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Mahlich Y, Zhu C, Chung H, Velaga PK, De Paolis Kaluza M, Radivojac P, Friedberg I, Bromberg Y. Learning from the unknown: exploring the range of bacterial functionality. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:10162-10175. [PMID: 37739408 PMCID: PMC10602916 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Determining the repertoire of a microbe's molecular functions is a central question in microbial biology. Modern techniques achieve this goal by comparing microbial genetic material against reference databases of functionally annotated genes/proteins or known taxonomic markers such as 16S rRNA. Here, we describe a novel approach to exploring bacterial functional repertoires without reference databases. Our Fusion scheme establishes functional relationships between bacteria and assigns organisms to Fusion-taxa that differ from otherwise defined taxonomic clades. Three key findings of our work stand out. First, bacterial functional comparisons outperform marker genes in assigning taxonomic clades. Fusion profiles are also better for this task than other functional annotation schemes. Second, Fusion-taxa are robust to addition of novel organisms and are, arguably, able to capture the environment-driven bacterial diversity. Finally, our alignment-free nucleic acid-based Siamese Neural Network model, created using Fusion functions, enables finding shared functionality of very distant, possibly structurally different, microbial homologs. Our work can thus help annotate functional repertoires of bacterial organisms and further guide our understanding of microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick Mahlich
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Dr, New Brunswick, NJ 08873, USA
| | - Chengsheng Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Dr, New Brunswick, NJ 08873, USA
- Xbiome Inc., 1 Broadway, 14th fl, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Henri Chung
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Interdepartmental program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Pavan K Velaga
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Dr, New Brunswick, NJ 08873, USA
| | - M Clara De Paolis Kaluza
- Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, 177 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Predrag Radivojac
- Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, 177 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Iddo Friedberg
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Interdepartmental program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Yana Bromberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, 76 Lipman Dr, New Brunswick, NJ 08873, USA
- Department of Biology, Emory University, 1510 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Emory University, 400 Dowman Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Liu Q, Li Y, Wang H, Yang G, Kan J, Yang M, Yu X, Guo C, Wang M, Wang W, Zhang Q, Zhu J, Zhao X, Jiang Y. Assembly and Network Stability of Planktonic Microorganisms under the Influence of Salinity Gradient: an Arctic Case Study from the Lena River Estuary to the Laptev Sea. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0211522. [PMID: 36744927 PMCID: PMC10100684 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02115-22] [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: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The diversity and primary productivity in the Arctic ecosystem are rapidly changing due to global warming. Microorganisms play a vital role in biogeochemical cycling. However, the diversity of planktonic microorganism communities in the Laptev Sea, one of the most important marginal seas of the Western Arctic Ocean, have not been studied sufficiently in depth. The diversity and community structure of the planktonic microorganisms in the surface water were investigated at 20 stations on the Lena River flowing into the Laptev Sea. Multivariate statistical analyses demonstrated clear spatial patterns in the α diversity and community structure for microorganisms under different salinity levels. Co-occurrence networks of microbial communities revealed that spatial variation promoted differentiation of the characteristics and stability of microbial networks in the Laptev Sea. Contrary to expectations, abundant taxa were found to not have a large influence on the stability and resilience of microbial interactions in the region. On the contrary, less-abundant taxa were found to have far greater influence. The stability and resilience of the prokaryotic and microeukaryotic networks in the Lena River estuary and the continental shelf provided valuable insights into the impact of freshwater and land inflow disturbances on microbial assemblage. Overall, these results enhance our understanding of the composition of microbial communities and provide insights into how spatial changes of abundant versus rare species alter the nature and stability of microbial networks from the Lena River estuary to the Laptev Sea. In addition, this study explored microbial interactions and their ability to resist future disturbances. IMPORTANCE The regime of the Laptev Sea depends closely on the runoff of the Lena River. Microorganisms are essential components of aquatic food webs and play a significant role in polar ecosystems. In this study, we provided a basic microbial data set as well as new insights into the microbial networks from the Lena River estuary to the Laptev Sea, while exploring their potential to resist future disturbances. A comprehensive and systematic study of the community structure and function of the planktonic microorganisms in the Laptev Sea would greatly enhance our understanding of how polar microbial communities respond to the salinity gradient under climate warming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Liu
- College of Marine Life Science & Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Yan Li
- College of Marine Life Science & Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Hualong Wang
- College of Marine Life Science & Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Guipeng Yang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Jinjun Kan
- Microbiology Division, Stroud Water Research Center, Avondale, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mengyao Yang
- College of Marine Life Science & Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaowen Yu
- College of Marine Life Science & Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Cui Guo
- College of Marine Life Science & Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Min Wang
- College of Marine Life Science & Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Key Lab of Polar Oceanography and Global Ocean Change, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Qingli Zhang
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiancheng Zhu
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Xianyong Zhao
