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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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2
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Kaszecki E, Palberg D, Grant M, Griffin S, Dhanjal C, Capperauld M, Emery RJN, Saville BJ. Euglena mutabilis exists in a FAB consortium with microbes that enhance cadmium tolerance. Int Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s10123-023-00474-7. [PMID: 38167969 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-023-00474-7] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synthetic algal-fungal and algal-bacterial cultures have been investigated as a means to enhance the technological applications of the algae. This inclusion of other microbes has enhanced growth and improved stress tolerance of the algal culture. The goal of the current study was to investigate natural microbial consortia to gain an understanding of the occurrence and benefits of these associations in nature. The photosynthetic protist Euglena mutabilis is often found in association with other microbes in acidic environments with high heavy metal (HM) concentrations. This may suggest that microbial interactions are essential for the protist's ability to tolerate these extreme environments. Our study assessed the Cd tolerance of a natural fungal-algal-bacterial (FAB) association whereby the algae is E. mutabilis. RESULTS This study provides the first assessment of antibiotic and antimycotic agents on an E. mutabilis culture. The results indicate that antibiotic and antimycotic applications significantly decreased the viability of E. mutabilis cells when they were also exposed to Cd. Similar antibiotic treatments of E. gracilis cultures had variable or non-significant impacts on Cd tolerance. E. gracilis also recovered better after pre-treatment with antibiotics and Cd than did E. mutabilis. The recoveries were assessed by heterotrophic growth without antibiotics or Cd. In contrast, both Euglena species displayed increased chlorophyll production upon Cd exposure. PacBio full-length amplicon sequencing and targeted Sanger sequencing identified the microbial species present in the E. mutabilis culture to be the fungus Talaromyces sp. and the bacterium Acidiphilium acidophilum. CONCLUSION This study uncovers a possible fungal, algal, and bacterial relationship, what we refer to as a FAB consortium. The members of this consortium interact to enhance the response to Cd exposure. This results in a E. mutabilis culture that has a higher tolerance to Cd than the axenic E. gracilis. The description of this interaction provides a basis for explore the benefits of natural interactions. This will provide knowledge and direction for use when creating or maintaining FAB interactions for biotechnological purposes, including bioremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Kaszecki
- Environmental and Life Science Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel Palberg
- Environmental and Life Science Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Mikaella Grant
- Environmental and Life Science Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah Griffin
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Chetan Dhanjal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - R J Neil Emery
- Environmental and Life Science Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Barry J Saville
- Environmental and Life Science Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada.
- Forensic Science Department, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada.
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Mlambo G, Padayachee T, Nelson DR, Syed K. Genome-Wide Analysis of the Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases in the Lichenized Fungi of the Class Lecanoromycetes. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2590. [PMID: 37894248 PMCID: PMC10608907 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102590] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lichens are unique organisms that exhibit a permanent symbiosis between fungi and algae or fungi and photosynthetic bacteria. Lichens have been found to produce biotechnologically valuable secondary metabolites. A handful of studies showed that tailoring enzymes such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs/P450s) play a key role in synthesizing these metabolites. Despite the critical role of P450s in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, the systematic analysis of P450s in lichens has yet to be reported. This study is aimed to address this research gap. A genome-wide analysis of P450s in five lichens from the fungal class Lecanoromycetes revealed the presence of 434 P450s that are grouped into 178 P450 families and 345 P450 subfamilies. The study indicated that none of the P450 families bloomed, and 15 P450 families were conserved in all five Lecanoromycetes. Lecanoromycetes have more P450s and higher P450 family diversity compared to Pezizomycetes. A total of 73 P450s were found to be part of secondary metabolite gene clusters, indicating their potential involvement in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Annotation of P450s revealed that CYP682BG1 and CYP682BG2 from Cladonia grayi and Pseudevernia furfuracea (physodic acid chemotype) are involved in the synthesis of grayanic acid and physodic acid, CYP65FQ2 from Stereocaulon alpinum is involved in the synthesis of atranorin, and CYP6309A2 from Cladonia uncialis is involved in the synthesis of usnic acid. This study serves as a reference for future annotation of P450s in lichens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gugulethu Mlambo
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, Vulindlela, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa; (G.M.); (T.P.)
| | - Tiara Padayachee
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, Vulindlela, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa; (G.M.); (T.P.)
| | - David R. Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Khajamohiddin Syed
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Zululand, Vulindlela, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa; (G.M.); (T.P.)
