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Jung P, Brand R, Briegel-Williams L, Werner L, Jost E, Lentendu G, Singer D, Athavale R, Nürnberg DJ, Alfaro FD, Büdel B, Lakatos M. The symbiotic alga Trebouxia fuels a coherent soil ecosystem on the landscape scale in the Atacama Desert. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:59. [PMID: 39123247 PMCID: PMC11311966 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00601-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Biocrusts represent associations of lichens, green algae, cyanobacteria, fungi and other microorganisms, colonizing soils in varying proportions of principally arid biomes. The so-called grit crust represents a recently discovered type of biocrust situated in the Coastal Range of the Atacama Desert (Chile) made of microorganisms growing on and in granitoid pebbles, resulting in a checkerboard pattern visible to the naked eye on the landscape scale. This specific microbiome fulfills a broad range of ecosystem services, all probably driven by fog and dew-induced photosynthetic activity of mainly micro-lichens. To understand its biodiversity and impact, we applied a polyphasic approach on the phototrophic microbiome of this biocrust, combining isolation and characterization of the lichen photobionts, multi-gene phylogeny of the photobionts and mycobionts based on a direct sequencing and microphotography approach, metabarcoding and determination of chlorophylla+b contents. Metabarcoding showed that yet undescribed lichens within the Caliciaceae dominated the biocrust together with Trebouxia as the most abundant eukaryote in all plots. Together with high mean chlorophylla+b contents exceeding 410 mg m-2, this distinguished the symbiotic algae Trebouxia as the main driver of the grit crust ecosystem. The trebouxioid photobionts could be assigned to the I (T. impressa/gelatinosa) and A (T. arboricola) clades and represented several lineages containing five potential species candidates, which were identified based on the unique phylogenetic position, morphological features, and developmental cycles of the corresponding isolates. These results designate the grit crust as the only known coherent soil layer with significant landscape covering impact of at least 440 km2, predominantly ruled by a single symbiotic algal genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Jung
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany.
| | - Rebekah Brand
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Laura Briegel-Williams
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Lina Werner
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Emily Jost
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Guillaume Lentendu
- Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, Université de Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - David Singer
- Soil Science and Environment Group, Changins, HES-SO University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Nyon, Switzerland
| | - Rujuta Athavale
- Institute for Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis J Nürnberg
- Institute for Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fernando D Alfaro
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Burkhard Büdel
- Biology, Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Michael Lakatos
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
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Yang J, Woo JJ, Sesal C, Gökalsın B, Eldem V, Açıkgöz B, Başaran TI, Kurtuluş G, Hur JS. Continental scale comparison of mycobiomes in Parmelia and Peltigera lichens from Turkey and South Korea. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:243. [PMID: 38965478 PMCID: PMC11223332 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03388-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lichens, traditionally considered as a simple partnership primarily between mycobiont and photobiont, are, in reality, complex holobionts comprised of a multitude of microorganisms. Lichen mycobiome represents fungal community residing within lichen thalli. While it is acknowledged that factors like the host lichen species and environmental conditions influence the structure of the lichen mycobiome, the existing research remains insufficient. To investigate which factor, host genus or location, has a greater impact on the lichen mycobiome, we conducted a comparative analysis of mycobiomes within Parmelia and Peltigera collected from both Turkey and South Korea, using high-throughput sequencing based on internal transcribed spacer region amplification. RESULTS Overall, the lichen mycobiome was dominated by Capnodiales (Dothideomycetes), regardless of host or location. At the order level, the taxonomic composition was not significantly different according to lichen genus host or geographical distance. Hierarchical clustering of the top 100 abundant ASVs did not clearly indicate whether the lichen mycobiome was more influenced by host genus or location. Analyses of community similarity and partitioning variables revealed that the structure of the lichen mycobiome is more significantly influenced by location than by host genus. When analyzing the core mycobiome by host genus, the Peltigera mycobiome contained more ASV members than the Parmelia mycobiome. These two core mycobiomes also share common fungal strains, including basidiomycete yeast. Additionally, we used chi-squared tests to identify host genus-specialists and location-specialists. CONCLUSIONS By comparing lichen mycobiomes of the same genera across different countries, our study advances our comprehension of these microbial communities. Our study elucidates that, although host species play a contributory role, geographic distance exerts a more pronounced impact on the structure of lichen mycobiome. We have made foundational contributions to understanding the lichen mycobiome occupying ecologically crucial niches. We anticipate that broader global-scale investigations into the fungal community structures will provide more detailed insights into fungal residents within lichens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiho Yang
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang‑ro, Suncheon, South Korea
| | - Jung-Jae Woo
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang‑ro, Suncheon, South Korea
| | - Cenk Sesal
- Department of Biology, Marmara University, Istanbul, TR-34722, Turkey
| | - Barış Gökalsın
- Department of Biology, Marmara University, Istanbul, TR-34722, Turkey
| | - Vahap Eldem
- Department of Biology, Marmara University, Istanbul, TR-34722, Turkey
| | - Birkan Açıkgöz
- Department of Biology, Marmara University, Istanbul, TR-34722, Turkey
| | | | - Gamze Kurtuluş
- Department of Biology, Marmara University, Istanbul, TR-34722, Turkey
| | - Jae-Seoun Hur
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang‑ro, Suncheon, South Korea.
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Furmanek Ł, Czarnota P, Tekiela A, Kapusta I, Seaward MRD. A spectrophotometric analysis of extracted water-soluble phenolic metabolites of lichens. PLANTA 2024; 260:40. [PMID: 38954049 PMCID: PMC11219455 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-024-04474-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Rainwater most probably constitutes a relatively effective solvent for lichen substances in nature which have the potential to provide for human and environmental needs in the future. The aims were (i) to test the hypothesis on the potential solubility of lichen phenolic compounds using rainwater under conditions that partly reflect the natural environment and (ii) to propose new and effective methods for the water extraction of lichen substances. The results of spectrophotometric analyses of total phenolic metabolites in rainwater-based extracts from epigeic and epiphytic lichens, employing the Folin-Ciocalteu (F.-C.) method, are presented. The water solvent was tested at three pH levels: natural, 3, and 9. Extraction methods were undertaken from two perspectives: the partial imitation of natural environmental conditions and the potential use of extraction for economic purposes. From an ecological perspective, room-temperature water extraction ('cold' method) was used for 10-, 60-, and 120-min extraction periods. A variant of water extraction at analogous time intervals was an 'insolation' with a 100W light bulb to simulate the heat energy of the sun. For economic purposes, the water extraction method used the Soxhlet apparatus and its modified version, the 'tea-extraction' method ('hot' ones). The results showed that those extractions without an external heat source were almost ineffective, but insolation over 60- and 120-min periods proved to be more effective. Both tested 'hot' methods also proved to be effective, especially the 'tea-extraction' one. Generally, an increase in the concentration of phenolic compounds in water extracts resulted from an increasing solvent pH. The results show the probable involvement of lichen substances in biogeochemical processes in nature and their promising use for a variety of human necessities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Furmanek
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza 4 Street, 35-601, Rzeszów, Poland.
- Unit for Assessment of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Documentation, Department for Assessment of Medicinal Products Documentation, The Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products, Al. Jerozolimskie 181C, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Paweł Czarnota
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Rzeszów, Zelwerowicza 4 Street, 35-601, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Agata Tekiela
- Department of Agroecology and Forest Utilization, University of Rzeszów, Ćwiklińskiej 1A Street, 35-601, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Ireneusz Kapusta
- Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Rzeszów, Ćwiklińskiej 1 Street, 35-601, Rzeszów, Poland
| | - Mark R D Seaward
- School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK
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Drotos KHI, Larson DW, McMullin RT. Scientific telephone: The cautionary tale of the global coverage of lichens. Bioscience 2024; 74:473-477. [PMID: 39156616 PMCID: PMC11328143 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biae048] [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: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Scientific history has many examples of profound statements that are later found to be unsubstantiated. The consequences of such misinformation can be dire. In the present article, we present a case where an unevidenced estimate of global lichen coverage proliferated through both scientific literature and popular media. We traced this estimate to a non-peer-reviewed publication from 1987. We found 76 academic articles (collectively cited 4125 times) and 13 other academic documents citing the statistic, citation chains without source attribution, and instances where the number or context was changed. We also found the statistic 37 times in popular media, which is especially concerning, given that these media communicate science to the broader public. We demonstrate how an unevidenced statement can spread, change through time, and ultimately be repeated without demand for evidence. We hope this case unplugs the telephone and provides a cautionary tale for researchers to ensure critical evaluation of citation and communication practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine H I Drotos
- Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Douglas W Larson
- Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - R Troy McMullin
- Canadian Museum of Nature, Research and Collections, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Meyer AR, Koch NM, McDonald T, Stanton DE. Symbionts out of sync: Decoupled physiological responses are widespread and ecologically important in lichen associations. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eado2783. [PMID: 38875327 PMCID: PMC11177896 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado2783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
A core vulnerability in symbioses is the need for coordination between the symbiotic partners, which are often assumed to be closely physiologically integrated. We critically re-examine this assumed integration between symbionts in lichen symbioses, recovering a long overlooked yet fundamental physiological asymmetry in carbon balance. We examine the physiological, ecological, and transcriptional basis of this asymmetry in the lichen Evernia mesomorpha. This carbon balance asymmetry depends on hydration source and aligns with climatic range limits. Differences in gene expression across the E. mesomorpha symbiosis suggest that the physiologies of the primary lichen symbionts are decoupled. Furthermore, we use gas exchange data to show that asymmetries in carbon balance are widespread and common across evolutionarily disparate lichen associations. Using carbon balance asymmetry as an example, we provide evidence for the wide-ranging importance of physiological asymmetries in symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail R Meyer
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Natália M Koch
