1
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Stephens D, Faghihi Z, Moniruzzaman M. Widespread occurrence and diverse origins of polintoviruses influence lineage-specific genome dynamics in stony corals. Virus Evol 2024; 10:veae039. [PMID: 38808038 PMCID: PMC11131425 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veae039] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Stony corals (Order: Scleractinia) are central to vital marine habitats known as coral reefs. Numerous stressors in the Anthropocene are contributing to the ongoing decline in coral reef health and coverage. While viruses are established modulators of marine microbial dynamics, their interactions within the coral holobiont and impact on coral health and physiology remain unclear. To address this key knowledge gap, we investigated diverse stony coral genomes for 'endogenous' viruses. Our study uncovered a remarkable number of integrated viral elements recognized as 'Polintoviruses' (Class Polintoviricetes) in thirty Scleractinia genomes; with several species harboring hundreds to thousands of polintoviruses. We reveal massive paralogous expansion of polintoviruses in stony coral genomes, alongside the presence of integrated elements closely related to Polinton-like viruses (PLVs), a group of viruses that exist as free virions. These results suggest multiple integrations of polintoviruses and PLV-relatives, along with paralogous expansions, shaped stony coral genomes. Re-analysis of existing gene expression data reveals all polintovirus structural and non-structural hallmark genes are expressed, providing support for free virion production from polintoviruses. Our results, revealing a significant diversity of polintovirus across the Scleractinia order, open a new research avenue into polintovirus and their possible roles in disease, genomic plasticity, and environmental adaptation in this key group of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danae Stephens
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, The Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149-1031, USA
| | - Zahra Faghihi
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, The Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149-1031, USA
| | - Mohammad Moniruzzaman
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, The Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149-1031, USA
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2
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Messer LF, Bourne DG, Robbins SJ, Clay M, Bell SC, McIlroy SJ, Tyson GW. A genome-centric view of the role of the Acropora kenti microbiome in coral health and resilience. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2902. [PMID: 38575584 PMCID: PMC10995205 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46905-5] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial diversity has been extensively explored in reef-building corals. However, the functional roles of coral-associated microorganisms remain poorly elucidated. Here, we recover 191 bacterial and 10 archaeal metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the coral Acropora kenti (formerly A. tenuis) and adjacent seawater, to identify microbial functions and metabolic interactions within the holobiont. We show that 82 MAGs were specific to the A. kenti holobiont, including members of the Pseudomonadota, Bacteroidota, and Desulfobacterota. A. kenti-specific MAGs displayed significant differences in their genomic features and functional potential relative to seawater-specific MAGs, with a higher prevalence of genes involved in host immune system evasion, nitrogen and carbon fixation, and synthesis of five essential B-vitamins. We find a diversity of A. kenti-specific MAGs encode the biosynthesis of essential amino acids, such as tryptophan, histidine, and lysine, which cannot be de novo synthesised by the host or Symbiodiniaceae. Across a water quality gradient spanning 2° of latitude, A. kenti microbial community composition is correlated to increased temperature and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, with corresponding enrichment in molecular chaperones, nitrate reductases, and a heat-shock protein. We reveal mechanisms of A. kenti-microbiome-symbiosis on the Great Barrier Reef, highlighting the interactions underpinning the health of this keystone holobiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren F Messer
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK.
| | - David G Bourne
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Steven J Robbins
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Megan Clay
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Sara C Bell
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia
| | - Simon J McIlroy
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Gene W Tyson
- Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Translational Research Institute, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4102, Australia.
