1
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de Martín Garrido N, Chen CS, Ramlaul K, Aylett CHS, Yakunina M. Structure of the Bacteriophage PhiKZ Non-virion RNA Polymerase Transcribing from its Promoter p119L. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168713. [PMID: 39029888 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophage ΦKZ (PhiKZ) is the founding member of a family of giant bacterial viruses. It has potential as a therapeutic as its host, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, kills tens of thousands of people worldwide each year. ΦKZ infection is independent of the host transcriptional apparatus; the virus forms a "nucleus", producing a proteinaceous barrier around the ΦKZ genome that excludes the host immune systems. It expresses its own non-canonical multi-subunit non-virion RNA polymerase (nvRNAP), which is imported into its "nucleus" to transcribe viral genes. The ΦKZ nvRNAP is formed by four polypeptides representing homologues of the eubacterial β/β' subunits, and a fifth that is likely to have evolved from an ancestral homologue to σ-factor. We have resolved the structure of the ΦKZ nvRNAP initiating transcription from its cognate promoter, p119L, including previously disordered regions. Our results shed light on the similarities and differences between ΦKZ nvRNAP mechanisms of transcription and those of canonical eubacterial RNAPs and the related non-canonical nvRNAP of bacteriophage AR9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natàlia de Martín Garrido
- Section for Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chao-Sheng Chen
- Section for Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kailash Ramlaul
- Section for Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher H S Aylett
- Section for Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Maria Yakunina
- Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, 1 International University Park Road, Dayun New Town, Longgang District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518172, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Prichard A, Pogliano J. The intricate organizational strategy of nucleus-forming phages. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102457. [PMID: 38581914 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Nucleus-forming phages (chimalliviruses) encode numerous genes responsible for creating intricate structures for viral replication. Research on this newly appreciated family of phages has begun to reveal the mechanisms underlying the subcellular organization of the nucleus-based phage replication cycle. These discoveries include the structure of the phage nuclear shell, the identification of a membrane-bound early phage infection intermediate, the dynamic localization of phage RNA polymerases, the phylogeny and core genome of chimalliviruses, and the variation in replication mechanisms across diverse nucleus-forming phages. This research is being propelled forward through the application of fluorescence microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy and the innovative use of new tools such as proximity labeling and RNA-targeting Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Prichard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Joe Pogliano
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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3
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Ye J, Kan CH, Yang X, Ma C. Inhibition of bacterial RNA polymerase function and protein-protein interactions: a promising approach for next-generation antibacterial therapeutics. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:1471-1487. [PMID: 38784472 PMCID: PMC11110800 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00690e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogens necessitates the urgent development of new antimicrobial agents with innovative modes of action for the next generation of antimicrobial therapy. Bacterial transcription has been identified and widely studied as a viable target for antimicrobial development. The main focus of these studies has been the discovery of inhibitors that bind directly to the core enzyme of RNA polymerase (RNAP). Over the past two decades, substantial advancements have been made in understanding the properties of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and gaining structural insights into bacterial RNAP and its associated factors. This has led to the crucial role of computational methods in aiding the identification of new PPI inhibitors to affect the RNAP function. In this context, bacterial transcriptional PPIs present promising, albeit challenging, targets for the creation of new antimicrobials. This review will succinctly outline the structural foundation of bacterial transcription networks and provide a summary of the known small molecules that target transcription PPIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiqing Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kowloon Hong Kong SAR China
- School of Pharmacy, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230032 China
| | - Cheuk Hei Kan
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital Shatin Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital Shatin Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Cong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Kowloon Hong Kong SAR China
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4
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Naknaen A, Samernate T, Saeju P, Nonejuie P, Chaikeeratisak V. Nucleus-forming jumbophage PhiKZ therapeutically outcompetes non-nucleus-forming jumbophage Callisto. iScience 2024; 27:109790. [PMID: 38726363 PMCID: PMC11079468 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109790] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
With the recent resurgence of phage therapy in modern medicine, jumbophages are currently under the spotlight due to their numerous advantages as anti-infective agents. However, most significant discoveries to date have primarily focused on nucleus-forming jumbophages, not their non-nucleus-forming counterparts. In this study, we compare the biological characteristics exhibited by two genetically diverse jumbophages: 1) the well-studied nucleus-forming jumbophage, PhiKZ; and 2) the newly discovered non-nucleus-forming jumbophage, Callisto. Single-cell infection studies further show that Callisto possesses different replication machinery, resulting in a delay in phage maturation compared to that of PhiKZ. The therapeutic potency of both phages was examined in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating that PhiKZ holds certain superior characteristics over Callisto. This research sheds light on the importance of the subcellular infection machinery and the organized progeny maturation process, which could potentially provide valuable insight in the future development of jumbophage-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ampapan Naknaen
