, causing an annual death rate of more than 35,000 deaths in the US. AR is a natural phenomenon, reported in several pristine environments. In this study, we report AR in pristine Red Sea deep brine pools. Antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) were detected for several drug classes with tetracycline and macrolide resistance being the most abundant. As expected, ARGs abundance increased in accordance with the level of human impact with pristine Red Sea samples having the lowest mean ARG level followed by estuary samples, while activated sludge samples showed a significantly higher ARG level. ARG hierarchical clustering grouped drug classes for which resistance was detected in Atlantis II Deep brine pool independent of the rest of the samples. ARG abundance was significantly lower in the Discovery Deep brine pool. A correlation between integrons and ARGs abundance in brine pristine samples could be detected, while insertion sequences and plasmids showed a correlation with ARGs abundance in human-impacted samples not seen in brine pristine samples. This suggests different roles of distinct mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in ARG distribution in pristine versus human-impacted sites. Additionally, we showed the presence of mobile antibiotic resistance genes in the Atlantis II brine pool as evidenced by the co-existence of integrases and plasmid replication proteins on the same contigs harboring predicted multidrug-resistant efflux pumps. This study addresses the role of non-pathogenic environmental bacteria as a silent reservoir for ARGs, and the possible horizontal gene transfer mechanism mediating ARG acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali H A Elbehery
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.
| | - Elisabeth Beason
- University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Basseterre, West Indies, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Rania Siam
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
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Fisher JF, Mobashery S. β-Lactams from the Ocean. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:86. [PMID: 36827127 PMCID: PMC9963991 DOI: 10.3390/md21020086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The title of this essay is as much a question as it is a statement. The discovery of the β-lactam antibiotics-including penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems-as largely (if not exclusively) secondary metabolites of terrestrial fungi and bacteria, transformed modern medicine. The antibiotic β-lactams inactivate essential enzymes of bacterial cell-wall biosynthesis. Moreover, the ability of the β-lactams to function as enzyme inhibitors is of such great medical value, that inhibitors of the enzymes which degrade hydrolytically the β-lactams, the β-lactamases, have equal value. Given this privileged status for the β-lactam ring, it is therefore a disappointment that the exemplification of this ring in marine secondary metabolites is sparse. It may be that biologically active marine β-lactams are there, and simply have yet to be encountered. In this report, we posit a second explanation: that the value of the β-lactam to secure an ecological advantage in the marine environment might be compromised by its close structural similarity to the β-lactones of quorum sensing. The steric and reactivity similarities between the β-lactams and the β-lactones represent an outside-of-the-box opportunity for correlating new structures and new enzyme targets for the discovery of compelling biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed F Fisher
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, 354 McCourtney Hall, University of Note Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46656-5670, USA
| | - Shahriar Mobashery
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, 354 McCourtney Hall, University of Note Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46656-5670, USA
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Metagenomic Approaches as a Tool to Unravel Promising Biocatalysts from Natural Resources: Soil and Water. Catalysts 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/catal12040385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural resources are considered a promising source of microorganisms responsible for producing biocatalysts with great relevance in several industrial areas. However, a significant fraction of the environmental microorganisms remains unknown or unexploited due to the limitations associated with their cultivation in the laboratory through classical techniques. Metagenomics has emerged as an innovative and strategic approach to explore these unculturable microorganisms through the analysis of DNA extracted from environmental samples. In this review, a detailed discussion is presented on the application of metagenomics to unravel the biotechnological potential of natural resources for the discovery of promising biocatalysts. An extensive bibliographic survey was carried out between 2010 and 2021, covering diverse metagenomic studies using soil and/or water samples from different types and locations. The review comprises, for the first time, an overview of the worldwide metagenomic studies performed in soil and water and provides a complete and global vision of the enzyme diversity associated with each specific environment.
