Genome analysis of Pseudoalteromonas flavipulchra JG1 reveals various survival advantages in marine environment

Whole-genome sequencing of Pseudoalteromonas piscicida 2515 revealed its antibacterial potency against Vibrio anguillarum: a preliminary invitro study

Pseudoalteromonas piscicida 2515, isolated from Litopenaeus vannamei culture water, is a potential marine probiotic with broad anti-Vibrio properties. However, genomic information on P. piscicida 2515 is scarce. In this study, the general genomic characteristics and probiotic properties of the P. piscicida 2515 strain were analysed. In addition, we determined the antibacterial mechanism of this bacterial strain by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that the whole-genome sequence of P. piscicida 2515 contained one chromosome and one plasmid, including a total length of 5,541,406 bp with a G + C content of 43.24%, and 4679 protein-coding genes were predicted. Various adhesion-related genes, amino acid and vitamin metabolism and biosynthesis genes, and stress-responsive genes were found with genome mining tools. The presence of genes encoding chitin, bromocyclic peptides, lantibiotics, and sactipeptides showed the strong antibacterial activity of the P. piscicida 2515 strain. Moreover, in coculture with Vibrio anguillarum, P. piscicida 2515 displayed vesicle/pilus-like structures located on its surface that possibly participated in its bactericidal activity, representing an antibacterial mechanism. Additionally, 16 haemolytic genes and 3 antibiotic resistance genes, including tetracycline, fluoroquinolone, and carbapenem were annotated, but virulence genes encoding enterotoxin FM (entFM), cereulide (ces), and cytotoxin K were not detected. Further tests should be conducted to confirm the safety characteristics of P. piscicida 2515, including long-term toxicology tests, ecotoxicological assessment, and antibiotic resistance transfer risk assessment. Our results here revealed a new understanding of the probiotic properties and antibacterial mechanism of P. piscicida 2515, in addition to theoretical information for its application in aquaculture.

Therapeutic Potential of Marine Probiotics: A Survey on the Anticancer and Antibacterial Effects of Pseudoalteromonas spp

Due to the increasing limitations and negative impacts of the current options for preventing and managing diseases, including chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation, alternative therapies are needed, especially ones utilizing and maximizing natural products (NPs). NPs abound with diverse bioactive primary and secondary metabolites and compounds with therapeutic properties. Marine probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that inhabit marine environments and can benefit their hosts by improving health, growth, and disease resistance. Several studies have shown they possess potential bioactive and therapeutic actions against diverse disease conditions, thus opening the way for possible exploitation of their benefits through their application. Pseudoalteromonas spp. are a widely distributed heterotrophic, flagellated, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, and gram-negative marine probiotic bacteria species with reported therapeutic capabilities, including anti-cancer and -bacterial effects. This review discusses the basic concepts of marine probiotics and their therapeutic effects. Additionally, a survey of the anticancer and antibacterial effects of Pseudoalteromonas spp. is presented. Finally, marine probiotic production, advances, prospects, and future perspectives is presented.

Assessing the efficacy of bleaching powder in disinfecting marine water: Insights from the rapid recovery of microbiomes

Single-bleaching powder disinfection is a highly prevalent practice to disinfect source water for marine aquaculture to prevent diseases. However, due to the decay of active chlorine and the presence of disinfectant resistance bacteria (DRB), the effects of bleaching powder on prokaryotic community compositions (PCCs) and function in marine water remain unknown. In the present study, the source water in a canvas pond was treated with the normal dose of bleaching powder, and the impact on PCCs and functional profiles was investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The bleaching powder strongly altered the PCCs within 0.5 h, but they began to recover at 16 h, eventually achieving 76% similarity with the initial time at 72 h. This extremely rapid recovery was primarily driven by the decay of Bacillus and the regrowth of Pseudoalteromonas, both of which are DRB. Abundant community not only help PCCs recover but also provide larger functional redundancy than rare community. During the recovery of PCCs, stochastic processes drove the community assembly. After 72 h, five out of seven identified disinfectant resistance genes related to efflux pump systems were highly enriched, primarily in Staphylococcus and Bacillus. However, 15 out of the 16 identified antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remained unchanged compared to the initial time, indicating that bleaching powder does not contribute to ARGs removal. Overall, the findings demonstrate that single-bleaching powder disinfection cannot successfully meet the objective of disease prevention in marine aquaculture water due to the extremely rapid recovery of PCCs. Hence, secondary disinfection or novel disinfection strategies should be explored for source water disinfection.