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanadon Samernate
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
| | - Panida Saeju
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Poochit Nonejuie
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
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5
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Prichard A, Sy A, Meyer J, Villa E, Pogliano J. Asesino: a nucleus-forming phage that lacks PhuZ. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.10.593592. [PMID: 38766163 PMCID: PMC11100802 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.10.593592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
As nucleus-forming phages become better characterized, understanding their unifying similarities and unique differences will help us understand how they occupy varied niches and infect diverse hosts. All identified nucleus-forming phages fall within the proposed Chimalliviridae family and share a core genome of 68 unique genes including chimallin, the major nuclear shell protein. A well-studied but non-essential protein encoded by many nucleus-forming phages is PhuZ, a tubulin homolog which aids in capsid migration, nucleus rotation, and nucleus positioning. One clade that represents 24% of all currently known chimalliviruses lacks a PhuZ homolog. Here we show that Erwinia phage Asesino, one member of this PhuZ-less clade, shares a common overall replication mechanism with other characterized nucleus-forming phages despite lacking PhuZ. We show that Asesino replicates via a phage nucleus that encloses phage DNA and partitions proteins in the nuclear compartment and cytoplasm in a manner similar to previously characterized nucleus-forming phages. Consistent with a lack of PhuZ, however, we did not observe active positioning or rotation of the phage nucleus within infected cells. These data show that some nucleus-forming phages have evolved to replicate efficiently without PhuZ, providing an example of a unique variation in the nucleus-based replication pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Prichard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Annika Sy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Justin Meyer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Elizabeth Villa
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Joe Pogliano
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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6
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Gerovac M, Chihara K, Wicke L, Böttcher B, Lavigne R, Vogel J. Phage proteins target and co-opt host ribosomes immediately upon infection. Nat Microbiol 2024; 9:787-800. [PMID: 38443577 PMCID: PMC10914614 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01616-x] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Bacteriophages must seize control of the host gene expression machinery to replicate. To bypass bacterial anti-phage defence systems, this host takeover occurs immediately upon infection. A general understanding of phage mechanisms for immediate targeting of host transcription and translation processes is lacking. Here we introduce an integrative high-throughput approach to uncover phage-encoded proteins that target the gene expression machinery of Pseudomonas aeruginosa immediately upon infection with the jumbo phage ΦKZ. By integrating biochemical, genetic and structural analyses, we identify an abundant and conserved phage factor ΦKZ014 that targets the large ribosomal subunit by binding the 5S ribosomal RNA, and rapidly promotes replication in several clinical isolates. ΦKZ014 is among the earliest ΦKZ proteins expressed after infection and remains bound to ribosomes during the entire translation cycle. Our study provides a strategy to decipher molecular components of phage-mediated host takeover and argues that phage genomes represent an untapped discovery space for proteins that modulate the host gene expression machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milan Gerovac
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kotaro Chihara
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Laura Wicke
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bettina Böttcher
- Biocenter and Rudolf Virchow Center for Integrative and Translational Bioimaging, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany.
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7
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Putzeys L, Wicke L, Brandão A, Boon M, Pires DP, Azeredo J, Vogel J, Lavigne R, Gerovac M. Exploring the transcriptional landscape of phage-host interactions using novel high-throughput approaches. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102419. [PMID: 38271748 PMCID: PMC10884466 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102419] [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: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
In the last decade, powerful high-throughput sequencing approaches have emerged to analyse microbial transcriptomes at a global scale. However, to date, applications of these approaches to microbial viruses such as phages remain scarce. Tailoring these techniques to virus-infected bacteria promises to obtain a detailed picture of the underexplored RNA biology and molecular processes during infection. In addition, transcriptome study of stress and perturbations induced by phages in their infected bacterial hosts is likely to reveal new fundamental mechanisms of bacterial metabolism and gene regulation. Here, we provide references and blueprints to implement emerging transcriptomic approaches towards addressing transcriptome architecture, RNA-RNA and RNA-protein interactions, RNA modifications, structures and heterogeneity of transcription profiles in infected cells that will provide guides for future directions in phage-centric therapeutic applications and microbial synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Putzeys
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Wicke
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ana Brandão
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Maarten Boon
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Diana P Pires
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Joana Azeredo
- Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Department of Biosystems, Laboratory of Gene Technology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Milan Gerovac
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB), Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Würzburg, Germany.