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- College of Marine Life Science & Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Key Lab of Polar Oceanography and Global Ocean Change, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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Joakim RL, Irham M, Haryoko T, Rowe KMC, Dalimunthe Y, Anita S, Achmadi AS, McGuire JA, Perkins S, Bowie RCK. Geography and elevation as drivers of cloacal microbiome assemblages of a passerine bird distributed across Sulawesi, Indonesia. Anim Microbiome 2023; 5:4. [PMID: 36647179 PMCID: PMC9841722 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-022-00219-3] [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: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Empirical field studies allow us to view how ecological and environmental processes shape the biodiversity of our planet, but collecting samples in situ creates inherent challenges. The majority of empirical vertebrate gut microbiome research compares multiple host species against abiotic and biotic factors, increasing the potential for confounding environmental variables. To minimize these confounding factors, we focus on a single species of passerine bird found throughout the geologically complex island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. We assessed the effects of two environmental factors, geographic Areas of Endemism (AOEs) and elevation, as well as host sex on the gut microbiota assemblages of the Sulawesi Babbler, Pellorneum celebense, from three different mountains across the island. Using cloacal swabs, high-throughput-amplicon sequencing, and multiple statistical models, we identified the core microbiome and determined the signal of these three factors on microbial composition. RESULTS The five most prevalent bacterial phyla within the gut microbiome of P. celebense were Proteobacteria (32.6%), Actinobacteria (25.2%), Firmicutes (22.1%), Bacteroidetes (8.7%), and Plantomycetes (2.6%). These results are similar to those identified in prior studies of passeriform microbiomes. Overall, microbiota diversity decreased as elevation increased, irrespective of sex or AOE. A single ASV of Clostridium was enriched in higher elevation samples, while lower elevation samples were enriched with the genera Perlucidibaca (Family Moraxellaceae), Lachnoclostridium (Family Lachnospiraceae), and an unidentified species in the Family Pseudonocardiaceae. CONCLUSIONS While the core microbiota families recovered here are consistent with other passerine studies, the decreases in diversity as elevation increases has only been seen in non-avian hosts. Additionally, the increased abundance of Clostridium at high elevations suggests a potential microbial response to lower oxygen levels. This study emphasizes the importance of incorporating multiple statistical models and abiotic factors such as elevation in empirical microbiome research, and is the first to describe an avian gut microbiome from the island of Sulawesi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael L. Joakim
- grid.254250.40000 0001 2264 7145Department of Biology, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031 USA ,grid.253482.a0000 0001 0170 7903The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, Biology Program, 365 5Th Ave, New York, NY 10016 USA ,grid.241963.b0000 0001 2152 1081Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024 USA ,grid.241963.b0000 0001 2152 1081The Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024 USA
| | - Mohammad Irham
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Centre for Biology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Raya Jakarta - Bogor Km 46, Cibinong, 16911 Indonesia
| | - Tri Haryoko
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Centre for Biology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Raya Jakarta - Bogor Km 46, Cibinong, 16911 Indonesia
| | - Karen M. C. Rowe
- grid.436717.00000 0004 0500 6540Sciences Department, Museums Victoria, Carlton, VIC Australia ,grid.1008.90000 0001 2179 088XBioSciences Department, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - Yohanna Dalimunthe
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Centre for Biology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Raya Jakarta - Bogor Km 46, Cibinong, 16911 Indonesia
| | - Syahfitri Anita
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Centre for Biology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Raya Jakarta - Bogor Km 46, Cibinong, 16911 Indonesia
| | - Anang S. Achmadi
- Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Centre for Biology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Raya Jakarta - Bogor Km 46, Cibinong, 16911 Indonesia
| | - Jimmy A. McGuire
- grid.47840.3f0000 0001 2181 7878Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Susan Perkins
- grid.254250.40000 0001 2264 7145Department of Biology, The City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031 USA ,grid.253482.a0000 0001 0170 7903The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, Biology Program, 365 5Th Ave, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Rauri C. K. Bowie
- grid.47840.3f0000 0001 2181 7878Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
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Impacts of Seawater pH Buffering on the Larval Microbiome and Carry-Over Effects on Later-Life Disease Susceptibility in Pacific Oysters. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0165422. [DOI: 10.1128/aem.01654-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Shellfish industries are threatened worldwide by recurrent summer mortality events. Such incidences are often associated with
Vibrio
disease outbreaks, and thus, it is critical that animals are able to mount sufficient immune responses.
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Wang H, Chen F, Zhang C, Wang M, Kan J. Estuarine gradients dictate spatiotemporal variations of microbiome networks in the Chesapeake Bay. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2021; 16:22. [PMID: 34838139 PMCID: PMC8627074 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-021-00392-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Annually reoccurring microbial populations with strong spatial and temporal variations have been identified in estuarine environments, especially in those with long residence time such as the Chesapeake Bay (CB). However, it is unclear how microbial taxa cooccurr and how the inter-taxa networks respond to the strong environmental gradients in the estuaries. RESULTS Here, we constructed co-occurrence networks on prokaryotic microbial communities in the CB, which included seasonal samples from seven spatial stations along the salinity gradients for three consecutive years. Our results showed that spatiotemporal variations of planktonic microbiomes promoted differentiations of the characteristics and stability of prokaryotic microbial networks in the CB estuary. Prokaryotic microbial networks exhibited a clear seasonal pattern where microbes were more closely connected during warm season compared to the associations during cold season. In addition, microbial networks were more stable in the lower Bay (ocean side) than those in the upper Bay (freshwater side). Multivariate regression tree (MRT) analysis and piecewise structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that temperature, salinity and total suspended substances along with nutrient availability, particulate carbon and Chl a, affected the distribution and co-occurrence of microbial groups, such as Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. Interestingly, compared to the abundant groups (such as SAR11, Saprospiraceae and Actinomarinaceae), the rare taxa including OM60 (NOR5) clade (Gammaproteobacteria), Micrococcales (Actinobacteria), and NS11-12 marine group (Bacteroidetes) contributed greatly to the stability of microbial co-occurrence in the Bay. Modularity and cluster structures of microbial networks varied spatiotemporally, which provided valuable insights into the 'small world' (a group of more interconnected species), network stability, and habitat partitioning/preferences. CONCLUSION Our results shed light on how estuarine gradients alter the spatiotemporal variations of prokaryotic microbial networks in the estuarine ecosystem, as well as their adaptability to environmental disturbances and co-occurrence network complexity and stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hualong Wang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, and Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Feng Chen
- Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Chuanlun Zhang
- Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo-Omics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Wang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, and Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Jinjun Kan
- Microbiology Division, Stroud Water Research Center, Avondale, PA, USA.
