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Paiva DS, Fernandes L, Portugal A, Trovão J. First Genome Sequence of the Microcolonial Black Fungus Saxispiralis lemnorum MUM 23.14: Insights into the Unique Genomic Traits of the Aeminiaceae Family. Microorganisms 2024; 12:104. [PMID: 38257931 PMCID: PMC10820743 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Saxispiralis lemnorum MUM 23.14 is an extremotolerant microcolonial black fungus, originally isolated from a biodeteriorated limestone artwork in Portugal. This recently introduced species belongs to the Aeminiaceae family, representing the second member of this monophyletic clade. This fungus exhibits a unique set of characteristics, including xerophily, cold tolerance, high UV radiation tolerance, and an exceptional ability to thrive in NaCl concentrations of up to 30% while also enduring pH levels ranging from 5 to 11. To gain insights into its genomic traits associated with stress resistance mechanisms, specialization, and their potential implications in stone biodeterioration, we conducted a comprehensive genome sequencing and analysis. This draft genome not only marks the first for the Saxispiralis genus but also the second for the Aeminiaceae family. Furthermore, we performed two comparative genomic analyses: one focusing on the closest relative within the Aeminiaceae family, Aeminium ludgeri, and another encompassing the genome of different extremotolerant black fungi. In this study, we successfully achieved high genome completeness for S. lemnorum and confirmed its close phylogenetic relationship to A. ludgeri. Our findings revealed traits contributing to its extremophilic nature and provided insights into potential mechanisms contributing to stone biodeterioration. Many traits are common to both Aeminiaceae species and are shared with other black fungi, while numerous unique traits may be attributed to species-specific characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana S. Paiva
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE)—Science for People & the Planet, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal (J.T.)
| | - Luís Fernandes
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE)—Science for People & the Planet, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal (J.T.)
| | - António Portugal
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE)—Science for People & the Planet, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal (J.T.)
- FitoLab—Laboratory for Phytopathology, Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), Rua Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal
- TERRA—Associate Laboratory for Sustainable Land Use and Ecosystem Services, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Trovão
- Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE)—Science for People & the Planet, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal (J.T.)
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Fu R, Sun W, Liu B, Sun J, Wu Q, Liu X, Xiang M. Genome and transcriptome reveal lithophilic adaptation of Cladophialophora brunneola, a new rock-inhabiting fungus. Mycology 2024; 14:326-343. [PMID: 38187882 PMCID: PMC10769131 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2023.2256764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Rock-inhabiting fungi (RIF) are slow-growing microorganisms that inhabit rocks and exhibit exceptional stress tolerance owing to their thick melanised cell walls. This study reports the identification of a novel rock-inhabiting fungus, Cladophialophora brunneola sp. nov. which was isolated from a karst landform in Guizhou, China, using a combination of morphological and phylogenetic analyses. The genome of C. brunneola was sequenced and assembled, with a total size of approximately 33.8 Mb, encoding 14,168 proteins and yielding an N50 length of 1.88 Mb. C. brunneola possessed a larger proportion of species-specific genes, and phylogenomic analysis positioned it in an early diverged lineage within Chaetothyriales. In comparison to non-RIF, C. brunneola displayed reduction in carbohydrate-active enzyme families (CAZymes) and secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Transcriptome analysis conducted under PEG-induced drought stress revealed elevated expression levels of genes associated with melanin synthesis pathways, cell wall biosynthesis, and lipid metabolism. This study contributes to our understanding of the genomic evolution and polyextremotolerance exhibited by rock-inhabiting fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bingjie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingzu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xingzhong Liu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Meichun Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Abstract
Hypersaline waters and glacial ice are inhospitable environments that have low water activity and high concentrations of osmolytes. They are inhabited by diverse microbial communities, of which extremotolerant and extremophilic fungi are essential components. Some fungi are specialized in only one of these two environments and can thrive in conditions that are lethal to most other life-forms. Others are generalists, highly adaptable species that occur in both environments and tolerate a wide range of extremes. Both groups efficiently balance cellular osmotic pressure and ion concentration, stabilize cell membranes, remodel cell walls, and neutralize intracellular oxidative stress. Some species use unusual reproductive strategies. Further investigation of these adaptations with new methods and carefully designed experiments under ecologically relevant conditions will help predict the role of fungi in hypersaline and glacial environments affected by climate change, decipher their stress resistance mechanisms and exploit their biotechnological potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cene Gostinčar