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8
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Pozhydaieva N, Wolfram-Schauerte M, Keuthen H, Höfer K. The enigmatic epitranscriptome of bacteriophages: putative RNA modifications in viral infections. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 77:102417. [PMID: 38217927 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
RNA modifications play essential roles in modulating RNA function, stability, and fate across all kingdoms of life. The entirety of the RNA modifications within a cell is defined as the epitranscriptome. While eukaryotic RNA modifications are intensively studied, understanding bacterial RNA modifications remains limited, and knowledge about bacteriophage RNA modifications is almost nonexistent. In this review, we shed light on known mechanisms of bacterial RNA modifications and propose how this knowledge might be extended to bacteriophages. We build hypotheses on enzymes potentially responsible for regulating the epitranscriptome of bacteriophages and their host. This review highlights the exciting prospects of uncovering the unexplored field of bacteriophage epitranscriptomics and its potential role to shape bacteriophage-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Helene Keuthen
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Höfer
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany; Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
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9
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da Silva JD, Melo LDR, Santos SB, Kropinski AM, Xisto MF, Dias RS, da Silva Paes I, Vieira MS, Soares JJF, Porcellato D, da Silva Duarte V, de Paula SO. Genomic and proteomic characterization of vB_SauM-UFV_DC4, a novel Staphylococcus jumbo phage. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:7231-7250. [PMID: 37741937 PMCID: PMC10638138 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12743-6] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most relevant mastitis pathogens in dairy cattle, and the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance genes presents a significant health issue in both veterinary and human fields. Among the different strategies to tackle S. aureus infection in livestock, bacteriophages have been thoroughly investigated in the last decades; however, few specimens of the so-called jumbo phages capable of infecting S. aureus have been described. Herein, we report the biological, genomic, and structural proteomic features of the jumbo phage vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 (DC4). DC4 exhibited a remarkable killing activity against S. aureus isolated from the veterinary environment and stability at alkaline conditions (pH 4 to 12). The complete genome of DC4 is 263,185 bp (GC content: 25%), encodes 263 predicted CDSs (80% without an assigned function), 1 tRNA (Phe-tRNA), multisubunit RNA polymerase, and an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase. Moreover, comparative analysis revealed that DC4 can be considered a new viral species belonging to a new genus DC4 and showed a similar set of lytic proteins and depolymerase activity with closely related jumbo phages. The characterization of a new S. aureus jumbo phage increases our understanding of the diversity of this group and provides insights into the biotechnological potential of these viruses. KEY POINTS: • vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 is a new viral species belonging to a new genus within the class Caudoviricetes. • vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 carries a set of RNA polymerase subunits and an RNA-directed DNA polymerase. • vB_SauM-UFV_DC4 and closely related jumbo phages showed a similar set of lytic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Duarte da Silva
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Luís D R Melo
- Centre of Biological Engineering - CEB, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sílvio B Santos
- Centre of Biological Engineering - CEB, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Andrew M Kropinski
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Mariana Fonseca Xisto
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Roberto Sousa Dias
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Isabela da Silva Paes
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Marcella Silva Vieira
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - José Júnior Ferreira Soares
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Davide Porcellato
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Vinícius da Silva Duarte
- Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil.
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway.
| | - Sérgio Oliveira de Paula
- Department of General Biology, Federal University of Viçosa, Av. Peter Henry Rolfs, S/N, Campus Universitário, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, 36570-900, Brazil
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10
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Morozova V, Babkin I, Kozlova Y, Tikunov A, Ushakova T, Bardasheva A, Fedorets V, Zhirakovskaya E, Tikunova N. Isolation, Characterization and Genomic Analysis of a Novel Jumbo Phage, AerS_266, That Infects Aeromonas salmonicida. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2649. [PMID: 38004661 PMCID: PMC10673249 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112649] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Aeromonas salmonicida is the causative agent of septicemia in fish, and it is associated with significant economic losses in the aquaculture industry. While piscine Aeromonas infections are mainly treated with antibiotics, the emergence of resistance in bacterial populations requires the development of alternative methods of treatment. The use of phages can be one of them. A novel A. salmonicida jumbo phage, AerS_266, was isolated and characterized. This phage infects only mesophilic A. salmonicida strains and demonstrates a slow lytic life cycle. Its genome contains 243,674 bp and 253 putative genes: 84 encode proteins with predicted functions, and 3 correspond to tRNAs. Genes encoding two multisubunit RNA polymerases, chimallin and PhuZ, were identified, and AerS_266 was thus defined as a phiKZ-like phage. While similar phages with genomes >200 kb specific to Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas veronii have been previously described, AerS_266 is the first phiKZ-like phage found to infect A. salmonicida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Morozova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (V.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Igor Babkin
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (V.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Yuliya Kozlova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (V.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Artem Tikunov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (V.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Tatiana Ushakova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (V.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Alevtina Bardasheva
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (V.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Valeria Fedorets
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Elena Zhirakovskaya
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (V.M.); (A.T.)
| | - Nina Tikunova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia; (V.M.); (A.T.)
