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Tarakanov RI, Evseev PV, Vo HTN, Troshin KS, Gutnik DI, Ignatov AN, Toshchakov SV, Miroshnikov KA, Jafarov IH, Dzhalilov FSU. Xanthomonas Phage PBR31: Classifying the Unclassifiable. Viruses 2024; 16:406. [PMID: 38543771 PMCID: PMC10975493 DOI: 10.3390/v16030406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability of bacteriophages to destroy bacteria has made them the subject of extensive research. Interest in bacteriophages has recently increased due to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, although genomic research has not kept pace with the growth of genomic data. Genomic analysis and, especially, the taxonomic description of bacteriophages are often difficult due to the peculiarities of the evolution of bacteriophages, which often includes the horizontal transfer of genes and genomic modules. The latter is particularly pronounced for temperate bacteriophages, which are capable of integration into the bacterial chromosome. Xanthomonas phage PBR31 is a temperate bacteriophage, which has been neither described nor classified previously, that infects the plant pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Genomic analysis, including phylogenetic studies, indicated the separation of phage PBR31 from known classified bacteriophages, as well as its distant relationship with other temperate bacteriophages, including the Lederbervirus group. Bioinformatic analysis of proteins revealed distinctive features of PBR31, including the presence of a protein similar to the small subunit of D-family DNA polymerase and advanced lysis machinery. Taxonomic analysis showed the possibility of assigning phage PBR31 to a new taxon, although the complete taxonomic description of Xanthomonas phage PBR31 and other related bacteriophages is complicated by the complex evolutionary history of the formation of its genome. The general biological features of the PBR31 phage were analysed for the first time. Due to its presumably temperate lifestyle, there is doubt as to whether the PBR31 phage is appropriate for phage control purposes. Bioinformatics analysis, however, revealed the presence of cell wall-degrading enzymes that can be utilised for the treatment of bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashit I. Tarakanov
- Department of Plant Protection, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya Str. 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia; (R.I.T.); (K.S.T.)
| | - Peter V. Evseev
- Department of Plant Protection, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya Str. 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia; (R.I.T.); (K.S.T.)
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovityanova 1, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ha T. N. Vo
- Faculty of Agronomy, Nong Lam University, Quarter 6, Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City 721400, Vietnam
| | - Konstantin S. Troshin
- Department of Plant Protection, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya Str. 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia; (R.I.T.); (K.S.T.)
| | - Daria I. Gutnik
- Limnological Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 664033 Irkutsk, Russia;
| | - Aleksandr N. Ignatov
- Agrobiotechnology Department, Agrarian and Technological Institute, RUDN University, Miklukho-Maklaya Str. 6, 117198 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Stepan V. Toshchakov
- Center for Genome Research, National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Kurchatov Sq., 1, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Konstantin A. Miroshnikov
- Department of Plant Protection, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya Str. 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia; (R.I.T.); (K.S.T.)
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ibrahim H. Jafarov
- Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute for Plant Protection and Industrial Crops, AZ 4200 Ganja, Azerbaijan
| | - Fevzi S.-U. Dzhalilov
- Department of Plant Protection, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Timiryazevskaya Str. 49, 127434 Moscow, Russia; (R.I.T.); (K.S.T.)
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Olawole O, Uribe P, Rodriquez NA, Gonzalez CF, Ong K. First Report of Bacterial Leaf Scald of Plum Caused by Xylella fastidiosa in Texas. PLANT DISEASE 2022; 106:3198. [PMID: 35486598 DOI: 10.1094/pdis-03-22-0561-pdn] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Xylella fastidiosa is the etiological agent of Plum Leaf Scald (Greco et al. 2021). The disease was first reported in Argentina (Fernandez-Valiela et al. 1954) and then Brazil and Paraguay (French et al. 1978). In the USA, Plum Leaf Scald has been reported in the Southeastern United States (Wells et al. 1981a) and California (Hernandez-Martinez et al. 2009). In August 2021, during the Stone Fruit Survey of FY2020, plum trees (Mexican variety, Prunus mexicana) with symptoms of leaf scald, were observed in a Central Texas orchard with approximately 7% of trees exhibiting symptoms. Leaf margins were asymmetrically scorched, with necrotic areas that transitioned into chlorotic and healthy green tissues. To detect the presence of the pathogen, leaf sample petioles were tested using a double-antibody sandwich (DAS) ELISA® with X. fastidiosa specific antiserum (Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN) according to manufacturer's guidelines. X. fastidiosa was detected in 20 of the 35 symptomatic samples. To confirm ELISA results, total DNA was extracted from the plant samples using the Plant DNeasy® kit (Qiagen Co. Hilden, Germany) following the manufacturer's protocol. All 20 ELISA-positive samples tested positive in a X. fastidiosa-specific real time PCR assay, using the primers XF1F and XF1R and probe XF1p (Schaad et al. 2002). Moreover, the ELISA-negative samples were also negative for PCR assay. Symptomatic samples were used to isolate the pathogen. Samples were debarked, surface-sterilized and xylem fluid collected. The fluid was gently imprinted on buffered charcoal yeast extract (BCYE) (Wells et al. 1981b) or periwinkle wilt modified (PWM) agar plates (Summer et al. 2010). After 10 days of incubation, individual colonies were observed. The colonies were slightly convex, white, opalescent, mucoid, circular with entire margins and with smooth surfaces on both media plates. Isolated colonies were triple-streak single colony purified and archived. Genomic DNA was extracted from four purified isolates using the DNeasy Blood and Tissue Qiagen® Kit, to conduct conventional PCR using HL5/HL6 (Francis et al. 2006), which identified the isolates as X. fastidiosa. Using the 16S rRNA primer pair U3/U4 (James 2010), amplicons were sequenced and compared against the NCBI database using the BLASTn algorithm. Comparative sequence analysis of amplicons from the four isolates were identical and indicated that the isolates were 100% identical to X. fastidiosa subsp. multiplex RIV5 (CP064326.1) from cherry plum, and IVIA5901 (CP047134.1) from almond. The sequences of all four isolates were deposited into NCBI GenBank, with the accession numbers OM617940 (467), OM617941 (470), OM617942 (471) and OM617943 (468). To our knowledge, this is the first report of X. fastidiosa associated with plum leaf scald in Texas, extending the geographical range of this important bacterial disease, in the Southern United States. This study highlights the importance of routine scouting of agricultural settings with a view to assessing and detecting early threats from either pests or disease and implementing relevant management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olakunle Olawole