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Renn D, Shepard L, Vancea A, Karan R, Arold ST, Rueping M. Novel Enzymes From the Red Sea Brine Pools: Current State and Potential. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:732856. [PMID: 34777282 PMCID: PMC8578733 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.732856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Red Sea is a marine environment with unique chemical characteristics and physical topographies. Among the various habitats offered by the Red Sea, the deep-sea brine pools are the most extreme in terms of salinity, temperature and metal contents. Nonetheless, the brine pools host rich polyextremophilic bacterial and archaeal communities. These microbial communities are promising sources for various classes of enzymes adapted to harsh environments - extremozymes. Extremozymes are emerging as novel biocatalysts for biotechnological applications due to their ability to perform catalytic reactions under harsh biophysical conditions, such as those used in many industrial processes. In this review, we provide an overview of the extremozymes from different Red Sea brine pools and discuss the overall biotechnological potential of the Red Sea proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Renn
- KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC), Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lera Shepard
- KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC), Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexandra Vancea
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ram Karan
- KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC), Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stefan T. Arold
- Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Centre de Biologie Structurale, CNRS, INSERM, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Magnus Rueping
- KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC), Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging (ExMI), University Clinic, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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Imchen M, Moopantakath J, Kumavath R, Barh D, Tiwari S, Ghosh P, Azevedo V. Current Trends in Experimental and Computational Approaches to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance. Front Genet 2020; 11:563975. [PMID: 33240317 PMCID: PMC7677515 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.563975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A multitude of factors, such as drug misuse, lack of strong regulatory measures, improper sewage disposal, and low-quality medicine and medications, have been attributed to the emergence of drug resistant microbes. The emergence and outbreaks of multidrug resistance to last-line antibiotics has become quite common. This is further fueled by the slow rate of drug development and the lack of effective resistome surveillance systems. In this review, we provide insights into the recent advances made in computational approaches for the surveillance of antibiotic resistomes, as well as experimental formulation of combinatorial drugs. We explore the multiple roles of antibiotics in nature and the current status of combinatorial and adjuvant-based antibiotic treatments with nanoparticles, phytochemical, and other non-antibiotics based on synergetic effects. Furthermore, advancements in machine learning algorithms could also be applied to combat the spread of antibiotic resistance. Development of resistance to new antibiotics is quite rapid. Hence, we review the recent literature on discoveries of novel antibiotic resistant genes though shotgun and expression-based metagenomics. To decelerate the spread of antibiotic resistant genes, surveillance of the resistome is of utmost importance. Therefore, we discuss integrative applications of whole-genome sequencing and metagenomics together with machine learning models as a means for state-of-the-art surveillance of the antibiotic resistome. We further explore the interactions and negative effects between antibiotics and microbiomes upon drug administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madangchanok Imchen
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, India
| | - Jamseel Moopantakath
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, India
| | - Ranjith Kumavath
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, India
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology, Purba Medinipur, India
| | - Sandeep Tiwari
- Laboratório de Genética Celular e Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Preetam Ghosh
- Department of Computer Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Laboratório de Genética Celular e Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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AbdelWahed MG, Badiea EA, Ouf A, Sayed AA. Molecular and functional characterization of unique thermo-halophilic thioredoxin from the metagenome of an exotic environment. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 153:767-778. [PMID: 32142845 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.03.011] [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: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The lower convective layer (LCL) at Atlantis II brine pool of the Red sea represents one of the exceptional, unique ecosystems. Thioredoxin is a multi-functional antioxidant redox protein that has a crucial role in various vital cellular processes. In the current study, a functional metagenomics approach was used to isolate and characterize thioredoxin from the LCL of Atlantis II Deep brine pool (Trx-ATII). From the metagenomic DNA of the LCL, the thioredoxin gene was directly retrieved and sequenced. Sequence analysis showed that the gene belonged to thioredoxin-like superfamily with classical Trx motif (-CXXC-). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Trx-ATII was closely related to Trx of Prochlorococcus marinus with a maximum identity of 86%. Successfully, Trx-ATII was cloned and expressed in E. coli, where the purified protein had M.wt of 16 kDa. Characterization studies revealed that Trx-ATII protein is halophilic; can tolerate up to 2.5 M NaCl and thermostable, where 90% of its activity was retained at 60 °C. Trx-ATII can reduce both DTNB and insulin disulfide- containing substrates. In conclusion, a unique thioredoxin protein was isolated from a harsh environment that can maintain its activity under extreme conditions of salinity and temperature as a promising redox protein for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elham A Badiea
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amged Ouf
- Biology Department, American University in Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A Sayed
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; Children Cancer Hospital, 57357 Cairo, Egypt.