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang X, Qi L, Li W, Hu BX, Dai Z. Bacterial community variations with salinity in the saltwater-intruded estuarine aquifer. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 755:142423. [PMID: 33017763 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial community has been significantly enrolled in the biogeochemical cycling of the coastal subsurface ecosystem. The bacterial community variations with salinity have been extensively investigated in the surface environment, such as lake, soil, and estuary, but not in the subsurface environment. Here we explore the responses of bacterial populations to the salinity and other environmental factors (EFs) by considering both the abundant and rare sub-community in a coastal Holocene groundwater system. Our study results indicate that the bacterial diversity was independent of the salinity in both the abundance and rare sub-community. Besides diversity, no flourishing of abundant bacteria relative abundance is observed with increasing or decreasing salinity. Yet the rare taxa exhibit a bio-growth with salinity, which has a significant correlation (p < 0.001) with sulfate concentration. The responses of the abundant sub-community taxa to nutrients, temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen are insensitive. However, the correlation between δ18O, δD and the entire community diversity is significant, which demonstrates the bacterial community is affected by the groundwater origin. Besides, not all the species in one class or order are necessarily shaped by the same factor. To quantify the impact of EFs on the community properties, analyses in different taxonomic levels is suggested. These findings imply that the spatial organization of microbial communities is complicated and influenced by multiple factors on a regional scale. The investigated results are useful for understanding biogeochemical processes in the coastal groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Zhang
- College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
| | - Linlin Qi
- College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China
| | - Wenming Li
- Xi'an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Bill X Hu
- Institute of Groundwater and Earth Sciences, Jinan University, Guangdong 510632, China.
| | - Zhenxue Dai
- College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130026, China.
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Cellular Localization of Two Rickettsia Symbionts in the Digestive System and within the Ovaries of the Mirid Bug, Macrolophous pygmaeus. INSECTS 2020; 11:insects11080530. [PMID: 32823761 PMCID: PMC7469188 DOI: 10.3390/insects11080530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Like most insects, those that feed on both prey and plant materials harbor symbiotic bacteria in their body. Yet the involvement of bacteria in the feeding habits of these omnivorous consumers has yet to be investigated. In the present study, we took the first step toward testing the hypothesis that bacterial symbionts are involved in the feeding habits of the omnivorous bug Macrolophus pygmaeus. We (I) characterized the microbiome (the assembly of bacteria and fungi) of M. pygmaeus, and (II) determined the identity and location of the most dominant bacteria species within the host body. We found that M. pygmaeus microbiome is dominated by two Rickettsia species, R. belli and R. limoniae. These bacteria are found in high numbers in the digestive system of the bug, each exhibiting a unique distribution pattern, and for the most part, do not share the same cells in the gut. These results strongly suggest that the host bug may gain some nutritional benefits by hosting the two dominant symbiotic bacteria in its gut. Abstract Bacterial symbionts in arthropods are common, vary in their effects, and can dramatically influence the outcome of biological control efforts. Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera: Miridae), a key component of biological control programs, is mainly predaceous but may also display phytophagy. M. pygmaeus hosts symbiotic Wolbachia, which induce cytoplasmic incompatibility, and two Rickettsia species, R. bellii and R. limoniae, which are found in all individuals tested. To test possible involvement of the two Rickettsia species in the feeding habits of M. pygmaeus, we first showed that the microbiome of the insect is dominated by these three symbionts, and later described the distribution pattern of the two Rickettsia species in its digestive system. Although both Rickettsia species were located in certain gut bacteriocyes, in caeca and in Malpighian tubules of both sexes, each species has a unique cellular occupancy pattern and specific distribution along digestive system compartments. Infrequently, both species were found in a cell. In females, both Rickettsia species were detected in the germarium, the apical end of the ovarioles within the ovaries, but not in oocytes. Although the cause for these Rickettsia distribution patterns is yet unknown, it is likely linked to host nutrition while feeding on prey or plants.
