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Anka IZ, Uren Webster TM, Berbel-Filho WM, Hitchings M, Overland B, Weller S, Garcia de Leaniz C, Consuegra S. Microbiome and epigenetic variation in wild fish with low genetic diversity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4725. [PMID: 38830879 PMCID: PMC11148108 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49162-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-genetic sources of phenotypic variation, such as the epigenome and the microbiome, could be important contributors to adaptive variation for species with low genetic diversity. However, little is known about the complex interaction between these factors and the genetic diversity of the host, particularly in wild populations. Here, we examine the skin microbiome composition of two closely-related mangrove killifish species with different mating systems (self-fertilising and outcrossing) under sympatric and allopatric conditions. This allows us to partition the influence of the genotype and the environment on their microbiome and (previously described) epigenetic profiles. We find the diversity and community composition of the skin microbiome are strongly shaped by the environment and, to a lesser extent, by species-specific influences. Heterozygosity and microbiome alpha diversity, but not epigenetic variation, are associated with the fluctuating asymmetry of traits related to performance (vision) and behaviour (aggression). Our study identifies that a proportion of the epigenetic diversity and microbiome differentiation is unrelated to genetic variation, and we find evidence for an associative relationship between microbiome and epigenetic diversity in these wild populations. This suggests that both mechanisms could potentially contribute to variation in species with low genetic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishrat Z Anka
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, SA2 8PP, UK
- Department of Aquaculture, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chattogram, 4225, Bangladesh
| | - Tamsyn M Uren Webster
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Waldir M Berbel-Filho
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA
- Department of Biology, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA
| | - Matthew Hitchings
- Institute of Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Benjamin Overland
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Sarah Weller
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Carlos Garcia de Leaniz
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, SA2 8PP, UK
- Marine Research Centre (CIM-UVIGO), Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Sofia Consuegra
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, SA2 8PP, UK.
- Grupo de Biotecnología Acuática, Departamento de Biotecnología y Acuicultura, Instituto de Investigacións Mariñas, IIM-CSIC, Vigo, Spain.
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Rondon R, Cosseau C, Bergami E, Cárdenas CA, Pérez-Toledo C, Alvarez D, Aldridge J, Font A, Garrido I, Santa Cruz F, Perrois G, Balbi T, Corsi I, González-Aravena M. Exposure to nanoplastics and nanomaterials either single and combined affects the gill-associated microbiome of the Antarctic soft-shelled clam Laternula elliptica. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 198:106539. [PMID: 38718522 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics and engineering nanomaterials (ENMs) are contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), increasingly being detected in the marine environment and recognized as a potential threat for marine biota at the global level including in polar areas. Few studies have assessed the impact of these anthropogenic nanoparticles in the microbiome of marine invertebrates, however combined exposure resembling natural scenarios has been overlooked. The present study aimed to evaluate the single and combined effects of polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NP) as proxy for nanoplastics and nanoscale titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) on the prokaryotic communities associated with the gill tissue of the Antarctic soft-shell clam Laternula elliptica, a keystone species of marine benthos Wild-caught specimens were exposed to two environmentally relevant concentrations of carboxylated PS NP (PS-COOH NP, ∼62 nm size) and nano-TiO2 (Aeroxide P25, ∼25 nm) as 5 and 50 μg/L either single and combined for 96h in a semi-static condition.Our findings show a shift in microbiome composition in gills of soft-shell clams exposed to PS NP and nano-TiO2 either alone and in combination with a decrease in the relative abundance of OTU1 (Spirochaetaceae). In addition, an increase of gammaproteobacterial OTUs affiliated to MBAE14 and Methylophagaceae (involved in ammonia denitrification and associated with low-quality water), and the OTU Colwellia rossensis (previously recorded in polluted waters) was observed. Our results suggest that nanoplastics and nano-TiO2 alone and in combination induce alterations in microbiome composition by promoting the increase of negative taxa over beneficial ones in the gills of the Antarctic soft-shell clam. An increase of two low abundance OTUs in PS-COOH NPs exposed clams was also observed. A predicted gene function analysis revealed that sugar, lipid, protein and DNA metabolism were the main functions affected by either PS-COOH NP and nano-TiO2 exposure. The molecular functions involved in the altered affiliated OTUs are novel for nano-CEC exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Rondon
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile.