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Tami McDonald
- Department of Biology, Saint Catherine University, Saint Paul, MN 55105, USA
| | - Daniel E Stanton
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
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Worthy FR, Schaefer DA, Wanasinghe D, Xu JC, Wang LS, Wang XY. Acquisition of green algal photobionts enables both chlorolichens and chloro-cyanolichens to activate photosynthesis at low humidity without liquid water. AOB PLANTS 2024; 16:plae025. [PMID: 38770101 PMCID: PMC11102867 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plae025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria require liquid water for photosynthesis, whereas green algae can photosynthesise with water vapour alone. We discovered that several Lobaria spp. which normally have cyanobacteria as the sole photobiont, in some regions of the trans-Himalayas also harboured green algae. We tested whether green algal acquisition was: limited to high elevations; obtained from neighbouring chloro-Lobaria species; enabled photosynthesis at low humidity. Lobaria spp. were collected from 2000 to 4000 m elevation. Spectrophotometry quantified green algal abundance by measuring chlorophyll b (absent in cyanobacteria). Thalli cross-sections visually confirmed green algal presence. We sequenced gene regions: Lobaria (ITS-EF-1α-RPB2), green algae (18S-RBC-L) and Nostoc (16S). Phylogenetic analysis determined myco-photobiont associations. We used a custom closed-circuit gas exchange system with an infrared gas analyser to measure CO2 exchange rates for desiccated specimens at 33%, 76%, 86% and 98% humidity. Cross-sections revealed that the photobiont layers in putative cyano-Lobaria contained both cyanobacteria and green algae, indicating that they should be considered chloro-cyanolichens. Chloro-Lobaria had no visible cephalodia nor cyanobacteria in the photobiont layer. Chloro-Lobaria and chloro-cyano-Lobaria had comparable levels of chlorophyll b. Chloro-Lobaria usually contained Symbiochloris. Chloro-cyano-Lobaria mainly associated with Parachloroidium and Nostoc; infrequently with Symbiochloris, Apatococcus, Chloroidium, Pseudochlorella, Trebouxia. Sequences from two green algal genera were obtained from within some thalli. Desiccated specimens of every Lobaria species could attain net photosynthesis with light exposure and 33% humidity. CO2 exchange dynamics over a five-day period differed between species. At all elevations, chloro-cyano-Lobaria spp. had abundant green algae in the photobiont layer, but green algal strains mostly differed to those of chloro-Lobaria spp. Both chloro-Lobaria and chloro-cyano-Lobaria were capable of conducting photosynthesis without liquid water. The data strongly suggest that they attained positive net photosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Ruth Worthy
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Honghe Centre for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Douglas Allen Schaefer
- Honghe Centre for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Dhanushka Wanasinghe
- Honghe Centre for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Department of Soil Science, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jian Chu Xu
- Honghe Centre for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Li Song Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Xin Yu Wang
- Yunnan Key Laboratory for Fungal Diversity and Green Development, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
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7
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Bonito G. Ecology and evolution of algal-fungal symbioses. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102452. [PMID: 38461593 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Ecological interactions and symbiosis between algae and fungi are ancient, widespread, and diverse with many independent origins. The heterotrophic constraint on fungal nutrition drives fungal interactions with autotrophic organisms, including algae. While ancestors of modern fungi may have evolved as parasites of algae, there remains a latent ability in algae to detect and respond to fungi through a range of symbioses that are witnessed today in the astounding diversity of lichens, associations with corticoid and polypore fungi, and endophytic associations with macroalgae. Research into algal-fungal interactions and biotechnological innovation have the potential to improve our understanding of their diversity and functions in natural systems, and to harness this knowledge to develop sustainable and novel approaches for producing food, energy, and bioproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Bonito
- Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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8
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Nimis PL, Pittao E, Caramia M, Pitacco P, Martellos S, Muggia L. The ecology of lichenicolous lichens: a case-study in Italy. MycoKeys 2024; 105:253-266. [PMID: 38855319 PMCID: PMC11161687 DOI: 10.3897/mycokeys.105.121001] [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: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper, with Italy as a case-study, provides a general overview on the ecology of lichenicolous lichens, i.e. those which start their life-cycle on the thallus of other lichens. It aims at testing whether some ecological factors do exert a positive selective pressure on the lichenicolous lifestyle. The incidence of some biological traits (photobionts, growth-forms and reproductive strategies) in lichenicolous and non-lichenicolous lichens was compared, on a set of 3005 infrageneric taxa potentially occurring in Italy, 189 of which are lichenicolous. Lichenicolous lichens have a much higher incidence of coccoid (non-trentepohlioid) green algae, crustose growth-forms and sexual reproduction. A matrix of the 2762 species with phycobionts and some main ecological descriptors was subjected to ordination. Lichenicolous lichens occupy a well-defined portion of the ecological space, tending to grow on rocks in dry, well-lit habitats where a germinating spore is likely to have a short life-span, at all altitudes. This corroborates the hypothesis that at least some of them are not true "parasites", as they are often called, but gather the photobionts - which have already adapted to local ecological conditions - from their hosts, eventually developing an independent thallus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier Luigi Nimis
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, ItalyUniversity of TriesteTriesteItaly
| | - Elena Pittao
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, ItalyUniversity of TriesteTriesteItaly
| | - Monica Caramia
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, ItalyUniversity of TriesteTriesteItaly
| | - Piero Pitacco
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, ItalyUniversity of TriesteTriesteItaly
| | - Stefano Martellos
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, ItalyUniversity of TriesteTriesteItaly
| | - Lucia Muggia
- University of Trieste, Department of Life Sciences, via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, ItalyUniversity of TriesteTriesteItaly
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Puginier C, Libourel C, Otte J, Skaloud P, Haon M, Grisel S, Petersen M, Berrin JG, Delaux PM, Dal Grande F, Keller J. Phylogenomics reveals the evolutionary origins of lichenization in chlorophyte algae. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4452. [PMID: 38789482 PMCID: PMC11126685 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48787-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutualistic symbioses have contributed to major transitions in the evolution of life. Here, we investigate the evolutionary history and the molecular innovations at the origin of lichens, which are a symbiosis established between fungi and green algae or cyanobacteria. We de novo sequence the genomes or transcriptomes of 12 lichen algal symbiont (LAS) and closely related non-symbiotic algae (NSA) to improve the genomic coverage of Chlorophyte algae. We then perform ancestral state reconstruction and comparative phylogenomics. We identify at least three independent gains of the ability to engage in the lichen symbiosis, one in Trebouxiophyceae and two in Ulvophyceae, confirming the convergent evolution of the lichen symbioses. A carbohydrate-active enzyme from the glycoside hydrolase 8 (GH8) family was identified as a top candidate for the molecular-mechanism underlying lichen symbiosis in Trebouxiophyceae. This GH8 was acquired in lichenizing Trebouxiophyceae by horizontal gene transfer, concomitantly with the ability to associate with lichens fungal symbionts (LFS) and is able to degrade polysaccharides found in the cell wall of LFS. These findings indicate that a combination of gene family expansion and horizontal gene transfer provided the basis for lichenization to evolve in chlorophyte algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Puginier
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Cyril Libourel
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Juergen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Pavel Skaloud
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, CZ-12800, Praha 2, Czech Republic
| | - Mireille Haon
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques (BBF), 13009, Marseille, France
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Sacha Grisel
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques (BBF), 13009, Marseille, France
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Malte Petersen
- High Performance Computing & Analytics Lab, University of Bonn, Friedrich-Hirzebruch-Allee 8, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jean-Guy Berrin
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, UMR1163 Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques (BBF), 13009, Marseille, France
- INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, 3PE Platform, 13009, Marseille, France
| | - Pierre-Marc Delaux
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
| | - Jean Keller
- Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, INP, Toulouse, 31320, Castanet-Tolosan, France.
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745, Jena, Germany.
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Pushpavathi D, Krishnamurthy YL. Study on endolichenic fungal assemblage in Parmotrema and Heterodermia lichens of Shivamoga, Karnataka. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:549. [PMID: 38642168 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09497-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lichen is a symbiotic association of algae and fungi, recognized as a self-sustaining ecosystem that constitutes an indeterminant number of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi, and protozoa. We evaluated the endolichenic fungal assemblage given the dearth of knowledge on endolichenic fungi (ELFs), particularly from part of the Central Western Ghats, Karnataka, and conducted a phylogenetic analysis of xylariaceous fungi, the most diversified group of fungi using ITS and ITS+Tub2 gene set. RESULTS Out of 17 lichen thalli collected from 5 ecoregions, 42 morphospecies recovered, belong to the class Sordariomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, Dothideomycetes, Leotiomycetes, Saccharomycetes. About 19 and 13 ELF genera have been reported from Parmotrema and Heterodermia thallus. Among the ecoregions EC2 showing highest species diversity (Parmotrema (1-D) = 0.9382, (H) = 2.865, Fisher-α = 8.429, Heterodermia (1-D) = 0.8038, H = 1.894, F-α = 4.57) followed the EC3 and EC1. Xylariales are the predominant colonizer reported from at least one thallus from four ecoregions. The morphotypes ELFX04, ELFX05, ELFX08 and ELFX13 show the highest BLAST similarity (> 99%) with Xylaria psidii, X. feejeensis, X. berteri and Hypoxylon fragiforme respectively. Species delimitation and phylogenetic position reveal the closest relation of Xylariaceous ELFs with plant endophytes. CONCLUSIONS The observation highlights that the deciduous forest harness a high number of endolichenic fungi, a dominant portion of these fungi are non-sporulating and still exist as cryptic. Overall, 8 ELF species recognized based on phylogenetic analysis, including the two newly reported fungi ELFX03 and ELFX06 which are suspected to be new species based on the present evidence. The study proved, that the lichen being rich source to establish fungal diversity and finding new species. Successful amplification of most phylogenetic markers like RPB2, building of comprehensive taxonomic databases and application of multi-omics data are further needed to understand the complex nature of lichen-fungal symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Pushpavathi
- Department of PG Studies and Research in Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Jnanasahyadri, Shankaraghatta, Karnataka, 577451, India
| | - Y L Krishnamurthy
- Department of PG Studies and Research in Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Jnanasahyadri, Shankaraghatta, Karnataka, 577451, India.