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Dos Reis JBA, Pappas Junior GJ, Lorenzi AS, Pinho DB, Costa AM, Bustamante MMDC, Vale HMMD. How Deep Can the Endophytic Mycobiome Go? A Case Study on Six Woody Species from the Brazilian Cerrado. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050508. [PMID: 37233219 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050508] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Elucidating the complex relationship between plants and endophytic fungi is very important in order to understand the maintenance of biodiversity, equity, stability, and ecosystem functioning. However, knowledge about the diversity of endophytic fungi from species of the native Brazilian Cerrado biome is poorly documented and remains largely unknown. These gaps led us to characterize the diversity of Cerrado endophytic foliar fungi associated with six woody species (Caryocar brasiliense, Dalbergia miscolobium, Leptolobium dasycarpum, Qualea parviflora, Ouratea hexasperma, and Styrax ferrugineus). Additionally, we investigated the influence of host plant identities on the structure of fungal communities. Culture-dependent methods coupled with DNA metabarcoding were employed. Irrespective of the approach, the phylum Ascomycota and the classes Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes were dominant. Using the cultivation-dependent method, 114 isolates were recovered from all the host species and classified into more than 20 genera and 50 species. Over 50 of the isolates belonged to the genus Diaporthe, and were distributed into more than 20 species. Metabarcoding revealed the phyla Chytridiomycota, Glomeromycota, Monoblepharomycota, Mortierellomycota, Olpidiomycota, Rozellomycota, and Zoopagomycota. These groups are reported for the first time as components of the endophytic mycobiome of Cerrado plant species. In total, 400 genera were found in all host species. A unique leaf endophytic mycobiome was identified in each host species, which differed not only by the distribution of fungal species, but also by the abundance of shared species. These findings highlight the importance of the Brazilian Cerrado as a reservoir of microbial species, and emphasize how endophytic fungal communities are diversified and adapted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Georgios Joannis Pappas Junior
- University of Brasília (UnB), Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Brasília 70910-900, DF, Brazil
| | - Adriana Sturion Lorenzi
- University of Brasília (UnB), Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Cellular Biology, Brasília 70910-900, DF, Brazil
| | - Danilo Batista Pinho
- University of Brasília (UnB), Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Phytopathology, Brasília 70910-900, DF, Brazil
| | - Alexandra Martins Costa
- University of Brasília (UnB), Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Ecology, Brasília 70910-900, DF, Brazil
| | | | - Helson Mario Martins do Vale
- University of Brasília (UnB), Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Phytopathology, Brasília 70910-900, DF, Brazil
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Reynolds NK, Stajich JE, Benny GL, Barry K, Mondo S, LaButti K, Lipzen A, Daum C, Grigoriev IV, Ho HM, Crous PW, Spatafora JW, Smith ME. Mycoparasites, Gut Dwellers, and Saprotrophs: Phylogenomic Reconstructions and Comparative Analyses of Kickxellomycotina Fungi. Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:6974727. [PMID: 36617272 PMCID: PMC9866270 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Improved sequencing technologies have profoundly altered global views of fungal diversity and evolution. High-throughput sequencing methods are critical for studying fungi due to the cryptic, symbiotic nature of many species, particularly those that are difficult to culture. However, the low coverage genome sequencing (LCGS) approach to phylogenomic inference has not been widely applied to fungi. Here we analyzed 171 Kickxellomycotina fungi using LCGS methods to obtain hundreds of marker genes for robust phylogenomic reconstruction. Additionally, we mined our LCGS data for a set of nine rDNA and protein coding genes to enable analyses across species for which no LCGS data were obtained. The main goals of this study were to: 1) evaluate the quality and utility of LCGS data for both phylogenetic reconstruction and functional annotation, 2) test relationships among clades of Kickxellomycotina, and 3) perform comparative functional analyses between clades to gain insight into putative trophic modes. In opposition to previous studies, our nine-gene analyses support two clades of arthropod gut dwelling species and suggest a possible single evolutionary event leading to this symbiotic lifestyle. Furthermore, we resolve the mycoparasitic Dimargaritales as the earliest diverging clade in the subphylum and find four major clades of Coemansia species. Finally, functional analyses illustrate clear variation in predicted carbohydrate active enzymes and secondary metabolites (SM) based on ecology, that is biotroph versus saprotroph. Saprotrophic Kickxellales broadly lack many known pectinase families compared with saprotrophic Mucoromycota and are depauperate for SM but have similar numbers of predicted chitinases as mycoparasitic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology & Plant Pathology and Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, University of California–Riverside
| | | | - Kerrie Barry
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
| | - Stephen Mondo
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
| | - Kurt LaButti
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
| | - Anna Lipzen
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
| | - Chris Daum
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley
| | - Hsiao-Man Ho
- Department of Science Education, University of Education, 134, Section 2, Heping E. Road, National Taipei, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Pedro W Crous
- Department of Evolutionary Phytopathology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Fungal Host Affects Photosynthesis in a Lichen Holobiont. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8121267. [PMID: 36547600 PMCID: PMC9784818 DOI: 10.3390/jof8121267] [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: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Corals and lichens are iconic examples of photosynthetic holobionts, i.e., ecological and evolutionary units resulting from the tightly integrated association of algae and prokaryotic microbiota with animal or fungal hosts, respectively. While the role of the coral host in modulating photosynthesis has been clarified to a large extent in coral holobionts, the role of the fungal host in this regard is far less understood. Here, we address this question by taking advantage of the recent discovery of highly specific fungal-algal pairings corresponding to climatically adapted ecotypes of the lichen-forming genus Umbilicaria. Specifically, we compared chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics among lichen thalli consisting of different fungal-algal combinations. We show that photosynthetic performance in these lichens is not only driven by algal genotype, but also by fungal host species identity and intra-host genotype. These findings shed new light on the closely intertwined physiological processes of fungal and algal partners in the lichen symbiosis. Indeed, the specific combinations of fungal and algal genotypes within a lichen individual-and the resulting combined functional phenotype-can be regarded as a response to the environment. Our findings suggest that characterizing the genetic composition of both eukaryotic partners is an important complimentary step to understand and predict the lichen holobiont's responses to environmental change.
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Impact of Physicochemical Parameters on the Diversity and Distribution of Microbial Communities Associated with Three South African Peatlands. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10112103. [PMID: 36363695 PMCID: PMC9694404 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112103] [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: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Peatlands are complex wetland-like ecosystems that harbor diverse microbial communities. In this study, the microbial communities (fungal and actinobacterial) associated with an unimpacted peatland (Vankervelsvlei; VV), an impacted peatland (Goukou River system; GK), and a developing peatland (Nuwejaars River system; NR) were determined through ITS and 16S rRNA metataxonomic analyses. Unidentified Acidimicrobiales dominated in GK and NR, unidentified Intrasporangiaceae and Solirubobacterales in NR, and Corynebacterium, Propionibacterium, and Streptomyces species in VV. The fungal phyla, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, dominated all three sites, and harbored unique fungal taxa belonging to a wide range of fungal guilds. Physicochemical properties of the peat collected from the three sites were analyzed in association with microbial community structures in order to determine which parameters acted as the main drivers for microbial diversity. BEST analysis (linking microbial diversity patterns to environmental variables) showed that nitrogen (N), aluminum (Al), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) were the most significant physicochemical drivers of actinobacterial community structure, while iron (Fe) and humification were the environmental parameters that affected the fungal communities the most. In conclusion, this study has provided some insight into the fungal and actinobacterial communities associated with three South African peatlands and the main environmental drivers that influence these communities.
