1
|
Graham EB, Camargo AP, Wu R, Neches RY, Nolan M, Paez-Espino D, Kyrpides NC, Jansson JK, McDermott JE, Hofmockel KS. A global atlas of soil viruses reveals unexplored biodiversity and potential biogeochemical impacts. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:1873-1883. [PMID: 38902374 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01686-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Historically neglected by microbial ecologists, soil viruses are now thought to be critical to global biogeochemical cycles. However, our understanding of their global distribution, activities and interactions with the soil microbiome remains limited. Here we present the Global Soil Virus Atlas, a comprehensive dataset compiled from 2,953 previously sequenced soil metagenomes and composed of 616,935 uncultivated viral genomes and 38,508 unique viral operational taxonomic units. Rarefaction curves from the Global Soil Virus Atlas indicate that most soil viral diversity remains unexplored, further underscored by high spatial turnover and low rates of shared viral operational taxonomic units across samples. By examining genes associated with biogeochemical functions, we also demonstrate the viral potential to impact soil carbon and nutrient cycling. This study represents an extensive characterization of soil viral diversity and provides a foundation for developing testable hypotheses regarding the role of the virosphere in the soil microbiome and global biogeochemistry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily B Graham
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
| | - Antonio Pedro Camargo
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ruonan Wu
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Russell Y Neches
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Matt Nolan
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - David Paez-Espino
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nikos C Kyrpides
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Janet K Jansson
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Jason E McDermott
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kirsten S Hofmockel
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Warwick-Dugdale J, Tian F, Michelsen ML, Cronin DR, Moore K, Farbos A, Chittick L, Bell A, Zayed AA, Buchholz HH, Bolanos LM, Parsons RJ, Allen MJ, Sullivan MB, Temperton B. Long-read powered viral metagenomics in the oligotrophic Sargasso Sea. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4089. [PMID: 38744831 PMCID: PMC11094077 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48300-6] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Dominant microorganisms of the Sargasso Sea are key drivers of the global carbon cycle. However, associated viruses that shape microbial community structure and function are not well characterised. Here, we combined short and long read sequencing to survey Sargasso Sea phage communities in virus- and cellular fractions at viral maximum (80 m) and mesopelagic (200 m) depths. We identified 2,301 Sargasso Sea phage populations from 186 genera. Over half of the phage populations identified here lacked representation in global ocean viral metagenomes, whilst 177 of the 186 identified genera lacked representation in genomic databases of phage isolates. Viral fraction and cell-associated viral communities were decoupled, indicating viral turnover occurred across periods longer than the sampling period of three days. Inclusion of long-read data was critical for capturing the breadth of viral diversity. Phage isolates that infect the dominant bacterial taxa Prochlorococcus and Pelagibacter, usually regarded as cosmopolitan and abundant, were poorly represented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Warwick-Dugdale
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4SB, UK.
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 3DH, UK.
| | - Funing Tian
- Center of Microbiome Science and Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | | | - Dylan R Cronin
- Center of Microbiome Science and Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Karen Moore
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4SB, UK
| | - Audrey Farbos
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4SB, UK
| | - Lauren Chittick
- Center of Microbiome Science and Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Ashley Bell
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4SB, UK
| | - Ahmed A Zayed
- Center of Microbiome Science and Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Holger H Buchholz
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4SB, UK
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Luis M Bolanos
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4SB, UK
| | - Rachel J Parsons
- Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, St.George's, GE, 01, Bermuda
- School of Ocean Futures, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, US
| | - Michael J Allen
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4SB, UK
| | - Matthew B Sullivan
- Center of Microbiome Science and Department of Microbiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - Ben Temperton
- School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4SB, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sadiq S, Harvey E, Mifsud JCO, Minasny B, McBratney AB, Pozza LE, Mahar JE, Holmes EC. Australian terrestrial environments harbour extensive RNA virus diversity. Virology 2024; 593:110007. [PMID: 38346363 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Australia is home to a diverse range of unique native fauna and flora. To address whether Australian ecosystems also harbour unique viruses, we performed meta-transcriptomic sequencing of 16 farmland and sediment samples taken from the east and west coasts of Australia. We identified 2460 putatively novel RNA viruses across 18 orders, the vast majority of which belonged to the microbe-associated phylum Lenarviricota. In many orders, such as the Nodamuvirales and Ghabrivirales, the novel viruses identified here comprised entirely new clades. Novel viruses also fell between established genera or families, such as in the Cystoviridae and Picornavirales, while highly divergent lineages were identified in the Sobelivirales and Ghabrivirales. Viral read abundance and alpha diversity were influenced by sampling site, soil type and land use, but not by depth from the surface. In sum, Australian soils and sediments are home to remarkable viral diversity, reflecting the biodiversity of local fauna and flora.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Sadiq
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Erin Harvey
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jonathon C O Mifsud
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Budiman Minasny
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences & Sydney Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Alex B McBratney
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences & Sydney Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Liana E Pozza
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences & Sydney Institute of Agriculture, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jackie E Mahar
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Laguna-Castro M, Rodríguez-Moreno A, Lázaro E. Evolutionary Adaptation of an RNA Bacteriophage to Repeated Freezing and Thawing Cycles. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4863. [PMID: 38732084 PMCID: PMC11084849 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094863] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage fitness is determined by factors influencing both their replication within bacteria and their ability to maintain infectivity between infections. The latter becomes particularly crucial under adverse environmental conditions or when host density is low. In such scenarios, the damage experienced by viral particles could lead to the loss of infectivity, which might be mitigated if the virus undergoes evolutionary optimization through replication. In this study, we conducted an evolution experiment involving bacteriophage Qβ, wherein it underwent 30 serial transfers, each involving a cycle of freezing and thawing followed by replication of the surviving viruses. Our findings show that Qβ was capable of enhancing its resistance to this selective pressure through various adaptive pathways that did not impair the virus replicative capacity. Notably, these adaptations predominantly involved mutations located within genes encoding capsid proteins. The adapted populations exhibited higher resistance levels than individual viruses isolated from them, and the latter surpassed those observed in single mutants generated via site-directed mutagenesis. This suggests potential interactions among mutants and mutations. In conclusion, our study highlights the significant role of extracellular selective pressures in driving the evolution of phages, influencing both the genetic composition of their populations and their phenotypic properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ester Lázaro
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Carretera de Ajalvir Km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain; (M.L.-C.); (A.R.-M.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yu M, Zhang M, Zeng R, Cheng R, Zhang R, Hou Y, Kuang F, Feng X, Dong X, Li Y, Shao Z, Jin M. Diversity and potential host-interactions of viruses inhabiting deep-sea seamount sediments. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3228. [PMID: 38622147 PMCID: PMC11018836 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47600-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Seamounts are globally distributed across the oceans and form one of the major oceanic biomes. Here, we utilized combined analyses of bulk metagenome and virome to study viral communities in seamount sediments in the western Pacific Ocean. Phylogenetic analyses and the protein-sharing network demonstrate extensive diversity and previously unknown viral clades. Inference of virus-host linkages uncovers extensive interactions between viruses and dominant prokaryote lineages, and suggests that viruses play significant roles in carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen cycling by compensating or augmenting host metabolisms. Moreover, temperate viruses are predicted to be prevalent in seamount sediments, which tend to carry auxiliary metabolic genes for host survivability. Intriguingly, the geographical features of seamounts likely compromise the connectivity of viral communities and thus contribute to the high divergence of viral genetic spaces and populations across seamounts. Altogether, these findings provides knowledge essential for understanding the biogeography and ecological roles of viruses in globally widespread seamounts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meishun Yu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Menghui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Runying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Ruolin Cheng
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanping Hou
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Fangfang Kuang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Xuejin Feng
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Xiyang Dong
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Yinfang Li
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Zongze Shao
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China.
| | - Min Jin
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resource and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu LY, Wijesekara Y, Piedade GJ, Pappas N, Brussaard CPD, Dutilh BE. Benchmarking bioinformatic virus identification tools using real-world metagenomic data across biomes. Genome Biol 2024; 25:97. [PMID: 38622738 PMCID: PMC11020464 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03236-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As most viruses remain uncultivated, metagenomics is currently the main method for virus discovery. Detecting viruses in metagenomic data is not trivial. In the past few years, many bioinformatic virus identification tools have been developed for this task, making it challenging to choose the right tools, parameters, and cutoffs. As all these tools measure different biological signals, and use different algorithms and training and reference databases, it is imperative to conduct an independent benchmarking to give users objective guidance. RESULTS We compare the performance of nine state-of-the-art virus identification tools in thirteen modes on eight paired viral and microbial datasets from three distinct biomes, including a new complex dataset from Antarctic coastal waters. The tools have highly variable true positive rates (0-97%) and false positive rates (0-30%). PPR-Meta best distinguishes viral from microbial contigs, followed by DeepVirFinder, VirSorter2, and VIBRANT. Different tools identify different subsets of the benchmarking data and all tools, except for Sourmash, find unique viral contigs. Performance of tools improved with adjusted parameter cutoffs, indicating that adjustment of parameter cutoffs before usage should be considered. CONCLUSIONS Together, our independent benchmarking facilitates selecting choices of bioinformatic virus identification tools and gives suggestions for parameter adjustments to viromics researchers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yi Wu
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Science4Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Yasas Wijesekara
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University Medicine Greifswald, Felix Hausdorff Str. 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Gonçalo J Piedade
- Department Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, PO Box 59, Texel, 1790 AB, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nikolaos Pappas
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Science4Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands
| | - Corina P D Brussaard
- Department Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, PO Box 59, Texel, 1790 AB, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bas E Dutilh
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Science4Life, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CH, The Netherlands.
