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Raimundo I, Rosado PM, Barno AR, Antony CP, Peixoto RS. Unlocking the genomic potential of Red Sea coral probiotics. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14514. [PMID: 38914624 PMCID: PMC11196684 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65152-8] [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: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The application of beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMC) decreases the bleaching susceptibility and mortality rate of corals. BMC selection is typically performed via molecular and biochemical assays, followed by genomic screening for BMC traits. Herein, we present a comprehensive in silico framework to explore a set of six putative BMC strains. We extracted high-quality DNA from coral samples collected from the Red Sea and performed PacBio sequencing. We identified BMC traits and mechanisms associated with each strain as well as proposed new traits and mechanisms, such as chemotaxis and the presence of phages and bioactive secondary metabolites. The presence of prophages in two of the six studied BMC strains suggests their possible distribution within beneficial bacteria. We also detected various secondary metabolites, such as terpenes, ectoines, lanthipeptides, and lasso peptides. These metabolites possess antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities and play key roles in coral health by reducing the effects of heat stress, high salinity, reactive oxygen species, and radiation. Corals are currently facing unprecedented challenges, and our revised framework can help select more efficient BMC for use in studies on coral microbiome rehabilitation, coral resilience, and coral restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Raimundo
- Biological and Environmental Science and Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Phillipe M Rosado
- Biological and Environmental Science and Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adam R Barno
- Biological and Environmental Science and Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Chakkiath P Antony
- Biological and Environmental Science and Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raquel S Peixoto
- Biological and Environmental Science and Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
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2
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Patel ZZ, Joshi H, Puvar A, Pandit R, Joshi C, Joshi M, Tipre DR. A study into the diversity of coral-associated bacteria using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches in coral Dipsastraea favus from the Gulf of Kutch. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 201:116172. [PMID: 38394797 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116172] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Corals harbour ~25 % of the marine diversity referring to biodiversity hotspots in marine ecosystems. Global efforts to find ways to restore the coral reef ecosystem from various threats can be complemented by studying coral-associated bacteria. Coral-associated bacteria are vital components of overall coral wellbeing. We explored the bacterial diversity associated with coral Dipsastraea favus (D. favus) collected from the Gulf of Kutch, India, using both culture-dependent and metagenomic approaches. In both approaches, phylum Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria predominated, comprising the genera Vibrio, Bacillus, Shewanella, Pseudoalteromonas, Exiguobacterium and Streptomyces. Moreover, the majority of culturable isolates showed multiple antibiotic resistance index ≥0.2. In this study, specific bacterial diversity associated with coral sp. D. favus and its possible role in managing coral health was established. Almost 43 strains from the samples were successfully cultured, creating a base for exploring these microbes for their potential use in coral conservation methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zarna Z Patel
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad 380009, India; Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382011, India
| | - Himanshu Joshi
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382011, India
| | - Apurvasinh Puvar
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382011, India
| | - Ramesh Pandit
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382011, India
| | - Chaitanya Joshi
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382011, India
| | - Madhvi Joshi
- Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar 382011, India.
| | - Devayani R Tipre
- Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad 380009, India.