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The Tripartite Interaction of Host Immunity- Bacillus thuringiensis Infection-Gut Microbiota. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12080514. [PMID: 32806491 PMCID: PMC7472377 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12080514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is an important cosmopolitan bacterial entomopathogen, which produces various protein toxins that have been expressed in transgenic crops. The evolved molecular interaction between the insect immune system and gut microbiota is changed during the Bt infection process. The host immune response, such as the expression of induced antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), the melanization response, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), varies with different doses of Bt infection. Moreover, B. thuringiensis infection changes the abundance and structural composition of the intestinal bacteria community. The activated immune response, together with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, also has an important effect on Bt pathogenicity and insect resistance to Bt. In this review, we attempt to clarify this tripartite interaction of host immunity, Bt infection, and gut microbiota, especially the important role of key immune regulators and symbiotic bacteria in the Bt killing activity. Increasing the effectiveness of biocontrol agents by interfering with insect resistance and controlling symbiotic bacteria can be important steps for the successful application of microbial biopesticides.
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Budd K, Gunn JC, Finch T, Klymus K, Sitati N, Eggert LS. Effects of diet, habitat, and phylogeny on the fecal microbiome of wild African savanna ( Loxodonta africana) and forest elephants ( L. cyclotis). Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5637-5650. [PMID: 32607180 PMCID: PMC7319146 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome, or the community of microorganisms inhabiting the digestive tract, is often unique to its symbiont and, in many animal taxa, is highly influenced by host phylogeny and diet. In this study, we characterized the gut microbiome of the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), sister taxa separated by 2.6-5.6 million years of independent evolution. We examined the effect of host phylogeny on microbiome composition. Additionally, we examined the influence of habitat types (forest versus savanna) and diet types (crop-raiding versus noncrop-raiding) on the microbiome within L. africana. We found 58 bacterial orders, representing 16 phyla, across all African elephant samples. The most common phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The microbiome of L. africana was dominated by Firmicutes, similar to other hindgut fermenters, while the microbiome of L. cyclotis was dominated by Proteobacteria, similar to more frugivorous species. Alpha diversity did not differ across species, habitat type, or diet, but beta diversity indicated that microbial communities differed significantly among species, diet types, and habitat types. Based on predicted KEGG metabolic pathways, we also found significant differences between species, but not habitat or diet, in amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides. Understanding the digestive capabilities of these elephant species could aid in their captive management and ultimately their conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris Budd
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMOUSA
| | - Joe C. Gunn
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMOUSA
| | - Tabitha Finch
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMOUSA
- Vermont Genetics NetworkUniversity of VermontBurlingtonVTUSA
| | - Katy Klymus
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMOUSA
- Columbia Environmental Research CenterUnited States Geological SurveyColumbiaMOUSA
| | - Noah Sitati
- World Wide Fund for NatureDar es SalaamTanzania
| | - Lori S. Eggert
- Division of Biological SciencesUniversity of MissouriColumbiaMOUSA
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Greyson-Gaito CJ, Bartley TJ, Cottenie K, Jarvis WMC, Newman AEM, Stothart MR. Into the wild: microbiome transplant studies need broader ecological reality. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20192834. [PMID: 32097591 PMCID: PMC7062022 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Gut microbial communities (microbiomes) profoundly shape the ecology and evolution of multicellular life. Interactions between host and microbiome appear to be reciprocal, and ecological theory is now being applied to better understand how hosts and their microbiome influence each other. However, some ecological processes that underlie reciprocal host-microbiome interactions may be obscured by the current convention of highly controlled transplantation experiments. Although these approaches have yielded invaluable insights, there is a need for a broader array of approaches to fully understand host-microbiome reciprocity. Using a directed review, we surveyed the breadth of ecological reality in the current literature on gut microbiome transplants with non-human recipients. For 55 studies, we categorized nine key experimental conditions that impact the ecological reality (EcoReality) of the transplant, including host taxon match and donor environment. Using these categories, we rated the EcoReality of each transplant. Encouragingly, the breadth of EcoReality has increased over time, but some components of EcoReality are still relatively unexplored, including recipient host environment and microbiome state. The conceptual framework we develop here maps the landscape of possible EcoReality to highlight where fundamental ecological processes can be considered in future transplant experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy J. Bartley
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karl Cottenie
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Will M. C. Jarvis
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amy E. M. Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mason R. Stothart
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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McLean AHC, Godfray HCJ, Ellers J, Henry LM. Host relatedness influences the composition of aphid microbiomes. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2019; 11:808-816. [PMID: 31573138 PMCID: PMC6900097 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Animals are host to a community of microbes, collectively referred to as their microbiome, that can play a key role in their hosts' biology. The bacterial endosymbionts of insects have a particularly strong influence on their hosts, but despite their importance we still know little about the factors that influence the composition of insect microbial communities. Here, we ask: what is the relative importance of host relatedness and host ecology in structuring symbiont communities of diverse aphid species? We used next-generation sequencing to compare the microbiomes of 46 aphid species with known host plant affiliations. We find that relatedness between aphid species is the key factor explaining the microbiome composition, with more closely related aphid species housing more similar bacterial communities. Endosymbionts dominate the microbial communities, and we find a novel bacterium in the genus Sphingopyxis that is associated with numerous aphid species feeding exclusively on trees. The influence of ecology was less pronounced than that of host relatedness. Our results suggest that co-adaptation between insect species and their facultative symbionts is a more important determinant of symbiont species presence in aphids than shared ecology of hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jacintha Ellers
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecological ScienceVU University AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Lee M. Henry
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecological ScienceVU University AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
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12
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Burkepile DE, Thurber RV. The Long Arm of Species Loss: How Will Defaunation Disrupt Ecosystems Down to the Microbial Scale? Bioscience 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biz047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Deron E Burkepile
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, and with the Marine Science Institute, both at the University of California, in Santa Barbara
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13