- Texas A&M University, 14736, Plant Pathology & Microbiology, College Station, Texas, United States;
| | - Pedro Uribe
- Texas A&M University, 14736, Plant Pathology & Microbiology, College Station, Texas, United States;
| | - Nayelly Anahi Rodriquez
- Texas A&M University, 14736, Plant Pathology & Microbiology, College Station, Texas, United States;
| | - Carlos F Gonzalez
- Texas A&M University, 14736, Plant Pathology & Microbiology, College Station, Texas, United States;
| | - Kevin Ong
- Texas A&M University, 14736, Plant Pathology and Microbiology, College Station, Texas, United States
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Plant Pathology and Microbiology, College Station, Texas, United States;
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Comparative Genomics of Xylella fastidiosa Explores Candidate Host-Specificity Determinants and Expands the Known Repertoire of Mobile Genetic Elements and Immunity Systems. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050914. [PMID: 35630358 PMCID: PMC9148166 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Xylella fastidiosa causes diseases in many plant species. Originally confined to the Americas, infecting mainly grapevine, citrus, and coffee, X. fastidiosa has spread to several plant species in Europe causing devastating diseases. Many pathogenicity and virulence factors have been identified, which enable the various X. fastidiosa strains to successfully colonize the xylem tissue and cause disease in specific plant hosts, but the mechanisms by which this happens have not been fully elucidated. Here we present thorough comparative analyses of 94 whole-genome sequences of X. fastidiosa strains from diverse plant hosts and geographic regions. Core-genome phylogeny revealed clades with members sharing mostly a geographic region rather than a host plant of origin. Phylogenetic trees for 1605 orthologous CDSs were explored for potential candidates related to host specificity using a score of mapping metrics. However, no candidate host-specificity determinants were strongly supported using this approach. We also show that X. fastidiosa accessory genome is represented by an abundant and heterogeneous mobilome, including a diversity of prophage regions. Our findings provide a better understanding of the diversity of phylogenetically close genomes and expand the knowledge of X. fastidiosa mobile genetic elements and immunity systems.
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Functional Dissection of P1 Bacteriophage Holin-like Proteins Reveals the Biological Sense of P1 Lytic System Complexity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084231. [PMID: 35457047 PMCID: PMC9025707 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
P1 is a model temperate myovirus. It infects different Enterobacteriaceae and can develop lytically or form lysogens. Only some P1 adaptation strategies to propagate in different hosts are known. An atypical feature of P1 is the number and organization of cell lysis-associated genes. In addition to SAR-endolysin Lyz, holin LydA, and antiholin LydB, P1 encodes other predicted holins, LydC and LydD. LydD is encoded by the same operon as Lyz, LydA and LydB are encoded by an unlinked operon, and LydC is encoded by an operon preceding the lydA gene. By analyzing the phenotypes of P1 mutants in known or predicted holin genes, we show that all the products of these genes cooperate with the P1 SAR-endolysin in cell lysis and that LydD is a pinholin. The contributions of holins/pinholins to cell lysis by P1 appear to vary depending on the host of P1 and the bacterial growth conditions. The pattern of morphological transitions characteristic of SAR-endolysin–pinholin action dominates during lysis by wild-type P1, but in the case of lydC lydD mutant it changes to that characteristic of classical endolysin-pinholin action. We postulate that the complex lytic system facilitates P1 adaptation to various hosts and their growth conditions.
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Boyd BM, Chevignon G, Patel V, Oliver KM, Strand MR. Evolutionary genomics of APSE: a tailed phage that lysogenically converts the bacterium Hamiltonella defensa into a heritable protective symbiont of aphids. Virol J 2021; 18:219. [PMID: 34758862 PMCID: PMC8579659 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01685-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Most phages infect free-living bacteria but a few have been identified that infect heritable symbionts of insects or other eukaryotes. Heritable symbionts are usually specialized and isolated from other bacteria with little known about the origins of associated phages. Hamiltonella defensa is a heritable bacterial symbiont of aphids that is usually infected by a tailed, double-stranded DNA phage named APSE. Methods We conducted comparative genomic and phylogenetic studies to determine how APSE is related to other phages and prophages. Results Each APSE genome was organized into four modules and two predicted functional units. Gene content and order were near-fully conserved in modules 1 and 2, which encode predicted DNA metabolism genes, and module 4, which encodes predicted virion assembly genes. Gene content of module 3, which contains predicted toxin, holin and lysozyme genes differed among haplotypes. Comparisons to other sequenced phages suggested APSE genomes are mosaics with modules 1 and 2 sharing similarities with Bordetella-Bcep-Xylostella fastidiosa-like podoviruses, module 4 sharing similarities with P22-like podoviruses, and module 3 sharing no similarities with known phages. Comparisons to other sequenced bacterial genomes identified APSE-like elements in other heritable insect symbionts (Arsenophonus spp.) and enteric bacteria in the family Morganellaceae. Conclusions APSEs are most closely related to phage elements in the genus Arsenophonus and other bacteria in the Morganellaceae. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12985-021-01685-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bret M Boyd
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA, USA. .,Center for Biological Data Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| | - Germain Chevignon
- Laboratoire de Génétique et Pathologie des Mollusques Marins, IFREMER, La Tremblade, France
| | - Vilas Patel
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Kerry M Oliver
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Michael R Strand
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia Athens, Athens, GA, USA.