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia; ,
| | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia; ,
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Rizk SM, Magdy M, De Leo F, Werner O, Rashed MAS, Ros RM, Urzì C. Culturable and unculturable potential heterotrophic microbiological threats to the oldest pyramids of the Memphis necropolis, Egypt. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1167083. [PMID: 37275160 PMCID: PMC10232867 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1167083] [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: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A large percentage of the world's tangible cultural heritage is made from stone; thus, it deteriorates due to physical, chemical, and/or biological factors. The current study explored the microbial community inhabiting two prehistoric sites with high cultural value in the Memphis necropolis of Egypt (Djoser and Lahun Pyramids) using amplicon-based metabarcoding and culture-dependent isolation methods. Samples were examined by epifluorescent microscopy for biological signs before environmental DNA extraction and in vitro cultivation. The metabarcoding analysis identified 644 bacterial species (452 genera) using the 16S rRNA and 204 fungal species (146 genera) using ITS. In comparison with the isolation approach, an additional 28 bacterial species (13 genera) and 34 fungal species (20 genera) were identified. A total of 19 bacterial and 16 fungal species were exclusively culture-dependent, while 92 bacterial and 122 fungal species were culture-independent. The most abundant stone-inhabiting bacteria in the current study were Blastococcus aggregatus, Blastococcus saxobsidens, and Blastococcus sp., among others. The most abundant rock-inhabiting fungi were Knufia karalitana and Pseudotaeniolina globosa, besides abundant unknown Sporormiaceae species. Based on previous reports, microorganisms associated with biodeterioration were detected on color-altered sites at both pyramids. These microorganisms are potentially dangerous as physical and chemical deterioration factors and require proper conservation plans from a microbiological perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samah Mohamed Rizk
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Magdy
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Filomena De Leo
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Olaf Werner
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biology, Murcia University, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Rosa M. Ros
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Biology, Murcia University, Murcia, Spain
| | - Clara Urzì
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Liu B, Fu R, Wu B, Liu X, Xiang M. Rock-inhabiting fungi: terminology, diversity, evolution and adaptation mechanisms. Mycology 2022; 13:1-31. [PMID: 35186410 PMCID: PMC8856086 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2021.2002452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rock-inhabiting fungi (RIF) constitute an ecological group associated with terrestrial rocks. This association is generally restricted to the persistent colonisation of rocks and peculiar morphological features based on melanisation and slow growth, which endow RIF with significance in eukaryotic biology, special status in ecology, and exotic potential in biotechnology. There is a need to achieve a better understanding of the hidden biodiversity, antistress biology, origin and convergent evolution of RIF, which will facilitate cultural relic preservation, exploitation of the biogeochemical cycle of rock elements and biotechnology applications. This review focuses on summarising the current knowledge of rock-inhabiting fungi, with particular reference to terminology, biodiversity and geographic distribution, origin and evolution, and stress adaptation mechanisms. We especially teased out the definition through summing up the terms related to rock-inhabting fungi, and also provided a checklist of rock-inhabiting fungal taxa recorded following updated classification schemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingjie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xingzhong Liu