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Moon K, Jeon JH, Kang I, Park KS, Lee K, Cha CJ, Lee SH, Cho JC. Freshwater viral metagenome reveals novel and functional phage-borne antibiotic resistance genes. MICROBIOME 2020; 8:75. [PMID: 32482165 PMCID: PMC7265639 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00863-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibiotic resistance developed by bacteria is a significant threat to global health. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) spread across different bacterial populations through multiple dissemination routes, including horizontal gene transfer mediated by bacteriophages. ARGs carried by bacteriophages are considered especially threatening due to their prolonged persistence in the environment, fast replication rates, and ability to infect diverse bacterial hosts. Several studies employing qPCR and viral metagenomics have shown that viral fraction and viral sequence reads in clinical and environmental samples carry many ARGs. However, only a few ARGs have been found in viral contigs assembled from metagenome reads, with most of these genes lacking effective antibiotic resistance phenotypes. Owing to the wide application of viral metagenomics, nevertheless, different classes of ARGs are being continuously found in viral metagenomes acquired from diverse environments. As such, the presence and functionality of ARGs encoded by bacteriophages remain up for debate. RESULTS We evaluated ARGs excavated from viral contigs recovered from urban surface water viral metagenome data. In virome reads and contigs, diverse ARGs, including polymyxin resistance genes, multidrug efflux proteins, and β-lactamases, were identified. In particular, when a lenient threshold of e value of ≤ 1 × e-5 and query coverage of ≥ 60% were employed in the Resfams database, the novel β-lactamases blaHRV-1 and blaHRVM-1 were found. These genes had unique sequences, forming distinct clades of class A and subclass B3 β-lactamases, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration analyses for E. coli strains harboring blaHRV-1 and blaHRVM-1 and catalytic kinetics of purified HRV-1 and HRVM-1 showed reduced susceptibility to penicillin, narrow- and extended-spectrum cephalosporins, and carbapenems. These genes were also found in bacterial metagenomes, indicating that they were harbored by actively infecting phages. CONCLUSION Our results showed that viruses in the environment carry as-yet-unreported functional ARGs, albeit in small quantities. We thereby suggest that environmental bacteriophages could be reservoirs of widely variable, unknown ARGs that could be disseminated via virus-host interactions. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Moon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Ho Jeon
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Drug Resistance Proteomics, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, 116 Myongjiro, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 17058, Republic of Korea
| | - Ilnam Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang Seung Park
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Drug Resistance Proteomics, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, 116 Myongjiro, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 17058, Republic of Korea
| | - Kihyun Lee
- Department of Systems Biotechnology and Center for Antibiotic Resistome, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Jun Cha
- Department of Systems Biotechnology and Center for Antibiotic Resistome, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hee Lee
- National Leading Research Laboratory of Drug Resistance Proteomics, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, 116 Myongjiro, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, 17058, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jang-Cheon Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Republic of Korea.
