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Duan Y, Santos-Júnior CD, Schmidt TS, Fullam A, de Almeida BLS, Zhu C, Kuhn M, Zhao XM, Bork P, Coelho LP. A catalog of small proteins from the global microbiome. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7563. [PMID: 39214983 PMCID: PMC11364881 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51894-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Small open reading frames (smORFs) shorter than 100 codons are widespread and perform essential roles in microorganisms, where they encode proteins active in several cell functions, including signal pathways, stress response, and antibacterial activities. However, the ecology, distribution and role of small proteins in the global microbiome remain unknown. Here, we construct a global microbial smORFs catalog (GMSC) derived from 63,410 publicly available metagenomes across 75 distinct habitats and 87,920 high-quality isolate genomes. GMSC contains 965 million non-redundant smORFs with comprehensive annotations. We find that archaea harbor more smORFs proportionally than bacteria. We moreover provide a tool called GMSC-mapper to identify and annotate small proteins from microbial (meta)genomes. Overall, this publicly-available resource demonstrates the immense and underexplored diversity of small proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqian Duan
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Célio Dias Santos-Júnior
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Microbial Processes & Biodiversity - LMPB; Department of Hydrobiology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thomas Sebastian Schmidt
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- APC Microbiome and School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Anthony Fullam
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Breno L S de Almeida
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengkai Zhu
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Michael Kuhn
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xing-Ming Zhao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai, 200031, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Peer Bork
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Luis Pedro Coelho
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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2
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Santos-Júnior CD, Torres MDT, Duan Y, Rodríguez Del Río Á, Schmidt TSB, Chong H, Fullam A, Kuhn M, Zhu C, Houseman A, Somborski J, Vines A, Zhao XM, Bork P, Huerta-Cepas J, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Coelho LP. Discovery of antimicrobial peptides in the global microbiome with machine learning. Cell 2024; 187:3761-3778.e16. [PMID: 38843834 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.013] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Novel antibiotics are urgently needed to combat the antibiotic-resistance crisis. We present a machine-learning-based approach to predict antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) within the global microbiome and leverage a vast dataset of 63,410 metagenomes and 87,920 prokaryotic genomes from environmental and host-associated habitats to create the AMPSphere, a comprehensive catalog comprising 863,498 non-redundant peptides, few of which match existing databases. AMPSphere provides insights into the evolutionary origins of peptides, including by duplication or gene truncation of longer sequences, and we observed that AMP production varies by habitat. To validate our predictions, we synthesized and tested 100 AMPs against clinically relevant drug-resistant pathogens and human gut commensals both in vitro and in vivo. A total of 79 peptides were active, with 63 targeting pathogens. These active AMPs exhibited antibacterial activity by disrupting bacterial membranes. In conclusion, our approach identified nearly one million prokaryotic AMP sequences, an open-access resource for antibiotic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célio Dias Santos-Júnior
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Laboratory of Microbial Processes & Biodiversity - LMPB, Department of Hydrobiology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, São Carlos, São Paulo 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Marcelo D T Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yiqian Duan
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Álvaro Rodríguez Del Río
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo-UPM, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Thomas S B Schmidt
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany; APC Microbiome & School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Hui Chong
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Anthony Fullam
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Kuhn
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chengkai Zhu
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Amy Houseman
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jelena Somborski
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Anna Vines
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xing-Ming Zhao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peer Bork
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany; Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jaime Huerta-Cepas
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo-UPM, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Luis Pedro Coelho
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
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Coelho LP, Santos-Júnior CD, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Challenges in computational discovery of bioactive peptides in 'omics data. Proteomics 2024; 24:e2300105. [PMID: 38458994 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202300105] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Peptides have a plethora of activities in biological systems that can potentially be exploited biotechnologically. Several peptides are used clinically, as well as in industry and agriculture. The increase in available 'omics data has recently provided a large opportunity for mining novel enzymes, biosynthetic gene clusters, and molecules. While these data primarily consist of DNA sequences, other types of data provide important complementary information. Due to their size, the approaches proven successful at discovering novel proteins of canonical size cannot be naïvely applied to the discovery of peptides. Peptides can be encoded directly in the genome as short open reading frames (smORFs), or they can be derived from larger proteins by proteolysis. Both of these peptide classes pose challenges as simple methods for their prediction result in large numbers of false positives. Similarly, functional annotation of larger proteins, traditionally based on sequence similarity to infer orthology and then transferring functions between characterized proteins and uncharacterized ones, cannot be applied for short sequences. The use of these techniques is much more limited and alternative approaches based on machine learning are used instead. Here, we review the limitations of traditional methods as well as the alternative methods that have recently been developed for discovering novel bioactive peptides with a focus on prokaryotic genomes and metagenomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Pedro Coelho