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Meichun Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Yusof NA, Hashim NHF, Bharudin I. Cold Adaptation Strategies and the Potential of Psychrophilic Enzymes from the Antarctic Yeast, Glaciozyma antarctica PI12. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7070528. [PMID: 34209103 PMCID: PMC8306469 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychrophilic organisms possess several adaptive strategies which allow them to sustain life at low temperatures between −20 to 20 °C. Studies on Antarctic psychrophiles are interesting due to the multiple stressors that exist on the permanently cold continent. These organisms produce, among other peculiarities, cold-active enzymes which not only have tremendous biotechnological potential but are valuable models for fundamental research into protein structure and function. Recent innovations in omics technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics have contributed a remarkable perspective of the molecular basis underpinning the mechanisms of cold adaptation. This review critically discusses similar and different strategies of cold adaptation in the obligate psychrophilic yeast, Glaciozyma antarctica PI12 at the molecular (genome structure, proteins and enzymes, gene expression) and physiological (antifreeze proteins, membrane fluidity, stress-related proteins) levels. Our extensive studies on G. antarctica have revealed significant insights towards the innate capacity of- and the adaptation strategies employed by this psychrophilic yeast for life in the persistent cold. Furthermore, several cold-active enzymes and proteins with biotechnological potential are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Athirah Yusof
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia;
| | - Noor Haza Fazlin Hashim
- Water Quality Laboratory, National Water Research Institute Malaysia (NAHRIM), Ministry of Environment and Water, Jalan Putra Permai, Seri Kembangan 43300, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Izwan Bharudin
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
- Correspondence:
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Maharachchikumbura SSN, Wanasinghe DN, Cheewangkoon R, Al-Sadi AM. Uncovering the hidden taxonomic diversity of fungi in Oman. FUNGAL DIVERS 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13225-020-00467-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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Selbmann L, Benkő Z, Coleine C, de Hoog S, Donati C, Druzhinina I, Emri T, Ettinger CL, Gladfelter AS, Gorbushina AA, Grigoriev IV, Grube M, Gunde-Cimerman N, Karányi ZÁ, Kocsis B, Kubressoian T, Miklós I, Miskei M, Muggia L, Northen T, Novak-Babič M, Pennacchio C, Pfliegler WP, Pòcsi I, Prigione V, Riquelme M, Segata N, Schumacher J, Shelest E, Sterflinger K, Tesei D, U’Ren JM, Varese GC, Vázquez-Campos X, Vicente VA, Souza EM, Zalar P, Walker AK, Stajich JE. Shed Light in the DaRk LineagES of the Fungal Tree of Life-STRES. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:life10120362. [PMID: 33352712 PMCID: PMC7767062 DOI: 10.3390/life10120362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The polyphyletic group of black fungi within the Ascomycota (Arthoniomycetes, Dothideomycetes, and Eurotiomycetes) is ubiquitous in natural and anthropogenic habitats. Partly because of their dark, melanin-based pigmentation, black fungi are resistant to stresses including UV- and ionizing-radiation, heat and desiccation, toxic metals, and organic pollutants. Consequently, they are amongst the most stunning extremophiles and poly-extreme-tolerant organisms on Earth. Even though ca. 60 black fungal genomes have been sequenced to date, [mostly in the family Herpotrichiellaceae (Eurotiomycetes)], the class Dothideomycetes that hosts the largest majority of extremophiles has only been sparsely sampled. By sequencing up to 92 species that will become reference genomes, the “Shed light in The daRk lineagES of the fungal tree of life” (STRES) project will cover a broad collection of black fungal diversity spread throughout the Fungal Tree of Life. Interestingly, the STRES project will focus on mostly unsampled genera that display different ecologies and life-styles (e.g., ant- and lichen-associated fungi, rock-inhabiting fungi, etc.). With a resequencing strategy of 10- to 15-fold depth coverage of up to ~550 strains, numerous new reference genomes will be established. To identify metabolites and functional processes, these new genomic resources will be enriched with metabolomics analyses coupled with transcriptomics experiments on selected species under various stress conditions (salinity, dryness, UV radiation, oligotrophy). The data acquired will serve as a reference and foundation for establishing an encyclopedic database for fungal metagenomics as well as the biology, evolution, and ecology of the fungi in extreme environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy;
- Section of Mycology, Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), 16121 Genoa, Italy
- Correspondence: (L.S.); (J.E.S.); Tel.: +39-0761-357012 (L.S.); +1-951-827-2363 (J.E.S.)
| | - Zsigmond Benkő
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (Z.B.); (T.E.); (B.K.); (W.P.P.); (I.P.)
| | - Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, 01100 Viterbo, Italy;
| | - Sybren de Hoog
- Center of Expertise in Mycology of Radboud University Medical Center, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
| | - Claudio Donati
- Fondazione Edmund Mach, 38010 San Michele all’Adige, Italy;
| | - Irina Druzhinina
- The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
| | - Tamás Emri
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (Z.B.); (T.E.); (B.K.); (W.P.P.); (I.P.)
| | - Cassie L. Ettinger
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
- Microbiology & Plant Pathology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Amy S. Gladfelter
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA;
| | - Anna A. Gorbushina
- Department of Materials and Environment, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), 10115 Berlin, Germany; (A.A.G.); (J.S.)