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A comparative genomic analysis of lichen-forming fungi reveals new insights into fungal lifestyles. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10724. [PMID: 35750715 PMCID: PMC9232553 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14340-5] [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: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichen-forming fungi are mutualistic symbionts of green algae or cyanobacteria. We report the comparative analysis of six genomes of lichen-forming fungi in classes Eurotiomycetes and Lecanoromycetes to identify genomic information related to their symbiotic lifestyle. The lichen-forming fungi exhibited genome reduction via the loss of dispensable genes encoding plant-cell-wall-degrading enzymes, sugar transporters, and transcription factors. The loss of these genes reflects the symbiotic biology of lichens, such as the absence of pectin in the algal cell wall and obtaining specific sugars from photosynthetic partners. The lichens also gained many lineage- and species-specific genes, including those encoding small secreted proteins. These genes are primarily induced during the early stage of lichen symbiosis, indicating their significant roles in the establishment of lichen symbiosis.Our findings provide comprehensive genomic information for six lichen-forming fungi and novel insights into lichen biology and the evolution of symbiosis.
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Advances in the Characterization of Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg from Călimani Mountains, Romania. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12094234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Usnea barbata (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg (U. barbata) is a medicinal representative of the lichens from the Usnea genus (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycetes), containing bioactive secondary metabolites. The aim of this study is a comparative analysis between two separated parts of the thallus layers: medulla–cortex (mcUB) and central cord (ccUB) and the whole dried U. barbata thallus (dUB). These three samples were examined regarding color differences. The U. barbata thallus morphology was examined through fluorescent microscopy (FM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mineral content was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) preliminarily established the differences in the metabolite content. Finally, extracts in different solvents (ethanol and acetone) were obtained from all studied samples, and their total phenolic content (TPC) and free radical scavenging activity (antiradical activity, AA) were evaluated by spectrophotometry. The ICP-MS results showed that from 23 elements analyzed, 18 minerals were quantified in mcUB, 13 in dUB, and only 12 in ccUB. The ccUB fraction recorded the lowest mineral content, color intensity (chroma), luminosity (L*), and TPC value, followed in increasing order by dUB and mcUB. FT-IR spectra displayed different peaks in ccUB and dUB samples compared to mcUB. The mcUB fraction also showed the highest TPC, significantly correlated with AA. However, dUB had the highest antiradical activity, followed by mcUB and ccUB, with noticeable differences in the acetone extract. The final correlation between all variable data obtained indicates that 99.31% of the total variance was associated with all minerals, total phenolics, and color parameters and was also related to the antiradical activity. These obtained results complete our previous studies on autochthonous U. barbata. Moreover, being a source of bioactive metabolites, extracting them from the mcUB fraction could increase this process’s yield and selectivity.
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DA SILVA MAYANNEKARLA, DA SILVA AVERLANEV, FERNANDEZ PAULAM, MONTONE ROSALINDAC, ALVES RODRIGOP, DE QUEIROZ ALINEC, DE OLIVEIRA VALÉRIAM, DOS SANTOS VIVIANEP, PUTZKE JAIR, ROSA LUIZHENRIQUE, DUARTE ALYSSONW. Extracellular hydrolytic enzymes produced by yeasts from Antarctic lichens. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2022; 94:e20210540. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220210540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Moya P, Molins A, Škaloud P, Divakar PK, Chiva S, Dumitru C, Molina MC, Crespo A, Barreno E. Biodiversity Patterns and Ecological Preferences of the Photobionts Associated With the Lichen-Forming Genus Parmelia. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:765310. [PMID: 35003003 PMCID: PMC8739953 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.765310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The worldwide, ecologically relevant lichen-forming genus Parmelia currently includes 41 accepted species, of which the Parmelia sulcata group (PSULgp) and the Parmelia saxatilis group (PSAXgp) have received considerable attention over recent decades; however, phycobiont diversity is poorly known in Parmelia s. lat. Here, we studied the diversity of Trebouxia microalgae associated with 159 thalli collected from 30 locations, including nine Parmelia spp.: P. barrenoae, P. encryptata, P. ernstiae, P. mayi, P. omphalodes, P. saxatilis, P. serrana, P. submontana, and P. sulcata. The mycobionts were studied by carrying out phylogenetic analyses of the nrITS. Microalgae genetic diversity was examined by using both nrITS and LSU rDNA markers. To evaluate putative species boundaries, three DNA species delimitation analyses were performed on Trebouxia and Parmelia. All analyses clustered the mycobionts into two main groups: PSULgp and PSAXgp. Species delimitation identified 13 fungal and 15 algal species-level lineages. To identify patterns in specificity and selectivity, the diversity and abundance of the phycobionts were identified for each Parmelia species. High specificity of each Parmelia group for a given Trebouxia clade was observed; PSULgp associated only with clade I and PSAXgp with clade S. However, the degree of specificity is different within each group, since the PSAXgp mycobionts were less specific and associated with 12 Trebouxia spp., meanwhile those of PSULgp interacted only with three Trebouxia spp. Variation-partitioning analyses were conducted to detect the relative contributions of climate, geography, and symbiotic partner to phycobiont and mycobiont distribution patterns. Both analyses explained unexpectedly high portions of variability (99 and 98%) and revealed strong correlations between the fungal and algal diversity. Network analysis discriminated seven ecological clusters. Even though climatic conditions explained the largest proportion of the variation among these clusters, they seemed to show indifference relative to climatic parameters. However, the cluster formed by P. saxatilis A/P. saxatilis B/Trebouxia sp. 2/Trebouxia sp. S02/Trebouxia sp. 3A was identified to prefer cold-temperate as well as humid summer environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Moya
- Botánica, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBIBE), Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Arantzazu Molins
- Botánica, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBIBE), Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pavel Škaloud
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Pradeep K. Divakar
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Salvador Chiva
- Botánica, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBIBE), Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Cristina Dumitru
- Botánica, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBIBE), Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Maria Carmen Molina
- Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología (ESCET), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Crespo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Barreno
- Botánica, Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva (ICBIBE), Fac. CC. Biológicas, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