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3
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Voolstra CR, Raina JB, Dörr M, Cárdenas A, Pogoreutz C, Silveira CB, Mohamed AR, Bourne DG, Luo H, Amin SA, Peixoto RS. The coral microbiome in sickness, in health and in a changing world. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024:10.1038/s41579-024-01015-3. [PMID: 38438489 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-024-01015-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Stony corals, the engines and engineers of reef ecosystems, face unprecedented threats from anthropogenic environmental change. Corals are holobionts that comprise the cnidarian animal host and a diverse community of bacteria, archaea, viruses and eukaryotic microorganisms. Recent research shows that the bacterial microbiome has a pivotal role in coral biology. A healthy bacterial assemblage contributes to nutrient cycling and stress resilience, but pollution, overfishing and climate change can break down these symbiotic relationships, which results in disease, bleaching and, ultimately, coral death. Although progress has been made in characterizing the spatial-temporal diversity of bacteria, we are only beginning to appreciate their functional contribution. In this Review, we summarize the ecological and metabolic interactions between bacteria and other holobiont members, highlight the biotic and abiotic factors influencing the structure of bacterial communities and discuss the impact of climate change on these communities and their coral hosts. We emphasize how microbiome-based interventions can help to decipher key mechanisms underpinning coral health and promote reef resilience. Finally, we explore how recent technological developments may be harnessed to address some of the most pressing challenges in coral microbiology, providing a road map for future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean-Baptiste Raina
- Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Melanie Dörr
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Anny Cárdenas
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Claudia Pogoreutz
- PSL Université Paris: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, UAR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
| | | | - Amin R Mohamed
- Marine Microbiomics Laboratory, Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - David G Bourne
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Haiwei Luo
- Simon F.S. Li Marine Science Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Shady A Amin
- Marine Microbiomics Laboratory, Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Raquel S Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Biology Research Center (CBRC), Biological, Environmental Sciences, and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
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4
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Garcias-Bonet N, Roik A, Tierney B, García FC, Villela HDM, Dungan AM, Quigley KM, Sweet M, Berg G, Gram L, Bourne DG, Ushijima B, Sogin M, Hoj L, Duarte G, Hirt H, Smalla K, Rosado AS, Carvalho S, Thurber RV, Ziegler M, Mason CE, van Oppen MJH, Voolstra CR, Peixoto RS. Horizon scanning the application of probiotics for wildlife. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:252-269. [PMID: 37758552 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
The provision of probiotics benefits the health of a wide range of organisms, from humans to animals and plants. Probiotics can enhance stress resilience of endangered organisms, many of which are critically threatened by anthropogenic impacts. The use of so-called 'probiotics for wildlife' is a nascent application, and the field needs to reflect on standards for its development, testing, validation, risk assessment, and deployment. Here, we identify the main challenges of this emerging intervention and provide a roadmap to validate the effectiveness of wildlife probiotics. We cover the essential use of inert negative controls in trials and the investigation of the probiotic mechanisms of action. We also suggest alternative microbial therapies that could be tested in parallel with the probiotic application. Our recommendations align approaches used for humans, aquaculture, and plants to the emerging concept and use of probiotics for wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neus Garcias-Bonet
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anna Roik
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB), Oldenburg, Germany; Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Braden Tierney
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Francisca C García
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Helena D M Villela
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashley M Dungan
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Kate M Quigley
- Minderoo Foundation, Perth, WA, Australia; James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Michael Sweet
- Aquatic Research Facility, Nature-based Solutions Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Gabriele Berg
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria; University of Potsdam and Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lone Gram
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - David G Bourne
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Blake Ushijima
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - Maggie Sogin
- Molecular Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, CA, USA
| | - Lone Hoj
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | - Gustavo Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; IMPG, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Heribert Hirt
- Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Alexandre S Rosado
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Susana Carvalho
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christopher E Mason
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA; WorldQuant Initiative on Quantitative Prediction, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia
| | | | - Raquel S Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia; Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
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5