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Zhou H, Chen P, Zhang M, Chen J, Fang J, Li X. Revealing the Viral Community in the Hadal Sediment of the New Britain Trench. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12070990. [PMID: 34209474 PMCID: PMC8306916 DOI: 10.3390/genes12070990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine viruses are widely distributed and influence matter and energy transformation in ecosystems by modulating hosts’ metabolism. The hadal trenches represent the deepest marine habitat on Earth, for which the viral communities and related biogeochemical functions are least explored and poorly understood. Here, using the sediment samples (8720 m below sea level) collected from the New Britain Trench (NBT), we investigated the viral community, diversity, and genetic potentials in the hadal sediment habitat for the first time by deep shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We found the NBT sediment viral community was dominated by Siphoviridae, Myoviridae, Podoviridae, Mimiviridae, and Phycodnaviridae, which belong to the dsDNA viruses. However, the large majority of them remained uncharacterized. We found the hadal sediment virome had some common components by comparing the hadal sediment viruses with those of hadal aquatic habitats and those of bathypelagic and terrestrial habitats. It was also distinctive in community structure and had many novel viral clusters not associated with the other habitual virome included in our analyses. Further phylogenetic analysis on its Caudovirales showed novel diversities, including new clades specially evolved in the hadal sediment habitat. Annotation of the NBT sediment viruses indicated the viruses might influence microbial hydrocarbon biodegradation and carbon and sulfur cycling via metabolic augmentation through auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs). Our study filled in the knowledge gaps on the virome of the hadal sediment habitats and provided insight into the evolution and the potential metabolic functions of the hadal sediment virome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; (H.Z.); (P.C.); (M.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; (H.Z.); (P.C.); (M.Z.)
| | - Mengjie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; (H.Z.); (P.C.); (M.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiawang Chen
- Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, China
- Correspondence: (J.C.); (J.F.); (X.L.)
| | - Jiasong Fang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
- Correspondence: (J.C.); (J.F.); (X.L.)
| | - Xuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; (H.Z.); (P.C.); (M.Z.)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Correspondence: (J.C.); (J.F.); (X.L.)
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Petrzik K, Lukavský J, Koloniuk I. Novel Virus on Filamentous Arthronema africanum Cyanobacterium. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2021; 81:454-459. [PMID: 32901386 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-020-01599-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Widely distributed in water environments and in soil, cyanobacteria are hosts of lysogenic or lytic bacterioviruses. A novel, probably lysogenic virus (phage) for which the name Arthronema africanum virus TR020 (Aa-TR020) is proposed, has been isolated from filamentous freshwater cyanobacterium Arthronema africanum. The virus formed turbid plaques on plate culture of A. africanum strain 1980/01 but not on other Arthronema strain and other bacterial species. The genome of Aa-TR020 is linear molecule of dsDNA, 44,805 bp in length with 216 bp long terminal repeats and with G + C content of 46%. Fifty-five genes organized on plus and minus strands were predicted there. The genome size, gene arrangement, and selected protein sequences showed relatedness to Phormidium virus Pf-WMP3 and other viruses known to infect cyanobacteria and classified in the family Podoviridae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel Petrzik
- Department of Plant Virology, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Jaromír Lukavský
- Centre for Phycology, Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dukelská 135, Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Igor Koloniuk
- Department of Plant Virology, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Adamczyk-Popławska M, Tracz-Gaszewska Z, Lasota P, Kwiatek A, Piekarowicz A. Haemophilus influenzae HP1 Bacteriophage Encodes a Lytic Cassette with a Pinholin and a Signal-Arrest-Release Endolysin. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4013. [PMID: 32512736 PMCID: PMC7312051 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
HP1 is a temperate bacteriophage, belonging to the Myoviridae family and infecting Haemophilus influenzae Rd. By in silico analysis and molecular cloning, we characterized lys and hol gene products, present in the previously proposed lytic module of HP1 phage. The amino acid sequence of the lys gene product revealed the presence of signal-arrest-release (SAR) and muraminidase domains, characteristic for some endolysins. HP1 endolysin was able to induce lysis on its own when cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, but the new phage release from infected H. influenzae cells was suppressed by inhibition of the secretion (sec) pathway. Protein encoded by hol gene is a transmembrane protein, with unusual C-out and N-in topology, when overexpressed/activated. Its overexpression in E. coli did not allow the formation of large pores (lack of leakage of β-galactosidase), but caused cell death (decrease in viable cell count) without lysis (turbidity remained constant). These data suggest that lys gene encodes a SAR-endolysin and that the hol gene product is a pinholin. HP1 SAR-endolysin is responsible for cell lysis and HP1 pinholin seems to regulate the cell lysis and the phage progeny release from H. influenzae cells, as new phage release from the natural host was inhibited by deletion of the hol gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Adamczyk-Popławska
- Warsaw University, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Virology, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland; (Z.T.-G.); (P.L.); (A.K.); (A.P.)