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Célio Dias Santos-Júnior
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Microbial Processes & Biodiversity - LMPB, Hydrobiology Department, Federal University of São Carlos - UFSCar, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Castañeda-Monsalve V, Fröhlich LF, Haange SB, Homsi MN, Rolle-Kampczyk U, Fu Q, von Bergen M, Jehmlich N. High-throughput screening of the effects of 90 xenobiotics on the simplified human gut microbiota model (SIHUMIx): a metaproteomic and metabolomic study. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1349367. [PMID: 38444810 PMCID: PMC10912515 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1349367] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiota is a complex microbial community with critical functions for the host, including the transformation of various chemicals. While effects on microorganisms has been evaluated using single-species models, their functional effects within more complex microbial communities remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the response of a simplified human gut microbiota model (SIHUMIx) cultivated in an in vitro bioreactor system in combination with 96 deep-well plates after exposure to 90 different xenobiotics, comprising 54 plant protection products and 36 food additives and dyes, at environmentally relevant concentrations. We employed metaproteomics and metabolomics to evaluate changes in bacterial abundances, the production of Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), and the regulation of metabolic pathways. Our findings unveiled significant changes induced by 23 out of 54 plant protection products and 28 out of 36 food additives across all three categories assessed. Notable highlights include azoxystrobin, fluroxypyr, and ethoxyquin causing a substantial reduction (log2FC < -0.5) in the concentrations of the primary SCFAs: acetate, butyrate, and propionate. Several food additives had significant effects on the relative abundances of bacterial species; for example, acid orange 7 and saccharin led to a 75% decrease in Clostridium butyricum, with saccharin causing an additional 2.5-fold increase in E. coli compared to the control. Furthermore, both groups exhibited up- and down-regulation of various pathways, including those related to the metabolism of amino acids such as histidine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine, as well as bacterial secretion systems and energy pathways like starch, sucrose, butanoate, and pyruvate metabolism. This research introduces an efficient in vitro technique that enables high-throughput screening of the structure and function of a simplified and well-defined human gut microbiota model against 90 chemicals using metaproteomics and metabolomics. We believe this approach will be instrumental in characterizing chemical-microbiota interactions especially important for regulatory chemical risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Castañeda-Monsalve
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Laura-Fabienne Fröhlich
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sven-Bastiaan Haange
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Masun Nabhan Homsi
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike Rolle-Kampczyk
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Qiuguo Fu
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin von Bergen
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biosciences, Pharmacy and Psychology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nico Jehmlich
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH (UFZ), Leipzig, Germany
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Kipping L, Jehmlich N, Moll J, Noll M, Gossner MM, Van Den Bossche T, Edelmann P, Borken W, Hofrichter M, Kellner H. Enzymatic machinery of wood-inhabiting fungi that degrade temperate tree species. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae050. [PMID: 38519103 PMCID: PMC11022342 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae050] [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: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Deadwood provides habitat for fungi and serves diverse ecological functions in forests. We already have profound knowledge of fungal assembly processes, physiological and enzymatic activities, and resulting physico-chemical changes during deadwood decay. However, in situ detection and identification methods, fungal origins, and a mechanistic understanding of the main lignocellulolytic enzymes are lacking. This study used metaproteomics to detect the main extracellular lignocellulolytic enzymes in 12 tree species in a temperate forest that have decomposed for 8 ½ years. Mainly white-rot (and few brown-rot) Basidiomycota were identified as the main wood decomposers, with Armillaria as the dominant genus; additionally, several soft-rot xylariaceous Ascomycota were identified. The key enzymes involved in lignocellulolysis included manganese peroxidase, peroxide-producing alcohol oxidases, laccase, diverse glycoside hydrolases (cellulase, glucosidase, xylanase), esterases, and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases. The fungal community and enzyme composition differed among the 12 tree species. Ascomycota species were more prevalent in angiosperm logs than in gymnosperm logs. Regarding lignocellulolysis as a function, the extracellular enzyme toolbox acted simultaneously and was interrelated (e.g. peroxidases and peroxide-producing enzymes were strongly correlated), highly functionally redundant, and present in all logs. In summary, our in situ study provides comprehensive and detailed insight into the enzymatic machinery of wood-inhabiting fungi in temperate tree species. These findings will allow us to relate changes in environmental factors to lignocellulolysis as an ecosystem function in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Kipping
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ GmbH, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Bioanalysis, University of Applied Sciences Coburg, 96450 Coburg, Germany
| | - Nico Jehmlich
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ GmbH, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Julia Moll
- Department of Soil Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ GmbH, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Matthias Noll
- Institute for Bioanalysis, University of Applied Sciences Coburg, 96450 Coburg, Germany
- Department of Soil Ecology, University of Bayreuth, 95448 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Martin M Gossner
