@article {pmid33485000,
year = {2021},
author = {Quillaguamán, J and Guzmán, D and Campero, M and Hoepfner, C and Relos, L and Mendieta, D and Higdon, SM and Eid, D and Fernández, CE},
title = {The microbiome of a polluted urban lake harbors pathogens with diverse antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes.},
journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)},
volume = {273},
number = {},
pages = {116488},
doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116488},
pmid = {33485000},
issn = {1873-6424},
abstract = {Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is one of the greatest threats to the modern human population. Paradoxically, urban settlements are often culpable in generating such resistance by influencing the adaptation of bacterial communities via pollution of natural ecosystems. Urban lakes are well-known examples of this problem, as they often receive discharges of both domestic and industrial wastewater. In this study, we used shotgun metagenome sequencing to examine the microbial diversity of water and sediment samples of Lake Alalay, a polluted urban lake near Cochabamba, Bolivia. We found that Proteobacteria dominated the relative abundance of both water and sediment samples at levels over 25% and that a significant proportion of the microbial diversity could not be classified (about 9% in water and 22% in sediment). Further metagenomic investigation of antimicrobial resistance (AR) genes identified 277 and 150 AR genes in water and sediment samples, respectively. These included genes with functional annotations for resistance to fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, phenicols, macrolides, beta-lactams, and rifamycin. A high number of genes involved in bacterial virulence also occurred in both water and sediment samples (169 and 283, respectively), where the virulence gene pscP normally found in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa type III secretion system had the highest relative abundance. Isolated and identified bacteria from water samples also revealed the presence of pathogenic bacteria among the microbiota of Lake Alalay. Seeing as most AR and virulence genes detected in this study are commonly described in nosocomial infections, we provide evidence suggesting that the microbial ecosystem of Lake Alalay presents a severe health risk to the surrounding population.},
}

@article {pmid33484681,
year = {2021},
author = {Solé, C and Ginès, P},
title = {Letter to the Editor in Response to "Gut microbial metagenomics in ACLF: The causality-association conundrum".},
journal = {Gastroenterology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1053/j.gastro.2021.01.204},
pmid = {33484681},
issn = {1528-0012},
}

@article {pmid33484236,
year = {2021},
author = {Bergner, LM and Becker, DJ and Tello, C and Carrera, JE and Streicker, DG},
title = {Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in the saliva of diverse neotropical bats.},
journal = {Zoonoses and public health},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/zph.12808},
pmid = {33484236},
issn = {1863-2378},
support = {//University of Glasgow/ ; 102507/Z/13/A/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; 102507/Z/13/Z//Wellcome Senior Research Fellowship/ ; RGP0013/2018//Human Frontier Science Program/ ; },
abstract = {Trypanosoma cruzi is widely reported in bats, yet transmission routes remain unclear. We present evidence from metagenomic sequence data that T. cruzi occurs in the saliva of diverse Neotropical bats. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that the bat-associated T. cruzi sequences described here formed part of a bat-specific clade, suggesting an independent transmission cycle. Our results highlight the value in repurposing metagenomic data generated for viral discovery to reveal insights into the biology of other parasites. Evaluating whether the presence of T. cruzi in the saliva of two hematophagous bat species represents an ecological route for zoonotic transmission of Chagas disease is an interesting avenue for future research.},
}

@article {pmid33484150,
year = {2021},
author = {Raffner Basson, A and Gomez-Nguyen, A and LaSalla, A and Buttó, L and Kulpins, D and Warner, A and Di Martino, L and Ponzani, G and Osme, A and Rodriguez-Palacios, A and Cominelli, F},
title = {Replacing Animal Protein with Soy-Pea Protein in an "American Diet" Controls Murine Crohn Disease-Like Ileitis Regardless of Firmicutes: Bacteroidetes Ratio.},
journal = {The Journal of nutrition},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/jn/nxaa386},
pmid = {33484150},
issn = {1541-6100},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The current nutritional composition of the "American diet" (AD; also known as Western diet) has been linked to the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), namely Crohn disease (CD).

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated which of the 3 major macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrates) in the AD has the greatest impact on preventing chronic inflammation in experimental IBD mouse models.

METHODS: We compared 5 rodent diets designed to mirror the 2011-2012 "What We Eat in America" NHANES. Each diet had 1 macronutrient dietary source replaced. The formulated diets were AD, AD-soy-pea (animal protein replaced by soy + pea protein), AD-CHO ("refined carbohydrate" by polysaccharides), AD-fat [redistribution of the ω-6:ω-3 (n-6:n-3) PUFA ratio; ∼10:1 to 1:1], and AD-mix (all 3 "healthier" macronutrients combined). In 3 separate experiments, 8-wk-old germ-free SAMP1/YitFC mice (SAMP) colonized with human gut microbiota ("hGF-SAMP") from CD or healthy donors were fed an AD, an AD-"modified," or laboratory rodent diet for 24 wk. Two subsequent dextran sodium sulfate-colitis experiments in hGF-SAMP (12-wk-old) and specific-pathogen-free (SPF) C57BL/6 (20-wk-old) mice, and a 6-wk feeding trial in 24-wk-old SPF SAMP were performed. Intestinal inflammation, gut metagenomics, and MS profiles were assessed.

RESULTS: The AD-soy-pea diet resulted in lower histology scores [mean ± SD (56.1% ± 20.7% reduction)] in all feeding trials and IBD mouse models than did other diets (P < 0.05). Compared with the AD, the AD-soy-pea correlated with increased abundance in Lactobacillaceae and Leuconostraceae (1.5-4.7 log2 and 3.0-5.1 log2 difference, respectively), glutamine (6.5 ± 0.8 compared with 3.9 ± 0.3 ng/μg stool, P = 0.0005) and butyric acid (4:0; 3.3 ± 0.5 compared with 2.54 ± 0.4 ng/μg stool, P = 0.006) concentrations, and decreased linoleic acid (18:2n-6; 5.4 ± 0.4 compared with 8.6 ± 0.3 ng/μL plasma, P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: Replacement of animal protein in an AD by plant-based sources reduced the severity of experimental IBD in all mouse models studied, suggesting that similar, feasible adjustments to the daily human diet could help control/prevent IBD in humans.},
}

@article {pmid33482928,
year = {2021},
author = {Klassen, L and Reintjes, G and Tingley, JP and Jones, DR and Hehemann, JH and Smith, AD and Schwinghamer, TD and Arnosti, C and Jin, L and Alexander, TW and Amundsen, C and Thomas, D and Amann, R and McAllister, TA and Abbott, DW},
title = {Quantifying fluorescent glycan uptake to elucidate strain-level variability in foraging behaviors of rumen bacteria.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {9},
number = {1},
pages = {23},
pmid = {33482928},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {FDE.13.15//Beef Cattle Research Council/ ; FDE.14.17//Beef Cattle Research Council/ ; 840804//H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions/ ; OCE-1736772, DE-SC0013887, and DE-SC0019012//National Science Foundation/ ; AM 73/9-1 and HE 7217/1-1//Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft/ ; },
abstract = {Gut microbiomes, such as the microbial community that colonizes the rumen, have vast catabolic potential and play a vital role in host health and nutrition. By expanding our understanding of metabolic pathways in these ecosystems, we will garner foundational information for manipulating microbiome structure and function to influence host physiology. Currently, our knowledge of metabolic pathways relies heavily on inferences derived from metagenomics or culturing bacteria in vitro. However, novel approaches targeting specific cell physiologies can illuminate the functional potential encoded within microbial (meta)genomes to provide accurate assessments of metabolic abilities. Using fluorescently labeled polysaccharides, we visualized carbohydrate metabolism performed by single bacterial cells in a complex rumen sample, enabling a rapid assessment of their metabolic phenotype. Specifically, we identified bovine-adapted strains of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron that metabolized yeast mannan in the rumen microbiome ex vivo and discerned the mechanistic differences between two distinct carbohydrate foraging behaviors, referred to as "medium grower" and "high grower." Using comparative whole-genome sequencing, RNA-seq, and carbohydrate-active enzyme fingerprinting, we could elucidate the strain-level variability in carbohydrate utilization systems of the two foraging behaviors to help predict individual strategies of nutrient acquisition. Here, we present a multi-faceted study using complimentary next-generation physiology and "omics" approaches to characterize microbial adaptation to a prebiotic in the rumen ecosystem. Video abstract.},
}

@article {pmid33482922,
year = {2021},
author = {Okazaki, Y and Fujinaga, S and Salcher, MM and Callieri, C and Tanaka, A and Kohzu, A and Oyagi, H and Tamaki, H and Nakano, SI},
title = {Microdiversity and phylogeographic diversification of bacterioplankton in pelagic freshwater systems revealed through long-read amplicon sequencing.},
journal = {Microbiome},
volume = {9},
number = {1},
pages = {24},
pmid = {33482922},
issn = {2049-2618},
support = {15J00971 and 18J00300//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 15J01065//Japan Society for the Promotion of Science/ ; 5-1304//Ministry of the Environment/ ; 5-1607//Ministry of the Environment/ ; 19-23469S and 20-12496X//Grant Agency of the Czech Republic/ ; 310030_185108/SNSF_/Swiss National Science Foundation/Switzerland ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Freshwater ecosystems are inhabited by members of cosmopolitan bacterioplankton lineages despite the disconnected nature of these habitats. The lineages are delineated based on > 97% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, but their intra-lineage microdiversity and phylogeography, which are key to understanding the eco-evolutional processes behind their ubiquity, remain unresolved. Here, we applied long-read amplicon sequencing targeting nearly full-length 16S rRNA genes and the adjacent ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequences to reveal the intra-lineage diversities of pelagic bacterioplankton assemblages in 11 deep freshwater lakes in Japan and Europe.

RESULTS: Our single nucleotide-resolved analysis, which was validated using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, uncovered 7-101 amplicon sequence variants for each of the 11 predominant bacterial lineages and demonstrated sympatric, allopatric, and temporal microdiversities that could not be resolved through conventional approaches. Clusters of samples with similar intra-lineage population compositions were identified, which consistently supported genetic isolation between Japan and Europe. At a regional scale (up to hundreds of kilometers), dispersal between lakes was unlikely to be a limiting factor, and environmental factors or genetic drift were potential determinants of population composition. The extent of microdiversification varied among lineages, suggesting that highly diversified lineages (e.g., Iluma-A2 and acI-A1) achieve their ubiquity by containing a consortium of genotypes specific to each habitat, while less diversified lineages (e.g., CL500-11) may be ubiquitous due to a small number of widespread genotypes. The lowest extent of intra-lineage diversification was observed among the dominant hypolimnion-specific lineage (CL500-11), suggesting that their dispersal among lakes is not limited despite the hypolimnion being a more isolated habitat than the epilimnion.

CONCLUSIONS: Our novel approach complemented the limited resolution of short-read amplicon sequencing and limited sensitivity of the metagenome assembly-based approach, and highlighted the complex ecological processes underlying the ubiquity of freshwater bacterioplankton lineages. To fully exploit the performance of the method, its relatively low read throughput is the major bottleneck to be overcome in the future. Video abstract.},
}

@article {pmid33482853,
year = {2021},
author = {Zhao, Y and Yang, YY and Yang, BL and Du, YW and Ren, DW and Zhou, HM and Wang, J and Yang, HM and Wang, YX and Zhang, YY and Wu, SX},
title = {Efficacy and safety of berberine for dyslipidemia: study protocol for a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.},
journal = {Trials},
volume = {22},
number = {1},
pages = {85},
pmid = {33482853},
issn = {1745-6215},
support = {2017ZX09304019//Major National Science and Technology Project/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and a leading cause of death worldwide. The clinical utility of commonly used lipid-lowering drugs such as statins and fibrates is sometimes limited by the occurrence of various adverse reactions. Recently, berberine (BBR) has received increasing attention as a safer and more cost-effective option to manage dyslipidemia. Thus, a high-quality randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BBR in the treatment of dyslipidemia is deemed necessary.

METHODS/DESIGN: This is a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 118 patients with dyslipidemia will be enrolled in this study and randomized into two groups at a ratio of 1:1. BBR or placebo will be taken orally for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is the percentage of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction at week 12. Other outcome measures include changes in other lipid profiles, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, blood pressure, body weight, Bristol Stool Chart, traditional Chinese medicine symptom form, adipokine profiles, and metagenomics of intestinal microbiota. Safety assessment includes general physical examination, blood and urine routine test, liver and kidney function test, and adverse events.

DISCUSSION: This trial may provide high-quality evidence on the efficacy and safety of BBR for dyslipidemia. Importantly, the findings of this trial will help to identify patient and disease characteristics that may predict favorable outcomes of treatment with BBR and optimize its indication for clinical use.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900021361 . Registered on 17 February 2019.},
}

@article {pmid33482366,
year = {2021},
author = {Schuele, L and Fleres, G and Rossen, JWA and Couto, N and Strutzberg-Minde, K and Schütze, S and Löbert, S and Lambrecht, C and Harlizius, J and Peter, S and Couto, N},
title = {Detection of a small IncX4 plasmid carrying the mcr-1.1 gene in a pig oral fluid sample by shotgun metagenomic sequencing.},
journal = {Journal of global antimicrobial resistance},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.jgar.2020.12.020},
pmid = {33482366},
issn = {2213-7173},
}

@article {pmid33482304,
year = {2021},
author = {Accetto, T and Avguštin, G},
title = {Non-oral Prevotella stepping into the spotlight.},
journal = {Anaerobe},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {102321},
doi = {10.1016/j.anaerobe.2021.102321},
pmid = {33482304},
issn = {1095-8274},
abstract = {Species now affiliated to genus Prevotella have been known for decades as an integral part of human oral cavity microbiota. They were frequently isolated from patients with periodontitis or from dental root canals but also from healthy subjects. With the exception of Prevotella intermedia, they were considered opportunistic pathogens, as they were isolated also from various bacterial abscesses from the head, neck, breast, skin and various other body sites. Consequently, Prevotella were not in the focus of research activities. On the other hand, the four species found in the rumen never caused any disease and seemed early on to be numerous and important part of the rumen ecosystem indicating this genus harbored bacteria with enormously diverse habitats and lifestyles. The purpose of this review is to illustrate the main research themes performed in Prevotella on a path from less noted oral bacteria and from hard to cultivate and study rumen organisms to important mutualistic bacteria in guts of various mammals warranting major research efforts.},
}

@article {pmid33482026,
year = {2021},
author = {Canivet, CM and David, N and Pailhoriès, H and Briand, M and Guy, CD and Bouchez, O and Hunault, G and Fizanne, L and Lannes, A and Oberti, F and Fouchard, I and Calès, P and Diehl, AM and Barret, M and Boursier, J},
title = {Cross-linkage between bacterial taxonomy and gene functions: a study of metagenome-assembled genomes of Gut Microbiota in adult non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.},
journal = {Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/apt.16262},
pmid = {33482026},
issn = {1365-2036},
support = {//CHU of Angers/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: The reconstruction of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) has emerged as a powerful approach for combining the taxonomic and functional content of microbial populations.

AIM: To use this new approach to highlight mechanisms linking gut microbiota to NAFLD severity METHODS: Stool samples were collected from 96 NAFLD patients on the day of liver biopsy. Shotgun DNA sequencing of the gut microbiota was performed on an Illumina HiSeq3000 system. Contigs were binned into MAGs according to their co-abundances and tetranucleotide frequencies using Metabat v.0.32.4. Predicted protein-coding genes were clustered in orthologous groups (OGs) with DIAMOND against the EggNOG v4.5 database. Liver biopsies were read in accordance with the NASH CRN classification.

RESULTS: Fifty-four patients had NASH and 44 had significant fibrosis (F ≥ 2). Sequencing of DNA extracted from stools resulted in 13.8 + 3.2 million paired-end reads per sample. Of the 4,000 reconstructed MAGs, 220 in NASH patients, 192 in non-NASH patients, 203 in F ≥ 2 patients and 230 in F0-1 patients had > 70% completeness and < 5% contamination. Within these MAGs, 28 OGs were associated with NASH, 33 with significant fibrosis, and seven with both NASH and significant fibrosis. The study of MAGs showed associations between NAFLD severity and some gut bacteria with microbiota functions related to hydrogen sulfide production, citrate transport, hemicellulose degradation, aldehyde production and vitamin B12 synthesis.

CONCLUSION: Using new metagenomics methods, our study unveils potential mechanisms by which certain bacteria from the gut microbiota could protect or contribute to the development of NASH and liver fibrosis in NAFLD.},
}

@article {pmid33481721,
year = {2021},
author = {Imani, M and Ghoreishi, SF},
title = {Scalable Inverse Reinforcement Learning Through Multifidelity Bayesian Optimization.},
journal = {IEEE transactions on neural networks and learning systems},
volume = {PP},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1109/TNNLS.2021.3051012},
pmid = {33481721},
issn = {2162-2388},
abstract = {Data in many practical problems are acquired according to decisions or actions made by users or experts to achieve specific goals. For instance, policies in the mind of biologists during the intervention process in genomics and metagenomics are often reflected in available data in these domains, or data in cyber-physical systems are often acquired according to actions/decisions made by experts/engineers for purposes, such as control or stabilization. Quantification of experts' policies through available data, which is also known as reward function learning, has been discussed extensively in the literature in the context of inverse reinforcement learning (IRL). However, most of the available techniques come short to deal with practical problems due to the following main reasons: 1) lack of scalability: arising from incapability or poor performance of existing techniques in dealing with large systems and 2) lack of reliability: coming from the incapability of the existing techniques to properly learn the optimal reward function during the learning process. Toward this, in this brief, we propose a multifidelity Bayesian optimization (MFBO) framework that significantly scales the learning process of a wide range of existing IRL techniques. The proposed framework enables the incorporation of multiple approximators and efficiently takes their uncertainty and computational costs into account to balance exploration and exploitation during the learning process. The proposed framework's high performance is demonstrated through genomics, metagenomics, and sets of random simulated problems.},
}

@article {pmid33481398,
year = {2021},
author = {Takhar, J and Doan, T and Gonzales, JA},
title = {Vitreoretinal Lymphoma: A Literature Review and Introduction of a New Diagnostic Method.},
journal = {Asia-Pacific journal of ophthalmology (Philadelphia, Pa.)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1097/APO.0000000000000365},
pmid = {33481398},
issn = {2162-0989},
abstract = {PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to briefly review the clinical and diagnostic features of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) and to introduce the recent introduction of metagenomic deep sequencing in this ocular lymphomatous disease.

DESIGN AND METHODS: Review and description of the process of using metagenomic deep sequencing for ocular specimens at the Proctor Foundation, University of California, San Francisco, CA.

RESULTS: VRL masquerades as a uveitis, but clinical signs of subretinal lesions, and vitritis should prompt the inclusion of VRL in a differential diagnosis. Imaging features such as hyporeflective infiltrative lesions between the retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch's membrane are compatible with VRL, but diagnosis requires satisfying specific cytopathological and immunohistochemical or molecular features. Diagnosis, then, is subject to the cellularity, viability, and volume of the specimen submitted for these tests. Metagenomic deep sequencing has the ability to detect numerous lymphoma-associated mutations and is able to utilize minute volume samples and cell-free nucleic acid, so is well-suited for ocular tissues.

