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Sajeevan A, Ramamurthy T, Solomon AP. Vibrio cholerae virulence and its suppression through the quorum-sensing system. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024:1-22. [PMID: 38441045 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2024.2320823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Vibrio cholerae is a cholera-causing pathogen known to instigate severe contagious diarrhea that affects millions globally. Survival of vibrios depend on a combination of multicellular responses and adapt to changes that prevail in the environment. This process is achieved through a strong communication at the cellular level, the process has been recognized as quorum sensing (QS). The severity of infection is highly dependent on the QS of vibrios in the gut milieu. The quorum may exist in a low/high cell density (LCD/HCD) state to exert a positive or negative response to control the regulatory pathogenic networks. The impact of this regulation reflects on the transition of pathogenic V. cholerae from the environment to infect humans and cause outbreaks or epidemics of cholera. In this context, the review portrays various regulatory processes and associated virulent pathways, which maneuver and control LCD and HCD states for their survival in the host. Although several treatment options are existing, promotion of therapeutics by exploiting the virulence network may potentiate ineffective antibiotics to manage cholera. In addition, this approach is also useful in resource-limited settings, where the accessibility to antibiotics or conventional therapeutic options is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusree Sajeevan
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Thandavarayan Ramamurthy
- Division of Bacteriology, ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Disease, Kolkata, India
| | - Adline Princy Solomon
- Quorum Sensing Laboratory, Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases (CRID), School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, India
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2
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Halpern M. Chironomid association with Vibrio cholerae. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0256723. [PMID: 38059589 PMCID: PMC10783102 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02567-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Malka Halpern
- Department of Biology and Environment, University of Haifa at Oranim, Tivon, Israel
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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3
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Sela R, Laviad-Shitrit S, Halpern M. Changes in Microbiota Composition Along the Metamorphosis Developmental Stages of Chironomus transvaalensis. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:586678. [PMID: 33240240 PMCID: PMC7677345 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.586678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chironomids (Diptera; Chironomidae), also known as non-biting midges, are one of the most abundant insects in freshwater habitats. Our aim was to understand whether the metamorphosis developmental stages affect the endogenous microbiota composition of Chironomus transvaalensis. Toward our objective, we analyzed the endogenous microbiota composition of C. transvaalensis' four life stages: egg masses, larvae, pupae, and adults. Significant differences were found between the microbiota compositions of the different developmental stages of this Chironomus species. We observed a decline in bacterial diversity as the insect evolved from egg mass to adult, while the highest richness was observed in the pupal stage. Although there were significant differences between the microbiota compositions of each life stage, a bacterial core, which included 27 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs), was found in all the developmental life stages (in ≥75% of samples). Chironomids are natural reservoirs of Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas species, and the Vibrio and Aeromonas ASVs were part of the core bacteria. The presence of the ompW gene, which is specific to V. cholerae, confirmed the presence of this species in all the chironomid's life stages. Thus, the results provide important insights about the host-microbe interactions in chironomids with a specific understanding of chironomids-Vibrio-Aeromonas-microbiota interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Sela
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sivan Laviad-Shitrit
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Malka Halpern
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.,Department of Biology and Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Tivon, Israel
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4