- Forest Entomology, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tim Van Den Bossche
- VIB—UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pascal Edelmann
- Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Management, Center of School of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, TU München, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Werner Borken
- Department of Soil Ecology, University of Bayreuth, 95448 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Martin Hofrichter
- Department of Bio- and Environmental Sciences, International Institute Zittau, TU Dresden, 02763 Zittau, Germany
| | - Harald Kellner
- Department of Bio- and Environmental Sciences, International Institute Zittau, TU Dresden, 02763 Zittau, Germany
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Genth J, Schäfer K, Cassidy L, Graspeuntner S, Rupp J, Tholey A. Identification of proteoforms of short open reading frame-encoded peptides in Blautia producta under different cultivation conditions. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0252823. [PMID: 37782090 PMCID: PMC10715070 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02528-23] [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: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The identification of short open reading frame-encoded peptides (SEP) and different proteoforms in single cultures of gut microbes offers new insights into a largely neglected part of the microbial proteome landscape. This is of particular importance as SEP provide various predicted functions, such as acting as antimicrobial peptides, maintaining cell homeostasis under stress conditions, or even contributing to the virulence pattern. They are, thus, taking a poorly understood role in structure and function of microbial networks in the human body. A better understanding of SEP in the context of human health requires a precise understanding of the abundance of SEP both in commensal microbes as well as pathogens. For the gut beneficial B. producta, we demonstrate the importance of specific environmental conditions for biosynthesis of SEP expanding previous findings about their role in microbial interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Genth
- Systematic Proteome Research & Bioanalytics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Kathrin Schäfer
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Liam Cassidy
- Systematic Proteome Research & Bioanalytics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Simon Graspeuntner
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Jan Rupp
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Andreas Tholey
- Systematic Proteome Research & Bioanalytics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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Lee YJ. Examining the functional space of gut microbiome-derived peptides. Microbiologyopen 2023; 12:e1393. [PMID: 38129980 PMCID: PMC10714122 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1393] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiome contains thousands of small, novel peptides that could play a role in microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions, contributing to human health and disease. Although these peptides have not yet been systematically characterized, computational tools can be used to elucidate the bioactivities they may have. This article proposes probing the functional space of gut microbiome-derived peptides (MDPs) using in silico approaches for three bioactivities: antimicrobial, anticancer, and nucleomodulins. Machine learning programs that support peptide and protein queries are provided for each bioactivity. Considering the biases of an activity-centric approach, activity-agnostic tools using structural and chemical similarity and target prediction are also described. Gut MDPs represent a vast functional space that can not only contribute to our understanding of microbiome interactions but potentially even serve as a source of life-changing therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying‐Chiang J. Lee
- Department of Molecular BiologyPrinceton UniversityPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
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8
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Abdelazeem AS, Fayed AMA, Basyony MM, Abu Hafsa SH, Mahmoud AEM. Hematology profile, digestive enzymes, thyroid hormones, productivity, and nitrogen balance of growing male rabbits supplemented with exogenous dietary lysozyme. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:3637-3646. [PMID: 36905153 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2023.2187411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
In a simple randomized design trial, 420 growing male V-Line rabbits were randomly distributed into four groups to investigate the impact of exogenous dietary lysozyme on some physiological and nutritional parameters of male growing rabbits supplemented with exogenous dietary lysozyme. The witness group received a basal diet without exogenous dietary lysozyme (LYZ0), while the exogenous dietary lysozyme groups received 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg of basal diet (Groups; LYZ50, LYZ100 and LYZ150), respectively. The results showed significantly increased in blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell, lipase, protease, amylase, total protein, triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels, while thyroid stimulating hormone levels significantly lessened in rabbits received LYZ. The LYZ- rabbit diets improved total digestible nutrient, digestible crude protein, and digestible energy values, with the LYZ100 group outperforming the others. LYZ-treated rabbits had significantly higher nitrogen intake, digestible nitrogen, and nitrogen balance than the witness group. The lysozyme in a rabbit's diet is taking on a new role as a digestive enzyme, enhancement thyroid hormones, as well as improvement hematology, daily protein efficiency ratio, daily performance index, hot carcass, total edible parts, nutritional value, and nitrogen balance, with decreasing the daily caloric conversion ratio and total non-edible parts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amal M A Fayed
- Agricultural Research Center, Animal Production Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Basyony
- Agricultural Research Center, Animal Production Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Salma H Abu Hafsa
- Livestock Research Department, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Amr E M Mahmoud
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
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9