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Muggia L, Coleine C, De Carolis R, Cometto A, Selbmann L. Antarctolichenia onofrii gen. nov. sp. nov. from Antarctic Endolithic Communities Untangles the Evolution of Rock-Inhabiting and Lichenized Fungi in Arthoniomycetes. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:935. [PMID: 34829222 PMCID: PMC8621061 DOI: 10.3390/jof7110935] [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: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial endolithic communities are the main and most widespread life forms in the coldest and hyper-arid desert of the McMurdo Dry Valleys and other ice-free areas across Victoria Land, Antarctica. There, the lichen-dominated communities are complex and self-supporting assemblages of phototrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms, including bacteria, chlorophytes, and both free-living and lichen-forming fungi living at the edge of their physiological adaptability. In particular, among the free-living fungi, microcolonial, melanized, and anamorphic species are highly recurrent, while a few species were sometimes found to be associated with algae. One of these fungi is of paramount importance for its peculiar traits, i.e., a yeast-like habitus, co-growing with algae and being difficult to propagate in pure culture. In the present study, this taxon is herein described as the new genus Antarctolichenia and its type species is A. onofrii, which represents a transitional group between the free-living and symbiotic lifestyle in Arthoniomycetes. The phylogenetic placement of Antarctolichenia was studied using three rDNA molecular markers and morphological characters were described. In this study, we also reappraise the evolution and the connections linking the lichen-forming and rock-inhabiting lifestyles in the basal lineages of Arthoniomycetes (i.e., Lichenostigmatales) and Dothideomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (L.M.); (R.D.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell’ Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy;
| | - Roberto De Carolis
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (L.M.); (R.D.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Agnese Cometto
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy; (L.M.); (R.D.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell’ Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy;
- Mycological Section, Italian Antarctic National Museum (MNA), 16128 Genoa, Italy
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13
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Liu YR, Eldridge DJ, Zeng XM, Wang J, Singh BK, Delgado-Baquerizo M. Global diversity and ecological drivers of lichenised soil fungi. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:1210-1219. [PMID: 33914920 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Lichens play crucial roles in sustaining the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems; however, the diversity and ecological factors associated with lichenised soil fungi remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we used a global field survey including information on fungal sequences of topsoils from 235 terrestrial ecosystems. We identified 880 lichenised fungal phylotypes across nine biomes ranging from deserts to tropical forests. The diversity and proportion of lichenised soil fungi peaked in shrublands and dry grasslands. Aridity index, plant cover and soil pH were the most important factors associated with the distribution of lichenised soil fungi. Furthermore, we identified Endocarpon, Verrucaria and Rinodina as some of the most dominant lichenised genera across the globe, and they had similar environmental preferences to the lichenised fungal community. In addition, precipitation seasonality and mean diurnal temperature range were also important in predicting the proportion of these dominant genera. Using this information, we were able to create the first global maps of the richness and the proportion of dominant genera of lichenised fungi. This work provides new insight into the global distribution and ecological preferences of lichenised soil fungi, and supports their dominance in drylands across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Rong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - David J Eldridge
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Xiao-Min Zeng
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Juntao Wang
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia
| | - Brajesh K Singh
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia
- Global Centre for Land-Based Innovation, Western Sydney University, Penrith South DC, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | - Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, 41013, Spain
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14
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Borruso L, Bani A, Pioli S, Ventura M, Panzacchi P, Antonielli L, Giammarchi F, Polo A, Tonon G, Brusetti L. Do Aerial Nitrogen Depositions Affect Fungal and Bacterial Communities of Oak Leaves? Front Microbiol 2021; 12:633535. [PMID: 33935994 PMCID: PMC8085328 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.633535] [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: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The amount of nitrogen (N) deposition onto forests has globally increased and is expected to double by 2050, mostly because of fertilizer production and fossil fuel burning. Several studies have already investigated the effects of N depositions in forest soils, highlighting negative consequences on plant biodiversity and the associated biota. Nevertheless, the impact of N aerial inputs deposited directly on the tree canopy is still unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the influence of increased N deposition on the leaf-associated fungal and bacterial communities in a temperate forest dominated by Sessile oak [Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.]. The study area was located in the Monticolo forest (South Tyrol, Italy), where an ecosystem experiment simulating an increased N deposition has been established. The results highlighted that N deposition affected the fungal beta-diversity and bacterial alpha-diversity without affecting leaf total N and C contents. We found several indicator genera of both fertilized and natural conditions within bacteria and fungi, suggesting a highly specific response to altered N inputs. Moreover, we found an increase of symbiotrophic fungi in N-treated, samples which are commonly represented by lichen-forming mycobionts. Overall, our results indicated that N-deposition, by increasing the level of bioavailable nutrients in leaves, could directly influence the bacterial and fungal community diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigimaria Borruso
- Department of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alessia Bani
- Department of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex Colchester Campus, Essex, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Pioli
- Department of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Maurizio Ventura
- Department of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Pietro Panzacchi
- Department of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Bioscience and Territory, University of Molise, Pesche, Italy
| | - Livio Antonielli
- Center for Health & Bioresources, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna, Austria
| | - Francesco Giammarchi
- Department of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Andrea Polo
- Department of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giustino Tonon
- Department of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Brusetti
- Department of Science and Technology, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
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15