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3
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Zhou K, Zhang T, Chen XW, Xu Y, Zhang R, Qian PY. Viruses in Marine Invertebrate Holobionts: Complex Interactions Between Phages and Bacterial Symbionts. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2024; 16:467-485. [PMID: 37647612 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-021623-093133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Marine invertebrates are ecologically and economically important and have formed holobionts by evolving symbiotic relationships with cellular and acellular microorganisms that reside in and on their tissues. In recent decades, significant focus on symbiotic cellular microorganisms has led to the discovery of various functions and a considerable expansion of our knowledge of holobiont functions. Despite this progress, our understanding of symbiotic acellular microorganisms remains insufficient, impeding our ability to achieve a comprehensive understanding of marine holobionts. In this review, we highlight the abundant viruses, with a particular emphasis on bacteriophages; provide an overview of their diversity, especially in extensively studied sponges and corals; and examine their potential life cycles. In addition, we discuss potential phage-holobiont interactions of various invertebrates, including participating in initial bacterial colonization, maintaining symbiotic relationships, and causing or exacerbating the diseases of marine invertebrates. Despite the importance of this subject, knowledge of how viruses contribute to marine invertebrate organisms remains limited. Advancements in technology and greater attention to viruses will enhance our understanding of marine invertebrate holobionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhou
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China;
- Department of Ocean Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, Xiamen University (Xiang'an), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiao-Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Institute of Marine Microbes and Ecospheres, Xiamen University (Xiang'an), Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ying Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China;
| | - Rui Zhang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China;
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, China;
- Department of Ocean Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
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4
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Wallace BA, Varona NS, Hesketh-Best PJ, Stiffler AK, Silveira CB. Globally distributed bacteriophage genomes reveal mechanisms of tripartite phage-bacteria-coral interactions. THE ISME JOURNAL 2024; 18:wrae132. [PMID: 39030686 PMCID: PMC11309003 DOI: 10.1093/ismejo/wrae132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
Reef-building corals depend on an intricate community of microorganisms for functioning and resilience. The infection of coral-associated bacteria by bacteriophages can modify bacterial ecological interactions, yet very little is known about phage functions in the holobiont. This gap stems from methodological limitations that have prevented the recovery of high-quality viral genomes and bacterial host assignment from coral samples. Here, we introduce a size fractionation approach that increased bacterial and viral recovery in coral metagenomes by 9-fold and 2-fold, respectively, and enabled the assembly and binning of bacterial and viral genomes at relatively low sequencing coverage. We combined these viral genomes with those derived from 677 publicly available metagenomes, viromes, and bacterial isolates from stony corals to build a global coral virus database of over 20,000 viral genomic sequences spanning four viral realms. The tailed bacteriophage families Kyanoviridae and Autographiviridae were the most abundant, replacing groups formerly referred to as Myoviridae and Podoviridae, respectively. Prophage and CRISPR spacer linkages between these viruses and 626 bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes and bacterial isolates showed that most viruses infected Alphaproteobacteria, the most abundant class, and less abundant taxa like Halanaerobiia and Bacteroidia. A host-phage-gene network identified keystone viruses with the genomic capacity to modulate bacterial metabolic pathways and direct molecular interactions with eukaryotic cells. This study reveals the genomic basis of nested symbioses between bacteriophage, bacteria, and the coral host and its endosymbiotic algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey A Wallace
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
| | - Natascha S Varona
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
| | - Poppy J Hesketh-Best
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
- Department Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
| | - Alexandra K Stiffler
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
| | - Cynthia B Silveira
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, United States
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, United States
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5