CONCLUSIONS: Metagenomic deep sequencing may offer an additional tool in the future with which to diagnose VRL.},
}

@article {pmid33479378,
year = {2021},
author = {Glendinning, L and Genç, B and Wallace, RJ and Watson, M},
title = {Metagenomic analysis of the cow, sheep, reindeer and red deer rumen.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {1990},
pmid = {33479378},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {BB/P013759/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/P013732/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004235/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; BB/J004243/1/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; TS/J000108/1//Technology Strategy Board/ ; TS/J000116/1//Technology Strategy Board/ ; },
abstract = {The rumen microbiota comprises a community of microorganisms which specialise in the degradation of complex carbohydrates from plant-based feed. These microbes play a highly important role in ruminant nutrition and could also act as sources of industrially useful enzymes. In this study, we performed a metagenomic analysis of samples taken from the ruminal contents of cow (Bos Taurus), sheep (Ovis aries), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus). We constructed 391 metagenome-assembled genomes originating from 16 microbial phyla. We compared our genomes to other publically available microbial genomes and found that they contained 279 novel species. We also found significant differences between the microbiota of different ruminant species in terms of the abundance of microbial taxonomies, carbohydrate-active enzyme genes and KEGG orthologs. We present a dataset of rumen-derived genomes which in combination with other publicly-available rumen genomes can be used as a reference dataset in future metagenomic studies.},
}

@article {pmid33479326,
year = {2021},
author = {Casaburi, G and Duar, RM and Brown, H and Mitchell, RD and Kazi, S and Chew, S and Cagney, O and Flannery, RL and Sylvester, KG and Frese, SA and Henrick, BM and Freeman, SL},
title = {Metagenomic insights of the infant microbiome community structure and function across multiple sites in the United States.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {1472},
pmid = {33479326},
issn = {2045-2322},
abstract = {The gut microbiome plays an important role in early life, protecting newborns from enteric pathogens, promoting immune system development and providing key functions to the infant host. Currently, there are limited data to broadly assess the status of the US healthy infant gut microbiome. To address this gap, we performed a multi-state metagenomic survey and found high levels of bacteria associated with enteric inflammation (e.g. Escherichia, Klebsiella), antibiotic resistance genes, and signatures of dysbiosis, independent of location, age, and diet. Bifidobacterium were less abundant than generally expected and the species identified, including B. breve, B. longum and B. bifidum, had limited genetic capacity to metabolize human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), while B. infantis strains with a complete capacity for HMOs utilization were found to be exceptionally rare. Considering microbiome composition and functional capacity, this survey revealed a previously unappreciated dysbiosis that is widespread in the contemporary US infant gut microbiome.},
}

@article {pmid33478024,
year = {2021},
author = {Lu, M and Daniel, R},
title = {A Novel Carboxylesterase Derived from a Compost Metagenome Exhibiting High Stability and Activity towards High Salinity.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/genes12010122},
pmid = {33478024},
issn = {2073-4425},
support = {Lotus I Project//Erasmus Mundus Action 2/ ; },
abstract = {Halotolerant lipolytic enzymes have gained growing interest, due to potential applications under harsh conditions, such as hypersalinity and presence of organic solvents. In this study, a lipolytic gene, est56, encoding 287 amino acids was identified by functional screening of a compost metagenome. Subsequently, the gene was heterologously expressed, and the recombinant protein (Est56) was purified and characterized. Est56 is a mesophilic (Topt 50 °C) and moderate alkaliphilic (pHopt 8) enzyme, showing high thermostability at 30 and 40 °C. Strikingly, Est56 is halotolerant as it exhibited high activity and stability in the presence of up to 4 M NaCl or KCl. Est56 also displayed enhanced stability against high temperatures (50 and 60 °C) and urea (2, 4, and 6 M) in the presence of NaCl. In addition, the recently reported halotolerant lipolytic enzymes were summarized. Phylogenetic analysis grouped these enzymes into 13 lipolytic protein families. The majority (45%) including Est56 belonged to family IV. To explore the haloadaptation of halotolerant enzymes, the amino acid composition between halotolerant and halophilic enzymes was statistically compared. The most distinctive feature of halophilic from non-halophilic enzymes are the higher content of acidic residues (Asp and Glu), and a lower content of lysine, aliphatic hydrophobic (Leu, Met and Ile) and polar (Asn) residues. The amino acid composition and 3-D structure analysis suggested that the high content of acidic residues (Asp and Glu, 12.2%) and low content of lysine residues (0.7%), as well as the excess of surface-exposed acidic residues might be responsible for the haloadaptation of Est56.},
}

@article {pmid32997366,
year = {2020},
author = {Tigano, A},
title = {A population genomics approach to uncover the CNVs, and their evolutionary significance, hidden in reduced-representation sequencing data sets.},
journal = {Molecular ecology},
volume = {29},
number = {24},
pages = {4749-4753},
doi = {10.1111/mec.15665},
pmid = {32997366},
issn = {1365-294X},
mesh = {*DNA Copy Number Variations/genetics ; Genotype ; *Metagenomics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics ; Temperature ; },
abstract = {The importance of structural variation in adaptation and speciation is becoming increasingly evident in the literature. Among SVs, copy number variants (CNVs) are known to affect phenotypes through changes in gene expression and can potentially reduce recombination between alleles with different copy numbers. However, little is known about their abundance, distribution and frequency in natural populations. In a "From the Cover" article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Dorant et al. (2020) present a new cost-effective approach to genotype copy number variants (CNVs) from large reduced-representation sequencing (RRS) data sets in nonmodel organisms, and thus to analyse sequence and structural variation jointly. They show that in American lobsters (Homarus americanus), CNVs exhibit strong population structure and several significant associations with annual variance in sea surface temperature, while SNPs fail to uncover any population structure or genotype-environment associations. Their results clearly illustrate that structural variants like CNVs can potentially store important information on differentiation and adaptive differences that cannot be retrieved from the analysis of sequence variation alone. To better understand the factors affecting the evolution of CNVs and their role in adaptation and speciation, we need to compare and synthesize data from a wide variety of species with different demographic histories and genome structure. The approach developed by Dorant et al. (2020) now allows to gain crucial knowledge on CNVs in a cost-effective way, even in species with limited genomic resources.},
}

*DNA Copy Number Variations/genetics
Genotype
*Metagenomics
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics
Temperature

@article {pmid32665602,
year = {2020},
author = {Meenatchi, R and Brindangnanam, P and Hassan, S and Rathna, K and Kiran, GS and Selvin, J},
title = {Diversity of a bacterial community associated with Cliona lobata Hancock and Gelliodes pumila (Lendenfeld, 1887) sponges on the South-East coast of India.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {11558},
pmid = {32665602},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Alphaproteobacteria/classification ; Animals ; Arsenic ; Bacteria/classification ; *Biodiversity ; Cadmium ; Climate ; Cluster Analysis ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; India ; Lead ; Mercury ; Metagenome ; Metals, Heavy ; *Microbiota ; Phylogeny ; Porifera/*microbiology ; Quality Control ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Seaweed ; },
abstract = {Marine sponges are sources of various bioactive metabolites, including several anticancer drugs, produced mainly by sponge-associated microbes. Palk Bay, on the south-east coast of India, is an understudied, highly disturbed reef environment exposed to various anthropogenic and climatic stresses. In recent years, Palk Bay suffered from pollution due to the dumping of untreated domestic sewage, effluents from coastal aquaculture, tourism, salt pans, cultivation of exotic seaweeds, and geogenic heavy-metal pollution, especially arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and lead. Low microbial-abundant sponge species, such as Gelliodes pumila and Cliona lobata, were found to be ubiquitously present in this reef environment. Triplicate samples of each of these sponge species were subjected to Illumina MiSeq sequencing using V3-V4 region-specific primers. In both C. lobata and G. pumila, there was an overwhelming dominance (98 and 99%) of phylum Candidatus Saccharibacteria and Proteobacteria, respectively. The overall number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was 68 (40 and 13 OTUs unique to G. pumila and C. lobata, respectively; 15 shared OTUs). Alphaproteobacteria was the most abundant class in both the sponge species. Unclassified species of phylum Candidatus Saccharibacteria from C. lobata and Chelotivorans composti from G. pumila were the most abundant bacterial species. The predominance of Alphaproteobacteria also revealed the occurrence of various xenobiotic-degrading, surfactant-producing bacterial genera in both the sponge species, indirectly indicating the possible polluted reef status of Palk Bay. Studies on sponge microbiomes at various understudied geographical locations might be helpful in predicting the status of reef environments.},
}

Alphaproteobacteria/classification
Animals
Arsenic
Bacteria/classification
*Biodiversity
Cadmium
Climate
Cluster Analysis
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
India
Lead
Mercury
Metagenome
Metals, Heavy
*Microbiota
Phylogeny
Porifera/*microbiology
Quality Control
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
Seaweed

@article {pmid33477102,
year = {2020},
author = {Wind, L and Krometis, LA and Hession, WC and Pruden, A},
title = {Cross-comparison of methods for quantifying antibiotic resistance in agricultural soils amended with dairy manure and compost.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {766},
number = {},
pages = {144321},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144321},
pmid = {33477102},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {Agricultural soils are often amended with livestock manure, making them a key reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Given that soils are among the most microbially-diverse environments on the planet; effective characterization and quantification of the effects of manure-derived amendments on soil resistomes is a major challenge. This study examined the effects of dairy manure-derived amendments on agricultural soils via two strategies: quantification of anthropogenic ARG markers via qPCR and shotgun metagenomic resistome profiling; and these strategies were compared to a previously published antibiotic resistant fecal coliform dataset. Soil samples were collected throughout a 120 day complete block field experiment to compare the effects of amendment type on antibiotic resistance. Results of all three measurements were consistent with the hypothesis that the application of composted manure reduced antibiotic resistance in soil relative to the application of raw manure, although some differences were noted in comparing the patterns of the three measurements with time. Raw dairy manure-amended soils yielded high sul1 and tet(W) relative abundances on Day 0 (following amendment application), but significantly decreased to background levels by Day 67 (harvest) and Day 120 (study completion). Shotgun metagenomics similarly detected a decrease in the relative abundances of sulfonamide and tetracycline-associated ARGs over time in the raw manure- and compost-amended soils; however, these levels were significantly lower than those estimated by qPCR. Interestingly, although patterns of sulfonamide and tetracycline resistance among culturable fecal coliforms echoed those observed via qPCR and metagenomics; erythromycin resistant coliforms were directly recovered by culture in amended soils, but corresponding ARGs were not detected by qPCR or metagenomics. This study supports both composting and time restrictions as means of reducing the potential for antibiotic resistance in manure to spread via soil application. Results suggest some differences in finer conclusions drawn depending on which antibiotic resistance monitoring target is selected.},
}

@article {pmid33476936,
year = {2021},
author = {Li, L and Maclntyre, LW and Brady, SF},
title = {Refactoring biosynthetic gene clusters for heterologous production of microbial natural products.},
journal = {Current opinion in biotechnology},
volume = {69},
number = {},
pages = {145-152},
doi = {10.1016/j.copbio.2020.12.011},
pmid = {33476936},
issn = {1879-0429},
abstract = {Microbial natural products (NPs) are of paramount importance in human medicine, animal health and plant crop protection. Large-scale microbial genome and metagenomic mining has revealed tremendous biosynthetic potential to produce new NPs. However a majority of NP biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are functionally inaccessible under standard laboratory conditions. BGC refactoring and heterologous expression provide a promising synthetic biology approach to NP discovery, yield optimization and combinatorial biosynthesis studies. In this review, we summarize the recent advances pertaining to the heterologous production of bacterial and fungal NPs, with an emphasis on next-generation transcriptional regulatory modules, novel BGC refactoring techniques and optimized heterologous hosts.},
}

@article {pmid33476671,
year = {2021},
author = {Brand, EC and Klaassen, MAY and Gacesa, R and Vila, AV and Ghosh, H and de Zoete, MR and Boomsma, DI and Hoentjen, F and Horjus Talabur Horje, CS and van de Meeberg, PC and Willemsen, G and Fu, J and Wijmenga, C and van Wijk, F and Zhernakova, A and Oldenburg, B and Weersma, RK and , },
title = {Healthy cotwins share gut microbiome signatures with their inflammatory bowel disease twins and unrelated patients.},
journal = {Gastroenterology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1053/j.gastro.2021.01.030},
pmid = {33476671},
issn = {1528-0012},
abstract = {BACKGROUND & AIMS: It is currently unclear whether reported changes in the gut microbiome are cause or consequence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, we studied the gut microbiome of IBD-discordant and -concordant twin pairs, which offers the unique opportunity to assess individuals at increased risk of developing IBD, namely healthy cotwins from IBD-discordant twin pairs.

METHODS: Fecal samples were obtained from 99 twins (belonging to 51 twin pairs), 495 healthy age-, sex- and BMI-matched controls, and 99 unrelated IBD patients. Whole-genome metagenomic shotgun sequencing was performed. Taxonomic and functional (pathways) composition was compared between healthy-cotwins, IBD-twins, unrelated IBD patients, and healthy controls with multivariable, i.e. adjusted for potential confounding, generalized linear models.

RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the relative abundance of species and pathways between healthy cotwins and their IBD-twins (false discovery rate (FDR)<0.10). Compared to healthy controls, 13, 19, and 18 species, and 78, 105, and 153 pathways were found to be differentially abundant in healthy-cotwins, IBD-twins and unrelated IBD patients, respectively (FDR<0.10). Of these, 8/19 (42.1%) and 1/18 (5.6%) species, and 37/105 (35.2%) and 30/153 (19.6%) pathways overlapped between healthy cotwins and IBD-twins, and healthy cotwins and unrelated IBD patients respectively. Many of the shared species and pathways have previously been associated with IBD. The shared pathways include potentially inflammation-related pathways, for example: an increase in propionate degradation and L-arginine degradation pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: The gut microbiome of healthy cotwins from IBD-discordant twin pairs displays IBD-like signatures. These IBD-like microbiome signatures might precede the onset of IBD. However, longitudinal follow up studies are needed to infer a causal relationship.},
}

@article {pmid33476085,
year = {2021},
author = {Góes-Neto, A and Kukharenko, O and Orlovska, I and Podolich, O and Imchen, M and Kumavath, R and Kato, RB and de Carvalho, DS and Tiwari, S and Brenig, B and Azevedo, V and Reva, O and de Vera, JP and Kozyrovska, N and Barh, D},
title = {Shotgun Metagenomic Analysis of Kombucha Mutualistic Community Exposed to Mars-like Environment outside the International Space Station.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15405},
pmid = {33476085},
issn = {1462-2920},
abstract = {Kombucha is a multispecies microbial ecosystem mainly composed by acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic acid-tolerant yeasts, which is used to produce a probiotic drink. Furthermore, Kombucha Mutualistic Community (KMC) has been recently proposed to be used during long space missions as both a living functional fermented product to improve astronauts' health and an efficient source of bacterial nanocellulose. In this study, we compared KMC structure and functions before and after samples were exposed to the space/Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station in order to investigate the changes related to their readaptation to Earth-like conditions by shotgun metagenomics, using both diversity and functional analyses of Community Ecology and Complex Networks approach. Our study revealed that the long-term exposure to space/Mars-like conditions on low Earth orbit may disorganize the KMC to such extent that it will not restore the initial community structure; however, KMC core microorganisms of the community were maintained. Nonetheless, there were no significant differences in the community functions, meaning that the KMC communities are ecologically resilient. Therefore, despite the extremely harsh conditions, key KMC species revived and provided the community with the genetic background needed to survive long periods of time under extraterrestrial conditions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.},
}

@article {pmid33472896,
year = {2021},
author = {Govender, KN},
title = {Precision pandemic preparedness-Improving diagnostics with metagenomics.},
journal = {Journal of clinical microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1128/JCM.02146-20},
pmid = {33472896},
issn = {1098-660X},
abstract = {The threat posed by novel pandemics in the future remain active. Equipping our routine laboratory with clinical metagenomics to detect unknown threats early on offers a considerable advantage, and may be feasible and scalable with the ability to identify complicated infectious diseases in routine care. Though several technical and regulatory challenges still exist, clinical metagenomics may improve individual patient outcomes, and provide earlier warning signs to improve pandemic preparedness.},
}

@article {pmid33472684,
year = {2021},
author = {Prem, EM and Mutschlechner, M and Stres, B and Illmer, P and Wagner, AO},
title = {Lignin intermediates lead to phenyl acid formation and microbial community shifts in meso- and thermophilic batch reactors.},
journal = {Biotechnology for biofuels},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {27},
pmid = {33472684},
issn = {1754-6834},
support = {P29143//Austrian Science Fund/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Lignin intermediates resulting from lignocellulose degradation have been suspected to hinder anaerobic mineralisation of organic materials to biogas. Phenyl acids like phenylacetate (PAA) are early detectable intermediates during anaerobic digestion (AD) of aromatic compounds. Studying the phenyl acid formation dynamics and concomitant microbial community shifts can help to understand the microbial interdependencies during AD of aromatic compounds and may be beneficial to counteract disturbances.

RESULTS: The length of the aliphatic side chain and chemical structure of the benzene side group(s) had an influence on the methanogenic system. PAA, phenylpropionate (PPA), and phenylbutyrate (PBA) accumulations showed that the respective lignin intermediate was degraded but that there were metabolic restrictions as the phenyl acids were not effectively processed. Metagenomic analyses confirmed that mesophilic genera like Fastidiosipila or Syntrophomonas and thermophilic genera like Lactobacillus, Bacillus, Geobacillus, and Tissierella are associated with phenyl acid formation. Acetoclastic methanogenesis was prevalent in mesophilic samples at low and medium overload conditions, whereas Methanoculleus spp. dominated at high overload conditions when methane production was restricted. In medium carbon load reactors under thermophilic conditions, syntrophic acetate oxidation (SAO)-induced hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was the most important process despite the fact that acetoclastic methanogenesis would thermodynamically be more favourable. As acetoclastic methanogens were restricted at medium and high overload conditions, syntrophic acetate oxidising bacteria and their hydrogenotrophic partners could step in for acetate consumption.

CONCLUSIONS: PAA, PPA, and PBA were early indicators for upcoming process failures. Acetoclastic methanogens were one of the first microorganisms to be impaired by aromatic compounds, and shifts to syntrophic acetate oxidation coupled to hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis occurred in thermophilic reactors. Previously assumed associations of specific meso- and thermophilic genera with anaerobic phenyl acid formation could be confirmed.},
}

@article {pmid32488117,
year = {2020},
author = {Weldenegodguad, M and Pokharel, K and Ming, Y and Honkatukia, M and Peippo, J and Reilas, T and Røed, KH and Kantanen, J},
title = {Genome sequence and comparative analysis of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in northern Eurasia.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {8980},
pmid = {32488117},
issn = {2045-2322},
mesh = {Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics ; Animals ; Base Sequence/*genetics ; Biological Evolution ; Domestication ; Europe ; Male ; *Metagenomics ; Receptors, Odorant/genetics ; Reindeer/*genetics/*physiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods ; Vitamin D/metabolism ; Zinc Fingers/genetics ; },
abstract = {Reindeer are semi-domesticated ruminants that have adapted to the challenging northern Eurasian environment characterized by long winters and marked annual fluctuations in daylight. We explored the genetic makeup behind their unique characteristics by de novo sequencing the genome of a male reindeer and conducted gene family analyses with nine other mammalian species. We performed a population genomics study of 23 additional reindeer representing both domestic and wild populations and several ecotypes from various geographic locations. We assembled 2.66 Gb (N50 scaffold of 5 Mb) of the estimated 2.92 Gb reindeer genome, comprising 27,332 genes. The results from the demographic history analysis suggested marked changes in the effective population size of reindeer during the Pleistocene period. We detected 160 reindeer-specific and expanded genes, of which zinc finger proteins (n = 42) and olfactory receptors (n = 13) were the most abundant. Comparative genome analyses revealed several genes that may have promoted the adaptation of reindeer, such as those involved in recombination and speciation (PRDM9), vitamin D metabolism (TRPV5, TRPV6), retinal development (PRDM1, OPN4B), circadian rhythm (GRIA1), immunity (CXCR1, CXCR2, CXCR4, IFNW1), tolerance to cold-triggered pain (SCN11A) and antler development (SILT2). The majority of these characteristic reindeer genes have been reported for the first time here. Moreover, our population genomics analysis suggested at least two independent reindeer domestication events with genetic lineages originating from different refugial regions after the Last Glacial Maximum. Taken together, our study has provided new insights into the domestication, evolution and adaptation of reindeer and has promoted novel genomic research of reindeer.},
}

Adaptation, Physiological/*genetics
Animals
Base Sequence/*genetics
Biological Evolution
Domestication
Europe
Male
*Metagenomics
Receptors, Odorant/genetics
Reindeer/*genetics/*physiology
Sequence Analysis, DNA/*methods
Vitamin D/metabolism
Zinc Fingers/genetics

@article {pmid33471121,
year = {2021},
author = {Shah, N and Molloy, EK and Pop, M and Warnow, T},
title = {TIPP2: metagenomic taxonomic profiling using phylogenetic markers.},
journal = {Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/bioinformatics/btab023},
pmid = {33471121},
issn = {1367-4811},
abstract = {MOTIVATION: Metagenomics has revolutionized microbiome research by enabling researchers to characterize the composition of complex microbial communities. Taxonomic profiling is one of the critical steps in metagenomic analyses. Marker genes, which are single-copy and universally found across Bacteria and Archaea, can provide accurate estimates of taxon abundances in the sample.

RESULTS: We present TIPP2, a marker gene-based abundance profiling method, that combines phylogenetic placement with statistical techniques to control classification precision and recall. TIPP2 includes an updated set of reference packages and several algorithmic improvements over the original TIPP method. We find that TIPP2 provides comparable or better estimates of abundance than other profiling methods (including Bracken, mOTUsv2, and MetaPhlAn2), and strictly dominates other methods when there are under-represented (novel) genomes present in the dataset.

The code for our method is freely available in open source form at https://github.com/smirarab/sepp/blob/tipp2/README.TIPP.mdThe code and procedure to create new reference packages for TIPP2 are available at https://github.com/shahnidhi/TIPP_reference_package.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Not available online.},
}

@article {pmid33471066,
year = {2021},
author = {Petrillo, UF and Palini, F and Cattaneo, G and Giancarlo, R},
title = {Alignment-free Genomic Analysis via a Big Data Spark Platform.},
journal = {Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/bioinformatics/btab014},
pmid = {33471066},
issn = {1367-4811},
abstract = {MOTIVATION: Alignment-free distance and similarity functions (AF functions, for short) are a well established alternative to pairwise and multiple sequence alignments for many genomic, metagenomic and epigenomic tasks. Due to data-intensive applications, the computation of AF functions is a Big Data problem, with the recent literature indicating that the development of fast and scalable algorithms computing AF functions is a high-priority task. Somewhat surprisingly, despite the increasing popularity of Big Data technologies in computational biology, the development of a Big Data platform for those tasks has not been pursued, possibly due to its complexity.

RESULTS: We fill this important gap by introducing FADE, the first extensible, efficient and scalable Spark platform for alignment-free genomic analysis. It supports natively eighteen of the best performing AF functions coming out of a recent hallmark benchmarking study. FADE development and potential impact comprises novel aspects of interest. Namely, (a) a considerable effort of distributed algorithms, the most tangible result being a much faster execution time of reference methods like MASH and FSWM; (b) a software design that makes FADE user-friendly and easily extendable by Spark non-specialists; (c) its ability to support data- and compute-intensive tasks. About this, we provide a novel and much needed analysis of how informative and robust AF functions are, in terms of the statistical significance of their output. Our findings naturally extend the ones of the highly regarded benchmarking study, since the functions that can really be used are reduced to a handful of the eighteen included in FADE.