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Ziko L, Adel M, Malash MN, Siam R. Insights into Red Sea Brine Pool Specialized Metabolism Gene Clusters Encoding Potential Metabolites for Biotechnological Applications and Extremophile Survival. Mar Drugs 2019; 17:md17050273. [PMID: 31071993 PMCID: PMC6562949 DOI: 10.3390/md17050273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent rise in antibiotic and chemotherapeutic resistance necessitates the search for novel drugs. Potential therapeutics can be produced by specialized metabolism gene clusters (SMGCs). We mined for SMGCs in metagenomic samples from Atlantis II Deep, Discovery Deep and Kebrit Deep Red Sea brine pools. Shotgun sequence assembly and secondary metabolite analysis shell (antiSMASH) screening unraveled 2751 Red Sea brine SMGCs, pertaining to 28 classes. Predicted categorization of the SMGC products included those (1) commonly abundant in microbes (saccharides, fatty acids, aryl polyenes, acyl-homoserine lactones), (2) with antibacterial and/or anticancer effects (terpenes, ribosomal peptides, non-ribosomal peptides, polyketides, phosphonates) and (3) with miscellaneous roles conferring adaptation to the environment/special structure/unknown function (polyunsaturated fatty acids, ectoine, ladderane, others). Saccharide (80.49%) and putative (7.46%) SMGCs were the most abundant. Selected Red Sea brine pool sites had distinct SMGC profiles, e.g., for bacteriocins and ectoine. Top promising candidates, SMs with pharmaceutical applications, were addressed. Prolific SM-producing phyla (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria), were ubiquitously detected. Sites harboring the largest numbers of bacterial and archaeal phyla, had the most SMGCs. Our results suggest that the Red Sea brine niche constitutes a rich biological mine, with the predicted SMs aiding extremophile survival and adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Ziko
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, School of Sciences and Engineering, American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt.
| | - Mustafa Adel
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, School of Sciences and Engineering, American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt.
- Biology Department, School of Sciences and Engineering, American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt.
| | - Mohamed N Malash
- Biology Department, School of Sciences and Engineering, American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt.
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, Giza 12581, Egypt.
| | - Rania Siam
- Biology Department, School of Sciences and Engineering, American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Cairo 11835, Egypt.
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11
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Ziko L, Saqr AHA, Ouf A, Gimpel M, Aziz RK, Neubauer P, Siam R. Antibacterial and anticancer activities of orphan biosynthetic gene clusters from Atlantis II Red Sea brine pool. Microb Cell Fact 2019; 18:56. [PMID: 30885206 PMCID: PMC6423787 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-019-1103-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer and infectious diseases are problematic because of continuous emergence of drug resistance. One way to address this enormous global health threat is bioprospecting the unlikeliest environments, such as extreme marine niches, which have tremendous biodiversity that is barely explored. One such environment is the Red Sea brine pool, Atlantis II Deep (ATII). Here, we functionally screened a fosmid library of metagenomic DNA isolated from the ATII lower convective layer (LCL) for antibacterial and anticancer activities. RESULTS Selected clones, 14-7E and 10-2G, displayed antibacterial effects on the marine strain Bacillus sp. Cc6. Moreover, whole cell lysates from 14-7E and 10-2G exhibited decreased cell viability against MCF-7 (39.1% ± 6.6, 42% ± 8.1 at 50% v/v) and U2OS cells (35.7% ± 1.9, 79.9% ± 5.9 at 50% v/v), respectively. By sequencing the insert DNA from 14-7E and 10-2G, we identified two putative orphan biosynthetic gene clusters. Both clusters harbored putative ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter permeases and S-adenosylmethionine-related genes. Interestingly, the biosynthetic gene cluster identified on 14-7E is of archaeal origin and harbors a putative transcription factor. Several identified genes may be responsible for the observed antibacterial and anticancer activities. The 14-7E biosynthetic gene cluster may be encoding enzymes producing a specialized metabolite (effect of detected genes involved in C-C bond formation and glycosylation). The bioactivity may also be due to predicted subtilases encoded by this cluster. The 10-2G cluster harbored putative glycosyltransferase and non-ribosomal peptide synthase genes; thus the observed activity of this clone could be caused by a bioactive peptide. CONCLUSIONS The ATII LCL prokaryotic metagenome hosts putative orphan biosynthetic gene clusters that confer antibiotic and anticancer effects. Further biochemical studies should characterize the detected bioactive components, and the potential use of 14-7E metabolite for antibiosis and 10-2G metabolite as a selective anti-breast cancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila Ziko
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Al-Hussein A Saqr
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, SSE (Parcel 7), Second Floor, Office: Room 2194, AUC Avenue, New Cairo, Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Amged Ouf
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Cairo, 11835, Egypt
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, SSE (Parcel 7), Second Floor, Office: Room 2194, AUC Avenue, New Cairo, Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Matthias Gimpel
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstrasse 76, ACK24, 13355, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ramy K Aziz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, 11562, Egypt
| | - Peter Neubauer
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstrasse 76, ACK24, 13355, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rania Siam
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo, Cairo, 11835, Egypt.