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Sela R, Hammer BK, Halpern M. Quorum-sensing signaling by chironomid egg masses' microbiota, affects haemagglutinin/protease (HAP) production by Vibrio cholerae. Mol Ecol 2020; 30:1736-1746. [PMID: 33001525 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera, is commonly isolated, along with other bacterial species, from chironomid insects (Diptera: Chironomidae). Nevertheless, its prevalence in the chironomid egg masses' microbiota is less than 0.5%. V. cholerae secretes haemagglutinin/protease (HAP) that degrades the gelatinous matrix of chironomid egg masses and prevents hatching. Quorum sensing (QS) activates HAP production in response to accumulation of bacterial autoinducers (AIs). Our aim was to define the impact of chironomid microbiota on HAP production by V. cholerae. To study QS signaling, we used V. cholerae bioluminescence reporter strains (QS-proficient O1 El-Tor wild-type and QS-deficient mutants) and different bacterial species that we isolated from chironomid egg masses. These egg mass isolates, as well as a synthetic AI-2, caused an enhancement in lux expression by a V. cholerae QS-deficient mutant. The addition of the egg mass bacterial isolate supernatant to the QS-deficient mutant also enhanced HAP production and egg mass degradation activities. Moreover, the V. cholerae wild-type strain was able to proliferate using egg masses as their sole carbon source, while the QS-deficient was not. The results demonstrate that members of the chironomid bacterial consortium produce external chemical cues that, like AI-2, induce expression of the hapA gene in V. cholerae. Understanding the interactions between V. cholerae and the insects' microbiota may help uncover the interactions between this pathogen and the human gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Sela
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Brian K Hammer
- School of Biological Science, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Malka Halpern
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.,Department of Biology and Environment, University of Haifa at Oranim, Tivon, Israel
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Hirsch N, Kappe E, Gangl A, Schwartz K, Mayer-Scholl A, Hammerl JA, Strauch E. Phenotypic and Genotypic Properties of Vibrio cholerae non-O1, non-O139 Isolates Recovered from Domestic Ducks in Germany. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8081104. [PMID: 32717968 PMCID: PMC7463538 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8081104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio cholerae non-O1, non-O139 bacteria are natural inhabitants of aquatic ecosystems and have been sporadically associated with human infections. They mostly lack the two major virulence factors of toxigenic V. cholerae serogroups O1 and O139 strains, which are the causative agent of cholera. Non-O1, non-O139 strains are found in water bodies, sediments, and in association with other aquatic organisms. Occurrence of these bacteria in fecal specimens of waterfowl were reported, and migratory birds likely contribute to the long-distance transfer of strains. We investigated four V. cholerae non-O1, non-O139 isolates for phenotypic traits and by whole genome sequencing (WGS). The isolates were recovered from organs of domestic ducks with serious disease symptoms. WGS data revealed only a distant genetic relationship between all isolates. The isolates harbored a number of virulence factors found in most V. cholerae strains. Specific virulence factors of non-O1, non-O139 strains, such as the type III secretion system (TTSS) or cholix toxin, were observed. An interesting observation is that all isolates possess multifunctional autoprocessing repeats-in-toxin toxins (MARTX) closely related to the MARTX of toxigenic El Tor O1 strains. Different primary sequences of the abundant OmpU proteins could indicate a significant role of this virulence factor. Phenotypic characteristics such as hemolysis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) were studied. Three isolates showed susceptibility to a number of tested antimicrobials, and one strain possessed AMR genes located in an integron. Knowledge of the environmental occurrence of V. cholerae non-O1, non-O139 in Germany is limited. The source of the infection of the ducks is currently unknown. In the context of the ‘One Health’ concept, it is desirable to study the ecology of V. cholerae non-O1, non-O139, as it cannot be excluded that the isolates possess zoonotic potential and could cause infections in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Hirsch
- Tiergesundheitsdienst Bayern, Bavarian Animal Health Service, 85586 Poing, Germany; (N.H.); (E.K.); (A.G.)
| | - Eva Kappe
- Tiergesundheitsdienst Bayern, Bavarian Animal Health Service, 85586 Poing, Germany; (N.H.); (E.K.); (A.G.)
| | - Armin Gangl
- Tiergesundheitsdienst Bayern, Bavarian Animal Health Service, 85586 Poing, Germany; (N.H.); (E.K.); (A.G.)
| | - Keike Schwartz
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, D-10589 Berlin, Germany; (K.S.); (A.M.-S.); (J.A.H.)
| | - Anne Mayer-Scholl
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, D-10589 Berlin, Germany; (K.S.); (A.M.-S.); (J.A.H.)
| | - Jens Andre Hammerl
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, D-10589 Berlin, Germany; (K.S.); (A.M.-S.); (J.A.H.)
| | - Eckhard Strauch
- Department of Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Str. 8-10, D-10589 Berlin, Germany; (K.S.); (A.M.-S.); (J.A.H.)
