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Bar-Shalom R, Rozenberg A, Lahyani M, Hassanzadeh B, Sahoo G, Haber M, Burgsdorf I, Tang X, Squatrito V, Gomez-Consarnau L, Béjà O, Steindler L. Rhodopsin-mediated nutrient uptake by cultivated photoheterotrophic Verrucomicrobiota. ISME J 2023:10.1038/s41396-023-01412-1. [PMID: 37120702 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01412-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Rhodopsin photosystems convert light energy into electrochemical gradients used by the cell to produce ATP, or for other energy-demanding processes. While these photosystems are widespread in the ocean and have been identified in diverse microbial taxonomic groups, their physiological role in vivo has only been studied in few marine bacterial strains. Recent metagenomic studies revealed the presence of rhodopsin genes in the understudied Verrucomicrobiota phylum, yet their distribution within different Verrucomicrobiota lineages, their diversity, and function remain unknown. In this study, we show that more than 7% of Verrucomicrobiota genomes (n = 2916) harbor rhodopsins of different types. Furthermore, we describe the first two cultivated rhodopsin-containing strains, one harboring a proteorhodopsin gene and the other a xanthorhodopsin gene, allowing us to characterize their physiology under laboratory-controlled conditions. The strains were isolated in a previous study from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and read mapping of 16S rRNA gene amplicons showed the highest abundances of these strains at the deep chlorophyll maximum (source of their inoculum) in winter and spring, with a substantial decrease in summer. Genomic analysis of the isolates suggests that motility and degradation of organic material, both energy demanding functions, may be supported by rhodopsin phototrophy in Verrucomicrobiota. Under culture conditions, we show that rhodopsin phototrophy occurs under carbon starvation, with light-mediated energy generation supporting sugar transport into the cells. Overall, this study suggests that photoheterotrophic Verrucomicrobiota may occupy an ecological niche where energy harvested from light enables bacterial motility toward organic matter and supports nutrient uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rinat Bar-Shalom
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Andrey Rozenberg
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
| | - Matan Lahyani
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Babak Hassanzadeh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Gobardhan Sahoo
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014, India
| | - Markus Haber
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre CAS, Na Sadkach 7, 37005, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Xinyu Tang
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Valeria Squatrito
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
| | - Laura Gomez-Consarnau
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
- Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, BC, México
| | - Oded Béjà
- Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, 3498838, Israel.
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2
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Nguyen VH, Wemheuer B, Song W, Bennett H, Palladino G, Burgsdorf I, Sizikov S, Steindler L, Webster NS, Thomas T. Functional characterization and taxonomic classification of novel gammaproteobacterial diversity in sponges. Syst Appl Microbiol 2023; 46:126401. [PMID: 36774720 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2023.126401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Sponges harbour exceptionally diverse microbial communities, whose members are largely uncultured. The class Gammaproteobacteria often dominates the microbial communities of various sponge species, but most of its diversity remains functional and taxonomically uncharacterised. Here we reconstructed and characterised 32 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) derived from three sponge species. These MAGs represent ten novel species and belong to seven orders, of which one is new. We propose nomenclature for all these taxa. These new species comprise sponge-specific bacteria with varying levels of host specificity. Functional gene profiling highlights significant differences in metabolic capabilities across the ten species, though each also often exhibited a large degree of metabolic diversity involving various nitrogen- and sulfur-based compounds. The genomic features of the ten species suggest they have evolved to form symbiotic interaction with their hosts or are well-adapted to survive within the sponge environment. These Gammaproteobacteria are proposed to scavenge substrates from the host environment, including metabolites or cellular components of the sponge. Their diverse metabolic capabilities may allow for efficient cycling of organic matter in the sponge environment, potentially to the benefit of the host and other symbionts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viet Hung Nguyen
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bernd Wemheuer
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Weizhi Song
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Holly Bennett
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
| | - Giorgia Palladino
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Unit of Microbiome Science and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Nicole S Webster
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia; Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Torsten Thomas
- Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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3