Metaproteomics reveals unique metabolic niches of dominant bacterial groups in response to rapid regime shifts during a mixed dinoflagellate bloom

The dynamics of bacterial composition and metabolic activity during a distinct phytoplankton bloom have been reported. However, there is limited information on the bacterial community response to drastic environmental changes caused by species succession during a mixed-species bloom. This study investigated active bacterial groups and metabolic activity during a mixed bloom formed by dinoflagellates Prorocentrum obtusidens and Karenia mikimotoi using a metaproteomic approach. Bacterial community structure and dominant bacterial groups varied rapidly with the bloom regime shifts caused by species succession. Pseudoalteromonas and Vibrio dominated the bacterial community in the P. obtusidens-dominated regime, while Alteromonas, Cytophaga-Flavobacteria-Bacteroides (CFB) group, and marine Roseobacter clade (MRC) were the major contributors in other regimes, with the most abundant taxa being Alteromonas in the K. mikimotoi-dominated regime and the CFB group in the dissipation regime. Specific metabolic niches and unique substrate specificity of different bacterial groups enabled them to dominate and thrive in different bloom regimes. High metabolic plasticity in signal response, substrate utilization, motility, and adhesion are essential for bacteria to respond to drastic bloom regime shift, and the predominance of specific bacteria under unique bloom regimes may be the result of long-term coevolution between bacteria and bloom-forming phytoplankton species.

Metagenomics reveals bacterioplankton community adaptation to long-term thermal pollution through the strategy of functional regulation in a subtropical bay

Thermal effluents from coastal nuclear power plants have led to undesirable pollution and subsequent ecological impacts on local marine ecosystems. However, despite the ecological importance, we know little about the impacts on functionality of bacterioplankton subjected in systems with long-term thermal pollution. We used metagenomic sequencing to study of the effect of thermal pollution on bacterioplankton community metagenomics in summer in a subtropical bay located on the northern coast of the South China Sea. Thermal pollution (>15 y), which resulted in an increase in the summer seawater temperature around 8°C and caused seawater temperature up to approximate 39°C, significantly decreased bacterioplankton metabolic potentials in photosynthesis, organic carbon synthesis, and energy production. The bacterioplankton community metagenomics underwent a significant change in its structure from Synechococcus-dominant autotrophy to Alteromonas, Vibrio, and Pseudoalteromonas-dominated heterotrophy, and significantly up-regulated genes involved in organic compound degradation and dissimilatory nitrate reduction for the matter and energy acquisition under thermal pollution. Moreover, the bacterioplankton community metagenomics showed an up-regulation with heating of genes involved in DNA repair systems, heat shock responsive chaperones and proteins, and proteins involved in other biological processes, such as biofilm formation and the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and glycan, to adapt to the thermal environment. Collectively, it indicates a functional regulation of bacterioplankton adaptation to high-temperature stress, which might advance the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of community adaptation to global extreme warming in aquatic ecosystems.

Highly Contaminated Marine Sediments Can Host Rare Bacterial Taxa Potentially Useful for Bioremediation