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Halobacterium salinarum virus ChaoS9, a Novel Halovirus Related to PhiH1 and PhiCh1. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10030194. [PMID: 30832293 PMCID: PMC6471424 DOI: 10.3390/genes10030194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The unexpected lysis of a large culture of Halobacterium salinarum strain S9 was found to be caused by a novel myovirus, designated ChaoS9. Virus purification from the culture lysate revealed a homogeneous population of caudovirus-like particles. The viral genome is linear, dsDNA that is partially redundant and circularly permuted, has a unit length of 55,145 nt, a G + C% of 65.3, and has 85 predicted coding sequences (CDS) and one tRNA (Arg) gene. The left arm of the genome (0–28 kbp) encodes proteins similar in sequence to those from known caudoviruses and was most similar to myohaloviruses phiCh1 (host: Natrialba magadii) and phiH1 (host: Hbt. salinarum). It carries a tail-fiber gene module similar to the invertible modules present in phiH1 and phiCh1. However, while the tail genes of ChaoS9 were similar to those of phiCh1 and phiH1, the Mcp of ChaoS9 was most similar (36% aa identity) to that of Haloarcula hispanica tailed virus 1 (HHTV-1). Provirus elements related to ChaoS9 showed most similarity to tail/assembly proteins but varied in their similarity with head/assembly proteins. The right arm (29–55 kbp) of ChaoS9 encoded proteins involved in DNA replication (ParA, RepH, and Orc1) but the other proteins showed little similarity to those from phiH1, phiCh1, or provirus elements, and most of them could not be assigned a function. ChaoS9 is probably best classified within the genus Myohalovirus, as it shares many characteristics with phiH1 (and phiCh1), including many similar proteins. However, the head/assembly gene region appears to have undergone a recombination event, and the inferred proteins are different to those of phiH1 and phiCh1, including the major capsid protein. This makes the taxonomic classification of ChaoS9 more ambiguous. We also report a revised genome sequence and annotation of Natrialba virus phiCh1.
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Kyrkou I, Pusa T, Ellegaard-Jensen L, Sagot MF, Hansen LH. Pierce's Disease of Grapevines: A Review of Control Strategies and an Outline of an Epidemiological Model. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2141. [PMID: 30258423 PMCID: PMC6143690 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Xylella fastidiosa is a notorious plant pathogenic bacterium that represents a threat to crops worldwide. Its subspecies, Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa is the causal agent of Pierce's disease of grapevines. Pierce's disease has presented a serious challenge for the grapevine industry in the United States and turned into an epidemic in Southern California due to the invasion of the insect vector Homalodisca vitripennis. In an attempt to minimize the effects of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa in vineyards, various studies have been developing and testing strategies to prevent the occurrence of Pierce's disease, i.e., prophylactic strategies. Research has also been undertaken to investigate therapeutic strategies to cure vines infected by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa. This report explicitly reviews all the strategies published to date and specifies their current status. Furthermore, an epidemiological model of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa is proposed and key parameters for the spread of Pierce's disease deciphered in a sensitivity analysis of all model parameters. Based on these results, it is concluded that future studies should prioritize therapeutic strategies, while investments should only be made in prophylactic strategies that have demonstrated promising results in vineyards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifigeneia Kyrkou
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Taneli Pusa
- INRIA Grenoble Rhône-Alpes, Montbonnot-Saint-Martin, France
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, UMR 5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
- Department of Computer, Automatic and Management Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lea Ellegaard-Jensen
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Marie-France Sagot
- INRIA Grenoble Rhône-Alpes, Montbonnot-Saint-Martin, France
- Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive, UMR 5558, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Lars Hestbjerg Hansen
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
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Covarrubias PC, Moya-Beltrán A, Atavales J, Moya-Flores F, Tapia PS, Acuña LG, Spinelli S, Quatrini R. Occurrence, integrity and functionality of AcaML1-like viruses infecting extreme acidophiles of the Acidithiobacillus species complex. Res Microbiol 2018; 169:628-637. [PMID: 30138723 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2018.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
General knowledge on the diversity and biology of microbial viruses infecting bacterial hosts from extreme acidic environments lags behind most other econiches. In this study, we analyse the AcaML1 virus occurrence in the taxon, its genetic composition and infective behaviour under standard acidic and SOS-inducing conditions to assess its integrity and functionality. Occurrence analysis in sequenced acidithiobacilli showed that AcaML1-like proviruses are confined to the mesothermophiles Acidithiobacillus caldus and Thermithiobacillus tepidarius. Among A. caldus strains and isolates this provirus had a modest prevalence (30%). Comparative genomic analysis revealed a significant conservation with the T. tepidarius AcaML1-like provirus, excepting the tail genes, and a high conservation of the virus across strains of the A. caldus species. Such conservation extends from the modules architecture to the gene level, suggesting that organization and composition of these viruses are preserved for functional reasons. Accordingly, the AcaML1 proviruses were demonstrated to excise from their host genomes under DNA-damaging conditions triggering the SOS-response and to produce DNA-containing VLPs. Despite this fact, under the conditions evaluated (acidic) the VLPs obtained from A. caldus ATCC 51756 could not produce productive infections of a candidate sensitive strain (#6) nor trigger it lysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo C Covarrubias
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Avenida Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, 7780272, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ana Moya-Beltrán
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Avenida Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, 7780272, Santiago, Chile; Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Joaquin Atavales
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Avenida Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, 7780272, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Moya-Flores
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Pablo S Tapia
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Avenida Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, 7780272, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lillian G Acuña
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Avenida Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, 7780272, Santiago, Chile
| | - Silvia Spinelli
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques (AFMB), Aix-Marseille Univ-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 7257, Campus de Luminy, Case 932, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Raquel Quatrini
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Avenida Zañartu 1482, Ñuñoa, 7780272, Santiago, Chile.