- Institute of Biodiversity, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Jibola-Shittu MY, Heng Z, Keyhani NO, Dang Y, Chen R, Liu S, Lin Y, Lai P, Chen J, Yang C, Zhang W, Lv H, Wu Z, Huang S, Cao P, Tian L, Qiu Z, Zhang X, Guan X, Qiu J. Understanding and exploring the diversity of soil microorganisms in tea ( Camellia sinensis) gardens: toward sustainable tea production. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1379879. [PMID: 38680916 PMCID: PMC11046421 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1379879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Leaves of Camellia sinensis plants are used to produce tea, one of the most consumed beverages worldwide, containing a wide variety of bioactive compounds that help to promote human health. Tea cultivation is economically important, and its sustainable production can have significant consequences in providing agricultural opportunities and lowering extreme poverty. Soil parameters are well known to affect the quality of the resultant leaves and consequently, the understanding of the diversity and functions of soil microorganisms in tea gardens will provide insight to harnessing soil microbial communities to improve tea yield and quality. Current analyses indicate that tea garden soils possess a rich composition of diverse microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) of which the bacterial Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes and Chloroflexi and fungal Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Glomeromycota are the prominent groups. When optimized, these microbes' function in keeping garden soil ecosystems balanced by acting on nutrient cycling processes, biofertilizers, biocontrol of pests and pathogens, and bioremediation of persistent organic chemicals. Here, we summarize research on the activities of (tea garden) soil microorganisms as biofertilizers, biological control agents and as bioremediators to improve soil health and consequently, tea yield and quality, focusing mainly on bacterial and fungal members. Recent advances in molecular techniques that characterize the diverse microorganisms in tea gardens are examined. In terms of viruses there is a paucity of information regarding any beneficial functions of soil viruses in tea gardens, although in some instances insect pathogenic viruses have been used to control tea pests. The potential of soil microorganisms is reported here, as well as recent techniques used to study microbial diversity and their genetic manipulation, aimed at improving the yield and quality of tea plants for sustainable production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Motunrayo Y. Jibola-Shittu
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhiang Heng
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Nemat O. Keyhani
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Yuxiao Dang
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ruiya Chen
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Sen Liu
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yongsheng Lin
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Pengyu Lai
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jinhui Chen
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chenjie Yang
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Weibin Zhang
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huajun Lv
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ziyi Wu
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shuaishuai Huang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa, China
| | - Pengxi Cao
- School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa, China
| | - Lin Tian
- Tibet Plateau Institute of Biology, Lhasa, China
| | - Zhenxing Qiu
- Fuzhou Technology and Business University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiayu Guan
- College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Junzhi Qiu
- Key Lab of Biopesticide and Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian and Taiwan Crops, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang X, Tang Y, Yue X, Wang S, Yang K, Xu Y, Shen Q, Friman VP, Wei Z. The role of rhizosphere phages in soil health. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae052. [PMID: 38678007 PMCID: PMC11065364 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae052] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
While the One Health framework has emphasized the importance of soil microbiomes for plant and human health, one of the most diverse and abundant groups-bacterial viruses, i.e. phages-has been mostly neglected. This perspective reviews the significance of phages for plant health in rhizosphere and explores their ecological and evolutionary impacts on soil ecosystems. We first summarize our current understanding of the diversity and ecological roles of phages in soil microbiomes in terms of nutrient cycling, top-down density regulation, and pathogen suppression. We then consider how phages drive bacterial evolution in soils by promoting horizontal gene transfer, encoding auxiliary metabolic genes that increase host bacterial fitness, and selecting for phage-resistant mutants with altered ecology due to trade-offs with pathogen competitiveness and virulence. Finally, we consider challenges and avenues for phage research in soil ecosystems and how to elucidate the significance of phages for microbial ecology and evolution and soil ecosystem functioning in the future. We conclude that similar to bacteria, phages likely play important roles in connecting different One Health compartments, affecting microbiome diversity and functions in soils. From the applied perspective, phages could offer novel approaches to modulate and optimize microbial and microbe-plant interactions to enhance soil health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Wang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yike Tang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiufeng Yue
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Keming Yang
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yangchun Xu
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Qirong Shen
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ville-Petri Friman
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Zhong Wei
- Jiangsu provincial key lab for solid organic waste utilization, Key lab of organic-based fertilizers of China,Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Wastes, Educational Ministry Engineering Center of Resource-saving fertilizers, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Banks EJ, Le TBK. Co-opting bacterial viruses for DNA exchange: structure and regulation of gene transfer agents. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 78:102431. [PMID: 38309246 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer occurs via a range of mechanisms, including transformation, conjugation and bacteriophage transduction. Gene transfer agents (GTAs) are an alternative, less-studied route for interbacterial DNA exchange. Encoded within bacterial or archaeal genomes, GTAs assemble into phage-like particles that selflessly package and transmit host DNA to recipient bacteria. Several unique features distinguish GTAs from canonical phages such as an inability to self-replicate, thus producing non-infectious particles. GTAs are also deeply integrated into the physiology of the host cell and are maintained under tight host-regulatory control. Recent advances in understanding the structure and regulation of GTAs have provided further insights into a DNA transfer mechanism that is proving increasingly widespread across the bacterial tree of life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emma J Banks
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
| | - Tung B K Le
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ghaly TM, Focardi A, Elbourne LDH, Sutcliffe B, Humphreys WF, Jaschke PR, Tetu SG, Paulsen IT. Exploring virus-host-environment interactions in a chemotrophic-based underground estuary. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2024; 19:9. [PMID: 38291480 PMCID: PMC10829341 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-024-00549-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Viruses play important roles in modulating microbial communities and influencing global biogeochemistry. There is now growing interest in characterising their ecological roles across diverse biomes. However, little is known about viral ecology in low-nutrient, chemotrophic-based environments. In such ecosystems, virus-driven manipulation of nutrient cycles might have profound impacts across trophic levels. In particular, anchialine environments, which are low-energy underground estuaries sustained by chemotrophic processes, represent ideal model systems to study novel virus-host-environment interactions. RESULTS Here, we employ metagenomic sequencing to investigate the viral community in Bundera Sinkhole, an anchialine ecosystem rich in endemic species supported by microbial chemosynthesis. We find that the viruses are highly novel, with less than 2% representing described viruses, and are hugely abundant, making up as much as 12% of microbial intracellular DNA. These highly abundant viruses largely infect important prokaryotic taxa that drive key metabolic processes in the sinkhole. Further, the abundance of viral auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) involved in nucleotide and protein synthesis was strongly correlated with declines in environmental phosphate and sulphate concentrations. These AMGs encoded key enzymes needed to produce sulphur-containing amino acids, and phosphorus metabolic enzymes involved in purine and pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. We hypothesise that this correlation is either due to selection of these AMGs under low phosphate and sulphate concentrations, highlighting the dynamic interactions between viruses, their hosts, and the environment; or, that these AMGs are driving increased viral nucleotide and protein synthesis via manipulation of host phosphorus and sulphur metabolism, consequently driving nutrient depletion in the surrounding water. CONCLUSION This study represents the first metagenomic investigation of viruses in anchialine ecosystems, and provides new hypotheses and insights into virus-host-environment interactions in such 'dark', low-energy environments. This is particularly important since anchialine ecosystems are characterised by diverse endemic species, both in their microbial and faunal assemblages, which are primarily supported by microbial chemosynthesis. Thus, virus-host-environment interactions could have profound effects cascading through all trophic levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Ghaly
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Amaranta Focardi
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Liam D H Elbourne
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - William F Humphreys
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Paul R Jaschke
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sasha G Tetu
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Ian T Paulsen
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sato Y, Takebe H, Tominaga K, Yasuda J, Kumagai H, Hirooka H, Yoshida T. A rumen virosphere with implications of contribution to fermentation and methane production, and endemism in cattle breeds and individuals. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0158123. [PMID: 38112444 PMCID: PMC10807420 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01581-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses have a potential to modify the ruminal digestion via infection and cell lysis of prokaryotes, suggesting that viruses are related to animal performance and methane production. This study aimed to elucidate the genome-based diversity of rumen viral communities and the differences in virus structure between individuals and cattle breeds and to understand how viruses influence on the rumen. To these ends, a metagenomic sequencing of virus-like particles in the rumen of 22 Japanese cattle, including Japanese Black (JB, n = 8), Japanese Shorthorn (n = 2), and Japanese Black sires × Holstein dams crossbred steers (F1, n = 12) was conducted. Additionally, the rumen viromes of six JB and six F1 that were fed identical diets and kept in a single barn were compared. A total of 8,232 non-redundant viral genomes (≥5-kb length and ≥50% completeness), including 982 complete genomes, were constructed, and rumen virome exhibited lysogenic signatures. Furthermore, putative hosts of 1,223 viral genomes were predicted using tRNA and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-spacer matching. The genomes included 1 and 10 putative novel complete genomes associated with Fibrobacter and Ruminococcus, respectively, which are the main rumen cellulose-degrading bacteria. Additionally, the hosts of 22 viral genomes, including 2 complete genomes, were predicted as methanogens, such as Methanobrevibacter and Methanomethylophilus. Most rumen viruses were highly rumen and individual specific and related to rumen-specific prokaryotes. Furthermore, the rumen viral community structure was significantly different between JB and F1 steers, indicating that cattle breed is one of the factors influencing the rumen virome composition.IMPORTANCEHere, we investigated the individual and breed differences of the rumen viral community in Japanese cattle. In the process, we reconstructed putative novel complete viral genomes related to rumen fiber-degrading bacteria and methanogen. The finding strongly suggests that rumen viruses contribute to cellulose and hemicellulose digestion and methanogenesis. Notably, this study also found that rumen viruses are highly rumen and individual specific, suggesting that rumen viruses may not be transmitted through environmental exposure. More importantly, we revealed differences of viral communities between JB and F1 cattle, indicating that cattle breed is a factor that influences the establishment of rumen virome. These results suggest the possibility of rumen virus transmission from mother to offspring and its potential to influence beef production traits. These rumen viral genomes and findings provide new insights into the characterizations of the rumen viruses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiaki Sato
- Department of Agrobiology and Bioresources, School of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Takebe
- Laboratory of Marine Microbiology, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kento Tominaga
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jumpei Yasuda
- Iwate Agricultural Research Center Animal Industry Research Institute, Iwate, Japan
| | - Hajime Kumagai
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry Resources, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hirooka
- Laboratory of Animal Husbandry Resources, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Yoshida