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Community Assembly Mechanisms Underlying the Core and Random Bacterioplankton and Microeukaryotes in a River–Reservoir System. WATER 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/w11061127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Whether bacterioplankton are assembled in the same way as microeukaryotes is a key question that has been answered only partially in microbial ecology. In particular, relating distribution patterns to the underlying ecological processes for plankton communities in highly dynamic ecosystems, such as river–reservoirs subjected to anthropogenic impacts, remains largely unstudied. Here, we analyzed taxonomic distribution patterns, and unraveled community assembly processes underlying the core and random bacterioplankton and microeukaryotes from a subtropical river–reservoir system. These plankton domains were modelled using the spatial abundance distributions (SpADs) of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) as a proxy for abundant and rare taxa delineation. Both bacterioplankton and microeukaryote plankton communities exhibited significant distance–decay relationships, and samples were grouped depending on reservoir or river habitats. The neutral community model showed that 35–45% of the plankton community variation could be explained by neutral processes. The phylogenetic null model revealed that dispersal limitation accounted for the largest percentage of pairwise comparisons (42–68%), followed by environmental selection (18–25%). We concluded that similar prevalence of ecological processes acting on particular subsets of the bacterioplankton and microeukaryotes might have resulted from similar responses to environmental change, potentially induced by human activities in the watershed.
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Fernández Robledo JA, Yadavalli R, Allam B, Pales Espinosa E, Gerdol M, Greco S, Stevick RJ, Gómez-Chiarri M, Zhang Y, Heil CA, Tracy AN, Bishop-Bailey D, Metzger MJ. From the raw bar to the bench: Bivalves as models for human health. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 92:260-282. [PMID: 30503358 PMCID: PMC6511260 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2018.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Bivalves, from raw oysters to steamed clams, are popular choices among seafood lovers and once limited to the coastal areas. The rapid growth of the aquaculture industry and improvement in the preservation and transport of seafood have enabled them to be readily available anywhere in the world. Over the years, oysters, mussels, scallops, and clams have been the focus of research for improving the production, managing resources, and investigating basic biological and ecological questions. During this decade, an impressive amount of information using high-throughput genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic technologies has been produced in various classes of the Mollusca group, and it is anticipated that basic and applied research will significantly benefit from this resource. One aspect that is also taking momentum is the use of bivalves as a model system for human health. In this review, we highlight some of the aspects of the biology of bivalves that have direct implications in human health including the shell formation, stem cells and cell differentiation, the ability to fight opportunistic and specific pathogens in the absence of adaptive immunity, as source of alternative drugs, mucosal immunity and, microbiome turnover, toxicology, and cancer research. There is still a long way to go; however, the next time you order a dozen oysters at your favorite raw bar, think about a tasty model organism that will not only please your palate but also help unlock multiple aspects of molluscan biology and improve human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bassem Allam
- Stony Brook University, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | | | - Marco Gerdol
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Samuele Greco
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Rebecca J Stevick
- University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, 02882, USA
| | - Marta Gómez-Chiarri
- University of Rhode Island, Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- University of Rhode Island, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Cynthia A Heil
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, 04544, USA
| | - Adrienne N Tracy
- Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay, ME, 04544, USA; Colby College, Waterville, 4,000 Mayflower Hill Dr, ME, 04901, USA
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15
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Parfrey LW, Moreau CS, Russell JA. Introduction: The host-associated microbiome: Pattern, process and function. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:1749-1765. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.14706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Wegener Parfrey
- Department of Botany; Biodiversity Research Centre; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Department of Zoology; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Corrie S. Moreau
- Department of Science and Education; Field Museum of Natural History; Chicago IL USA
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16
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Dias MF, Reis MP, Acurcio LB, Carmo AO, Diamantino CF, Motta AM, Kalapothakis E, Nicoli JR, Nascimento AMA. Changes in mouse gut bacterial community in response to different types of drinking water. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 132:79-89. [PMID: 29306702 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbiota exerts a fundamental role on host physiology, and how extrinsic perturbations influence its composition has been increasingly examined. However, the effect of drinking water on gut microbiota is still poorly understood. In this study, we explored the response of mouse gut bacterial community (fecal and mucosa-adhered) to the ingestion of different types of drinking water. The experimental cohort was divided according to different water sources into four groups of mice that consumed autoclaved tap water (control group), water collected directly from a drinking water treatment plant, tap water, and commercial bottled mineral water. Differences among groups were observed, especially related to control group, which exhibited the smallest intra-group variation, and the largest distance from test groups on the last experimental day. Clinically important taxa, such as Acinetobacter and Staphylococcus, increased in feces of mice that drank tap water and in mucosa-adhered samples of animals from disinfected and tap water groups. Furthermore, statistical analyses showed that both time elapsed between samplings and water type significantly influenced the variation observed in the samples. Our results reveal that drinking water potentially affects gut microbiota composition. Additionally, the increase of typical drinking water clinically relevant and antibiotic resistance-associated bacteria in gut microbiota is a cause of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela F Dias
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Mariana P Reis
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Leonardo B Acurcio
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Anderson O Carmo
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Cristiane F Diamantino
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Amanda M Motta
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Evanguedes Kalapothakis
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Jacques R Nicoli
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Andréa M A Nascimento
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
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17