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Marcelletti S, Scortichini M. Xylella fastidiosa CoDiRO strain associated with the olive quick decline syndrome in southern Italy belongs to a clonal complex of the subspecies pauca that evolved in Central America. Microbiology (Reading) 2016; 162:2087-2098. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.000388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Marcelletti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of Agricultural Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Fruit Trees, Via di Fioranello 52, I-00134 Roma, Italy
| | - Marco Scortichini
- Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of Agricultural Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Fruit Trees, Via Torrino 3, I-81100 Caserta, Italy
- Council for Agricultural Research and Analysis of Agricultural Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Fruit Trees, Via di Fioranello 52, I-00134 Roma, Italy
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13
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Azevedo JL, Araújo WL, Lacava PT. The diversity of citrus endophytic bacteria and their interactions with Xylella fastidiosa and host plants. Genet Mol Biol 2016; 39:476-491. [PMID: 27727362 PMCID: PMC5127157 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2016-0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is the causal agent of citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) and has been associated with important losses in commercial orchards of all sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.)] cultivars. The development of this disease depends on the environmental conditions, including the endophytic microbial community associated with the host plant. Previous studies have shown that X. fastidiosa interacts with the endophytic community in xylem vessels as well as in the insect vector, resulting in a lower bacterial population and reduced CVC symptoms. The citrus endophytic bacterium Methylobacterium mesophilicum can trigger X. fastidiosa response in vitro, which results in reduced growth and induction of genes associated with energy production, stress, transport, and motility, indicating that X. fastidiosa has an adaptive response to M. mesophilicum. Although this response may result in reduced CVC symptoms, the colonization rate of the endophytic bacteria should be considered in studies that intend to use this endophyte to suppress CVC disease. Symbiotic control is a new strategy that uses symbiotic endophytes as biological control agents to antagonize or displace pathogens. Candidate endophytes for symbiotic control of CVC must occupy the xylem of host plants and attach to the precibarium of sharpshooter insects to access the pathogen. In the present review, we focus on interactions between endophytic bacteria from sweet orange plants and X. fastidiosa, especially those that may be candidates for control of CVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Lúcio Azevedo
- Departamento de Genética, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de
Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
| | - Welington Luiz Araújo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas,
Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo Teixeira Lacava
- Departamento de Morfologia e Patologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas
e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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14
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Bhowmick TS, Das M, Heinz KM, Krauter PC, Gonzalez CF. Transmission of phage by glassy-winged sharpshooters, a vector of Xylella fastidiosa. BACTERIOPHAGE 2016; 6:e1218411. [PMID: 27738554 PMCID: PMC5056766 DOI: 10.1080/21597081.2016.1218411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Revised: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa (Xff) is the causal agent of Pierce's Disease (PD) of grapevines and is vectored by the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS, Homalodisca vitripennis). Previously we have reported the development of a bacteriophage (phage) based biocontrol system for PD, but no information on insect transmission of phages has been reported. Here we communicate that laboratory reared GWSSs fed on cowpea plants (Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata) harboring the virulent phage Paz were able to uptake of phage efficiently when the phage was present in high concentration, but were inefficient in transfer to plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tushar Suvra Bhowmick
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Mayukh Das
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Kevin M. Heinz
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Peter C. Krauter
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Carlos F. Gonzalez
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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15
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Jacques MA, Denancé N, Legendre B, Morel E, Briand M, Mississipi S, Durand K, Olivier V, Portier P, Poliakoff F, Crouzillat D. New Coffee Plant-Infecting Xylella fastidiosa Variants Derived via Homologous Recombination. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 82:1556-68. [PMID: 26712553 PMCID: PMC4771316 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03299-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Xylella fastidiosa is a xylem-limited phytopathogenic bacterium endemic to the Americas that has recently emerged in Asia and Europe. Although this bacterium is classified as a quarantine organism in the European Union, importation of plant material from contaminated areas and latent infection in asymptomatic plants have engendered its inevitable introduction. In 2012, four coffee plants (Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora) with leaf scorch symptoms growing in a confined greenhouse were detected and intercepted in France. After identification of the causal agent, this outbreak was eradicated. Three X. fastidiosa strains were isolated from these plants, confirming a preliminary identification based on immunology. The strains were characterized by multiplex PCR and by multilocus sequence analysis/typing (MLSA-MLST) based on seven housekeeping genes. One strain, CFBP 8073, isolated from C. canephora imported from Mexico, was assigned to X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa/X. fastidiosa subsp. sandyi. This strain harbors a novel sequence type (ST) with novel alleles at two loci. The two other strains, CFBP 8072 and CFBP 8074, isolated from Coffea arabica imported from Ecuador, were allocated to X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca. These two strains shared a novel ST with novel alleles at two loci. These MLST profiles showed evidence of recombination events. We provide genome sequences for CFBP 8072 and CFBP 8073 strains. Comparative genomic analyses of these two genome sequences with publicly available X. fastidiosa genomes, including the Italian strain CoDiRO, confirmed these phylogenetic positions and provided candidate alleles for coffee plant adaptation. This study demonstrates the global diversity of X. fastidiosa and highlights the diversity of strains isolated from coffee plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Agnès Jacques