Coastal areas impacted by high anthropogenic pressures typically display sediment contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs). Microbial-based bioremediation represents a promising strategy for sediment reclamation, yet it frequently fails due to poor knowledge of the diversity and dynamics of the autochthonous microbial assemblages and to the inhibition of the target microbes in the contaminated matrix. In the present study, we used an integrated approach including a detailed environmental characterization, high-throughput sequencing and culturing to identify autochthonous bacteria with bioremediation potential in the sediments of Bagnoli-Coroglio (Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea), a coastal area highly contaminated by PAHs, aliphatic hydrocarbons and HMs. The analysis of the benthic prokaryotic diversity showed that the distribution of the dominant taxon (Gammaproteobacteria) was mainly influenced by PAHs, As, and Cd concentrations. The other abundant taxa (including Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, NB1-j, Desulfobacterota, and Myxococcota) were mainly driven by sediment grain size and by Cu and Cr concentrations, while the rare taxa (i.e., each contributing <1%) by As and aliphatic hydrocarbons concentrations and by sediment redox potential. These results suggest a differential response of bacterial taxa to environmental features and chemical contamination and those different bacterial groups may be inhibited or promoted by different contaminants. This hypothesis was confirmed by culturing and isolating 80 bacterial strains using media highly enriched in PAHs, only nine of which were contextually resistant to high HM concentrations. Such resistant isolates represented novel Gammaproteobacteria strains affiliated to Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas, and Agarivorans, which were only scarcely represented in their original assemblages. These findings suggest that rare but culturable bacterial strains resistant/tolerant to high levels of mixed contaminants can be promising candidates useful for the reclamation by bioaugmentation strategies of marine sediments that are highly contaminated with PAHs and HMs.

Spotlight on a novel bactericidal mechanism and a novel SXT/R391-like integrative and conjugative element, carrying multiple antibiotic resistance genes, in Pseudoalteromonas flavipulchra strain CDM8

Many Pseudoalteromonas strains can produce bioactive compounds with antimicrobial activities. This study focused on a probiotic candidate P.flavipulchra CDM8 to reveal its novel antibacterial mechanism and risks for antibiotic resistance dissemination. Strain CDM8 could form floating biofilm, displayed strikingly broad antibacterial activities against multiple Vibrio and Bacillus species, and decreased the competitor's concentration in their co-cultures in the microtiter plate tests. It could also form vesicle/pilus-like structures on the outer surface, which were indicated to participate in the bactericidal activity and represent a novel antibacterial mechanism of CDM8, according to the scanning electron microscopic observation. However, CDM8 displayed multi-antibiotic resistance, conferred by the multidrug resistance regions in hotspot 4 and variable region III of a novel SXT/R391-like integrative and conjugative element (ICEPflCDM8). Summing up, our results provided a better understanding of the bactericidal mechanism of P. flavipulchra and highlighted the role of SXT/R391-like ICEs in conferring multidrug resistance phenotype of probiotic P. flavipulchra candidates.

Hawaiian Bobtail Squid Symbionts Inhibit Marine Bacteria via Production of Specialized Metabolites, Including New Bromoalterochromides BAC-D/D'

Animals that deposit eggs must protect their embryos from fouling and disease by microorganisms to ensure successful development. Although beneficial bacteria are hypothesized to contribute to egg defense in many organisms, the mechanisms of this protection are only recently being elucidated. Our previous studies of the Hawaiian bobtail squid focused on fungal inhibition by beneficial bacterial symbionts of a female reproductive gland and eggs. Herein, using genomic and chemical analyses, we demonstrate that symbiotic bacteria from this gland can also inhibit other marine bacteria in vitro. One bacterial strain in particular, Pseudoalteromonas sp. JC28, had broad-spectrum abilities to inhibit potential fouling bacteria, in part via production of novel bromoalterochromide metabolites, confirmed via genomic annotation of the associated biosynthetic gene cluster. Our results suggest that these bacterial metabolites may contribute to antimicrobial activity in this association and that such defensive symbioses are underutilized sources for discovering novel antimicrobial compounds.

The Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, has a symbiotic bacterial consortium in the accessory nidamental gland (ANG), a female reproductive organ that protects eggs against fouling microorganisms. To test the antibacterial activity of ANG community members, 19 bacterial isolates were screened for their ability to inhibit Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, of which two strains were inhibitory. These two antibacterial isolates, Leisingera sp. ANG59 and Pseudoalteromonas sp. JC28, were subjected to further genomic characterization. Genomic analysis of Leisingera sp. ANG59 revealed a biosynthetic gene cluster encoding the antimicrobial compound indigoidine. The genome of Pseudoalteromonas sp. JC28 had a 14-gene cluster with >95% amino acid identity to a known bromoalterochromide (BAC) cluster. Chemical analysis confirmed production of known BACs, BAC-A/A′ (compounds 1a/1b), as well as two new derivatives, BAC-D/D′ (compounds 2a/2b). Extensive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses allowed complete structural elucidation of compounds 2a/2b, and the absolute stereochemistry was unambiguously determined using an optimized Marfey’s method. The BACs were then investigated for in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity. Compounds 1a/1b were active against the marine bacteria Bacillus algicola and Vibrio fischeri, while compounds 2a/2b were active only against B. algicola. Compounds 1a/1b inhibited NO production via lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophage cells and also inhibited the pathogenic fungus Fusarium keratoplasticum, which, coupled with their antibacterial activity, suggests that these polyketide-nonribosomal peptides may be used for squid egg defense against potential pathogens and/or fouling microorganisms. These results indicate that BACs may provide Pseudoalteromonas sp. JC28 an ecological niche, facilitating competition against nonsymbiotic microorganisms in the host’s environment.

IMPORTANCE Animals that deposit eggs must protect their embryos from fouling and disease by microorganisms to ensure successful development. Although beneficial bacteria are hypothesized to contribute to egg defense in many organisms, the mechanisms of this protection are only recently being elucidated. Our previous studies of the Hawaiian bobtail squid focused on fungal inhibition by beneficial bacterial symbionts of a female reproductive gland and eggs. Herein, using genomic and chemical analyses, we demonstrate that symbiotic bacteria from this gland can also inhibit other marine bacteria in vitro. One bacterial strain in particular, Pseudoalteromonas sp. JC28, had broad-spectrum abilities to inhibit potential fouling bacteria, in part via production of novel bromoalterochromide metabolites, confirmed via genomic annotation of the associated biosynthetic gene cluster. Our results suggest that these bacterial metabolites may contribute to antimicrobial activity in this association and that such defensive symbioses are underutilized sources for discovering novel antimicrobial compounds.

Natural extract and its fractions isolated from the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas flavipulchra STILL-33 have antioxidant and antiaging activities in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Investigations into the potential for pharmacological inhibition of the aging process and the onset of age-related disease are increasingly garnering attention. Here, we analyzed the antiaging properties of natural compounds derived from several marine bacteria in vitro and in vivo using the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The Pseudoalteromonas flavipulchra STILL-33 extract exhibited high antioxidant and antiglycation activities in vitro. We then characterized two antioxidant active fractions isolated from this extract. In addition, we showed that the P. flavipulchra STILL-33 extract or either of its two active fractions (Fractions 1 and 2) could extend the longevity of fission yeast. Moreover, the particular extract and two active fractions were found to induce mitochondrial activity and to delay the G1 phase of the fission yeast cell cycle, perhaps by improving the aging process. The P. flavipulchra STILL-33 extract and Fraction 1 also increased the expression of the catalase-encoding ctt1+ gene and thereby decreased the reactive oxygen species level. Structural analysis showed that Fraction 1 was dominated by l-arginine and ipriflavone, and we showed indeed that the two corresponding commercial products increase the fission yeast lifespan. As for Fraction 2 was identified as the putative structure of butamben. Together, these results should facilitate the discovery of additional antiaging compounds from P. flavipulchra and ultimately the development of novel antiaging compounds for pharmaceutical use.

Disruption of N-acyl-homoserine lactone-specific signalling and virulence in clinical pathogens by marine sponge bacteria

