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Hicks RH, Moreno-Beltrán M, Gore-Lloyd D, Chuck CJ, Henk DA. The Oleaginous Yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima Displays Killer Activity against Avian-Derived Pathogenic Bacteria. Biology (Basel) 2021; 10:biology10121227. [PMID: 34943142 PMCID: PMC8698481 DOI: 10.3390/biology10121227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Pathogenic bacteria in poultry and the widespread use of antibiotics to manage them are costly in terms of production, environmental risk and human health. Probiotic and other low-cost, non-antibiotic treatments offer attractive alternatives to antibiotic applications, but relatively few of these options exist. In this research, we investigated the potential of an otherwise-useful industrial yeast, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, for the active suppression of poultry pathogenic bacteria. We tested multiple strains of yeast against several important bacterial pathogens and found that the more inhibitory strains of yeast supressed bacterial growth and actively killed the most recalcitrant bacteria. Less aggressive yeast strains could increase the growth of some bacterial strains in some environments. The yeast produced novel molecules in response to the presence of the bacteria and we identified several potential mechanisms by which the yeast inhibited or killed bacteria. Together, these results point towards a useful application of a novel yeast for enhanced, antibiotic-free pathogen control. Abstract Metschnikowia pulcherrima is a non-conventional yeast with potential to be used in biotechnological processes, especially those involving low-cost feedstock exploitation and biocontrol applications. The combination of traits that supports these industrial applications in M. pulcherrima also makes it an attractive option to study in the context of livestock health. In this study, we examined the specific interactions between M. pulcherrima and multiple avian pathogenic bacteria. We tested individual bacteria–yeast interactions and bacterial combinations in both solid and liquid media and in variable nutrient environments. Across multiple isolates of M. pulcherrima, we observed different levels of antimicrobial activity, varying from supporting the growth of competing bacteria through suppression and bacterial killing, and we found that these responses varied depending on the bacterial strains and media. We identified multiple molecular routes, including proteins produced by M. pulcherrima strains, that acted to control these microbial interactions. Furthermore, protein screening revealed that M. pulcherrima strains were induced to produce proteins specifically when exposed to bacterial strains, suggesting that fine-tuned mechanisms allow M. pulcherrima to function as a potential lynchpin in a microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H. Hicks
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (R.H.H.); (M.M.-B.); (D.G.-L.)
| | - Mauro Moreno-Beltrán
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (R.H.H.); (M.M.-B.); (D.G.-L.)
| | - Deborah Gore-Lloyd
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (R.H.H.); (M.M.-B.); (D.G.-L.)
| | | | - Daniel A. Henk
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (R.H.H.); (M.M.-B.); (D.G.-L.)
- Correspondence:
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Moreno-Beltrán M, Gore-Lloyd D, Chuck C, Henk D. Variation among Metschnikowia pulcherrima Isolates for Genetic Modification and Homologous Recombination. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020290. [PMID: 33572537 PMCID: PMC7911581 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Metschnikowia pulcherrima is a non-conventional yeast with the potential to be used in biotechnological processes, especially involving low-cost feedstock exploitation. However, there are a lack of tools for researching it at a molecular level and for producing genetically modified strains. We tested the amenability to genetic modification of ten different strains, establishing a transformation protocol based on LiAc/PEG that allows us to introduce heterologous DNA. Non-homologous integration was broadly successful and homologous recombination was successful in two strains. Chemical inhibition of non-homologous end joining recombination had a modest effect on the improvement of homologous recombination rates. Removal of selective markers via flippase recombinase was successful across integrated loci except for those targeted to the native URA3 locus, suggesting that the genome sequence or structure alters the efficacy of this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Moreno-Beltrán
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (M.M.-B.); (D.G.-L.)
| | - Deborah Gore-Lloyd
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (M.M.-B.); (D.G.-L.)
| | - Christopher Chuck
- Centre for Integrated Bioprocessing Research, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK;
| | - Daniel Henk
- Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK; (M.M.-B.); (D.G.-L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-122-538-4922
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Gore-Lloyd D, Sumann I, Brachmann AO, Schneeberger K, Ortiz-Merino RA, Moreno-Beltrán M, Schläfli M, Kirner P, Santos Kron A, Rueda-Mejia MP, Somerville V, Wolfe KH, Piel J, Ahrens CH, Henk D, Freimoser FM. Snf2 controls pulcherriminic acid biosynthesis and antifungal activity of the biocontrol yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima. Mol Microbiol 2019; 112:317-332. [PMID: 31081214 PMCID: PMC6851878 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Metschnikowia pulcherrima synthesises the pigment pulcherrimin, from cyclodileucine (cyclo(Leu-Leu)) as a precursor, and exhibits strong antifungal activity against notorious plant pathogenic fungi. This yeast therefore has great potential for biocontrol applications against fungal diseases; particularly in the phyllosphere where this species is frequently found. To elucidate the molecular basis of the antifungal activity of M. pulcherrima, we compared a wild-type strain with a spontaneously occurring, pigmentless, weakly antagonistic mutant derivative. Whole genome sequencing of the wild-type and mutant strains identified a point mutation that creates a premature stop codon in the transcriptional regulator gene SNF2 in the mutant. Complementation of the mutant strain with the wild-type SNF2 gene restored pigmentation and recovered the strong antifungal activity. Mass spectrometry (UPLC HR HESI-MS) proved the presence of the pulcherrimin precursors cyclo(Leu-Leu) and pulcherriminic acid and identified new precursor and degradation products of pulcherriminic acid and/or pulcherrimin. All of these compounds were identified in the wild-type and complemented strain, but were undetectable in the pigmentless snf2 mutant strain. These results thus identify Snf2 as a regulator of antifungal activity and pulcherriminic acid biosynthesis in M. pulcherrima and provide a starting point for deciphering the molecular functions underlying the antagonistic activity of this yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Gore-Lloyd
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Inés Sumann
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Müller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Alexander O Brachmann
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Schneeberger
- Competence Division Method Development and Analytics, Müller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Michael Schläfli
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Müller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Kirner
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Müller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Amanda Santos Kron
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Müller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Maria Paula Rueda-Mejia
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Müller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Vincent Somerville
- Competence Division Method Development and Analytics, Müller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth H Wolfe
- Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Jörn Piel
- Institute of Microbiology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christian H Ahrens
- Competence Division Method Development and Analytics, Müller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland.,SIB, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Müller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Henk
- Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK
| | - Florian M Freimoser
- Agroscope, Research Division Plant Protection, Müller-Thurgau-Strasse 29, 8820, Wädenswil, Switzerland
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