- Laboratory of Marine Microbiology, Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wu H, Cui H, Fu C, Li R, Qi F, Liu Z, Yang G, Xiao K, Qiao M. Unveiling the crucial role of soil microorganisms in carbon cycling: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 909:168627. [PMID: 37977383 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Soil microorganisms, by actively participating in the decomposition and transformation of organic matter through diverse metabolic pathways, play a pivotal role in carbon cycling within soil systems and contribute to the stabilization of organic carbon, thereby influencing soil carbon storage and turnover. Investigating the processes, mechanisms, and driving factors of soil microbial carbon cycling is crucial for understanding the functionality of terrestrial carbon sinks and effectively addressing climate change. This review comprehensively discusses the role of soil microorganisms in soil carbon cycling from three perspectives: metabolic pathways, microbial communities, and environmental influences. It elucidates the roles of different microbial species in carbon cycling and highlights the impact of microbial interactions and environmental factors on carbon cycling. Through the synthesis of 2171 relevant papers in the Web of Science Core database, we elucidated the ecological community structure, activity, and assembly mechanisms of soil microorganisms crucial to the soil carbon cycle that have been widely analyzed. The integration of soil microbial carbon cycle and its driving factors are vital for accurately predicting and modeling biogeochemical cycles and effectively addressing the challenges posed by global climate change. Such integration is vital for accurately predicting and modeling biogeochemical cycles and effectively addressing the challenges posed by global climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haowei Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Huiling Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chenxi Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ran Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fengyuan Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhelun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Keqing Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Min Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing 100049, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Goff JL, Lui LM, Nielsen TN, Poole FL, Smith HJ, Walker KF, Hazen TC, Fields MW, Arkin AP, Adams MWW. Mixed waste contamination selects for a mobile genetic element population enriched in multiple heavy metal resistance genes. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:ycae064. [PMID: 38800128 PMCID: PMC11128244 DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) like plasmids, viruses, and transposable elements can provide fitness benefits to their hosts for survival in the presence of environmental stressors. Heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) are frequently observed on MGEs, suggesting that MGEs may be an important driver of adaptive evolution in environments contaminated with heavy metals. Here, we report the meta-mobilome of the heavy metal-contaminated regions of the Oak Ridge Reservation subsurface. This meta-mobilome was compared with one derived from samples collected from unimpacted regions of the Oak Ridge Reservation subsurface. We assembled 1615 unique circularized DNA elements that we propose to be MGEs. The circular elements from the highly contaminated subsurface were enriched in HMRG clusters relative to those from the nearby unimpacted regions. Additionally, we found that these HMRGs were associated with Gamma and Betaproteobacteria hosts in the contaminated subsurface and potentially facilitate the persistence and dominance of these taxa in this region. Finally, the HMRGs were associated with conjugative elements, suggesting their potential for future lateral transfer. We demonstrate how our understanding of MGE ecology, evolution, and function can be enhanced through the genomic context provided by completed MGE assemblies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Goff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States
| | - Lauren M Lui
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Torben N Nielsen
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Farris L Poole
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| | - Heidi J Smith
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
| | - Kathleen F Walker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916, United States
| | - Terry C Hazen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37916, United States
- Genome Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, United States
| | - Matthew W Fields
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, United States
| | - Adam P Arkin
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Michael W W Adams
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Heinrichs ME, Piedade GJ, Popa O, Sommers P, Trubl G, Weissenbach J, Rahlff J. Breaking the Ice: A Review of Phages in Polar Ecosystems. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2738:31-71. [PMID: 37966591 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3549-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect and replicate within bacterial hosts, playing a significant role in regulating microbial populations and ecosystem dynamics. However, phages from extreme environments such as polar regions remain relatively understudied due to challenges such as restricted ecosystem access and low biomass. Understanding the diversity, structure, and functions of polar phages is crucial for advancing our knowledge of the microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of these environments. In this review, we will explore the current state of knowledge on phages from the Arctic and Antarctic, focusing on insights gained from -omic studies, phage isolation, and virus-like particle abundance data. Metagenomic studies of polar environments have revealed a high diversity of phages with unique genetic characteristics, providing insights into their evolutionary and ecological roles. Phage isolation studies have identified novel phage-host interactions and contributed to the discovery of new phage species. Virus-like particle abundance and lysis rate data, on the other hand, have highlighted the importance of phages in regulating bacterial populations and nutrient cycling in polar environments. Overall, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge about polar phages, and by synthesizing these different sources of information, we can better understand the diversity, dynamics, and functions of polar phages in the context of ongoing climate change, which will help to predict how polar ecosystems and residing phages may respond to future environmental perturbations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mara Elena Heinrichs
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Gonçalo J Piedade
- Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, 't Horntje, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ovidiu Popa
- Institute of Quantitative and Theoretical Biology Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Gareth Trubl
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Julia Weissenbach
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Janina Rahlff
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
- Aero-Aquatic Virus Research Group, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Martínez-Alvarez L, Ramond JB, Vikram S, León-Sobrino C, Maggs-Kölling G, Cowan DA. With a pinch of salt: metagenomic insights into Namib Desert salt pan microbial mats and halites reveal functionally adapted and competitive communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0062923. [PMID: 37971255 PMCID: PMC10734447 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00629-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The hyperarid Namib Desert is one of the oldest deserts on Earth. It contains multiple clusters of playas which are saline-rich springs surrounded by halite evaporites. Playas are of great ecological importance, and their indigenous (poly)extremophilic microorganisms are potentially involved in the precipitation of minerals such as carbonates and sulfates and have been of great biotechnological importance. While there has been a considerable amount of microbial ecology research performed on various Namib Desert edaphic microbiomes, little is known about the microbial communities inhabiting its multiple playas. In this work, we provide a comprehensive taxonomic and functional potential characterization of the microbial, including viral, communities of sediment mats and halites from two distant salt pans of the Namib Desert, contributing toward a better understanding of the ecology of this biome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Martínez-Alvarez
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Jean-Baptiste Ramond
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
- Extreme Ecosystem Microbiomics & Ecogenomics (E²ME) Lab., Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Surendra Vikram
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Carlos León-Sobrino
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Don A. Cowan
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics (CMEG), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Lopez-Simon J, Vila-Nistal M, Rosenova A, De Corte D, Baltar F, Martinez-Garcia M. Viruses under the Antarctic Ice Shelf are active and potentially involved in global nutrient cycles. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8295. [PMID: 38097581 PMCID: PMC10721903 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44028-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses play an important role in the marine ecosystem. However, our comprehension of viruses inhabiting the dark ocean, and in particular, under the Antarctic Ice Shelves, remains limited. Here, we mine single-cell genomic, transcriptomic, and metagenomic data to uncover the viral diversity, biogeography, activity, and their role as metabolic facilitators of microbes beneath the Ross Ice Shelf. This is the largest Antarctic ice shelf with a major impact on global carbon cycle. The viral community found in the cavity under the ice shelf mainly comprises endemic viruses adapted to polar and mesopelagic environments. The low abundance of genes related to lysogenic lifestyle (<3%) does not support a predominance of the Piggyback-the-Winner hypothesis, consistent with a low-productivity habitat. Our results indicate a viral community actively infecting key ammonium and sulfur-oxidizing chemolithoautotrophs (e.g. Nitrosopumilus spp, Thioglobus spp.), supporting a "kill-the-winner" dynamic. Based on genome analysis, these viruses carry specific auxiliary metabolic genes potentially involved in nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus acquisition. Altogether, the viruses under Antarctic ice shelves are putatively involved in programming the metabolism of ecologically relevant microbes that maintain primary production in these chemosynthetically-driven ecosystems, which have a major role in global nutrient cycles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Lopez-Simon
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, 03690, Spain
| | - Marina Vila-Nistal
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, 03690, Spain
| | - Aleksandra Rosenova
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, 03690, Spain
| | - Daniele De Corte
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Ocean Technology and Engineering, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK
| | - Federico Baltar
- Department of Functional & Evolutionary Ecology, University of Vienna, Djerassi-Platz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Manuel Martinez-Garcia
- Department of Physiology, Genetics, and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, 03690, Spain.
- Instituto Multidisciplinar para el Estudio del Medio Ramon Margalef, University of Alicante, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, 03690, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Khot V, Strous M, Dong X, Kiesser AK. Viral diversity and dynamics and CRISPR-Cas-mediated immunity in a robust alkaliphilic cyanobacterial consortium. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0221723. [PMID: 37819096 PMCID: PMC10715143 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02217-23] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Biotechnology applications utilizing the function of microbial communities have become increasingly important solutions as we strive for sustainable applications. Although viral infections are known to have a significant impact on microbial turnover and nutrient cycling, viral dynamics have remained largely overlooked in these engineered communities. Predatory perturbations to the functional stability of these microbial biotechnology applications must be investigated in order to design more robust applications. In this study, we closely examine virus-microbe dynamics in a model microbial community used in a biotechnology application. Our findings suggest that viral dynamics change significantly with environmental conditions and that microbial immunity may play an important role in maintaining functional stability. We present this study as a comprehensive template for other researchers interested in exploring predatory dynamics in engineered microbial communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Varada Khot
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marc Strous
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Xiaoli Dong
- Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Public Health Laboratory, Alberta Precision Laboratories, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alyse K. Kiesser
- School of Engineering, University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Yadav P, Quattrone A, Yang Y, Owens J, Kiat R, Kuppusamy T, Russo SE, Weber KA. Zea mays genotype influences microbial and viral rhizobiome community structure. ISME COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 3:129. [PMID: 38057501 DOI: 10.1038/s43705-023-00335-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant genotype is recognized to contribute to variations in microbial community structure in the rhizosphere, soil adherent to roots. However, the extent to which the viral community varies has remained poorly understood and has the potential to contribute to variation in soil microbial communities. Here we cultivated replicates of two Zea mays genotypes, parviglumis and B73, in a greenhouse and harvested the rhizobiome (rhizoplane and rhizosphere) to identify the abundance of cells and viruses as well as rhizobiome microbial and viral community using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and genome resolved metagenomics. Our results demonstrated that viruses exceeded microbial abundance in the rhizobiome of parviglumis and B73 with a significant variation in both the microbial and viral community between the two genotypes. Of the viral contigs identified only 4.5% (n = 7) of total viral contigs were shared between the two genotypes, demonstrating that plants even at the level of genotype can significantly alter the surrounding soil viral community. An auxiliary metabolic gene associated with glycoside hydrolase (GH5) degradation was identified in one viral metagenome-assembled genome (vOTU) identified in the B73 rhizobiome infecting Propionibacteriaceae (Actinobacteriota) further demonstrating the viral contribution in metabolic potential for carbohydrate degradation and carbon cycling in the rhizosphere. This variation demonstrates the potential of plant genotype to contribute to microbial and viral heterogeneity in soil systems and harbors genes capable of contributing to carbon cycling in the rhizosphere.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Yadav
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Amanda Quattrone
- Complex Biosystems, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Yuguo Yang
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Jacob Owens
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- University of Nebraska-Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Rebecca Kiat
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | | | - Sabrina E Russo
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Karrie A Weber
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
- Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Muscatt G, Cook R, Millard A, Bending GD, Jameson E. Viral metagenomics reveals diverse virus-host interactions throughout the soil depth profile. mBio 2023; 14:e0224623. [PMID: 38032184 PMCID: PMC10746233 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02246-23] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Soil viruses can moderate the roles that their host microbes play in global carbon cycling. However, given that most studies investigate the surface layer (i.e., top 20 cm) of soil, the extent to which this occurs in subsurface soil (i.e., below 20 cm) is unknown. Here, we leveraged public sequencing data to investigate the interactions between viruses and their hosts at soil depth intervals, down to 115 cm. While most viruses were detected throughout the soil depth profile, their adaptation to host microbes varied. Nonetheless, we uncovered evidence for the potential of soil viruses to encourage their hosts to recycle plant-derived carbon in both surface and subsurface soils. This work reasons that our understanding of soil viral functions requires us to continue to dig deeper and compare viruses existing throughout soil ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George Muscatt