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Santos-Júnior CD, Der Torossian Torres M, Duan Y, del Río ÁR, Schmidt TS, Chong H, Fullam A, Kuhn M, Zhu C, Houseman A, Somborski J, Vines A, Zhao XM, Bork P, Huerta-Cepas J, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Coelho LP. Computational exploration of the global microbiome for antibiotic discovery. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.31.555663. [PMID: 37693522 PMCID: PMC10491242 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.31.555663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Novel antibiotics are urgently needed to combat the antibiotic-resistance crisis. We present a machine learning-based approach to predict prokaryotic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) by leveraging a vast dataset of 63,410 metagenomes and 87,920 microbial genomes. This led to the creation of AMPSphere, a comprehensive catalog comprising 863,498 non-redundant peptides, the majority of which were previously unknown. We observed that AMP production varies by habitat, with animal-associated samples displaying the highest proportion of AMPs compared to other habitats. Furthermore, within different human-associated microbiota, strain-level differences were evident. To validate our predictions, we synthesized and experimentally tested 50 AMPs, demonstrating their efficacy against clinically relevant drug-resistant pathogens both in vitro and in vivo. These AMPs exhibited antibacterial activity by targeting the bacterial membrane. Additionally, AMPSphere provides valuable insights into the evolutionary origins of peptides. In conclusion, our approach identified AMP sequences within prokaryotic microbiomes, opening up new avenues for the discovery of antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célio Dias Santos-Júnior
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Yiqian Duan
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Álvaro Rodríguez del Río
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo-UPM, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Thomas S.B. Schmidt
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hui Chong
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Anthony Fullam
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Kuhn
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chengkai Zhu
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Amy Houseman
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jelena Somborski
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Anna Vines
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xing-Ming Zhao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence
- MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- International Human Phenome Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Peer Bork
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jaime Huerta-Cepas
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo-UPM, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Luis Pedro Coelho
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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10
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Meier-Credo J, Heiniger B, Schori C, Rupprecht F, Michel H, Ahrens CH, Langer JD. Detection of Known and Novel Small Proteins in Pseudomonas stutzeri Using a Combination of Bottom-Up and Digest-Free Proteomics and Proteogenomics. Anal Chem 2023; 95:11892-11900. [PMID: 37535005 PMCID: PMC10433244 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c00676] [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: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Small proteins of around 50 aa in length have been largely overlooked in genetic and biochemical assays due to the inherent challenges with detecting and characterizing them. Recent discoveries of their critical roles in many biological processes have led to an increased recognition of the importance of small proteins for basic research and as potential new drug targets. One example is CcoM, a 36 aa subunit of the cbb3-type oxidase that plays an essential role in adaptation to oxygen-limited conditions in Pseudomonas stutzeri (P. stutzeri), a model for the clinically relevant, opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, as no comprehensive data were available in P. stutzeri, we devised an integrated, generic approach to study small proteins more systematically. Using the first complete genome as basis, we conducted bottom-up proteomics analyses and established a digest-free, direct-sequencing proteomics approach to study cells grown under aerobic and oxygen-limiting conditions. Finally, we also applied a proteogenomics pipeline to identify missed protein-coding genes. Overall, we identified 2921 known and 29 novel proteins, many of which were differentially regulated. Among 176 small proteins 16 were novel. Direct sequencing, featuring a specialized precursor acquisition scheme, exhibited advantages in the detection of small proteins with higher (up to 100%) sequence coverage and more spectral counts, including sequences with high proline content. Three novel small proteins, uniquely identified by direct sequencing and not conserved beyond P. stutzeri, were predicted to form an operon with a conserved protein and may represent de novo genes. These data demonstrate the power of this combined approach to study small proteins in P. stutzeri and show its potential for other prokaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Meier-Credo
- Proteomics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Benjamin Heiniger
- Molecular
Ecology, Agroscope & SIB Swiss Institute
of Bioinformatics, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Schori
- Molecular
Ecology, Agroscope & SIB Swiss Institute
of Bioinformatics, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Fiona Rupprecht
- Proteomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain
Research, 60438 Frankfurt
am Main, Germany
| | - Hartmut Michel
- Department
of Molecular Membrane Biology, Max Planck
Institute of Biophysics, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christian H. Ahrens
- Molecular
Ecology, Agroscope & SIB Swiss Institute
of Bioinformatics, 8046 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Julian D. Langer
- Proteomics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Proteomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain
Research, 60438 Frankfurt
am Main, Germany
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11