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Dungan AM, Geissler L, Williams AS, Gotze CR, Flynn EC, Blackall LL, van Oppen MJH. DNA from non-viable bacteria biases diversity estimates in the corals Acropora loripes and Pocillopora acuta. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME 2023; 18:86. [PMID: 38062479 PMCID: PMC10704692 DOI: 10.1186/s40793-023-00541-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nucleic acid-based analytical methods have greatly expanded our understanding of global prokaryotic diversity, yet standard metabarcoding methods provide no information on the most fundamental physiological state of bacteria, viability. Scleractinian corals harbour a complex microbiome in which bacterial symbionts play critical roles in maintaining health and functioning of the holobiont. However, the coral holobiont contains both dead and living bacteria. The former can be the result of corals feeding on bacteria, rapid swings from hyper- to hypoxic conditions in the coral tissue, the presence of antimicrobial compounds in coral mucus, and an abundance of lytic bacteriophages. RESULTS By combining propidium monoazide (PMA) treatment with high-throughput sequencing on six coral species (Acropora loripes, A. millepora, A. kenti, Platygyra daedalea, Pocillopora acuta, and Porites lutea) we were able to obtain information on bacterial communities with little noise from non-viable microbial DNA. Metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA gene showed significantly higher community evenness (85%) and species diversity (31%) in untreated compared with PMA-treated tissue for A. loripes only. While PMA-treated coral did not differ significantly from untreated samples in terms of observed number of ASVs, > 30% of ASVs were identified in untreated samples only, suggesting that they originated from cell-free/non-viable DNA. Further, the bacterial community structure was significantly different between PMA-treated and untreated samples for A. loripes and P. acuta indicating that DNA from non-viable microbes can bias community composition data in coral species with low bacterial diversity. CONCLUSIONS Our study is highly relevant to microbiome studies on coral and other host organisms as it delivers a solution to excluding non-viable DNA in a complex community. These results provide novel insights into the dynamic nature of host-associated microbiomes and underline the importance of applying versatile tools in the analysis of metabarcoding or next-generation sequencing data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Dungan
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Laura Geissler
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Amanda S Williams
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Cecilie Ravn Gotze
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Emily C Flynn
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Linda L Blackall
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
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6
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Du X, Li X, Cheng K, Zhao W, Cai Z, Chen G, Zhou J. Virome reveals effect of Ulva prolifera green tide on the structural and functional profiles of virus communities in coastal environments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 883:163609. [PMID: 37100126 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are widely distributed in marine environments, where they influence the transformation of matter and energy by modulating host metabolism. Driven by eutrophication, green tides are a rising concern in Chinese coastal areas, and are a serious ecological disaster that negatively affects coastal ecosystems and disrupts biogeochemical cycles. Although the composition of bacterial communities in green algae has been investigated, the diversity and roles of viruses in green algal blooms are largely unexplored. Therefore, the diversity, abundance, lifestyle, and metabolic potential of viruses in a natural bloom in Qingdao coastal area were investigated at three different stages (pre-bloom, during-bloom, and post-bloom) by metagenomics analysis. The dsDNA viruses, Siphoviridae, Myoviridae, Podoviridae, and Phycodnaviridae, were found to dominate the viral community. The viral dynamics exhibited distinct temporal patterns across different stages. The composition of the viral community varied during the bloom, especially in populations with low abundance. The lytic cycle was most predominant, and the abundance of lytic viruses increased slightly in the post-bloom stage. The diversity and richness of the viral communities varied distinctly during the green tide, and the post-bloom stage favored viral diversity and richness. The total organic carbon, dissolved oxygen, NO3-, NO2-, PO43-, chlorophyll-a contents, and temperature variably co-influenced the viral communities. The primary hosts included bacteria, algae, and other microplankton. Network analysis revealed the closer links between the viral communities as the bloom progressed. Functional prediction revealed that the viruses possibly influenced the biodegradation of microbial hydrocarbons and carbon by metabolic augmentation via auxiliary metabolic genes. The composition, structure, metabolic potential, and interaction taxonomy of the viromes differed significantly across the different stages of the green tide. The study demonstrated that the ecological event shaped the viral communities during algal bloom, and the viral communities played a significant role in phycospheric microecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Du
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, PR China
| | - Xinyang Li
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Keke Cheng
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Zhonghua Cai
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China
| | - Guofu Chen
- School of Marine Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology (Weihai), Weihai 264209, Shandong Province, PR China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China.