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Bacterial microbiota of Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae is altered by intoxication with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:121. [PMID: 29499735 PMCID: PMC5834902 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2741-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Insect microbiota is a dynamic microbial community that can actively participate in defense against pathogens. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a natural entomopathogen widely used as a bioinsecticide for pest control. Although Bt’s mode of action has been extensively studied, whether the presence of microbiota is mandatory for Bt to effectively kill the insect is still under debate. An association between a higher tolerance and a modified microbiota was already evidenced but a critical point remained to be solved: is the modified microbiota a cause or a consequence of a higher tolerance to Bt? Methods In this study we focused on the mosquito species Aedes aegypti, as no work has been performed on Diptera on this topic to date, and on B. thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), which is used worldwide for mosquito control. To avoid using antibiotics to cure bacterial microbiota, mosquito larvae were exposed to an hourly increasing dose of Bti during 25 hours to separate the most susceptible larvae dying quickly from more tolerant individuals, with longer survival. Results Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting revealed that mosquito larval bacterial microbiota was strongly affected by Bti infection after only a few hours of exposure. Bacterial microbiota from the most tolerant larvae showed the lowest diversity but the highest inter-individual differences. The proportion of Bti in the host tissue was reduced in the most tolerant larvae as compared to the most susceptible ones, suggesting an active control of Bti infection by the host. Conclusions Here we show that a modified microbiota is associated with a higher tolerance of mosquitoes to Bti, but that it is rather a consequence of Bti infection than the cause of the higher tolerance. This study paves the way to future investigations aiming at unraveling the role of host immunity, inter-species bacterial competition and kinetics of host colonization by Bti that could be at the basis of the phenotype observed in this study. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2741-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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18
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Lemay MA, Martone PT, Keeling PJ, Burt JM, Krumhansl KA, Sanders RD, Wegener Parfrey L. Sympatric kelp species share a large portion of their surface bacterial communities. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:658-670. [PMID: 29124859 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Kelp forest ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots, providing habitat for dense assemblages of marine organisms and nutrients for marine and terrestrial food webs. The surfaces of kelps support diverse microbial communities that facilitate the transfer of carbon from algal primary production to higher trophic levels. We quantified the diversity of bacteria on the surfaces of eight sympatric kelp species from four sites in British Columbia. Kelp-associated bacterial communities are significantly different from their environment, even though 86% of their bacterial taxa are shared with seawater and 97% are shared with rocky substrate. This differentiation is driven by differences in relative abundance of the bacterial taxa present. Similarly, a large portion of bacterial taxa (37%) is shared among all eight kelp species, yet differential abundance of bacterial taxa underlies differences in community structure among species. Kelp-associated bacterial diversity does not track host phylogeny; instead bacterial community composition is correlated with the life-history strategy of the host, with annual and perennial kelps supporting divergent bacterial communities. These data provide the first community-scale investigation of kelp forest-associated bacterial diversity. More broadly, this study provides insight into mechanisms that may structure bacterial communities among closely related sympatric host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Lemay
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 3529-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
- Hakai Institute, PO Box 309, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
| | - Patrick T Martone
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 3529-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
- Hakai Institute, PO Box 309, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
| | - Patrick J Keeling
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 3529-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
- Hakai Institute, PO Box 309, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
| | - Jenn M Burt
- Hakai Institute, PO Box 309, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
- School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
| | - Kira A Krumhansl
- Hakai Institute, PO Box 309, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
- School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1S6
| | - Rhea D Sanders
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 3529-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
- Hakai Institute, PO Box 309, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
| | - Laura Wegener Parfrey
- Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 3529-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
- Hakai Institute, PO Box 309, Heriot Bay, BC, Canada V0P 1H0
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 4200-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
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Hammer TJ, Janzen DH, Hallwachs W, Jaffe SP, Fierer N. Caterpillars lack a resident gut microbiome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:9641-9646. [PMID: 28830993 PMCID: PMC5594680 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1707186114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Many animals are inhabited by microbial symbionts that influence their hosts' development, physiology, ecological interactions, and evolutionary diversification. However, firm evidence for the existence and functional importance of resident microbiomes in larval Lepidoptera (caterpillars) is lacking, despite the fact that these insects are enormously diverse, major agricultural pests, and dominant herbivores in many ecosystems. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative PCR, we characterized the gut microbiomes of wild leaf-feeding caterpillars in the United States and Costa Rica, representing 124 species from 15 families. Compared with other insects and vertebrates assayed using the same methods, the microbes that we detected in caterpillar guts were unusually low-density and variable among individuals. Furthermore, the abundance and composition of leaf-associated microbes were reflected in the feces of caterpillars consuming the same plants. Thus, microbes ingested with food are present (although possibly dead or dormant) in the caterpillar gut, but host-specific, resident symbionts are largely absent. To test whether transient microbes might still contribute to feeding and development, we conducted an experiment on field-collected caterpillars of the model species Manduca sexta Antibiotic suppression of gut bacterial activity did not significantly affect caterpillar weight gain, development, or survival. The high pH, simple gut structure, and fast transit times that typify caterpillar digestive physiology may prevent microbial colonization. Moreover, host-encoded digestive and detoxification mechanisms likely render microbes unnecessary for caterpillar herbivory. Caterpillars illustrate the potential ecological and evolutionary benefits of independence from symbionts, a lifestyle that may be widespread among animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobin J Hammer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309;
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309
| | - Daniel H Janzen
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Winnie Hallwachs
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | | | - Noah Fierer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309
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Where less may be more: how the rare biosphere pulls ecosystems strings. ISME JOURNAL 2017; 11:853-862. [PMID: 28072420 PMCID: PMC5364357 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2016.174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 567] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 11/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Rare species are increasingly recognized as crucial, yet vulnerable components of Earth's ecosystems. This is also true for microbial communities, which are typically composed of a high number of relatively rare species. Recent studies have demonstrated that rare species can have an over-proportional role in biogeochemical cycles and may be a hidden driver of microbiome function. In this review, we provide an ecological overview of the rare microbial biosphere, including causes of rarity and the impacts of rare species on ecosystem functioning. We discuss how rare species can have a preponderant role for local biodiversity and species turnover with rarity potentially bound to phylogenetically conserved features. Rare microbes may therefore be overlooked keystone species regulating the functioning of host-associated, terrestrial and aquatic environments. We conclude this review with recommendations to guide scientists interested in investigating this rapidly emerging research area.