AVAILABILITY: The software and the datasets are available at https://github.com/fpalini/fade.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.},
}

@article {pmid33471063,
year = {2021},
author = {Pons, JC and Paez-Espino, D and Riera, G and Ivanova, N and Kyrpides, NC and Llabrés, M},
title = {VPF-Class: Taxonomic assignment and host prediction of uncultivated viruses based on viral protein families.},
journal = {Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/bioinformatics/btab026},
pmid = {33471063},
issn = {1367-4811},
abstract = {MOTIVATION: Two key steps in the analysis of uncultured viruses recovered from metagenomes are the taxonomic classification of the viral sequences and the identification of putative host(s). Both steps rely mainly on the assignment of viral proteins to orthologs in cultivated viruses. Viral Protein Families (VPFs) can be used for the robust identification of new viral sequences in large metagenomics datasets. Despite the importance of VPF information for viral discovery, VPFs have not yet been explored for determining viral taxonomy and host targets.

RESULTS: In this work we classified the set of VPFs from the IMG/VR database and developed VPF-Class. VPF-Class is a tool that automates the taxonomic classification and host prediction of viral contigs based on the assignment of their proteins to a set of classified VPFs. Applying VPF-Class on 731K uncultivated virus contigs from the IMG/VR database, we were able to classify 363K contigs at the genus level and predict the host of over 461K contigs. In the RefSeq database, VPF-class reported an accuracy of nearly 100% to classify dsDNA, ssDNA and retroviruses, at the genus level, considering a membership ratio and a confidence score of 0.2. The accuracy in host prediction was 86.4%, also at the genus level, considering a membership ratio of 0.3 and a confidence score of 0.5. And, in the prophages dataset, the accuracy in host prediction was 86% considering a membership ratio of 0.6 and a confidence score of 0.8. Moreover, from the Global Ocean Virome dataset, over 817K viral contigs out of 1 million were classified.

AVAILABILITY: The implementation of VPF-Class can be downloaded from https://github.com/biocom-uib/vpf-tools.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: http://bioinfo.uib.es/~recerca/VPF-Class/.},
}

@article {pmid33470507,
year = {2021},
author = {Castelli, M and Lanzoni, O and Nardi, T and Lometto, S and Modeo, L and Potekhin, A and Sassera, D and Petroni, G},
title = {"Candidatus Sarmatiella mevalonica" endosymbiont of the ciliate Paramecium provides insights on evolutionary plasticity among Rickettsiales.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1111/1462-2920.15396},
pmid = {33470507},
issn = {1462-2920},
abstract = {Members of the bacterial order Rickettsiales are obligatorily associated with a wide range of eukaryotic hosts. Their evolutionary trajectories, in particular concerning the origin of shared or differential traits among distant sub-lineages, are still poorly understood. Here we characterised a novel Rickettsiales bacterium associated with the ciliate Paramecium tredecaurelia, and phylogenetically related to the Rickettsia genus. Its genome encodes significant lineage-specific features, chiefly the mevalonate pathway gene repertoire, involved in isoprenoid precursor biosynthesis. Not only this pathway has never been described in Rickettsiales, it also is very rare among bacteria, though typical in eukaryotes, thus likely representing a horizontally-acquired trait. The presence of these genes could enable an efficient exploitation of host-derived intermediates for isoprenoid synthesis. Moreover, we hypothesise the reversed reactions could have replaced canonical pathways for producing acetyl-CoA, essential for phospholipid biosynthesis. Additionally, we detected phylogenetically unrelated mevalonate pathway genes in metagenome-derived Rickettsiales sequences, likely indicating evolutionary convergent effects of independent horizontal gene transfer events. Accordingly, convergence, involving both gene acquisitions and losses, is highlighted as a relevant evolutionary phenomenon in Rickettsiales, possibly favoured by plasticity and comparable lifestyles, representing a potentially hidden origin of other more nuanced similarities among sub-lineages. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.},
}

@article {pmid33469805,
year = {2021},
author = {Lyu, Z},
title = {Back to the Source: Molecular Identification of Methanogenic Archaea as Markers of Colonic Methane Production.},
journal = {Digestive diseases and sciences},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {33469805},
issn = {1573-2568},
}

@article {pmid33469669,
year = {2021},
author = {Zhang, K and He, C and Xu, Y and Zhang, C and Li, C and Jing, X and Wang, M and Yang, Y and Suo, L and Kalds, P and Song, J and Wang, X and Brugger, D and Wu, Y and Chen, Y},
title = {Taxonomic and functional adaption of the gastrointestinal microbiome of goats kept at high altitude (4800 m) under intensive or extensive rearing conditions.},
journal = {FEMS microbiology ecology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/femsec/fiab009},
pmid = {33469669},
issn = {1574-6941},
abstract = {The gut microbiota composition is influenced by the diet as well as the environment in both wild and domestic animals. We studied the effects of two feeding systems on the rumen and hindgut microbiome of semi-feral Tibetan goats kept at high altitude (∼4800 m) using 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing. Intensive drylot feeding resulted in significantly higher zootechnical performance, narrower ruminal acetate: propionate ratios and a drop in the average rumen pH at slaughter to ∼5.04. Hindgut microbial adaption appeared to be more diverse in the drylot group suggesting a higher influx of undegraded complex non-starch polysaccharides from the rumen. Despite their higher fiber levels in the diet, grazing goats exhibited lower counts of Methanobrevibacter and genes associated with the hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis pathway, presumably reflecting the scarce dietary conditions (low energy density) when rearing goats on pasture from extreme alpine environments. These conditions appeared to promote a relevant abundance of bacitracin genes. In parallel, we recognized a significant increase in the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in the digestive tracts of drylot animals. In summary, this study provides a deeper insight into the metataxonomic and functional adaption of the gastrointestinal microbiome of goats subject to intensive drylot and extensive pasture rearing conditions at high altitude.},
}

@article {pmid33469166,
year = {2021},
author = {Robbins, SJ and Song, W and Engelberts, JP and Glasl, B and Slaby, BM and Boyd, J and Marangon, E and Botté, ES and Laffy, P and Thomas, T and Webster, NS},
title = {A genomic view of the microbiome of coral reef demosponges.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {33469166},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Sponges underpin the productivity of coral reefs, yet few of their microbial symbionts have been functionally characterised. Here we present an analysis of ~1200 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) spanning seven sponge species and 25 microbial phyla. Compared to MAGs derived from reef seawater, sponge-associated MAGs were enriched in glycosyl hydrolases targeting components of sponge tissue, coral mucus and macroalgae, revealing a critical role for sponge symbionts in cycling reef organic matter. Further, visualisation of the distribution of these genes amongst symbiont taxa uncovered functional guilds for reef organic matter degradation. Genes for the utilisation of sialic acids and glycosaminoglycans present in sponge tissue were found in specific microbial lineages that also encoded genes for attachment to sponge-derived fibronectins and cadherins, suggesting these lineages can utilise specific structural elements of sponge tissue. Further, genes encoding CRISPR and restriction-modification systems used in defence against mobile genetic elements were enriched in sponge symbionts, along with eukaryote-like gene motifs thought to be involved in maintaining host association. Finally, we provide evidence that many of these sponge-enriched genes are laterally transferred between microbial taxa, suggesting they confer a selective advantage within the sponge niche and therefore play a critical role in host ecology and evolution.},
}

@article {pmid33468706,
year = {2021},
author = {Jing, G and Liu, L and Wang, Z and Zhang, Y and Qian, L and Gao, C and Zhang, M and Li, M and Zhang, Z and Liu, X and Xu, J and Su, X},
title = {Microbiome Search Engine 2: a Platform for Taxonomic and Functional Search of Global Microbiomes on the Whole-Microbiome Level.},
journal = {mSystems},
volume = {6},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {33468706},
issn = {2379-5077},
abstract = {Metagenomic data sets from diverse environments have been growing rapidly. To ensure accessibility and reusability, tools that quickly and informatively correlate new microbiomes with existing ones are in demand. Here, we introduce Microbiome Search Engine 2 (MSE 2), a microbiome database platform for searching query microbiomes in the global metagenome data space based on the taxonomic or functional similarity of a whole microbiome to those in the database. MSE 2 consists of (i) a well-organized and regularly updated microbiome database that currently contains over 250,000 metagenomic shotgun and 16S rRNA gene amplicon samples associated with unified metadata collected from 798 studies, (ii) an enhanced search engine that enables real-time and fast (<0.5 s per query) searches against the entire database for best-matched microbiomes using overall taxonomic or functional profiles, and (iii) a Web-based graphical user interface for user-friendly searching, data browsing, and tutoring. MSE 2 is freely accessible via http://mse.ac.cn For standalone searches of customized microbiome databases, the kernel of the MSE 2 search engine is provided at GitHub (https://github.com/qibebt-bioinfo/meta-storms).IMPORTANCE A search-based strategy is useful for large-scale mining of microbiome data sets, such as a bird's-eye view of the microbiome data space and disease diagnosis via microbiome big data. Here, we introduce Microbiome Search Engine 2 (MSE 2), a microbiome database platform for searching query microbiomes against the existing microbiome data sets on the basis of their similarity in taxonomic structure or functional profile. Key improvements include database extension, data compatibility, a search engine kernel, and a user interface. The new ability to search the microbiome space via functional similarity greatly expands the scope of search-based mining of the microbiome big data.},
}

@article {pmid33468689,
year = {2021},
author = {Simsek, C and Corman, VM and Everling, HU and Lukashev, AN and Rasche, A and Maganga, GD and Binger, T and Jansen, D and Beller, L and Deboutte, W and Gloza-Rausch, F and Seebens-Hoyer, A and Yordanov, S and Sylverken, A and Oppong, S and Sarkodie, YA and Vallo, P and Leroy, EM and Bourgarel, M and Yinda, KC and Van Ranst, M and Drosten, C and Drexler, JF and Matthijnssens, J},
title = {At Least Seven Distinct Rotavirus Genotype Constellations in Bats with Evidence of Reassortment and Zoonotic Transmissions.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {33468689},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {Bats host many viruses pathogenic to humans, and increasing evidence suggests that rotavirus A (RVA) also belongs to this list. Rotaviruses cause diarrheal disease in many mammals and birds, and their segmented genomes allow them to reassort and increase their genetic diversity. Eighteen out of 2,142 bat fecal samples (0.8%) collected from Europe, Central America, and Africa were PCR-positive for RVA, and 11 of those were fully characterized using viral metagenomics. Upon contrasting their genomes with publicly available data, at least 7 distinct bat RVA genotype constellations (GCs) were identified, which included evidence of reassortments and 6 novel genotypes. Some of these constellations are spread across the world, whereas others appear to be geographically restricted. Our analyses also suggest that several unusual human and equine RVA strains might be of bat RVA origin, based on their phylogenetic clustering, despite various levels of nucleotide sequence identities between them. Although SA11 is one of the most widely used reference strains for RVA research and forms the backbone of a reverse genetics system, its origin remained enigmatic. Remarkably, the majority of the genotypes of SA11-like strains were shared with Gabonese bat RVAs, suggesting a potential common origin. Overall, our findings suggest an underexplored genetic diversity of RVAs in bats, which is likely only the tip of the iceberg. Increasing contact between humans and bat wildlife will further increase the zoonosis risk, which warrants closer attention to these viruses.IMPORTANCE The increased research on bat coronaviruses after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) allowed the very rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2. This is an excellent example of the importance of knowing viruses harbored by wildlife in general, and bats in particular, for global preparedness against emerging viral pathogens. The current effort to characterize bat rotavirus strains from 3 continents sheds light on the vast genetic diversity of rotaviruses and also hints at a bat origin for several atypical rotaviruses in humans and animals, implying that zoonoses of bat rotaviruses might occur more frequently than currently realized.},
}

@article {pmid33468686,
year = {2021},
author = {Crits-Christoph, A and Kantor, RS and Olm, MR and Whitney, ON and Al-Shayeb, B and Lou, YC and Flamholz, A and Kennedy, LC and Greenwald, H and Hinkle, A and Hetzel, J and Spitzer, S and Koble, J and Tan, A and Hyde, F and Schroth, G and Kuersten, S and Banfield, JF and Nelson, KL},
title = {Genome Sequencing of Sewage Detects Regionally Prevalent SARS-CoV-2 Variants.},
journal = {mBio},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {},
pmid = {33468686},
issn = {2150-7511},
abstract = {Viral genome sequencing has guided our understanding of the spread and extent of genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 viral genomes are usually sequenced from nasopharyngeal swabs of individual patients to track viral spread. Recently, RT-qPCR of municipal wastewater has been used to quantify the abundance of SARS-CoV-2 in several regions globally. However, metatranscriptomic sequencing of wastewater can be used to profile the viral genetic diversity across infected communities. Here, we sequenced RNA directly from sewage collected by municipal utility districts in the San Francisco Bay Area to generate complete and nearly complete SARS-CoV-2 genomes. The major consensus SARS-CoV-2 genotypes detected in the sewage were identical to clinical genomes from the region. Using a pipeline for single nucleotide variant calling in a metagenomic context, we characterized minor SARS-CoV-2 alleles in the wastewater and detected viral genotypes which were also found within clinical genomes throughout California. Observed wastewater variants were more similar to local California patient-derived genotypes than they were to those from other regions within the United States or globally. Additional variants detected in wastewater have only been identified in genomes from patients sampled outside California, indicating that wastewater sequencing can provide evidence for recent introductions of viral lineages before they are detected by local clinical sequencing. These results demonstrate that epidemiological surveillance through wastewater sequencing can aid in tracking exact viral strains in an epidemic context.},
}

@article {pmid33468146,
year = {2021},
author = {Oluyomi, AO and Panthagani, K and Sotelo, J and Gu, X and Armstrong, G and Luo, DN and Hoffman, KL and Rohlman, D and Tidwell, L and Hamilton, WJ and Symanski, E and Anderson, K and Petrosino, JF and Walker, CL and Bondy, M},
title = {Houston hurricane Harvey health (Houston-3H) study: assessment of allergic symptoms and stress after hurricane Harvey flooding.},
journal = {Environmental health : a global access science source},
volume = {20},
number = {1},
pages = {9},
pmid = {33468146},
issn = {1476-069X},
support = {R21ES029616/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R21ES029493)/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; R21ES029460/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; P30ES030285/ES/NIEHS NIH HHS/United States ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey caused unprecedented flooding across the greater Houston area. Given the potential for widespread flood-related exposures, including mold and sewage, and the emotional and mental toll caused by the flooding, we sought to evaluate the short- and long-term impact of flood-related exposures on the health of Houstonians. Our objectives were to assess the association of flood-related exposures with allergic symptoms and stress among Houston-area residents at two time points: within approximately 30 days (T1) and 12 months (T2) after Hurricane Harvey's landfall.

METHODS: The Houston Hurricane Harvey Health (Houston-3H) Study enrolled a total of 347 unique participants from four sites across Harris County at two times: within approximately 1-month of Harvey (T1, n = 206) and approximately 12-months after Harvey (T2, n = 266), including 125 individuals who participated at both time points. Using a self-administered questionnaire, participants reported details on demographics, flood-related exposures, and health outcomes, including allergic symptoms and stress.

RESULTS: The majority of participants reported hurricane-related flooding in their homes at T1 (79.1%) and T2 (87.2%) and experienced at least one allergic symptom after the hurricane (79.4% at T1 and 68.4% at T2). In general, flood-exposed individuals were at increased risk of upper respiratory tract allergic symptoms, reported at both the T1 and T2 time points, with exposures to dirty water and mold associated with increased risk of multiple allergic symptoms. The mean stress score of study participants at T1 was 8.0 ± 2.1 and at T2, 5.1 ± 3.2, on a 0-10 scale. Participants who experienced specific flood-related exposures reported higher stress scores when compared with their counterparts, especially 1 year after Harvey. Also, a supplementary paired-samples analysis showed that reports of wheezing, shortness of breath, and skin rash did not change between T1 and T2, though other conditions were less commonly reported at T2.

CONCLUSION: These initial Houston-3H findings demonstrate that flooding experiences that occurred as a consequence of Hurricane Harvey had lasting impacts on the health of Houstonians up to 1 year after the hurricane.},
}

@article {pmid33468056,
year = {2021},
author = {Zaidi, SSA and Kayani, MUR and Zhang, X and Ouyang, Y and Shamsi, IH},
title = {Prediction and analysis of metagenomic operons via MetaRon: a pipeline for prediction of Metagenome and whole-genome opeRons.},
journal = {BMC genomics},
volume = {22},
number = {1},
pages = {60},
pmid = {33468056},
issn = {1471-2164},
support = {2012GB316504//National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program)/ ; 31750110462, 31961143008//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Efficient regulation of bacterial genes in response to the environmental stimulus results in unique gene clusters known as operons. Lack of complete operonic reference and functional information makes the prediction of metagenomic operons a challenging task; thus, opening new perspectives on the interpretation of the host-microbe interactions.

RESULTS: In this work, we identified whole-genome and metagenomic operons via MetaRon (Metagenome and whole-genome opeRon prediction pipeline). MetaRon identifies operons without any experimental or functional information. MetaRon was implemented on datasets with different levels of complexity and information. Starting from its application on whole-genome to simulated mixture of three whole-genomes (E. coli MG1655, Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and Bacillus subtilis str. 16), E. coli c20 draft genome extracted from chicken gut and finally on 145 whole-metagenome data samples from human gut. MetaRon consistently achieved high operon prediction sensitivity, specificity and accuracy across E. coli whole-genome (97.8, 94.1 and 92.4%), simulated genome (93.7, 75.5 and 88.1%) and E. coli c20 (87, 91 and 88%,), respectively. Finally, we identified 1,232,407 unique operons from 145 paired-end human gut metagenome samples. We also report strong association of type 2 diabetes with Maltose phosphorylase (K00691), 3-deoxy-D-glycero-D-galacto-nononate 9-phosphate synthase (K21279) and an uncharacterized protein (K07101).

CONCLUSION: With MetaRon, we were able to remove two notable limitations of existing whole-genome operon prediction methods: (1) generalizability (ability to predict operons in unrelated bacterial genomes), and (2) whole-genome and metagenomic data management. We also demonstrate the use of operons as a subset to represent the trends of secondary metabolites in whole-metagenome data and the role of secondary metabolites in the occurrence of disease condition. Using operonic data from metagenome to study secondary metabolic trends will significantly reduce the data volume to more precise data. Furthermore, the identification of metabolic pathways associated with the occurrence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) also presents another dimension of analyzing the human gut metagenome. Presumably, this study is the first organized effort to predict metagenomic operons and perform a detailed analysis in association with a disease, in this case type 2 diabetes. The application of MetaRon to metagenomic data at diverse scale will be beneficial to understand the gene regulation and therapeutic metagenomics.},
}

@article {pmid33467169,
year = {2021},
author = {Piombo, E and Abdelfattah, A and Droby, S and Wisniewski, M and Spadaro, D and Schena, L},
title = {Metagenomics Approaches for the Detection and Surveillance of Emerging and Recurrent Plant Pathogens.},
journal = {Microorganisms},
volume = {9},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/microorganisms9010188},
pmid = {33467169},
issn = {2076-2607},
support = {CLEANFRUIT - Standardization of innovative pest control strategies to produce zero residue fruit for baby food and other fruit produce//European Institute of Innovation and Technology - EITFood/ ; A gnotobiotic-based approach to unravel the role of the plant microbiome and develop synthetic communities increasing plant growth and stress tolerance - NATURE//Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research/ ; SMART APPLE - Innovative and SMART technologies for sustainable APPLE production//Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cuneo/ ; },
abstract = {Globalization has a dramatic effect on the trade and movement of seeds, fruits and vegetables, with a corresponding increase in economic losses caused by the introduction of transboundary plant pathogens. Current diagnostic techniques provide a useful and precise tool to enact surveillance protocols regarding specific organisms, but this approach is strictly targeted, while metabarcoding and shotgun metagenomics could be used to simultaneously detect all known pathogens and potentially new ones. This review aims to present the current status of high-throughput sequencing (HTS) diagnostics of fungal and bacterial plant pathogens, discuss the challenges that need to be addressed, and provide direction for the development of methods for the detection of a restricted number of related taxa (specific surveillance) or all of the microorganisms present in a sample (general surveillance). HTS techniques, particularly metabarcoding, could be useful for the surveillance of soilborne, seedborne and airborne pathogens, as well as for identifying new pathogens and determining the origin of outbreaks. Metabarcoding and shotgun metagenomics still suffer from low precision, but this issue can be limited by carefully choosing primers and bioinformatic algorithms. Advances in bioinformatics will greatly accelerate the use of metagenomics to address critical aspects related to the detection and surveillance of plant pathogens in plant material and foodstuffs.},
}

@article {pmid33466668,
year = {2021},
author = {Eze, MO},
title = {Metagenome Analysis of a Hydrocarbon-Degrading Bacterial Consortium Reveals the Specific Roles of BTEX Biodegraders.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {12},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/genes12010098},
pmid = {33466668},
issn = {2073-4425},
support = {2017561//Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government/ ; 91731339//Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst/ ; },
abstract = {Environmental contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons is of concern due to the carcinogenicity and neurotoxicity of these compounds. Successful bioremediation of organic contaminants requires bacterial populations with degradative capacity for these contaminants. Through successive enrichment of microorganisms from a petroleum-contaminated soil using diesel fuel as the sole carbon and energy source, we successfully isolated a bacterial consortium that can degrade diesel fuel hydrocarbons. Metagenome analysis revealed the specific roles of different microbial populations involved in the degradation of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX), and the metabolic pathways involved in these reactions. One hundred and five putative coding DNA sequences were identified as responsible for both the activation of BTEX and central metabolism (ring-cleavage) of catechol and alkylcatechols during BTEX degradation. The majority of the Coding DNA sequences (CDSs) were affiliated to Acidocella, which was also the dominant bacterial genus in the consortium. The inoculation of diesel fuel contaminated soils with the consortium resulted in approximately 70% hydrocarbon biodegradation, indicating the potential of the consortium for environmental remediation of petroleum hydrocarbons.},
}