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11
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Zhou Z, Li G, Gao L, Zhou Y, Xiao Y, Bi H, Yang H. Lichen pectin-containing polysaccharide from Xanthoria elegans and its ability to effectively protect LX-2 cells from H 2O 2-induced oxidative damage. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 265:130712. [PMID: 38471602 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.130712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Xanthoria elegans, a drought-tolerant lichen, is the original plant of the traditional Chinese medicine "Shihua" and effectively treats a variety of liver diseases. However, thus far, the hepatoprotective effects of polysaccharides, the most important chemical constituents of X. elegans, have not been determined. The aim of this study was to screen the polysaccharide fraction for hepatoprotective activity by using free radical scavenging assays and a H2O2-induced Lieming Xu-2 cell (LX-2) oxidative damage model and to elucidate the chemical composition of the bioactive polysaccharide fraction. In the present study, three polysaccharide fractions (XEP-50, XEP-70 and XEP-90) were obtained from X. elegans by hot-water extraction, DEAE-cellulose anion exchange chromatography separation and ethanol gradient precipitation. Among the three polysaccharide fractions, XEP-70 exhibited the best antioxidant activity in free radical scavenging capacity and reducing power assays. Structural studies showed that XEP-70 was a pectin-containing heteropolysaccharide fraction that was composed mainly of (1 → 4)-linked and (1 → 4,6)-linked α-D-Glcp, (1 → 4)-linked α-D-GalpA, (1 → 2)-linked, (1 → 6)-linked and (1 → 2,6)-linked α-D-Manp, and (1 → 6)-linked and (1 → 2,6)-linked β-D-Galf. Furthermore, XEP-70 exhibited effectively protect LX-2 cells against H2O2-induced oxidative damage by enhancing cellular antioxidant capacity by activating the Nrf2/Keap1/ARE signaling pathway. Thus, XEP-70 has good potential to protect hepatic stellate cells against oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhou
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Xining 810001, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guoqiang Li
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Xining 810001, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liang Gao
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Xining 810001, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yubi Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Xining 810001, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuancan Xiao
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Xining 810001, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hongtao Bi
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Hongxia Yang
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Tibetan Medicine Research, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Xining 810001, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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12
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Gadd GM, Fomina M, Pinzari F. Fungal biodeterioration and preservation of cultural heritage, artwork, and historical artifacts: extremophily and adaptation. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024; 88:e0020022. [PMID: 38179930 PMCID: PMC10966957 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00200-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYFungi are ubiquitous and important biosphere inhabitants, and their abilities to decompose, degrade, and otherwise transform a massive range of organic and inorganic substances, including plant organic matter, rocks, and minerals, underpin their major significance as biodeteriogens in the built environment and of cultural heritage. Fungi are often the most obvious agents of cultural heritage biodeterioration with effects ranging from discoloration, staining, and biofouling to destruction of building components, historical artifacts, and artwork. Sporulation, morphological adaptations, and the explorative penetrative lifestyle of filamentous fungi enable efficient dispersal and colonization of solid substrates, while many species are able to withstand environmental stress factors such as desiccation, ultra-violet radiation, salinity, and potentially toxic organic and inorganic substances. Many can grow under nutrient-limited conditions, and many produce resistant cell forms that can survive through long periods of adverse conditions. The fungal lifestyle and chemoorganotrophic metabolism therefore enable adaptation and success in the frequently encountered extremophilic conditions that are associated with indoor and outdoor cultural heritage. Apart from free-living fungi, lichens are a fungal growth form and ubiquitous pioneer colonizers and biodeteriogens of outdoor materials, especially stone- and mineral-based building components. This article surveys the roles and significance of fungi in the biodeterioration of cultural heritage, with reference to the mechanisms involved and in relation to the range of substances encountered, as well as the methods by which fungal biodeterioration can be assessed and combated, and how certain fungal processes may be utilized in bioprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Michael Gadd
- Geomicrobiology Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, Beijing Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Pollution Control, College of Chemical Engineering and Environment, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China
| | - Marina Fomina
- Zabolotny Institute of Microbiology and Virology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
- National Reserve “Sophia of Kyiv”, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Flavia Pinzari
- Institute for Biological Systems (ISB), Council of National Research of Italy (CNR), Monterotondo (RM), Italy
- Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
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13
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Hawksworth DL, Grube M. Reflections on lichens as ecosystems. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:972-973. [PMID: 38031487 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David L Hawksworth
- Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AE, UK
- Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Martin Grube
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Holteigasse 6, Graz, 8010, Austria
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14
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Sanders WB. The disadvantages of current proposals to redefine lichens. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:969-971. [PMID: 38031529 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- William B Sanders
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft Myers, FL, 33965, USA
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15
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Zhang W, Ran Q, Li H, Lou H. Endolichenic Fungi: A Promising Medicinal Microbial Resource to Discover Bioactive Natural Molecules-An Update. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:99. [PMID: 38392771 PMCID: PMC10889713 DOI: 10.3390/jof10020099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Lichens are some of the most unique fungi and are naturally encountered as symbiotic biological organisms that usually consist of fungal partners (mycobionts) and photosynthetic organisms (green algae and cyanobacteria). Due to their distinctive growth environments, including hot deserts, rocky coasts, Arctic tundra, toxic slag piles, etc., they produce a variety of biologically meaningful and structurally novel secondary metabolites to resist external environmental stresses. The endofungi that live in and coevolve with lichens can also generate abundant secondary metabolites with novel structures, diverse skeletons, and intriguing bioactivities due to their mutualistic symbiosis with hosts, and they have been considered as strategically significant medicinal microresources for the discovery of pharmaceutical lead compounds in the medicinal industry. They are also of great importance in the fundamental research field of natural product chemistry. In this work, we conducted a comprehensive review and systematic evaluation of the secondary metabolites of endolichenic fungi regarding their origin, distribution, structural characteristics, and biological activity, as well as recent advances in their medicinal applications, by summarizing research achievements since 2015. Moreover, the current research status and future research trends regarding their chemical components are discussed and predicted. A systematic review covering the fundamental chemical research advances and pharmaceutical potential of the secondary metabolites from endolichenic fungi is urgently required to facilitate our better understanding, and this review could also serve as a critical reference to provide valuable insights for the future research and promotion of natural products from endolichenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenge Zhang
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, No. 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Qian Ran
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, No. 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Hehe Li
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, No. 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Hongxiang Lou
- Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Key Lab of Chemical Biology (MOE), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, No. 44 West Wenhua Road, Jinan 250012, China
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16
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Jung P, Briegel-Williams L, Büdel B, Schultz M, Nürnberg DJ, Grube M, D’Agostino PM, Kaštovský J, Mareš J, Lorenz M, González MLG, Forno MD, Westberg M, Chrismas N, Pietrasiak N, Whelan P, Dvořák P, Košuthová A, Gkelis S, Bauersachs T, Schiefelbein U, Giao VTP, Lakatos M. The underestimated fraction: diversity, challenges and novel insights into unicellular cyanobionts of lichens. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycae069. [PMID: 38966402 PMCID: PMC11222712 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Lichens are remarkable and classic examples of symbiotic organisms that have fascinated scientists for centuries. Yet, it has only been for a couple of decades that significant advances have focused on the diversity of their green algal and/or cyanobacterial photobionts. Cyanolichens, which contain cyanobacteria as their photosynthetic partner, include up to 10% of all known lichens and, as such, studies on their cyanobionts are much rarer compared to their green algal counterparts. For the unicellular cyanobionts, i.e. cyanobacteria that do not form filaments, these studies are even scarcer. Nonetheless, these currently include at least 10 different genera in the cosmopolitan lichen order Lichinales. An international consortium (International Network of CyanoBionts; INCb) will tackle this lack of knowledge. In this article, we discuss the status of current unicellular cyanobiont research, compare the taxonomic resolution of photobionts from cyanolichens with those of green algal lichens (chlorolichens), and give a roadmap of research on how to recondition the underestimated fraction of symbiotic unicellular cyanobacteria in lichens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Jung
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Laura Briegel-Williams
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Burkhard Büdel
- Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University Kaiserslautern Landau, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Matthias Schultz
- Herbarium Hamburgense, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dennis J Nürnberg
- Institute for Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin Germany
| | - Martin Grube
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Paul M D’Agostino
- Technical University Dresden, Chair of Technical Biochemistry, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jan Kaštovský
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Mareš
- Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Maike Lorenz
- University of Goettingen, SAG Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Petr Dvořák
- Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | | | - Spyros Gkelis
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Thorsten Bauersachs
- Institute of Organic Biogeochemistry in Geo-Systems, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | | | - Michael Lakatos
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - INCb
- International Network for research on unicellular CyanoBionts from lichens
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17
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Rakotondraibe HLR, Spjut RW, Addo EM. Chemical Constituents Isolated from the Lichen Biome of Selected Species Native to North America. PROGRESS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC NATURAL PRODUCTS 2024; 124:185-233. [PMID: 39101985 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-59567-7_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
A lichen is a symbiotic association composed of a primary mycobionts and one or more photobionts living mutualistically together, forming a distinct morphological entity beneficial to their partnership and to other associated fungi, photobionts, and bacteria that collectively make up the lichen biome. The taxonomic identification of a lichen species often requires determination of the primary mycobiont's secondary metabolites, the key morphological characteristics of the thallus, and how it relates to other lichen species as seen in DNA phylogeny. This chapter covers lichens and their bionts, taxonomic identification, and their chemical constituents as exemplified by what is found in lichen biomes, especially those endemic to North America. Extraction and isolation, as well as updates on dereplication methods using mass spectrometric GNPS and NMR spectroscopic spin network fingerprint procedures, and marker-based techniques to identify lichens are discussed. The isolation and structure elucidation of secondary metabolites of an endolichenic Penicillium species that produces bioactive compounds will be described in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ermias Mekuria Addo
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
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18
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Fjelde MO, Timdal E, Haugan R, Bendiksby M. Paraphyly and cryptic diversity unveils unexpected challenges in the "naked lichens" (Calvitimela, Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 190:107944. [PMID: 37844854 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Molecular phylogenetics has revolutionized the taxonomy of crustose lichens and revealed an extensive amount of cryptic diversity. Resolving the relationships between genera in the crustose lichen family Tephromelataceae has proven difficult and the taxon limits within the genus Calvitimela are only partly understood. In this study, we tested the monophyly of Calvitimela and investigated phylogenetic relationships at different taxonomic levels using an integrative taxonomic approach. We performed a global sampling of all species currently assigned to Calvitimela and conducted additional sampling of C. melaleuca sensu lato across Norway. We included 108 specimens and produced more than 300 sequences from five different loci (ITS, LSU, MCM7, mtSSU, TEF1-α). We inferred phylogenetic relationships and estimated divergence times in Calvitimela. Moreover, we analyzed chemical and morphological characters to test their diagnostic values in the genus. Our molecular phylogenetic results show evolutionarily old and deeply divergent lineages in Calvitimela. The morphological characters are overlapping between divergent subgenera within this genus. Chemical characters, however, are largely informative at the level of subgenera, but are often homoplastic at the species level. The subgenus Calvitimela is found to include four distinct genetic lineages. Detailed morphological examinations of C. melaleuca s. lat. reveal differences between taxa previously assumed to be morphologically cryptic. Furthermore, young evolutionary ages and signs of gene tree discordance indicate a recent divergence and possibly incomplete lineage sorting in the subgenus Calvitimela. Phylogenetic analysis and morphological observations revealed that C. austrochilensis and C. uniseptata are extraneous to Calvitimela (Tephromelataceae). We also found molecular evidence supporting C. septentrionalis being sister to C. cuprea. In the subgenus Severidea, one new grouping is recovered as a highly supported sister to C. aglaea. Lastly, two fertile specimens were found to be phylogenetically nested within the sorediate species C. cuprea. We discuss the need for an updated classification of Calvitimela and the evolution of cryptic species. Through generic circumscription and species delimitation we propose a practical taxonomy of Calvitimela.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Osaland Fjelde
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway; Section for Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316, Norway.