- Department of Earth Sciences & Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Freie Universität, Berlin 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Igor V. Grigoriev
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (I.V.G.); (T.N.); (C.P.)
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Martin Grube
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz A-8010, Austria;
| | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- Department Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.G.-C.); (M.N.-B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Zsolt Ákos Karányi
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Beatrix Kocsis
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (Z.B.); (T.E.); (B.K.); (W.P.P.); (I.P.)
| | - Tania Kubressoian
- Microbiology & Plant Pathology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
| | - Ida Miklós
- Department of Genetics and Applied Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Márton Miskei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34121 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Trent Northen
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (I.V.G.); (T.N.); (C.P.)
| | - Monika Novak-Babič
- Department Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.G.-C.); (M.N.-B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Christa Pennacchio
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; (I.V.G.); (T.N.); (C.P.)
| | - Walter P. Pfliegler
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (Z.B.); (T.E.); (B.K.); (W.P.P.); (I.P.)
| | - Istvàn Pòcsi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (Z.B.); (T.E.); (B.K.); (W.P.P.); (I.P.)
| | - Valeria Prigione
- Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy; (V.P.); (G.C.V.)
| | - Meritxell Riquelme
- Department of Microbiology, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Baja California 22980, Mexico;
| | - Nicola Segata
- Department CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Julia Schumacher
- Department of Materials and Environment, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), 10115 Berlin, Germany; (A.A.G.); (J.S.)
| | - Ekaterina Shelest
- Centre for Enzyme Innovation, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2UP, UK;
| | - Katja Sterflinger
- Institute of Natural Sciences and Technology in the Arts, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Vienna 22180, Austria;
| | - Donatella Tesei
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna 22180, Austria;
| | - Jana M. U’Ren
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
| | - Giovanna C. Varese
- Mycotheca Universitatis Taurinensis, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy; (V.P.); (G.C.V.)
| | - Xabier Vázquez-Campos
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney 2006, Australia;
| | - Vania A. Vicente
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Paraná E3100, Brazil; (V.A.V.); (E.M.S.)
| | - Emanuel M. Souza
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Paraná E3100, Brazil; (V.A.V.); (E.M.S.)
| | - Polona Zalar
- Department Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (N.G.-C.); (M.N.-B.); (P.Z.)
| | - Allison K. Walker
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada;
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Microbiology & Plant Pathology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA;
- Correspondence: (L.S.); (J.E.S.); Tel.: +39-0761-357012 (L.S.); +1-951-827-2363 (J.E.S.)