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11
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Antonova D, Belousova VV, Zhivkoplias E, Sobinina M, Artamonova T, Vishnyakov IE, Kurdyumova I, Arseniev A, Morozova N, Severinov K, Khodorkovskii M, Yakunina MV. The Dynamics of Synthesis and Localization of Jumbo Phage RNA Polymerases inside Infected Cells. Viruses 2023; 15:2096. [PMID: 37896872 PMCID: PMC10612078 DOI: 10.3390/v15102096] [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] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A nucleus-like structure composed of phage-encoded proteins and containing replicating viral DNA is formed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells infected by jumbo bacteriophage phiKZ. The PhiKZ genes are transcribed independently from host RNA polymerase (RNAP) by two RNAPs encoded by the phage. The virion RNAP (vRNAP) transcribes early viral genes and must be injected into the cell with phage DNA. The non-virion RNAP (nvRNAP) is composed of early gene products and transcribes late viral genes. In this work, the dynamics of phage RNAPs localization during phage phiKZ infection were studied. We provide direct evidence of PhiKZ vRNAP injection in infected cells and show that it is excluded from the phage nucleus. The nvRNAP is synthesized shortly after the onset of infection and localizes in the nucleus. We propose that spatial separation of two phage RNAPs allows coordinated expression of phage genes belonging to different temporal classes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daria Antonova
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Viktoriia V. Belousova
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Erik Zhivkoplias
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Mariia Sobinina
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Tatyana Artamonova
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Innokentii E. Vishnyakov
- Group of Molecular Cytology of Prokaryotes and Bacterial Invasion, Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Science, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia;
| | - Inna Kurdyumova
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Anatoly Arseniev
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Natalia Morozova
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Konstantin Severinov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
- Institute of Molecular Genetics National Kurchatov Center, Moscow 123182, Russia
- Waksman Institute for Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Mikhail Khodorkovskii
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
| | - Maria V. Yakunina
- Research Center of Nanobiotechnologies, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg 195251, Russia
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12
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Moniruzzaman M, Erazo Garcia MP, Farzad R, Ha AD, Jivaji A, Karki S, Sheyn U, Stanton J, Minch B, Stephens D, Hancks DC, Rodrigues RAL, Abrahao JS, Vardi A, Aylward FO. Virologs, viral mimicry, and virocell metabolism: the expanding scale of cellular functions encoded in the complex genomes of giant viruses. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuad053. [PMID: 37740576 PMCID: PMC10583209 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The phylum Nucleocytoviricota includes the largest and most complex viruses known. These "giant viruses" have a long evolutionary history that dates back to the early diversification of eukaryotes, and over time they have evolved elaborate strategies for manipulating the physiology of their hosts during infection. One of the most captivating of these mechanisms involves the use of genes acquired from the host-referred to here as viral homologs or "virologs"-as a means of promoting viral propagation. The best-known examples of these are involved in mimicry, in which viral machinery "imitates" immunomodulatory elements in the vertebrate defense system. But recent findings have highlighted a vast and rapidly expanding array of other virologs that include many genes not typically found in viruses, such as those involved in translation, central carbon metabolism, cytoskeletal structure, nutrient transport, vesicular trafficking, and light harvesting. Unraveling the roles of virologs during infection as well as the evolutionary pathways through which complex functional repertoires are acquired by viruses are important frontiers at the forefront of giant virus research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Moniruzzaman
- Rosenstiel School of Marine Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33149, United States
| | - Maria Paula Erazo Garcia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 926 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - Roxanna Farzad
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 926 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - Anh D Ha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 926 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - Abdeali Jivaji
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 926 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - Sangita Karki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 926 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - Uri Sheyn
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 926 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - Joshua Stanton
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 926 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
| | - Benjamin Minch
- Rosenstiel School of Marine Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33149, United States
| | - Danae Stephens
- Rosenstiel School of Marine Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33149, United States
| | - Dustin C Hancks
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Rodrigo A L Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Jonatas S Abrahao
- Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Assaf Vardi
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Frank O Aylward
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 926 West Campus Drive, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-Borne Infectious Disease, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
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13
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Hu M, Xing B, Yang M, Han R, Pan H, Guo H, Liu Z, Huang T, Du K, Jiang S, Zhang Q, Lu W, Huang X, Zhou C, Li J, Song W, Deng Z, Xiao M. Characterization of a novel genus of jumbo phages and their application in wastewater treatment. iScience 2023; 26:106947. [PMID: 37324530 PMCID: PMC10265529 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Phages widely exist in numerous environments from wastewater to deep ocean, representing a huge virus diversity, yet remain poorly characterized. Among them, jumbo phages are of particular interests due to their large genome (>200 kb) and unusual biology. To date, only six strains of jumbo phages infecting Klebsiella pneumoniae have been described. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of two jumbo phages from hospital wastewater representing the sixth genus: φKp5130 and φKp9438. Both phages showed lytic activity against broad range of clinical antibiotic-resistant K. pneumoniae strains and distinct physiology including long latent period, small burst size, and high resistance to thermal and pH stress. The treatment of sewage water with the phages cocktail resulted in dramatic decline in K. pneumoniae population. Overall, this study provides detailed molecular and genomics characterization of two novel jumbo phages, expands viral diversity, and provides novel candidate phages to facilitate environmental wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Hu
- Department of Special Medicine, Basic Medicine College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Bo Xing
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
- School of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Minghua Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
- BGI College, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Rui Han
- BGI-Beijing, Beijing 102601, China
- School of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Huazheng Pan
- Department of The Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Hui Guo
- Department of The Clinical Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of Special Medicine, Basic Medicine College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Kidney Transplantation, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Kang Du
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | | | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Prosthodontics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Wenjing Lu
