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Svedberg D, Winiger RR, Berg A, Sharma H, Tellgren-Roth C, Debrunner-Vossbrinck BA, Vossbrinck CR, Barandun J. Functional annotation of a divergent genome using sequence and structure-based similarity. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:6. [PMID: 38166563 PMCID: PMC10759460 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09924-y] [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: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microsporidia are a large taxon of intracellular pathogens characterized by extraordinarily streamlined genomes with unusually high sequence divergence and many species-specific adaptations. These unique factors pose challenges for traditional genome annotation methods based on sequence similarity. As a result, many of the microsporidian genomes sequenced to date contain numerous genes of unknown function. Recent innovations in rapid and accurate structure prediction and comparison, together with the growing amount of data in structural databases, provide new opportunities to assist in the functional annotation of newly sequenced genomes. RESULTS In this study, we established a workflow that combines sequence and structure-based functional gene annotation approaches employing a ChimeraX plugin named ANNOTEX (Annotation Extension for ChimeraX), allowing for visual inspection and manual curation. We employed this workflow on a high-quality telomere-to-telomere sequenced tetraploid genome of Vairimorpha necatrix. First, the 3080 predicted protein-coding DNA sequences, of which 89% were confirmed with RNA sequencing data, were used as input. Next, ColabFold was used to create protein structure predictions, followed by a Foldseek search for structural matching to the PDB and AlphaFold databases. The subsequent manual curation, using sequence and structure-based hits, increased the accuracy and quality of the functional genome annotation compared to results using only traditional annotation tools. Our workflow resulted in a comprehensive description of the V. necatrix genome, along with a structural summary of the most prevalent protein groups, such as the ricin B lectin family. In addition, and to test our tool, we identified the functions of several previously uncharacterized Encephalitozoon cuniculi genes. CONCLUSION We provide a new functional annotation tool for divergent organisms and employ it on a newly sequenced, high-quality microsporidian genome to shed light on this uncharacterized intracellular pathogen of Lepidoptera. The addition of a structure-based annotation approach can serve as a valuable template for studying other microsporidian or similarly divergent species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Svedberg
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Science for Life Laboratory, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, 90187, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, 90736, Sweden
| | - Rahel R Winiger
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Science for Life Laboratory, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, 90187, Sweden
| | - Alexandra Berg
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Science for Life Laboratory, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, 90187, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, 90736, Sweden
| | - Himanshu Sharma
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Science for Life Laboratory, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, 90187, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, 90736, Sweden
| | - Christian Tellgren-Roth
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Charles R Vossbrinck
- Department of Environmental Science, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT, 06504, USA
| | - Jonas Barandun
- Department of Molecular Biology, The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Science for Life Laboratory, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, Umeå, 90187, Sweden.
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Thepmanee O, Munkongwongsiri N, Prachumwat A, Saksmerprome V, Jitrakorn S, Sritunyalucksana K, Vanichviriyakit R, Chanarat S, Jaroenlak P, Itsathitphaisarn O. Molecular and cellular characterization of four putative nucleotide transporters from the shrimp microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP). Sci Rep 2023; 13:20008. [PMID: 37974017 PMCID: PMC10654386 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47114-8] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that lost several enzymes required in energy production. The expansion of transporter families in these organisms enables them to hijack ATP from hosts. In this study, nucleotide transporters of the microsporidian Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), which causes slow growth in economically valuable Penaeus shrimp, were characterized. Analysis of the EHP genome suggested the presence of four putative nucleotide transporter genes, namely EhNTT1, EhNTT2, EhNTT3, and EhNTT4. Sequence alignment revealed four charged amino acids that are conserved in previously characterized nucleotide transporters. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that EhNTT1, 3, and 4 were derived from one horizontal gene transfer event, which was independent from that of EhNTT2. Localization of EhNTT1 and EhNTT2 using immunofluorescence analysis revealed positive signals within the envelope of developing plasmodia and on mature spores. Knockdown of EhNTT2 by double administration of sequence specific double-stranded RNA resulted in a significant reduction in EHP copy numbers, suggesting that EhNTT2 is crucial for EHP replication in shrimp. Taken together, the insight into the roles of NTTs in microsporidian proliferation can provide the biological basis for the development of alternative control strategies for microsporidian infection in shrimp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orawan Thepmanee
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Natthinee Munkongwongsiri
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Yothi Office, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Anuphap Prachumwat
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Yothi Office, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Vanvimon Saksmerprome
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Pathum Thani, Klong Neung, Klong Luang, 12120, Thailand
| | - Sarocha Jitrakorn
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand Science Park, Phahonyothin Rd., Pathum Thani, Klong Neung, Klong Luang, 12120, Thailand
| | - Kallaya Sritunyalucksana
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Yothi Office, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Rapeepun Vanichviriyakit
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Sittinan Chanarat
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Protein and Enzyme Technology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd. , Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Pattana Jaroenlak
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Rd., Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
| | - Ornchuma Itsathitphaisarn
- Center of Excellence for Shrimp Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (Centex Shrimp), Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Rama VI Rd., Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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Huang Q, Chen J, Lv Q, Long M, Pan G, Zhou Z. Germination of Microsporidian Spores: The Known and Unknown. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:774. [PMID: 37504762 PMCID: PMC10381864 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are a large group of mysterious obligate intracellular eukaryotic parasites. The microsporidian spore can survive in the absence of nutrients for years under harsh conditions and germinate within seconds under the stimulation of environmental changes like pH and ions. During germination, microsporidia experience an increase in intrasporal osmotic pressure, which leads to an influx of water into the spore, followed by swelling of the polaroplasts and posterior vacuole, which eventually fires the polar filament (PF). Infectious sporoplasm was transported through the extruded polar tube (PT) and delivered into the host cell. Despite much that has been learned about the germination of microsporidia, there are still several major questions that remain unanswered, including: (i) There is still a lack of knowledge about the signaling pathways involved in spore germination. (ii) The germination of spores is not well understood in terms of its specific energetics. (iii) Limited understanding of how spores germinate and how the nucleus and membranes are rearranged during germination. (iv) Only a few proteins in the invasion organelles have been identified; many more are likely undiscovered. This review summarizes the major resolved and unresolved issues concerning the process of microsporidian spore germination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qing Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Mengxian Long
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Guoqing Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zeyang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Microsporidia Infection and Control, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Pollinator Insect of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (Co-construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 400047, China
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