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Muggia L, Ametrano CG, Sterflinger K, Tesei D. An Overview of Genomics, Phylogenomics and Proteomics Approaches in Ascomycota. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E356. [PMID: 33348904 PMCID: PMC7765829 DOI: 10.3390/life10120356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi are among the most successful eukaryotes on Earth: they have evolved strategies to survive in the most diverse environments and stressful conditions and have been selected and exploited for multiple aims by humans. The characteristic features intrinsic of Fungi have required evolutionary changes and adaptations at deep molecular levels. Omics approaches, nowadays including genomics, metagenomics, phylogenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics have enormously advanced the way to understand fungal diversity at diverse taxonomic levels, under changeable conditions and in still under-investigated environments. These approaches can be applied both on environmental communities and on individual organisms, either in nature or in axenic culture and have led the traditional morphology-based fungal systematic to increasingly implement molecular-based approaches. The advent of next-generation sequencing technologies was key to boost advances in fungal genomics and proteomics research. Much effort has also been directed towards the development of methodologies for optimal genomic DNA and protein extraction and separation. To date, the amount of proteomics investigations in Ascomycetes exceeds those carried out in any other fungal group. This is primarily due to the preponderance of their involvement in plant and animal diseases and multiple industrial applications, and therefore the need to understand the biological basis of the infectious process to develop mechanisms for biologic control, as well as to detect key proteins with roles in stress survival. Here we chose to present an overview as much comprehensive as possible of the major advances, mainly of the past decade, in the fields of genomics (including phylogenomics) and proteomics of Ascomycota, focusing particularly on those reporting on opportunistic pathogenic, extremophilic, polyextremotolerant and lichenized fungi. We also present a review of the mostly used genome sequencing technologies and methods for DNA sequence and protein analyses applied so far for fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Claudio G. Ametrano
- Grainger Bioinformatics Center, Department of Science and Education, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL 60605, USA;
| | - Katja Sterflinger
- Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Institute of Natual Sciences and Technology in the Arts, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Donatella Tesei
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria;
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Coleine C, Stajich JE, de Los Ríos A, Selbmann L. Beyond the extremes: Rocks as ultimate refuge for fungi in drylands. Mycologia 2020; 113:108-133. [PMID: 33232202 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2020.1816761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In an era of rapid climate change and expansion of desertification, the extremely harsh conditions of drylands are a true challenge for microbial life. Under drought conditions, where most life forms cannot survive, rocks represent the main refuge for life. Indeed, the endolithic habitat provides thermal buffering, physical stability, and protection against incident ultraviolet (UV) radiation and solar radiation and, to some extent, ensures water retention to microorganisms. The study of these highly specialized extreme-tolerant and extremophiles may provide tools for understanding microbial interactions and processes that allow them to keep their metabolic machinery active under conditions of dryness and oligotrophy that are typically incompatible with active life, up to the dry limits for life. Despite lithobiontic communities being studied all over the world, a comprehensive understanding of their ecology, evolution, and adaptation is still nascent. Herein, we survey the fungal component of these microbial ecosystems. We first provide an overview of the main defined groups (i.e., lichen-forming fungi, black fungi, and yeasts) of the most known and studied Antarctic endolithic communities that are almost the only life forms ensuring ecosystem functionality in the ice-free areas of the continent. For each group, we discuss their main traits and their diversity. Then, we focus on the fungal taxonomy and ecology of other worldwide endolithic communities. Finally, we highlight the utmost importance of a global rock survey in order to have a comprehensive view of the diversity, distribution, and functionality of these fungi in drylands, to obtain tools in desert area management, and as early alarm systems to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Coleine
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia , Largo dell'Università snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Jason E Stajich
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University of California, 900 University Ave , Riverside, California 92521
| | - Asunción de Los Ríos
- Department of Biogeochemistry and Microbial Ecology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Spanish National Resource Council, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia , Largo dell'Università snc, 01100, Viterbo, Italy.,Italian National Antarctic Museum, Mycological Section, Genoa, Italy
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The role of melanins in melanotic fungi for pathogenesis and environmental survival. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:4247-4257. [PMID: 32206837 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10532-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Melanins provide fungi protection from environmental stressors, support their ecological roles, and can confer virulence in pathogens. While the function, structure, and synthesis of melanins in fungi are not fully understood, they have been shown to have varied roles. Recent research has revealed a wide range of functions, from radiation resistance to increasing virulence, shedding light on fungal diversity. Understanding fungal melanins can provide useful information, from harnessing the properties of these various melanins to targeting fungal infections.Key Points• Melanotic fungi are widespread in nature. • Melanin functions to protect fungi in the environment from a range of stresses. • Melanin contributes to pathogenesis and drug resistance of pathogenic fungi.