| | - Céline Cosseau
- IHPE, Univ. Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, Univ. Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Elisa Bergami
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - César A Cárdenas
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile; Millenium Institute Biodiversity of Antarctic and Subantarctic Ecosystems (BASE), Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Diego Alvarez
- Centro Asistencial Docente y de Investigación, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Jacqueline Aldridge
- Departamento de Ingeniería en Computación, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Alejandro Font
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile
| | - Ignacio Garrido
- Centro de Investigaciones Dinámica de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas Latitudes, Valdivia, Chile; Instituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | | | - Garance Perrois
- Departamento Científico, Instituto Antártico Chileno, Punta Arenas, Chile; Tropical & Subtropical Research Center, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Jeju, 63349, Republic of Korea
| | - Teresa Balbi
- Department of Earth Environment and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Corsi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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Li P, Hong J, Yuan Z, Huang Y, Wu M, Ding T, Wu Z, Sun X, Lin D. Gut microbiota in parasite-transmitting gastropods. Infect Dis Poverty 2023; 12:105. [PMID: 38001502 PMCID: PMC10668521 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01159-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastropoda, the largest class within the phylum Mollusca, houses diverse gut microbiota, and some gastropods serve as intermediate hosts for parasites. Studies have revealed that gut bacteria in gastropods are associated with various biological aspects, such as growth, immunity and host-parasite interactions. Here, we summarize our current knowledge of gastropod gut microbiomes and highlight future research priorities and perspectives. METHODS A literature search was undertaken using PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI for the articles on the gut microbiota of gastropods until December 31, 2022. We retrieved a total of 166 articles and identified 73 eligible articles for inclusion in this review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS Our analysis encompassed freshwater, seawater and land snails, with a specific focus on parasite-transmitting gastropods. We found that most studies on gastropod gut microbiota have primarily utilized 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze microbial composition, rather than employing metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, or metabolomic approaches. This comprehensive review provided an overview of the parasites carried by snail species in the context of gut microbiota studies. We presented the gut microbial trends, a comprehensive summary of the diversity and composition, influencing factors, and potential functions of gastropod gut microbiota. Additionally, we discussed the potential applications, research gaps and future perspectives of gut microbiomes in parasite-transmitting gastropods. Furthermore, several strategies for enhancing our comprehension of gut microbiomes in snails were also discussed. CONCLUSIONS This review comprehensively summarizes the current knowledge on the composition, potential function, influencing factors, potential applications, limitations, and challenges of gut microbiomes in gastropods, with a specific emphasis on parasite-transmitting gastropods. These findings provide important insights for future studies aiming to understand the potential role of gastropod gut microbiota in controlling snail populations and snail-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Li
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-Vectors Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinni Hong
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhanhong Yuan
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yun Huang
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingrou Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Ding
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongdao Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-Vectors Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xi Sun
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Datao Lin
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Chinese Atomic Energy Agency Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Diseases-Vectors Control, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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Shin CP, Allmon WD. How we study cryptic species and their biological implications: A case study from marine shelled gastropods. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10360. [PMID: 37680961 PMCID: PMC10480071 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Methodological and biological considerations are intertwined when studying cryptic species. A potentially large component of modern biodiversity, the frequency of cryptic species among taxonomic groups is not well documented. The term "cryptic species" is imprecisely used in scientific literature, causing ambiguity when interpreting their evolutionary and ecological significance. This study reviews how cryptic species have been defined, discussing implications for taxonomy and biology, and explores these implications with a case study based on recently published literature on extant shelled marine gastropods. Reviewed gastropods were recorded by species. Records of cryptic gastropods were presented by authors with variable levels of confidence but were difficult to disentangle from inherent biases in the study effort. These complexities notwithstanding, most gastropod species discussed were not cryptic. To the degree that this review's sample represents extinct taxa, the results suggest that a high proportion of shelled marine gastropod species are identifiable for study in the fossil record. Much additional work is needed to provide a more adequate understanding of the relative frequency of cryptic species in shelled marine gastropods, which should start with more explicit definitions and targeted case studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren P. Shin