In recent years, the marine environment has been the subject of increasing attention from biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries. A combination of unique physicochemical properties and spatial niche-specific substrates, in wide-ranging and extreme habitats, underscores the potential of the marine environment to deliver on functionally novel bioactivities. One such area of ongoing research is the discovery of compounds that interfere with the cell-cell signalling process called quorum sensing (QS). Described as the next generation of antimicrobials, these compounds can target virulence and persistence of clinically relevant pathogens, independent of any growth-limiting effects. Marine sponges are a rich source of microbial diversity, with dynamic populations in a symbiotic relationship. In this study, we have harnessed the QS inhibition (QSI) potential of marine sponge microbiota and through culture-based discovery have uncovered small molecule signal mimics that neutralize virulence phenotypes in clinical pathogens. This study describes for the first time a marine sponge Psychrobacter sp. isolate B98C22 that blocks QS signalling, while also reporting dual QS/QSI activity in the Pseudoalteromonas sp. J10 and ParacoccusJM45. Isolation of novel QSI activities has significant potential for future therapeutic development, of particular relevance in the light of the pending perfect storm of antibiotic resistance meeting antibiotic drug discovery decline.

Dissemination of Genetic Acquisition/Loss Provides a Variety of Quorum Sensing Regulatory Properties in Pseudoalteromonas

A bstract: Quorum sensing (QS) enables single-celled bacteria to communicate with chemical signals in order to synchronize group-level bacterial behavior. Pseudoalteromonas are marine bacteria found in versatile environments, of which QS regulation for their habitat adaptation is extremely fragmentary. To distinguish genes required for QS regulation in Pseudoalteromonas, comparative genomics was deployed to define the pan-genomics for twelve isolates and previously-sequenced genomes, of which acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-based QS traits were characterized. Additionally, transposon mutagenesis was used to identify the essential QS regulatory genes in the selected Pseudoalteromonas isolate. A remarkable feature showed that AHL-based colorization intensity of biosensors induced by Pseudoalteromonas most likely correlates with QS regulators genetic heterogeneity within the genus. This is supported by the relative expression levels of two of the main QS regulatory genes (luxO and rpoN) analyzed in representative Pseudoalteromonas isolates. Notably, comprehensive QS regulatory schema and the working model proposed in Pseudoalteromonas seem to phylogenetically include the network architectures derived from Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, and Vibrio. Several associated genes were mapped by transposon mutagenesis. Among them, a right origin-binding protein-encoding gene (robp) was functionally identified as a positive QS regulatory gene. This gene lies on a genomic instable region and exists in the aforementioned bioinformatically recruited QS regulatory schema. The obtained data emphasize that the distinctly- and hierarchically-organized mechanisms probably target QS association in Pseudoalteromonas dynamic genomes, thus leading to bacterial ability to accommodate their adaption fitness and survival advantages.

Antimicrobial-producing Pseudoalteromonas from the marine environment of Panama shows a high phylogenetic diversity and clonal structure

Pseudoalteromonas is a genus of marine bacteria often found in association with other organisms. Although several studies have examined Pseudoalteromonas diversity and their antimicrobial activity, its diversity in tropical environments is largely unexplored. We investigated the diversity of Pseudoalteromonas in marine environments of Panama using a multilocus phylogenetic approach. Furthermore we tested their antimicrobial capacity and evaluated the effect of recombination and mutation in shaping their phylogenetic relationships. The reconstruction of clonal relationships among 78 strains including 15 reference Pseudoalteromonas species revealed 43 clonal lineages, divided in pigmented and non-pigmented strains. In total, 39 strains displayed moderate to high activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Linkage disequilibrium analyses showed that the Pseudoalteromonas strains of Panama have a highly clonal structure and that, although present, recombination is not frequent enough to break the association among alleles. This clonal structure is in contrast to the high rates of recombination generally reported for aquatic and marine bacteria. We propose that this structure is likely due to the symbiotic association with marine invertebrates of most strains analyzed. Our results also show that there are several putative new species of Pseudoalteromonas in Panama to be described.

Genomic analysis of Luteimonas abyssi XH031(T): insights into its adaption to the subseafloor environment of South Pacific Gyre and ecological role in biogeochemical cycle

Background

Luteimonas abyssi XH031^T, which was previously isolated from subseafloor environment of the South Pacific Gyre (SPG), was an aerobic, gram-negative bacterium, and was identified to be a novel species of the genus Luteimonas in the family of Xanthomonadaceae. The nutrients utilization and metabolic mechanisms of XH031^T indicate its plasticity. In view of the above characteristics, its genome was sequenced, and an in-depth analysis of the XH031^T genome was performed to elucidate its adaption to extreme ecological environment.