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Tuovinen V, Millanes AM, Freire-Rallo S, Rosling A, Wedin M. Tremella macrobasidiata and Tremella variae have abundant and widespread yeast stages in Lecanora lichens. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:2484-2498. [PMID: 33684261 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Dimorphism is a widespread feature of tremellalean fungi in general, but a little-studied aspect of the biology of lichen-associated Tremella. We show that Tremella macrobasidiata and Tremella variae have an abundant and widespread yeast stage in their life cycles that occurs in Lecanora lichens. Their sexual filamentous stage is restricted to a specific lichen: T. macrobasidiata only forms basidiomata on Lecanora chlarotera hymenia and T. variae only on Lecanora varia thalli. However, the yeast stage of T. macrobasidiata is less specific and can occur in L. varia lichens, whilst all life stages of T. variae may be specific to L. varia. Contrary to the hyphal stages, the yeasts are distributed across the thalli and hymenia of Lecanora lichens, and not limited to specimens with basidiomata. Tremella macrobasidiata was present in all studied L. chlarotera, and in 59% of L. varia specimens. Only in 8% of the L. varia thalli could none of the two Tremella species be detected. Our results indicate that lichen-associated Tremella may be much more abundant and widespread than previously assumed leading to skewed estimations about their distribution ranges and lichen specificity, and raise new questions about their biology, ecology and function in the symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veera Tuovinen
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36, Sweden.,Department of Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, P.O. Box 50007, SE-104 05, Sweden
| | - Ana Maria Millanes
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, E-28933, Spain
| | - Sandra Freire-Rallo
- Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Móstoles, E-28933, Spain
| | - Anna Rosling
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36, Sweden
| | - Mats Wedin
- Department of Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, P.O. Box 50007, SE-104 05, Sweden
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16
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Dal Forno M, Lawrey JD, Sikaroodi M, Gillevet PM, Schuettpelz E, Lücking R. Extensive photobiont sharing in a rapidly radiating cyanolichen clade. Mol Ecol 2020; 30:1755-1776. [PMID: 33080083 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have uncovered remarkable diversity in Dictyonema s.lat. basidiolichens, here recognized as subtribe Dictyonemateae. This group includes five genera and 148 species, but hundreds more await description. The photobionts of these lichens belong to Rhizonema, a recently resurrected cyanobacterial genus known by a single species. To further investigate photobiont diversity within Dictyonemateae, we generated 765 new cyanobacterial sequences from 635 specimens collected from 18 countries. The ITS barcoding locus supported the recognition of 200 mycobiont (fungal) species among these samples, but the photobiont diversity was comparatively low. Our analyses revealed three main divisions of Rhizonema, with two repeatedly recovered as monophyletic (proposed as new species), and the third mostly paraphyletic. The paraphyletic lineage corresponds to R. interruptum and partnered with mycobionts from all five genera in Dictyonemateae. There was no evidence of photobiont-mycobiont co-speciation, but one of the monophyletic lineages of Rhizonema appears to partner predominantly with one of the two major clades of Cora (mycobiont) with samples collected largely from the northern Andes. Molecular clock estimations indicate the Rhizonema species are much older than the fungal species in the Dictyonemateae, suggesting that these basidiolichens obtained their photobionts from older ascolichen lineages and the photobiont variation in extant lineages of Dictyonemateae is the result of multiple photobiont switches. These results support the hypothesis of lichens representing "fungal farmers," in which diverse mycobiont lineages associate with a substantially lower diversity of photobionts by sharing those photobionts best suited for the lichen symbiosis among multiple and often unrelated mycobiont lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Dal Forno
- Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, TX, USA.,Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - James D Lawrey
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | | | | | - Eric Schuettpelz
- Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Robert Lücking
- Botanical Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Research Associate, Science & Education, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL, USA
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17
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Krespach MKC, García-Altares M, Flak M, Hanno Schoeler, Scherlach K, Netzker T, Schmalzl A, Mattern DJ, Schroeckh V, Komor A, Mittag M, Hertweck C, Brakhage AA. Lichen-like association of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Aspergillus nidulans protects algal cells from bacteria. THE ISME JOURNAL 2020; 14:2794-2805. [PMID: 32753730 PMCID: PMC7784976 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-0731-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Organismal interactions within microbial consortia and their responses to harmful intruders remain largely understudied. An important step toward the goal of understanding functional ecological interactions and their evolutionary selection is the study of increasingly complex microbial interaction systems. Here, we discovered a tripartite biosystem consisting of the fungus Aspergillus nidulans, the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and the algicidal bacterium Streptomyces iranensis. Genetic analyses and MALDI-IMS demonstrate that the bacterium secretes the algicidal compound azalomycin F upon contact with C. reinhardtii. In co-culture, A. nidulans attracts the motile alga C. reinhardtii, which becomes embedded and surrounded by fungal mycelium and is shielded from the algicide. The filamentous fungus Sordaria macrospora was susceptible to azalomycin F and failed to protect C. reinhardtii despite chemotactically attracting the alga. Because S. macrospora was susceptible to azalomycin F, this data imply that for protection the fungus needs to be resistant. Formation of the lichen-like association between C. reinhardtii and A. nidulans increased algal growth. The protection depends on the increased amounts of membrane lipids provided by resistant fungi, thereby generating a protective shelter against the bacterial toxin. Our findings reveal a strategy whereby algae survive lethal environmental algicides through cooperation with fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario K C Krespach
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - María García-Altares
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Metabolomics Platform, Department of Electronic Engineering (DEEEA), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Michal Flak
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Hanno Schoeler
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Biologie des Bactéries Intracellulaires, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Dr. Roux, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Kirstin Scherlach
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Tina Netzker
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Anica Schmalzl
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Derek J Mattern
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Volker Schroeckh
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Anna Komor
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Maria Mittag
- Matthias Schleiden Institute of Genetics, Bioinformatics, and Molecular Botany, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Hertweck
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (HKI), Jena, Germany.