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Lee KW, Shin JS, Lee CM, Han HY, O Y, Kim HW, Cho TJ. Gut-on-a-Chip for the Analysis of Bacteria-Bacteria Interactions in Gut Microbial Community: What Would Be Needed for Bacterial Co-Culture Study to Explore the Diet-Microbiota Relationship? Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15051131. [PMID: 36904133 PMCID: PMC10005057 DOI: 10.3390/nu15051131] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial co-culture studies using synthetic gut microbiomes have reported novel research designs to understand the underlying role of bacterial interaction in the metabolism of dietary resources and community assembly of complex microflora. Since lab-on-a-chip mimicking the gut (hereafter "gut-on-a-chip") is one of the most advanced platforms for the simulative research regarding the correlation between host health and microbiota, the co-culture of the synthetic bacterial community in gut-on-a-chip is expected to reveal the diet-microbiota relationship. This critical review analyzed recent research on bacterial co-culture with perspectives on the ecological niche of commensals, probiotics, and pathogens to categorize the experimental approaches for diet-mediated management of gut health as the compositional and/or metabolic modulation of the microbiota and the control of pathogens. Meanwhile, the aim of previous research on bacterial culture in gut-on-a-chip has been mainly limited to the maintenance of the viability of host cells. Thus, the integration of study designs established for the co-culture of synthetic gut consortia with various nutritional resources into gut-on-a-chip is expected to reveal bacterial interspecies interactions related to specific dietary patterns. This critical review suggests novel research topics for co-culturing bacterial communities in gut-on-a-chip to realize an ideal experimental platform mimicking a complex intestinal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki Won Lee
- Department of Food and Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, 2511, Sejong-ro, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Song Shin
- Department of Food Regulatory Science, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, 2511, Sejong-ro, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Min Lee
- Department of Food and Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, 2511, Sejong-ro, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Hea Yeon Han
- Department of Food and Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, 2511, Sejong-ro, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun O
- Department of Food Regulatory Science, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, 2511, Sejong-ro, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Won Kim
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Tae Jin Cho
- Department of Food and Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, 2511, Sejong-ro, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
- Department of Food Regulatory Science, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, 2511, Sejong-ro, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-44-860-1433
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12
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Aziz S, Rasheed F, Akhter TS, Zahra R, König S. Microbial Proteins in Stomach Biopsies Associated with Gastritis, Ulcer, and Gastric Cancer. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175410. [PMID: 36080177 PMCID: PMC9458002 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Helicobacter pylori infection is a major risk factor, but other microbial species may also be involved. In the context of an earlier proteomics study of serum and biopsies of patients with gastroduodenal diseases, we explored here a simplified microbiome in these biopsies (H. pylori, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Bacteroides fragilis) on the protein level. (2) Methods: A cohort of 75 patients was divided into groups with respect to the findings of the normal gastric mucosa (NGM) and gastroduodenal disorders such as gastritis, ulcer, and gastric cancer (GC). The H. pylori infection status was determined. The protein expression analysis of the biopsy samples was carried out using high-definition mass spectrometry of the tryptic digest (label-free data-independent quantification and statistical analysis). (3) Results: The total of 304 bacterial protein matches were detected based on two or more peptide hits. Significantly regulated microbial proteins like virulence factor type IV secretion system protein CagE from H. pylori were found with more abundance in gastritis than in GC or NGM. This finding could reflect the increased microbial involvement in mucosa inflammation in line with current hypotheses. Abundant proteins across species were heat shock proteins and elongation factors. (4) Conclusions: Next to the bulk of human proteins, a number of species-specific bacterial proteins were detected in stomach biopsies of patients with gastroduodenal diseases, some of which, like those expressed by the cag pathogenicity island, may provide gateways to disease prevention without antibacterial intervention in order to reduce antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Aziz
- Patients Diagnostic Lab, Isotope Application Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
- IZKF Core Unit Proteomics, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Correspondence: or
| | - Faisal Rasheed
- Patients Diagnostic Lab, Isotope Application Division, Pakistan Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology (PINSTECH), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Tayyab Saeed Akhter
- The Centre for Liver and Digestive Diseases, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
| | - Rabaab Zahra
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Simone König
- IZKF Core Unit Proteomics, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
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13
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Rumen Metaproteomics Highlight the Unique Contributions of Microbe-Derived Extracellular and Intracellular Proteins for In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation. FERMENTATION 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation8080394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rumen microorganisms can be used in in vitro anaerobic fermentation to encourage the sustainable exploitation of agricultural wastes. However, the understanding of active microbiota under in vitro ruminal fermentation conditions is still insufficient. To investigate how rumen microbes actively participate in the fermentation process in vitro, we resolved the metaproteome generated from ruminal fermentation broth after seven days of in vitro incubation. Herein, the sample-specific database for metaproteomic analysis was constructed according to the metagenomic data of in vitro ruminal fermentation. Based on the sample-specific database, we found in the metaproteome that Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes_A were the most active in protein expression, and over 50% of these proteins were assigned to gene categories involved in energy conversion and basic structures. On the other hand, a variety of bacteria-derived extracellular proteins, which contained carbohydrate-active enzyme domains, were found in the extracellular proteome of fermentation broth. Additionally, the bacterial intracellular/surface moonlighting proteins (ISMPs) and proteins of outer membrane vesicles were detected in the extracellular proteome, and these ISMPs were involved in maintaining microbial population size through potential adherence to substrates. The metaproteomic characterizations of microbial intracellular/extracellular proteins provide new insights into the ability of the rumen microbiome to maintain in vitro ruminal fermentation.