Results

Various macromolecules including polysaccharide, protein, lipid and DNA could be degraded at low temperature by XH031^T under laboratory conditions, and its degradation abilities to starch, gelatin and casein were considerably strong. Genome sequence analysis indicated that XH031^T possesses extensive enzyme-encoding genes compared with four other Luteimonas strains. In addition, intricate systems (such as two-component regulatory systems, secretion systems, etc.), which are often used by bacteria to modulate the interactions of bacteria with their environments, were predicted in the genome of XH031^T. Genes encoding a choline-glycine betaine transporter and 99 extracellular peptidases featured with halophilicity were predicted in the genome, which might help the bacterium to adapt to the salty marine environment. Moreover, there were many gene clusters in the genome encoding ATP-binding cassette superfamily transporters, major facilitator superfamily transporters and cytochrome P450s that might function in the process of various substrate transportation and metabolisms. Furthermore, drug resistance genes harbored in the genome might signify that XH031^T has evolved hereditary adaptation to toxic environment. Finally, the annotation of metabolic pathways of the elements (such as carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphor and iron) in the genome elucidated the degradation of organic matter in the deep sediment of the SPG.

Conclusions

The genome analysis showed that XH031^T had genetic advantages to adapt to subseafloor environment. The material metabolism manifests that the strain may play an important ecological role in the biogeochemical cycle of the SPG, and various cold-adapted extracelluar enzymes produced by the strain may have significant value in application.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2326-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Characterization of self-generated variants in Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica biofilm with increased antifouling activities

Pseudoalteromonas is widespread in various marine environments, and most strains can affect invertebrate larval settlement and metamorphosis by forming biofilms. However, the impact and the molecular basis of population diversification occurring in Pseudoalteromonas biofilms are poorly understood. Here, we show that morphological diversification is prevalent in Pseudoalteromonas species during biofilm formation. Two types of genetic variants, wrinkled (frequency of 12 ± 5 %) and translucent (frequency of 5 ± 3 %), were found in Pseudoalteromonas lipolytica biofilms. The inducing activities of biofilms formed by the two variants on larval settlement and metamorphosis of the mussel Mytilus coruscus were significantly decreased, suggesting strong antifouling activities. Using whole-genome re-sequencing combined with genetic manipulation, two genes were identified to be responsible for the morphology alternations. A nonsense mutation in AT00_08765 led to a wrinkled morphology due to the overproduction of cellulose, whereas a point mutation in AT00_17125 led to a translucent morphology via a reduction in capsular polysaccharide production. Taken together, the results suggest that the microbial behavior on larval settlement and metamorphosis in marine environment could be affected by the self-generated variants generated during the formation of marine biofilms, thereby rendering potential application in biocontrol of marine biofouling.

Enhancement of antibiotic activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria by the efflux pump inhibitor 3,4-dibromopyrrole-2,5-dione isolated from a Pseudoalteromonas sp

Members of the resistance nodulation cell division (RND) of efflux pumps play essential roles in multidrug resistance (MDR) in Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we describe the search for new small molecules from marine microbial extracts to block efflux and thus restore antibiotic susceptibility in MDR bacterial strains. We report the isolation of 3,4-dibromopyrrole-2,5-dione (1), an inhibitor of RND transporters, from Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, from the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas piscicida. 3,4-Dibromopyrrole-2,5-dione decreased the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of two fluoroquinolones, an aminoglycoside, a macrolide, a beta-lactam, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol between 2- and 16-fold in strains overexpressing three archetype RND transporters (AcrAB-TolC, MexAB-OprM, and MexXY-OprM). 3,4-Dibromopyrrole-2,5-dione also increased the intracellular accumulation of Hoechst 33342 in wild-type but not in transporter-deficient strains and prevented H33342 efflux (IC50 = 0.79 μg/mL or 3 μM), a hallmark of efflux pump inhibitor (EPI) functionality. A metabolomic survey of 36 Pseudoalteromonas isolates mapped the presence of primarily brominated metabolites only within the P. piscicida phylogenetic clade, where a majority of antibiotic activity was also observed, suggesting a link between halogenation and enhanced secondary metabolite biosynthetic potential. In sum, 3,4-dibromopyrrole-2,5-dione is a potent EPI and deserves further attention as an adjuvant to enhance the effectiveness of existing antibiotics.