- Correspondence:
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6
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Sela R, Halpern M. Seasonal dynamics of Chironomus transvaalensis populations and the microbial community composition of their egg masses. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2020; 366:5700282. [DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnaa008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Chironomids (Diptera; Chironomidae) are the most abundant insects in freshwater environments and are considered natural reservoirs of Vibrio cholerae. We monitored the annual dynamics of chironomid populations along with their microbiota in order to better understand host–microbiota interactions. Chironomus transvaalensis populations peaked biannually in August and May–June. The composition of the endogenous bacterial communities of their egg masses clustered in two groups according to the sampling periods August–November and May–July. Nevertheless, a core bacterial community (43%) was present in all egg-mass samples. The most abundant phyla were: Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The abundance of several genera (e.g. Rheinheimera and Pseudomonas) was positively correlated with C. transvaalensis population dynamics, while a predator–prey interaction was observed between the relative abundance of Vibrio OTUs and C. transvaalensis population size. Chironomids are known to tolerate toxic and stress conditions, and our results demonstrated that bacterial genera that may protect the insect under these conditions are present in the egg masses. After hatching, the first larval meal is the gelatinous matrix that surrounds the eggs. This meal contains a probiotic consortium that may protect the larva during its metamorphosis. The results provide important insights into the host–microbe interactions of chironomids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Sela
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Abb Khoushi Ave. Mt. Carmel, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Malka Halpern
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, 199 Abb Khoushi Ave. Mt. Carmel, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
- Department of Biology and Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Oranim, Derech Kiryat Amal, Tivon, 3600600, Israel
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7
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Schwartz K, Hammerl JA, Göllner C, Strauch E. Environmental and Clinical Strains of Vibrio cholerae Non-O1, Non-O139 From Germany Possess Similar Virulence Gene Profiles. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:733. [PMID: 31031724 PMCID: PMC6474259 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Vibrio cholerae is a natural inhabitant of aquatic ecosystems globally. Strains of the serogroups O1 and O139 cause the epidemic diarrheal disease cholera. In Northern European waters, V. cholerae bacteria belonging to other serogroups (designated non-O1, non-O139) are present, of which some strains have been associated with gastrointestinal infections or extraintestinal infections, like wound infections or otitis. For this study, environmental strains from the German coastal waters of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea were selected (100 strains) and compared to clinical strains (10 isolates) that were from patients who contracted the infections in the same geographical region. The strains were characterized by MLST and examined by PCR for the presence of virulence genes encoding the cholera toxin, the toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP), and other virulence-associated accessory factors. The latter group comprised hemolysins, RTX toxins, cholix toxin, pandemic islands, and type III secretion system (TTSS). Phenotypic assays for hemolytic activity against human and sheep erythrocytes were also performed. The results of the MLST analysis revealed a considerable heterogeneity of sequence types (in total 74 STs). The presence of virulence genes was also variable and 30 profiles were obtained by PCR. One profile was found in 38 environmental strains and six clinical strains. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on 15 environmental and 7 clinical strains that were ST locus variants in one, two, or three alleles. Comparison of WGS results revealed that a set of virulence genes found in some clinical strains is also present in most environmental strains irrespective of the ST. In few strains, more virulence factors are acquired through horizontal gene transfer (i.e., TTSS, genomic islands). A distinction between clinical and environmental strains based on virulence gene profiles is not possible for our strains. Probably, many virulence traits of V. cholerae evolved in response to biotic and abiotic pressure and serve adaptation purposes in the natural aquatic environment, but provide a prerequisite for infection of susceptible human hosts. These findings indicate the need for surveillance of Vibrio spp. in Germany, as due to global warming abundance of Vibrio will rise and infections are predicted to increase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keike Schwartz
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Andre Hammerl
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cornelia Göllner
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eckhard Strauch
- Department Biological Safety, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