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7
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Mohamed AR, Ochsenkühn MA, Kazlak AM, Moustafa A, Amin SA. The coral microbiome: towards an understanding of the molecular mechanisms of coral-microbiota interactions. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2023; 47:fuad005. [PMID: 36882224 PMCID: PMC10045912 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Corals live in a complex, multipartite symbiosis with diverse microbes across kingdoms, some of which are implicated in vital functions, such as those related to resilience against climate change. However, knowledge gaps and technical challenges limit our understanding of the nature and functional significance of complex symbiotic relationships within corals. Here, we provide an overview of the complexity of the coral microbiome focusing on taxonomic diversity and functions of well-studied and cryptic microbes. Mining the coral literature indicate that while corals collectively harbour a third of all marine bacterial phyla, known bacterial symbionts and antagonists of corals represent a minute fraction of this diversity and that these taxa cluster into select genera, suggesting selective evolutionary mechanisms enabled these bacteria to gain a niche within the holobiont. Recent advances in coral microbiome research aimed at leveraging microbiome manipulation to increase coral's fitness to help mitigate heat stress-related mortality are discussed. Then, insights into the potential mechanisms through which microbiota can communicate with and modify host responses are examined by describing known recognition patterns, potential microbially derived coral epigenome effector proteins and coral gene regulation. Finally, the power of omics tools used to study corals are highlighted with emphasis on an integrated host-microbiota multiomics framework to understand the underlying mechanisms during symbiosis and climate change-driven dysbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin R Mohamed
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Michael A Ochsenkühn
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmed M Kazlak
- Systems Genomics Laboratory, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Moustafa
- Systems Genomics Laboratory, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Biotechnology Graduate Program, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Department of Biology, American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Shady A Amin
- Biology Program, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi 129188, United Arab Emirates
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8
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Yu H, Xiong L, Li Y, Wei Y, Zhang Q, Li H, Chen W, Ji X. Genetic diversity of virus auxiliary metabolism genes associated with phosphorus metabolism in Napahai plateau wetland. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3250. [PMID: 36828854 PMCID: PMC9958192 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28488-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses play important roles in ecosystems by interfering with the central metabolic pathways of the host during infection via the expression of auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs), altering the productivity of ecosystems and thus affecting geochemical cycling. In this study, the genetic diversity of phosphorus metabolism AMGs phoH, phoU and pstS was investigated by phylogenetic analysis, PCoA analysis, and alpha diversity analysis based on metagenomic data. It was found that the majority of the sequences were unique to Napahai plateau wetland. It was shown that the genetic diversity of phoH, phoU and pstS genes was independent of both habitats and host origins. In addition, the metabolic pathway of AMGs associated with the phosphorus cycling was identified based on metagenomic data. When phosphorus is deficient, virus utilizes AMGs to affect the metabolic pathway, contributing to higher phosphorus levels in the host and facilitating virus survival, replication, and propagation in the host cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Yu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Lingling Xiong
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Yanmei Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Yunlin Wei
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.
| | - Xiuling Ji
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.
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9
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Baum L, Nguyen MTHD, Jia Y, Biazik J, Thomas T. Characterization of a novel roseophage and the morphological and transcriptional response of the sponge symbiont Ruegeria AU67 to infection. Environ Microbiol 2021; 23:2532-2549. [PMID: 33754443 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Sponges have recently been recognized to contain complex communities of bacteriophages; however, little is known about how they interact with their bacterial hosts. Here, we isolated a novel phage, called Ruegeria phage Tedan, and characterized its impact on the bacterial sponge symbiont Ruegeria AU67 on a morphological and molecular level. Phage Tedan was structurally, genomically and phylogenetically characterized to be affiliated with the genus Xiamenvirus of the family Siphoviridae. Through microscopic observations and transcriptomic analysis, we show that phage Tedan upon infection induces a process leading to metabolic and morphological changes in its host. These changes would render Ruegeria AU67 better adapted to inhabit the sponge holobiont due to an improved utilization of ecologically relevant energy and carbon sources as well as a potential impediment of phagocytosis by the sponge through cellular enlargement. An increased survival or better growth of the bacterium in the sponge environment will likely benefit the phage reproduction. Our results point towards the possibility that phages from host-associated environments require, and have thus evolved, different strategies to interact with their host when compared to those phages from free-living or planktonic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Baum