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Staab S, Cardénas A, Peixoto RS, Schreiber F, Voolstra CR. Coracle-a machine learning framework to identify bacteria associated with continuous variables. Bioinformatics 2024; 40:btad749. [PMID: 38123508 PMCID: PMC10766586 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btad749] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMMARY We present Coracle, an artificial intelligence (AI) framework that can identify associations between bacterial communities and continuous variables. Coracle uses an ensemble approach of prominent feature selection methods and machine learning (ML) models to identify features, i.e. bacteria, associated with a continuous variable, e.g. host thermal tolerance. The results are aggregated into a score that incorporates the performances of the different ML models and the respective feature importance, while also considering the robustness of feature selection. Additionally, regression coefficients provide first insights into the direction of the association. We show the utility of Coracle by analyzing associations between bacterial composition data (i.e. 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequence Variants, ASVs) and coral thermal tolerance (i.e. standardized short-term heat stress-derived diagnostics). This analysis identified high-scoring bacterial taxa that were previously found associated with coral thermal tolerance. Coracle scales with feature number and performs well with hundreds to thousands of features, corresponding to the typical size of current datasets. Coracle performs best if run at a higher taxonomic level first (e.g. order or family) to identify groups of interest that can subsequently be run at the ASV level. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Coracle can be accessed via a dedicated web server that allows free and simple access: http://www.micportal.org/coracle/index. The underlying code is open-source and available via GitHub https://github.com/SebastianStaab/coracle.git.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Staab
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78457, Germany
| | - Anny Cardénas
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78457, Germany
- Department of Biology, American University, Washington, DC, 20016, USA
| | - Raquel S Peixoto
- Computational Biology Research Center (CBRC) and Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Falk Schreiber
- Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78457, Germany
- Faculty of Information Technology, Monash University, 3168, Australia
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6
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Modolon F, Schultz J, Duarte G, Vilela CLS, Thomas T, Peixoto RS. In situ devices can culture the microbial dark matter of corals. iScience 2023; 26:108374. [PMID: 38162026 PMCID: PMC10755713 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Most microorganisms found in environmental samples have never been cultured and can often only be explored through molecular or microscopic approaches. Here, we adapt the use of in situ diffusion-based devices to culture "yet-to-be-cultured" microorganisms associated with coral mucus and compare this with a traditional culturing method. The culturability of microorganisms associated with mucus of the coral Pocillopora damicornis increased by 420% and 570% with diffusion growth chambers and microwell chip devices, respectively, compared with the traditional method tested. The obtained cultures represent up to 64.4% of the total diversity of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) found in the mucus of the coral P. damicornis. In addition, some previously uncultured microorganisms, such as members of the family Nitrosopumilaceae and halophilic/halotolerant bacteria were cultured. Our results validate alternative microbial culturing strategies to culture coral-associated microorganisms, while significantly increasing the culturability of previous microbial dark matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flúvio Modolon
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Júnia Schultz
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Biology Center (CBRC), Environmental and Engineering Sciences Division (BESE Thuwal, Makkah 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gustavo Duarte
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Biology Center (CBRC), Environmental and Engineering Sciences Division (BESE Thuwal, Makkah 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Caren Leite Spindola Vilela
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Raquel Silva Peixoto
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Marine Science and Bioscience Programs, Red Sea Research Center (RSRC) and Computational Biology Center (CBRC), Environmental and Engineering Sciences Division (BESE Thuwal, Makkah 23955, Saudi Arabia
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7
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Schultz J, Modolon F, Peixoto RS, Rosado AS. Shedding light on the composition of extreme microbial dark matter: alternative approaches for culturing extremophiles. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1167718. [PMID: 37333658 PMCID: PMC10272570 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1167718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 20,000 species of prokaryotes (less than 1% of the estimated number of Earth's microbial species) have been described thus far. However, the vast majority of microbes that inhabit extreme environments remain uncultured and this group is termed "microbial dark matter." Little is known regarding the ecological functions and biotechnological potential of these underexplored extremophiles, thus representing a vast untapped and uncharacterized biological resource. Advances in microbial cultivation approaches are key for a detailed and comprehensive characterization of the roles of these microbes in shaping the environment and, ultimately, for their biotechnological exploitation, such as for extremophile-derived bioproducts (extremozymes, secondary metabolites, CRISPR Cas systems, and pigments, among others), astrobiology, and space exploration. Additional efforts to enhance culturable diversity are required due to the challenges imposed by extreme culturing and plating conditions. In this review, we summarize methods and technologies used to recover the microbial diversity of extreme environments, while discussing the advantages and disadvantages associated with each of these approaches. Additionally, this review describes alternative culturing strategies to retrieve novel taxa with their unknown genes, metabolisms, and ecological roles, with the ultimate goal of increasing the yields of more efficient bio-based products. This review thus summarizes the strategies used to unveil the hidden diversity of the microbiome of extreme environments and discusses the directions for future studies of microbial dark matter and its potential applications in biotechnology and astrobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júnia Schultz