Distribution and diversity of bacterioplankton communities in subtropical seawater around Xiamen Island, China

Marine bacterioplankton communities have profound impact on global biogeochemical cycles and ecological balances. However, relatively little is known about the bacterioplankton communities and the factors shaping their spatial distribution in subtropical island. Here, the bacterioplankton communities around a typical subtropical island, Xiamen Island, were revealed by analyzing bacterial 16S rRNA gene through quantitative PCR (qPCR) and 454 pyrosequencing methods. The qPCR results indicated that the abundance of 16S rRNA gene ranged from 2.07 × 10(7) to 2.13 × 10(8)copies mL(-1) in surface seawater among eight sampling sites (S1-S8) around Xiamen Island, and the nitrogen and phosphorus-rich sites (S5 and S8) were detected with higher 16S rRNA gene abundance. Pyrosequencing evidenced that a total of 267 genera of 47 classes in 26 different phyla (or candidate phyla) and some unclassified bacteria were obtained from seawater around Xiamen Island. The most dominant phylum was Proteobacteria (49.62-76.84% among sites), followed by Bacteroidetes (6.64-20.88%), Actinobacteria (2.58-9.20%), Firmicutes (0.03-13.30%), Verrucomicrobia (0.23-2.67%) and Planctomycetes (0.14-2.20%). Among eight sites, the nitrogen and phosphorus-rich sites (S5 and S8) exhibited higher proportions of Gammaproteobacteria, Epsilonproteobacteria, Firmicutes and lower proportions of Alphaproteobacteria and Planctomycetes than other sites. S5 and S8 also had more similar β-diversity, and sampling site near the estuary (S8) showed the highest bacterial diversity. Redundancy analysis (RDA) confirmed that total nitrogen and total phosphorus significantly (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively) influenced the bacterioplankton communities around Xiamen Island. These results will provide insights into bacterial abundance, diversity and distribution patterns, as well as their controlling factors, in subtropical marine ecosystems.

Genome analysis of Flaviramulus ichthyoenteri Th78(T) in the family Flavobacteriaceae: insights into its quorum quenching property and potential roles in fish intestine

Background

Intestinal microbes play significant roles in fish and can be possibly used as probiotics in aquaculture. In our previous study, Flaviramulus ichthyoenteri Th78^T, a novel species in the family Flavobacteriaceae, was isolated from fish intestine and showed strong quorum quenching (QQ) ability. To identify the QQ enzymes in Th78^T and explore the potential roles of Th78^T in fish intestine, we sequenced the genome of Th78^T and performed extensive genomic analysis.

Results

An N-acyl homoserine lactonase FiaL belonging to the metallo-β-lactamase superfamily was identified and the QQ activity of heterologously expressed FiaL was confirmed in vitro. FiaL has relatively little similarity to the known lactonases (25.2 ~ 27.9% identity in amino acid sequence). Various digestive enzymes including alginate lyases and lipases can be produced by Th78^T, and enzymes essential for production of B vitamins such as biotin, riboflavin and folate are predicted. Genes encoding sialic acid lyases, sialidases, sulfatases and fucosidases, which contribute to utilization of mucus, are present in the genome. In addition, genes related to response to different stresses and gliding motility were also identified. Comparative genome analysis shows that Th78^T has more specific genes involved in carbohydrate transport and metabolism compared to other two isolates in Flavobacteriaceae, both isolated from sediments.

Conclusions

The genome of Th78^T exhibits evident advantages for this bacterium to survive in the fish intestine, including production of QQ enzyme, utilization of various nutrients available in the intestine as well as the ability to produce digestive enzymes and vitamins, which also provides an application prospect of Th78^T to be used as a probiotic in aquaculture.