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Mary T H D Nguyen
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Yunke Jia
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Joanna Biazik
- Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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10
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Nguyen M, Wemheuer B, Laffy PW, Webster NS, Thomas T. Taxonomic, functional and expression analysis of viral communities associated with marine sponges. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10715. [PMID: 33604175 PMCID: PMC7863781 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses play an essential role in shaping the structure and function of ecological communities. Marine sponges have the capacity to filter large volumes of ‘virus-laden’ seawater through their bodies and host dense communities of microbial symbionts, which are likely accessible to viral infection. However, despite the potential of sponges and their symbionts to act as viral reservoirs, little is known about the sponge-associated virome. Here we address this knowledge gap by analysing metagenomic and (meta-) transcriptomic datasets from several sponge species to determine what viruses are present and elucidate their predicted and expressed functionality. Sponges were found to carry diverse, abundant and active bacteriophages as well as eukaryotic viruses belonging to the Megavirales and Phycodnaviridae. These viruses contain and express auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) for photosynthesis and vitamin synthesis as well as for the production of antimicrobials and the defence against toxins. These viral AMGs can therefore contribute to the metabolic capacities of their hosts and also potentially enhance the survival of infected cells. This suggest that viruses may play a key role in regulating the abundance and activities of members of the sponge holobiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Nguyen
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological & Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bernd Wemheuer
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological & Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Patrick W Laffy
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicole S Webster
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia.,Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation & School of Biological & Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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11
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Vishnyakov AE, Karagodina NP, Lim-Fong G, Ivanov PA, Schwaha TF, Letarov AV, Ostrovsky AN. First evidence of virus-like particles in the bacterial symbionts of Bryozoa. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4. [PMID: 33420126 PMCID: PMC7794531 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78616-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophage communities associated with humans and vertebrate animals have been extensively studied, but the data on phages living in invertebrates remain scarce. In fact, they have never been reported for most animal phyla. Our ultrastructural study showed for the first time a variety of virus-like particles (VLPs) and supposed virus-related structures inside symbiotic bacteria in two marine species from the phylum Bryozoa, the cheilostomes Bugula neritina and Paralicornia sinuosa. We also documented the effect of VLPs on bacterial hosts: we explain different bacterial 'ultrastructural types' detected in bryozoan tissues as stages in the gradual destruction of prokaryotic cells caused by viral multiplication during the lytic cycle. We speculate that viruses destroying bacteria regulate symbiont numbers in the bryozoan hosts, a phenomenon known in some insects. We develop two hypotheses explaining exo- and endogenous circulation of the viruses during the life-cycle of B. neritina. Finally, we compare unusual 'sea-urchin'-like structures found in the collapsed bacteria in P. sinuosa with so-called metamorphosis associated contractile structures (MACs) formed in the cells of the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea which are known to trigger larval metamorphosis in a polychaete worm.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. E. Vishnyakov
- grid.15447.330000 0001 2289 6897Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaja nab. 7/9, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation 199034
| | - N. P. Karagodina
- grid.15447.330000 0001 2289 6897Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaja nab. 7/9, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation 199034
| | - G. Lim-Fong
- grid.262455.20000 0001 2205 6070Department of Biology, Randolph-Macon College, 304 Caroline Street, Ashland, VA 23005 USA
| | - P. A. Ivanov
- grid.4886.20000 0001 2192 9124Research Centre of Biotechnology, Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. 60-letiya Oktyabrya 7 bld. 2, Moscow, Russian Federation 117312
| | - T. F. Schwaha
- grid.10420.370000 0001 2286 1424Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - A. V. Letarov
- grid.4886.20000 0001 2192 9124Research Centre of Biotechnology, Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. 60-letiya Oktyabrya 7 bld. 2, Moscow, Russian Federation 117312 ,grid.14476.300000 0001 2342 9668Department of Virology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, Moscow, Russian Federation 119234
| | - A. N. Ostrovsky