| | - Einar Timdal
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Reidar Haugan
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway
| | - Mika Bendiksby
- Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway; NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
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19
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Tagirdzhanova G, Scharnagl K, Yan X, Talbot NJ. Genomic analysis of Coccomyxa viridis, a common low-abundance alga associated with lichen symbioses. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21285. [PMID: 38042930 PMCID: PMC10693582 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48637-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichen symbiosis is centered around a relationship between a fungus and a photosynthetic microbe, usually a green alga. In addition to their main photosynthetic partner (the photobiont), lichen symbioses can contain additional algae present in low abundance. The biology of these algae and the way they interact with the rest of lichen symbionts remains largely unknown. Here we present the first genome sequence of a non-photobiont lichen-associated alga. Coccomyxa viridis was unexpectedly found in 12% of publicly available lichen metagenomes. With few exceptions, members of the Coccomyxa viridis clade occur in lichens as non-photobionts, potentially growing in thalli endophytically. The 45.7 Mbp genome of C. viridis was assembled into 18 near chromosome-level contigs, making it one of the most contiguous genomic assemblies for any lichen-associated algae. Comparing the C. viridis genome to its close relatives revealed the presence of traits associated with the lichen lifestyle. The genome of C. viridis provides a new resource for exploring the evolution of the lichen symbiosis, and how symbiotic lifestyles shaped evolution in green algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulnara Tagirdzhanova
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Klara Scharnagl
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
- University & Jepson Herbaria, University of California Berkeley, Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Xia Yan
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Nicholas J Talbot
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.
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20
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Mamut R, Anwar G, Wang L, Fang J. The mitogenomes characterization of two Peltigera species (Peltigera elisabethae and Peltigera polydactylon) and comparative mitogenomic analyses of six Peltigera. J Appl Genet 2023; 64:819-829. [PMID: 37821790 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-023-00791-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, the mitochondrial genomes of Peltigera elisabethae and P. polydactylon were sequenced and assembled. The two mitogenomes were composed of circular DNA molecules, with sizes of 64,034 bp and 59,208 bp, respectively. Comparative analysis showed that the genome size, GC content, GC skew, and AT skew varied between the two mitochondrial genomes. In codon analysis, phenylalanine (Phe), isoleucine (Ile), and leucine (Leu) were most frequently used in six Peltigera genomes. Evolutionary analysis showed that all 14 protein-coding genes (PCGs) were subject to purifying selection in the six Peltigera species. Regarding gene rearrangement, the PCGs of Peltigera had the same gene sequence and gene content, and a few intron sequences and spacer sequences were rearranged in Peltigera. In the phylogenetic analysis, we used Bayesian and ML methods to construct a phylogenetic tree. Two phylogenetic trees with consistent topology with high support indicate that mitochondrial genes were reliable molecular markers for analyzing the phylogenetic relationships. The present study enriches the mitochondrial genome data of Peltigera and promotes further understanding of the genetics and evolution of the Peltigera genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reyim Mamut
- College of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinjiang University, No.777 Huarui Street, Urumchi, 830017, Xinjiang, China.
| | - Gulmira Anwar
- College of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinjiang University, No.777 Huarui Street, Urumchi, 830017, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lidan Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinjiang University, No.777 Huarui Street, Urumchi, 830017, Xinjiang, China
| | - Jinjin Fang
- College of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinjiang University, No.777 Huarui Street, Urumchi, 830017, Xinjiang, China
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21
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Ramírez N, Sigurbjörnsdóttir MA, Monteil C, Berge O, Heiðmarsson S, Jackson RW, Morris C, Vilhelmsson O. Pseudomonas syringae isolated in lichens for the first time: Unveiling Peltigera genus as the exclusive host. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:3502-3511. [PMID: 37658725 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16490] [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: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Pseudomonas syringae is a bacterial complex that is widespread through a range of environments, typically associated with plants where it can be pathogenic, but also found in non-plant environments such as clouds, precipitation, and surface waters. Understanding its distribution within the environment, and the habitats it occupies, is important for examining its evolution and understanding behaviours. After a recent study found P. syringae living among a range of vascular plant species in Iceland, we questioned whether lichens could harbour P. syringae. Sixteen different species of lichens were sampled all over Iceland, but only one lichen genus, Peltigera, was found to consistently harbour P. syringae. Phylogenetic analyses of P. syringae from 10 sampling points where lichen, tracheophyte, and/or moss were simultaneously collected showed significant differences between sampling points, but not between different plants and lichens from the same point. Furthermore, while there were similarities in the P. syringae population in tracheophytes and Peltigera, the densities in Peltigera thalli were lower than in moss and tracheophyte samples. This discovery suggests P. syringae strains can localize and survive in organisms beyond higher plants, and thus reveals opportunities for studying their influence on P. syringae evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Ramírez
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, University of Akureyri, Akureyri, Iceland
| | | | - Cecile Monteil
- INRA, UR0407 Pathologie Vegétale, Montfavet Cedex, France
| | - Odile Berge
- INRA, UR0407 Pathologie Vegétale, Montfavet Cedex, France
| | | | - Robert W Jackson
- School of Biosciences and Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Cindy Morris
- INRA, UR0407 Pathologie Vegétale, Montfavet Cedex, France
| | - Oddur Vilhelmsson
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, University of Akureyri, Akureyri, Iceland
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22
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Adams JN, Escalona M, Marimuthu MPA, Fairbairn CW, Beraut E, Seligmann W, Nguyen O, Chumchim N, Stajich JE. The reference genome assembly of the bright cobblestone lichen, Acarospora socialis. J Hered 2023; 114:707-714. [PMID: 37740386 PMCID: PMC10650946 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Acarospora socialis, the bright cobblestone lichen, is commonly found in southwestern North America. This charismatic yellow lichen is a species of key ecological significance as it is often a pioneer species in new environments. Despite their ecological importance virtually no research has been conducted on the genomics of A. socialis. To address this, we used long-read sequencing to generate the first high-quality draft genome of A. socialis. Lichen thallus tissue was collected from Pinkham Canyon in Joshua Tree National Park, California and deposited in the UC Riverside herbarium under accession #295874. The de novo assembly of the mycobiont partner of the lichen was generated from Pacific Biosciences HiFi long reads and Dovetail Omni-C chromatin capture data. After removing algal and bacterial contigs, the fungal genome was approximately 31.2 Mb consisting of 38 scaffolds with contig and scaffold N50 of 2.4 Mb. The BUSCO completeness score of the assembled genome was 97.5% using the Ascomycota gene set. Information on the genome of A. socialis is important for California conservation purposes given that this lichen is threatened in some places locally by wildfires due to climate change. This reference genome will be used for understanding the genetic diversity, population genomics, and comparative genomics of A. socialis species. Genomic resources for this species will support population and landscape genomics investigations, exploring the use of A. socialis as a bioindicator species for climate change, and in studies of adaptation by comparing populations that occur across aridity gradients in California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia N Adams
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
| | - Merly Escalona
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Mohan P A Marimuthu
- DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Core Laboratory, Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Colin W Fairbairn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Eric Beraut
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - William Seligmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
| | - Oanh Nguyen
- DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Core Laboratory, Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Noravit Chumchim
- DNA Technologies and Expression Analysis Core Laboratory, Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, United States
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
- Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, United States
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23
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Zhang T, Grube M, Wei X. Host selection tendency of key microbiota in arid desert lichen crusts. IMETA 2023; 2:e138. [PMID: 38868215 PMCID: PMC10989926 DOI: 10.1002/imt2.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Lichen genus Endocarpon in biological soil crust form was chosen as a model to investigate the bacterial communities for the first time across four vertically distinct strata. Key bacterial microbiota in lichen thallus were discovered, which were gradually filtered and mainly derived from the crust soil, with clear host selection tendency. The study provided key information to better understand the homeostasis maintenance mechanism of the lichen symbiont and community assembly of desert lichen crust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting‐Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of MicrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Martin Grube
- Institute of BiologyUniversity of GrazGrazAustria
| | - Xin‐Li Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of MicrobiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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24
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Yang J, Woo JJ, Oh SY, Kim W, Hur JS. Fungal community inside lichen: a curious case of sparse diversity and high modularity. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2023; 18:73. [PMID: 37789449 PMCID: PMC10548754 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00531-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lichens represent not only the mutualism of fungal and photosynthetic partners but also are composed of microbial consortium harboring diverse fungi known as endolichenic fungi. While endolichenic fungi are known to exert a remarkable influence on lichen ecology through their crucial roles in nutrient cycling, bioprospecting and biodiversity, the enigmatic community structures of these fungal inhabitants remain shrouded in mystery, awaiting further exploration and discovery. To address knowledge gap, we conducted metabarcoding on two lichens using 18S gene amplification, Dirinara applanta and Parmotrema tinctorum, and compared their microbial communities to those found in the pine bark to which the lichens were attached. Our hypothesis was that the endolichenic communities would exhibit distinct diversity patterns, community structures, network structures, and specialist composition compared to the surrounding epiphytic community. RESULTS Our investigation has shed light on the clear demarcation between the endolichenic and epiphytic fungal communities, as they exhibit markedly different characteristics that set them apart from each other. This research demonstrated that the endolichenic communities are less diverse as compared to the epiphytic communities. Through community similarity analysis, we observed that two endolichenic communities are more similar to each other in terms of community composition than with the adjacent epiphytic communities. Moreover, we unveiled a striking contrast in the network structures between the endolichenic and epiphytic communities, as the former displayed a more modular and less nested features that is evocative of a potent host-filtration mechanism. CONCLUSIONS Through our investigation, we have discovered that lichens harbor less intricate and interconnected fungal communities compared to the neighboring epiphytic environment. These observations provide valuable insights into the metagenomic architecture of lichens and offer a tantalizing glimpse into the unique mycobiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiho Yang
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, 57922, South Korea
- Department of Biology, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, 57922, South Korea
| | - Jung-Jae Woo
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, 57922, South Korea
- Department of Biology, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, 57922, South Korea
| | - Seung-Yoon Oh
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Changwon National University, 20 Changwondaehak-ro, Changwon, 51140, South Korea
| | - Wonyong Kim
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, 57922, South Korea
| | - Jae-Seoun Hur
- Korean Lichen Research Institute, Sunchon National University, 255 Jungang-ro, Suncheon, 57922, South Korea.