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan Cook
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Millard
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Leicester Centre for Phage Research, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Gary D. Bending
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Eleanor Jameson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Wu R, Davison MR, Nelson WC, Smith ML, Lipton MS, Jansson JK, McClure RS, McDermott JE, Hofmockel KS. Hi-C metagenome sequencing reveals soil phage-host interactions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7666. [PMID: 37996432 PMCID: PMC10667309 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42967-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages are abundant in soils. However, the majority are uncharacterized, and their hosts are unknown. Here, we apply high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) to directly capture phage-host relationships. Some hosts have high centralities in bacterial community co-occurrence networks, suggesting phage infections have an important impact on the soil bacterial community interactions. We observe increased average viral copies per host (VPH) and decreased viral transcriptional activity following a two-week soil-drying incubation, indicating an increase in lysogenic infections. Soil drying also alters the observed phage host range. A significant negative correlation between VPH and host abundance prior to drying indicates more lytic infections result in more host death and inversely influence host abundance. This study provides empirical evidence of phage-mediated bacterial population dynamics in soil by directly capturing specific phage-host interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruonan Wu
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Michelle R Davison
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - William C Nelson
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Montana L Smith
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Mary S Lipton
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Janet K Jansson
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Ryan S McClure
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Jason E McDermott
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kirsten S Hofmockel
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Ter Horst AM, Fudyma JD, Sones JL, Emerson JB. Dispersal, habitat filtering, and eco-evolutionary dynamics as drivers of local and global wetland viral biogeography. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023; 17:2079-2089. [PMID: 37735616 PMCID: PMC10579374 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01516-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Wetlands store 20-30% of the world's soil carbon, and identifying the microbial controls on these carbon reserves is essential to predicting feedbacks to climate change. Although viral infections likely play important roles in wetland ecosystem dynamics, we lack a basic understanding of wetland viral ecology. Here 63 viral size-fraction metagenomes (viromes) and paired total metagenomes were generated from three time points in 2021 at seven fresh- and saltwater wetlands in the California Bodega Marine Reserve. We recovered 12,826 viral population genomic sequences (vOTUs), only 4.4% of which were detected at the same field site two years prior, indicating a small degree of population stability or recurrence. Viral communities differed most significantly among the seven wetland sites and were also structured by habitat (plant community composition and salinity). Read mapping to a new version of our reference database, PIGEONv2.0 (515,763 vOTUs), revealed 196 vOTUs present over large geographic distances, often reflecting shared habitat characteristics. Wetland vOTU microdiversity was significantly lower locally than globally and lower within than between time points, indicating greater divergence with increasing spatiotemporal distance. Viruses tended to have broad predicted host ranges via CRISPR spacer linkages to metagenome-assembled genomes, and increased SNP frequencies in CRISPR-targeted major tail protein genes suggest potential viral eco-evolutionary dynamics in response to both immune targeting and changes in host cell receptors involved in viral attachment. Together, these results highlight the importance of dispersal, environmental selection, and eco-evolutionary dynamics as drivers of local and global wetland viral biogeography.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jane D Fudyma
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jacqueline L Sones
- Bodega Marine Reserve, University of California, Davis, Bodega Bay, CA, USA
| | - Joanne B Emerson
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Santos-Medellín C, Blazewicz SJ, Pett-Ridge J, Firestone MK, Emerson JB. Viral but not bacterial community successional patterns reflect extreme turnover shortly after rewetting dry soils. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:1809-1822. [PMID: 37770548 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02207-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
As central members of soil trophic networks, viruses have the potential to drive substantial microbial mortality and nutrient turnover. Pinpointing viral contributions to terrestrial ecosystem processes remains a challenge, as temporal dynamics are difficult to unravel in the spatially and physicochemically heterogeneous soil environment. In Mediterranean grasslands, the first rainfall after seasonal drought provides an ecosystem reset, triggering microbial activity during a tractable window for capturing short-term dynamics. Here, we simulated precipitation in microcosms from four distinct dry grassland soils and generated 144 viromes, 84 metagenomes and 84 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon datasets to characterize viral, prokaryotic and relic DNA dynamics over 10 days. Vastly different viral communities in each soil followed remarkably similar successional trajectories. Wet-up triggered a significant increase in viral richness, followed by extensive compositional turnover. Temporal succession in prokaryotic communities was much less pronounced, perhaps suggesting differences in the scales of activity captured by viromes (representing recently produced, ephemeral viral particles) and total DNA. Still, differences in the relative abundances of Actinobacteria (enriched in dry soils) and Proteobacteria (enriched in wetted soils) matched those of their predicted phages, indicating viral predation of dominant bacterial taxa. Rewetting also rapidly depleted relic DNA, which subsequently reaccumulated, indicating substantial new microbial mortality in the days after wet-up, particularly of the taxa putatively under phage predation. Production of abundant, diverse viral particles via microbial host cell lysis appears to be a conserved feature of the early response to soil rewetting, and results suggest the potential for 'Cull-the-Winner' dynamics, whereby viruses infect and cull but do not decimate dominant host populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven J Blazewicz
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Pett-Ridge
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
- Life & Environmental Sciences Department, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mary K Firestone
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Joanne B Emerson
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Coclet C, Sorensen PO, Karaoz U, Wang S, Brodie EL, Eloe-Fadrosh EA, Roux S. Virus diversity and activity is driven by snowmelt and host dynamics in a high-altitude watershed soil ecosystem. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:237. [PMID: 37891627 PMCID: PMC10604447 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01666-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Viruses impact nearly all organisms on Earth, including microbial communities and their associated biogeochemical processes. In soils, highly diverse viral communities have been identified, with a global distribution seemingly driven by multiple biotic and abiotic factors, especially soil temperature and moisture. However, our current understanding of the stability of soil viral communities across time and their response to strong seasonal changes in environmental parameters remains limited. Here, we investigated the diversity and activity of environmental soil DNA and RNA viruses, focusing especially on bacteriophages, across dynamics' seasonal changes in a snow-dominated mountainous watershed by examining paired metagenomes and metatranscriptomes. RESULTS We identified a large number of DNA and RNA viruses taxonomically divergent from existing environmental viruses, including a significant proportion of fungal RNA viruses, and a large and unsuspected diversity of positive single-stranded RNA phages (Leviviricetes), highlighting the under-characterization of the global soil virosphere. Among these, we were able to distinguish subsets of active DNA and RNA phages that changed across seasons, consistent with a "seed-bank" viral community structure in which new phage activity, for example, replication and host lysis, is sequentially triggered by changes in environmental conditions. At the population level, we further identified virus-host dynamics matching two existing ecological models: "Kill-The-Winner" which proposes that lytic phages are actively infecting abundant bacteria, and "Piggyback-The-Persistent" which argues that when the host is growing slowly, it is more beneficial to remain in a dormant state. The former was associated with summer months of high and rapid microbial activity, and the latter with winter months of limited and slow host growth. CONCLUSION Taken together, these results suggest that the high diversity of viruses in soils is likely associated with a broad range of host interaction types each adapted to specific host ecological strategies and environmental conditions. As our understanding of how environmental and host factors drive viral activity in soil ecosystems progresses, integrating these viral impacts in complex natural microbiome models will be key to accurately predict ecosystem biogeochemistry. Video Abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clement Coclet
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Patrick O Sorensen
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ulas Karaoz
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Shi Wang
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Eoin L Brodie
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Emiley A Eloe-Fadrosh
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Simon Roux
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Fan X, Ji M, Mu D, Zeng X, Tian Z, Sun K, Gao R, Liu Y, He X, Wu L, Li Q. Global diversity and biogeography of DNA viral communities in activated sludge systems. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:234. [PMID: 37865788 PMCID: PMC10589946 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-023-01672-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activated sludge (AS) systems in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) harbor enormous viruses that regulate microbial metabolism and nutrient cycling, significantly influencing the stability of AS systems. However, our knowledge about the diversity of viral taxonomic groups and functional traits in global AS systems is still limited. To address this gap, we investigated the global diversity and biogeography of DNA viral communities in AS systems using 85,114 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) recovered from 144 AS samples collected across 54 WWTPs from 13 different countries. RESULTS AS viral communities and their functional traits exhibited distance-decay relationship (DDR) at the global scale and latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) from equator to mid-latitude. Furthermore, it was observed that AS viral community and functional gene structures were largely driven by the geographic factors and wastewater types, of which the geographic factors were more important. Carrying and disseminating auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) associated with the degradation of polysaccharides, sulfate reduction, denitrification, and organic phosphoester hydrolysis, as well as the lysis of crucial functional microbes that govern biogeochemical cycles were two major ways by which viruses could regulate AS functions. It was worth noting that our study revealed a high abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in viral genomes, suggesting that viruses were key reservoirs of ARGs in AS systems. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated the highly diverse taxonomic groups and functional traits of viruses in AS systems. Viral lysis of host microbes and virus-mediated HGT can regulate the biogeochemical and nutrient cycles, thus affecting the performance of AS systems. These findings provide important insights into the viral diversity, function, and ecology in AS systems on a global scale. Video Abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Fan
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
- Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Mengzhi Ji
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Dashuai Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xianghe Zeng
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Zhen Tian
- Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Kaili Sun
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Rongfeng Gao
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xinyuan He
- Artificial Intelligence Institute, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China
| | - Linwei Wu
- Institute of Ecology, Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Qiang Li
- School of Biological Science and Technology, University of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Chen T, Deng C, Wu Z, Liu T, Zhang Y, Xu X, Zhao X, Li J, Li S, Xu N, Yu K. Metagenomic analysis unveils the underexplored roles of prokaryotic viruses in a full-scale landfill leachate treatment plant. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 245:120611. [PMID: 37722141 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Enormous viral populations have been identified in activated sludge systems, but their ecological and biochemical roles in landfill leachate treatment plants remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted an in-depth analysis using 36 metagenomic datasets that we collected and sequenced during a half-year time-series sampling campaign at six sites in a full-scale landfill leachate treatment plant (LLTP), elucidating viral distribution, virus‒host dynamics, virus-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs), and viral contributions to the spread of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. Our findings demonstrated that viral and prokaryotic communities differed widely among different treatment units, with stability over time. LLTP viruses were linked to various prokaryotic hosts, spanning 35 bacterial phyla and one archaeal phylum, which included the core microbes involved in biological treatments, as well as some of the less well-characterized microbial dark matter phyla. By encoding 2364 auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs), viruses harbored the potential to regulate microbial nucleotide metabolism, facilitate the biodegradation of complex organic matter, and enhance flocculation and settling in biological treatment plants. The abundance distribution of AMGs varied considerably across treatment units and showed a lifestyle-dependent pattern with temperate virus-associated AMGs exhibiting a higher average abundance in downstream biological treatment units and effluent water. Meanwhile, temperate viruses tended to carry a higher load of virulence factor genes (VFGs), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and biotic and metal resistance genes (BMRGs), and engaged in more frequent gene exchanges with prokaryotes than lytic viruses, thus acting as a pivotal contributor to the dissemination of pathogenicity and resistance genes in downstream LLTP units. This study provided a comprehensive profile of viral and prokaryotic communities in the LLTP and unveiled the varying roles of different-lifestyle viruses in biochemical processes and water quality safety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Chen