@article {pmid33466640,
year = {2021},
author = {Kovács, R and Nagy, F and Tóth, Z and Forgács, L and Tóth, L and Váradi, G and Tóth, GK and Vadászi, K and Borman, AM and Majoros, L and Galgóczy, L},
title = {The Neosartorya fischeri Antifungal Protein 2 (NFAP2): A New Potential Weapon against Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris Biofilms.},
journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
volume = {22},
number = {2},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/ijms22020771},
pmid = {33466640},
issn = {1422-0067},
support = {EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00009//Ministry of Human Capacities/ ; FEMS-GO-2019-502//FEMS/ ; ÚNKP-19-3//Ministry of Human Capacities/ ; ÚNKP-20-3//Ministry of Human Capacities/ ; ANN 131341//Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation (NKFIH) Office/ ; OTKA Bridging Fund//Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation (NKFIH) Office/ ; TKP-2020//the Ministry of Human Capacities/ ; GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00014//Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation (NKFIH) Office/ ; GINOP-2.3.4-15-2020-00008//Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation (NKFIH) Office/ ; ÚNKP-20-5//New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund/ ; },
abstract = {Candida auris is a potential multidrug-resistant pathogen able to persist on indwelling devices as a biofilm, which serve as a source of catheter-associated infections. Neosartorya fischeri antifungal protein 2 (NFAP2) is a cysteine-rich, cationic protein with potent anti-Candida activity. We studied the in vitro activity of NFAP2 alone and in combination with fluconazole, amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin against C. auris biofilms. The nature of interactions was assessed utilizing the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI), a Bliss independence model, and LIVE/DEAD viability assay. NFAP2 exerted synergy with all tested antifungals with FICIs ranging between 0.312-0.5, 0.155-0.5, 0.037-0.375, 0.064-0.375, and 0.064-0.375 for fluconazole, amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin, respectively. These results were confirmed using a Bliss model, where NFAP2 produced 17.54 μM2%, 2.16 μM2%, 33.31 μM2%, 10.72 μM2%, and 111.19 μM2% cumulative synergy log volume in combination with fluconazole, amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, and micafungin, respectively. In addition, biofilms exposed to echinocandins (32 mg/L) showed significant cell death in the presence of NFAP2 (128 mg/L). Our study shows that NFAP2 displays strong potential as a novel antifungal compound in alternative therapies to combat C. auris biofilms.},
}

@article {pmid33466452,
year = {2021},
author = {Boyko, KM and Kryukova, MV and Petrovskaya, LE and Kryukova, EA and Nikolaeva, AY and Korzhenevsky, DA and Lomakina, GY and Novototskaya-Vlasova, KA and Rivkina, EM and Dolgikh, DA and Kirpichnikov, MP and Popov, VO},
title = {Structural and Biochemical Characterization of a Cold-Active PMGL3 Esterase with Unusual Oligomeric Structure.},
journal = {Biomolecules},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3390/biom11010057},
pmid = {33466452},
issn = {2218-273X},
support = {18-04-00491, 19-29-05003//Russian Foundation for Basic Research/ ; w/o number//Ministry of Science and Higher Education/ ; },
abstract = {The gene coding for a novel cold-active esterase PMGL3 was previously obtained from a Siberian permafrost metagenomic DNA library and expressed in Escherichia coli. We elucidated the 3D structure of the enzyme which belongs to the hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) family. Similar to other bacterial HSLs, PMGL3 shares a canonical α/β hydrolase fold and is presumably a dimer in solution but, in addition to the dimer, it forms a tetrameric structure in a crystal and upon prolonged incubation at 4 °C. Detailed analysis demonstrated that the crystal tetramer of PMGL3 has a unique architecture compared to other known tetramers of the bacterial HSLs. To study the role of the specific residues comprising the tetramerization interface of PMGL3, several mutant variants were constructed. Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) analysis of D7N, E47Q, and K67A mutants demonstrated that they still contained a portion of tetrameric form after heat treatment, although its amount was significantly lower in D7N and K67A compared to the wild type. Moreover, the D7N and K67A mutants demonstrated a 40 and 60% increase in the half-life at 40 °C in comparison with the wild type protein. Km values of these mutants were similar to that of the wt PMGL3. However, the catalytic constants of the E47Q and K67A mutants were reduced by ~40%.},
}

@article {pmid31808296,
year = {2020},
author = {Zhang, Q and Geng, Z and Li, D and Ding, Z},
title = {Characterization and discrimination of microbial community and co-occurrence patterns in fresh and strong flavor style flue-cured tobacco leaves.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {9},
number = {2},
pages = {e965},
pmid = {31808296},
issn = {2045-8827},
mesh = {Biodiversity ; Eukaryotic Cells/classification ; *Fermentation ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Microbiota ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Phylogeny ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Prokaryotic Cells/classification ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; *Tobacco ; },
abstract = {Fermentation, also known as aging, is vital for enhancing the quality of flue-cured tobacco leaves (FTLs). Aged FTLs demonstrate high-quality sensory characteristics, while unaged FTLs do not. Microbes play important roles in the FTL fermentation process. However, the eukaryotic microbial community diversity is poorly understood, as are microbial associations within FTLs. We aimed to characterize and compare the microbiota associated with two important categories, fresh and strong flavor style FTLs, and to reveal correlations between the microbial taxa within them. Based on 16S and 18S rRNA Illumina MiSeq sequencing, the community richness and diversity of prokaryotes were almost as high as that of eukaryotes. The dominant microbes of FTLs belonged to seven genera, including Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Methylobacterium, Acinetobacter, Sphingomonas, Neophaeosphaeria, and Cladosporium, of the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Ascomycota phyla. According to partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), Xanthomonas, Franconibacter, Massilia, Quadrisphaera, Staphylococcus, Cladosporium, Lodderomyces, Symmetrospora, Golovinomyces, and Dioszegia were significantly positively correlated with fresh flavor style FTLs, while Xenophilus, Fusarium, unclassified Ustilaginaceae, Tilletiopsis, Cryphonectria, Colletotrichum, and Cyanodermella were significantly positively correlated with strong flavor style FTLs. Network analysis identified seven hubs, Aureimonas, Kocuria, Massilia, Brachybacterium, Clostridium, Dietzia, and Vishniacozyma, that may play important roles in FTL ecosystem stability, which may be destroyed by Myrmecridium. FTL microbiota was found to be correlated with flavor style. Species present in lower numbers than the dominant microbes might be used as microbial markers to discriminate different flavor style samples and to stabilize FTL microbial communities. This research advances our understanding of FTL microbiota and describes a means of discriminating between fresh and strong flavor FTLs based on their respective stable microbiota.},
}

Biodiversity
Eukaryotic Cells/classification
*Fermentation
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
Metagenomics/methods
*Microbiota
Neural Networks, Computer
Phylogeny
Plant Leaves/*microbiology
Prokaryotic Cells/classification
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics
Sequence Analysis, DNA
*Tobacco

@article {pmid31701637,
year = {2020},
author = {Ren, Q and Si, H and Yan, X and Liu, C and Ding, L and Long, R and Li, Z and Qiu, Q},
title = {Bacterial communities in the solid, liquid, dorsal, and ventral epithelium fractions of yak (Bos grunniens) rumen.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {9},
number = {2},
pages = {e963},
pmid = {31701637},
issn = {2045-8827},
mesh = {Animals ; Biodiversity ; Cattle ; Computational Biology/methods ; Gastric Mucosa/*microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Microbiota ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rumen/*microbiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; },
abstract = {Yak (Bos grunniens) is an important and dominant livestock species in the challenging environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Rumen microbiota of the solid, liquid, and epithelium fractions play key roles in nutrient metabolism and contribute to host adaptation in ruminants. However, there is a little knowledge of the microbiota in these rumen fractions of yak. Therefore, we collected samples of solid, liquid, dorsal, and ventral epithelium fractions from five female yaks, then amplified bacterial 16S rRNA gene V4 regions and sequenced them using an Illumina MiSeq platform. Principal coordinates analysis detected significant differences in bacterial communities between the liquid, solid, and epithelium fractions, and between dorsal and ventral epithelium fractions. Rikenellaceae RC9, the families Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, and Fibrobacter spp. were the abundant and enriched bacteria in solid fraction, while the genera Prevotella and Prevotellaceae UCG 003 were higher in the liquid fraction. Campylobacter spp., Comamonas spp., Desulfovibrio spp., and Solobacterium spp. were significantly higher in dorsal epithelium, while Howardella spp., Prevotellaceae UCG 001, Ruminococcaceae UCG 005, and Treponema 2 were enriched in the ventral epithelium. Comparison of predictive functional profiles among the solid, liquid, and dorsal, and ventral epithelium fractions also revealed significant differences. Microbiota in the ventral fraction of yak rumen also significantly differ from reported microbiota of cattle. In conclusion, our results improve our knowledge of the taxonomic composition and roles of yak rumen microbiota.},
}

Animals
Biodiversity
Cattle
Computational Biology/methods
Gastric Mucosa/*microbiology
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
Metagenome
Metagenomics/methods
*Microbiota
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Rumen/*microbiology
Sequence Analysis, DNA

@article {pmid31670480,
year = {2020},
author = {Quigley, KM and Alvarez Roa, C and Torda, G and Bourne, DG and Willis, BL},
title = {Co-dynamics of Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial populations during the first year of symbiosis with Acropora tenuis juveniles.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {9},
number = {2},
pages = {e959},
pmid = {31670480},
issn = {2045-8827},
mesh = {Age Factors ; Animals ; Anthozoa/*microbiology ; *Bacterial Physiological Phenomena ; Computational Biology/methods ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; Gene Ontology ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Microbiota ; Molecular Typing ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; *Symbiosis ; },
abstract = {Interactions between corals and their associated microbial communities (Symbiodiniaceae and prokaryotes) are key to understanding corals' potential for and rate of acclimatory and adaptive responses. However, the establishment of microalgal and bacterial communities is poorly understood during coral ontogeny in the wild. We examined the establishment and co-occurrence between multiple microbial communities using 16S rRNA (bacterial) and ITS2 rDNA (Symbiodiniaceae) gene amplicon sequencing in juveniles of the common coral, Acropora tenuis, across the first year of development. Symbiodiniaceae communities in juveniles were dominated by Durusdinium trenchii and glynnii (D1 and D1a), with lower abundances of Cladocopium (C1, C1d, C50, and Cspc). Bacterial communities were more diverse and dominated by taxa within Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Planctomycetes. Both communities were characterized by significant changes in relative abundance and diversity of taxa throughout the year. D1, D1a, and C1 were significantly correlated with multiple bacterial taxa, including Alpha-, Deltra-, and Gammaproteobacteria, Planctomycetacia, Oxyphotobacteria, Phycisphaerae, and Rhizobiales. Specifically, D1a tended to associate with Oxyphotobacteria and D1 with Alphaproteobacteria, although these associations may represent correlational and not causal relationships. Bioenergetic modeling combined with physiological measurements of coral juveniles (surface area and Symbiodiniaceae cell densities) identified key periods of carbon limitation and nitrogen assimilation, potentially coinciding with shifts in microbial community composition. These results demonstrate that Symbiodiniaceae and bacterial communities are dynamic throughout the first year of ontology and may vary in tandem, with important fitness effects on host juveniles.},
}

Age Factors
Animals
Anthozoa/*microbiology
*Bacterial Physiological Phenomena
Computational Biology/methods
DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
Gene Ontology
Metagenomics/methods
*Microbiota
Molecular Typing
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics
*Symbiosis

@article {pmid33465647,
year = {2021},
author = {Zhou, L and Zhao, B and Ou, P and Zhang, W and Li, H and Yi, S and Zhuang, WQ},
title = {Core nitrogen cycle of biofoulant in full-scale anoxic & oxic biofilm-membrane bioreactors treating textile wastewater.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {325},
number = {},
pages = {124667},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124667},
pmid = {33465647},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {Core nitrogen cycle within biofoulant in full-scale anoxic & oxic biofilm-membrane bioreactor (bMBR) treating textile wastewater was investigated. Wastewater filtered through membrane with biofoulant had elevated NH4+-N and NO2--N concentrations corresponding to decreased NO3--N concentrations. Nevertheless, total nitrogen concentrations did not change significantly, indicating negligible nitrogen removal activities within biofoulant. Metagenomic analysis revealed a lack of genes, such as AmoCAB and Hao in biofoulant, indicating absence of nitrification or anammox populations. However, genes encoding complete pathway for dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) were discovered in 15 species that also carry genes encoding both nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase. No specie contained all genes for complete denitrification pathway. High temperature, high C:N ratio, and anoxic conditions of textile wastewater could favorite microbes growth with DNRA pathway over those with canonical denitrification pathway. High dissolved oxygen concentrations could effectively inhibit DNRA to minimize ammonia concentration in the effluent.},
}

@article {pmid33465599,
year = {2021},
author = {Das, A},
title = {The relational genomics of cognitive function: A longitudinal study.},
journal = {Social science & medicine (1982)},
volume = {270},
number = {},
pages = {113698},
doi = {10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113698},
pmid = {33465599},
issn = {1873-5347},
abstract = {OBJECTIVES: Research in social genetics indicates a person's genome may influence outcomes of those in close relationships. Implications for cognitive function remain unexplored. The current study examined such "metagenomic" patterns among older U.S. couples.

METHODS: Data were from married or cohabiting couples in the 2006-2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, nationally representative of U.S. adults over 50. Measures included cognitive function as well as separate polygenic scores for cognition and for educational attainment. Analysis was through parallel process latent growth models.

RESULTS: Consistent with a recent "genetic externalities" conception, one partner's polygenic score for educational attainment was linked to the other's baseline levels of cognitive function. Contrary to relational moderation speculations, neither a partner's genetic scores nor educational attainment altered individual-level genetic influences.

DISCUSSION: Findings add to the growing evidence that transpersonal genetic influences in one's proximal context have substantively important implications. Research is needed on the role of non-partnership ties in channeling such effects. Implications for life course theory are discussed.},
}

@article {pmid33465548,
year = {2021},
author = {Nikoloudaki, O and Lemos Junior, WJF and Campanaro, S and Di Cagno, R and Gobbetti, M},
title = {Role prediction of Gram-negative species in the resistome of raw cow's milk.},
journal = {International journal of food microbiology},
volume = {340},
number = {},
pages = {109045},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2021.109045},
pmid = {33465548},
issn = {1879-3460},
abstract = {Extended use of antibiotics in dairy farming for therapeutic and prophylactic reasons, but also the higher prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) in the farm environment raised the concern of consuming raw cow's milk and its derived products. The aim of this study was to predict by shotgun metagenomic analyses the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) mainly correlated with Gram-negative bacteria in antibiotic residue free raw cow's milk derived exclusively from healthy animal from South Tyrol (Northern Italy), chosen as a model system. Assessment of shotgun metagenomic data of reconstructed scaffolds, revealed the existence of Pseudomonas spp. as the most abundant Gram-negative species in the raw cow's milk samples bearing ARGs. Besides, ARGs also linked to lactic acid bacteria such as Lactococcus sp. and Lactobacillus sp. ARGs correlated to microbiome found in milk samples conferred resistance towards aminoglycoside-streptothricin, beta-lactamase, macrolide, tetracycline, carbapenem, cephalosporin, penam, peptide, penem, fluoroquinolone, chloramphenicol and elfamycin antibiotics. Further bioinformatic processing included de-novo reassembly of all metagenomic sequences from all milk samples in one, to reconstruct metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs), which were further used to investigate mobile genetic elements (MGE). Analyses of the reconstructed MAGs showed that, MAG 9 (Pseudomonas sp1.) contained the oriT gene (origin of transfer gene) needed for transferring virulent factors. Although the presence of Pseudomonas is common in raw cow's milk, pasteurization treatment reduces their survivability. Nevertheless, attention should be paid on Pseudomonas spp. due to their intrinsic resistance to antibiotics and their capability of transferring virulent factors to other bacteria.},
}

@article {pmid33464408,
year = {2021},
author = {Wang, J and Liang, J and Li, Y and Tian, L and Wei, Y},
title = {Characterization of efficient xylanases from industrial-scale pulp and paper wastewater treatment microbiota.},
journal = {AMB Express},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {19},
pmid = {33464408},
issn = {2191-0855},
support = {31800079//National Natural Science Foundation of China/ ; },
abstract = {Xylanases are widely used enzymes in the food, textile, and paper industries. Most efficient xylanases have been identified from lignocellulose-degrading microbiota, such as the microbiota of the cow rumen and the termite hindgut. Xylanase genes from efficient pulp and paper wastewater treatment (PPWT) microbiota have been previously recovered by metagenomics, assigning most of the xylanase genes to the GH10 family. In this study, a total of 40 GH10 family xylanase genes derived from a certain PPWT microbiota were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Among these xylanase genes, 14 showed xylanase activity on beechwood substrate. Two of these, PW-xyl9 and PW-xyl37, showed high activities, and were purified to evaluate their xylanase properties. Values of optimal pH and temperature for PW-xyl9 were pH 7 and 60 ℃, respectively, while those for PW-xyl37 were pH 7 and 55 ℃, respectively; their specific xylanase activities under optimal conditions were 470.1 U/mg protein and 113.7 U/mg protein, respectively. Furthermore, the Km values of PW-xyl9 and PW-xyl37 were determined as 8.02 and 18.8 g/L, respectively. The characterization of these two xylanases paves the way for potential application in future pulp and paper production and other industries, indicating that PPWT microbiota has been an undiscovered reservoir of efficient lignocellulase genes. This study demonstrates that a metagenomic approach has the potential to screen efficient xylanases of uncultured microorganisms from lignocellulose-degrading microbiota. In a similar way, other efficient lignocellulase genes might be identified from PPWT treatment microbiota in the future.},
}

@article {pmid33463854,
year = {2020},
author = {Furey, PC and Lee, SS and Clemans, DL},
title = {Substratum-associated microbiota.},
journal = {Water environment research : a research publication of the Water Environment Federation},
volume = {92},
number = {10},
pages = {1629-1648},
doi = {10.1002/wer.1410},
pmid = {33463854},
issn = {1554-7531},
abstract = {Highlights of new, interesting, and emerging research findings on substratum-associated microbiota covered from a survey of 2019 literature from primarily freshwaters provide insight into research trends of interest to the Water Environment Federation and others interested in benthic, aquatic environments. Coverage of topics on bottom-associated or attached algae and cyanobacteria, though not comprehensive, includes new methods, taxa new-to-science, nutrient dynamics, auto- and heterotrophic interactions, grazers, bioassessment, herbicides and other pollutants, metal contaminants, and nuisance, and bloom-forming and harmful algae. Coverage of bacteria, also not comprehensive, focuses on the ecology of benthic biofilms and microbial communities, along with the ecology of microbes like Caulobacter crescentus, Rhodobacter, and other freshwater microbial species. Bacterial topics covered also include metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, toxins and pollutants, bacterial pathogens and bacteriophages, and bacterial physiology. Readers may use this literature review to learn about or renew their interest in the recent advances and discoveries regarding substratum-associated microbiota. PRACTITIONER POINTS: This review of literature from 2019 on substratum-associated microbiota presents highlights of findings on algae, cyanobacteria, and bacteria from primarily freshwaters. Coverage of algae and cyanobacteria includes findings on new methods, taxa new to science, nutrient dynamics, auto- and heterotrophic interactions, grazers, bioassessment, herbicides and other pollutants, metal contaminants, and nuisance, bloom-forming and harmful algae. Coverage of bacteria includes findings on ecology of benthic biofilms and microbial communities, the ecology of microbes, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, toxins and pollutants, bacterial pathogens and bacteriophages, and bacterial physiology. Highlights of new, noteworthy and emerging topics build on those from 2018 and will be of relevance to the Water Environment Federation and others interested in benthic, aquatic environments.},
}

@article {pmid33463503,
year = {2020},
author = {Wang, Y and Lu, H and Shao, R and Wang, W},
title = {[Clinical characteristics analysis of patients with pneumonia infected by Chlamydia psittaci].},
journal = {Zhonghua wei zhong bing ji jiu yi xue},
volume = {32},
number = {11},
pages = {1388-1390},
doi = {10.3760/cma.j.cn121430-20200408-00259},
pmid = {33463503},
issn = {2095-4352},
abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics of pneumonia infected by Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci).

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 3 cases of C. psittaci pneumonia admitted to People's Hospital of Tongling City from July 2019 to January 2020. The patients' contact history, clinical manifestations, laboratory examination, imaging characteristics and evolution, etiology, treatment process and outcome were analyzed, so as to provide experience for the diagnosis and prevention of C. psittaci pneumonia.

RESULTS: The 3 patients had been infected through pet or zoonotic exposures. All symptoms included high fever (body temperature > 39 centigrade), cough, sputum, chest tightness and dyspnea. The disease progressed rapidly, with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and shock as the main manifestations, but the damages to the heart, liver and kidney were mild. Laboratory tests showed that C-reactive protein (CRP, all > 200 mg/L) and neutrophil proportion (Neut%, > 0.90) were significantly increased, while white blood cell count (WBC) and procalcitonin (PCT) were not significantly increased. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed inflammatory infiltration with interstitial changes, either unilateral or bilateral. Chest X-ray showed large areas of inflammatory infiltrations, fan-shaped or wedge-shaped to the edge of pleura. After 7 days of treatment, the bedside computed X-ray (CR) showed absorption of infiltration. After 11-13 days, the CT reexamination indicated lung infection was basically absorbed. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) confirmed the presence of C. psittaci in patients' sputum. It was sensitive to quinolones and tetracyclines. The patients' body temperature dropped to normal after 2-3 days of antibiotics, and all patients were extubated and transferred to normal ward 10 days later. The total course of illness was 20-30 days.