- Institute for Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
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18
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Muggia L, Zalar P, Azua-Bustos A, González-Silva C, Grube M, Gunde-Cimerman N. The beauty and the yeast: can the microalgae Dunaliella form a borderline lichen with Hortaea werneckii? Symbiosis 2020; 82:123-131. [PMID: 33536700 PMCID: PMC7116670 DOI: 10.1007/s13199-020-00697-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Lichenized fungi usually develop complex, stratified morphologies through an intricately balanced living together with their algal partners, but several species are known to form only more or less loose associations with algae. These borderline lichens are still little explored although they could inform us about early stages of lichen evolution. We studied the association of the extremely halotolerant fungus Hortaea werneckii with the alga Dunaliella atacamensis, discovered in a cave in the Atacama Desert (Chile), and with D. salina, common inhabitant of saltern brines. D. atacamensis forms small colonies, in which cells of H. werneckii can be frequently observed, while such interaction has not been observed with D. salina. As symbiotic interactions between Dunaliella and Hortaea have not been reported, we performed a series of co-cultivation experiments to inspect whether these species could interact and develop more distinct lichen-like symbiotic structures. We set up co-cultures between axenic strains of Hortaea werneckii (isolated both from Mediterranean salterns and from the Atacama cave) and isolates of D. atacamensis (from the Atacama cave) and D. salina (isolated from Mediterranean salterns). Although we used different growth media and cultivation approaches, bright field and SEM microscopy analyses did not indicate any mutual effects in these experiments. We discuss the implications for fungal algal interactions along the transition from algal exploiters to lichen symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Polona Zalar
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večnapot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Armando Azua-Bustos
- Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), 28850 Madrid, Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain.,Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, 8910060 Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Martin Grube
- University of Graz, Institute of Biology, Holteigasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večnapot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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19
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Liu F, Chen S, Ferreira MA, Chang R, Sayari M, Kanzi AM, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ, Pizarro D, Crespo A, Divakar PK, de Beer ZW, Duong TA. Draft genome sequences of five Calonectria species from Eucalyptus plantations in China, Celoporthe dispersa, Sporothrix phasma and Alectoria sarmentosa. IMA Fungus 2019; 10:22. [PMID: 32647626 PMCID: PMC7325655 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-019-0023-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Draft genome sequences of five Calonectria species [including Calonectria aciculata, C. crousiana, C. fujianensis, C. honghensis and C. pseudoturangicola], Celoporthe dispersa, Sporothrix phasma and Alectoria sarmentosa are presented. Species of Calonectria are the causal agents of Eucalyptus leaf blight disease, threatening the growth and sustainability of Eucalyptus plantations in China. Celoporthe dispersa is the causal agent of stem canker in native Syzygium cordatum and exotic Tibouchina granulosa in South Africa. Sporothrix phasma was first discovered in the infructescences of Protea laurifolia and Protea neriifolia in South Africa. Alectoria sarmentosa is fruticose lichen belongs to the alectorioid clade of the family Parmeliaceae. The availability of these genome sequences will facilitate future studies on the systematics, population genetics, and genomics of these fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (SKLTGB), Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), Haidian District, Beijing, 100091 China.,China Eucalypt Research Centre (CERC), Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), ZhanJiang, 524022 GuangDong Province China.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
| | - Shuaifei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding (SKLTGB), Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), Haidian District, Beijing, 100091 China.,China Eucalypt Research Centre (CERC), Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), ZhanJiang, 524022 GuangDong Province China.,Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
| | - Maria A Ferreira
- Department of Plant Pathology, Universidade Federal de Lavras (Federal University of Lavras), Postal Box 3037, Lavras, 37200-000 Brazil
| | - Runlei Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
| | - Mohammad Sayari
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
| | - Aquillah M Kanzi
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
| | - Brenda D Wingfield
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
| | - Michael J Wingfield
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
| | - David Pizarro
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza de Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Crespo
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza de Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pradeep K Divakar
- Departamento de Farmacología, Farmacognosia y Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza de Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Z Wilhelm de Beer
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
| | - Tuan A Duong
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM), Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0028 South Africa
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20
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Naranjo‐Ortiz MA, Gabaldón T. Fungal evolution: diversity, taxonomy and phylogeny of the Fungi. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:2101-2137. [PMID: 31659870 PMCID: PMC6899921 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The fungal kingdom comprises a hyperdiverse clade of heterotrophic eukaryotes characterized by the presence of a chitinous cell wall, the loss of phagotrophic capabilities and cell organizations that range from completely unicellular monopolar organisms to highly complex syncitial filaments that may form macroscopic structures. Fungi emerged as a 'Third Kingdom', embracing organisms that were outside the classical dichotomy of animals versus vegetals. The taxonomy of this group has a turbulent history that is only now starting to be settled with the advent of genomics and phylogenomics. We here review the current status of the phylogeny and taxonomy of fungi, providing an overview of the main defined groups. Based on current knowledge, nine phylum-level clades can be defined: Opisthosporidia, Chytridiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Zoopagomycota, Mucoromycota, Glomeromycota, Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. For each group, we discuss their main traits and their diversity, focusing on the evolutionary relationships among the main fungal clades. We also explore the diversity and phylogeny of several groups of uncertain affinities and the main phylogenetic and taxonomical controversies and hypotheses in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Naranjo‐Ortiz
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyDr. Aiguader 88Barcelona08003Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Programme, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyDr. Aiguader 88Barcelona08003Spain
- Health and Experimental Sciences DepartmentUniversitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)08003BarcelonaSpain
- ICREAPg. Lluís Companys 2308010BarcelonaSpain
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21