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Haber M, Roth Rosenberg D, Lalzar M, Burgsdorf I, Saurav K, Lionheart R, Lehahn Y, Aharonovich D, Gómez-Consarnau L, Sher D, Krom MD, Steindler L. Spatiotemporal Variation of Microbial Communities in the Ultra-Oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:867694. [PMID: 35464964 PMCID: PMC9022036 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.867694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine microbial communities vary seasonally and spatially, but these two factors are rarely addressed together. In this study, the temporal and spatial patterns of the bacterial and archaeal community were studied along a coast-to-offshore transect in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) over six cruises, in three seasons of 2 consecutive years. Amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and transcripts was performed to determine presence and activity, respectively. The ultra-oligotrophic status of the Southeastern Mediterranean Sea was reflected in the microbial community composition dominated by oligotrophic bacterial groups such as SAR11, even at the most coastal station sampled, throughout the year. Seasons significantly affected the microbial communities, explaining more than half of the observed variability. However, the same few taxa dominated the community over the 2-year sampling period, varying only in their degree of dominance. While there was no overall effect of station location on the microbial community, the most coastal site (16 km offshore) differed significantly in community structure and activity from the three further offshore stations in early winter and summer. Our data on the microbial community compositions and their seasonality support previous notions that the EMS behaves like an oceanic gyre.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Haber
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.,Department of Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Dalit Roth Rosenberg
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Maya Lalzar
- Bioinformatics Service Unit, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kumar Saurav
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Regina Lionheart
- The Dr. Moses Strauss Department of Marine Geosciences, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yoav Lehahn
- The Dr. Moses Strauss Department of Marine Geosciences, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dikla Aharonovich
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Laura Gómez-Consarnau
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Biological Oceanography, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Ensenada, Mexico
| | - Daniel Sher
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Michael D Krom
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.,Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, Environmental Geochemistry Lab., Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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4
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Burgsdorf I, Sizikov S, Squatrito V, Britstein M, Slaby BM, Cerrano C, Handley KM, Steindler L. Correction: Lineage-specific energy and carbon metabolism of sponge symbionts and contributions to the host carbon pool. ISME J 2022; 16:1204. [PMID: 35046561 PMCID: PMC8940890 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-022-01186-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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5
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Burgsdorf I, Sizikov S, Squatrito V, Britstein M, Slaby BM, Cerrano C, Handley KM, Steindler L. Lineage-specific energy and carbon metabolism of sponge symbionts and contributions to the host carbon pool. ISME J 2021; 16:1163-1175. [PMID: 34876682 PMCID: PMC8941161 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-01165-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Marine sponges host a wide diversity of microorganisms, which have versatile modes of carbon and energy metabolism. In this study we describe the major lithoheterotrophic and autotrophic processes in 21 microbial sponge-associated phyla using novel and existing genomic and transcriptomic datasets. We show that the main microbial carbon fixation pathways in sponges are the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle (energized by light in Cyanobacteria, by sulfur compounds in two orders of Gammaproteobacteria, and by a wide range of compounds in filamentous Tectomicrobia), the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle (used by Nitrospirota), and the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate cycle (active in Thaumarchaeota). Further, we observed that some sponge symbionts, in particular Acidobacteria, are capable of assimilating carbon through anaplerotic processes. The lithoheterotrophic lifestyle was widespread and CO oxidation is the main energy source for sponge lithoheterotrophs. We also suggest that the molybdenum-binding subunit of dehydrogenase (encoded by coxL) likely evolved to benefit also organoheterotrophs that utilize various organic substrates. Genomic potential does not necessarily inform on actual contribution of autotrophs to light and dark carbon budgets. Radioisotope assays highlight variability in the relative contributions of photo- and chemoautotrophs to the total carbon pool across different sponge species, emphasizing the importance of validating genomic potential with physiology experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - S Sizikov
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - V Squatrito
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - M Britstein
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - B M Slaby
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, RD3 Marine Ecology, RU Marine Symbioses, Kiel, Germany
| | - C Cerrano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - K M Handley
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - L Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.