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14
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Adaptation and Resistance: How Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Copes with the Bisphenol A Substitute Bisphenol F. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081610. [PMID: 36014027 PMCID: PMC9414779 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bisphenols are used in the process of polymerization of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Bisphenols can easily migrate out of plastic products and enter the gastrointestinal system. By increasing colonic inflammation in mice, disrupting the intestinal bacterial community structure and altering the microbial membrane transport system in zebrafish, bisphenols seem to interfere with the gut microbiome. The highly abundant human commensal bacterium Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron was exposed to bisphenols (Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol F (BPF), Bisphenol S (BPS)), to examine the mode of action, in particular of BPF. All chemicals caused a concentration-dependent growth inhibition and the half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) corresponded to their individual logP values, a measure of their hydrophobicity. B. thetaiotaomicron exposed to BPF decreased membrane fluidity with increasing BPF concentrations. Physiological changes including an increase of acetate concentrations were observed. On the proteome level, a higher abundance of several ATP synthase subunits and multidrug efflux pumps suggested an increased energy demand for adaptive mechanisms after BPF exposure. Defense mechanisms were also implicated by a pathway analysis that identified a higher abundance of members of resistance pathways/strategies to cope with xenobiotics (i.e., antibiotics). Here, we present further insights into the mode of action of bisphenols in a human commensal gut bacterium regarding growth inhibition, and the physiological and functional state of the cell. These results, combined with microbiota-directed effects, could lead to a better understanding of host health disturbances and disease development based on xenobiotic uptake.
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15
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Zhang Z, Li Y, Yuan W, Wang Z, Wan C. Proteomic-driven identification of short open reading frame-encoded peptides. Proteomics 2022; 22:e2100312. [PMID: 35384297 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202100312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence has shown that a large number of short open reading frames (sORFs) also have the ability to encode proteins. The discovery of sORFs opens up a new research area, leading to the identification and functional study of sORF encoded peptides (SEPs) at the omics level. Besides bioinformatics prediction and ribosomal profiling, mass spectrometry (MS) has become a significant tool as it directly detects the sequence of SEPs. Though MS-based proteomics methods have proved to be effective for qualitative and quantitative analysis of SEPs, the detection of SEPs is still a great challenge due to their low abundance and short sequence. To illustrate the progress in method development, we described and discussed the main steps of large-scale proteomics identification of SEPs, including SEP extraction and enrichment, MS detection, data processing and quality control, quantification, and function prediction and validation methods. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujie Li
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenqian Yuan
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuihong Wan
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, People's Republic of China
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16
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In vitro interaction network of a synthetic gut bacterial community. THE ISME JOURNAL 2022; 16:1095-1109. [PMID: 34857933 PMCID: PMC8941000 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01153-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A key challenge in microbiome research is to predict the functionality of microbial communities based on community membership and (meta)-genomic data. As central microbiota functions are determined by bacterial community networks, it is important to gain insight into the principles that govern bacteria-bacteria interactions. Here, we focused on the growth and metabolic interactions of the Oligo-Mouse-Microbiota (OMM12) synthetic bacterial community, which is increasingly used as a model system in gut microbiome research. Using a bottom-up approach, we uncovered the directionality of strain-strain interactions in mono- and pairwise co-culture experiments as well as in community batch culture. Metabolic network reconstruction in combination with metabolomics analysis of bacterial culture supernatants provided insights into the metabolic potential and activity of the individual community members. Thereby, we could show that the OMM12 interaction network is shaped by both exploitative and interference competition in vitro in nutrient-rich culture media and demonstrate how community structure can be shifted by changing the nutritional environment. In particular, Enterococcus faecalis KB1 was identified as an important driver of community composition by affecting the abundance of several other consortium members in vitro. As a result, this study gives fundamental insight into key drivers and mechanistic basis of the OMM12 interaction network in vitro, which serves as a knowledge base for future mechanistic in vivo studies.