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Flúvio Modolon
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raquel Silva Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexandre Soares Rosado
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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8
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Wan X, Yang Q, Wang X, Bai Y, Liu Z. Isolation and Cultivation of Human Gut Microorganisms: A Review. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11041080. [PMID: 37110502 PMCID: PMC10141110 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11041080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial resources from the human gut may find use in various applications, such as empirical research on the microbiome, the development of probiotic products, and bacteriotherapy. Due to the development of "culturomics", the number of pure bacterial cultures obtained from the human gut has significantly increased since 2012. However, there is still a considerable number of human gut microbes to be isolated and cultured. Thus, to improve the efficiency of obtaining microbial resources from the human gut, some constraints of the current methods, such as labor burden, culture condition, and microbial targetability, still need to be optimized. Here, we overview the general knowledge and recent development of culturomics for human gut microorganisms. Furthermore, we discuss the optimization of several parts of culturomics including sample collection, sample processing, isolation, and cultivation, which may improve the current strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuchun Wan
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Qianqian Yang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xiangfeng Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yun Bai
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Zhi Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
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9
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Mohamed AR, Ochsenkühn MA, Kazlak AM, Moustafa A, Amin SA. The coral microbiome: towards an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of coral-microbiota interactions. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuad005. [PMID: 36882224 PMCID: PMC10045912 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Corals live in a complex, multipartite symbiosis with diverse microbes across kingdoms, some of which are implicated in vital functions, such as those related to resilience against climate change. However, knowledge gaps and technical challenges limit our understanding of the nature and functional significance of complex symbiotic relationships within corals. Here, we provide an overview of the complexity of the coral microbiome focusing on taxonomic diversity and functions of well-studied and cryptic microbes. Mining the coral literature indicate that while corals collectively harbour a third of all marine bacterial phyla, known bacterial symbionts and antagonists of corals represent a minute fraction of this diversity and that these taxa cluster into select genera, suggesting selective evolutionary mechanisms enabled these bacteria to gain a niche within the holobiont. Recent advances in coral microbiome research aimed at leveraging microbiome manipulation to increase coral's fitness to help mitigate heat stress-related mortality are discussed. Then, insights into the potential mechanisms through which microbiota can communicate with and modify host responses are examined by describing known recognition patterns, potential microbially derived coral epigenome effector proteins and coral gene regulation. Finally, the power of omics tools used to study corals are highlighted with emphasis on an integrated host-microbiota multiomics framework to understand the underlying mechanisms during symbiosis and climate change-driven dysbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin R Mohamed
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Michael A Ochsenkühn
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmed M Kazlak
- Systems Genomics Laboratory, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Moustafa
- Systems Genomics Laboratory, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Department of Biology, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Shady A Amin
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
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10
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Exploring the Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Interactions between a Probiotic Consortium and Its Coral Host. mSystems 2023; 8:e0092122. [PMID: 36688656 PMCID: PMC9948713 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00921-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Beneficial microorganisms for corals (BMCs) have been demonstrated to be effective probiotics to alleviate bleaching and mitigate coral mortality in vivo. The selection of putative BMCs is traditionally performed manually, using an array of biochemical and molecular tests for putative BMC traits. We present a comprehensive genetic survey of BMC traits using a genome-based framework for the identification of alternative mechanisms that can be used for future in silico selection of BMC strains. We identify exclusive BMC traits associated with specific strains and propose new BMC mechanisms, such as the synthesis of glycine betaine and ectoines. Our roadmap facilitates the selection of BMC strains while increasing the array of genetic targets that can be included in the selection of putative BMC strains to be tested as coral probiotics. IMPORTANCE Probiotics are currently the main hope as a potential medicine for corals, organisms that are considered the marine "canaries of the coal mine" and that are threatened with extinction. Our experiments have proved the concept that probiotics mitigate coral bleaching and can also prevent coral mortality. Here, we present a comprehensive genetic survey of probiotic traits using a genome-based framework. The main outcomes are a roadmap that facilitates the selection of coral probiotic strains while increasing the array of mechanisms that can be included in the selection of coral probiotics.