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6
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Haber M, Burgsdorf I, Handley KM, Rubin-Blum M, Steindler L. Genomic Insights Into the Lifestyles of Thaumarchaeota Inside Sponges. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:622824. [PMID: 33537022 PMCID: PMC7848895 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.622824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Sponges are among the oldest metazoans and their success is partly due to their abundant and diverse microbial symbionts. They are one of the few animals that have Thaumarchaeota symbionts. Here we compare genomes of 11 Thaumarchaeota sponge symbionts, including three new genomes, to free-living ones. Like their free-living counterparts, sponge-associated Thaumarchaeota can oxidize ammonia, fix carbon, and produce several vitamins. Adaptions to life inside the sponge host include enrichment in transposases, toxin-antitoxin systems and restriction modifications systems, enrichments previously reported also from bacterial sponge symbionts. Most thaumarchaeal sponge symbionts lost the ability to synthesize rhamnose, which likely alters their cell surface and allows them to evade digestion by the host. All but one archaeal sponge symbiont encoded a high-affinity, branched-chain amino acid transporter system that was absent from the analyzed free-living thaumarchaeota suggesting a mixotrophic lifestyle for the sponge symbionts. Most of the other unique features found in sponge-associated Thaumarchaeota, were limited to only a few specific symbionts. These features included the presence of exopolyphosphatases and a glycine cleavage system found in the novel genomes. Thaumarchaeota have thus likely highly specific interactions with their sponge host, which is supported by the limited number of host sponge species to which each of these symbionts is restricted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Haber
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kim M. Handley
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Maxim Rubin-Blum
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute, Haifa, Israel
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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7
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Sizikov S, Burgsdorf I, Handley KM, Lahyani M, Haber M, Steindler L. Characterization of sponge-associated Verrucomicrobia: microcompartment-based sugar utilization and enhanced toxin-antitoxin modules as features of host-associated Opitutales. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:4669-4688. [PMID: 32840024 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria of the phylum Verrucomicrobia are ubiquitous in marine environments and can be found as free-living organisms or as symbionts of eukaryotic hosts. Little is known about host-associated Verrucomicrobia in the marine environment. Here we reconstructed two genomes of symbiotic Verrucomicrobia from bacterial metagenomes derived from the Atlanto-Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis and three genomes from strains that we isolated from offshore seawater of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Phylogenomic analysis of these five strains indicated that they are all members of Verrucomicrobia subdivision 4, order Opitutales. We compared these novel sponge-associated and seawater-isolated genomes to closely related Verrucomicrobia. Genomic analysis revealed that Planctomycetes-Verrucomicrobia microcompartment gene clusters are enriched in the genomes of symbiotic Opitutales including sponge symbionts but not in free-living ones. We hypothesize that in sponge symbionts these microcompartments are used for degradation of l-fucose and l-rhamnose, which are components of algal and bacterial cell walls and therefore may be found at high concentrations in the sponge tissue. Furthermore, we observed an enrichment of toxin-antitoxin modules in symbiotic Opitutales. We suggest that, in sponges, verrucomicrobial symbionts utilize these modules as a defence mechanism against antimicrobial activity deriving from the abundant microbial community co-inhabiting the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Sizikov
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kim Marie Handley
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Matan Lahyani
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Markus Haber
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel.,Department of Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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8
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Britstein M, Cerrano C, Burgsdorf I, Zoccarato L, Kenny NJ, Riesgo A, Lalzar M, Steindler L. Sponge microbiome stability during environmental acquisition of highly specific photosymbionts. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:3593-3607. [PMID: 32656901 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we used in situ transplantations to provide the first evidence of horizontal acquisition of cyanobacterial symbionts by a marine sponge. The acquisition of the symbionts by the host sponge Petrosia ficiformis, which was observed in distinct visible patches, appeared several months after transplantation and at different times on different sponge specimens. We further used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of genomic DNA (gDNA) and complementary DNA (cDNA) and metatranscriptomics to investigate how the acquisition of the symbiotic cyanobacterium Candidatus Synechococcus feldmannii perturbed the diverse microbiota associated with the host P. ficiformis. To our surprise, the microbiota remained relatively stable during cyanobacterial symbiont acquisition at both structural (gDNA content) and activity (cDNA expression) levels. At the transcriptomic level, photosynthesis was the primary function gained following the acquisition of cyanobacteria. Genes involved in carotene production and oxidative stress tolerance were among those highly expressed by Ca. S. feldmannii, suggesting that this symbiont may protect itself and its host from damaging light radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Britstein
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Carlo Cerrano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Luca Zoccarato
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nathan J Kenny