CONCLUSIONS: The patients with C. psittaci pneumonia are critically ill, and clinical manifestations of moderate to severe ARDS and shock are common. Early diagnosis depends on mNGS, and reasonable treatment is important for prognosis.},
}

@article {pmid33462601,
year = {2021},
author = {Garg, SG and Kapust, N and Lin, W and Knopp, M and Tria, FDK and Nelson-Sathi, S and Gould, SB and Fan, L and Zhu, R and Zhang, C and Martin, WF},
title = {Anomalous Phylogenetic Behavior of Ribosomal Proteins in Metagenome-Assembled Asgard Archaea.},
journal = {Genome biology and evolution},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/gbe/evaa238},
pmid = {33462601},
issn = {1759-6653},
abstract = {Metagenomic studies permit the exploration of microbial diversity in a defined habitat, and binning procedures enable phylogenomic analyses, taxon description, and even phenotypic characterizations in the absence of morphological evidence. Such lineages include asgard archaea, which were initially reported to represent archaea with eukaryotic cell complexity, although the first images of such an archaeon show simple cells with prokaryotic characteristics. However, these metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) might suffer from data quality problems not encountered in sequences from cultured organisms due to two common analytical procedures of bioinformatics: assembly of metagenomic sequences and binning of assembled sequences on the basis of innate sequence properties and abundance across samples. Consequently, genomic sequences of distantly related taxa, or domains, can in principle be assigned to the same MAG and result in chimeric sequences. The impacts of low-quality or chimeric MAGs on phylogenomic and metabolic prediction remain unknown. Debates that asgard archaeal data are contaminated with eukaryotic sequences are overshadowed by the lack of evidence indicating that individual asgard MAGs stem from the same chromosome. Here, we show that universal proteins including ribosomal proteins of asgard archaeal MAGs fail to meet the basic phylogenetic criterion fulfilled by genome sequences of cultured archaea investigated to date: These proteins do not share common evolutionary histories to the same extent as pure culture genomes do, pointing to a chimeric nature of asgard archaeal MAGs. Our analysis suggests that some asgard archaeal MAGs represent unnatural constructs, genome-like patchworks of genes resulting from assembly and/or the binning process.},
}

@article {pmid33462508,
year = {2021},
author = {Olm, MR and Crits-Christoph, A and Bouma-Gregson, K and Firek, BA and Morowitz, MJ and Banfield, JF},
title = {inStrain profiles population microdiversity from metagenomic data and sensitively detects shared microbial strains.},
journal = {Nature biotechnology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {33462508},
issn = {1546-1696},
support = {DGE 1106400//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; DGE1106400//National Science Foundation (NSF)/ ; APSF-2012-10-05//Alfred P. Sloan Foundation/ ; RAI092531A//Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Inc.)/ ; },
abstract = {Coexisting microbial cells of the same species often exhibit genetic variation that can affect phenotypes ranging from nutrient preference to pathogenicity. Here we present inStrain, a program that uses metagenomic paired reads to profile intra-population genetic diversity (microdiversity) across whole genomes and compares microbial populations in a microdiversity-aware manner, greatly increasing the accuracy of genomic comparisons when benchmarked against existing methods. We use inStrain to profile >1,000 fecal metagenomes from newborn premature infants and find that siblings share significantly more strains than unrelated infants, although identical twins share no more strains than fraternal siblings. Infants born by cesarean section harbor Klebsiella with significantly higher nucleotide diversity than infants delivered vaginally, potentially reflecting acquisition from hospital rather than maternal microbiomes. Genomic loci that show diversity in individual infants include variants found between other infants, possibly reflecting inoculation from diverse hospital-associated sources. inStrain can be applied to any metagenomic dataset for microdiversity analysis and rigorous strain comparison.},
}

@article {pmid33462312,
year = {2021},
author = {Blifernez-Klassen, O and Klassen, V and Wibberg, D and Cebeci, E and Henke, C and Rückert, C and Chaudhari, S and Rupp, O and Blom, J and Winkler, A and Al-Dilaimi, A and Goesmann, A and Sczyrba, A and Kalinowski, J and Bräutigam, A and Kruse, O},
title = {Phytoplankton consortia as a blueprint for mutually beneficial eukaryote-bacteria ecosystems based on the biocoenosis of Botryococcus consortia.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {1726},
pmid = {33462312},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {311956//European Union Seventh Framework/ ; 311956//European Union Seventh Framework/ ; 311956//European Union Seventh Framework/ ; 031A533//Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung/ ; 031A533//Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung/ ; 031A533//Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung/ ; },
abstract = {Bacteria occupy all major ecosystems and maintain an intensive relationship to the eukaryotes, developing together into complex biomes (i.e., phycosphere and rhizosphere). Interactions between eukaryotes and bacteria range from cooperative to competitive, with the associated microorganisms affecting their host`s development, growth and health. Since the advent of non-culture dependent analytical techniques such as metagenome sequencing, consortia have been described at the phylogenetic level but rarely functionally. Multifaceted analysis of the microbial consortium of the ancient phytoplankton Botryococcus as an attractive model food web revealed that its all abundant bacterial members belong to a niche of biotin auxotrophs, essentially depending on the microalga. In addition, hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria without vitamin auxotrophies seem adversely to affect the algal cell morphology. Synthetic rearrangement of a minimal community consisting of an alga, a mutualistic and a parasitic bacteria underpins the model of a eukaryote that maintains its own mutualistic microbial community to control its surrounding biosphere. This model of coexistence, potentially useful for defense against invaders by a eukaryotic host could represent ecologically relevant interactions that cross species boundaries. Metabolic and system reconstruction is an opportunity to unravel the relationships within the consortia and provide a blueprint for the construction of mutually beneficial synthetic ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid33462272,
year = {2021},
author = {Jacobson, DK and Honap, TP and Ozga, AT and Meda, N and Kagoné, TS and Carabin, H and Spicer, P and Tito, RY and Obregon-Tito, AJ and Reyes, LM and Troncoso-Corzo, L and Guija-Poma, E and Sankaranarayanan, K and Lewis, CM},
title = {Analysis of global human gut metagenomes shows that metabolic resilience potential for short-chain fatty acid production is strongly influenced by lifestyle.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {1724},
pmid = {33462272},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {GM089886/NH/NIH HHS/United States ; 1925579//National Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {High taxonomic diversity in non-industrial human gut microbiomes is often interpreted as beneficial; however, it is unclear if taxonomic diversity engenders ecological resilience (i.e. community stability and metabolic continuity). We estimate resilience through genus and species-level richness, phylogenetic diversity, and evenness in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production among a global gut metagenome panel of 12 populations (n = 451) representing industrial and non-industrial lifestyles, including novel metagenomic data from Burkina Faso (n = 90). We observe significantly higher genus-level resilience in non-industrial populations, while SCFA production in industrial populations is driven by a few phylogenetically closely related species (belonging to Bacteroides and Clostridium), meaning industrial microbiomes have low resilience potential. Additionally, database bias obfuscates resilience estimates, as we were 2-5 times more likely to identify SCFA-encoding species in industrial microbiomes compared to non-industrial. Overall, we find high phylogenetic diversity, richness, and evenness of bacteria encoding SCFAs in non-industrial gut microbiomes, signaling high potential for resilience in SCFA production, despite database biases that limit metagenomic analysis of non-industrial populations.},
}

@article {pmid33461660,
year = {2021},
author = {Urban, L and Holzer, A and Baronas, JJ and Hall, MB and Braeuninger-Weimer, P and Scherm, MJ and Kunz, DJ and Perera, SN and Martin-Herranz, DE and Tipper, ET and Salter, SJ and Stammnitz, MR},
title = {Freshwater monitoring by nanopore sequencing.},
journal = {eLife},
volume = {10},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.7554/eLife.61504},
pmid = {33461660},
issn = {2050-084X},
support = {Graduate Student Fellowship//Gates Cambridge Trust/ ; OPP1144//Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation/ ; OpenPlant Fund (BBSRC BB/L014130/1)/BB_/Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council/United Kingdom ; Public Engagement Starter Grant (RCUK Catalyst Seed Fund)//University of Cambridge/ ; Graduate Student Fellowship//European Bioinformatics Institute/ ; Graduate Student Fellowship (203828/Z/16/A, 203828/Z/16/Z)/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; Graduate Student Fellowship (102453/Z/13/Z)/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom ; Graduate Student Fellowship//Oliver Gatty Studentship/ ; Standard Grant (NE/P011659/1)//Natural Environment Research Council/ ; },
abstract = {While traditional microbiological freshwater tests focus on the detection of specific bacterial indicator species, including pathogens, direct tracing of all aquatic DNA through metagenomics poses a profound alternative. Yet, in situ metagenomic water surveys face substantial challenges in cost and logistics. Here, we present a simple, fast, cost-effective and remotely accessible freshwater diagnostics workflow centred around the portable nanopore sequencing technology. Using defined compositions and spatiotemporal microbiota from surface water of an example river in Cambridge (UK), we provide optimised experimental and bioinformatics guidelines, including a benchmark with twelve taxonomic classification tools for nanopore sequences. We find that nanopore metagenomics can depict the hydrological core microbiome and fine temporal gradients in line with complementary physicochemical measurements. In a public health context, these data feature relevant sewage signals and pathogen maps at species level resolution. We anticipate that this framework will gather momentum for new environmental monitoring initiatives using portable devices.},
}

@article {pmid33461494,
year = {2021},
author = {Dhungel, E and Mreyoud, Y and Gwak, HJ and Rajeh, A and Rho, M and Ahn, TH},
title = {MegaR: an interactive R package for rapid sample classification and phenotype prediction using metagenome profiles and machine learning.},
journal = {BMC bioinformatics},
volume = {22},
number = {1},
pages = {25},
pmid = {33461494},
issn = {1471-2105},
support = {1564894//National Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Diverse microbiome communities drive biogeochemical processes and evolution of animals in their ecosystems. Many microbiome projects have demonstrated the power of using metagenomics to understand the structures and factors influencing the function of the microbiomes in their environments. In order to characterize the effects from microbiome composition for human health, diseases, and even ecosystems, one must first understand the relationship of microbes and their environment in different samples. Running machine learning model with metagenomic sequencing data is encouraged for this purpose, but it is not an easy task to make an appropriate machine learning model for all diverse metagenomic datasets.

RESULTS: We introduce MegaR, an R Shiny package and web application, to build an unbiased machine learning model effortlessly with interactive visual analysis. The MegaR employs taxonomic profiles from either whole metagenome sequencing or 16S rRNA sequencing data to develop machine learning models and classify the samples into two or more categories. It provides various options for model fine tuning throughout the analysis pipeline such as data processing, multiple machine learning techniques, model validation, and unknown sample prediction that can be used to achieve the highest prediction accuracy possible for any given dataset while still maintaining a user-friendly experience.

CONCLUSIONS: Metagenomic sample classification and phenotype prediction is important particularly when it applies to a diagnostic method for identifying and predicting microbe-related human diseases. MegaR provides various interactive visualizations for user to build an accurate machine-learning model without difficulty. Unknown sample prediction with a properly trained model using MegaR will enhance researchers to identify the sample property in a fast turnaround time.},
}

@article {pmid33454531,
year = {2021},
author = {Lu, H and Wang, J and Huang, L and Wang, X and Zhou, J and Wang, J},
title = {Effect of immobilized anthraquinone-2-sulfonate on antibiotic resistance genes and microbial community in biofilms of anaerobic reactors.},
journal = {Journal of environmental management},
volume = {282},
number = {},
pages = {111967},
doi = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.111967},
pmid = {33454531},
issn = {1095-8630},
abstract = {Quinone compounds could significantly accelerate anaerobic biotransformation of refractory pollutants. However, the effect of quinone compounds application on the propagation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the bio-treatment of these pollutants-containing wastewater is not available. In this study, the catalytic performance of anthraquinone-2-sulfonate immobilized on polyurethane foam (AQS-PUF), changes of ARGs, mobile gene elements (MGEs) and microbial community structure attached on AQS-PUF and PUF in the up-flow anaerobic bioreactors were investigated. The results showed that AQS-PUF could significantly accelerate the decolorization of azo dye RR X-3B. Meanwhile, metagenomics analysis showed that the total absolute abundance of ARGs increased in the presence of the immobilized AQS. Among ARGs, the number of the efflux pump-encoding ARGs in the biofilm of AQS-PUF accounted for 35.7% of the total ARGs, which was slightly higher than that of PUF (32.1%) due to the presence of the immobilized AQS. The relative abundances of ARGs conferring resistance to MLS (macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin), tetracycline and sulfonamide, which were deeply concerned, reduced 10%, 21.7% and 7.3% in the presence of the immobilized AQS, respectively. Moreover, the immobilized AQS resulted in the decreased relative abundance of plasmids, transposons and class I integrons. Among the detected 31 ARG subtypes located in MGEs, the relative abundances of only lnuF, msrE and mphD in the biofilm of AQS-PUF were over 2-fold higher compared with those in the biofilm of PUF. However, the three ARGs and their host Gammaproteobacteria was not dominant in microbial community. The relative abundances of more ARGs including MLS (lnuB and EreA), tetracycline (tetH) resistance genes located in MGEs decreased, which was attributed to the decreased relative abundance of their hosts. These studies showed that the addition of the immobilized AQS (around 0.25 mM) had a beneficial effect on reducing the spread of ARGs during dyeing wastewater bio-treatment.},
}

@article {pmid33454444,
year = {2021},
author = {Sharma, P and Tripathi, S and Chandra, R},
title = {Metagenomic analysis for profiling of microbial communities and tolerance in metal-polluted pulp and paper industry wastewater.},
journal = {Bioresource technology},
volume = {324},
number = {},
pages = {124681},
doi = {10.1016/j.biortech.2021.124681},
pmid = {33454444},
issn = {1873-2976},
abstract = {This work aimed to study the profiling and efficiency of microbial communities and their abundance in the pulp and paper industry wastewater, which contained toxic metals, high biological oxygen demands, chemical oxygen demand, and ions contents. Sequence alignment of the 16S rRNA V3-V4 variable region zone with the Illumina MiSeq framework revealed 25356 operating taxonomical units (OTUs) derived from the wastewater sample. The major phyla identified in wastewater were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Spirochetes, Patesibacteria, Acidobacteria, and others including unknown microbes. The study showed the function of microbial communities essential for the oxidation and detoxifying of complex contaminants and design of effective remediation techniques for the re-use of polluted wastewater. Findings demonstrated that the ability of different classes of microbes to adapt and survive in metal-polluted wastewater irrespective of their relative distribution, as well as further attention can be provided to its use in the bioremediation process.},
}

@article {pmid33460896,
year = {2021},
author = {Gao, Y and Du, J and Bahar, MM and Wang, H and Subashchandrabose, S and Duan, L and Yang, X and Megharaj, M and Zhao, Q and Zhang, W and Liu, Y and Wang, J and Naidu, R},
title = {Metagenomics analysis identifies nitrogen metabolic pathway in bioremediation of diesel contaminated soil.},
journal = {Chemosphere},
volume = {271},
number = {},
pages = {129566},
doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129566},
pmid = {33460896},
issn = {1879-1298},
abstract = {Nitrogen amendment is known to effectively enhance the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, but the nitrogen metabolism in this process is not well understood. To unravel the nitrogen metabolic pathway(s) of diesel contaminated soil, six types of nitrogen sources were added to the diesel contaminated soil. Changes in microbial community and soil enzyme genes were investigated by metagenomics analysis and chemical analysis through a 30-day incubation study. The results showed that ammonium based nitrogen sources significantly accelerated the degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) (79-81%) compared to the control treatment (38%) and other non-ammonium based nitrogen amendments (43-57%). Different types of nitrogen sources could dramatically change the microbial community structure and soil enzyme gene abundance. Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were identified as the two dominant phyla in the remediation of diesel contaminated soil. Metagenomics analysis revealed that the preferred metabolic pathway of nitrogen was from ammonium to glutamate via glutamine, and the enzymes governing this transformation were glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthetase; while in nitrate based amendment, the conversion from nitrite to ammonium was restrained by the low abundance of nitrite reductase enzyme and therefore retarded the TPH degradation rate. It is concluded that during the process of nitrogen enhanced bioremediation, the most efficient nitrogen cycling direction was from ammonium to glutamine, then to glutamate, and finally joined with carbon metabolism after transforming to 2-oxoglutarate.},
}

@article {pmid33460836,
year = {2021},
author = {Nie, S and Zhang, Z and Mo, S and Li, J and He, S and Kashif, M and Liang, Z and Shen, P and Yan, B and Jiang, C},
title = {Desulfobacterales stimulates nitrate reduction in the mangrove ecosystem of a subtropical gulf.},
journal = {The Science of the total environment},
volume = {769},
number = {},
pages = {144562},
doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144562},
pmid = {33460836},
issn = {1879-1026},
abstract = {The amount of nitrogen compounds discharged into the natural environment has increased drastically due to frequent human activities and led to worsening pollution. The mangrove ecosystem can remove nitrogen pollution, in this regard, few studies had focused on the relationship among nitrogen cycling genes, environmental factors, and taxonomic composition. In this study, shotgun metagenomic sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to understand the nitrogen cycle in the subtropical mangrove ecosystem in the Beibu Gulf of China. Eight nitrogen cycling pathways were annotated. Nitrogen metabolism activities were significantly higher in the wet season than those in the dry season. The most abundant genes were those related to the synthesis and degradation of organic nitrogen, followed by the genes involved in nitrate reduction (denitrification, dissimilation/assimilation nitrate reduction). Furthermore, dissimilation nitrate reduction was the main nitrate reduction pathway. Desulfobacterales plays an important role in nitrogen cycling and contributes 12% of the genes of nitrogen pathways on average; as such, a strong coupling relationship exists among nitrogen cycling, sulfur cycling, and carbon cycling in the mangrove ecosystem. Nitrogen pollution in the mangrove wetland can be efficiently alleviated by nitrate reduction of Desulfobacterales. Nevertheless, only 50% of genes can be matched among the known species, suggesting that many unknown microorganisms in the mangrove ecosystem can perform nitrogen cycling. Total phosphorus, available iron, and total organic carbon are the key environmental factors that influence the distribution of nitrogen cycling genes, related pathways, and the taxonomic composition. Our study clearly illustrates how the mangrove ecosystem mitigates nitrogen pollution through Desulfobacterales. This finding could provide a research reference for the whole nitrogen cycling in the mangrove ecosystem.},
}

@article {pmid33460821,
year = {2021},
author = {Meng, D and Mukhitov, N and Neitzey, D and Lucht, M and Schaak, DD and Voigt, CA},
title = {Rapid and simultaneous screening of pathway designs and chassis organisms, applied to engineered living materials.},
journal = {Metabolic engineering},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.ymben.2021.01.006},
pmid = {33460821},
issn = {1096-7184},
abstract = {Achieving a high product titer through pathway optimization often requires screening many combinations of enzymes and genetic parts. Typically, a library is screened in a single chassis that is a model or production organism. Here, we present a technique where the library is first introduced into B. subtilis XPORT, which has the ability to transfer the DNA to many Gram-positive species using an inducible integrated conjugated element (ICE). This approach is demonstrated using a two-gene pathway that converts tyrosine to melanin, a pigment biopolymer that can serve as a protective coating. A library of 18 pathway variants is conjugated by XPORT into 18 species, including those isolated from soil and industrial contaminants. The resulting 324 strains are screened and the highest titer is 1.2 g/L in B. amyloliquefaciens BT16. The strains were evaluated as co-cultures in an industrial process to make mycelia-grown bulk materials, where the bacteria need to be productive in a stressful, spatially non-uniform and dynamic environment. B. subtilis 3A35 is found to perform well under these conditions and make melanin in the material, which can be seen visually. This approach enables the simultaneous screening of genetic designs and chassis during the build step of metabolic engineering.},
}

@article {pmid33460770,
year = {2021},
author = {Aymé, L and Hébert, A and Henrissat, B and Lombard, V and Franche, N and Perret, S and Jourdier, E and Heiss-Blanquet, S},
title = {Characterization of three bacterial glycoside hydrolase family 9 endoglucanases with different modular architectures isolated from a compost metagenome.},
journal = {Biochimica et biophysica acta. General subjects},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {129848},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.129848},
pmid = {33460770},
issn = {1872-8006},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Environmental bacteria express a wide diversity of glycoside hydrolases (GH). Screening and characterization of GH from metagenomic sources provides an insight into biomass degradation strategies of non-cultivated prokaryotes.

METHODS: In the present report, we screened a compost metagenome for lignocellulolytic activities and identified six genes encoding enzymes belonging to family GH9 (GH9a-f). Three of these enzymes (GH9b, GH9d and GH9e) were successfully expressed and characterized.

RESULTS: A phylogenetic analysis of the catalytic domain of pro- and eukaryotic GH9 enzymes suggested the existence of two major subgroups. Bacterial GH9s displayed a wide variety of modular architectures and those harboring an N-terminal Ig-like domain, such as GH9b and GH9d, segregated from the remainder. We purified and characterized GH9 endoglucanases from both subgroups and examined their stabilities, substrate specificities and product profiles. GH9e exhibited an original hydrolysis pattern, liberating an elevated proportion of oligosaccharides longer than cellobiose. All of the enzymes exhibited processive behavior and a synergistic action on crystalline cellulose. Synergy was also evidenced between GH9d and a GH48 enzyme identified from the same metagenome.