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17
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Abu Hafsa SH, Mahmoud AEM, Fayed AMA, Abdel-Azeem AAS. The Effect of Exogenous Lysozyme Supplementation on Growth Performance, Caecal Fermentation and Microbiota, and Blood Constituents in Growing Rabbits. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12070899. [PMID: 35405887 PMCID: PMC8996916 DOI: 10.3390/ani12070899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of exogenous lysozyme supplementation (LYZ) on growth performance, caecal fermentation and microbiota, and blood characteristics were investigated in growing rabbits. A total of 420 growing male V-Line rabbits (30 d old; weighing 528 ± 16 g) were randomly divided into four groups of 105 rabbits each, and monitored for 42 days. Experimental groups included a control group (LYZ0) fed a basal diet without LYZ supplementation, and three treated groups fed the same basal diet supplemented with LYZ at 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg diet, respectively. The results showed a quadratic improvement in the final body weight, daily growth rate, FCR, and digestibility of DM, while the digestibility of OM, CP, EE, NDF, and ADF improved linearly when LYZ supplementation was increased. The dressing percentage increased quadratically when LYZ levels were increased in the rabbit diets. In rabbits fed LYZ diets, L. acidophilus counts increased linearly (p < 0.05) and L. cellobiosus, and Enterococcus sp. counts increased quadratically, whereas E. coli counts decreased. In the LYZ-supplemented groups, the caecal pH value and NH3-N concentration declined quadratically, whereas total VFA, acetic, and butyric acids increased. Total lipids decreased linearly, whilst triglycerides and cholesterol decreased quadratically with LYZ supplementation. Total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, and catalase increased quadratically, while malondialdehyde decreased linearly in the LYZ-supplemented groups. In conclusion, exogenous lysozyme administration improved rabbit growth performance and antioxidant status while lowering the blood lipid profile, altering the bacterial population, and regulating caecal fermentation. Therefore, LYZ up to 150 mg/kg can be used as a potential supplement in rabbit feed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma H. Abu Hafsa
- Livestock Research Department, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg El-Arab, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +20-10-0031-3649; Fax: +20-34-593-423
| | - Amr E. M. Mahmoud
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, Fayoum 63514, Egypt;
| | - Amal M. A. Fayed
- Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt;
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18
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Ahrens CH, Wade JT, Champion MM, Langer JD. A Practical Guide to Small Protein Discovery and Characterization Using Mass Spectrometry. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0035321. [PMID: 34748388 PMCID: PMC8765459 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00353-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Small proteins of up to ∼50 amino acids are an abundant class of biomolecules across all domains of life. Yet due to the challenges inherent in their size, they are often missed in genome annotations, and are difficult to identify and characterize using standard experimental approaches. Consequently, we still know few small proteins even in well-studied prokaryotic model organisms. Mass spectrometry (MS) has great potential for the discovery, validation, and functional characterization of small proteins. However, standard MS approaches are poorly suited to the identification of both known and novel small proteins due to limitations at each step of a typical proteomics workflow, i.e., sample preparation, protease digestion, liquid chromatography, MS data acquisition, and data analysis. Here, we outline the major MS-based workflows and bioinformatic pipelines used for small protein discovery and validation. Special emphasis is placed on highlighting the adjustments required to improve detection and data quality for small proteins. We discuss both the unbiased detection of small proteins and the targeted analysis of small proteins of interest. Finally, we provide guidelines to prioritize novel small proteins, and an outlook on methods with particular potential to further improve comprehensive discovery and characterization of small proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian H. Ahrens
- Agroscope, Method Development and Analytics & SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Joseph T. Wade
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Matthew M. Champion
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Julian D. Langer
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Proteomics, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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19
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Cassidy L, Kaulich PT, Maaß S, Bartel J, Becher D, Tholey A. Bottom-up and top-down proteomic approaches for the identification, characterization, and quantification of the low molecular weight proteome with focus on short open reading frame-encoded peptides. Proteomics 2021; 21:e2100008. [PMID: 34145981 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.202100008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The recent discovery of alternative open reading frames creates a need for suitable analytical approaches to verify their translation and to characterize the corresponding gene products at the molecular level. As the analysis of small proteins within a background proteome by means of classical bottom-up proteomics is challenging, method development for the analysis of small open reading frame encoded peptides (SEPs) have become a focal point for research. Here, we highlight bottom-up and top-down proteomics approaches established for the analysis of SEPs in both pro- and eukaryotes. Major steps of analysis, including sample preparation and (small) proteome isolation, separation and mass spectrometry, data interpretation and quality control, quantification, the analysis of post-translational modifications, and exploration of functional aspects of the SEPs by means of proteomics technologies are described. These methods do not exclusively cover the analytics of SEPs but simultaneously include the low molecular weight proteome, and moreover, can also be used for the proteome-wide analysis of proteolytic processing events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Cassidy
- Systematic Proteome Research & Bioanalytics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Philipp T Kaulich
- Systematic Proteome Research & Bioanalytics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sandra Maaß