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Christian N, Sullivan C, Visser ND, Clay K. Plant Host and Geographic Location Drive Endophyte Community Composition in the Face of Perturbation. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2016; 72:621-632. [PMID: 27341838 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-016-0804-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
All plants form symbioses with endophytic fungi, which affect host plant health and function. Most endophytic fungi are horizontally transmitted, and consequently, local environment and geographic location greatly influence endophyte community composition. Growing evidence also suggests that identity of the plant host (e.g., species, genotype) can be important in shaping endophyte communities. However, little is known about how disturbances to plants affect their fungal symbiont communities. The goal of this study was to test if disturbances, from both natural and anthropogenic sources, can alter endophyte communities independent of geographic location or plant host identity. Using the plant species white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima; Asteraceae), we conducted two experiments that tested the effect of perturbation on endophyte communities. First, we examined endophyte response to leaf mining insect activity, a natural perturbation, in three replicate populations. Second, for one population, we applied fungicide to plant leaves to test endophyte community response to an anthropogenic perturbation. Using culture-based methods and Sanger sequencing of fungal isolates, we then examined abundance, diversity, and community structure of endophytic fungi in leaves subjected to perturbations by leaf mining and fungicide application. Our results show that plant host individual and geographic location are the major determinants of endophyte community composition even in the face of perturbations. Unexpectedly, we found that leaf mining did not impact endophyte communities in white snakeroot, but fungicide treatment resulted in small but significant changes in endophyte community structure. Together, our results suggest that endophyte communities are highly resistant to biotic and anthropogenic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Christian
- Evolution, Ecology and Behavior Program, Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
| | - Courtney Sullivan
- Medical Sciences Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1001 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Noelle D Visser
- Evolution, Ecology and Behavior Program, Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Keith Clay
- Evolution, Ecology and Behavior Program, Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd St., Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
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Müller DB, Schubert OT, Röst H, Aebersold R, Vorholt JA. Systems-level Proteomics of Two Ubiquitous Leaf Commensals Reveals Complementary Adaptive Traits for Phyllosphere Colonization. Mol Cell Proteomics 2016; 15:3256-3269. [PMID: 27457762 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m116.058164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants are colonized by a diverse community of microorganisms, the plant microbiota, exhibiting a defined and conserved taxonomic structure. Niche separation based on spatial segregation and complementary adaptation strategies likely forms the basis for coexistence of the various microorganisms in the plant environment. To gain insights into organism-specific adaptations on a molecular level, we selected two exemplary community members of the core leaf microbiota and profiled their proteomes upon Arabidopsis phyllosphere colonization. The highly quantitative mass spectrometric technique SWATH MS was used and allowed for the analysis of over two thousand proteins spanning more than three orders of magnitude in abundance for each of the model strains. The data suggest that Sphingomonas melonis utilizes amino acids and hydrocarbon compounds during colonization of leaves whereas Methylobacterium extorquens relies on methanol metabolism in addition to oxalate metabolism, aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis and alkanesulfonate utilization. Comparative genomic analyses indicates that utilization of oxalate and alkanesulfonates is widespread among leaf microbiota members whereas, aerobic anoxygenic photosynthesis is almost exclusively found in Methylobacteria. Despite the apparent niche separation between these two strains we also found a relatively small subset of proteins to be coregulated, indicating common mechanisms, underlying successful leaf colonization. Overall, our results reveal for two ubiquitous phyllosphere commensals species-specific adaptations to the host environment and provide evidence for niche separation within the plant microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Müller
- From the ‡Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Olga T Schubert
- §Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Auguste-Piccard-Hof 1, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hannes Röst
- §Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Auguste-Piccard-Hof 1, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ruedi Aebersold
- §Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Auguste-Piccard-Hof 1, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland; ¶Faculty of Science, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julia A Vorholt
- From the ‡Department of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 4, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland;
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23
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Longevity-modulating effects of symbiosis: insights from Drosophila–Wolbachia interaction. Biogerontology 2016; 17:785-803. [DOI: 10.1007/s10522-016-9653-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Schmidt VT, Smith KF, Melvin DW, Amaral-Zettler LA. Community assembly of a euryhaline fish microbiome during salinity acclimation. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:2537-50. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Revised: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Victor T. Schmidt
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Brown University; Providence RI 02912 USA
- The Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution; Marine Biological Laboratory; 7 MBL Street Woods Hole MA 02543 USA
| | - Katherine F. Smith