- Department of Dermatology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University (Qingdao), Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Xun Huang
- Infection Control Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China
| | - Congzhao Zhou
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Junhua Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Wenchen Song
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Ziqing Deng
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
- BGI-Beijing, Beijing 102601, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Minfeng Xiao
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Unknown Pathogen Identification, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
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14
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Prichard A, Lee J, Laughlin TG, Lee A, Thomas KP, Sy AE, Spencer T, Asavavimol A, Cafferata A, Cameron M, Chiu N, Davydov D, Desai I, Diaz G, Guereca M, Hearst K, Huang L, Jacobs E, Johnson A, Kahn S, Koch R, Martinez A, Norquist M, Pau T, Prasad G, Saam K, Sandhu M, Sarabia AJ, Schumaker S, Sonin A, Uyeno A, Zhao A, Corbett KD, Pogliano K, Meyer J, Grose JH, Villa E, Dutton R, Pogliano J. Identifying the core genome of the nucleus-forming bacteriophage family and characterization of Erwinia phage RAY. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112432. [PMID: 37120812 PMCID: PMC10299810 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112432] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently discovered that some bacteriophages establish a nucleus-like replication compartment (phage nucleus), but the core genes that define nucleus-based phage replication and their phylogenetic distribution were still to be determined. Here, we show that phages encoding the major phage nucleus protein chimallin share 72 conserved genes encoded within seven gene blocks. Of these, 21 core genes are unique to nucleus-forming phage, and all but one of these genes encode proteins of unknown function. We propose that these phages comprise a novel viral family we term Chimalliviridae. Fluorescence microscopy and cryoelectron tomography studies of Erwinia phage vB_EamM_RAY confirm that many of the key steps of nucleus-based replication are conserved among diverse chimalliviruses and reveal variations on this replication mechanism. This work expands our understanding of phage nucleus and PhuZ spindle diversity and function, providing a roadmap for identifying key mechanisms underlying nucleus-based phage replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Prichard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jina Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Thomas G Laughlin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Amber Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kyle P Thomas
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Annika E Sy
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Tara Spencer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Aileen Asavavimol
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Allison Cafferata
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Mia Cameron
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nicholas Chiu
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Demyan Davydov
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Isha Desai
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Gabriel Diaz
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Melissa Guereca
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kiley Hearst
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Leyi Huang
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Emily Jacobs
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Annika Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Samuel Kahn
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ryan Koch
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Adamari Martinez
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Meliné Norquist
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Tyler Pau
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Gino Prasad
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Katrina Saam
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Milan Sandhu
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Angel Jose Sarabia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Siena Schumaker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Aaron Sonin
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ariya Uyeno
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alison Zhao
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kevin D Corbett
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kit Pogliano
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Justin Meyer
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Julianne H Grose
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Elizabeth Villa
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Rachel Dutton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Joe Pogliano
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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15
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How to Shut Down Transcription in Archaea during Virus Infection. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091824. [PMID: 36144426 PMCID: PMC9501531 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091824] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Multisubunit RNA polymerases (RNAPs) carry out transcription in all domains of life; during virus infection, RNAPs are targeted by transcription factors encoded by either the cell or the virus, resulting in the global repression of transcription with distinct outcomes for different host–virus combinations. These repressors serve as versatile molecular probes to study RNAP mechanisms, as well as aid the exploration of druggable sites for the development of new antibiotics. Here, we review the mechanisms and structural basis of RNAP inhibition by the viral repressor RIP and the crenarchaeal negative regulator TFS4, which follow distinct strategies. RIP operates by occluding the DNA-binding channel and mimicking the initiation factor TFB/TFIIB. RIP binds tightly to the clamp and locks it into one fixed position, thereby preventing conformational oscillations that are critical for RNAP function as it progresses through the transcription cycle. TFS4 engages with RNAP in a similar manner to transcript cleavage factors such as TFS/TFIIS through the NTP-entry channel; TFS4 interferes with the trigger loop and bridge helix within the active site by occlusion and allosteric mechanisms, respectively. The conformational changes in RNAP described above are universally conserved and are also seen in inactive dimers of eukaryotic RNAPI and several inhibited RNAP complexes of both bacterial and eukaryotic RNA polymerases, including inactive states that precede transcription termination. A comparison of target sites and inhibitory mechanisms reveals that proteinaceous repressors and RNAP-specific antibiotics use surprisingly common ways to inhibit RNAP function.
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16
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A cytoskeletal vortex drives phage nucleus rotation during jumbo phage replication in E. coli. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111179. [PMID: 35977483 PMCID: PMC9891218 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111179] [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: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleus-forming jumbo phages establish an intricate subcellular organization, enclosing phage genomes within a proteinaceous shell called the phage nucleus. During infection in Pseudomonas, some jumbo phages assemble a bipolar spindle of tubulin-like PhuZ filaments that positions the phage nucleus at midcell and drives its intracellular rotation. This facilitates the distribution of capsids on its surface for genome packaging. Here we show that the Escherichia coli jumbo phage Goslar assembles a phage nucleus surrounded by an array of PhuZ filaments resembling a vortex instead of a bipolar spindle. Expression of a mutant PhuZ protein strongly reduces Goslar phage nucleus rotation, demonstrating that the PhuZ cytoskeletal vortex is necessary for rotating the phage nucleus. While vortex-like cytoskeletal arrays are important in eukaryotes for cytoplasmic streaming and nucleus alignment, this work identifies a coherent assembly of filaments into a vortex-like structure driving intracellular rotation within the prokaryotic cytoplasm.