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China; Environmental Microbiome and Innovative Genomics Laboratory, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chunfang Deng
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China; Environmental Microbiome and Innovative Genomics Laboratory, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Zongzhi Wu
- Environmental Microbiome and Innovative Genomics Laboratory, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Tang Liu
- Environmental Microbiome Engineering and Innovative Genomics Laboratory, College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yuanyan Zhang
- Jiangxi Academy of Eco-Environmental Sciences & Planning, Nanchang 330029, China
| | - Xuming Xu
- Department of Water Ecology and Environment, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China
| | - Xiaohui Zhao
- Environmental Microbiome and Innovative Genomics Laboratory, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jiarui Li
- Environmental Microbiome and Innovative Genomics Laboratory, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shaoyang Li
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Nan Xu
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ke Yu
- Eco-environment and Resource Efficiency Research Laboratory, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Barnett SE, Buckley DH. Metagenomic stable isotope probing reveals bacteriophage participation in soil carbon cycling. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:1785-1795. [PMID: 37139849 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Soil viruses are important components of the carbon (C) cycle, yet we still know little about viral ecology in soils. We added diverse 13 C-labelled carbon sources to soil and we used metagenomic-SIP to detect 13 C assimilation by viruses and their putative bacterial hosts. These data allowed us to link a 13 C-labelled bacteriophage to its 13 C-labelled Streptomyces putative host, and we used qPCR to track the dynamics of the putative host and phage in response to C inputs. Following C addition, putative host numbers increased rapidly for 3 days, and then more gradually, reaching maximal abundance on Day 6. Viral abundance and virus:host ratio increased dramatically over 6 days, and remained high thereafter (8.42 ± 2.94). From Days 6 to 30, virus:host ratio remained high, while putative host numbers declined more than 50%. Putative host populations were 13 C-labelled on Days 3-30, while 13 C-labelling of phage was detected on Days 14 and 30. This dynamic suggests rapid growth and 13 C-labelling of the host fueled by new C inputs, followed by extensive host mortality driven by phage lysis. These findings indicate that the viral shunt promotes microbial turnover in soil following new C inputs, thereby altering microbial community dynamics, and facilitating soil organic matter production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E Barnett
- Soil and Crop Sciences Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel H Buckley
- Soil and Crop Sciences Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Dikareva E, Matharu D, Lahtinen E, Kolho KL, De Vos WM, Salonen A, Ponsero AJ. An extended catalog of integrated prophages in the infant and adult fecal microbiome shows high prevalence of lysogeny. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1254535. [PMID: 37731926 PMCID: PMC10508911 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1254535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aims The acquisition and gradual maturation of gut microbial communities during early childhood is central to an individual's healthy development. Bacteriophages have the potential to shape the gut bacterial communities. However, the complex ecological interactions between phages and their bacterial host are still poorly characterized. In this study, we investigated the abundance and diversity of integrated prophages in infant and adult gut bacteria by detecting integrated prophages in metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) of commensal bacteria. Methods Our study included 88 infants sampled at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months (n = 323 total samples), and their parents around delivery time (n = 138 total samples). Fecal DNA was extracted and characterized by using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, and a collection of prokaryotic MAGs was generated. The MAG collection was screened for the presence of integrated bacteriophage sequences, allowing their taxonomic and functional characterization. Results A large collection of 6,186 MAGs from infant and adult gut microbiota was obtained and screened for integrated prophages, allowing the identification of 7,165 prophage sequences longer than 10 kb. Strikingly, more than 70% of the near-complete MAGs were identified as lysogens. The prevalence of prophages in MAGs varied across bacterial families, with a lower prevalence observed among Coriobacteriaceae, Eggerthellaceae, Veillonellaceae and Burkholderiaceae, while a very high prevalence of lysogen MAGs were observed in Oscillospiraceae, Enterococcaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae. Interestingly for several bacterial families such as Bifidobacteriaceae and Bacteroidaceae, the prevalence of prophages in MAGs was higher in early infant time point (3 weeks and 3 months) than in later sampling points (6 and 12 months) and in adults. The prophage sequences were clustered into 5,616 species-like vOTUs, 77% of which were novel. Finally, we explored the functional repertoire of the potential auxiliary metabolic genes carried by these prophages, encoding functions involved in carbohydrate metabolism and degradation, amino acid metabolism and carbon metabolism. Conclusion Our study provides an enhanced understanding of the diversity and prevalence of lysogens in infant and adult gut microbiota and suggests a complex interplay between prophages and their bacterial hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evgenia Dikareva
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dollwin Matharu
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Emilia Lahtinen
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kaija-Leena Kolho
- Children's Hospital, Paediatric Research Centre, University of Helsinki and HUS, Helsinki, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Willem M. De Vos
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Anne Salonen
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alise J. Ponsero
- Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Zhou Z, Martin C, Kosmopoulos JC, Anantharaman K. ViWrap: A modular pipeline to identify, bin, classify, and predict viral-host relationships for viruses from metagenomes. IMETA 2023; 2:e118. [PMID: 38152703 PMCID: PMC10751022 DOI: 10.1002/imt2.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are increasingly being recognized as important components of human and environmental microbiomes. However, viruses in microbiomes remain difficult to study because of the difficulty in culturing them and the lack of sufficient model systems. As a result, computational methods for identifying and analyzing uncultivated viral genomes from metagenomes have attracted significant attention. Such bioinformatics approaches facilitate the screening of viruses from enormous sequencing datasets originating from various environments. Though many tools and databases have been developed for advancing the study of viruses from metagenomes, there is a lack of integrated tools enabling a comprehensive workflow and analyses platform encompassing all the diverse segments of virus studies. Here, we developed ViWrap, a modular pipeline written in Python. ViWrap combines the power of multiple tools into a single platform to enable various steps of virus analysis, including identification, annotation, genome binning, species- and genus-level clustering, assignment of taxonomy, prediction of hosts, characterization of genome quality, comprehensive summaries, and intuitive visualization of results. Overall, ViWrap enables a standardized and reproducible pipeline for both extensive and stringent characterization of viruses from metagenomes, viromes, and microbial genomes. Our approach has flexibility in using various options for diverse applications and scenarios, and its modular structure can be easily amended with additional functions as necessary. ViWrap is designed to be easily and widely used to study viruses in human and environmental systems. ViWrap is publicly available via GitHub (https://github.com/AnantharamanLab/ViWrap). A detailed description of the software, its usage, and interpretation of results can be found on the website.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Zhou
- Department of BacteriologyUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Cody Martin
- Department of BacteriologyUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Microbiology Doctoral Training ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - James C. Kosmopoulos
- Department of BacteriologyUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
- Microbiology Doctoral Training ProgramUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Trubl G, Stedman KM, Bywaters KF, Matula EE, Sommers P, Roux S, Merino N, Yin J, Kaelber JT, Avila-Herrera A, Johnson PA, Johnson JC, Borges S, Weber PK, Pett-Ridge J, Boston PJ. Astrovirology: how viruses enhance our understanding of life in the Universe. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASTROBIOLOGY 2023; 22:247-271. [PMID: 38046673 PMCID: PMC10691837 DOI: 10.1017/s1473550423000058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are the most numerically abundant biological entities on Earth. As ubiquitous replicators of molecular information and agents of community change, viruses have potent effects on the life on Earth, and may play a critical role in human spaceflight, for life-detection missions to other planetary bodies and planetary protection. However, major knowledge gaps constrain our understanding of the Earth's virosphere: (1) the role viruses play in biogeochemical cycles, (2) the origin(s) of viruses and (3) the involvement of viruses in the evolution, distribution and persistence of life. As viruses are the only replicators that span all known types of nucleic acids, an expanded experimental and theoretical toolbox built for Earth's viruses will be pivotal for detecting and understanding life on Earth and beyond. Only by filling in these knowledge and technical gaps we will obtain an inclusive assessment of how to distinguish and detect life on other planetary surfaces. Meanwhile, space exploration requires life-support systems for the needs of humans, plants and their microbial inhabitants. Viral effects on microbes and plants are essential for Earth's biosphere and human health, but virus-host interactions in spaceflight are poorly understood. Viral relationships with their hosts respond to environmental changes in complex ways which are difficult to predict by extrapolating from Earth-based proxies. These relationships should be studied in space to fully understand how spaceflight will modulate viral impacts on human health and life-support systems, including microbiomes. In this review, we address key questions that must be examined to incorporate viruses into Earth system models, life-support systems and life detection. Tackling these questions will benefit our efforts to develop planetary protection protocols and further our understanding of viruses in astrobiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gareth Trubl
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth M. Stedman
- Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | | | | | - Simon Roux
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Nancy Merino
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - John Yin
- Chemical and Biological Engineering, Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jason T. Kaelber
- Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Aram Avila-Herrera
- Computing Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Peter Anto Johnson
- Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | | | - Peter K. Weber
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Pett-Ridge
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
- Life & Environmental Sciences Department, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Buivydaitė Ž, Aryal L, Corrêa FB, Chen T, Langlois V, Elberg CL, Netherway T, Wang R, Zhao T, Acharya B, Emerson JB, Hillary L, Khadka RB, Mason-Jones K, Sapkota R, Sutela S, Trubl G, White RA, Winding A, Carreira C. Meeting report: The first soil viral workshop 2022. Virus Res 2023; 331:199121. [PMID: 37086855 PMCID: PMC10457523 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023]
Abstract
Soil viral ecology is a growing research field; however, the state of knowledge still lags behind that of aquatic systems. Therefore, to facilitate progress, the first Soil Viral Workshop was held to encourage international scientific discussion and collaboration, suggest guidelines for future research, and establish soil viral research as a concrete research area. The workshop took place at Søminestationen, Denmark, between 15 and 17th of June 2022. The meeting was primarily held in person, but the sessions were also streamed online. The workshop was attended by 23 researchers from ten different countries and from a wide range of subfields and career stages. Eleven talks were presented, followed by discussions revolving around three major topics: viral genomics, virus-host interactions, and viruses in the soil food web. The main take-home messages and suggestions from the discussions are summarized in this report.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Živilė Buivydaitė
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Laxman Aryal
- Nepal National Plant Pathology Research Center, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Felipe Borim Corrêa
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tingting Chen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Valérie Langlois
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-informatique, Université Laval, G1V 0A6 Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Christine Lorenzen Elberg
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Tarquin Netherway
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls väg 16, 756 51 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ruiqi Wang
- Department of Environmental Biology, Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tianci Zhao
- Microbial Ecology Cluster, Genomics Research in Ecology and Evolution in Nature (Green), Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, 9747AG Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Basistha Acharya
- Nepal National Plant Pathology Research Center, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Joanne B Emerson
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA, USA
| | - Luke Hillary
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ram B Khadka
- Nepal National Plant Pathology Research Center, Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal
| | - Kyle Mason-Jones
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Rumakanta Sapkota
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Suvi Sutela
- Forest Health and Biodiversity Group, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gareth Trubl