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric SciencesCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
- Paleontological Research InstitutionIthacaNew YorkUSA
| | - Warren D. Allmon
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric SciencesCornell UniversityIthacaNew YorkUSA
- Paleontological Research InstitutionIthacaNew YorkUSA
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Breusing C, Xiao Y, Russell SL, Corbett-Detig RB, Li S, Sun J, Chen C, Lan Y, Qian PY, Beinart RA. Ecological differences among hydrothermal vent symbioses may drive contrasting patterns of symbiont population differentiation. mSystems 2023; 8:e0028423. [PMID: 37493648 PMCID: PMC10469979 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00284-23] [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: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The intra-host composition of horizontally transmitted microbial symbionts can vary across host populations due to interactive effects of host genetics, environmental, and geographic factors. While adaptation to local habitat conditions can drive geographic subdivision of symbiont strains, it is unknown how differences in ecological characteristics among host-symbiont associations influence the genomic structure of symbiont populations. To address this question, we sequenced metagenomes of different populations of the deep-sea mussel Bathymodiolus septemdierum, which are common at Western Pacific deep-sea hydrothermal vents and show characteristic patterns of niche partitioning with sympatric gastropod symbioses. Bathymodiolus septemdierum lives in close symbiotic relationship with sulfur-oxidizing chemosynthetic bacteria but supplements its symbiotrophic diet through filter-feeding, enabling it to occupy ecological niches with little exposure to geochemical reductants. Our analyses indicate that symbiont populations associated with B. septemdierum show structuring by geographic location, but that the dominant symbiont strain is uncorrelated with vent site. These patterns are in contrast to co-occurring Alviniconcha and Ifremeria gastropod symbioses that exhibit greater symbiont nutritional dependence and occupy habitats with higher spatial variability in environmental conditions. Our results suggest that relative habitat homogeneity combined with sufficient symbiont dispersal and genomic mixing might promote persistence of similar symbiont strains across geographic locations, while mixotrophy might decrease selective pressures on the host to affiliate with locally adapted symbiont strains. Overall, these data contribute to our understanding of the potential mechanisms influencing symbiont population structure across a spectrum of marine microbial symbioses that occupy contrasting ecological niches. IMPORTANCE Beneficial relationships between animals and microbial organisms (symbionts) are ubiquitous in nature. In the ocean, microbial symbionts are typically acquired from the environment and their composition across geographic locations is often shaped by adaptation to local habitat conditions. However, it is currently unknown how generalizable these patterns are across symbiotic systems that have contrasting ecological characteristics. To address this question, we compared symbiont population structure between deep-sea hydrothermal vent mussels and co-occurring but ecologically distinct snail species. Our analyses show that mussel symbiont populations are less partitioned by geography and do not demonstrate evidence for environmental adaptation. We posit that the mussel's mixotrophic feeding mode may lower its need to affiliate with locally adapted symbiont strains, while microhabitat stability and symbiont genomic mixing likely favors persistence of symbiont strains across geographic locations. Altogether, these findings further our understanding of the mechanisms shaping symbiont population structure in marine environmentally transmitted symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinna Breusing
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Yao Xiao
- Department of Ocean Science, Division of Life Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- The Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shelbi L. Russell
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Russell B. Corbett-Detig
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Sixuan Li
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jin Sun
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Chong Chen
- X-STAR, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan
| | - Yi Lan
- Department of Ocean Science, Division of Life Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- The Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Department of Ocean Science, Division of Life Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
- The Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Nansha, Guangzhou, China
| | - Roxanne A. Beinart
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