- grid.15447.330000 0001 2289 6897Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaja nab. 7/9, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation 199034 ,grid.10420.370000 0001 2286 1424Department of Palaeontology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy, Geozentrum, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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12
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Pascelli C, Laffy PW, Botté E, Kupresanin M, Rattei T, Lurgi M, Ravasi T, Webster NS. Viral ecogenomics across the Porifera. MICROBIOME 2020; 8:144. [PMID: 33008461 PMCID: PMC7532657 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-00919-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Viruses directly affect the most important biological processes in the ocean via their regulation of prokaryotic and eukaryotic populations. Marine sponges form stable symbiotic partnerships with a wide diversity of microorganisms and this high symbiont complexity makes them an ideal model for studying viral ecology. Here, we used morphological and molecular approaches to illuminate the diversity and function of viruses inhabiting nine sponge species from the Great Barrier Reef and seven from the Red Sea. RESULTS Viromic sequencing revealed host-specific and site-specific patterns in the viral assemblages, with all sponge species dominated by the bacteriophage order Caudovirales but also containing variable representation from the nucleocytoplasmic large DNA virus families Mimiviridae, Marseilleviridae, Phycodnaviridae, Ascoviridae, Iridoviridae, Asfarviridae and Poxviridae. Whilst core viral functions related to replication, infection and structure were largely consistent across the sponge viromes, functional profiles varied significantly between species and sites largely due to differential representation of putative auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) and accessory genes, including those associated with herbicide resistance, heavy metal resistance and nylon degradation. Furthermore, putative AMGs varied with the composition and abundance of the sponge-associated microbiome. For instance, genes associated with antimicrobial activity were enriched in low microbial abundance sponges, genes associated with nitrogen metabolism were enriched in high microbial abundance sponges and genes related to cellulose biosynthesis were enriched in species that host photosynthetic symbionts. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the diverse functional roles that viruses can play in marine sponges and are consistent with our current understanding of sponge ecology. Differential representation of putative viral AMGs and accessory genes across sponge species illustrate the diverse suite of beneficial roles viruses can play in the functional ecology of these complex reef holobionts. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecília Pascelli
- AIMS@JCU, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No.3, Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
- James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Patrick W Laffy
- AIMS@JCU, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No.3, Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - Emmanuelle Botté
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No.3, Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia
| | - Marija Kupresanin
- KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program (KEEP), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Thomas Rattei
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Computational Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Miguel Lurgi
- Biosciences Department, University of Swansea, Swansea, Wales
| | - Timothy Ravasi
- KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program (KEEP), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Nicole S Webster
- AIMS@JCU, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No.3, Townsville MC, Townsville, Queensland, 4810, Australia.
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
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13
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Cárdenas A, Ye J, Ziegler M, Payet JP, McMinds R, Vega Thurber R, Voolstra CR. Coral-Associated Viral Assemblages From the Central Red Sea Align With Host Species and Contribute to Holobiont Genetic Diversity. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:572534. [PMID: 33117317 PMCID: PMC7561429 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.572534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coral reefs are highly diverse marine ecosystems increasingly threatened on a global scale. The foundation species of reef ecosystems are stony corals that depend on their symbiotic microalgae and bacteria for aspects of their metabolism, immunity, and environmental adaptation. Conversely, the function of viruses in coral biology is less well understood, and we are missing an understanding of the diversity and function of coral viruses, particularly in understudied regions such as the Red Sea. Here we characterized coral-associated viruses using a large metagenomic and metatranscriptomic survey across 101 cnidarian samples from the central Red Sea. While DNA and RNA viral composition was different across coral hosts, biological traits such as coral life history strategy correlated with patterns of viral diversity. Coral holobionts were broadly associated with Mimiviridae and Phycodnaviridae that presumably infect protists and algal cells, respectively. Further, Myoviridae and Siphoviridae presumably target members of the bacterial phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria, whereas Hepadnaviridae and Retroviridae might infect the coral host. Genes involved in bacterial virulence and auxiliary metabolic genes were common among the viral sequences, corroborating a contribution of viruses to the holobiont’s genetic diversity. Our work provides a first insight into Red Sea coral DNA and RNA viral assemblages and reveals that viral diversity is consistent with global coral virome patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anny Cárdenas