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Richard Allen White
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Kannapolis, NC, USA
| | - Anne Winding
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Cátia Carreira
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Qin G, Zhang Q, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Zhu J, Yang Y, Peijnenburg WJGM, Qian H. Understanding the ecological effects of the fungicide difenoconazole on soil and Enchytraeus crypticus gut microbiome. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 326:121518. [PMID: 36990340 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Increasing knowledge of the impacts of pesticides on soil ecological communities is fundamental to a comprehensive understanding of the functional changes in the global agroecosystem industry. In this study, we examined microbial community shifts in the gut of the soil-dwelling organism Enchytraeus crypticus and functional shifts in the soil microbiome (bacteria and viruses) after 21 d of exposure to difenoconazole, one of the main fungicides in intensified agriculture. Our results demonstrated reduced body weight and increased oxidative stress levels of E. crypticus under difenoconazole treatment. Meanwhile, difenoconazole not only altered the composition and structure of the gut microbial community, but also interfered with the soil-soil fauna microecology stability by impairing the abundance of beneficial bacteria. Using soil metagenomics, we revealed that bacterial genes encoding detoxification and viruses encoding carbon cycle genes exhibited a dependent enrichment in the toxicity of pesticides via metabolism. Taken together, these findings advance the understanding of the ecotoxicological impact of residual difenoconazole on the soil-soil fauna micro-ecology, and the ecological importance of virus-encoded auxiliary metabolic genes under pesticide stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoyan Qin
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, PR China
| | - Qi Zhang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, PR China
| | - Ziyao Zhang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, PR China
| | - Yiling Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Jichao Zhu
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, PR China
| | - Yaohui Yang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, PR China
| | - W J G M Peijnenburg
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden, RA 2300, Netherlands; National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center for Safety of Substances and Products, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - Haifeng Qian
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310032, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Gao R, Ma B, Hu M, Fang L, Chen G, Zhang W, Wang Y, Song X, Li F. Ecological drivers and potential functions of viral communities in flooded arsenic-contaminated paddy soils. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162289. [PMID: 36804971 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This work revealed the profile of viral communities in paddy soils with different levels of arsenic (As) contamination during the flooded period. The structure of viral communities differed significantly in highly and moderately As-contaminated soils. The diversity of soil viral communities under high As contamination decreased. Siphoviridae, Podoviridae, Myoviridae, and Microviridae were the dominant viral families in all samples, and the relative abundances of five of the top 20 viral genera were significantly different between highly and moderately As-contaminated groups. Seventeen dissimilatory As(V)-reducing bacteria were predicted to host 161 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs), mainly affiliated with the genera of Sulfurospirillum, Deferribacter, Bacillus and Fusibacter. Among them, 28 vOTUs were also associated with Fe(III)-reducing bacteria, which belonged to different species of the genus Shewanella. Procrustes analysis showed that the community structure of soil viruses was strongly correlated with both prokaryotic community structure and geochemical properties. Random forest analyses revealed that the Total-Fe, DCB-Fe and oxalate-Fe were the most significant variables on viral community richness, while the total-As concentration was an important factor on the Shannon index. Furthermore, As resistance genes (ArsC, ArsR and ArsD), As methylation genes (arsM) and As transporter genes (Pst and Pit) were identified among the auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) of the virome. This work revealed that the viruses might influence microbial adaptation in response to As-induced stress, and provided a perspective on the potential virus-mediated biogeochemical cycling of As.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruichuan Gao
- Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bin Ma
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Min Hu
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Liping Fang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Guanhong Chen
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Wenqiang Zhang
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Yiling Wang
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xinwei Song
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Fangbai Li
- National-Regional Joint Engineering Research Center for Soil Pollution Control and Remediation in South China, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Abstract
Soil viruses are highly abundant and have important roles in the regulation of host dynamics and soil ecology. Climate change is resulting in unprecedented changes to soil ecosystems and the life forms that reside there, including viruses. In this Review, we explore our current understanding of soil viral diversity and ecology, and we discuss how climate change (such as extended and extreme drought events or more flooding and altered precipitation patterns) is influencing soil viruses. Finally, we provide our perspective on future research needs to better understand how climate change will impact soil viral ecology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janet K Jansson
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
| | - Ruonan Wu
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Liu Q, Cheng L, Nian H, Jin J, Lian T. Linking plant functional genes to rhizosphere microbes: a review. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:902-917. [PMID: 36271765 PMCID: PMC10106864 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The importance of rhizomicrobiome in plant development, nutrition acquisition and stress tolerance is unquestionable. Relevant plant genes corresponding to the above functions also regulate rhizomicrobiome construction. Deciphering the molecular regulatory network of plant-microbe interactions could substantially contribute to improving crop yield and quality. Here, the plant gene-related nutrient uptake, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, which may influence the composition and function of microbial communities, are discussed in this review. In turn, the influence of microbes on the expression of functional plant genes, and thereby plant growth and immunity, is also reviewed. Moreover, we have specifically paid attention to techniques and methods used to link plant functional genes and rhizomicrobiome. Finally, we propose to further explore the molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways of microbe-host gene interactions, which could potentially be used for managing plant health in agricultural systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of AgricultureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Lang Cheng
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of AgricultureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Hai Nian
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of AgricultureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Jian Jin
- Northeast Institute of Geography and AgroecologyChinese Academy of SciencesHarbinChina
- Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, Centre for AgriBioscienceLa Trobe UniversityBundooraVictoriaAustralia
| | - Tengxiang Lian
- The State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro‐BioresourcesSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Breeding of Guangdong Province, College of AgricultureSouth China Agricultural UniversityGuangzhouChina
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
George NA, Hug LA. CRISPR-resolved virus-host interactions in a municipal landfill include non-specific viruses, hyper-targeted viral populations, and interviral conflicts. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5611. [PMID: 37019939 PMCID: PMC10076291 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32078-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses are the most abundant microbial guild on the planet, impacting microbial community structure and ecosystem services. Viruses are specifically understudied in engineered environments, including examinations of their host interactions. We examined host-virus interactions via host CRISPR spacer to viral protospacer mapping in a municipal landfill across two years. Viruses comprised ~ 4% of both the unassembled reads and assembled basepairs. A total of 458 unique virus-host connections captured hyper-targeted viral populations and host CRISPR array adaptation over time. Four viruses were predicted to infect across multiple phyla, suggesting that some viruses are far less host-specific than is currently understood. We detected 161 viral elements that encode CRISPR arrays, including one with 187 spacers, the longest virally-encoded CRISPR array described to date. Virally-encoded CRISPR arrays targeted other viral elements in interviral conflicts. CRISPR-encoding proviruses integrated into host chromosomes were latent examples of CRISPR-immunity-based superinfection exclusion. The bulk of the observed virus-host interactions fit the one-virus-one-host paradigm, but with limited geographic specificity. Our networks highlight rare and previously undescribed complex interactions influencing the ecology of this dynamic engineered system. Our observations indicate landfills, as heterogeneous contaminated sites with unique selective pressures, are key locations for atypical virus-host dynamics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil A George
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Laura A Hug
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Stone BW, Blazewicz SJ, Koch BJ, Dijkstra P, Hayer M, Hofmockel KS, Liu XJA, Mau RL, Pett-Ridge J, Schwartz E, Hungate BA. Nutrients strengthen density dependence of per-capita growth and mortality rates in the soil bacterial community. Oecologia 2023; 201:771-782. [PMID: 36847885 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05322-z] [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: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Density dependence in an ecological community has been observed in many macro-organismal ecosystems and is hypothesized to maintain biodiversity but is poorly understood in microbial ecosystems. Here, we analyze data from an experiment using quantitative stable isotope probing (qSIP) to estimate per-capita growth and mortality rates of bacterial populations in soils from several ecosystems along an elevation gradient which were subject to nutrient addition of either carbon alone (glucose; C) or carbon with nitrogen (glucose + ammonium-sulfate; C + N). Across all ecosystems, we found that higher population densities, quantified by the abundance of genomes per gram of soil, had lower per-capita growth rates in C + N-amended soils. Similarly, bacterial mortality rates in C + N-amended soils increased at a significantly higher rate with increasing population size than mortality rates in control and C-amended soils. In contrast to the hypothesis that density dependence would promote or maintain diversity, we observed significantly lower bacterial diversity in soils with stronger negative density-dependent growth. Here, density dependence was significantly but weakly responsive to nutrients and was not associated with higher bacterial diversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bram W Stone
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA.
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
| | - Steven J Blazewicz
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Livermore, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin J Koch
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Paul Dijkstra
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Michaela Hayer
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Kirsten S Hofmockel
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Xiao Jun Allen Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | - Rebecca L Mau
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Jennifer Pett-Ridge
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Livermore, CA, USA
- Life and Environmental Sciences Department, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Egbert Schwartz
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| | - Bruce A Hungate
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Viral and Bacterial Communities Collaborate through Complementary Assembly Processes in Soil to Survive Organochlorine Contamination. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0181022. [PMID: 36809072 PMCID: PMC10056961 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01810-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The ecological drivers that direct the assembly of viral and host bacterial communities are largely unknown, even though viral-encoded accessory genes help host bacteria survive in polluted environments. To understand the ecological mechanism(s) of viruses and hosts synergistically surviving under organochlorine pesticide (OCP) stress, we investigated the community assembly processes of viruses and bacteria at the taxon and functional gene levels in clean and OCP-contaminated soils in China using a combination of metagenomics/viromics and bioinformatics approaches. We observed a decreased richness of bacterial taxa and functional genes but an increased richness of viral taxa and auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) in OCP-contaminated soils (from 0 to 2,617.6 mg · kg-1). In OCP-contaminated soils, the assembly of bacterial taxa and genes was dominated by a deterministic process, of which the relative significance was 93.0% and 88.7%, respectively. In contrast, the assembly of viral taxa and AMGs was driven by a stochastic process, which contributed 83.1% and 69.2%, respectively. The virus-host prediction analysis, which indicated Siphoviridae was linked to 75.0% of bacterial phyla, and the higher migration rate of viral taxa and AMGs in OCP-contaminated soil suggested that viruses show promise for the dissemination of functional genes among bacterial communities. Taken together, the results of this study indicated that the stochastic assembly processes of viral taxa and AMGs facilitated bacterial resistance to OCP stress in soils. Moreover, our findings provide a novel avenue for understanding the synergistic interactions between viruses and bacteria from the perspective of microbial ecology, highlighting the significance of viruses in mediating bioremediation of contaminated soils. IMPORTANCE The interaction between viral communities and microbial hosts has been studied extensively, and the viral community affects host community metabolic function through AMGs. Microbial community assembly is the process by which species colonize and interact to establish and maintain communities. This is the first study that aimed to understand the assembly process of bacterial and viral communities under OCP stress. The findings of this study provide information about microbial community responses to OCP stress and reveal the collaborative interactions between viral and bacterial communities to resist pollutant stress. Thereby, we highlight the importance of viruses in soil bioremediation from the perspective of community assembly.