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17
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Aylward FO, Moniruzzaman M. Viral Complexity. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12081061. [PMID: 36008955 PMCID: PMC9405923 DOI: 10.3390/biom12081061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although traditionally viewed as streamlined and simple, discoveries over the last century have revealed that viruses can exhibit surprisingly complex physical structures, genomic organization, ecological interactions, and evolutionary histories. Viruses can have physical dimensions and genome lengths that exceed many cellular lineages, and their infection strategies can involve a remarkable level of physiological remodeling of their host cells. Virus–virus communication and widespread forms of hyperparasitism have been shown to be common in the virosphere, demonstrating that dynamic ecological interactions often shape their success. And the evolutionary histories of viruses are often fraught with complexities, with chimeric genomes including genes derived from numerous distinct sources or evolved de novo. Here we will discuss many aspects of this viral complexity, with particular emphasis on large DNA viruses, and provide an outlook for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank O. Aylward
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Center for Emerging, Zoonotic, and Arthropod-Borne Pathogens, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Mohammad Moniruzzaman
- Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33149, USA;
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18
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Fraser A, Sokolova ML, Drobysheva AV, Gordeeva JV, Borukhov S, Jumper J, Severinov KV, Leiman PG. Structural basis of template strand deoxyuridine promoter recognition by a viral RNA polymerase. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3526. [PMID: 35725571 PMCID: PMC9209446 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31214-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Recognition of promoters in bacterial RNA polymerases (RNAPs) is controlled by sigma subunits. The key sequence motif recognized by the sigma, the -10 promoter element, is located in the non-template strand of the double-stranded DNA molecule ~10 nucleotides upstream of the transcription start site. Here, we explain the mechanism by which the phage AR9 non-virion RNAP (nvRNAP), a bacterial RNAP homolog, recognizes the -10 element of its deoxyuridine-containing promoter in the template strand. The AR9 sigma-like subunit, the nvRNAP enzyme core, and the template strand together form two nucleotide base-accepting pockets whose shapes dictate the requirement for the conserved deoxyuridines. A single amino acid substitution in the AR9 sigma-like subunit allows one of these pockets to accept a thymine thus expanding the promoter consensus. Our work demonstrates the extent to which viruses can evolve host-derived multisubunit enzymes to make transcription of their own genes independent of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec Fraser
- grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0647 USA
| | - Maria L. Sokolova
- grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0647 USA ,grid.454320.40000 0004 0555 3608Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205 Russia
| | - Arina V. Drobysheva
- grid.454320.40000 0004 0555 3608Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205 Russia
| | - Julia V. Gordeeva
- grid.454320.40000 0004 0555 3608Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205 Russia
| | - Sergei Borukhov
- grid.262671.60000 0000 8828 4546Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine at Stratford, Stratford, NJ 08084-1489 USA
| | - John Jumper
- grid.498210.60000 0004 5999 1726DeepMind Technologies Limited, London, UK
| | - Konstantin V. Severinov
- grid.454320.40000 0004 0555 3608Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205 Russia ,grid.4886.20000 0001 2192 9124Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 123182 Russia ,grid.430387.b0000 0004 1936 8796Waksman Institute for Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
| | - Petr G. Leiman
- grid.176731.50000 0001 1547 9964Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0647 USA
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19
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Kryshtafovych A, Moult J, Albrecht R, Chang GA, Chao K, Fraser A, Greenfield J, Hartmann MD, Herzberg O, Josts I, Leiman PG, Linden SB, Lupas AN, Nelson DC, Rees SD, Shang X, Sokolova ML, Tidow H. Computational models in the service of X-ray and cryo-electron microscopy structure determination. Proteins 2021; 89:1633-1646. [PMID: 34449113 PMCID: PMC8616789 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Critical assessment of structure prediction (CASP) conducts community experiments to determine the state of the art in computing protein structure from amino acid sequence. The process relies on the experimental community providing information about not yet public or about to be solved structures, for use as targets. For some targets, the experimental structure is not solved in time for use in CASP. Calculated structure accuracy improved dramatically in this round, implying that models should now be much more useful for resolving many sorts of experimental difficulties. To test this, selected models for seven unsolved targets were provided to the experimental groups. These models were from the AlphaFold2 group, who overall submitted the most accurate predictions in CASP14. Four targets were solved with the aid of the models, and, additionally, the structure of an already solved target was improved. An a posteriori analysis showed that, in some cases, models from other groups would also be effective. This paper provides accounts of the successful application of models to structure determination, including molecular replacement for X-ray crystallography, backbone tracing and sequence positioning in a cryo-electron microscopy structure, and correction of local features. The results suggest that, in future, there will be greatly increased synergy between computational and experimental approaches to structure determination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John Moult
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Department of Cell Biology and Molecular genetics, University of Maryland, 9600 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Reinhard Albrecht
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Geoffrey A. Chang
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Kinlin Chao
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Alec Fraser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics (SCSB), The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Julia Greenfield
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Marcus D. Hartmann
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Osnat Herzberg