- INRA, UMR1345 Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences, SFR4207 QUASAV, Beaucouzé, France
| | - Nicolas Denancé
- INRA, UMR1345 Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences, SFR4207 QUASAV, Beaucouzé, France Anses Laboratoire de la Santé des Végétaux, Angers, France
| | - Bruno Legendre
- Anses Laboratoire de la Santé des Végétaux, Angers, France
| | | | - Martial Briand
- INRA, UMR1345 Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences, SFR4207 QUASAV, Beaucouzé, France
| | - Stelly Mississipi
- INRA, UMR1345 Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences, SFR4207 QUASAV, Beaucouzé, France Anses Laboratoire de la Santé des Végétaux, Angers, France Nestlé R&D Tours, Tours, France
| | - Karine Durand
- INRA, UMR1345 Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences, SFR4207 QUASAV, Beaucouzé, France
| | | | - Perrine Portier
- INRA, UMR1345 Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences, SFR4207 QUASAV, Beaucouzé, France
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16
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Booher NJ, Carpenter SCD, Sebra RP, Wang L, Salzberg SL, Leach JE, Bogdanove AJ. Single molecule real-time sequencing of Xanthomonas oryzae genomes reveals a dynamic structure and complex TAL (transcription activator-like) effector gene relationships. Microb Genom 2015; 1. [PMID: 27148456 PMCID: PMC4853030 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogen-injected, direct transcriptional activators of host genes, TAL (transcription activator-like) effectors play determinative roles in plant diseases caused by Xanthomonas spp. A large domain of nearly identical, 33–35 aa repeats in each protein mediates DNA recognition. This modularity makes TAL effectors customizable and thus important also in biotechnology. However, the repeats render TAL effector (tal) genes nearly impossible to assemble using next-generation, short reads. Here, we demonstrate that long-read, single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing solves this problem. Taking an ensemble approach to first generate local, tal gene contigs, we correctly assembled de novo the genomes of two strains of the rice pathogen X. oryzae completed previously using the Sanger method and even identified errors in those references. Sequencing two more strains revealed a dynamic genome structure and a striking plasticity in tal gene content. Our results pave the way for population-level studies to inform resistance breeding, improve biotechnology and probe TAL effector evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Booher
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sara C D Carpenter
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Robert P Sebra
- Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology and Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Steven L Salzberg
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Biostatistics and Center for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jan E Leach
- Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Adam J Bogdanove
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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17
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Booher NJ, Carpenter SCD, Sebra RP, Wang L, Salzberg SL, Leach JE, Bogdanove AJ. Single molecule real-time sequencing of Xanthomonas oryzae genomes reveals a dynamic structure and complex TAL (transcription activator-like) effector gene relationships. Microb Genom 2015. [PMID: 27148456 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.000032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogen-injected, direct transcriptional activators of host genes, TAL (transcription activator-like) effectors play determinative roles in plant diseases caused by Xanthomonas spp. A large domain of nearly identical, 33-35 aa repeats in each protein mediates DNA recognition. This modularity makes TAL effectors customizable and thus important also in biotechnology. However, the repeats render TAL effector (tal) genes nearly impossible to assemble using next-generation, short reads. Here, we demonstrate that long-read, single molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing solves this problem. Taking an ensemble approach to first generate local, tal gene contigs, we correctly assembled de novo the genomes of two strains of the rice pathogen X. oryzae completed previously using the Sanger method and even identified errors in those references. Sequencing two more strains revealed a dynamic genome structure and a striking plasticity in tal gene content. Our results pave the way for population-level studies to inform resistance breeding, improve biotechnology and probe TAL effector evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Booher
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sara C D Carpenter
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Robert P Sebra
- Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology and Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Li Wang
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Steven L Salzberg
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Biostatistics and Center for Computational Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jan E Leach
- Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Adam J Bogdanove
- Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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18