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25
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Ahmad N, Ritz M, Calchera A, Otte J, Schmitt I, Brueck T, Mehlmer N. Biosynthetic gene cluster synteny: Orthologous polyketide synthases in Hypogymnia physodes, Hypogymnia tubulosa, and Parmelia sulcata. Microbiologyopen 2023; 12:e1386. [PMID: 37877655 PMCID: PMC10582450 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens are symbiotic associations consisting of a photobiont (algae or cyanobacteria) and a mycobiont (fungus), which together generate a variety of unique secondary metabolites. To access this biosynthetic potential for biotechnological applications, deeper insights into the biosynthetic pathways and corresponding gene clusters are necessary. Here, we provide a comparative view of the biosynthetic gene clusters of three lichen mycobionts derived from Hypogymnia physodes, Hypogymnia tubulosa, and Parmelia sulcata. In addition, we present a high-quality PacBio metagenome of Parmelia sulcata, from which we extracted the mycobiont bin containing 214 biosynthetic gene clusters. Most biosynthetic gene clusters in these genomes were associated with T1PKSs, followed by NRPSs and terpenes. This study focused on biosynthetic gene clusters related to polyketide synthesis. Based on ketosynthase homology, we identified nine highly syntenic clusters present in all three species. Among the four clusters belonging to nonreducing PKSs, two are putatively linked to lichen substances derived from orsellinic acid (orcinol depsides and depsidones, e.g., lecanoric acid, physodic acid, lobaric acid), one to compounds derived from methylated forms of orsellinic acid (beta orcinol depsides, e.g., atranorin), and one to melanins. Five clusters with orthologs in all three species are linked to reducing PKSs. Our study contributes to sorting and dereplicating the vast PKS diversity found in lichenized fungi. High-quality sequences of biosynthetic gene clusters of these three common species provide a foundation for further exploration into biotechnological applications and the molecular evolution of lichen substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadim Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of Munich (TUM)GarchingGermany
| | - Manfred Ritz
- Department of Chemistry, Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of Munich (TUM)GarchingGermany
| | - Anjuli Calchera
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F)Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Jürgen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F)Frankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK‐F)Frankfurt am MainGermany
- Institute of Ecology, Evolution and DiversityGoethe University FrankfurtFrankfurt am MainGermany
| | - Thomas Brueck
- Department of Chemistry, Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of Munich (TUM)GarchingGermany
| | - Norbert Mehlmer
- Department of Chemistry, Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of Munich (TUM)GarchingGermany
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26
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Anwar G, Mamut R, Wang J. Characterization of Complete Mitochondrial Genomes of the Five Peltigera and Comparative Analysis with Relative Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:969. [PMID: 37888225 PMCID: PMC10607270 DOI: 10.3390/jof9100969] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genomes of five Peltigera species (Peltigera elisabethae, Peltigera neocanina, Peltigera canina, Peltigera ponojensis, Peltigera neckeri) were sequenced, assembled and compared with relative species. The five mitogenomes were all composed of circular DNA molecules, and their ranged from 58,132 bp to 69,325 bp. The mitochondrial genomes of the five Peltigera species contain 15 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 2 rRNAs, 26-27 tRNAs and an unidentified open reading frame (ORF). The PCG length, AT skew and GC skew varied among the 15 PCGs in the five mitogenomes. Among the 15 PCGs, cox2 had the least K2P genetic distance, indicating that the gene was highly conserved. The synteny analysis revealed that the coding regions were highly conserved in the Peltigera mitochondrial genomes, but gene rearrangement occurred in the intergenic regions. The phylogenetic analysis based on the 14 PCGs showed that the 11 Peltigera species formed well-supported topologies, indicating that the protein-coding genes in the mitochondrial genome may be used as a reliable molecular tool in the study of the phylogenetic relationship of Peltigera.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reyim Mamut
- College of Life Sciences and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumchi 830017, China; (G.A.); (J.W.)
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27
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Scharnagl K, Tagirdzhanova G, Talbot NJ. The coming golden age for lichen biology. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R512-R518. [PMID: 37279685 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Lichens are a diverse group of organisms. They are both commonly observed but also mysterious. It has long been known that lichens are composite symbiotic associations of at least one fungus and an algal or cyanobacterial partner, but recent evidence suggests that they may be much more complex. We now know that there can be many constituent microorganisms in a lichen, organized into reproducible patterns that suggest a sophisticated communication and interplay between symbionts. We feel the time is right for a more concerted effort to understand lichen biology. Rapid advances in comparative genomics and metatranscriptomic approaches, coupled with recent breakthroughs in gene functional studies, suggest that lichens may now be more tractable to detailed analysis. Here we set out some of the big questions in lichen biology, and we speculate about the types of gene functions that may be critical to their development, as well as the molecular events that may lead to initial lichen formation. We define both the challenges and opportunities in lichen biology and offer a call to arms to study this remarkable group of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara Scharnagl
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; University & Jepson Herbaria, University of California Berkeley, Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Gulnara Tagirdzhanova
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Nicholas J Talbot
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Colney Lane, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
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28
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Manassov N, Samy MN, Datkhayev U, Avula B, Adams SJ, Katragunta K, Raman V, Khan IA, Ross SA. Ultrastructural, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Chemical Study and LC-DAD-QToF Chemical Characterization of Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28114493. [PMID: 37298969 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114493] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The lichen Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach. has been used in traditional and modern medicines for its many biological properties such as immunological, immunomodulating, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. This species is gaining popularity in the market, with interest from many industries for selling as medicines, dietary supplements, and daily herbal drinks. This study profiled the morpho-anatomical features by light, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy; conducted an elemental analysis using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; and phytochemical analysis was performed using high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with a liquid chromatography system (LC-DAD-QToF) of C. islandica. In total, 37 compounds were identified and characterized based on comparisons with the literature data, retention times, and their mass fragmentation mechanism/s. The identified compounds were classified under five different classes, i.e., depsidones, depsides, dibenzofurans, aliphatic acids, and others that contain simple organic acids in majority. Two major compounds (fumaroprotocetraric acid and cetraric acid) were identified in the aqueous ethanolic and ethanolic extracts of C. islandica lichen. This detailed morpho-anatomical, EDS spectroscopy, and the developed LC-DAD-QToF approach for C. islandica will be important for correct species identification and can serve as a useful tool for taxonomical validation and chemical characterization. Additionally, chemical study of the extract of C. islandica led to isolation and structural elucidation of nine compounds, namely cetraric acid (1), 9'-(O-methyl)protocetraric acid (2), usnic acid (3), ergosterol peroxide (4), oleic acid (5), palmitic acid (6), stearic acid (7), sucrose (8), and arabinitol (9).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurlen Manassov
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
- S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
| | - Mamdouh Nabil Samy
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
| | - Ubaidilla Datkhayev
- S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
| | - Bharathi Avula
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
| | - Sebastian John Adams
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
| | - Kumar Katragunta
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
| | - Vijayasankar Raman
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
| | - Ikhlas A Khan
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
| | - Samir A Ross
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
- S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, School of Pharmacy, Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
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29
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Ahmad N, Ritz M, Calchera A, Otte J, Schmitt I, Brueck T, Mehlmer N. Biosynthetic Potential of Hypogymnia Holobionts: Insights into Secondary Metabolite Pathways. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050546. [PMID: 37233257 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050546] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens are symbiotic associations consisting of a photobiont (algae or cyanobacteria) and a mycobiont (fungus). They are known to produce a variety of unique secondary metabolites. To access this biosynthetic potential for biotechnological applications, deeper insights into the biosynthetic pathways and corresponding gene clusters are necessary. Here we provide a comprehensive view of the biosynthetic gene clusters of all organisms comprising a lichen thallus: fungi, green algae, and bacteria. We present two high-quality PacBio metagenomes, in which we identified a total of 460 biosynthetic gene clusters. Lichen mycobionts yielded 73-114 clusters, other lichen associated ascomycetes 8-40, green algae of the genus Trebouxia 14-19, and lichen-associated bacteria 101-105 clusters. The mycobionts contained mainly T1PKSs, followed by NRPSs, and terpenes; Trebouxia reads harbored mainly clusters linked to terpenes, followed by NRPSs and T3PKSs. Other lichen-associated ascomycetes and bacteria contained a mix of diverse biosynthetic gene clusters. In this study, we identified for the first time the biosynthetic gene clusters of entire lichen holobionts. The yet untapped biosynthetic potential of two species of the genus Hypogymnia is made accessible for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadim Ahmad
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Manfred Ritz
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Anjuli Calchera
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jürgen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Thomas Brueck
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Norbert Mehlmer
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich (TUM), 85748 Garching, Germany
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30
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Pichler G, Muggia L, Carniel FC, Grube M, Kranner I. How to build a lichen: from metabolite release to symbiotic interplay. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:1362-1378. [PMID: 36710517 PMCID: PMC10952756 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Exposing their vegetative bodies to the light, lichens are outstanding amongst other fungal symbioses. Not requiring a pre-established host, 'lichenized fungi' build an entirely new structure together with microbial photosynthetic partners that neither can form alone. The signals involved in the transition of a fungus and a compatible photosynthetic partner from a free-living to a symbiotic state culminating in thallus formation, termed 'lichenization', and in the maintenance of the symbiosis, are poorly understood. Here, we synthesise the puzzle pieces of the scarce knowledge available into an updated concept of signalling involved in lichenization, comprising five main stages: (1) the 'pre-contact stage', (2) the 'contact stage', (3) 'envelopment' of algal cells by the fungus, (4) their 'incorporation' into a pre-thallus and (5) 'differentiation' into a complex thallus. Considering the involvement of extracellularly released metabolites in each phase, we propose that compounds such as fungal lectins and algal cyclic peptides elicit early contact between the symbionts-to-be, whereas phytohormone signalling, antioxidant protection and carbon exchange through sugars and sugar alcohols are of continued importance throughout all stages. In the fully formed lichen thallus, secondary lichen metabolites and mineral nutrition are suggested to stabilize the functionalities of the thallus, including the associated microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Pichler
- Department of BotanyUniversity of InnsbruckSternwartestraße 156020InnsbruckAustria
| | - Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of TriesteVia L. Giorgieri 1034127TriesteItaly
| | | | - Martin Grube
- Institute of BiologyUniversity of GrazHolteigasse 68010GrazAustria
| | - Ilse Kranner
- Department of BotanyUniversity of InnsbruckSternwartestraße 156020InnsbruckAustria
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31
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Khakhar A. A roadmap for the creation of synthetic lichen. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 654:87-93. [PMID: 36898228 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.02.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Lichens represent a charismatic corner of biology that has a rich history of scientific exploration, but to which modern biological techniques have been sparsely applied. This has limited our understanding of phenomena unique to lichen, such as the emergent development of physically coupled microbial consortia or distributed metabolisms. The experimental intractability of natural lichens has prevented studies of the mechanistic underpinnings of their biology. Creating synthetic lichen from experimentally tractable, free-living microbes has the potential to overcome these challenges. They could also serve as powerful new chassis for sustainable biotechnology. In this review we will first briefly introduce what lichen are, what remains mysterious about their biology, and why. We will then articulate the scientific insights that creating a synthetic lichen will generate and lay out a roadmap for how this could be achieved using synthetic biology. Finally, we will explore the translational applications of synthetic lichen and detail what is needed to advance the pursuit of their creation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Khakhar
- Biology Department, Colorado State University, 251 West Pitkin Drive, Fort Collins, CO, 80525, USA.