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Van der Henst C, Vanhove AS, Drebes Dörr NC, Stutzmann S, Stoudmann C, Clerc S, Scrignari T, Maclachlan C, Knott G, Blokesch M. Molecular insights into Vibrio cholerae's intra-amoebal host-pathogen interactions. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3460. [PMID: 30150745 PMCID: PMC6110790 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05976-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio cholerae, which causes the diarrheal disease cholera, is a species of bacteria commonly found in aquatic habitats. Within such environments, the bacterium must defend itself against predatory protozoan grazers. Amoebae are prominent grazers, with Acanthamoeba castellanii being one of the best-studied aquatic amoebae. We previously showed that V. cholerae resists digestion by A. castellanii and establishes a replication niche within the host's osmoregulatory organelle. In this study, we decipher the molecular mechanisms involved in the maintenance of V. cholerae's intra-amoebal replication niche and its ultimate escape from the succumbed host. We demonstrate that minor virulence features important for disease in mammals, such as extracellular enzymes and flagellum-based motility, have a key role in the replication and transmission of V. cholerae in its aqueous environment. This work, therefore, describes new mechanisms that provide the pathogen with a fitness advantage in its primary habitat, which may have contributed to the emergence of these minor virulence factors in the species V. cholerae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Van der Henst
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-UPBLO, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Audrey Sophie Vanhove
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-UPBLO, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Natália Carolina Drebes Dörr
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-UPBLO, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sandrine Stutzmann
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-UPBLO, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Candice Stoudmann
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-UPBLO, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stéphanie Clerc
- Bioelectron Microscopy Core Facility (BioEM), School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-PTBIOEM, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tiziana Scrignari
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-UPBLO, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Catherine Maclachlan
- Bioelectron Microscopy Core Facility (BioEM), School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-PTBIOEM, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Graham Knott
- Bioelectron Microscopy Core Facility (BioEM), School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-PTBIOEM, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Blokesch
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Global Health Institute, School of Life Sciences, Station 19, EPFL-SV-UPBLO, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Laviad S, Golan A, Shaked T, Vaizel-Ohayon D, Halpern M, Pick E. Aeromonas chitinase degrades chironomid egg masses. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2016; 8:30-37. [PMID: 26472256 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Revised: 10/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Chironomids are freshwater insects that undergo a complete metamorphosis of four life stages. Chironomid egg masses can be degraded by Vibrio cholerae and some Aeromonas species. Egg mass degradation by V. cholerae requires haemagglutinin protease activity. Our aim was to identify the egg mass degrading (EMD) factor secreted by Aeromonas dhkanesis 3K1C15. Following the hypothesis that the EMD factor of A. dhkanesis is also a protease, secreted proteases were screened, but none of them proved to have the same properties as the EMD factor. Using conventional protein purification methods, we found that the active fraction included chitinases. We further confirmed chitin as a building block of the egg masses. Interestingly, by supplementing bacterial growth media with chitin, we observed unexpected EMD factor activity in Aeromonas isolates that initially were not able to degrade egg masses. Accordingly, we concluded that although strain 3K1C15 secretes chitinases constitutively, most Aeromonas strains secrete chitinases inductively. Induction of chitinases in nature presumably occurs when bacteria are attached to the egg mass habitat, in which chitin is abundant. Considering that chitinases are highly conserved across bacteria phyla, we assume that the role of this enzyme in the bacteria-insect interplay could be wider than is currently thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivan Laviad
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Amnon Golan
- Department of Biology and Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Oranim, Israel
- Protein Purification Center, Ramat Yohanan, Israel
| | - Tamar Shaked
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dalit Vaizel-Ohayon
- Nesin Central Laboratory, Mekorot National Water Co. Ltd., Jordan District, Nazareth Illit, Israel
| | - Malka Halpern
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Biology and Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Oranim, Israel
| | - Elah Pick
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Biology and Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Oranim, Israel
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10
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Laviad S, Lapidus A, Han J, Haynes M, Reddy T, Huntemann M, Pati A, Ivanova NN, Mavromatis K, Lang E, Rohde M, Markowitz V, Woyke T, Klenk HP, Kyrpides NC, Halpern M. High quality draft genome sequence of Brachymonas chironomi AIMA4(T) (DSM 19884(T)) isolated from a Chironomus sp. egg mass. Stand Genomic Sci 2015. [PMID: 26203340 PMCID: PMC4511610 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-015-0010-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Brachymonas chironomi strain AIMA4T (Halpern et al., 2009) is a Gram-negative, non-motile, aerobic, chemoorganotroph bacterium. B. chironomi is a member of the Comamonadaceae, a family within the class Betaproteobacteria. This species was isolated from a chironomid (Diptera; Chironomidae) egg mass, sampled from a waste stabilization pond in northern Israel. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain AIMA4T in the genus Brachymonas. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The DNA GC content is 63.5%. The chromosome length is 2,509,395 bp. It encodes 2,382 proteins and 68 RNA genes. Brachymonas chironomi genome is part of the Genomic Encyclopedia of Type Strains, Phase I: the one thousand microbial genomes (KMG) project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivan Laviad
- Dept. of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Alla Lapidus
- Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bionformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia ; Algorithmic Biology Lab, St. Petersburg Academic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - James Han
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
| | | | - Tbk Reddy
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
| | | | - Amrita Pati
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Elke Lang
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Manfred Rohde
- Helmholz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Victor Markowitz
- Biological Data Management and Technology Center, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Tanja Woyke
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
| | - Hans-Peter Klenk
- Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Nikos C Kyrpides
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, CA, USA ; Dept. of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Malka Halpern
- Dept. of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel ; Dept. of Biology and Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Oranim, Kiryat Tivon, Israel
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11
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Halpern M, Senderovich Y. Chironomid microbiome. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2015; 70:1-8. [PMID: 25421389 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-014-0536-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/11/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Chironomids are abundant insects in freshwater habitats. They undergo a complete metamorphosis of four life stages: eggs, larvae, and pupae in water, and a terrestrial adult stage. Chironomids are known to be pollution-tolerant, but little is known about their resistance mechanisms to toxic substances. Here we review current knowledge regarding the chironomid microbiome. Chironomids were found as natural reservoirs of Vibrio cholerae and Aeromonas spp. A stable bacterial community was found in the egg masses and the larvae when both culture-dependent and -independent methods were used. A large portion of the endogenous bacterial species was closely related to species known as toxicant degraders. Bioassays based on Koch's postulates demonstrated that the chironomid microbiome plays a role in protecting its host from toxic hexavalent chromium and lead. V. cholerae, a stable resident in chironomids, is present at low prevalence. It degrades the egg masses by secreting haemagglutinin/protease, prevents eggs from hatching, and exhibits host pathogen interactions with chironomids. However, the nutrients from the degraded egg masses may support the growth of the other microbiome members and consequently control V. cholerae numbers in the egg mass. V. cholerae, other chironomid endogenous bacteria, and their chironomid host exhibit complex mutualistic relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malka Halpern
- Department of Biology and Environment, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Haifa, Oranim, Tivon, Israel,
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12
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Mazel D, Colwell R, Klose K, Oliver J, Crumlish M, McDougald D, Bland MJ, Austin B. VIBRIO 2014 meeting report. Res Microbiol 2014; 165:857-64. [PMID: 25463383 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Revised: 10/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Didier Mazel
- Unité Plasticité du Génome bactérien and CNRS UMR 3525, Département de Génomes et Génétique, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
| | - Rita Colwell
- Maryland Pathogen Research Institute and Center of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Karl Klose
- Department of Biology, University of Texas San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - James Oliver
- Department of Biology, University North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Mags Crumlish
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Diane McDougald
- Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Michael J Bland
- Unité Plasticité du Génome bactérien and CNRS UMR 3525, Département de Génomes et Génétique, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Brian Austin
- Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
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The protective role of endogenous bacterial communities in chironomid egg masses and larvae. ISME JOURNAL 2013; 7:2147-58. [PMID: 23804150 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2013.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2013] [Revised: 05/12/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Insects of the family Chironomidae, also known as chironomids, are distributed worldwide in a variety of water habitats. These insects display a wide range of tolerance toward metals and organic pollutions. Bacterial species known for their ability to degrade toxicants were identified from chironomid egg masses, leading to the hypothesis that bacteria may contribute to the survival of chironomids in polluted environments. To gain a better understanding of the bacterial communities that inhabit chironomids, the endogenous bacteria of egg masses and larvae were studied by 454-pyrosequencing. The microbial community of the egg masses was distinct from that of the larval stage, most likely due to the presence of one dominant bacterial Firmicutes taxon, which consisted of 28% of the total sequence reads from the larvae. This taxon may be an insect symbiont. The bacterial communities of both the egg masses and the larvae were found to include operational taxonomic units, which were closely related to species known as toxicant degraders. Furthermore, various bacterial species with the ability to detoxify metals were isolated from egg masses and larvae. Koch-like postulates were applied to demonstrate that chironomid endogenous bacterial species protect the insect from toxic heavy metals. We conclude that chironomids, which are considered pollution tolerant, are inhabited by stable endogenous bacterial communities that have a role in protecting their hosts from toxicants. This phenomenon, in which bacteria enable the continued existence of their host in hostile environments, may not be restricted only to chironomids.
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