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12
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Ametrano CG, Grewe F, Crous PW, Goodwin SB, Liang C, Selbmann L, Lumbsch HT, Leavitt SD, Muggia L. Genome-scale data resolve ancestral rock-inhabiting lifestyle in Dothideomycetes (Ascomycota). IMA Fungus 2019; 10:19. [PMID: 32647623 PMCID: PMC7325674 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-019-0018-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Dothideomycetes is the most diverse fungal class in Ascomycota and includes species with a wide range of lifestyles. Previous multilocus studies have investigated the taxonomic and evolutionary relationships of these taxa but often failed to resolve early diverging nodes and frequently generated inconsistent placements of some clades. Here, we use a phylogenomic approach to resolve relationships in Dothideomycetes, focusing on two genera of melanized, extremotolerant rock-inhabiting fungi, Lichenothelia and Saxomyces, that have been suggested to be early diverging lineages. We assembled phylogenomic datasets from newly sequenced (4) and previously available genomes (238) of 242 taxa. We explored the influence of tree inference methods, supermatrix vs. coalescent-based species tree, and the impact of varying amounts of genomic data. Overall, our phylogenetic reconstructions provide consistent and well-supported topologies for Dothideomycetes, recovering Lichenothelia and Saxomyces among the earliest diverging lineages in the class. In addition, many of the major lineages within Dothideomycetes are recovered as monophyletic, and the phylogenomic approach implemented strongly supports their relationships. Ancestral character state reconstruction suggest that the rock-inhabiting lifestyle is ancestral within the class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio G Ametrano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Felix Grewe
- Grainger Bioinformatics Center and Integrative Research Center, Science and Education, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 USA
| | - Pedro W Crous
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 85176, 3508 AD Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stephen B Goodwin
- USDA-ARS, Crop Production and Pest Control Research Unit and Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue University, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2054 USA
| | - Chen Liang
- College of Plant Health and Medicine, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109 China
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Largo dell' Università, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.,Italian National Antarctic Museum (MNA), Mycological Section, Genoa, Italy
| | - H Thorsten Lumbsch
- Grainger Bioinformatics Center and Integrative Research Center, Science and Education, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 USA
| | - Steven D Leavitt
- Department of Biology and M.L. Bean Life Science Museum, Brigham Young University, 4102 Life Science Building, Provo, UT 84602 USA
| | - Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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Villa F, Cappitelli F. The Ecology of Subaerial Biofilms in Dry and Inhospitable Terrestrial Environments. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7100380. [PMID: 31547498 PMCID: PMC6843906 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7100380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ecological relationship between minerals and microorganisms arguably represents one of the most important associations in dry terrestrial environments, since it strongly influences major biochemical cycles and regulates the productivity and stability of the Earth’s food webs. Despite being inhospitable ecosystems, mineral substrata exposed to air harbor form complex and self-sustaining communities called subaerial biofilms (SABs). Using life on air-exposed minerals as a model and taking inspiration from the mechanisms of some microorganisms that have adapted to inhospitable conditions, we illustrate the ecology of SABs inhabiting natural and built environments. Finally, we advocate the need for the convergence between the experimental and theoretical approaches that might be used to characterize and simulate the development of SABs on mineral substrates and SABs’ broader impacts on the dry terrestrial environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Villa
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Francesca Cappitelli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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14
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Naranjo‐Ortiz MA, Gabaldón T. Fungal evolution: major ecological adaptations and evolutionary transitions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:1443-1476. [PMID: 31021528 PMCID: PMC6850671 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fungi are a highly diverse group of heterotrophic eukaryotes characterized by the absence of phagotrophy and the presence of a chitinous cell wall. While unicellular fungi are far from rare, part of the evolutionary success of the group resides in their ability to grow indefinitely as a cylindrical multinucleated cell (hypha). Armed with these morphological traits and with an extremely high metabolical diversity, fungi have conquered numerous ecological niches and have shaped a whole world of interactions with other living organisms. Herein we survey the main evolutionary and ecological processes that have guided fungal diversity. We will first review the ecology and evolution of the zoosporic lineages and the process of terrestrialization, as one of the major evolutionary transitions in this kingdom. Several plausible scenarios have been proposed for fungal terrestralization and we here propose a new scenario, which considers icy environments as a transitory niche between water and emerged land. We then focus on exploring the main ecological relationships of Fungi with other organisms (other fungi, protozoans, animals and plants), as well as the origin of adaptations to certain specialized ecological niches within the group (lichens, black fungi and yeasts). Throughout this review we use an evolutionary and comparative-genomics perspective to understand fungal ecological diversity. Finally, we highlight the importance of genome-enabled inferences to envision plausible narratives and scenarios for important transitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A. Naranjo‐Ortiz