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32
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Beck A, Casanova-Katny A, Gerasimova J. Metabarcoding of Antarctic Lichens from Areas with Different Deglaciation Times Reveals a High Diversity of Lichen-Associated Communities. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14051019. [PMID: 37239380 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens have developed numerous adaptations to optimise their survival under harsh abiotic stress, colonise different substrates, and reach substantial population sizes and high coverage in ice-free Antarctic areas, benefiting from a symbiotic lifestyle. As lichen thalli represent consortia with an unknown number of participants, it is important to know about the accessory organisms and their relationships with various environmental conditions. To this end, we analysed lichen-associated communities from Himantormia lugubris, Placopsis antarctica, P. contortuplicata, and Ramalina terebrata, collected from soils with differing deglaciation times, using a metabarcoding approach. In general, many more Ascomycete taxa are associated with the investigated lichens compared to Basidiomycota. Given our sampling, a consistently higher number of lichen-associated eukaryotes are estimated to be present in areas with deglaciation times of longer than 5000 years compared to more recently deglaciated areas. Thus far, members of Dothideomycetes, Leotiomycetes, and Arthoniomycetes have been restricted to the Placopsis specimens from areas with deglaciation times longer than 5000 years. Striking differences between the associated organisms of R. terebrata and H. lugubris have also been discovered. Thus, a species-specific basidiomycete, Tremella, was revealed for R. terebrata, as was a member of Capnodiales for H. lugubris. Our study provides further understanding of the complex terricolous lichen-associated mycobiome using the metabarcoding approach. It also illustrates the necessity to extend our knowledge of complex lichen symbiosis and further improve the coverage of microbial eukaryotes in DNA barcode libraries, including more extended sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Beck
- SNSB-Botanische Staatssammlung München, 80638 Munich, Germany
- GeoBio-Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
| | - Angélica Casanova-Katny
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología Vegetal y Cambio Climático, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4780000, Chile
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Goyette S, Spirin V, Spribille T. Systemic infection of Bryoria (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota) by Athelia (Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota) in western North America. Mycologia 2023; 115:299-316. [PMID: 37105719 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2023.2186679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Bryoria (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) is one of the dominant genera of hair lichens in western North America and is characteristic of high-elevation conifer forest ecosystems. In areas where Bryoria is abundant, it is common to find thalli in which the thalline filaments become conglutinated, forming brittle dead zones. After sampling Bryoria thalli across western Canada and the northwestern United States at different times of the year, we found that this dieback phenomenon is associated with the winter growth of a mold-forming basidiomycete. We report that this fungus belongs to Athelia (Atheliaceae, Basidiomycota), a genus known to contain lichen pathogens, most notably A. arachnoidea. By sequencing a combination of genetic markers-nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), partial nuc 28S rDNA (28S), and partial translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1)-paired with morphometric analyses, we reveal the involvement of at least three additional lineages of lichen-associated Athelia and describe one as a new species, A. abscondita. Athelia abscondita is morphologically distinguished from other Athelia species by its basidia and basidiospores, was found to frequently infect members of Bryoria sect. Implexae, and was occasionally on other foliose and fruticose species within Parmeliaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer Goyette
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW405, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
- Beaty Biodiversity Museum, The University of British Columbia, 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Viacheslav Spirin
- Botany Unit, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 7, Helsinki, Finland, FI 00014
| | - Toby Spribille
- Department of Biological Sciences, CW405, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
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Nguyen NH, Nguyen PT, Otake H, Nagata A, Hirano N, Imanishi-Shimizu Y, Shimizu K. Biodiversity of Basidiomycetous Yeasts Associated with Cladonia rei Lichen in Japan, with a Description of Microsporomyces cladoniophilus sp. nov. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9040473. [PMID: 37108927 PMCID: PMC10145395 DOI: 10.3390/jof9040473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
For more than a century, lichens have been used as an example of dual-partner symbiosis. Recently, this has been challenged by the discovery of various basidiomycetous yeasts that coexist in multiple lichen species, among which Cladonia lichens from Europe and the United States were discovered to be highly specifically associated with the basidiomycetous yeast of the family Microsporomycetaceae. To verify this highly specific relationship, we investigated the diversity of basidiomycetous yeasts associated with Cladonia rei, a widely distributed lichen in Japan, by applying two approaches: yeast isolation from the lichen thalli and meta-barcoding analysis. We obtained 42 cultures of Cystobasidiomycetous yeast which were grouped into six lineages within the family Microsporomycetaceae. Unexpectedly, although the cystobasidiomycetes-specific primer was used, not only the cystobasidiomycetous yeasts but species from other classes were also detected via the meta-barcoding dataset; in particular, pucciniomycetous yeasts were found at a high frequency in some samples. Further, Halobasidium xiangyangense, which was detected in every sample with high abundance, is highly likely a generalist epiphytic fungus that has the ability to associate with C. rei. In the pucciniomycetous group, most of the detected species belong to the scale insect-associated yeast Septobasidium genus. In conclusion, even though Microsporomyces species are not the only yeast group associated with Cladonia lichen, our study demonstrated that the thalli of Cladonia rei lichen could be a suitable habit for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc-Hung Nguyen
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Niijuku 6-3-1, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Phuong-Thao Nguyen
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Niijuku 6-3-1, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Hitomi Otake
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Niijuku 6-3-1, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Ayana Nagata
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Niijuku 6-3-1, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Nobuharu Hirano
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Niijuku 6-3-1, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
| | - Yumi Imanishi-Shimizu
- College of Science and Engineering, Kanto Gakuin University, Mutsuura-higashi 1-50-1, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-8501, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kiminori Shimizu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Niijuku 6-3-1, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-8585, Japan
- Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, Inohana 1-8-1, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, Chiba, Japan
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35
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Doyle E, Blanchon D, Wells S, de Lange P, Lockhart P, Waipara N, Manefield M, Wallis S, Berry TA. Internal Transcribed Spacer and 16S Amplicon Sequencing Identifies Microbial Species Associated with Asbestos in New Zealand. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14030729. [PMID: 36981000 PMCID: PMC10048439 DOI: 10.3390/genes14030729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhalation of asbestos fibres can cause lung inflammation and the later development of asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, and the use of asbestos is banned in many countries. In most countries, large amounts of asbestos exists within building stock, buried in landfills, and in contaminated soil. Mechanical, thermal, and chemical treatment options do exist, but these are expensive, and they are not effective for contaminated soil, where only small numbers of asbestos fibres may be present in a large volume of soil. Research has been underway for the last 20 years into the potential use of microbial action to remove iron and other metal cations from the surface of asbestos fibres to reduce their toxicity. To access sufficient iron for metabolism, many bacteria and fungi produce organic acids, or iron-chelating siderophores, and in a growing number of experiments these have been found to degrade asbestos fibres in vitro. This paper uses the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 16S amplicon sequencing to investigate the fungal and bacterial diversity found on naturally-occurring asbestos minerals, asbestos-containing building materials, and asbestos-contaminated soils with a view to later selectively culturing promising species, screening them for siderophore production, and testing them with asbestos fibres in vitro. After filtering, 895 ITS and 1265 16S amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) were detected across the 38 samples, corresponding to a range of fungal, bacteria, cyanobacterial, and lichenized fungal species. Samples from Auckland (North Island, New Zealand) asbestos cement, Auckland asbestos-contaminated soils, and raw asbestos rocks from Kahurangi National Park (South Island, New Zealand) were comprised of very different microbial communities. Five of the fungal species detected in this study are known to produce siderophores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Doyle
- Applied Molecular Solutions Research Centre, Te Pūkenga–New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; (E.D.); (S.W.); (P.d.L.)
| | - Dan Blanchon
- Applied Molecular Solutions Research Centre, Te Pūkenga–New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; (E.D.); (S.W.); (P.d.L.)
- School of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Te Pūkenga–New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
- Correspondence:
| | - Sarah Wells
- Applied Molecular Solutions Research Centre, Te Pūkenga–New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; (E.D.); (S.W.); (P.d.L.)
- School of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Te Pūkenga–New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Peter de Lange
- Applied Molecular Solutions Research Centre, Te Pūkenga–New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; (E.D.); (S.W.); (P.d.L.)
- School of Environmental and Animal Sciences, Te Pūkenga–New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Pete Lockhart
- Institute of Fundamental Sciences, College of Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand;
| | - Nick Waipara
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Mt Albert, Auckland 1142, New Zealand;
| | - Michael Manefield
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia;
| | - Shannon Wallis
- Environmental Solutions Research Centre, Te Pūkenga–New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; (S.W.); (T.-A.B.)
| | - Terri-Ann Berry
- Environmental Solutions Research Centre, Te Pūkenga–New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Private Bag 92025, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; (S.W.); (T.-A.B.)