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jin Ye
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maren Ziegler
- Department of Animal Ecology & Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Jérôme P Payet
- College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Ryan McMinds
- Center of Modeling, Simulation and Interactions, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Rebecca Vega Thurber
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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14
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Initial Virome Characterization of the Common Cnidarian Lab Model Nematostella vectensis. Viruses 2020; 12:v12020218. [PMID: 32075325 PMCID: PMC7077227 DOI: 10.3390/v12020218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of viruses in forming a stable holobiont has been the subject of extensive research in recent years. However, many emerging model organisms still lack any data on the composition of the associated viral communities. Here, we re-analyzed seven publicly available transcriptome datasets of the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, the most commonly used anthozoan lab model, and searched for viral sequences. We applied a straightforward, yet powerful approach of de novo assembly followed by homology-based virus identification and a multi-step, thorough taxonomic validation. The comparison of different lab populations of N. vectensis revealed the existence of the core virome composed of 21 viral sequences, present in all adult datasets. Unexpectedly, we observed an almost complete lack of viruses in the samples from the early developmental stages, which together with the identification of the viruses shared with the major source of the food in the lab, the brine shrimp Artemia salina, shed new light on the course of viral species acquisition in N. vectensis. Our study provides an initial, yet comprehensive insight into N. vectensis virome and sets the first foundation for the functional studies of viruses and antiviral systems in this lab model cnidarian.
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15
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Laffy PW, Botté ES, Wood-Charlson EM, Weynberg KD, Rattei T, Webster NS. Thermal stress modifies the marine sponge virome. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2019; 11:690-698. [PMID: 31283094 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.12782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Marine sponges can form stable partnerships with a wide diversity of microbes and viruses, and this high intraspecies symbiont specificity makes them ideal models for exploring how host-associated viromes respond to changing environmental conditions. Here we exposed the abundant Great Barrier Reef sponge Rhopaloiedes odorabile to elevated seawater temperature for 48 h and utilised a metaviromic approach to assess the response of the associated viral community. An increase in endogenous retro-transcribing viruses within the Caulimorviridae and Retroviridae families was detected within the first 12 h of exposure to 32 °C, and a 30-fold increase in retro-transcribing viruses was evident after 48 h at 32 °C. Thermally stressed sponges also exhibited a complete loss of ssDNA viruses which were prevalent in field samples and sponges from the control temperature treatment. Despite these viromic changes, functional analysis failed to detect any loss or gain of auxiliary metabolic genes, indicating that viral communities are not providing a direct competitive advantage to their host under thermal stress. In contrast, endogenous sponge retro-transcribing viruses appear to be replicating under thermal stress, and consistent with retroviral infections in other organisms, may be contributing to the previously described rapid decline in host health evident at elevated temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W Laffy
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB#3, Townsville, 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Emmanuelle S Botté
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB#3, Townsville, 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Karen D Weynberg
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB#3, Townsville, 4810, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas Rattei
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Computational Systems Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nicole S Webster
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB#3, Townsville, 4810, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Queensland, Australia
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16
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Morozov SY, Lezzhov AA, Lazareva EA, Erokhina TN, Solovyev AG. Potential Role of Accessory Domains in Polyproteins Encoded by Retrotransposons in Anti-viral Defense of Host Cells. Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3193. [PMID: 30687243 PMCID: PMC6338049 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Y Morozov
- A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Virology, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander A Lezzhov
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina A Lazareva
- Department of Virology, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana N Erokhina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Science, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey G Solovyev
- A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Virology, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.,Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