- Department of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyDr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona08003Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Department of Genomics and Bioinformatics, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and TechnologyDr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona08003Spain
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)08003BarcelonaSpain
- ICREA, Pg. Lluís Companys 2308010BarcelonaSpain
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15
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Shuryak I. Review of microbial resistance to chronic ionizing radiation exposure under environmental conditions. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY 2019; 196:50-63. [PMID: 30388428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2018.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation (IR) produces multiple types of damage to nucleic acids, proteins and other crucial cellular components. Nevertheless, various microorganisms from phylogenetically distant taxa (bacteria, archaea, fungi) can resist IR levels many orders of magnitude above natural background. This intriguing phenomenon of radioresistance probably arose independently many times throughout evolution as a byproduct of selective pressures from other stresses (e.g. desiccation, UV radiation, chemical oxidants). Most of the literature on microbial radioresistance is based on acute γ-irradiation experiments performed in the laboratory, typically involving pure cultures grown under near-optimal conditions. There is much less information about the upper limits of radioresistance in the field, such as in radioactively-contaminated areas, where several radiation types (e.g. α and β, as well as γ) and other stressors (e.g. non-optimal temperature and nutrient levels, toxic chemicals, interspecific competition) act over multiple generations. Here we discuss several examples of radioresistant microbes isolated from extremely radioactive locations (e.g. Chernobyl and Mayak nuclear plant sites) and estimate the radiation dose rates they were able to tolerate. Some of these organisms (e.g. the fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides, the cyanobacterium Geitlerinema amphibium) are widely-distributed and colonize a variety of habitats. These examples suggest that resistance to chronic IR and chemical contamination is not limited to rare specialized strains from extreme environments, but can occur among common microbial taxa, perhaps due to overlap between mechanisms of resistance to IR and other stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Shuryak
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University, 630 West 168(th) street, VC-11-234/5, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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Knabe N, Gorbushina AA. Territories of Rock-Inhabiting Fungi: Survival on and Alteration of Solid Air-Exposed Surfaces. J Microbiol Methods 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mim.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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17
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Pacelli C, Bryan RA, Onofri S, Selbmann L, Shuryak I, Dadachova E. Melanin is effective in protecting fast and slow growing fungi from various types of ionizing radiation. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:1612-1624. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 01/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Pacelli
- Department of Ecological and Biological ScienceUniversity of TusciaViterbo Italy
- Department of RadiologyAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronx NY USA
| | - Ruth A. Bryan
- Department of RadiologyAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronx NY USA
| | - Silvano Onofri
- Department of Ecological and Biological ScienceUniversity of TusciaViterbo Italy
| | - Laura Selbmann
- Department of Ecological and Biological ScienceUniversity of TusciaViterbo Italy
| | - Igor Shuryak
- Center for Radiological ResearchColumbia UniversityNew York NY USA
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Differences in Physical and Biochemical Properties of Thermus scotoductus SA-01 Cultured with Dielectric or Convection Heating. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:6285-93. [PMID: 26150459 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01618-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A thermophile, Thermus scotoductus SA-01, was cultured within a constant-temperature (65°C) microwave (MW) digester to determine if MW-specific effects influenced the growth and physiology of the organism. As a control, T. scotoductus cells were also cultured using convection heating at the same temperature as the MW studies. Cell growth was analyzed by optical density (OD) measurements, and cell morphologies were characterized using electron microscopy imaging (scanning electron microscopy [SEM] and transmission electron microscopy [TEM]), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Biophysical properties (i.e., turgor pressure) were also calculated with AFM, and biochemical compositions (i.e., proteins, nucleic acids, fatty acids) were analyzed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyze the fatty acid methyl esters extracted from cell membranes. Here we report successful cultivation of a thermophile with only dielectric heating. Under the MW conditions for growth, cell walls remained intact and there were no indications of membrane damage or cell leakage. Results from these studies also demonstrated that T. scotoductus cells grown with MW heating exhibited accelerated growth rates in addition to altered cell morphologies and biochemical compositions compared with oven-grown cells.
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