- Life Sciences Department, The Natural History Museum of London, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Ana Riesgo
- Life Sciences Department, The Natural History Museum of London, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
| | - Maya Lalzar
- Bioinformatics Service Unit, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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9
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Saurav K, Borbone N, Burgsdorf I, Teta R, Caso A, Bar-Shalom R, Esposito G, Britstein M, Steindler L, Costantino V. Identification of Quorum Sensing Activators and Inhibitors in The Marine Sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:md18020127. [PMID: 32093216 PMCID: PMC7074164 DOI: 10.3390/md18020127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine sponges, a well-documented prolific source of natural products, harbor highly diverse microbial communities. Their extracts were previously shown to contain quorum sensing (QS) signal molecules of the N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) type, known to orchestrate bacterial gene regulation. Some bacteria and eukaryotic organisms are known to produce molecules that can interfere with QS signaling, thus affecting microbial genetic regulation and function. In the present study, we established the production of both QS signal molecules as well as QS inhibitory (QSI) molecules in the sponge species Sarcotragus spinosulus. A total of eighteen saturated acyl chain AHLs were identified along with six unsaturated acyl chain AHLs. Bioassay-guided purification led to the isolation of two brominated metabolites with QSI activity. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by comparative spectral analysis of 1HNMR and HR-MS data and were identified as 3-bromo-4-methoxyphenethylamine (1) and 5,6-dibromo-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (2). The QSI activity of compounds 1 and 2 was evaluated using reporter gene assays for long- and short-chain AHL signals (Escherichia coli pSB1075 and E. coli pSB401, respectively). QSI activity was further confirmed by measuring dose-dependent inhibition of proteolytic activity and pyocyanin production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The obtained results show the coexistence of QS and QSI in S. spinosulus, a complex signal network that may mediate the orchestrated function of the microbiome within the sponge holobiont.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumar Saurav
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel 31905, Haifa, Israel; (K.S.); (I.B.); (R.B.-S.); (M.B.); (L.S.)
- The Blue Chemistry Lab, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy; (N.B.); (R.T.); (A.C.); (G.E.)
- Laboratory of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Opatovickýmlýn, Novohradská 237, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Nicola Borbone
- The Blue Chemistry Lab, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy; (N.B.); (R.T.); (A.C.); (G.E.)
| | - Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel 31905, Haifa, Israel; (K.S.); (I.B.); (R.B.-S.); (M.B.); (L.S.)
| | - Roberta Teta
- The Blue Chemistry Lab, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy; (N.B.); (R.T.); (A.C.); (G.E.)
| | - Alessia Caso
- The Blue Chemistry Lab, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy; (N.B.); (R.T.); (A.C.); (G.E.)
| | - Rinat Bar-Shalom
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel 31905, Haifa, Israel; (K.S.); (I.B.); (R.B.-S.); (M.B.); (L.S.)
| | - Germana Esposito
- The Blue Chemistry Lab, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy; (N.B.); (R.T.); (A.C.); (G.E.)
| | - Maya Britstein
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel 31905, Haifa, Israel; (K.S.); (I.B.); (R.B.-S.); (M.B.); (L.S.)
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel 31905, Haifa, Israel; (K.S.); (I.B.); (R.B.-S.); (M.B.); (L.S.)
| | - Valeria Costantino
- The Blue Chemistry Lab, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131, Napoli, Italy; (N.B.); (R.T.); (A.C.); (G.E.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081-678-504
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10
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Ishaque NM, Burgsdorf I, Limlingan Malit JJ, Saha S, Teta R, Ewe D, Kannabiran K, Hrouzek P, Steindler L, Costantino V, Saurav K. Isolation, Genomic and Metabolomic Characterization of Streptomyces tendae VITAKN with Quorum Sensing Inhibitory Activity from Southern India. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E121. [PMID: 31963137 PMCID: PMC7023471 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8010121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Streptomyces are among the most promising genera in terms of production ability to biosynthesize a variety of bioactive secondary metabolites with pharmaceutical interest. Coinciding with the increase in genomic sequencing of these bacteria, mining of their genomes for biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) has become a routine component of natural product discovery. Herein, we describe the isolation and characterization of a Streptomyces tendae VITAKN with quorum sensing inhibitory (QSI) activity that was isolated from southern coastal part of India. The nearly complete genome consists of 8,621,231bp with a GC content of 72.2%. Sequence similarity networks of the BGCs detected from this strain against the Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene Cluster (MIBiG) database and 3365 BGCs predicted by antiSMASH analysis of publicly available complete Streptomyces genomes were generated through the BiG-SCAPE-CORASON platform to evaluate its biosynthetic novelty. Crude extract analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography connected to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS/MS) and dereplication through the Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) online workflow resulted in the identification of cyclic dipeptides (2, 5-diketopiperazines, DKPs) in the extract, which are known to possess QSI activity. Our results highlight the potential of genome mining coupled with LC-HRMS/MS and in silico tools (GNPS) as a valid approach for the discovery of novel QSI lead compounds. This study also provides the biosynthetic diversity of BGCs and an assessment of the predicted chemical space yet to be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabila Mohammed Ishaque
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore 632014, India; (N.M.I.); (K.K.)
| | - Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel; (I.B.); (L.S.)
| | - Jessie James Limlingan Malit
- Department of Ocean Science, Division of Life Science and Hong Kong, Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Subhasish Saha
- Laboratory of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Opatovickýmlýn, Novohradská 237, 37981 Třeboň, Czech Republic; (S.S.); (D.E.); (P.H.)
| | - Roberta Teta
- The Blue Chemistry Lab, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Daniela Ewe
- Laboratory of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Opatovickýmlýn, Novohradská 237, 37981 Třeboň, Czech Republic; (S.S.); (D.E.); (P.H.)
| | - Krishnan Kannabiran
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore 632014, India; (N.M.I.); (K.K.)
| | - Pavel Hrouzek
- Laboratory of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Opatovickýmlýn, Novohradská 237, 37981 Třeboň, Czech Republic; (S.S.); (D.E.); (P.H.)
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel; (I.B.); (L.S.)
| | - Valeria Costantino
- The Blue Chemistry Lab, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
| | - Kumar Saurav
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore 632014, India; (N.M.I.); (K.K.)
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 31905, Israel; (I.B.); (L.S.)
- Laboratory of Algal Biotechnology-Centre Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Opatovickýmlýn, Novohradská 237, 37981 Třeboň, Czech Republic; (S.S.); (D.E.); (P.H.)
- The Blue Chemistry Lab, Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, Italy;
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Burgsdorf I, Handley KM, Bar-Shalom R, Erwin PM, Steindler L. Life at Home and on the Roam: Genomic Adaptions Reflect the Dual Lifestyle of an Intracellular, Facultative Symbiont. mSystems 2019; 4:e00057-19. [PMID: 31086829 PMCID: PMC6506613 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00057-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
"Candidatus Synechococcus feldmannii" is a facultative intracellular symbiont of the Atlanto-Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis. Genomic information of sponge-associated cyanobacteria derives thus far from the obligate and extracellular symbiont "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum." Here we utilized a differential methylation-based approach for bacterial DNA enrichment combined with metagenomics to obtain the first draft genomes of "Ca. Synechococcus feldmannii." By comparative genomics, we revealed that some genomic features (e.g., iron transport mediated by siderophores, eukaryotic-like proteins, and defense mechanisms, like CRISPR-Cas [clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated proteins]) are unique to both symbiont types and absent or rare in the genomes of taxonomically related free-living cyanobacteria. These genomic features likely enable life under the conditions found inside the sponge host. Interestingly, there are many genomic features that are shared by "Ca. Synechococcus feldmannii" and free-living cyanobacteria, while they are absent in the obligate symbiont "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum." These include genes related to cell surface structures, genetic regulation, and responses to environmental stress, as well as the composition of photosynthetic genes and DNA metabolism. We speculate that the presence of these genes confers on "Ca. Synechococcus feldmannii" its facultative nature (i.e., the ability to respond to a less stable environment when free-living). Our comparative analysis revealed that distinct genomic features depend on the nature of the symbiotic interaction: facultative and intracellular versus obligate and extracellular. IMPORTANCE Given the evolutionary position of sponges as one of the earliest phyla to depart from the metazoan stem lineage, studies on their distinct and exceptionally diverse microbial communities should yield a better understanding of the origin of animal-bacterium interactions. While genomes of several extracellular sponge symbionts have been published, the intracellular symbionts have, so far, been elusive. Here we compare the genomes of two unicellular cyanobacterial sponge symbionts that share an ancestor but followed different evolutionary paths-one became intracellular and the other extracellular. Counterintuitively, the intracellular cyanobacteria are facultative, while the extracellular ones are obligate. By sequencing the genomes of the intracellular cyanobacteria and comparing them to the genomes of the extracellular symbionts and related free-living cyanobacteria, we show how three different cyanobacterial lifestyles are reflected by adaptive genomic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kim M. Handley
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rinat Bar-Shalom
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Patrick M. Erwin
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Centre for Marine Science, University of North Carolina—Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Dubinsky V, Haber M, Burgsdorf I, Saurav K, Lehahn Y, Malik A, Sher D, Aharonovich D, Steindler L. Metagenomic analysis reveals unusually high incidence of proteorhodopsin genes in the ultraoligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Environ Microbiol 2017; 19:1077-1090. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Vadim Dubinsky
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences; University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
| | - Markus Haber
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences; University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
| | - Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences; University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
| | - Kumar Saurav
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences; University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
| | - Yoav Lehahn
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Weizmann Institute of Science; Rehovot Israel
| | - Assaf Malik
- Bioinformatics Service Unit, University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
| | - Daniel Sher
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences; University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
| | - Dikla Aharonovich
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences; University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences; University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
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Saurav K, Bar-Shalom R, Haber M, Burgsdorf I, Oliviero G, Costantino V, Morgenstern D, Steindler L. In Search of Alternative Antibiotic Drugs: Quorum-Quenching Activity in Sponges and their Bacterial Isolates. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:416. [PMID: 27092109 PMCID: PMC4821063 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [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: 12/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Owing to the extensive development of drug resistance in pathogens against the available antibiotic arsenal, antimicrobial resistance is now an emerging major threat to public healthcare. Anti-virulence drugs are a new type of therapeutic agent aiming at virulence factors rather than killing the pathogen, thus providing less selective pressure for evolution of resistance. One promising example of this therapeutic concept targets bacterial quorum sensing (QS), because QS controls many virulence factors responsible for bacterial infections. Marine sponges and their associated bacteria are considered a still untapped source for unique chemical leads with a wide range of biological activities. In the present study, we screened extracts of 14 sponge species collected from the Red and Mediterranean Sea for their quorum-quenching (QQ) potential. Half of the species showed QQ activity in at least 2 out of 3 replicates. Six out of the 14 species were selected for bacteria isolation, to test for QQ activity also in isolates, which, once cultured, represent an unlimited source of compounds. We show that ≈20% of the isolates showed QQ activity based on a Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 screen, and that the presence or absence of QQ activity in a sponge extract did not correlate with the abundance of isolates with the same activity from the same sponge species. This can be explained by the unknown source of QQ compounds in sponge-holobionts (host or symbionts), and further by the possible non-symbiotic nature of bacteria isolated from sponges. The potential symbiotic nature of the isolates showing QQ activity was tested according to the distribution and abundance of taxonomically close bacterial Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) in a dataset including 97 sponge species and 178 environmental samples (i.e., seawater, freshwater, and marine sediments). Most isolates were found not to be enriched in sponges and may simply have been trapped in the filtration channels of the sponge at the time of collection. Our results highlight potential for QQ-bioactive lead molecules for anti-virulence therapy both from sponges and the bacteria isolated thereof, independently on the symbiotic nature of the latter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumar Saurav
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa Haifa, Israel
| | - Rinat Bar-Shalom
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa Haifa, Israel
| | - Markus Haber
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa Haifa, Israel
| | - Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa Haifa, Israel
| | - Giorgia Oliviero
- The Blue Chemistry Lab Group, Department of Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Napoli, Italy
| | - Valeria Costantino
- The Blue Chemistry Lab Group, Department of Pharmacy, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa Haifa, Israel
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14
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Saurav K, Burgsdorf I, Teta R, Esposito G, Bar-Shalom R, Costantino V, Steindler L. Isolation of MarineParacoccussp. Ss63 from the SpongeSarcotragussp. and Characterization of its Quorum-Sensing Chemical-Signaling Molecules by LC-MS/MS Analysis. Isr J Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ijch.201600003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Burgsdorf I, Slaby BM, Handley KM, Haber M, Blom J, Marshall CW, Gilbert JA, Hentschel U, Steindler L. Lifestyle evolution in cyanobacterial symbionts of sponges. mBio 2015; 6:e00391-15. [PMID: 26037118 PMCID: PMC4453008 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00391-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum" group includes different clades of cyanobacteria with high 16S rRNA sequence identity (~99%) and is the most abundant and widespread cyanobacterial symbiont of marine sponges. The first draft genome of a "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" group member was recently published, providing evidence of genome reduction by loss of genes involved in several nonessential functions. However, "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" includes a variety of clades that