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17
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Pascelli C, Laffy PW, Kupresanin M, Ravasi T, Webster NS. Morphological characterization of virus-like particles in coral reef sponges. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5625. [PMID: 30356950 PMCID: PMC6195793 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine sponges host complex microbial consortia that vary in their abundance, diversity and stability amongst host species. While our understanding of sponge-microbe interactions has dramatically increased over the past decade, little is known about how sponges and their microbial symbionts interact with viruses, the most abundant entities in the ocean. In this study, we employed three transmission electron microscopy (TEM) preparation methods to provide the first comprehensive morphological assessment of sponge-associated viruses. The combined approaches revealed 50 different morphologies of viral-like particles (VLPs) represented across the different sponge species. VLPs were visualized within sponge cells, within the sponge extracellular mesohyl matrix, on the sponge ectoderm and within sponge-associated microbes. Non-enveloped, non-tailed icosahedral VLPs were the most commonly observed morphotypes, although tailed bacteriophage, brick-shaped, geminate and filamentous VLPs were also detected. Visualization of sponge-associated viruses using TEM has confirmed that sponges harbor not only diverse communities of microorganisms but also diverse communities of viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecília Pascelli
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Patrick W Laffy
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marija Kupresanin
- KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program (KEEP), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Timothy Ravasi
- KAUST Environmental Epigenetic Program (KEEP), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences & Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Nicole S Webster
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,AIMS@JCU, Australian Institute of Marine Science and James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.,Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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18
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Abstract
Viruses infect all kingdoms of marine life from bacteria to whales. Viruses in the world's oceans play important roles in the mortality of phytoplankton, and as drivers of evolution and biogeochemical cycling. They shape host population abundance and distribution and can lead to the termination of algal blooms. As discoveries about this huge reservoir of genetic and biological diversity grow, our understanding of the major influences viruses exert in the global marine environment continues to expand. This chapter discusses the key discoveries that have been made to date about marine viruses and the current direction of this field of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen D Weynberg
- School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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19
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Brüwer JD, Voolstra CR. First insight into the viral community of the cnidarian model metaorganism Aiptasia using RNA-Seq data. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4449. [PMID: 29507840 PMCID: PMC5835348 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Current research posits that all multicellular organisms live in symbioses with associated microorganisms and form so-called metaorganisms or holobionts. Cnidarian metaorganisms are of specific interest given that stony corals provide the foundation of the globally threatened coral reef ecosystems. To gain first insight into viruses associated with the coral model system Aiptasia (sensu Exaiptasia pallida), we analyzed an existing RNA-Seq dataset of aposymbiotic, partially populated, and fully symbiotic Aiptasia CC7 anemones with Symbiodinium. Our approach included the selective removal of anemone host and algal endosymbiont sequences and subsequent microbial sequence annotation. Of a total of 297 million raw sequence reads, 8.6 million (∼3%) remained after host and endosymbiont sequence removal. Of these, 3,293 sequences could be assigned as of viral origin. Taxonomic annotation of these sequences suggests that Aiptasia is associated with a diverse viral community, comprising 116 viral taxa covering 40 families. The viral assemblage was dominated by viruses from the families Herpesviridae (12.00%), Partitiviridae (9.93%), and Picornaviridae (9.87%). Despite an overall stable viral assemblage, we found that some viral taxa exhibited significant changes in their relative abundance when Aiptasia engaged in a symbiotic relationship with Symbiodinium. Elucidation of viral taxa consistently present across all conditions revealed a core virome of 15 viral taxa from 11 viral families, encompassing many viruses previously reported as members of coral viromes. Despite the non-random selection of viral genetic material due to the nature of the sequencing data analyzed, our study provides a first insight into the viral community associated with Aiptasia. Similarities of the Aiptasia viral community with those of corals corroborate the application of Aiptasia as a model system to study coral holobionts. Further, the change in abundance of certain viral taxa across different symbiotic states suggests a role of viruses in the algal endosymbiosis, but the functional significance of this remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan D Brüwer
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Christian R Voolstra
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
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