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36
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Culturable Diversity of Lichen-Associated Yeasts through Enrichment Strategies. ECOLOGIES 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/ecologies4010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Lichens are symbiotic partnerships between a filamentous fungus and a photosymbiotic “alga”. Studies show that lichens harbor endothallic fungi, but that some taxa have been difficult to isolate from the main filamentous thallus-forming fungus and other faster growing lichenicolous/endothallic fungi. Therefore, we aimed to develop and evaluate liquid yeast-enrichment strategies to (1) isolate lichen-associated yeasts in pure culture, and (2) determine the taxonomic placement and breadth of the diversity of culturable yeasts. Eighty-two lichen samples were collected and washed with distilled water, and healthy thalli were ground up and added to seven different yeast-enrichment broths. Yeast colonies were isolated in pure culture and identified using molecular techniques. Initial isolates were identified using BLASTn analysis, and a taxonomic refinement was completed using PhyML analysis. In total, 215 isolates were obtained. The most prevalently isolated ascomycetous yeasts were within the Dothideomycetes (Aureobasidium, Plowrightia, and Dothiora), while the most frequently isolated basidiomycetous yeasts belonged to the genera Curvibasidium, Sporobolomyces, and Tremella. The generic placements could not be determined for 17 isolates, and in total 25 novel species were recovered. The results of this research indicate that (1) lichen-associated yeasts are diverse, (2) employing liquid enrichment strategies is effective for isolating many of these, and (3) lichen thalli represent a valuable untapped reservoir of diverse and novel yeast species.
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Almer J, Resl P, Gudmundsson H, Warshan D, Andrésson ÓS, Werth S. Symbiont-specific responses to environmental cues in a threesome lichen symbiosis. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:1045-1061. [PMID: 36478478 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Photosymbiodemes are a special case of lichen symbiosis where one lichenized fungus engages in symbiosis with two different photosynthetic partners, a cyanobacterium and a green alga, to develop two distinctly looking photomorphs. We compared gene expression of thallus sectors of the photosymbiodeme-forming lichen Peltigera britannica containing cyanobacterial photobionts with thallus sectors with both green algal and cyanobacterial photobionts and investigated differential gene expression at different temperatures representing mild and putatively stressful conditions. First, we quantified photobiont-mediated differences in fungal gene expression. Second, because of known ecological differences between photomorphs, we investigated symbiont-specific responses in gene expression to temperature increases. Photobiont-mediated differences in fungal gene expression could be identified, with upregulation of distinct biological processes in the different morphs, showing that interaction with specific symbiosis partners profoundly impacts fungal gene expression. Furthermore, high temperatures expectedly led to an upregulation of genes involved in heat shock responses in all organisms in whole transcriptome data and to an increased expression of genes involved in photosynthesis in both photobiont types at 15 and 25°C. The fungus and the cyanobacteria exhibited thermal stress responses already at 15°C, the green algae mainly at 25°C, demonstrating symbiont-specific responses to environmental cues and symbiont-specific ecological optima.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Almer
- Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Philipp Resl
- Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Hörður Gudmundsson
- Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Denis Warshan
- Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Ólafur S Andrésson
- Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Silke Werth
- Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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Freire-Rallo S, Wedin M, Diederich P, Millanes AM. To explore strange new worlds - The diversification in Tremella caloplacae was linked to the adaptive radiation of the Teloschistaceae. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 180:107680. [PMID: 36572164 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107680] [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: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Lichenicolous fungi are a heterogeneous group of organisms that grow exclusively on lichens, forming obligate associations with them. It has often been assumed that cospeciation has occurred between lichens and lichenicolous fungi, but this has been seldom analysed from a macroevolutionary perspective. Many lichenicolous species are rare or are rarely observed, which results in frequent and large gaps in the knowledge of the diversity of many groups. This, in turn, hampers evolutionary studies that necessarily are based on a reasonable knowledge of this diversity. Tremella caloplacae is a heterobasidiomycete growing on various hosts from the lichen-forming family Teloschistaceae, and evidence suggests that it may represent a species complex. We combine an exhaustive sampling with molecular and ecological data to study species delimitation, cophylogenetic events and temporal concordance of this association. Tremella caloplacae is here shown to include at least six distinct host-specific lineages (=putative species). Host switch is the dominant and most plausible event influencing diversification and explaining the coupled evolutionary history in this system, although cospeciation cannot be discarded. Speciation in T. caloplacae would therefore have occurred coinciding with the rapid diversification - by an adaptive radiation starting in the late Cretaceous - of their hosts. New species in T. caloplacae would have developed as a result of specialization on diversifying lichen hosts that suddenly offered abundant new ecological niches to explore or adapt to.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Freire-Rallo
- Rey Juan Carlos University/Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, E-28933 Móstoles, Spain
| | - Mats Wedin
- Swedish Museum of Natural History/Botany Dept., PO Box 50007, SE-10405 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Paul Diederich
- Musée national d'histoire naturelle, 25 rue Munster, L-2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Ana M Millanes
- Rey Juan Carlos University/Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, E-28933 Móstoles, Spain
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39
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Composition, structure and robustness of Lichen guilds. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3295. [PMID: 36841885 PMCID: PMC9968342 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30357-w] [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: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Symbiosis is a major engine of evolutionary innovation underlying many extant complex organisms. Lichens are a paradigmatic example that offers a unique perspective on the role of symbiosis in ecological success and evolutionary diversification. Lichen studies have produced a wealth of information regarding the importance of symbiosis, but they frequently focus on a few species, limiting our understanding of large-scale phenomena such as guilds. Guilds are groupings of lichens that assist each other's proliferation and are intimately linked by a shared set of photobionts, constituting an extensive network of relationships. To characterize the network of lichen symbionts, we used a large data set ([Formula: see text] publications) of natural photobiont-mycobiont associations. The entire lichen network was found to be modular, but this organization does not directly match taxonomic information in the data set, prompting a reconsideration of lichen guild structure and composition. The multiscale nature of this network reveals that the major lichen guilds are better represented as clusters with several substructures rather than as monolithic communities. Heterogeneous guild structure fosters robustness, with keystone species functioning as bridges between guilds and whose extinction would endanger global stability.
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Rojas-Gätjens D, Avey-Arroyo J, Chaverri P, Rojas-Jimenez K, Chavarría M. Differences in fungal communities in the fur of two- and three-toed sloths revealed by ITS metabarcoding. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169. [PMID: 36848210 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Sloths have dense fur on which insects, algae, bacteria and fungi coexist. Previous studies using cultivation-dependent methods and 18S rRNA sequencing revealed that the fungal communities in their furs comprise members of the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. In this note, we increase the resolution and knowledge of the mycobiome inhabiting the fur of the two- (Choloepus hoffmanni) and three-toed (Bradypus variegatus) sloths. Targeted amplicon metagenomic analysis of ITS2 nrDNA sequences obtained from 10 individuals of each species inhabiting the same site revealed significant differences in the structure of their fungal communities and also in the alpha-diversity estimators. The results suggest a specialization by host species and that the host effect is stronger than that of sex, age and animal weight. Capnodiales were the dominant order in sloths' fur and Cladosporium and Neodevriesia were the most abundant genera in Bradypus and Choloepus, respectively. The fungal communities suggest that the green algae that inhabit the fur of sloths possibly live lichenized with Ascomycota fungal species. The data shown in this note offer a more detailed view of the fungal content in the fur of these extraordinary animals and could help explain other mutualistic relationships in this complex ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Rojas-Gätjens
- Centro Nacional de Innovaciones Biotecnológicas (CENIBiot), CeNAT-CONARE, 1174-1200, San José, Costa Rica
| | | | - Priscila Chaverri
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica.,Centro de Investigaciones en Productos Naturales (CIPRONA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Keilor Rojas-Jimenez
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Max Chavarría
- Centro Nacional de Innovaciones Biotecnológicas (CENIBiot), CeNAT-CONARE, 1174-1200, San José, Costa Rica.,Centro de Investigaciones en Productos Naturales (CIPRONA), Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica.,Escuela de Química, Universidad de Costa Rica, 11501-2060, San José, Costa Rica
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Wang B, Ma B, Stirling E, He Z, Zhang H, Yan Q. Freshwater trophic status mediates microbial community assembly and interdomain network complexity. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 316:120690. [PMID: 36403871 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater microorganisms and their interactions are important drivers of nutrient cycling that are in turn affected by nutrient status, causing shifts in microbial community diversity, composition, and interactions. However, the impact of water trophic status on bacterial-archaeal interdomain interactions remains poorly understood. This study focused on the impact of trophic status, as characterized by trophic state index (TSI), on the interdomain interactions of freshwater microbial communities from 45 ponds in Hangzhou. Our results showed that the mesotrophic wetland bordering on lightly eutrophic (Hemu: TSI of 49; lightly eutrophic is defined as 50 ≤ TSI <60) harbored a much more complex bacterial-archaeal interdomain network, which showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher connectivity than the wetlands with lower (TSI of 38) or higher (TSI of 57) trophic levels. Notably, light eutrophication strengthened the network modules' negative associations with organic carbon through some network hubs, which could trigger carbon loss in wetlands. We also detected a non-linear response of interdomain network complexity to the increasing of nutrients with a turning point of approximately TSI 50. Quantitative estimates of community assembly processes and structural equation modelling analysis indicated that chlorophyll-a, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus could regulate interdomain network complexity (50% of the variation explanation rate) by driving microbial community assembly. This study demonstrates that microbial interdomain network complexity could be used as a bioindicator for ecological changes, which would helpful for improving ecological assessment of the freshwater eutrophication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binhao Wang
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Bin Ma
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Erinne Stirling
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China; Acid Sulfate Soils Centre, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Zhili He
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China; College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Hangjun Zhang
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, China
| | - Qingyun Yan
- Environmental Microbiomics Research Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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42
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Reineke W, Schlömann M. Microorganisms, Actors in the Environment. Environ Microbiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-66547-3_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
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43
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Kalra R, Conlan XA, Goel M. Recent advances in research for potential utilization of unexplored lichen metabolites. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 62:108072. [PMID: 36464145 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108072] [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: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Several research studies have shown that lichens are productive organisms for the synthesis of a broad range of secondary metabolites. Lichens are a self-sustainable stable microbial ecosystem comprising an exhabitant fungal partner (mycobiont) and at least one or more photosynthetic partners (photobiont). The successful symbiosis is responsible for their persistence throughout time and allows all the partners (holobionts) to thrive in many extreme habitats, where without the synergistic relationship they would be rare or non-existent. The ability to survive in harsh conditions can be directly correlated with the production of some unique metabolites. Despite the potential applications, these unique metabolites have been underutilised by pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries due to their slow growth, low biomass availability and technical challenges involved in their artificial cultivation. However, recent development of biotechnological tools such as molecular phylogenetics, modern tissue culture techniques, metabolomics and molecular engineering are opening up a new opportunity to exploit these compounds within the lichen holobiome for industrial applications. This review also highlights the recent advances in culturing the symbionts and the computational and molecular genetics approaches of lichen gene regulation recognized for the enhanced production of target metabolites. The recent development of multi-omics novel biodiscovery strategies aided by synthetic biology in order to study the heterologous expressed lichen-derived biosynthetic gene clusters in a cultivatable host offers a promising means for a sustainable supply of specialized metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishu Kalra
- Sustainable Agriculture Program, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gurugram, Haryana, India
| | - Xavier A Conlan
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mayurika Goel
- Sustainable Agriculture Program, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
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Near-Infrared Metabolomic Fingerprinting Study of Lichen Thalli and Phycobionts in Culture: Aquaphotomics of Trebouxia lynnae Dehydration. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122444. [PMID: 36557696 PMCID: PMC9782989 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122444] [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: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an accurate, fast and safe technique whose full potential remains to be exploited. Lichens are a paradigm of symbiotic association, with extraordinary properties, such as abiotic stress tolerance and adaptation to anhydrobiosis, but subjacent mechanisms await elucidation. Our aim is characterizing the metabolomic NIRS fingerprints of Ramalina farinacea and Lobarina scrobiculata thalli, and of the cultured phycobionts Trebouxia lynnae and Trebouxia jamesii. Thalli collected in an air-dry state and fresh cultivated phycobionts were directly used for spectra acquisition in reflectance mode. Thalli water peaks were associated to the solvation shell (1354 nm) and sugar-water interactions (1438 nm). While northern-southern orientation related with two hydrogen bonded (S2) water, the site was related to one hydrogen bonded (S1). Water, lipids (saturated and unsaturated), and polyols/glucides contributed to the profiles of lichen thalli and microalgae. R. farinacea, with higher desiccation tolerance, shows higher S2 water than L. scrobiculata. In contrast, fresh phycobionts are dominated by free water. Whereas T. jamesii shows higher solvation water content, T. lynnae possesses more unsaturated lipids. Aquaphotomics demonstrates the involvement of strongly hydrogen bonded water conformations, polyols/glucides, and unsaturated/saturated fatty acids in the dehydration process, and supports a "rubbery" state allowing enzymatic activity during anhydrobiosis.