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Inokentijs Josts
- The Hamburg Advanced Research Center for Bioorganic Chemistry (HARBOR) & Department of Chemistry, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Petr G. Leiman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics (SCSB), The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Sara B. Linden
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Andrei N. Lupas
- Department of Protein Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Daniel C. Nelson
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Steven D. Rees
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Xiaoran Shang
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Maria L. Sokolova
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia
| | - Henning Tidow
- The Hamburg Advanced Research Center for Bioorganic Chemistry (HARBOR) & Department of Chemistry, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Hamburg, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
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20
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Nazir A, Ali A, Qing H, Tong Y. Emerging Aspects of Jumbo Bacteriophages. Infect Drug Resist 2021; 14:5041-5055. [PMID: 34876823 PMCID: PMC8643167 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s330560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacteriophages have been explored at a huge scale as a model system for their applications in many biological-related fields. Jumbo phages with a large genome size from 200 to 500 kbp were not previously assigned a great value, and characterized by complex structures coupled with large virions with a wide variety of hosts. The origin of most of the jumbo phages was not well understood; however, many other prominent features have been discovered recently. In the current review, we strive to unearth the most advanced characteristics of jumbo phages, particularly their significance and structural organization that holds immense value to the viral life cycle. The unique characteristics of jumbo phages are the basis of variations in different types of phages concerning their organization at the genomic level, virion structure, evolution, and progeny propagation. The presence of tRNA and additional translation-related genes along with chaperonin genes mark the ability of these phages for being independent of host molecular machinery enabling them to have wide host options. A large number of jumbo phages have been isolated from various sources through advanced standard screening methods. The current review has summarized the available data on jumbo phages and discussed the genome orientation of jumbo phages, translational machinery, diversity and evolution of jumbo phages. In the studies conducted, jumbo phages possessed special additional genes that helps to reduce the dependence of jumbo phages on their hosts. Furthermore, their genomes might have evolved from smaller genome phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Nazir
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Azam Ali
- Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yigang Tong
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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21
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The Characterization of a Novel Phage, pPa_SNUABM_DT01, Infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9102040. [PMID: 34683360 PMCID: PMC8541153 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial genus Pseudomonas is a common causative agent of infections in veterinary medicine. In this study, we focused on Pseudomonas aeruginosa canine otitis externa isolates. Due to prolonged antibiotic treatment of otitis externa, antibiotic resistance is common and has become a major complication. Many alternatives to antibiotics have been studied, with bacteriophages emerging as the most promising alternatives. Here, we isolated and characterized a novel phage, pPa_SNUABM_DT01, by investigating its morphology, growth, lysis kinetics, and genomic characteristics. Phages have a vigorous capacity to eliminate bacterial cells through bacterial lysis. This capacity is dependent on the multiplicity of infection (MOI), but even at low MOIs, the phage successfully inhibited bacterial regrowth. The phage genome was 265,520 bp in size and comprised 312 putative open reading frames (ORFs). Comparative genome analysis demonstrated that the phage is a novel species in Myoviridae. The nucleotide similarity was moderately high compared with the Pseudomonas virus, Noxifer. However, a phylogenetic analysis and a dot plot indicated that pPa_SNUABM_DT01 is not closely related to the Phikzvirus or Noxifervirus genus but, instead, belongs to a novel one. The genome comparisons also indicate that the phage, pPa_SNUABM_DT01, could be a novel genus.
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22
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de Martín Garrido N, Orekhova M, Lai Wan Loong Y, Litvinova A, Ramlaul K, Artamonova T, Melnikov A, Serdobintsev P, Aylett CHS, Yakunina M. Structure of the bacteriophage PhiKZ non-virion RNA polymerase. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:7732-7739. [PMID: 34181731 PMCID: PMC8287921 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage ΦKZ (PhiKZ) is the archetype of a family of massive bacterial viruses. It is considered to have therapeutic potential as its host, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is an opportunistic, intrinsically antibiotic resistant, pathogen that kills tens of thousands worldwide each year. ΦKZ is an incredibly interesting virus, expressing many systems that the host already possesses. On infection, it forms a ‘nucleus’, erecting a barrier around its genome to exclude host endonucleases and CRISPR-Cas systems. ΦKZ infection is independent of the host transcriptional apparatus. It expresses two different multi-subunit RNA polymerases (RNAPs): the virion RNAP (vRNAP) is injected with the viral DNA during infection to transcribe early genes, including those encoding the non-virion RNAP (nvRNAP), which transcribes all further genes. ΦKZ nvRNAP is formed by four polypeptides thought to represent homologues of the eubacterial β/β′ subunits, and a fifth with unclear homology, but essential for transcription. We have resolved the structure of ΦKZ nvRNAP to better than 3.0 Å, shedding light on its assembly, homology, and the biological role of the fifth subunit: it is an embedded, integral member of the complex, the position, structural homology and biochemical role of which imply that it has evolved from an ancestral homologue to σ-factor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Anna Litvinova
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Kailash Ramlaul
- Section for Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tatyana Artamonova
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexei S Melnikov
- Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St. Petersburg, Russia
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23