CONCLUSIONS: The characterized GH9 enzymes displayed different modular architectures and distinct substrate and product profiles. The presence of a cellulose binding domain was shown to be necessary for binding and digestion of insoluble cellulosic substrates, but not for processivity.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The identification of six GH9 enzymes from a compost metagenome and the functional variety of three characterized members highlight the importance of this enzyme family in bacterial biomass deconstruction.},
}

@article {pmid33459951,
year = {2021},
author = {Martin, C and Stebbins, B and Ajmani, A and Comendul, A and Hamner, S and Hasan, NA and Colwell, R and Ford, T},
title = {Nanopore-based metagenomics analysis reveals prevalence of mobile antibiotic and heavy metal resistome in wastewater.},
journal = {Ecotoxicology (London, England)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {33459951},
issn = {1573-3017},
abstract = {In-depth studies of the microbiome and mobile resistome profile of different environments is central to understanding the role of the environment in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is one of the urgent threats to global public health. In this study, we demonstrated the use of a rapid (and easily portable) sequencing approach coupled with user-friendly bioinformatics tools, the MinION (Oxford Nanopore Technologies), on the evaluation of the microbial as well as mobile metal and antibiotic resistome profile of semi-rural wastewater. A total of 20 unique phyla, 43 classes, 227 genera, and 469 species were identified in samples collected from the Amherst Wastewater Treatment Plant, both from primary and secondary treated wastewater. Alpha diversity indices indicated that primary samples were significantly richer and more microbially diverse than secondary samples. A total of 1041 ARGs, 68 MRGs, and 17 MGEs were detected in this study. There were more classes of AMR genes in primary than secondary wastewater, but in both cases multidrug, beta-lactam and peptide AMR predominated. Of note, OXA β-lactamases, some of which are also carbapenemases, were enriched in secondary samples. Metal resistance genes against arsenic, copper, zinc and molybdenum were the dominant MRGs in the majority of the samples. A larger proportion of resistome genes were located in chromosome-derived sequences except for mobilome genes, which were predominantly located in plasmid-derived sequences. Genetic elements related to transposase were the most common MGEs in all samples. Mobile or MGE/plasmid-associated resistome genes that confer resistance to last resort antimicrobials such as carbapenems and colistin were detected in most samples. Worryingly, several of these potentially transferable genes were found to be carried by clinically-relevant hosts including pathogenic bacterial species in the orders Aeromonadales, Clostridiales, Enterobacterales and Pseudomonadales. This study demonstrated that the MinION can be used as a metagenomics approach to evaluate the microbiome, resistome, and mobilome profile of primary and secondary wastewater.},
}

@article {pmid33459515,
year = {2020},
author = {Bertagnolli, AD and Konstantinidis, KT and Stewart, FJ},
title = {Non-denitrifier nitrous oxide reductases dominate marine biomes.},
journal = {Environmental microbiology reports},
volume = {12},
number = {6},
pages = {681-692},
doi = {10.1111/1758-2229.12879},
pmid = {33459515},
issn = {1758-2229},
support = {//National Science Foundation/ ; },
abstract = {Microbial enzymes often occur as distinct variants that share the same substrate but differ in substrate affinity, sensitivity to environmental conditions, or phylogenetic ancestry. Determining where variants occur in the environment helps identify thresholds that constrain microbial cycling of key chemicals, including the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). To understand the enzymatic basis of N2O cycling in the ocean, we mined metagenomes to characterize genes encoding bacterial nitrous oxide reductase (NosZ) catalyzing N2O reduction to N2. We examined data sets from diverse biomes but focused primarily on those from oxygen minimum zones where N2O levels are often elevated. With few exceptions, marine nosZ data sets were dominated by 'atypical' clade II gene variants. Atypical nosZ has been associated with low oxygen, enhanced N2O affinity, and organisms lacking enzymes for complete denitrification, i.e., non-denitrifiers. Atypical nosZ often occurred in metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) with nitrate or nitrite respiration genes, although MAGs with genes for complete denitrification were rare. We identified atypical nosZ in several taxa not previously associated with N2O consumption, in addition to known N2O-associated groups. The data suggest that marine environments generally select for high N2O-scavenging ability across diverse taxa and have implications for how N2O concentration may affect N2O removal rates.},
}

@article {pmid33458619,
year = {2021},
author = {Sobat, M and Asad, S and Kabiri, M and Mehrshad, M},
title = {Metagenomic discovery and functional validation of L-asparaginases with anti-leukemic effect from the Caspian Sea.},
journal = {iScience},
volume = {24},
number = {1},
pages = {101973},
pmid = {33458619},
issn = {2589-0042},
abstract = {By screening 27,000 publicly available prokaryotic genomes, we recovered ca. 6300 type I and ca. 5200 type II putative L-asparaginase highlighting the vast potential of prokaryotes. Caspian water with similar salt composition to the human serum was targeted for in silico L-asparaginase screening. We screened ca. three million predicted genes of its assembled metagenomes that resulted in annotation of 87 putative L-asparaginase genes. The L-asparagine hydrolysis was experimentally confirmed by synthesizing and cloning three selected genes in E. coli. Catalytic parameters of the purified enzymes were determined to be among the most desirable reported values. Two recombinant enzymes represented remarkable anti-proliferative activity (IC50 <1IU/ml) against leukemia cell line Jurkat while no cytotoxic effect on human erythrocytes or human umbilical vein endothelial cells was detected. Similar salinity and ionic concentration of the Caspian water to the human serum highlights the potential of secretory L-asparaginases recovered from these metagenomes as potential treatment agents.},
}

@article {pmid33457168,
year = {2021},
author = {Chandra, A and Gaur, V and Tripathi, P},
title = {Microbiome analysis of rhizospheres of plant and winter-initiated ratoon crops of sugarcane grown in sub-tropical India: utility to improve ratoon crop productivity.},
journal = {3 Biotech},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {34},
pmid = {33457168},
issn = {2190-572X},
abstract = {One plant and one to two ratoon crops are the predominant patterns of sugarcane cultivation in sub-tropical part of India. Despite high agricultural inputs, yield of ratoon crop gets dwindled in the subsequent years. The microbial community, particularly bacteria and fungi, in the rhizosphere and their interaction with the root system, in general influences plant productivity. For the present study, an early maturing sugarcane variety (CoLk 94184), was used to establish plant and winter-initiated ratoon crops in 2016-2018. Soils pertaining to both plant and ratoon rhizospheres were subjected to biochemical analysis, microbial DNA isolation and high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes to assess the microbial diversity and associated characteristics impacting cane yield. Although alpha diversity of bacterial community was observed high in the soils of both plant and ratoon crops, the species richness/diversity was more in plant crop. Bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere of plant crop was predominantly consisted of phyla Actinobacteria (35.68%), Gemmatimonadetes (29.26%), Chloroflexi (26.73%) and Proteobacteria (16.68%), while ratoon rhizosphere revealed dominance of Acidobacteria (20.77%) and Bacteroidetes (10.7%). Though studies revealed the presence of rich bacterial community in the rhizospheres of both plant and ratoon crops of sugarcane, dominance of Acidobacteria and meager proportion of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria in ratoon crop possibly limited its productivity. Along with high total phenols (7.27 mg/g dry wt), ratoon crop depicted less active root system as revealed by scanning electron microscopy. Dominance of thermophilic bacterial phyla Chloroflexi and Gemmatimonadetes which was observed in sugarcane rhizosphere supports better crop growth in drought. However, management of soil microbial community is required to improve the ratoon crop productivity.},
}

@article {pmid33455775,
year = {2021},
author = {Peng, C and Sun, Z and Sun, Y and Ma, T and Li, W and Zhang, H},
title = {Characterization and association of bacterial communities and nonvolatile components in spontaneously fermented cow milk at different geographical distances.},
journal = {Journal of dairy science},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.3168/jds.2020-19303},
pmid = {33455775},
issn = {1525-3198},
abstract = {In the ecosystem of spontaneously fermented cow milk, the characteristics and relationship of bacterial communities and nonvolatile components at different scales of geographical distances (provincial, county, and village levels) are unclear. Here, 25 sampling sites from Xin Jiang and Tibet, 2 provinces of China, were selected based on the distribution of spontaneously fermented cow milk and used for metagenomic and metabolomic analysis. At the provincial geographical distance, the same predominant species, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, were detected in Xin Jiang and Tibet. Further, the richness of the bacterial composition of samples from Tibet was higher than those from Xin Jiang; specifically, at the species level, 28 species were identified in Tibet samples but only 7 species in Xin Jiang samples. At the provincial geographical level, we detected significant differences in bacterial structure, shown in principal coordinate analysis plots, and significant differences (Simpson index) in bacterial diversity were also detected. However, at the county and village levels, no significant differences were detected in bacterial communities and diversity, but a difference in bacterial compositions was detectable. This indicates that bacterial communities and diversity of spontaneously fermented milk dissimilarity significantly increased with geographic distance. For the nonvolatile component profiles, the partial least squares discriminant analysis plot (R2Y > 0.5 and Q2 > 0.5 for the goodness-of-fit and predictive ability parameter, respectively) showed that samples from different geographical distances (provincial, county, and village) were all separated, which indicated that all the discriminations in nonvolatile components profiles were from different geographical distances. Investigating relationships between lactic acid bacteria and discriminatory nonvolatile components at the county level showed that 9 species were positively correlated with 16 discriminatory nonvolatile components, all species with low abundance rather than the predominant species L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Strep. thermophilus, which indicates the importance of the selection of autochthonous nonpredominant bacteria.},
}

@article {pmid33455430,
year = {2021},
author = {Zotta, T and Ricciardi, A and Condelli, N and Parente, E},
title = {Metataxonomic and metagenomic approaches for the study of undefined strain starters for cheese manufacture.},
journal = {Critical reviews in food science and nutrition},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {1-15},
doi = {10.1080/10408398.2020.1870927},
pmid = {33455430},
issn = {1549-7852},
abstract = {Undefined strain starters are used for the production of many traditional and artisanal cheeses. Composition of undefined starters depends on several factors, and the diversity in strains and species significantly affects cheese quality and features. Culture-dependent approaches have long been used for the microbial profiling and functionalities of undefined cultures but underestimate their diversity due to culturability biases. Recently, culture-independent methods, based on high-throughput sequencing (HTS), have been preferred, with a significant boost in resolution power and sensitivity level. Amplicon targeted (AT) metagenomics, based on 16S rRNA sequencing, returned a larger microbiota diversity at genus and, sometimes, at species levels for artisanal starters of several PDO cheeses, but was inappropriate for populations with high strain diversity, and other gene targets were tested in AT approaches. Shotgun metagenomics (total DNA) and metatranscriptomics (total RNA), although are more powerful in depicting diversity and functionality of undefined cultures, have been rarely applied because of some limitations (e.g., high costs and laboriousness, need for bioinformatics skills). The advantages of HTS technologies are undoubted, but some hurdles need to be still overcame (e.g., resolution power, discrepancy between active and inactive cells, robust analytic pipelines, cost and time reduction for integrated approaches) so that HTS become routinary and convenient for defining complexity, microbial interactions (including host-phage relationships) and evolution in cheeses of undefined starters.},
}

@article {pmid33172994,
year = {2020},
author = {Hevroni, G and Flores-Uribe, J and Béjà, O and Philosof, A},
title = {Seasonal and diel patterns of abundance and activity of viruses in the Red Sea.},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
volume = {117},
number = {47},
pages = {29738-29747},
pmid = {33172994},
issn = {1091-6490},
mesh = {Aquatic Organisms/genetics/*virology ; DNA, Viral/isolation & purification ; Indian Ocean ; Metagenome ; Microbial Interactions/genetics ; *Seasons ; Seawater/*microbiology ; Virome/*genetics ; Viruses/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification ; },
abstract = {Virus-microbe interactions have been studied in great molecular details for many years in cultured model systems, yielding a plethora of knowledge on how viruses use and manipulate host machinery. Since the advent of molecular techniques and high-throughput sequencing, methods such as cooccurrence, nucleotide composition, and other statistical frameworks have been widely used to infer virus-microbe interactions, overcoming the limitations of culturing methods. However, their accuracy and relevance is still debatable as cooccurrence does not necessarily mean interaction. Here we introduce an ecological perspective of marine viral communities and potential interaction with their hosts, using analyses that make no prior assumptions on specific virus-host pairs. By size fractionating water samples into free viruses and microbes (i.e., also viruses inside or attached to their hosts) and looking at how viral group abundance changes over time along both fractions, we show that the viral community is undergoing a change in rank abundance across seasons, suggesting a seasonal succession of viruses in the Red Sea. We use abundance patterns in the different size fractions to classify viral clusters, indicating potential diverse interactions with their hosts and potential differences in life history traits between major viral groups. Finally, we show hourly resolved variations of intracellular abundance of similar viral groups, which might indicate differences in their infection cycles or metabolic capacities.},
}

Aquatic Organisms/genetics/*virology
DNA, Viral/isolation & purification
Indian Ocean
Metagenome
Microbial Interactions/genetics
*Seasons
Seawater/*microbiology
Virome/*genetics
Viruses/classification/*genetics/isolation & purification

@article {pmid32168762,
year = {2020},
author = {Shu, L and Ludwig, A and Peng, Z},
title = {Standards for Methods Utilizing Environmental DNA for Detection of Fish Species.},
journal = {Genes},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {},
pmid = {32168762},
issn = {2073-4425},
mesh = {Animals ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/*methods/standards ; Environmental DNA/chemistry/*genetics ; Fishes/classification/*genetics ; Metagenomics/*methods/standards ; Reference Standards ; },
abstract = {Environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques are gaining attention as cost-effective, non-invasive strategies for acquiring information on fish and other aquatic organisms from water samples. Currently, eDNA approaches are used to detect specific fish species and determine fish community diversity. Various protocols used with eDNA methods for aquatic organism detection have been reported in different eDNA studies, but there are no general recommendations for fish detection. Herein, we reviewed 168 papers to supplement and highlight the key criteria for each step of eDNA technology in fish detection and provide general suggestions for eliminating detection errors. Although there is no unified recommendation for the application of diverse eDNA in detecting fish species, in most cases, 1 or 2 L surface water collection and eDNA capture on 0.7-μm glass fiber filters followed by extraction with a DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit or PowerWater DNA Isolation Kit are useful for obtaining high-quality eDNA. Subsequently, species-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene markers or eDNA metabarcoding based on both 12S and 16S rRNA markers via high-throughput sequencing can effectively detect target DNA or estimate species richness. Furthermore, detection errors can be minimized by mitigating contamination, negative control, PCR replication, and using multiple genetic markers. Our aim is to provide a useful strategy for fish eDNA technology that can be applied by researchers, advisors, and managers.},
}

Animals
DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/*methods/standards
Environmental DNA/chemistry/*genetics
Fishes/classification/*genetics
Metagenomics/*methods/standards
Reference Standards

@article {pmid31975171,
year = {2020},
author = {Mattila, TM and Laenen, B and Slotte, T},
title = {Population Genomics of Transitions to Selfing in Brassicaceae Model Systems.},
journal = {Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)},
volume = {2090},
number = {},
pages = {269-287},
doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-0199-0_11},
pmid = {31975171},
issn = {1940-6029},
mesh = {Brassicaceae/genetics/*physiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genetic Variation ; Genetics, Population ; Genome, Plant ; Inbreeding ; Metagenomics/*methods ; Recombination, Genetic ; *Self-Fertilization ; *Self-Incompatibility in Flowering Plants ; },
abstract = {Many plants harbor complex mechanisms that promote outcrossing and efficient pollen transfer. These include floral adaptations as well as genetic mechanisms, such as molecular self-incompatibility (SI) systems. The maintenance of such systems over long evolutionary timescales suggests that outcrossing is favorable over a broad range of conditions. Conversely, SI has repeatedly been lost, often in association with transitions to self-fertilization (selfing). This transition is favored when the short-term advantages of selfing outweigh the costs, primarily inbreeding depression. The transition to selfing is expected to have major effects on population genetic variation and adaptive potential, as well as on genome evolution. In the Brassicaceae, many studies on the population genetic, gene regulatory, and genomic effects of selfing have centered on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and the crucifer genus Capsella. The accumulation of population genomics datasets have allowed detailed investigation of where, when and how the transition to selfing occurred. Future studies will take advantage of the development of population genetics theory on the impact of selfing, especially regarding positive selection. Furthermore, investigation of systems including recent transitions to selfing, mixed mating populations and/or multiple independent replicates of the same transition will facilitate dissecting the effects of mating system variation from processes driven by demography.},
}

Brassicaceae/genetics/*physiology
Evolution, Molecular
Genetic Variation
Genetics, Population
Genome, Plant
Inbreeding
Metagenomics/*methods
Recombination, Genetic
*Self-Fertilization
*Self-Incompatibility in Flowering Plants

@article {pmid31927795,
year = {2020},
author = {Zemb, O and Achard, CS and Hamelin, J and De Almeida, ML and Gabinaud, B and Cauquil, L and Verschuren, LMG and Godon, JJ},
title = {Absolute quantitation of microbes using 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding: A rapid normalization of relative abundances by quantitative PCR targeting a 16S rRNA gene spike-in standard.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {9},
number = {3},
pages = {e977},
pmid = {31927795},
issn = {2045-8827},
mesh = {Base Sequence ; Biodiversity ; *DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods ; Environmental Microbiology ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; *Metagenome ; *Metagenomics/methods ; Microbiota/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/*genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; },
abstract = {Metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA gene is commonly used to characterize microbial communities, by estimating the relative abundance of microbes. Here, we present a method to retrieve the concentrations of the 16S rRNA gene per gram of any environmental sample using a synthetic standard in minuscule amounts (100 ppm to 1% of the 16S rRNA sequences) that is added to the sample before DNA extraction and quantified by two quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) reactions. This allows normalizing by the initial microbial density, taking into account the DNA recovery yield. We quantified the internal standard and the total load of 16S rRNA genes by qPCR. The qPCR for the latter uses the exact same primers as those used for Illumina sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene to increase accuracy. We are able to calculate the absolute concentration of the species per gram of sample, taking into account the DNA recovery yield. This is crucial for an accurate estimate as the yield varied between 40% and 84%. This method avoids sacrificing a high proportion of the sequencing effort to quantify the internal standard. If sacrificing a part of the sequencing effort to the internal standard is acceptable, we however recommend that the internal standard accounts for 30% of the environmental 16S rRNA genes to avoid the PCR bias associated with rare phylotypes. The method proposed here was tested on a feces sample but can be applied more broadly on any environmental sample. This method offers a real improvement of metabarcoding of microbial communities since it makes the method quantitative with limited efforts.},
}

Base Sequence
Biodiversity
*DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic/methods
Environmental Microbiology
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
*Metagenome
*Metagenomics/methods
Microbiota/*genetics
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/chemistry/*genetics
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Sequence Analysis, DNA

@article {pmid31902141,
year = {2020},
author = {Yu, H and Xue, D and Wang, Y and Zheng, W and Zhang, G and Wang, ZL},
title = {Molecular ecological network analysis of the response of soil microbial communities to depth gradients in farmland soils.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {9},
number = {3},
pages = {e983},
pmid = {31902141},
issn = {2045-8827},
mesh = {Biodiversity ; Environment ; *Farms ; Geography ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics/methods ; *Microbiota ; *Soil Microbiology ; },
abstract = {Soil microorganisms are considered to be important indicators of soil fertility and soil quality. Most previous studies have focused solely on surface soil, but there were numerous active cells in deeper soil layers. However, studies regarding microbial communities in deeper soil layers were not comprehensive and sufficient. In this study, phylogenetic molecular ecological networks (pMENs) based on the 16S rRNA Miseq sequencing technique were applied to study the response of soil microbial communities to depth gradients and the changes of key genera along 3 meter depth gradients (0-0.2 m, 0.2-0.4 m 0.4-0.6 m, 0.6-0.8 m, 0.8-1.0 m, 1.0-1.3 m, 1.3-1.6 m, 1.6-2.0 m, 2.0-2.5 m, and 2.5-3.0 m). The results showed that the modularity of microbial communities was consistently high in all soil layers and each layer was similar, which indicated that microbial communities were more resistant to depth changes. The pMENs further demonstrated that microbial community interactions were stable as the depth increased and they cooperated well to adapt to changes in different soil gradients. This was evidenced by similar positive links, average degree, and average clustering coefficient. In addition, key genera were obtained by analyzing module hubs in the pMENs. There may be at least one dominant genus in each layer that adapted to and resisted changes in the soil environment. It seems microbial communities demonstrate a stable and strong adaptability to depth gradients in farmland soils.},
}

Biodiversity
Environment
*Farms
Geography
Metagenome
Metagenomics/methods
*Microbiota
*Soil Microbiology