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Miral A, Jargeat P, Mambu L, Rouaud I, Tranchimand S, Tomasi S. Microbial community associated with the crustose lichen Rhizocarpon geographicum L. (DC.) living on oceanic seashore: A large source of diversity revealed by using multiple isolation methods. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2022; 14:856-872. [PMID: 35860838 PMCID: PMC9796121 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the study of the interactions within a microcosm between hosts and their associated microbial communities drew an unprecedented interest arising from the holobiont concept. Lichens, a symbiotic association between a fungus and an alga, are redefined as complex ecosystems considering the tremendous array of associated microorganisms that satisfy this concept. The present study focuses on the diversity of the microbiota associated with the seashore located lichen Rhizocarpon geographicum, recovered by different culture-dependent methods. Samples harvested from two sites allowed the isolation and the molecular identification of 68 fungal isolates distributed in 43 phylogenetic groups, 15 bacterial isolates distributed in five taxonomic groups and three microalgae belonging to two species. Moreover, for 12 fungal isolates belonging to 10 different taxa, the genus was not described in GenBank. These fungal species have never been sequenced or described and therefore non-studied. All these findings highlight the novel and high diversity of the microflora associated with R. geographicum. While many species disappear every day, this work suggests that coastal and wild environments still contain an unrevealed variety to offer and that lichens constitute a great reservoir of new microbial taxa which can be recovered by multiplying the culture-dependent techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Miral
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)‐UMR 6226RennesFrance
| | - Patricia Jargeat
- UMR 5174 UPS‐CNRS‐IRD Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, EDBUniversité Toulouse‐3, Bât 4R1ToulouseFrance
| | - Lengo Mambu
- EA 7500 Laboratoire PEIRENE, Faculté de PharmacieUniversité de LimogesLimoges CedexFrance
| | - Isabelle Rouaud
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)‐UMR 6226RennesFrance
| | - Sylvain Tranchimand
- Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)‐UMR 6226Université de RennesRennesFrance
| | - Sophie Tomasi
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)‐UMR 6226RennesFrance
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Metabolomic Profiling, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Properties and Molecular Docking Analysis of Antarctic Lichens. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27228086. [PMID: 36432187 PMCID: PMC9692326 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27228086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The lichen species Lecania brialmontii, Pseudephebe pubescens, and Sphaerophorus globosus are part of the prominent lichenoflora of the Antarctic territory. In this work, we report the metabolomic identification of ethanolic extracts of these species, their antioxidant and cholinesterase enzyme inhibitory activity, and conduct a molecular docking analysis with typical compounds. Eighteen compounds were identified by UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS in L. brialmontii, 18 compounds in P. pubescens, and 14 compounds in S. globosus. The content of phenolic compounds was variable among the species, ranging from 0.279 to 2.821 mg AG/g, and all three species showed high inhibition potential on the cholinesterase enzymes. Molecular docking showed important interactions between AChE and BChE with the selected compounds. This study evidences the chemical fingerprint of three species of the order Lecanorales that support the continuation of the study of other biological activities and their potential for medical research.
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Adenubi OT, Famuyide IM, McGaw LJ, Eloff JN. Lichens: An update on their ethnopharmacological uses and potential as sources of drug leads. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 298:115657. [PMID: 36007717 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Lichens, a unique symbiotic association between an alga/cyanobacterium and a fungus, produce secondary metabolites that are a promising source of novel drug leads. The beauty and importance of lichens have not been adequately explored despite their manifold biological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and antiparasitic. AIM OF THE STUDY The present review collates and discusses the available knowledge on secondary metabolites and biological activities of lichens (in vitro and in vivo). MATERIALS AND METHODS Using relevant keywords (lichens, secondary metabolites, bioactivity, pharmacological activities), five electronic databases, namely ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and Recent Literature on Lichens, were searched for past and current scientific contributions up until May 2022. Literature focusing broadly on the bioactivity of lichens including their secondary metabolites were identified and summarized. RESULTS A total of 50 review articles and 189 research articles were searched. Information related to antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and insecticidal activities of 90 lichen species (from 13 families) and 12 isolated metabolites are reported. Over 90% of the studies comprised in vitro investigations, such as bioassays evaluating radical scavenging properties, lipid peroxidation inhibition and reducing power, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial bioassays of lichen species and constituents. In vivo studies were scarce and available only in fish and rats. Most of the studies were done by research groups in Brazil, France, Serbia, India and Turkey. There were relatively few reports from Asia and Africa despite the ubiquitous nature of lichens and the high occurrence in these continents. CONCLUSION Secondary metabolites from lichens are worthy of further investigation in terms of their potential therapeutic applicability, including better understanding of their mechanism(s) of action. This would be of great importance in the search for novel drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olubukola Tolulope Adenubi
- Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
| | - Ibukun Michael Famuyide
- Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
| | - Lyndy Joy McGaw
- Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
| | - Jacobus Nicolaas Eloff
- Phytomedicine Programme, Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
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Roik A, Reverter M, Pogoreutz C. A roadmap to understanding diversity and function of coral reef-associated fungi. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2022; 46:fuac028. [PMID: 35746877 PMCID: PMC9629503 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropical coral reefs are hotspots of marine productivity, owing to the association of reef-building corals with endosymbiotic algae and metabolically diverse bacterial communities. However, the functional importance of fungi, well-known for their contribution to shaping terrestrial ecosystems and global nutrient cycles, remains underexplored on coral reefs. We here conceptualize how fungal functional traits may have facilitated the spread, diversification, and ecological adaptation of marine fungi on coral reefs. We propose that functions of reef-associated fungi may be diverse and go beyond their hitherto described roles of pathogens and bioeroders, including but not limited to reef-scale biogeochemical cycles and the structuring of coral-associated and environmental microbiomes via chemical mediation. Recent technological and conceptual advances will allow the elucidation of the physiological, ecological, and chemical contributions of understudied marine fungi to coral holobiont and reef ecosystem functioning and health and may help provide an outlook for reef management actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Roik
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstraße 231, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, 26046, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Miriam Reverter
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, 26046, Germany
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Pogoreutz
- Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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He Z, Naganuma T. Chronicle of Research into Lichen-Associated Bacteria. Microorganisms 2022; 10:2111. [PMID: 36363703 PMCID: PMC9698887 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Lichens are mutually symbiotic systems consisting of fungal and algal symbionts. While diverse lichen-forming fungal species are known, limited species of algae form lichens. Plasticity in the combination of fungal and algal species with different eco-physiological properties may contribute to the worldwide distribution of lichens, even in extreme habitats. Lichens have been studied systematically for more than 200 years; however, plasticity in fungal-algal/cyanobacterial symbiotic combinations is still unclear. In addition, the association between non-cyanobacterial bacteria and lichens has attracted attention in recent years. The types, diversity, and functions of lichen-associated bacteria have been studied using both culture-based and culture-independent methods. This review summarizes the history of systematic research on lichens and lichen-associated bacteria and provides insights into the current status of research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Takeshi Naganuma
- Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan
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Fruticose Lichen Communities at the Edge: Distribution and Diversity in a Desert Sky Island on the Colorado Plateau. CONSERVATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/conservation2040037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Subalpine habitats in sky islands in the Southwestern USA are currently facing large-scale transformations. Lichens have widely been used as bioindicators of environmental change. On the Colorado Plateau, fruticose lichens occur in patchy, disconnected populations, including unique lichen-draped conifer sites in subalpine forests in the La Sal Mountains in southeastern Utah. Here, we document the distribution and fungal diversity within these lichen communities. We find that lichen-draped conifer sites in the La Sal Mountains are restricted to only three known, small areas in Picea englemannii forests above 3000 m above sea level, two of which have recently been impacted by wildfire. We document 30 different species of lichen-forming fungi in these communities, several which represent the first reports from the Colorado Plateau. We also characterize mycobiont haplotype diversity for the fruticose lichens Evernia divaricata, Ramalina sinensis, and multiple Usnea species. We also report a range of diverse fungi associated with these lichens, including genetic clusters representing 22 orders spanning seven classes of Ascomycetes and fewer clusters representing Basidiomycetes. Our results provide a baseline for ongoing monitoring and help to raise awareness of unique lichen communities and other biodiversity in the region.
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