- Department of Microbial Proteomics, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jürgen Bartel
- Department of Microbial Proteomics, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Dörte Becher
- Department of Microbial Proteomics, Institute of Microbiology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andreas Tholey
- Systematic Proteome Research & Bioanalytics, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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20
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Fuchs S, Kucklick M, Lehmann E, Beckmann A, Wilkens M, Kolte B, Mustafayeva A, Ludwig T, Diwo M, Wissing J, Jänsch L, Ahrens CH, Ignatova Z, Engelmann S. Towards the characterization of the hidden world of small proteins in Staphylococcus aureus, a proteogenomics approach. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009585. [PMID: 34061833 PMCID: PMC8195425 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Small proteins play essential roles in bacterial physiology and virulence, however, automated algorithms for genome annotation are often not yet able to accurately predict the corresponding genes. The accuracy and reliability of genome annotations, particularly for small open reading frames (sORFs), can be significantly improved by integrating protein evidence from experimental approaches. Here we present a highly optimized and flexible bioinformatics workflow for bacterial proteogenomics covering all steps from (i) generation of protein databases, (ii) database searches and (iii) peptide-to-genome mapping to (iv) visualization of results. We used the workflow to identify high quality peptide spectrum matches (PSMs) for small proteins (≤ 100 aa, SP100) in Staphylococcus aureus Newman. Protein extracts from S. aureus were subjected to different experimental workflows for protein digestion and prefractionation and measured with highly sensitive mass spectrometers. In total, 175 proteins with up to 100 aa (SP100) were identified. Out of these 24 (ranging from 9 to 99 aa) were novel and not contained in the used genome annotation.144 SP100 are highly conserved and were found in at least 50% of the publicly available S. aureus genomes, while 127 are additionally conserved in other staphylococci. Almost half of the identified SP100 were basic, suggesting a role in binding to more acidic molecules such as nucleic acids or phospholipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Fuchs
- Robert Koch Institute, Methodenentwicklung und Forschungsinfrastruktur (MF), Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Kucklick
- University of Technical Sciences Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Erik Lehmann
- University of Technical Sciences Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Alexander Beckmann
- University of Technical Sciences Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maya Wilkens
- Robert Koch Institute, Methodenentwicklung und Forschungsinfrastruktur (MF), Berlin, Germany
- University of Technical Sciences Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Baban Kolte
- University of Hamburg, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ayten Mustafayeva
- University of Technical Sciences Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Tobias Ludwig
- University of Technical Sciences Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maurice Diwo
- University of Technical Sciences Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Josef Wissing
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Cellular Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Lothar Jänsch
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Cellular Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Christian H Ahrens
- Agroscope, Research Group Molecular Diagnostics, Genomics and Bioinformatics & SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Zoya Ignatova
- University of Hamburg, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Engelmann
- University of Technical Sciences Braunschweig, Institute for Microbiology, Braunschweig, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH, Microbial Proteomics, Braunschweig, Germany
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A workflow to identify novel proteins based on the direct mapping of peptide-spectrum-matches to genomic locations. BMC Bioinformatics 2021; 22:277. [PMID: 34039272 PMCID: PMC8157683 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-021-04159-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Small Proteins have received increasing attention in recent years. They have in particular been implicated as signals contributing to the coordination of bacterial communities. In genome annotations they are often missing or hidden among large numbers of hypothetical proteins because genome annotation pipelines often exclude short open reading frames or over-predict hypothetical proteins based on simple models. The validation of novel proteins, and in particular of small proteins (sProteins), therefore requires additional evidence. Proteogenomics is considered the gold standard for this purpose. It extends beyond established annotations and includes all possible open reading frames (ORFs) as potential sources of peptides, thus allowing the discovery of novel, unannotated proteins. Typically this results in large numbers of putative novel small proteins fraught with large fractions of false-positive predictions. Results We observe that number and quality of the peptide-spectrum matches (PSMs) that map to a candidate ORF can be highly informative for the purpose of distinguishing proteins from spurious ORF annotations. We report here on a workflow that aggregates PSM quality information and local context into simple descriptors and reliably separates likely proteins from the large pool of false-positive, i.e., most likely untranslated ORFs. We investigated the artificial gut microbiome model SIHUMIx, comprising eight different species, for which we validate 5114 proteins that have previously been annotated only as hypothetical ORFs. In addition, we identified 37 non-annotated protein candidates for which we found evidence at the proteomic and transcriptomic level. Half (19) of these candidates have close functional homologs in other species. Another 12 candidates have homologs designated as hypothetical proteins in other species. The remaining six candidates are short (< 100 AA) and are most likely bona fide novel proteins. Conclusions The aggregation of PSM quality information for predicted ORFs provides a robust and efficient method to identify novel proteins in proteomics data. The workflow is in particular capable of identifying small proteins and frameshift variants. Since PSMs are explicitly mapped to genomic locations, it furthermore facilitates the integration of transcriptomics data and other sources of genome-level information. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12859-021-04159-8.
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