@article {pmid31893578,
year = {2020},
author = {Zhou, J and Yu, L and Zhang, J and Zhang, X and Xue, Y and Liu, J and Zou, X},
title = {Characterization of the core microbiome in tobacco leaves during aging.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {9},
number = {3},
pages = {e984},
pmid = {31893578},
issn = {2045-8827},
mesh = {*Aging ; Bacteria/classification/genetics ; Biodiversity ; Environment ; Humans ; Metagenomics/methods ; Microbiota/genetics ; Plant Leaves/*microbiology ; Tobacco/growth & development/*microbiology ; },
abstract = {Microbiome plays an important role during the tobacco aging process which was an indispensable link in the production and processing of cigarettes. However, the structure and functions of microbiome have not been clarified during the tobacco aging process. In this study, 16S rDNA and ITS amplicon sequencing techniques were used to analyze the core microbiome of 15 tobacco samples from five different aging stages. The whole bacterial microbiome was classified into 29 microbial phyla and 132 orders. Enterobacteriales (63%), Pseudomonadales (16%), Sphingomonadales (8%), Xanthomonadales (4%), Burkholderiales (4%), Rhizobiales (3%), and Bacillales (2%) comprised the core bacterial microbiome. The whole fungal microbiome was classified into five microbial phyla and 52 orders. Incertae_sedis_Eurotiomycetes (27%), Wallemiales (25%), Sporidiobolales (17%), Capnodiales (5%), Eurotiales (2%), an unclassified Ascomycota (12%), and an unidentified Eurotiomycetes (4%) comprised the core fungal microbiome. FAPROTAX function prediction suggested that the core microbiome has a substantial potential for the carbon cycle, nitrate metabolism, aromatic compound degradation, chitinolysis, cellulolysis, and xylanolysis, but simultaneously, the core microbiome is also a source of human pathogens. The dynamics of the bacterial community were primarily determined by the total nitrogen in tobacco leaves during the aging process, while those of the fungal microbiome were primarily determined by total organic carbon. This study indicated that the core microbiome activities may play an important role in regulating the loss of carbon organic compounds and enhancing the secondary metabolites during tobacco leaves aging process.},
}

*Aging
Bacteria/classification/genetics
Biodiversity
Environment
Humans
Metagenomics/methods
Microbiota/genetics
Plant Leaves/*microbiology
Tobacco/growth & development/*microbiology

@article {pmid31880067,
year = {2020},
author = {Chen, T and Li, Y and Liang, J and Li, Y and Huang, Z},
title = {Gut microbiota of provisioned and wild rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) living in a limestone forest in southwest Guangxi, China.},
journal = {MicrobiologyOpen},
volume = {9},
number = {3},
pages = {e981},
pmid = {31880067},
issn = {2045-8827},
mesh = {Animal Feed ; Animals ; Biodiversity ; *Calcium Carbonate ; China ; *Forests ; *Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; *Macaca mulatta ; Metagenome ; Metagenomics/methods ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; },
abstract = {The gut microbiota plays an important role in animal health and is strongly affected by the environment. Captivity and human source food have been shown to influence drastically the gut microbiota composition and function of wild animals. Therefore, in the present study, the gut microbiota of provisioned and wild populations of limestone-living rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were compared using high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses. The results indicated that provisioned macaques had a higher microbial richness than wild macaques, but there was no significant difference in the evenness of the gut microbiota between the two populations. Provisioned macaques also showed a higher abundance of Firmicutes and a lower abundance of Bacteroidetes than wild macaques. Functional analysis revealed that wild macaques had enriched microbial pathways involved in glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, transport and catabolism, and the digestive and endocrine systems, while provisioned macaques were richer in pathways associated with signaling molecules and interaction, neurodegenerative diseases. These differences were likely due to modification of the gut microbiota of the provisioned macaques to enable the digestion of new foods.},
}

Animal Feed
Animals
Biodiversity
*Calcium Carbonate
China
*Forests
*Gastrointestinal Microbiome
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
Humans
*Macaca mulatta
Metagenome
Metagenomics/methods
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics

@article {pmid33453699,
year = {2021},
author = {Zheng, B and Liu, W and Xu, H and Li, J and Jiang, X},
title = {Occurrence and distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes in the soil of an industrial park in China: A metagenomics survey.},
journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)},
volume = {273},
number = {},
pages = {116467},
doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116467},
pmid = {33453699},
issn = {1873-6424},
abstract = {As zoned areas of industries, industrial parks have great impacts on the environment. Several studies have demonstrated that chemical compounds and heavy metals released from industrial parks can contaminate soil, water, and air. However, as an emerging pollutant, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in industrial parks have not yet been investigated. Here, we collected soil samples from 35 sites in an industrial park in China and applied a metagenomics strategy to profile the ARGs and virulence factors (VFs). We further compared the relative abundance of ARGs between the sites (TZ_31-35) located in a beta-lactam antimicrobial-producing factory and other sites (TZ_1-30) in this industrial park. Metagenomic sequencing and assembly generated 14, 383, 065 contigs and 17, 631, 051 open reading frames (ORFs). Taxonomy annotation revealed Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria as the most abundant phylum and class, respectively. The 32 pathogenic bacterial genera listed in the virulence factor database (VFDB) were all identified from the soil metagenomes in this industrial park. In total, 685,354 ARGs (3.89% of the ORFs) and 272,694 virulence factors (VFs) (1.55% of the ORFs) were annotated. These ARGs exhibited resistance to several critically important antimicrobials, such as rifampins, fluroquinolones, and beta-lactams. In addition, no significant difference in the relative abundance of ARGs was observed between sites TZ_31-35 and TZ_1-30, indicating that ARGs have already disseminated widely in this industrial park. The present study gave us a better understanding of the whole picture of the resistome and virulome in the soil of the industrial park and suggested that we should treat the industrial park as a whole in the surveillance and maintenance of ARGs.},
}

@article {pmid33453487,
year = {2021},
author = {Cheng, X and Xu, J and Smith, G and Zhang, Y},
title = {Metagenomic insights into dissemination of antibiotic resistance across bacterial genera in wastewater treatment.},
journal = {Chemosphere},
volume = {271},
number = {},
pages = {129563},
doi = {10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129563},
pmid = {33453487},
issn = {1879-1298},
abstract = {The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of conventional wastewater treatment processes including secondary treatment and chlorination on the removal of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), and to assess the association of ARGs with their potential hosts in each treatment process. The results showed chlorination with subinhibitory concentration (<8 mg/L) resulted in an increased ARB number in the disinfection effluent. qPCR analysis indicated secondary treatment increased relative abundance of ARGs in remaining bacteria whereas disinfection reduced the relative abundance of those genes effectively. Metagenomic analysis revealed a significant shift of dominating bacterial genera harboring ARGs. Along the treatment train, 48, 95 and 80 genera were identified to be the ARG carriers in primary effluent, secondary effluent, and disinfection effluent, respectively. It was also found that secondary treatment increased the diversity of potential ARG hosts while both secondary treatment and chlorination broadened the host range of some ARGs at the genus level, which may be attributed to the spread of antibiotic resistance across bacterial genera through horizontal transfer. This study highlights the growing concerns that wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) may disseminate ARGs by associating this effect to specific treatment stages and by correlating ARGs with their bacterial hosts.},
}

@article {pmid33453422,
year = {2021},
author = {Tao, S and Wang, Z and Quan, C and Ge, Y and Qian, Q},
title = {The effects of ALA-PDT on microbiota in pilosebaceous units of patients with severe acne: A metagenomic study.},
journal = {Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {102050},
doi = {10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.102050},
pmid = {33453422},
issn = {1873-1597},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: 5-aminolevulinic acid mediated photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) is increasingly used to control severe acne. However, its impact on skin microbiota remains uncertain.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the makeup, diversity, and function of the microbiota in pilosebaceous units of patients with severe acne before and after ALA-PDT.

METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study was performed on 11 participants with severe facial acne. All patients were given 5%ALA-PDT every two weeks for three sessions in total. The contents of lesions were sampled for metagenomic sequencing at baseline and two weeks after of the first ALA-PDT.

RESULTS: Cutibacterium acnes was the most dominant species followed by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas fluorescens. Treatment with ALA-PDT led to clinical improvements in acne severity concurrent with a significant reduction in the relative abundance of C. acnes, while P. fluorescens increased significantly after ALA-PDT. No significant change was identified in other species. ALA-PDT administration was associated with an increased microbiota diversity and reductions in the relative abundance of the functional genes involved in energy metabolism and DNA replication.

CONCLUSIONS: ALA-PDT plays a therapeutic role by killingC. acnes, increasing P. fluorescens and the microbiome diversity, while inhibiting the function of microbiota in pilosebaceous units of severe acne.},
}

@article {pmid33453280,
year = {2021},
author = {Nilewski, S and Varatnitskaya, M and Masuch, T and Kusnezowa, A and Gellert, M and Baumann, AF and Lupilov, N and Kusnezow, W and Koch, MH and Eisenacher, M and Berkmen, M and Lillig, CH and Leichert, LI},
title = {Functional metagenomics of the thioredoxin superfamily.},
journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {100247},
doi = {10.1074/jbc.RA120.016350},
pmid = {33453280},
issn = {1083-351X},
abstract = {Environmental sequence data of microbial communities now makes up the majority of public genomic information. The assignment of a function to sequences from these metagenomic sources is challenging, because organisms associated with the data are often uncharacterized and not cultivable. To overcome these challenges, we created a rationally designed expression library of metagenomic proteins covering the sequence space of the thioredoxin superfamily. This library of 100 individual proteins represents more than 22'000 thioredoxins found in the Global Ocean Sampling dataset. We screened this library for the functional rescue of Escherichia coli mutants lacking the thioredoxin-type reductase (ΔtrxA), isomerase (ΔdsbC), or oxidase (ΔdsbA). We were able to assign functions to more than a quarter of our representative proteins. The in vivo function of a given representative could not be predicted by phylogenetic relation but did correlate with the predicted isoelectric surface potential of the protein. Selected proteins were then purified, and we determined their activity using a standard insulin reduction assay and measured their redox potential. An unexpected gel shift of protein E5 during the redox potential determination revealed a redox cycle distinct from that of typical thioredoxin-superfamily oxidoreductases. Instead of the intramolecular disulfide bond formation typical for thioredoxins, this protein forms an intermolecular disulfide between the attacking cysteines of two separate subunits during its catalytic cycle. Our functional metagenomic approach proved not only useful to assign in vivo functions to representatives of thousands of proteins, but also uncovered a novel reaction mechanism in a seemingly well-known protein superfamily.},
}

@article {pmid33452983,
year = {2021},
author = {Grigorova, EV and Belkova, NL and Nemchenko, UM and Klimenko, ES and Pogodina, AV and Romanitsa, AI and Novikova, EA and Rychkova, LV},
title = {Metasequencing of V3-V4 Variable Regions of 16S rRNA Gene in Opportunistic Microbiota and Gut Biocenosis in Obese Adolescents.},
journal = {Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {33452983},
issn = {1573-8221},
abstract = {Opportunistic microorganisms in the gut biocenosis were studied in adolescents with normal body weight and obesity (patients consulted at the Clinical Department of Research Center of Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems). The biological material was studied by standard bacteriological methods, representatives of Enterobacteriaceae family were also characterized using metagenomic sequencing of V3-V4 variable regions of 16S gene rRNA. Gut microbiota of obese adolescents was unbalanced and was characterized by low levels of bifido- and lactoflora representatives, a spectrum of E. coli associations, and high prevalence of opportunistic microorganisms and their associations. Representatives of Enterobacteriaceae family were most often found in the gut microbiota of obese adolescents.},
}

@article {pmid33452484,
year = {2021},
author = {Zhang, JW and Dong, HP and Hou, LJ and Liu, Y and Ou, YF and Zheng, YL and Han, P and Liang, X and Yin, GY and Wu, DM and Liu, M and Li, M},
title = {Newly discovered Asgard archaea Hermodarchaeota potentially degrade alkanes and aromatics via alkyl/benzyl-succinate synthase and benzoyl-CoA pathway.},
journal = {The ISME journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
pmid = {33452484},
issn = {1751-7370},
abstract = {Asgard archaea are widely distributed in anaerobic environments. Previous studies revealed the potential capability of Asgard archaea to utilize various organic substrates including proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids and hydrocarbons, suggesting that Asgard archaea play an important role in sediment carbon cycling. Here, we describe a previously unrecognized archaeal phylum, Hermodarchaeota, affiliated with the Asgard superphylum. The genomes of these archaea were recovered from metagenomes generated from mangrove sediments, and were found to encode alkyl/benzyl-succinate synthases and their activating enzymes that are similar to those identified in alkane-degrading sulfate-reducing bacteria. Hermodarchaeota also encode enzymes potentially involved in alkyl-coenzyme A and benzoyl-coenzyme A oxidation, the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway and nitrate reduction. These results indicate that members of this phylum have the potential to strictly anaerobically degrade alkanes and aromatic compounds, coupling the reduction of nitrate. By screening Sequence Read Archive, additional genes encoding 16S rRNA and alkyl/benzyl-succinate synthases analogous to those in Hermodarchaeota were identified in metagenomic datasets from a wide range of marine and freshwater sediments. These findings suggest that Asgard archaea capable of degrading alkanes and aromatics via formation of alkyl/benzyl-substituted succinates are ubiquitous in sediments.},
}

@article {pmid33452346,
year = {2021},
author = {Strange, JES and Leekitcharoenphon, P and Møller, FD and Aarestrup, FM},
title = {Metagenomics analysis of bacteriophages and antimicrobial resistance from global urban sewage.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {1600},
pmid = {33452346},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {NNF16OC0021856//Novo Nordisk Fonden/ ; },
abstract = {Bacteriophages, or phages, are ubiquitous bacterial and archaeal viruses with an estimated total global population of 1031. It is well-known that wherever there are bacteria, their phage counterparts will be found, aiding in shaping the bacterial population. The present study used metagenomic data from global influent sewage in 79 cities in 60 countries to identify phages associated with bacteria and to explore their potential role in antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) dissemination. The reads were mapped to known databases for bacteriophages and their abundances determined and correlated to geographic origin and the countries socio-economic status, as well as the abundances of bacterial species and ARG. We found that some phages were not equally distributed on a global scale, but their distribution was rather dictated by region and the socioeconomic status of the specific countries. This study provides a preliminary insight into the global and regional distribution of phages and their potential impact on the transmission of ARGs between bacteria. Moreover, the findings may indicate that phages in sewage could have adopted a lytic lifestyle, meaning that most may not be associated with bacteria and instead may be widely distributed as free-living phages, which are known to persist longer in the environment than their hosts. In addition, a significant correlation between phages and ARGs was obtained, indicating that phages may play a role in ARG dissemination. However, further analyses are needed to establish the true relationship between phages and ARGs due to a low abundance of the phages identified.},
}

@article {pmid33452030,
year = {2021},
author = {Gromala, M and Neufeld, JD and McConkey, BJ},
title = {Monitoring microbial populations and antibiotic resistance gene enrichment associated with Arctic waste stabilization ponds.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1128/AEM.02914-20},
pmid = {33452030},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Wastewater management in the Canadian Arctic is challenging due to climate extremes, small population sizes, and lack of conventional infrastructure for wastewater treatment. Although many Northern communities use waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) as their primary form of wastewater treatment, few studies have explored WSP microbial communities and assessed effluent impacts on receiving waters from a microbiological perspective. Here we used 16S rRNA gene and metagenome sequencing to characterize WSP and receiving water microbial communities for two time points bracketing the spring WSP thaw in Baker Lake (Nunavut) and compared these results to other Nunavut WSPs in Cambridge Bay and Kugluktuk. Most amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) recovered from these WSP samples belonged to the phylum Proteobacteria, with considerable variation between the three locations and only six ASVs shared among the WSPs at >0.2% relative abundance. Wastewater indicator ASVs for the Baker Lake WSP were identified and few indicator ASVs were detected in samples originating from other upstream or downstream sites. The metagenomic data revealed a strong enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes for WSP samples, relative to downstream and reference samples, especially for genes associated with macrolide resistance. Together our results provide a baseline characterization for WSP microbial communities, demonstrate how indicator ASVs can be used to monitor attenuation and dilution of effluent microorganisms, and reveal that WSPs can serve as hotspots for antibiotic resistance genes.Importance Given that the microbial communities of Arctic waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) are poorly studied to date, our characterization of multiple WSP systems and time points provides important baseline data that will assist with ongoing monitoring of effluent impacts on downstream aquatic ecosystems in the Arctic. This research also identifies indicator ASVs of WSPs that will be helpful for future monitoring for WSP effluent attenuation and demonstrates that WSP microbial communities are enriched in antibiotic resistance genes. Given operational and infrastructure changes anticipated for wastewater treatment systems in the Arctic, baseline data such as these are essential for further development of safe and effective wastewater treatment systems.},
}

@article {pmid33452029,
year = {2021},
author = {Nilsen, M and Lokmic, A and Angell, IL and Carlsen, KCL and Carlsen, KH and Haugen, G and Hedlin, G and Jonassen, CM and Marsland, BJ and Nordlund, B and Rehbinder, EM and Saunders, CM and Skjerven, HO and Snipen, L and Staff, AC and Söderhäll, C and Vettukattil, R and Rudi, K},
title = {Fecal Microbiota Nutrient Utilization Potential Suggests Mucins as Drivers for Initial Gut Colonization of Mother-Child Shared Bacteria.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1128/AEM.02201-20},
pmid = {33452029},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {The nutritional drivers for mother-child sharing of bacteria, and corresponding longitudinal trajectory of the infant gut microbiota development are not yet completely settled. We therefore aimed to characterize the mother-child sharing and the inferred nutritional utilization potential for the gut microbiota from a large unselected cohort. We analyzed in depth gut microbiota in 100 mother-child pairs enrolled antenatally from the general population-based PreventADALL cohort. Fecal samples collected at gestational week 18 for mothers and at birth (meconium), 3, 6, and 12 months for infants were analyzed by reduced metagenome sequencing to determine metagenome size and taxonomic composition. The nutrient utilization potential was determined based on the Virtual Metabolic Human (VMH, www.vmh.life) database. The estimated median metagenome size was ∼150 million base-pairs (bp) for mothers and ∼20 million bp at birth for the children. Longitudinal analyses revealed mother-child sharing (P < 0.05, chi-square test) from birth up to 6 months for 3 prevalent Bacteroides species (prevalence > 25% for all age groups). In multivariate ANOVA, the mother-child shared Bacteroides were associated with vaginal delivery (1.7% explained variance, P = 0.0001). Both vaginal delivery and mother-child sharing were associated with host derived mucins as nutrient sources. The age-related increase in metagenome size corresponded to an increased diversity in nutrient utilization, with dietary polysaccharides as the main age-related factor. Our results support host derived mucins as potential selection means for mother-child sharing of initial colonizers, while the age-related increase in diversity being associated with dietary polysaccharides.IMPORTANCE The initial bacterial colonization of human infants is crucial for lifelong health. Understanding factors driving this colonization will therefore be of high importance. Here we have used a novel high taxonomic resolution approach to deduce the nutrient utilization potential of the infant gut microbiota in a large longitudinal mother-child cohort. We found mucins as potential selection means for the initial colonization of mother-child shared bacteria, while the transition to a more adult-like microbiota was associated with dietary polysaccharide utilization potential. This knowledge will be important for future understanding of the importance of diet in shaping the gut microbiota composition and development during infancy.},
}

@article {pmid33452027,
year = {2021},
author = {Meziti, A and Rodriguez-R, LM and Hatt, JK and Peña-Gonzalez, A and Levy, K and Konstantinidis, KT},
title = {How reliably do metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) represent natural populations? Insights from comparing MAGs against isolate genomes derived from the same fecal sample.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1128/AEM.02593-20},
pmid = {33452027},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {The recovery of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from metagenomic data has recently become a common task for microbial studies. The strengths and limitations of the underlying bioinformatics algorithms are well appreciated by now based on performance tests with mock datasets of known composition. However, these mock datasets do not capture the complexity and diversity often observed within natural populations, since their construction typically relies on only a single genome of a given organism. Further, it remains unclear if MAGs can recover population variable (e.g., shared by >10% but <90% of the members of the population) as efficiently as core genes (e.g., shared by >90% of the members). To address these issues, we compared the gene variability of pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from eight diarrheal samples, for which the isolate was the causative agent, against their corresponding MAGs recovered from the companion metagenomic dataset. Our analysis revealed that MAGs with completeness estimates near 95% captured only 77% of the population core genes and 50% of the variable genes, on average. Further, about 5% of the genes of these MAG were conservatively identified as missing in the isolate and were of different (non-Enterobacteriaceae) taxonomic origin, suggesting errors at the genome binning step, even though contamination estimates based on commonly used pipelines were only 1.5%. Therefore, the quality of MAGs may oftentimes be worse than estimated, and we offer examples of how to recognize and improve such MAGs to sufficient quality by -for instance- employing only contigs longer than 1,000bp for binning.IMPORTANCE Metagenome assembly and recovery of metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) have recently become common tasks for microbiome studies across environmental and clinical settings. However, to what extent MAGs can capture the genes of the population they represent remains speculative. Current approaches to evaluate MAG quality are limited to the recovery and copy number of universal, housekeeping genes but these genes represent a small fraction of the total genome, leaving the majority of the genome essentially inaccessible. If MAG quality in reality is lower than these approaches would estimate, this could have dramatic consequences for all downstream analyses and interpretations. In this study, we evaluated this issue using a novel approach that employs comparisons of MAGs to isolate genomes derived from the same samples. Further, our samples originated from a diarrhea case-control study, and thus our results are relevant for recovering the virulence factors of pathogens from metagenomic datasets.},
}