may differ widely in genomic repertoire and consequently in physiology and symbiotic function. Here, we present three additional draft genomes of "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum," each from a different clade. By comparing all four symbiont genomes to those of free-living cyanobacteria, we revealed general adaptations to life inside sponges and specific adaptations of each phylotype. Symbiont genomes shared about half of their total number of coding genes. Common traits of "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" members were a high abundance of DNA modification and recombination genes and a reduction in genes involved in inorganic ion transport and metabolism, cell wall biogenesis, and signal transduction mechanisms. Moreover, these symbionts were characterized by a reduced number of antioxidant enzymes and low-weight peptides of photosystem II compared to their free-living relatives. Variability within the "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" group was mostly related to immune system features, potential for siderophore-mediated iron transport, and dependency on methionine from external sources. The common absence of genes involved in synthesis of residues, typical of the O antigen of free-living Synechococcus species, suggests a novel mechanism utilized by these symbionts to avoid sponge predation and phage attack. IMPORTANCE While the Synechococcus/Prochlorococcus-type cyanobacteria are widely distributed in the world's oceans, a subgroup has established its niche within marine sponge tissues. Recently, the first genome of sponge-associated cyanobacteria, "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum," was described. The sequencing of three representatives of different clades within this cyanobacterial group has enabled us to investigate intraspecies diversity, as well as to give a more comprehensive understanding of the common symbiotic features that adapt "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" to its life within the sponge host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Beate M Slaby
- Department of Botany II, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Kim M Handley
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Markus Haber
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Jochen Blom
- Bioinformatics and System Biology Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christopher W Marshall
- Argonne National Laboratory, Institute for Genomic and Systems Biology, Argonne, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Ute Hentschel
- Department of Botany II, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biosciences, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Burgsdorf I, Erwin PM, López-Legentil S, Cerrano C, Haber M, Frenk S, Steindler L. Biogeography rather than association with cyanobacteria structures symbiotic microbial communities in the marine sponge Petrosia ficiformis. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:529. [PMID: 25346728 PMCID: PMC4193313 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The sponge Petrosia ficiformis is ubiquitous in the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic Ocean, hosting a diverse assemblage of bacteria, including, in illuminated sites, cyanobacteria. Two closely related sponge color morphs have been described, one inside caves and at their entrance (white/pink), and one on the rocky cliffs (violet). The presence of the different morphs and their ubiquity in the Mediterranean (from North-West to South-East) provides an opportunity to examine which factors mostly affect the associated microbial communities in this species: (i) presence of phototrophic symbionts or (ii) biogeography. 16S rRNA gene tag pyrosequencing data of the microbial communities revealed that Chloroflexi, Gammaproteobacteria, and Acidobacteria dominated the bacterial communities of all sponges analyzed. Chlorophyll a content, TEM observations and DNA sequence data confirmed the presence of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus feldmannii in violet and pink morphs of P. ficiformis and their absence in white color morphs. Rather than cyanobacterial symbionts (i.e., color morphs) accounting for variability in microbial symbiont communities, a biogeographic trend was observed between P. ficiformis collected in Israel and Italy. Analyses of partial 18S rRNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene sequences revealed consistent genetic divergence between the violet and pink-white morphotypes of P. ficiformis. Overall, data indicated that microbial symbiont communities were more similar in genetically distinct P. ficiformis from the same location, than genetically similar P. ficiformis from distant locations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilia Burgsdorf
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa Haifa, Israel
| | - Patrick M Erwin
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - Susanna López-Legentil
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, NC, USA
| | - Carlo Cerrano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences (DiSVA), Polytechnic University of Marche Ancona, Italy
| | - Markus Haber
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa Haifa, Israel
| | - Sammy Frenk
- Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization - Volcani Center Bet-Dagan, Israel ; Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rehovot, Israel
| | - Laura Steindler
- Department of Marine Biology, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa Haifa, Israel
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