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Liu M, Bischoff KM, Gill JJ, Mire-Criscione MD, Berry JD, Young R, Summer EJ. Bacteriophage application restores ethanol fermentation characteristics disrupted by Lactobacillus fermentum. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2015; 8:132. [PMID: 26339290 PMCID: PMC4558781 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-015-0325-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Contamination of corn mash by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) reduces the efficiency of the ethanol fermentation process. The industry relies heavily on antibiotics for contamination control and there is a need to develop alternative methods. The goals of this study were to determine the diversity and abundance of bacteria contaminating commercial ethanol fermentations, and to evaluate the potential of anti-LAB bacteriophages in controlling production losses. RESULTS Bacterial populations in 27 corn mash samples collected from nine different commercial plants were determined by pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons. The results showed that the most abundant bacteria (>50 % of total population) in 24 of the 27 samples included LAB genera such as Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Lactococcus, Weissella, Enterococcus, and Pediococcus. Lactobacillus was identified as the most prevalent genus at all fermentation stages in all plants, accounting for between 2.3 and 93.7 % of each population and constituting the major genus (>50 %) in nine samples from five plants and the most abundant genus in five other samples. Lactobacillus species, including L. delbrueckii, L. fermentum, L. mucosae, and L. reuteri were the most well-represented species. Two bacteriophages that target L. fermentum strains from ethanol plants, vB_LfeS_EcoSau and vB_LfeM_EcoInf (EcoSau and EcoInf), were isolated and characterized as a siphophage and a myophage, respectively. Analysis of the 31,703 bp genome of EcoSau revealed its similarity to the P335-like phage group, and the 106,701 bp genome of phage EcoInf was determined to be a novel phage type despite its distant relationship to the SPO1-like phages. Addition of phages EcoSau and EcoInf to L. fermentum-contaminated corn mash fermentation models restored the yields of ethanol and reduced levels of residual glucose, lactic acid, and acetic acid to that comparable to the infection-free control. CONCLUSIONS This study provides detailed insight into the microbiota contaminating commercial ethanol fermentations, and highlights the abundance of LAB, especially L. delbrueckii, L. fermentum, L. mucosae, and L. reuteri, in the process. This study suggests that phages with broad coverage of major LAB species can be applied directly to corn mash for antibiotic-free control of contamination in the ethanol fermentation industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Liu
- />Ecolyse Inc., 11142 Hopes Creek Rd., College Station, TX 77845 USA
| | - Kenneth M. Bischoff
- />Renewable Product Technology Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604 USA
| | - Jason J. Gill
- />Center for Phage Technology, 2128 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
- />Department of Animal Science, 2471 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | | | - Joel D. Berry
- />Center for Phage Technology, 2128 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
| | - Ry Young
- />Center for Phage Technology, 2128 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
- />Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2128 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 USA
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19
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Das M, Bhowmick TS, Ahern SJ, Young R, Gonzalez CF. Control of Pierce's Disease by Phage. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128902. [PMID: 26107261 PMCID: PMC4479439 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pierce's Disease (PD) of grapevines, caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa (Xf), is a limiting factor in the cultivation of grapevines in the US. There are presently no effective control methods to prevent or treat PD. The therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of a phage cocktail composed of four virulent (lytic) phages was evaluated for control of PD. Xf levels in grapevines were significantly reduced in therapeutically or prophylactically treated grapevines. PD symptoms ceased to progress one week post-therapeutic treatment and symptoms were not observed in prophylactically treated grapevines. Cocktail phage levels increased in grapevines in the presence of the host. No in planta phage-resistant Xf isolates were obtained. Moreover, Xf mutants selected for phage resistance in vitro did not cause PD symptoms. Our results indicate that phages have great potential for biocontrol of PD and other economically important diseases caused by Xylella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayukh Das
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Tushar Suvra Bhowmick
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Ahern
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ry Young
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Carlos F. Gonzalez
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Phage Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
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20
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Scientific Opinion on the risks to plant health posed byXylella fastidiosain the EU territory, with the identification and evaluation of risk reduction options. EFSA J 2015. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2015.3989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
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21
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Characterization of novel virulent broad-host-range phages of Xylella fastidiosa and Xanthomonas. J Bacteriol 2013; 196:459-71. [PMID: 24214944 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01080-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The xylem-limited bacterium Xylella fastidiosa is the causal agent of several plant diseases, most notably Pierce's disease of grape and citrus variegated chlorosis. We report the isolation and characterization of the first virulent phages for X. fastidiosa, siphophages Sano and Salvo and podophages Prado and Paz, with a host range that includes Xanthomonas spp. Phages propagated on homologous hosts had observed adsorption rate constants of ~4 × 10(-12) ml cell(-1) min(-1) for X. fastidiosa strain Temecula 1 and ~5 × 10(-10) to 7 × 10(-10) ml cell(-1) min(-1) for Xanthomonas strain EC-12. Sano and Salvo exhibit >80% nucleotide identity to each other in aligned regions and are syntenic to phage BcepNazgul. We propose that phage BcepNazgul is the founding member of a novel phage type, to which Sano and Salvo belong. The lysis genes of the Nazgul-like phage type include a gene that encodes an outer membrane lipoprotein endolysin and also spanin gene families that provide insight into the evolution of the lysis pathway for phages of Gram-negative hosts. Prado and Paz, although exhibiting no significant DNA homology to each other, are new members of the phiKMV-like phage type, based on the position of the single-subunit RNA polymerase gene. The four phages are type IV pilus dependent for infection of both X. fastidiosa and Xanthomonas. The phages may be useful as agents for an effective and environmentally responsible strategy for the control of diseases caused by X. fastidiosa.