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Brown University; Providence RI 02912 USA
| | | | - Linda A. Amaral-Zettler
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Brown University; Providence RI 02912 USA
- The Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and Evolution; Marine Biological Laboratory; 7 MBL Street Woods Hole MA 02543 USA
- Department of Earth Environmental and Planetary Sciences; Brown University; Providence RI 02912 USA
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25
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D Ainsworth T, Krause L, Bridge T, Torda G, Raina JB, Zakrzewski M, Gates RD, Padilla-Gamiño JL, Spalding HL, Smith C, Woolsey ES, Bourne DG, Bongaerts P, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Leggat W. The coral core microbiome identifies rare bacterial taxa as ubiquitous endosymbionts. ISME JOURNAL 2015; 9:2261-74. [PMID: 25885563 PMCID: PMC4579478 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 314] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite being one of the simplest metazoans, corals harbor some of the most highly diverse and abundant microbial communities. Differentiating core, symbiotic bacteria from this diverse host-associated consortium is essential for characterizing the functional contributions of bacteria but has not been possible yet. Here we characterize the coral core microbiome and demonstrate clear phylogenetic and functional divisions between the micro-scale, niche habitats within the coral host. In doing so, we discover seven distinct bacterial phylotypes that are universal to the core microbiome of coral species, separated by thousands of kilometres of oceans. The two most abundant phylotypes are co-localized specifically with the corals' endosymbiotic algae and symbiont-containing host cells. These bacterial symbioses likely facilitate the success of the dinoflagellate endosymbiosis with corals in diverse environmental regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy D Ainsworth
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lutz Krause
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Thomas Bridge
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Gergely Torda
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jean-Baptise Raina
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Martha Zakrzewski
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ruth D Gates
- Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Mānoa, HI, USA
| | - Jacqueline L Padilla-Gamiño
- Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i, Mānoa, HI, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - Celia Smith
- Department of Botany, University of Hawai'i, Mānoa, HI, USA
| | - Erika S Woolsey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - David G Bourne
- Australian Institute for Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pim Bongaerts
- The Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,The Global Change Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - William Leggat
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Rieseberg L, Vines T, Gow J, Geraldes A. Editorial 2015. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:1-17. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Koskella B. Research highlights for issue 5: the role of the microbiome in shaping evolution. Evol Appl 2014; 7:519-20. [PMID: 24944565 PMCID: PMC4055173 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Parfrey LW, Walters WA, Lauber CL, Clemente JC, Berg-Lyons D, Teiling C, Kodira C, Mohiuddin M, Brunelle J, Driscoll M, Fierer N, Gilbert JA, Knight R. Communities of microbial eukaryotes in the mammalian gut within the context of environmental eukaryotic diversity. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:298. [PMID: 24995004 PMCID: PMC4063188 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic microbes (protists) residing in the vertebrate gut influence host health and disease, but their diversity and distribution in healthy hosts is poorly understood. Protists found in the gut are typically considered parasites, but many are commensal and some are beneficial. Further, the hygiene hypothesis predicts that association with our co-evolved microbial symbionts may be important to overall health. It is therefore imperative that we understand the normal diversity of our eukaryotic gut microbiota to test for such effects and avoid eliminating commensal organisms. We assembled a dataset of healthy individuals from two populations, one with traditional, agrarian lifestyles and a second with modern, westernized lifestyles, and characterized the human eukaryotic microbiota via high-throughput sequencing. To place the human gut microbiota within a broader context our dataset also includes gut samples from diverse mammals and samples from other aquatic and terrestrial environments. We curated the SILVA ribosomal database to reflect current knowledge of eukaryotic taxonomy and employ it as a phylogenetic framework to compare eukaryotic diversity across environment. We show that adults from the non-western population harbor a diverse community of protists, and diversity in the human gut is comparable to that in other mammals. However, the eukaryotic microbiota of the western population appears depauperate. The distribution of symbionts found in mammals reflects both host phylogeny and diet. Eukaryotic microbiota in the gut are less diverse and more patchily distributed than bacteria. More broadly, we show that eukaryotic communities in the gut are less diverse than in aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and few taxa are shared across habitat types, and diversity patterns of eukaryotes are correlated with those observed for bacteria. These results outline the distribution and diversity of microbial eukaryotic communities in the mammalian gut and across environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William A Walters
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Christian L Lauber
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Jose C Clemente
- Biofrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Noah Fierer
- Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA ; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Jack A Gilbert
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago Chicago, IL, USA ; Institute of Genomic and Systems Biology, Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Rob Knight
- Biofrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA ; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, CO, USA
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