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Ghezzi D, Salvi L, Costantini PE, Firrincieli A, Iorio M, Lopo E, Sosio M, Elbanna AH, Khalil ZG, Capon RJ, De Waele J, Vergara F, Sauro F, Cappelletti M. Ancient and remote quartzite caves as a novel source of culturable microbes with biotechnological potential. Microbiol Res 2024; 286:127793. [PMID: 38901277 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127793] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Quartzite caves located on table-top mountains (tepuis) in the Guyana Shield, are ancient, remote, and pristine subterranean environments where microbes have evolved peculiar metabolic strategies to thrive in silica-rich, slightly acidic and oligotrophic conditions. In this study, we explored the culturable fraction of the microbiota inhabiting the (ortho)quartzite cave systems in Venezuelan tepui (remote table-top mountains) and we investigated their metabolic and enzymatic activities in relation with silica solubilization and extracellular hydrolytic activities as well as the capacity to produce antimicrobial compounds. Eighty microbial strains were isolated with a range of different enzymatic capabilities. More than half of the isolated strains performed at least three enzymatic activities and four bacterial strains displayed antimicrobial activities. The antimicrobial producers Paraburkholderia bryophila CMB_CA002 and Sphingomonas sp. MEM_CA187, were further analyzed by conducting chemotaxonomy, phylogenomics, and phenomics. While the isolate MEM_CA187 represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas imawarii sp. nov. is proposed, P. bryophila CMB_CA002 is affiliated with a few strains of the same species that are antimicrobial producers. Chemical analyses demonstrated that CMB_CA002 produces ditropolonyl sulfide that has a broad range of activity and a possibly novel siderophore. Although the antimicrobial compounds produced by MEM_CA187 could not be identified through HPLC-MS analysis due to the absence of reference compounds, it represents the first soil-associated Sphingomonas strain with the capacity to produce antimicrobials. This work provides first insights into the metabolic potential present in quartzite cave systems pointing out that these environments are a novel and still understudied source of microbial strains with biotechnological potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Ghezzi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Luca Salvi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Paolo E Costantini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Andrea Firrincieli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy; Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest systems, University of Tuscia, Viterbo 01100, Italy
| | | | - Ettore Lopo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | | | - Ahmed H Elbanna
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Department of Pharmacognosy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Zeinab G Khalil
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Robert J Capon
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jo De Waele
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy; La Venta Geographic Explorations Association, Treviso 31100, Italy
| | - Freddy Vergara
- La Venta Geographic Explorations Association, Treviso 31100, Italy; Teraphosa Exploring Team, Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela
| | - Francesco Sauro
- La Venta Geographic Explorations Association, Treviso 31100, Italy
| | - Martina Cappelletti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy; La Venta Geographic Explorations Association, Treviso 31100, Italy.
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Corbett MK, Gifford A, Fimognari N, Watkin ELJ. Analysis of element yield, bacterial community structure and the impact of carbon sources for bioleaching rare earth elements from high grade monazite. Res Microbiol 2024; 175:104133. [PMID: 37683878 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Rare earth element (REE) recovery from waste streams, mine tailings or recyclable components using bioleaching is gaining traction due to the shortage and security of REE supply as well as the environmental problems that occur from processing and refining. Four heterotrophic microbial species with known phosphate solubilizing capabilities were evaluated for their ability to leach REE from a high-grade monazite when provided with either galactose, fructose or maltose. Supplying fructose resulted in the greatest amount of REE leached from the ore due to the largest amount of organic acid produced. Gluconic acid was the dominant organic acid identified produced by the cultures, followed by acetic acid. The monazite proved difficult to leach with the different carbon sources, with preferential release of Ce over La, Nd and Pr.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa K Corbett
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University GPO Box U1987, Perth, Australia.
| | - April Gifford
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University GPO Box U1987, Perth, Australia.
| | - Nick Fimognari
- School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Australia.
| | - Elizabeth L J Watkin
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin University GPO Box U1987, Perth, Australia; School of Science, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Australia.
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Adaikpoh BI, Fernandez HN, Eustáquio AS. Biotechnology approaches for natural product discovery, engineering, and production based on Burkholderia bacteria. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 77:102782. [PMID: 36049254 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial natural products (NPs) retain high value in discovery efforts for applications in medicine and agriculture. Burkholderia β-Proteobacteria are a promising source of NPs. In this review, we summarize the recently developed genetic manipulation techniques used to access silent/cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters from Burkholderia native producers. We also discuss the development of Burkholderia bacteria as heterologous hosts and the application of Burkholderia in industrial-scale production of NPs. Genetic engineering and fermentation media optimization have enabled the industrial-scale production of at least two Burkholderia NPs. The biotechnology approaches discussed here will continue to facilitate the discovery and development of NPs from Burkholderia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara I Adaikpoh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Hannah N Fernandez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Alessandra S Eustáquio
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center for Biomolecular Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
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Toplak M, Teufel R. Three Rings to Rule Them All: How Versatile Flavoenzymes Orchestrate the Structural Diversification of Natural Products. Biochemistry 2021; 61:47-56. [PMID: 34962769 PMCID: PMC8772269 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
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The structural diversification
of natural products is instrumental
to their versatile bioactivities. In this context, redox tailoring
enzymes are commonly involved in the modification and functionalization
of advanced pathway intermediates en route to the mature natural products.
In recent years, flavoprotein monooxygenases have been shown to mediate
numerous redox tailoring reactions that include not only (aromatic)
hydroxylation, Baeyer–Villiger oxidation, or epoxidation reactions
but also oxygenations that are coupled to extensive remodeling of
the carbon backbone, which are often central to the installment of
the respective pharmacophores. In this Perspective, we will highlight
recent developments and discoveries in the field of flavoenzyme catalysis
in bacterial natural product biosynthesis and illustrate how the flavin
cofactor can be fine-tuned to enable chemo-, regio-, and stereospecific
oxygenations via distinct flavin-C4a-peroxide and flavin-N5-(per)oxide
species. Open questions remain, e.g., regarding the breadth of chemical
reactions enabled particularly by the newly discovered flavin-N5-oxygen
adducts and the role of the protein environment in steering such cascade-like
reactions. Outstanding cases involving different flavin oxygenating
species will be exemplified by the tailoring of bacterial aromatic
polyketides, including enterocin, rubromycins, rishirilides, mithramycin,
anthracyclins, chartreusin, jadomycin, and xantholipin. In addition,
the biosynthesis of tropone natural products, including tropolone
and tropodithietic acid, will be presented, which features a recently
described prototypical flavoprotein dioxygenase that may combine flavin-N5-peroxide
and flavin-N5-oxide chemistry. Finally, structural and mechanistic
features of selected enzymes will be discussed as well as hurdles
for their application in the formation of natural product derivatives
via bioengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Toplak
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robin Teufel
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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