Collapse
|
38
|
Braga LPP, Schumacher RI. Awaking the dormant virome in the rhizosphere. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:2985-2999. [PMID: 36807953 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16893] [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: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
The rhizosphere is a vital soil compartment providing key plant-beneficial functions. However, little is known about the mechanisms driving viral diversity in the rhizosphere. Viruses can establish lytic or lysogenic interactions with their bacterial hosts. In the latter, they assume a dormant state integrated in the host genome and can be awakened by different perturbations that impact host cell physiology, triggering a viral bloom, which is potentially a fundamental mechanism driving soil viral diversity, as 22%-68% of soil bacteria are predicted to harbour dormant viruses. Here we assessed the viral bloom response in rhizospheric viromes by exposing them to three contrasting soil perturbation agents: earthworms, herbicide and antibiotic pollutant. The viromes were next screened for rhizosphere-relevant genes and also used as inoculant on microcosms incubations to test their impacts on pristine microbiomes. Our results show that while post-perturbation viromes diverged from control conditions, viral communities exposed to both herbicide and antibiotic pollutant were more similar to each other than those influenced by earthworms. The latter also favoured an increase in viral populations harbouring genes involved in plant-beneficial functions. Post-perturbation viromes inoculated on soil microcosms changed the diversity of pristine microbiomes, suggesting that viromes are important components of the soil ecological memory driving eco-evolutionary processes that determine future microbiome trajectories according to past events. Our findings demonstrate that viromes are active players in the rhizosphere and need to be considered in efforts to understand and control the microbial processes towards sustainable crop production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucas P P Braga
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,Ecosystems and Global Change Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robert I Schumacher
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Tundra Soil Viruses Mediate Responses of Microbial Communities to Climate Warming. mBio 2023; 14:e0300922. [PMID: 36786571 PMCID: PMC10127799 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03009-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The rise of global temperature causes the degradation of the substantial reserves of carbon (C) stored in tundra soils, in which microbial processes play critical roles. Viruses are known to influence the soil C cycle by encoding auxiliary metabolic genes and infecting key microorganisms, but their regulation of microbial communities under climate warming remains unexplored. In this study, we evaluated the responses of viral communities for about 5 years of experimental warming at two depths (15 to 25 cm and 45 to 55 cm) in the Alaskan permafrost region. Our results showed that the viral community and functional gene composition and abundances (including viral functional genes related to replication, structure, infection, and lysis) were significantly influenced by environmental conditions such as total nitrogen (N), total C, and soil thawing duration. Although long-term warming did not impact the viral community composition at the two depths, some glycoside hydrolases encoded by viruses were more abundant at both depths of the warmed plots. With the continuous reduction of total C, viruses may alleviate methane release by altering infection strategies on methanogens. Importantly, viruses can adopt lysogenic and lytic lifestyles to manipulate microbial communities at different soil depths, respectively, which could be one of the major factors causing the differences in microbial responses to warming. This study provides a new ecological perspective on how viruses regulate the responses of microbes to warming at community and functional scales. IMPORTANCE Permafrost thawing causes microbial release of greenhouse gases, exacerbating climate warming. Some previous studies examined the responses of the microbial communities and functions to warming in permafrost region, but the roles of viruses in mediating the responses of microbial communities to warming are poorly understood. This study revealed that warming induced changes in some viral functional classes and in the virus/microbe ratios for specific lineages, which might influence the entire microbial community. Furthermore, differences in viral communities and functions, along with soil depths, are important factors influencing microbial responses to warming. Collectively, our study revealed the regulation of microbial communities by viruses and demonstrated the importance of viruses in the microbial ecology research.
Collapse
|
40
|
Langlois V, Girard C, Vincent WF, Culley AI. A Tale of Two Seasons: Distinct Seasonal Viral Communities in a Thermokarst Lake. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020428. [PMID: 36838393 PMCID: PMC9964402 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020428] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermokarst lakes are important features of subarctic landscapes and are a substantial source of greenhouse gases, although the extent of gas produced varies seasonally. Microbial communities are responsible for the production of methane and CO2 but the "top down" forces that influence microbial dynamics (i.e., grazers and viruses) and how they vary temporally within these lakes are still poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine viral diversity over time to elucidate the seasonal structure of the viral communities in thermokarst lakes. We produced virus-enriched metagenomes from a subarctic peatland thermokarst lake in the summer and winter over three years. The vast majority of vOTUs assigned to viral families belonged to Caudovirales (Caudoviricetes), notably the morphological groups myovirus, siphovirus and podovirus. We identified two distinct communities: a dynamic, seasonal community in the oxygenated surface layer during the summer and a stable community found in the anoxic water layer at the bottom of the lake in summer and throughout much of the water column in winter. Comparison with other permafrost and northern lake metagenomes highlighted the distinct composition of viral communities in this permafrost thaw lake ecosystem.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Langlois
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre D’études Nordiques (CEN), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Catherine Girard
- Centre D’études Nordiques (CEN), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Département des Sciences Fondamentales, Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi, QC G7H 2B1, Canada
| | - Warwick F. Vincent
- Centre D’études Nordiques (CEN), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Alexander I. Culley
- Département de Biochimie, de Microbiologie et de Bio-Informatique, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Centre D’études Nordiques (CEN), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Takuvik International Research Laboratory, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Li Y, Xiong L, Yu H, Xiang Y, Wei Y, Zhang Q, Ji X. Biogeochemical sulfur cycling of virus auxiliary metabolic genes involved in Napahai plateau wetland. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:44430-44438. [PMID: 36692711 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25408-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Virus plays important roles in regulating microbial community structure, horizontal gene transfer, and promoting biological evolution, also augmenting host metabolism during infection via the expression of auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs), and thus affect biogeochemical cycling in the oceans. As the "kidney of the earth," wetlands have rich biodiversity and abundant resources. Based on metagenomic data, 10 AMGs associated with sulfur cycling, i.e., tusA, moaD, dsrE, soxA, soxB, soxC, soxD, soxX, soxY, and soxZ, were analyzed in Napahai plateau wetland. The phylogenetic trees of AMGs involved in sulfur metabolism from different habitats and host origins were constructed. Combined with principal coordinate analysis, it revealed that most AMGs associated with sulfur metabolism clustered separately, indicating the abundance and uniqueness in this region. The sulfur metabolism pathways involved by AMGs were mainly SOX systems, among which sulfur oxidation was associated with moaD and dsrE genes, while sulfur transport was related to tusA genes. It provides an insight into the biogeochemical sulfur cycling in plateau wetlands and lays the foundation for further study on the co-evolution of virus and host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Lingling Xiong
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Hang Yu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Yingying Xiang
- Department of Stomatology, Yan'an Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650031, China
| | - Yunlin Wei
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Xiuling Ji
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650500, China.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Bi L, Han LL, Du S, Yu DT, He JZ, Zhang LM, Hu HW. Cross-biome soil viruses as an important reservoir of virulence genes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 442:130111. [PMID: 36209605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Viruses can significantly influence the composition and functions of their host communities and enhance host pathogenicity via the transport of virus-encoded virulence genes. However, the contribution of viral communities to the dissemination of virulence genes across various biomes across a large scale is largely unknown. Here, we constructed 29,283 soil viral contigs (SVCs) from viral size fraction metagenomes and public databases. A total of 1310 virulence genes were identified from 1164 SVCs in a wide variety of soil biomes, including grassland, agricultural and forest soils. The virulence gene gmd was the most abundant one, followed by csrA, evpJ, and pblA. A great proportion of viruses encoding virulence genes were uncharacterized. Virus-host linkage analysis revealed that most viruses were linked to only one bacterial genus, whereas several SVCs were associated with more than one bacterial genus and even two bacterial phyla, suggesting the potential risk of spreading virulence genes across different bacterial communities via viruses. Altogether, we provided new evidence for the prevalence of virulence genes in soil viruses across biomes, which advanced our understanding of the potential role of soil viruses in driving the pathogenesis of their hosts in terrestrial ecosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Li-Li Han
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Shuai Du
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Dan-Ting Yu
- School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fujian 350007, China
| | - Ji-Zheng He
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Li-Mei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Hang-Wei Hu
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Isolation, characterization, and comparative genomic analysis of vB_BviS-A10Y, a novel bacteriophage from mangrove sediments. Arch Virol 2023; 168:54. [PMID: 36609927 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-022-05637-x] [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: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Mangrove is among the most carbon-rich biomes on earth, and viruses are believed to play a significant role in modulating local and global carbon cycling. However, few viruses have been isolated from mangrove sediments to date. Here, we report the isolation of a novel Bacillus phage (named phage vB_BviS-A10Y) from mangrove sediments. Phage vB_BviS-A10Y has a hexameric head with a diameter of ~ 79.22 nm and a tail with a length of ~ 548.56 nm, which are typical features of siphophages. vB_BviS-A10Y initiated host lysis at 3.5 h postinfection with a burst size of 25 plaque-forming units (PFU)/cell. The genome of phage vB_BviS-A10Y is 162,435 bp long with 225 predicted genes, and the GC content is 34.03%. A comparison of the whole genome sequence of phage vB_BviS-A10Y with those of other phages from the NCBI viral genome database showed that phage vB_BviS-A10Y has the highest similarity (73.7% identity with 33% coverage) to Bacillus phage PBC2. Interestingly, abundant auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) were identified in the vB_BviS-A10Y genome. The presence of a β-1,3-glucosyltransferase gene in the phage genome supported our previous hypothesis that mangrove viruses may manipulate carbon cycling directly through their encoded carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) genes. Therefore, our study will contribute to a better understanding of the diversity and potential roles of viruses in mangrove ecosystems.