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Comparative Genomics of Three Novel Jumbo Bacteriophages Infecting Staphylococcus aureus. J Virol 2021; 95:e0239120. [PMID: 34287047 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02391-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of previously described Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophages belong to three major groups: P68-like podophages, Twort-like or K-like myophages, and a more diverse group of temperate siphophages. Here we present three novel S. aureus "jumbo" phages: MarsHill, Madawaska, and Machias. These phages were isolated from swine production environments in the United States and represent a novel clade of S. aureus myophage. The average genome size for these phages is ∼269 kb with each genome encoding ∼263 predicted protein-coding genes. Phage genome organization and content is similar to known jumbo phages of Bacillus, including AR9 and vB_BpuM-BpSp. All three phages possess genes encoding complete virion and non-virion RNA polymerases, multiple homing endonucleases, and a retron-like reverse transcriptase. Like AR9, all of these phages are presumed to have uracil-substituted DNA which interferes with DNA sequencing. These phages are also able to transduce host plasmids, which is significant as these phages were found circulating in swine production environments and can also infect human S. aureus isolates. Importance of work: This study describes the comparative genomics of three novel S. aureus jumbo phages: MarsHill, Madawaska, and Machias. These three S. aureus myophages represent an emerging class of S. aureus phage. These genomes contain abundant introns which show a pattern consistent with repeated acquisition rather than vertical inheritance, suggesting intron acquisition and loss is an active process in the evolution of these phages. These phages have presumably hypermodified DNA which inhibits sequencing by several different common platforms. Therefore, these phages also represent potential genomic diversity that has been missed due to the limitations of standard sequencing techniques. In particular, such hypermodified genomes may be missed by metagenomic studies due to their resistance to standard sequencing techniques. Phage MarsHill was found to be able to transduce host DNA at levels comparable to that found for other transducing S. aureus phages, making them a potential vector for horizontal gene transfer in the environment.
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24
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Lee Y, Son B, Cha Y, Ryu S. Characterization and Genomic Analysis of PALS2, a Novel Staphylococcus Jumbo Bacteriophage. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:622755. [PMID: 33763042 PMCID: PMC7982418 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.622755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that can be frequently encountered in clinical and food-processing surroundings. Among the various countermeasures, bacteriophages have been considered to be promising alternatives to antibiotics. In this study, the bacteriophage PALS2 was isolated from bird feces, and the genomic and biological characteristics of this phage were investigated. PALS2 was determined to belong to the Myoviridae family and exhibited extended host inhibition that persisted for up to 24 h with repeated bursts of 12 plaque-forming units/cell. The complete genome of PALS2 measured 268,746 base pairs (bp), indicating that PALS2 could be classified as a jumbo phage. The PALS2 genome contained 279 ORFs and 1 tRNA covering asparagine, and the majority of predicted PALS2 genes encoded hypothetical proteins. Additional genes involved in DNA replication and repair, nucleotide metabolism, and genes encoding multisubunit RNA polymerase were identified in the PALS2 genome, which is a common feature of typical jumbo phages. Comparative genomic analysis indicated that PALS2 is a phiKZ-related virus and is more similar to typical jumbo phages than to staphylococcal phages. Additionally, the effective antimicrobial activities of phage PALS2 suggest its possible use as a biocontrol agent in various clinical and food processing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoona Lee
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Bokyung Son
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yoyeon Cha
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sangryeol Ryu
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.,Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.,Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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25
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M. Iyer L, Anantharaman V, Krishnan A, Burroughs AM, Aravind L. Jumbo Phages: A Comparative Genomic Overview of Core Functions and Adaptions for Biological Conflicts. Viruses 2021; 13:v13010063. [PMID: 33466489 PMCID: PMC7824862 DOI: 10.3390/v13010063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Jumbo phages have attracted much attention by virtue of their extraordinary genome size and unusual aspects of biology. By performing a comparative genomics analysis of 224 jumbo phages, we suggest an objective inclusion criterion based on genome size distributions and present a synthetic overview of their manifold adaptations across major biological systems. By means of clustering and principal component analysis of the phyletic patterns of conserved genes, all known jumbo phages can be classified into three higher-order groups, which include both myoviral and siphoviral morphologies indicating multiple independent origins from smaller predecessors. Our study uncovers several under-appreciated or unreported aspects of the DNA replication, recombination, transcription and virion maturation systems. Leveraging sensitive sequence analysis methods, we identify novel protein-modifying enzymes that might help hijack the host-machinery. Focusing on host–virus conflicts, we detect strategies used to counter different wings of the bacterial immune system, such as cyclic nucleotide- and NAD+-dependent effector-activation, and prevention of superinfection during pseudolysogeny. We reconstruct the RNA-repair systems of jumbo phages that counter the consequences of RNA-targeting host effectors. These findings also suggest that several jumbo phage proteins provide a snapshot of the systems found in ancient replicons preceding the last universal ancestor of cellular life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshminarayan M. Iyer
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Vivek Anantharaman
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
| | - Arunkumar Krishnan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Berhampur, Odisha 760010, India;
| | - A. Maxwell Burroughs
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
| | - L. Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA; (L.M.I.); (V.A.); (A.M.B.)
- Correspondence:
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