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, SSE (Parcel 7), Second Floor, Office: Room 2194, AUC Avenue, New Cairo, Cairo, 11835, Egypt.
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Drejer EB, Hakvåg S, Irla M, Brautaset T. Genetic Tools and Techniques for Recombinant Expression in Thermophilic Bacillaceae. Microorganisms 2018; 6:microorganisms6020042. [PMID: 29748477 PMCID: PMC6027425 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6020042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Although Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis are the most prominent bacterial hosts for recombinant protein production by far, additional species are being explored as alternatives for production of difficult-to-express proteins. In particular, for thermostable proteins, there is a need for hosts able to properly synthesize, fold, and excrete these in high yields, and thermophilic Bacillaceae represent one potentially interesting group of microorganisms for such purposes. A number of thermophilic Bacillaceae including B.methanolicus, B.coagulans, B.smithii, B.licheniformis, Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius, G. kaustophilus, and G. stearothermophilus are investigated concerning physiology, genomics, genetic tools, and technologies, altogether paving the way for their utilization as hosts for recombinant production of thermostable and other difficult-to-express proteins. Moreover, recent successful deployments of CRISPR/Cas9 in several of these species have accelerated the progress in their metabolic engineering, which should increase their attractiveness for future industrial-scale production of proteins. This review describes the biology of thermophilic Bacillaceae and in particular focuses on genetic tools and methods enabling use of these organisms as hosts for recombinant protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eivind B Drejer
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, NTNU: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Sigrid Hakvåg
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, NTNU: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Marta Irla
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, NTNU: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Trygve Brautaset
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, NTNU: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas H Bartlett
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0202, USA
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Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a global public health issue of growing proportions. All antibiotics are susceptible to resistance. The evidence is now clear that the environment is the single largest source and reservoir of resistance. Soil, aquatic, atmospheric, animal-associated, and built ecosystems are home to microbes that harbor antibiotic resistance elements and the means to mobilize them. The diversity and abundance of resistance in the environment is consistent with the ancient origins of antibiotics and a variety of studies support a long natural history of associated resistance. The implications are clear: Understanding the evolution of resistance in the environment, its diversity, and mechanisms is essential to the management of our existing and future antibiotic resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Surette
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research and.,Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4K1;
| | - Gerard D Wright
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research and.,Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4K1;
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Elbehery AHA, Leak DJ, Siam R. Novel thermostable antibiotic resistance enzymes from the Atlantis II Deep Red Sea brine pool. Microb Biotechnol 2016; 10:189-202. [PMID: 28004885 PMCID: PMC5270753 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.12468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The advent of metagenomics has greatly facilitated the discovery of enzymes with useful biochemical characteristics for industrial and biomedical applications, from environmental niches. In this study, we used sequence-based metagenomics to identify two antibiotic resistance enzymes from the secluded, lower convective layer of Atlantis II Deep Red Sea brine pool (68°C, ~2200 m depth and 250‰ salinity). We assembled > 4 000 000 metagenomic reads, producing 43 555 contigs. Open reading frames (ORFs) called from these contigs were aligned to polypeptides from the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database using BLASTX. Two ORFs were selected for further analysis. The ORFs putatively coded for 3'-aminoglycoside phosphotransferase [APH(3')] and a class A beta-lactamase (ABL). Both genes were cloned, expressed and characterized for activity and thermal stability. Both enzymes were active in vitro, while only APH(3') was active in vivo. Interestingly, APH(3') proved to be thermostable (Tm = 61.7°C and ~40% residual activity after 30 min of incubation at 65°C). On the other hand, ABL was not as thermostable, with a Tm = 43.3°C. In conclusion, we have discovered two novel AR enzymes with potential application as thermophilic selection markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali H A Elbehery
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, The American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.,Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - David J Leak
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Rania Siam
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology, The American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.,Biology Department and YJ-Science and Technology Research Center, The American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
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