Collapse
|
44
|
Abstract
The concept of one health highlights that human health is not isolated but connected to the health of animals, plants and environments. In this Review, we demonstrate that soils are a cornerstone of one health and serve as a source and reservoir of pathogens, beneficial microorganisms and the overall microbial diversity in a wide range of organisms and ecosystems. We list more than 40 soil microbiome functions that either directly or indirectly contribute to soil, plant, animal and human health. We identify microorganisms that are shared between different one health compartments and show that soil, plant and human microbiomes are perhaps more interconnected than previously thought. Our Review further evaluates soil microbial contributions to one health in the light of dysbiosis and global change and demonstrates that microbial diversity is generally positively associated with one health. Finally, we present future challenges in one health research and formulate recommendations for practice and evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samiran Banerjee
- Department of Microbiological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA.
| | - Marcel G A van der Heijden
- Plant-Soil Interactions Group, Agroscope, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Identification of Novel Viruses and Their Microbial Hosts from Soils with Long-Term Nitrogen Fertilization and Cover Cropping Management. mSystems 2022; 7:e0057122. [PMID: 36445691 PMCID: PMC9765229 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00571-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Soils are the largest organic carbon reservoir and are key to global biogeochemical cycling, and microbes are the major drivers of carbon and nitrogen transformations in the soil systems. Thus, virus infection-induced microbial mortality could impact soil microbial structure and functions. In this study, we recovered 260 viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs) in samples collected from soil taken from four nitrogen fertilization (N-fertilization) and cover-cropping practices at an experimental site under continuous cotton production evaluating conservation agricultural management systems for more than 40 years. Only ~6% of the vOTUs identified were clustered with known viruses in the RefSeq database using a gene-sharing network. We found that 14% of 260 vOTUs could be linked to microbial hosts that cover key carbon and nitrogen cycling taxa, including Acidobacteriota, Proteobacteria, Verrucomicrobiota, Firmicutes, and ammonia-oxidizing archaea, i.e., Nitrososphaeria (phylum Thermoproteota). Viral diversity, community structure, and the positive correlation between abundance of a virus and its host indicate that viruses and microbes are more sensitive to N-fertilization than cover-cropping treatment. Viruses may influence key carbon and nitrogen cycling through control of microbial function and host populations (e.g., Chthoniobacterales and Nitrososphaerales). These findings provide an initial view of soil viral ecology and how it is influenced by long-term conservation agricultural management. IMPORTANCE Bacterial viruses are extremely small and abundant particles that can control the microbial abundance and community composition through infection, which gradually showed their vital roles in the ecological process to influence the nutrient flow. Compared to the substrate control, less is known about the influence of soil viruses on microbial community function, and even less is known about microbial and viral diversity in the soil system. To obtain a more complete knowledge of microbial function dynamics, the interaction between microbes and viruses cannot be ignored. To fully understand this process, it is fundamental to get insight into the correlation between the diversity of viral communities and bacteria which could induce these changes.
Collapse
|
46
|
Abstract
Arctic permafrost is thawing due to global warming, with unknown consequences on the microbial inhabitants or associated viruses. DNA viruses have previously been shown to be abundant and active in thawing permafrost, but little is known about RNA viruses in these systems. To address this knowledge gap, we assessed the composition of RNA viruses in thawed permafrost samples that were incubated for 97 days at 4°C to simulate thaw conditions. A diverse RNA viral community was assembled from metatranscriptome data including double-stranded RNA viruses, dominated by Reoviridae and Hypoviridae, and negative and positive single-stranded RNA viruses, with relatively high representations of Rhabdoviridae and Leviviridae, respectively. Sequences corresponding to potential plant and human pathogens were also detected. The detected RNA viruses primarily targeted dominant eukaryotic taxa in the samples (e.g., fungi, Metazoa and Viridiplantae) and the viral community structures were significantly associated with predicted host populations. These results indicate that RNA viruses are linked to eukaryotic host dynamics. Several of the RNA viral sequences contained auxiliary metabolic genes encoding proteins involved in carbon utilization (e.g., polygalacturosase), implying their potential roles in carbon cycling in thawed permafrost. IMPORTANCE Permafrost is thawing at a rapid pace in the Arctic with largely unknown consequences on ecological processes that are fundamental to Arctic ecosystems. This is the first study to determine the composition of RNA viruses in thawed permafrost. Other recent studies have characterized DNA viruses in thawing permafrost, but the majority of DNA viruses are bacteriophages that target bacterial hosts. By contrast RNA viruses primarily target eukaryotic hosts and thus represent potential pathogenic threats to humans, animals, and plants. Here, we find that RNA viruses in permafrost are novel and distinct from those in other habitats studied to date. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of the importance of potential environmental reservoirs of emerging RNA viral pathogens. We demonstrate that some potential pathogens were detected after an experimental thawing regime. These results are important for understanding critical viral-host interactions and provide a better understanding of the ecological roles that RNA viruses play as permafrost thaws.
Collapse
|
47
|
Spatial turnover of soil viral populations and genotypes overlain by cohesive responses to moisture in grasslands. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2209132119. [PMID: 36322723 PMCID: PMC9659419 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2209132119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses shape microbial communities, food web dynamics, and carbon and nutrient cycling in diverse ecosystems. However, little is known about the patterns and drivers of viral community composition, particularly in soil, precluding a predictive understanding of viral impacts on terrestrial habitats. To investigate soil viral community assembly processes, here we analyzed 43 soil viromes from a rainfall manipulation experiment in a Mediterranean grassland in California. We identified 5,315 viral populations (viral operational taxonomic units [vOTUs] with a representative sequence ≥10 kbp) and found that viral community composition exhibited a highly significant distance-decay relationship within the 200-m<sup>2</sup> field site. This pattern was recapitulated by the intrapopulation microheterogeneity trends of prevalent vOTUs (detected in ≥90% of the viromes), which tended to exhibit negative correlations between spatial distance and the genomic similarity of their predominant allelic variants. Although significant spatial structuring was also observed in the bacterial and archaeal communities, the signal was dampened relative to the viromes, suggesting differences in local assembly drivers for viruses and prokaryotes and/or differences in the temporal scales captured by viromes and total DNA. Despite the overwhelming spatial signal, evidence for environmental filtering was revealed in a protein-sharing network analysis, wherein a group of related vOTUs predicted to infect actinobacteria was shown to be significantly enriched in low-moisture samples distributed throughout the field. Overall, our results indicate a highly diverse, dynamic, active, and spatially structured soil virosphere capable of rapid responses to changing environmental conditions.
Collapse
|
48
|
Roux S, Emerson JB. Diversity in the soil virosphere: to infinity and beyond? Trends Microbiol 2022; 30:1025-1035. [PMID: 35644779 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are key members of Earth's microbiomes, shaping microbial community composition and metabolism. Here, we describe recent advances in 'soil viromics', that is, virus-focused metagenome and metatranscriptome analyses that offer unprecedented windows into the soil virosphere. Given the emerging picture of high soil viral activity, diversity, and dynamics over short spatiotemporal scales, we then outline key eco-evolutionary processes that we hypothesize are the major diversity drivers for soil viruses. We argue that a community effort is needed to establish a 'global soil virosphere atlas' that can be used to address the roles of viruses in soil microbiomes and terrestrial biogeochemical cycles across spatiotemporal scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Roux
- DOE (Department of Energy) Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Joanne B Emerson
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA; Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Abstract
Viruses are the most abundant biological entities on Earth, and yet, they have not received enough consideration in astrobiology. Viruses are also extraordinarily diverse, which is evident in the types of relationships they establish with their host, their strategies to store and replicate their genetic information and the enormous diversity of genes they contain. A viral population, especially if it corresponds to a virus with an RNA genome, can contain an array of sequence variants that greatly exceeds what is present in most cell populations. The fact that viruses always need cellular resources to multiply means that they establish very close interactions with cells. Although in the short term these relationships may appear to be negative for life, it is evident that they can be beneficial in the long term. Viruses are one of the most powerful selective pressures that exist, accelerating the evolution of defense mechanisms in the cellular world. They can also exchange genetic material with the host during the infection process, providing organisms with capacities that favor the colonization of new ecological niches or confer an advantage over competitors, just to cite a few examples. In addition, viruses have a relevant participation in the biogeochemical cycles of our planet, contributing to the recycling of the matter necessary for the maintenance of life. Therefore, although viruses have traditionally been excluded from the tree of life, the structure of this tree is largely the result of the interactions that have been established throughout the intertwined history of the cellular and the viral worlds. We do not know how other possible biospheres outside our planet could be, but it is clear that viruses play an essential role in the terrestrial one. Therefore, they must be taken into account both to improve our understanding of life that we know, and to understand other possible lives that might exist in the cosmos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio de la Higuera
- Department of Biology, Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Ester Lázaro
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), CSIC-INTA, Torrejón de Ardoz, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Muscatt G, Hilton S, Raguideau S, Teakle G, Lidbury IDEA, Wellington EMH, Quince C, Millard A, Bending GD, Jameson E. Crop management shapes the diversity and activity of DNA and RNA viruses in the rhizosphere. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:181. [PMID: 36280853 PMCID: PMC9590211 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01371-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rhizosphere is a hotspot for microbial activity and contributes to ecosystem services including plant health and biogeochemical cycling. The activity of microbial viruses, and their influence on plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere, remains undetermined. Given the impact of viruses on the ecology and evolution of their host communities, determining how soil viruses influence microbiome dynamics is crucial to build a holistic understanding of rhizosphere functions. RESULTS Here, we aimed to investigate the influence of crop management on the composition and activity of bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, and root viral communities. We combined viromics, metagenomics, and metatranscriptomics on soil samples collected from a 3-year crop rotation field trial of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). By recovering 1059 dsDNA viral populations and 16,541 ssRNA bacteriophage populations, we expanded the number of underexplored Leviviricetes genomes by > 5 times. Through detection of viral activity in metatranscriptomes, we uncovered evidence of "Kill-the-Winner" dynamics, implicating soil bacteriophages in driving bacterial community succession. Moreover, we found the activity of viruses increased with proximity to crop roots, and identified that soil viruses may influence plant-microbe interactions through the reprogramming of bacterial host metabolism. We have provided the first evidence of crop rotation-driven impacts on soil microbial communities extending to viruses. To this aim, we present the novel principal of "viral priming," which describes how the consecutive growth of the same crop species primes viral activity in the rhizosphere through local adaptation. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we reveal unprecedented spatial and temporal diversity in viral community composition and activity across root, rhizosphere soil, and bulk soil compartments. Our work demonstrates that the roles of soil viruses need greater consideration to exploit the rhizosphere microbiome for food security, food safety, and environmental sustainability. Video Abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- George Muscatt
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Sally Hilton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Sebastien Raguideau
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Graham Teakle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Ian D E A Lidbury
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - Christopher Quince
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Andrew Millard
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
| | - Gary D Bending
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Eleanor Jameson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK.
| |
Collapse
|