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Villa F, Cappitelli F. The Ecology of Subaerial Biofilms in Dry and Inhospitable Terrestrial Environments. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7100380. [PMID: 31547498 PMCID: PMC6843906 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7100380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ecological relationship between minerals and microorganisms arguably represents one of the most important associations in dry terrestrial environments, since it strongly influences major biochemical cycles and regulates the productivity and stability of the Earth’s food webs. Despite being inhospitable ecosystems, mineral substrata exposed to air harbor form complex and self-sustaining communities called subaerial biofilms (SABs). Using life on air-exposed minerals as a model and taking inspiration from the mechanisms of some microorganisms that have adapted to inhospitable conditions, we illustrate the ecology of SABs inhabiting natural and built environments. Finally, we advocate the need for the convergence between the experimental and theoretical approaches that might be used to characterize and simulate the development of SABs on mineral substrates and SABs’ broader impacts on the dry terrestrial environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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22
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Naranjo‐Ortiz MA, Gabaldón T. Fungal evolution: major ecological adaptations and evolutionary transitions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:1443-1476. [PMID: 31021528 PMCID: PMC6850671 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are a highly diverse group of heterotrophic eukaryotes characterized by the absence of phagotrophy and the presence of a chitinous cell wall. While unicellular fungi are far from rare, part of the evolutionary success of the group resides in their ability to grow indefinitely as a cylindrical multinucleated cell (hypha). Armed with these morphological traits and with an extremely high metabolical diversity, fungi have conquered numerous ecological niches and have shaped a whole world of interactions with other living organisms. Herein we survey the main evolutionary and ecological processes that have guided fungal diversity. We will first review the ecology and evolution of the zoosporic lineages and the process of terrestrialization, as one of the major evolutionary transitions in this kingdom. Several plausible scenarios have been proposed for fungal terrestralization and we here propose a new scenario, which considers icy environments as a transitory niche between water and emerged land. We then focus on exploring the main ecological relationships of Fungi with other organisms (other fungi, protozoans, animals and plants), as well as the origin of adaptations to certain specialized ecological niches within the group (lichens, black fungi and yeasts). Throughout this review we use an evolutionary and comparative-genomics perspective to understand fungal ecological diversity. Finally, we highlight the importance of genome-enabled inferences to envision plausible narratives and scenarios for important transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Naranjo‐Ortiz
- Department of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyDr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona08003Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Department of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyDr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona08003Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)08003BarcelonaSpain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 2308010BarcelonaSpain
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23
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Armaleo D, Müller O, Lutzoni F, Andrésson ÓS, Blanc G, Bode HB, Collart FR, Dal Grande F, Dietrich F, Grigoriev IV, Joneson S, Kuo A, Larsen PE, Logsdon JM, Lopez D, Martin F, May SP, McDonald TR, Merchant SS, Miao V, Morin E, Oono R, Pellegrini M, Rubinstein N, Sanchez-Puerta MV, Savelkoul E, Schmitt I, Slot JC, Soanes D, Szövényi P, Talbot NJ, Veneault-Fourrey C, Xavier BB. The lichen symbiosis re-viewed through the genomes of Cladonia grayi and its algal partner Asterochloris glomerata. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:605. [PMID: 31337355 PMCID: PMC6652019 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5629-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lichens, encompassing 20,000 known species, are symbioses between specialized fungi (mycobionts), mostly ascomycetes, and unicellular green algae or cyanobacteria (photobionts). Here we describe the first parallel genomic analysis of the mycobiont Cladonia grayi and of its green algal photobiont Asterochloris glomerata. We focus on genes/predicted proteins of potential symbiotic significance, sought by surveying proteins differentially activated during early stages of mycobiont and photobiont interaction in coculture, expanded or contracted protein families, and proteins with differential rates of evolution. RESULTS A) In coculture, the fungus upregulated small secreted proteins, membrane transport proteins, signal transduction components, extracellular hydrolases and, notably, a ribitol transporter and an ammonium transporter, and the alga activated DNA metabolism, signal transduction, and expression of flagellar components. B) Expanded fungal protein families include heterokaryon incompatibility proteins, polyketide synthases, and a unique set of G-protein α subunit paralogs. Expanded algal protein families include carbohydrate active enzymes and a specific subclass of cytoplasmic carbonic anhydrases. The alga also appears to have acquired by horizontal gene transfer from prokaryotes novel archaeal ATPases and Desiccation-Related Proteins. Expanded in both symbionts are signal transduction components, ankyrin domain proteins and transcription factors involved in chromatin remodeling and stress responses. The fungal transportome is contracted, as are algal nitrate assimilation genes. C) In the mycobiont, slow-evolving proteins were enriched for components involved in protein translation, translocation and sorting. CONCLUSIONS The surveyed genes affect stress resistance, signaling, genome reprogramming, nutritional and structural interactions. The alga carries many genes likely transferred horizontally through viruses, yet we found no evidence of inter-symbiont gene transfer. The presence in the photobiont of meiosis-specific genes supports the notion that sexual reproduction occurs in Asterochloris while they are free-living, a phenomenon with implications for the adaptability of lichens and the persistent autonomy of the symbionts. The diversity of the genes affecting the symbiosis suggests that lichens evolved by accretion of many scattered regulatory and structural changes rather than through introduction of a few key innovations. This predicts that paths to lichenization were variable in different phyla, which is consistent with the emerging consensus that ascolichens could have had a few independent origins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olaf Müller
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | | | - Ólafur S. Andrésson
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Guillaume Blanc
- Aix Marseille University, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Helge B. Bode
- Molekulare Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften & Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (BMLS), Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Frank R. Collart
- Argonne National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Argonne, & Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Fred Dietrich
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | - Igor V. Grigoriev
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Suzanne Joneson
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, USA
- College of General Studies, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee at Waukesha, Waukesha, USA
| | - Alan Kuo
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, USA
| | - Peter E. Larsen
- Argonne National Laboratory, Biosciences Division, Argonne, & Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | | | | | - Francis Martin
- INRA, Université de Lorraine, Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes, INRA-Nancy, Champenoux, France
| | - Susan P. May
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, USA
- Department of Population Health and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA
| | - Tami R. McDonald
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, USA
- Department of Biology, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, USA
| | - Sabeeha S. Merchant
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California – Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Vivian Miao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Emmanuelle Morin
- INRA, Université de Lorraine, Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes, INRA-Nancy, Champenoux, France
| | - Ryoko Oono
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California - Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, and DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Nimrod Rubinstein
- National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, Durham, USA