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22
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Varani AM, Monteiro-Vitorello CB, Nakaya HI, Van Sluys MA. The role of prophage in plant-pathogenic bacteria. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2013; 51:429-451. [PMID: 23725471 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-phyto-081211-173010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A diverse set of phage lineages is associated with the bacterial plant-pathogen genomes sequenced to date. Analysis of 37 genomes revealed 5,169 potential genes (approximately 4.3 Mbp) of phage origin, and at least 50% had no function assigned or are nonessential to phage biology. Some phytopathogens have transcriptionally active prophage genes under conditions that mimic plant infection, suggesting an association between plant disease and prophage transcriptional modulation. The role of prophages within genomes for cell biology varies. For pathogens such as Pectobacterium, Pseudomonas, Ralstonia, and Streptomyces, involvement of prophage in disease symptoms has been demonstrated. In Xylella and Xanthomonas, prophage activity is associated with genome rearrangements and strain differentiation. For other pathogens, prophage roles are yet to be established. This review integrates available information in a unique interface ( http://propnav.esalq.usp.br ) that may be assessed to improve research in prophage biology and its association with genome evolution and pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro M Varani
- Departamento de Genética (LGN), Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, 13418-900 Piracicaba/SP, Brazil
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23
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Varani AM, Monteiro-Vitorello CB, de Almeida LGP, Souza RC, Cunha OL, Lima WC, Civerolo E, Van Sluys MA, Vasconcelos ATR. Xylella fastidiosa comparative genomic database is an information resource to explore the annotation, genomic features, and biology of different strains. Genet Mol Biol 2012; 35:149-52. [PMID: 22481888 PMCID: PMC3313504 DOI: 10.1590/s1415-47572012005000019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Xylella fastidiosa comparative genomic database is a scientific resource with the aim to provide a user-friendly interface for accessing high-quality manually curated genomic annotation and comparative sequence analysis, as well as for identifying and mapping prophage-like elements, a marked feature of Xylella genomes. Here we describe a database and tools for exploring the biology of this important plant pathogen. The hallmarks of this database are the high quality genomic annotation, the functional and comparative genomic analysis and the identification and mapping of prophage-like elements. It is available from web site http://www.xylella.lncc.br.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro M Varani
- Genome and Transposable Elements Laboratory, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Abstract
The mycobacteriophage Ms6 is a temperate double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacteriophage which, in addition to the predicted endolysin (LysA)-holin (Gp4) lysis system, encodes three additional proteins within its lysis module: Gp1, LysB, and Gp5. Ms6 Gp4 was previously described as a class II holin-like protein. By analysis of the amino acid sequence of Gp4, an N-terminal signal-arrest-release (SAR) domain was identified, followed by a typical transmembrane domain (TMD), features which have previously been observed for pinholins. A second putative holin gene (gp5) encoding a protein with a predicted single TMD at the N-terminal region was identified at the end of the Ms6 lytic operon. Neither the putative class II holin nor the single TMD polypeptide could trigger lysis in pairwise combinations with the endolysin LysA in Escherichia coli. One-step growth curves and single-burst-size experiments of different Ms6 derivatives with deletions in different regions of the lysis operon demonstrated that the gene products of gp4 and gp5, although nonessential for phage viability, appear to play a role in controlling the timing of lysis: an Ms6 mutant with a deletion of gp4 (Ms6(Δgp4)) caused slightly accelerated lysis, whereas an Ms6(Δgp5) deletion mutant delayed lysis, which is consistent with holin function. Additionally, cross-linking experiments showed that Ms6 Gp4 and Gp5 oligomerize and that both proteins interact. Our results suggest that in Ms6 infection, the correct and programmed timing of lysis is achieved by the combined action of Gp4 and Gp5.
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25
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Casjens SR, Thuman-Commike PA. Evolution of mosaically related tailed bacteriophage genomes seen through the lens of phage P22 virion assembly. Virology 2011; 411:393-415. [PMID: 21310457 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2010.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2010] [Revised: 12/20/2010] [Accepted: 12/23/2010] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The mosaic composition of the genomes of dsDNA tailed bacteriophages (Caudovirales) is well known. Observations of this mosaicism have generally come from comparisons of small numbers of often rather distantly related phages, and little is known about the frequency or detailed nature of the processes that generate this kind of diversity. Here we review and examine the mosaicism within fifty-seven clusters of virion assembly genes from bacteriophage P22 and its "close" relatives. We compare these orthologous gene clusters, discuss their surprising diversity and document horizontal exchange of genetic information between subgroups of the P22-like phages as well as between these phages and other phage types. We also point out apparent restrictions in the locations of mosaic sequence boundaries in this gene cluster. The relatively large sample size and the fact that phage P22 virion structure and assembly are exceptionally well understood make the conclusions especially informative and convincing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherwood R Casjens
- Pathology Department, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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26
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Genomic and functional analyses of Rhodococcus equi phages ReqiPepy6, ReqiPoco6, ReqiPine5, and ReqiDocB7. Appl Environ Microbiol 2010; 77:669-83. [PMID: 21097585 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01952-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The isolation and results of genomic and functional analyses of Rhodococcus equi phages ReqiPepy6, ReqiDocB7, ReqiPine5, and ReqiPoco6 (hereafter referred to as Pepy6, DocB7, Pine5, and Poco6, respectively) are reported. Two phages, Pepy6 and Poco6, more than 75% identical, exhibited genome organization and protein sequence likeness to Lactococcus lactis phage 1706 and clostridial prophage elements. An unusually high fraction, 27%, of Pepy6 and Poco6 proteins were predicted to possess at least one transmembrane domain, a value much higher than the average of 8.5% transmembrane domain-containing proteins determined from a data set of 36,324 phage protein entries. Genome organization and protein sequence comparisons place phage Pine5 as the first nonmycobacteriophage member of the large Rosebush cluster. DocB7, which had the broadest host range among the four isolates, was not closely related to any phage or prophage in the database, and only 23 of 105 predicted encoded proteins could be assigned a functional annotation. Because of the relationship of Rhodococcus to Mycobacterium, it was anticipated that these phages should exhibit some of the features characteristic of mycobacteriophages. Traits that were identified as shared by the Rhodococcus phages and mycobacteriophages include the prevalent long-tailed morphology and the presence of genes encoding LysB-like mycolate-hydrolyzing lysis proteins. Application of DocB7 lysates to soils amended with a host strain of R. equi reduced recoverable bacterial CFU, suggesting that phage may be useful in limiting R. equi load in the environment while foals are susceptible to infection.
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