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Aubé J, Cambon-Bonavita MA, Velo-Suárez L, Cueff-Gauchard V, Lesongeur F, Guéganton M, Durand L, Reveillaud J. A novel and dual digestive symbiosis scales up the nutrition and immune system of the holobiont Rimicaris exoculata. MICROBIOME 2022; 10:189. [PMID: 36333777 PMCID: PMC9636832 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01380-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In deep-sea hydrothermal vent areas, deprived of light, most animals rely on chemosynthetic symbionts for their nutrition. These symbionts may be located on their cuticle, inside modified organs, or in specialized cells. Nonetheless, many of these animals have an open and functional digestive tract. The vent shrimp Rimicaris exoculata is fueled mainly by its gill chamber symbionts, but also has a complete digestive system with symbionts. These are found in the shrimp foregut and midgut, but their roles remain unknown. We used genome-resolved metagenomics on separate foregut and midgut samples, taken from specimens living at three contrasted sites along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (TAG, Rainbow, and Snake Pit) to reveal their genetic potential. RESULTS We reconstructed and studied 20 Metagenome-Assembled Genomes (MAGs), including novel lineages of Hepatoplasmataceae and Deferribacteres, abundant in the shrimp foregut and midgut, respectively. Although the former showed streamlined reduced genomes capable of using mostly broken-down complex molecules, Deferribacteres showed the ability to degrade complex polymers, synthesize vitamins, and encode numerous flagellar and chemotaxis genes for host-symbiont sensing. Both symbionts harbor a diverse set of immune system genes favoring holobiont defense. In addition, Deferribacteres were observed to particularly colonize the bacteria-free ectoperitrophic space, in direct contact with the host, elongating but not dividing despite possessing the complete genetic machinery necessary for this. CONCLUSION Overall, these data suggest that these digestive symbionts have key communication and defense roles, which contribute to the overall fitness of the Rimicaris holobiont. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanne Aubé
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR6197 Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Marie-Anne Cambon-Bonavita
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR6197 Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Lourdes Velo-Suárez
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR6197 Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds, F-29280 Plouzané, France
- Univ Brest, INSERM, EFS, UMR 1078, GGB, F-29200 Brest, France and Centre Brestois d’Analyse du Microbiote (CBAM), Brest University Hospital, Brest, France
| | - Valérie Cueff-Gauchard
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR6197 Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Françoise Lesongeur
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR6197 Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Marion Guéganton
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR6197 Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Lucile Durand
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR6197 Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds, F-29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Julie Reveillaud
- Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, UMR6197 Biologie et Ecologie des Ecosystèmes marins Profonds, F-29280 Plouzané, France
- MIVEGEC, Univ. Montpellier, INRAe, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
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Shafranskaya D, Kale V, Finn R, Lapidus AL, Korobeynikov A, Prjibelski AD. MetaGT: A pipeline for de novo assembly of metatranscriptomes with the aid of metagenomic data. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:981458. [PMID: 36386613 PMCID: PMC9651917 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.981458] [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: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
While metagenome sequencing may provide insights on the genome sequences and composition of microbial communities, metatranscriptome analysis can be useful for studying the functional activity of a microbiome. RNA-Seq data provides the possibility to determine active genes in the community and how their expression levels depend on external conditions. Although the field of metatranscriptomics is relatively young, the number of projects related to metatranscriptome analysis increases every year and the scope of its applications expands. However, there are several problems that complicate metatranscriptome analysis: complexity of microbial communities, wide dynamic range of transcriptome expression and importantly, the lack of high-quality computational methods for assembling meta-RNA sequencing data. These factors deteriorate the contiguity and completeness of metatranscriptome assemblies, therefore affecting further downstream analysis. Here we present MetaGT, a pipeline for de novo assembly of metatranscriptomes, which is based on the idea of combining both metatranscriptomic and metagenomic data sequenced from the same sample. MetaGT assembles metatranscriptomic contigs and fills in missing regions based on their alignments to metagenome assembly. This approach allows to overcome described complexities and obtain complete RNA sequences, and additionally estimate their abundances. Using various publicly available real and simulated datasets, we demonstrate that MetaGT yields significant improvement in coverage and completeness of metatranscriptome assemblies compared to existing methods that do not exploit metagenomic data. The pipeline is implemented in NextFlow and is freely available from https://github.com/ablab/metaGT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Shafranskaya
- Center for Algorithmic Biotechnology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Varsha Kale
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rob Finn
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alla L. Lapidus
- Center for Algorithmic Biotechnology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anton Korobeynikov
- Center for Algorithmic Biotechnology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey D. Prjibelski
- Center for Algorithmic Biotechnology, Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- *Correspondence: Andrey D. Prjibelski,
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