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The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1275-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Development of an efficient conjugation-based genetic manipulation system for Pseudoalteromonas

Pseudoalteromonas is commonly found throughout the world's oceans, and has gained increased attention due to the ecological and biological significance. Although over fifty Pseudoalteromonas genomes have been sequenced with an aim to explore the adaptive strategies in different habitats, in vivo studies are hampered by the lack of effective genetic manipulation systems for most strains in this genus. Here, nine Pseudoalteromonas strains isolated from different habitats were selected and used as representative strains to develop a universal genetic manipulation system. Erythromycin and chloramphenicol resistance were chosen as selection markers based on antibiotics resistance test of the nine strains. A conjugation protocol based on the RP4 conjugative machinery in E. coli WM3064 was developed to overcome current limitations of genetic manipulation in Pseudoalteromonas. Two mobilizable gene expression shuttle vectors (pWD2-oriT and pWD2Ery-oriT) were constructed, and conjugation efficiency of pWD2-oriT from E. coli to the nine Pseudoalteromonas strains ranged from 10(-6) to 10(-3) transconjugants per recipient cells. Two suicide vectors, pK18mobsacB-Cm and pK18mobsacB-Ery (with sacB for counter-selection), were constructed for gene knockout. To verify the feasibility of this system, we selected gene or operon that may lead to phenotypic change once disrupted as targets to facilitate in vivo functional confirmation. Successful deletions of two genes related to prodigiosin biosynthesis (pigMK) in P. rubra DSM 6842, one biofilm related gene (bsmA) in P. sp. SM9913, one gene related to melanin hyperproduction (hmgA) in P. lipolytica SCSIO 04301 and two flagella-related genes (fliF and fliG) in P. sp. SCSIO 11900 were verified, respectively. In addition, complementation of hmgA using shuttle vector pWD2-oriT was rescued the phenotype caused by deletion of chromosomal copy of hmgA in P. lipolytica SCSIO 04301. Taken together, we demonstrate that the vectors and the conjugative protocol developed here have potential to use in various Pseudoalteromonas strains.

Antibacterial efficacy of recombinant Siganus oramin L-amino acid oxidase expressed in Pichia pastoris

Siganus oraminl-amino acid oxidase is a novel natural protein (named SR-LAAO) isolated from serum of the rabbitfish (S. oramin), which showed antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and had a lethal effect on the parasites Cryptocaryon irritans, Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. In order to test whether recombinant SR-LAAO (rSR-LAAO) produced by the eukaryotic expression system also has antimicrobial activity, the yeast Pichia pastoris was used as the expression host to obtain rSR-LAAO in vitro. Crude rSR-LAAO produced by P. pastoris integrated with the SR-LAAO gene had antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as shown by inhibition zone assay of the antibacterial spectrum on agar plates. The average diameter of the inhibition zone of crude rSR-LAAO against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae was 1.040 ± 0.045 cm and 1.209 ± 0.085 cm, respectively. For the Gram-negative bacteria Aeromonas sobria, Escherichia coli, Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio cholera and Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida, the average diameter of inhibition zone was 1.291 ± 0.089 cm, 0.943 ± 0.061 cm, 0.756 ± 0.057 cm, 0.834 ± 0.023 cm and 1.211 ± 0.026 cm, respectively. These results were obtained at the logarithmic growth phase of S. agalactiae and A. sobria cell suspensions after incubation with 0.5 mg/mL crude rSR-LAAO for 24 h. The final bacterial growth rate was decreased significantly. The relative inhibition rate can reach 50% compared to crude products from P. pastoris integrated with an empty vector at the same concentration of protein. The antimicrobial activity of crude rSR-LAAO was likely associated with H2O2 formation, because its inhibition zones were disturbed significantly by catalase. Scanning electron microscopy results showed crude rSR-LAAO-treated bacterial surfaces became rough and particles were attached, cell walls were retracted and cell membranes were ruptured. Together, the results of this study indicated rSR-LAAO from the P. pastoris expression system is a potential antibiotic for application as a therapeutic agent against bacterial diseases.