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11
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Almeida JF, Marques M, Oliveira V, Egas C, Mil-Homens D, Viana R, Cleary DFR, Huang YM, Fialho AM, Teixeira MC, Gomes NCM, Costa R, Keller-Costa T. Marine Sponge and Octocoral-Associated Bacteria Show Versatile Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis Potential and Antimicrobial Activities against Human Pathogens. Mar Drugs 2022; 21:md21010034. [PMID: 36662207 PMCID: PMC9860996 DOI: 10.3390/md21010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine microbiomes are prolific sources of bioactive natural products of potential pharmaceutical value. This study inspected two culture collections comprising 919 host-associated marine bacteria belonging to 55 genera and several thus-far unclassified lineages to identify isolates with potentially rich secondary metabolism and antimicrobial activities. Seventy representative isolates had their genomes mined for secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (SM-BGCs) and were screened for antimicrobial activities against four pathogenic bacteria and five pathogenic Candida strains. In total, 466 SM-BGCs were identified, with antimicrobial peptide- and polyketide synthase-related SM-BGCs being frequently detected. Only 38 SM-BGCs had similarities greater than 70% to SM-BGCs encoding known compounds, highlighting the potential biosynthetic novelty encoded by these genomes. Cross-streak assays showed that 33 of the 70 genome-sequenced isolates were active against at least one Candida species, while 44 isolates showed activity against at least one bacterial pathogen. Taxon-specific differences in antimicrobial activity among isolates suggested distinct molecules involved in antagonism against bacterial versus Candida pathogens. The here reported culture collections and genome-sequenced isolates constitute a valuable resource of understudied marine bacteria displaying antimicrobial activities and potential for the biosynthesis of novel secondary metabolites, holding promise for a future sustainable production of marine drug leads.
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Affiliation(s)
- João F. Almeida
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Matilde Marques
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Vanessa Oliveira
- Department of Biology and Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Conceição Egas
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Rua Larga—Faculdade de Medicina, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Biocant—Transfer Technology Association, BiocantPark, 3060-197 Cantanhede, Portugal
| | - Dalila Mil-Homens
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Romeu Viana
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniel F. R. Cleary
- Department of Biology and Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Yusheng M. Huang
- Department of Marine Recreation, National Penghu University of Science and Technology, Magong City 880-011, Taiwan
| | - Arsénio M. Fialho
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Miguel C. Teixeira
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Newton C. M. Gomes
- Department of Biology and Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rodrigo Costa
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR/CIMAR LA), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
- Correspondence: (R.C.); (T.K.-C.); Tel.: +351-21-841-7339 (R.C.); +351-21-841-3167 (T.K.-C.)
| | - Tina Keller-Costa
- iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences and i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
- Correspondence: (R.C.); (T.K.-C.); Tel.: +351-21-841-7339 (R.C.); +351-21-841-3167 (T.K.-C.)
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Silva DP, Epstein HE, Vega Thurber RL. Best practices for generating and analyzing 16S rRNA amplicon data to track coral microbiome dynamics. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1007877. [PMID: 36891260 PMCID: PMC9987214 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1007877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, researchers have searched for methods to better understand the relationship between coral hosts and their microbiomes. Data on how coral-associated bacteria are involved in their host's responses to stressors that cause bleaching, disease, and other deleterious effects can elucidate how they may mediate, ameliorate, and exacerbate interactions between the coral and the surrounding environment. At the same time tracking coral bacteria dynamics can reveal previously undiscovered mechanisms of coral resilience, acclimatization, and evolutionary adaptation. Although modern techniques have reduced the cost of conducting high-throughput sequencing of coral microbes, to explore the composition, function, and dynamics of coral-associated bacteria, it is necessary that the entire procedure, from collection to sequencing, and subsequent analysis be carried out in an objective and effective way. Corals represent a difficult host with which to work, and unique steps in the process of microbiome assessment are necessary to avoid inaccuracies or unusable data in microbiome libraries, such as off-target amplification of host sequences. Here, we review, compare and contrast, and recommend methods for sample collection, preservation, and processing (e.g., DNA extraction) pipelines to best generate 16S amplicon libraries with the aim of tracking coral microbiome dynamics. We also discuss some basic quality assurance and general bioinformatic methods to analyze the diversity, composition, and taxonomic profiles of the microbiomes. This review aims to be a generalizable guide for researchers interested in starting and modifying the molecular biology aspects of coral microbiome research, highlighting best practices and tricks of the trade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise P Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Hannah E Epstein
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
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