- Calico Life Sciences LLC, South San Francisco, USA
| | | | | | - Imke Schmitt
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jason C. Slot
- College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Department of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
| | - Darren Soanes
- College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Péter Szövényi
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Claire Veneault-Fourrey
- INRA, Université de Lorraine, Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes, INRA-Nancy, Champenoux, France
- Université de Lorraine, INRA, Interactions Arbres-Microorganismes, Faculté des Sciences et Technologies, Vandoeuvre les Nancy Cedex, France
| | - Basil B. Xavier
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
- Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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24
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Lüneberg K, Schneider D, Brinkmann N, Siebe C, Daniel R. Land Use Change and Water Quality Use for Irrigation Alters Drylands Soil Fungal Community in the Mezquital Valley, Mexico. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1220. [PMID: 31258519 PMCID: PMC6587704 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil fungal communities provide important ecosystem services, however, some soil borne representatives damage agricultural productivity. Composition under land-use change scenarios, especially in drylands, is rarely studied. Here, the soil fungal community composition and diversity of natural shrubland was analyzed and compared with agricultural systems irrigated with different water quality, namely rain, fresh water, dam-stored, and untreated wastewater. Superficial soil samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons. Amplicon-based sequencing of the ITS2 region was performed on total DNA extractions and used the amplicon sequence variants to predict specific fungal trophic modes with FUNGuild. Additionally, we screened for potential pathogens of crops and humans and assessed potential risks. Fungal diversity and richness were highest in shrubland and least in the wastewater-irrigated soil. Soil moisture together with soil pH and exchangeable sodium were the strongest drivers of the fungal community. The abundance of saprophytic fungi remained constant among the land use systems, while symbiotic and pathogenic fungi of plants and animals had the lowest abundance in soil irrigated with untreated wastewater. We found lineage-specific adaptations to each land use system: fungal families associated to shrubland, rainfed and part of the freshwater were adapted to drought, hence sensitive to exchangeable sodium content and most of them to N and P content. Taxa associated to freshwater, dam wastewater and untreated wastewater irrigated systems show the opposite trend. Additionally, we identified potentially harmful human pathogens that might be a health risk for the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathia Lüneberg
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales y del Suelo, Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Dominik Schneider
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nicole Brinkmann
- Forest Botany and Tree Physiology, Büsgen-Institut, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christina Siebe
- Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales y del Suelo, Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Rolf Daniel
- Genomic and Applied Microbiology and Göttingen Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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25
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Jüriado I, Kaasalainen U, Jylhä M, Rikkinen J. Relationships between mycobiont identity, photobiont specificity and ecological preferences in the lichen genus Peltigera (Ascomycota) in Estonia (northeastern Europe). FUNGAL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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26
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Biosynthetic Gene Content of the 'Perfume Lichens' Evernia prunastri and Pseudevernia furfuracea. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24010203. [PMID: 30626017 PMCID: PMC6337363 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24010203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Lichen-forming fungi produce a vast number of unique natural products with a wide variety of biological activities and human uses. Although lichens have remarkable potential in natural product research and industry, the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of lichen metabolites are poorly understood. Here we use genome mining and comparative genomics to assess biosynthetic gene clusters and their putative regulators in the genomes of two lichen-forming fungi, which have substantial commercial value in the perfume industry, Evernia prunastri and Pseudevernia furfuracea. We report a total of 80 biosynthetic gene clusters (polyketide synthases (PKS), non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and terpene synthases) in E. prunastri and 51 in P. furfuracea. We present an in-depth comparison of 11 clusters, which show high homology between the two species. A ketosynthase (KS) phylogeny shows that biosynthetic gene clusters from E. prunastri and P. furfuracea are widespread across the Fungi. The phylogeny includes 15 genomes of lichenized fungi and all fungal PKSs with known functions from the MIBiG database. Phylogenetically closely related KS domains predict not only similar PKS architecture but also similar cluster architecture. Our study highlights the untapped biosynthetic richness of lichen-forming fungi, provides new insights into lichen biosynthetic pathways and facilitates heterologous expression of lichen biosynthetic gene clusters.
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28
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Meiser A, Otte J, Schmitt I, Grande FD. Sequencing genomes from mixed DNA samples - evaluating the metagenome skimming approach in lichenized fungi. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14881. [PMID: 29097759 PMCID: PMC5668418 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14576-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The metagenome skimming approach, i.e. low coverage shotgun sequencing of multi-species assemblages and subsequent reconstruction of individual genomes, is increasingly used for in-depth genomic characterization of ecological communities. This approach is a promising tool for reconstructing genomes of facultative symbionts, such as lichen-forming fungi, from metagenomic reads. However, no study has so far tested accuracy and completeness of assemblies based on metagenomic sequences compared to assemblies based on pure culture strains of lichenized fungi. Here we assembled the genomes of Evernia prunastri and Pseudevernia furfuracea based on metagenomic sequences derived from whole lichen thalli. We extracted fungal contigs using two different taxonomic binning methods, and performed gene prediction on the fungal contig subsets. We then assessed quality and completeness of the metagenome-based assemblies using genome assemblies as reference which are based on pure culture strains of the two fungal species. Our comparison showed that we were able to reconstruct fungal genomes from uncultured lichen thalli, and also cover most of the gene space (86-90%). Metagenome skimming will facilitate genome mining, comparative (phylo)genomics, and population genetics of lichen-forming fungi by circumventing the time-consuming, sometimes unfeasible, step of aposymbiotic cultivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjuli Meiser
- Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 13, D-60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, D-60486, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jürgen Otte
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, D-60486, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Imke Schmitt
- Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Str. 13, D-60438, Frankfurt, Germany.
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, D-60486, Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Francesco Dal Grande
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, D-60486, Frankfurt, Germany.
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29
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Melanisation in the old forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis. FUNGAL ECOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funeco.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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