@article {pmid33452024,
year = {2021},
author = {Zhu, HZ and Zhang, ZF and Zhou, N and Jiang, CY and Wang, BJ and Cai, L and Wang, HM and Liu, SJ},
title = {Intensive Bacterial Cultivation and Genome Assembly Reveal Previously Unknown Bacteria and Metabolic Potential in Karst Caves.},
journal = {Applied and environmental microbiology},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1128/AEM.02440-20},
pmid = {33452024},
issn = {1098-5336},
abstract = {Karst caves are widely distributed subsurface systems, and the microbiomes therein are proposed to be the driving force for cave evolution and biogeochemical cycling. In past years, culture-independent studies on the microbiomes of cave systems have been conducted, yet intensive microbial cultivation is still needed to validate the sequence-derived hypothesis and to disclose the microbial functions in cave ecosystems. In this study, the microbiomes of two karst caves in Guizhou Province in southwest China were examined. A total of 3,562 bacterial strains were cultivated from rock, water, and sediment samples, and 329 species (including 14 newly described species) of 102 genera were found. We created a cave bacterial genome collection of 218 bacterial genomes from a karst cave microbiome through the extraction of 204 database-derived genomes and de novo sequencing of 14 new bacterial genomes. The cultivated genome collection obtained in this study and the metagenome data from previous studies were used to investigate the bacterial metabolism and potential involvement in the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur biogeochemical cycles in the cave ecosystem. New N2-fixing Azospirillum and alkane-oxidizing Oleomonas species were documented in the karst cave microbiome. Two pcaIJ clusters of the β-ketoadipate pathway that were abundant in both the cultivated microbiomes and the metagenomic data were identified, and their representatives from the cultivated bacterial genomes were functionally demonstrated. This large-scale cultivation of a cave microbiome represents the most intensive collection of cave bacterial resources to date and provides valuable information and diverse microbial resources for future cave biogeochemical research.IMPORTANCE Karst caves are oligotrophic environments that are dark, humid, and have a relative stable annual temperature. The bacteria diversity and their metabolisms are crucial for understanding the biogeochemical cycling in cave ecosystems. We integrated large-scale bacterial cultivation with metagenomic data-mining to explore the composition and metabolisms of the microbiomes in two karst cave systems. Our results reveal the presence of a highly diversified cave bacterial community, and 14 new bacterial species were described and genome-sequenced. In this study, we obtained the most intensive collection of cultivated microbial resources from karst caves to date and predicted the various important routes for the biogeochemical cycling of elements in cave ecosystems.},
}

@article {pmid33451492,
year = {2019},
author = {Li, S and Tang, H and Ye, Y},
title = {A Meta-proteogenomic Approach to Peptide Identification Incorporating Assembly Uncertainty and Genomic Variation.},
journal = {Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP},
volume = {18},
number = {8S1},
pages = {S183-S192},
doi = {10.1074/mcp.TIR118.001233},
pmid = {33451492},
issn = {1535-9484},
abstract = {Matching metagenomic and/or metatranscriptomic data, currently often under-used, can be useful reference for metaproteomic tandem mass spectra (MS/MS) data analysis. Here we developed a software pipeline for identification of peptides and proteins from metaproteomic MS/MS data using proteins derived from matching metagenomic (and metatranscriptomic) data as the search database, based on two novel approaches Graph2Pro (published) and Var2Pep (new). Graph2Pro retains and uses uncertainties of metagenome assembly for reference-based MS/MS data analysis. Var2Pep considers the variations found in metagenomic/metatranscriptomic sequencing reads that are not retained in the assemblies (contigs). The new software pipeline provides one stop application of both tools, and it supports the use of metagenome assembly from commonly used assemblers including MegaHit and metaSPAdes. When tested on two collections of multi-omic microbiome data sets, our pipeline significantly improved the identification rate of the metaproteomic MS/MS spectra by about two folds, comparing to conventional contig- or read-based approaches (the Var2Pep alone identified 5.6% to 24.1% more unique peptides, depending on the data set). We also showed that identified variant peptides are important for functional profiling of microbiomes. All results suggested that it is important to take into consideration of the assembly uncertainties and genomic variants to facilitate metaproteomic MS/MS data interpretation.},
}

@article {pmid33451316,
year = {2021},
author = {Li, W and Zhang, Q and Xu, Y and Zhang, X and Huang, Q and Su, Z},
title = {Severe pneumonia in adults caused by Tropheryma whipplei and Candida sp. infection: a 2019 case series.},
journal = {BMC pulmonary medicine},
volume = {21},
number = {1},
pages = {29},
pmid = {33451316},
issn = {1471-2466},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Whipple's disease is a chronic infectious disease caused by the Gram-positive bacterium Tropheryma whipplei (TW), which not only affects the gastrointestinal tract and causes malabsorption of nutrients, but several other systems, such as the cardiovascular system, central nervous system, the joints, and the vascular system, can also be simultaneously involved. The aim of this report was to be able to alert the clinician to severe pneumonia caused by TW combined with Candida sp.

CASE PRESENTATION: The case study was conducted on patients in September and November 2019. After routine examination and treatment, the results were not satisfactory. A bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using metagenomics next-generation sequencing was conducted on two adults who presented with fever, cough, and progressive dyspnea and who had no history of gastrointestinal symptoms, immunodeficiency diseases, or use of immunosuppressive agents. TW and Candida sp. were detected in in BAL.

CONCLUSIONS: This is a report of life-threatening pneumonia caused by TW combined with Candida sp. in a Chinese population.},
}

@article {pmid33450352,
year = {2021},
author = {Nasser, B and Saito, Y and Alarawi, M and Humam, AA and Mineta, K and Gojobori, T},
title = {Characterization of microbiologically influenced corrosion by comprehensive metagenomic analysis of an inland oil field.},
journal = {Gene},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {145425},
doi = {10.1016/j.gene.2021.145425},
pmid = {33450352},
issn = {1879-0038},
abstract = {Corrosion in pipelines and reservoir tanks in oil plants is a serious problem in the global energy industry because it causes substantial economic losses associated with frequent part replacement and can lead to potential damage to entire crude oil fields. Previous studies revealed that corrosion is mainly caused by microbial activities in a process currently termed microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) or biocorrosion. Identifying the bacteria responsible for biocorrosion is crucial for its suppression. In this study, we analyzed the microbial communities present at corrosion sites in oil plant pipelines using comparative metagenomic analysis along with bioinformatics and statistics. We analyzed the microbial communities in pipelines in an oil field in which groundwater is used as injection water. We collected samples from four different facilities in the oil field. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the microbial community structures greatly differed even among samples from the same facility. Treatments such as biocide administration and demineralization at each location in the pipeline may have independently affected the microbial community structure. The results indicated that microbial inspection throughout the pipeline network is essential to prevent biocorrosion at industrial plants. By identifying the bacterial species responsible for biocorrosion, this study provides bacterial indicators to detect and classify biocorrosion. Furthermore, these species may serve as biomarkers to detect biocorrosion at an early stage. Then, appropriate management such as treatment with suitable biocides can be performed immediately and appropriately. Thus, our study will serve as a platform for obtaining microbial information related to biocorrosion to enable the development of a practical approach to prevent its occurrence.},
}

@article {pmid33449963,
year = {2021},
author = {Souto, BM and de Araújo, ACB and Hamann, PRV and Bastos, AR and Cunha, IS and Peixoto, J and Kruger, RH and Noronha, EF and Quirino, BF},
title = {Functional screening of a Caatinga goat (Capra hircus) rumen metagenomic library reveals a novel GH3 β-xylosidase.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {e0245118},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0245118},
pmid = {33449963},
issn = {1932-6203},
abstract = {Functional screening of metagenomic libraries is an effective approach for identification of novel enzymes. A Caatinga biome goat rumen metagenomic library was screened using esculin as a substrate, and a gene from an unknown bacterium encoding a novel GH3 enzyme, BGL11, was identified. None of the BGL11 closely related genes have been previously characterized. Recombinant BGL11 was obtained and kinetically characterized. Substrate specificity of the purified protein was assessed using seven synthetic aryl substrates. Activity towards nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG), 4-nitrophenyl-β-D-xylopyranoside (pNPX) and 4-nitrophenyl-β-D-cellobioside (pNPC) suggested that BGL11 is a multifunctional enzyme with β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase, and cellobiohydrolase activities. However, further testing with five natural substrates revealed that, although BGL11 has multiple substrate specificity, it is most active towards xylobiose. Thus, in its native goat rumen environment, BGL11 most likely functions as an extracellular β-xylosidase acting on hemicellulose. Biochemical characterization of BGL11 showed an optimal pH of 5.6, and an optimal temperature of 50°C. Enzyme stability, an important parameter for industrial application, was also investigated. At 40°C purified BGL11 remained active for more than 15 hours without reduction in activity, and at 50°C, after 7 hours of incubation, BGL11 remained 60% active. The enzyme kinetic parameters of Km and Vmax using xylobiose were determined to be 3.88 mM and 38.53 μmol.min-1.mg-1, respectively, and the Kcat was 57.79 s-1. In contrast to BLG11, most β-xylosidases kinetically studied belong to the GH43 family and have been characterized only using synthetic substrates. In industry, β-xylosidases can be used for plant biomass deconstruction, and the released sugars can be fermented into valuable bio-products, ranging from the biofuel ethanol to the sugar substitute xylitol.},
}

@article {pmid33449116,
year = {2021},
author = {Santona, A and Mhmoud, NA and Siddig, EE and Deligios, M and Fiamma, M and Bakhiet, SM and Barac, A and Paglietti, B and Rubino, S and Fahal, AH},
title = {Metagenomics of black grains: new highlights in the understanding of eumycetoma.},
journal = {Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/trstmh/traa177},
pmid = {33449116},
issn = {1878-3503},
abstract = {BACKGROUND: Eumycetoma is a chronic subcutaneous granulomatous disease that is endemic in Sudan and other countries. It can be caused by eight different fungal orders. The gold standard diagnostic test is culture, however, culture-independent methods such as imaging, histopathological and molecular techniques can support diagnosis, especially in cases of negative cultures.

METHODS: The amplicon-based internal transcribed spacer 2 metagenomic technique was used to study black grains isolated from 14 tissue biopsies from patients with mycetoma. Furthermore, mycological culture and surgical biopsy histopathological examinations of grains were performed.

RESULTS: Madurella mycetomatis (n=5) and Falciformispora spp. (n=4) organisms were identified by culture and confirmed by metagenomics. Metagenomics recognised, at the species level, Falciformispora as Falciformispora tompkinsii (n=3) and Falciformispora senegalensis (n=1), while in culture-negative cases (n=5), Madurella mycetomatis (n=3), Falciformispora senegalensis (n=1) and Fusarium spp. (n=1) were identified. Interestingly, the metagenomics results showed a 'consortium' of different fungi in each sample, mainly Ascomycota phylum, including various species associated with eumycetoma. The microbial co-occurrence in eumycetoma showed the co-presence of Madurella with Trichoderma, Chaetomium, Malasseziales and Sordariales spp., while Falciformispora co-presented with Inocybe and Alternaria and was in mutual exclusion with Subramaniula, Aspergillus and Trichothecium.

CONCLUSION: Metagenomics provides new insights into the aetiology of eumycetoma in samples with negative culture and into the diversity and complexity of grains mycobiota, calling into question the accuracy of traditional culture for the identification of causative agents.},
}

@article {pmid33448236,
year = {2021},
author = {Sawyer, A and Free, T and Martin, J},
title = {Metagenomics: preventing future pandemics.},
journal = {BioTechniques},
volume = {70},
number = {1},
pages = {1-4},
doi = {10.2144/btn-2020-0166},
pmid = {33448236},
issn = {1940-9818},
abstract = {Metagenomic approaches have been key to successful tracing and outbreak management during the COVID-19 pandemic. How can we use this knowledge to better prepare, strategize and prevent future pandemics? [Formula: see text].},
}

@article {pmid33447735,
year = {2020},
author = {Popescu, CR and Tembo, B and Chifisi, R and Cavanagh, MMM and Lee, AH and Chiluzi, B and Ciccone, EJ and Tegha, G and Alonso-Prieto, E and Claydon, J and Dunsmuir, D and Irvine, M and Dumont, G and Ansermino, JM and Wiens, MO and Juliano, JJ and Kissoon, N and Mvalo, T and Lufesi, N and Chiume-Kayuni, M and Lavoie, PM},
title = {Whole blood genome-wide transcriptome profiling and metagenomics next-generation sequencing in young infants with suspected sepsis in low-and middle-income countries: A study protocol.},
journal = {Gates open research},
volume = {4},
number = {},
pages = {139},
doi = {10.12688/gatesopenres.13172.1},
pmid = {33447735},
issn = {2572-4754},
abstract = {Conducting collaborative and comprehensive epidemiological research on neonatal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is challenging due to a lack of diagnostic tests. This prospective study protocol aims to obtain epidemiological data on bacterial sepsis in newborns and young infants at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. The main goal is to determine if the use of whole blood transcriptome host immune response signatures can help in the identification of infants who have sepsis of bacterial causes. The protocol includes a detailed clinical assessment with vital sign measurements, strict aseptic blood culture protocol with state-of-the-art microbial analyses and RNA-sequencing and metagenomics evaluations of host responses and pathogens, respectively. We also discuss the directions of a brief analysis plan for RNA sequencing data. This study will provide robust epidemiological data for sepsis in neonates and young infants in a setting where sepsis confers an inordinate burden of disease.},
}

@article {pmid33446856,
year = {2021},
author = {Boeckaerts, D and Stock, M and Criel, B and Gerstmans, H and De Baets, B and Briers, Y},
title = {Predicting bacteriophage hosts based on sequences of annotated receptor-binding proteins.},
journal = {Scientific reports},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {1467},
pmid = {33446856},
issn = {2045-2322},
support = {01N02416//Special Research Fund of Ghent University/ ; FWO17/PDO/067)//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; 1S32217N//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek/ ; 3S003719//Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek,Belgium/ ; },
abstract = {Nowadays, bacteriophages are increasingly considered as an alternative treatment for a variety of bacterial infections in cases where classical antibiotics have become ineffective. However, characterizing the host specificity of phages remains a labor- and time-intensive process. In order to alleviate this burden, we have developed a new machine-learning-based pipeline to predict bacteriophage hosts based on annotated receptor-binding protein (RBP) sequence data. We focus on predicting bacterial hosts from the ESKAPE group, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica and Clostridium difficile. We compare the performance of our predictive model with that of the widely used Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). Our best-performing predictive model reaches Precision-Recall Area Under the Curve (PR-AUC) scores between 73.6 and 93.8% for different levels of sequence similarity in the collected data. Our model reaches a performance comparable to that of BLASTp when sequence similarity in the data is high and starts outperforming BLASTp when sequence similarity drops below 75%. Therefore, our machine learning methods can be especially useful in settings in which sequence similarity to other known sequences is low. Predicting the hosts of novel metagenomic RBP sequences could extend our toolbox to tune the host spectrum of phages or phage tail-like bacteriocins by swapping RBPs.},
}

@article {pmid33446604,
year = {2021},
author = {Sulaiman, I and Wu, BG and Li, Y and Tsay, JC and Sauthoff, M and Scott, AS and Ji, K and Koralov, SB and Weiden, M and Clemente, J and Jones, D and Huang, YJ and Stringer, KA and Zhang, L and Geber, A and Banakis, S and Tipton, L and Ghedin, E and Segal, LN},
title = {Functional lower airways genomic profiling of the microbiome to capture active microbial metabolism.},
journal = {The European respiratory journal},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1183/13993003.03434-2020},
pmid = {33446604},
issn = {1399-3003},
abstract = {RATIONALE: Microbiome studies of the lower airway based on bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing assess microbial community structure but can only infer functional characteristics. Microbial products, such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in the lower airways have significant impact on the host's immune tone. Thus, functional approaches to the analyses of the microbiome are necessary.

METHODS: Here we used upper and lower airway samples from a research bronchoscopy smoker cohort. In addition, we validated our results in an experimental mouse model.

MEASUREMENTS: We extended our microbiota characterisation beyond 16S rRNA gene sequencing with the use of whole genome (WGS) and RNA metatranscriptome sequencing. Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) were also measured in lower airway samples and correlated with each of the sequencing datasets. In the mouse model, 16S rRNA gene and RNA metatranscriptome sequencing were performed.

MAIN RESULTS: Functional evaluations of the lower airway microbiota using inferred metagenome, WGS and metatranscriptome were dissimilar. Comparison with measured levels of SCFAs shows that the inferred metagenome from the 16S rRNA gene sequencing data was poorly correlated, while better correlations were noted when SCFAs levels were compared with WGS and metatranscriptome. Modelling lower airway aspiration with oral commensals in a mouse model showed that the metatranscriptome most efficiently captures transient active microbial metabolism, which was overestimated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

CONCLUSIONS: Functional characterisation of the lower airway microbiota through metatranscriptome identify metabolically active organisms capable of producing metabolites with immunomodulatory capacity such as SCFAs.},
}

@article {pmid33446598,
year = {2021},
author = {Martin, RM and Kausch, M and Yap, K and Wehr, JD and Boyer, GL and Wilhelm, SW},
title = {Metagenome-Assembled Genome Sequences of Raphidiopsis raciborskii and Planktothrix agardhii from a Cyanobacterial Bloom in Kissena Lake, New York, USA.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {10},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {33446598},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {Raphidiopsis raciborskii and Planktothrix agardhii are filamentous, potentially toxin-producing cyanobacteria that form nuisance blooms in fresh waters. Here, we report high-quality metagenome-assembled genome sequences of R. raciborskii and P. agardhii collected from a bloom in Kissena Lake, New York.},
}

@article {pmid33446592,
year = {2021},
author = {Arif, S and Nacke, H and Hoppert, M},
title = {Metagenome-Assembled Genome Sequences of a Biofilm Derived from Marsberg Copper Mine.},
journal = {Microbiology resource announcements},
volume = {10},
number = {2},
pages = {},
pmid = {33446592},
issn = {2576-098X},
abstract = {We sequenced the metagenome of a biofilm collected near a leachate stream of the Marsberg copper mine (Germany) and reconstructed eight metagenome-assembled genomes. These genomes yield copper resistance through Cu(I) oxidation via multiple copper oxidases and extrusion through copper-exporting P-type ATPases.},
}

@article {pmid33444853,
year = {2020},
author = {Yang, Y and Herbold, CW and Jung, MY and Qin, W and Cai, M and Du, H and Lin, JG and Li, X and Li, M and Gu, JD},
title = {Survival strategies of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in a full-scale WWTP treating mixed landfill leachate containing copper ions and operating at low-intensity of aeration.},
journal = {Water research},
volume = {191},
number = {},
pages = {116798},
doi = {10.1016/j.watres.2020.116798},
pmid = {33444853},
issn = {1879-2448},
abstract = {Recent studies indicate that ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) may play an important role in nitrogen removal by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, our knowledge of the mechanisms employed by AOA for growth and survival in full-scale WWTPs is still limited. Here, metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses combined with a laboratory cultivation experiment revealed that three active AOAs (WS9, WS192, and WS208) belonging to family Nitrososphaeraceae were active in the deep oxidation ditch (DOD) of a full-scale WWTP treating landfill leachate, which is configured with three continuous aerobic-anoxic (OA) modules with low-intensity aeration (≤ 1.5 mg/L). AOA coexisted with AOB and complete ammonia oxidizers (Comammox), while the ammonia-oxidizing microbial (AOM) community was unexpectedly dominated by the novel AOA strain WS9. The low aeration, long retention time, and relatively high inputs of ammonium and copper might be responsible for the survival of AOA over AOB and Comammox, while the dominance of WS9, specifically may be enhanced by substrate preference and uniquely encoded retention strategies. The urease-negative WS9 is specifically adapted for ammonia acquisition as evidenced by the high expression of an ammonium transporter, whereas two metabolically versatile urease-positive AOA strains (WS192 and WS208) can likely supplement ammonia needs with urea. This study provides important information for the survival and application of the eutrophic Nitrososphaeraceae AOA and advances our understanding of archaea-dominated ammonia oxidation in a full-scale wastewater treatment system.},
}

@article {pmid33444751,
year = {2021},
author = {Zeng, Z and Wang, C and Liu, C and Wang, B and Meng, X and Chen, Y and Guo, S},
title = {Follow-up of a Rickettsia felis encephalitis: Some new insights in clinical and imaging features.},
journal = {International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijid.2020.12.090},
pmid = {33444751},
issn = {1878-3511},
abstract = {Rickettsia felis infection is a cause of unspecified encephalitis. However, the incidence of it was underestimated due to the intracellular feature of the pathogen and insufficient understanding of its clinical picture. Here we report a case of Rickettsia felis infection in a 26-year-old female who manifested with only certain neurological symptoms. With the lack of specific systemic inflammatory symptoms, the diagnosis was initially misdiagnosed as brain glioma. However, brain tissue biopsy showed prominent peri-vascular inflammatory infiltration which indicated inflammatory diseases. The spinal fluid Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing (mNGS) was taken after ruling out other common infectious and autoimmune diseases. The results suggested Rickettsia felis infection which was also supported by Weil Felix reaction in the serum. After the diagnosis was corrected as Rickettsia felis encephalitis, the patient was successfully treated with doxycycline and had a good prognosis in one-year follow up.},
}

@article {pmid33444437,
year = {2020},
author = {Nicholls, SM and Aubrey, W and De Grave, K and Schietgat, L and Creevey, CJ and Clare, A},
title = {On the complexity of haplotyping a microbial community.},
journal = {Bioinformatics (Oxford, England)},
volume = {},
number = {},
pages = {},
doi = {10.1093/bioinformatics/btaa977},
pmid = {33444437},
issn = {1367-4811},
abstract = {MOTIVATION: Population-level genetic variation enables competitiveness and niche specialization in microbial communities. Despite the difficulty in culturing many microbes from an environment, we can still study these communities by isolating and sequencing DNA directly from an environment (metagenomics). Recovering the genomic sequences of all isoforms of a given gene across all organisms in a metagenomic sample would aid evolutionary and ecological insights into microbial ecosystems with potential benefits for medicine and biotechnology. A significant obstacle to this goal arises from the lack of a computationally tractable solution that can recover these sequences from sequenced read fragments. This poses a problem analogous to reconstructing the two sequences that make up the genome of a diploid organism (i.e. haplotypes), but for an unknown number of individuals and haplotypes.

RESULTS: The problem of single individual haplotyping (SIH) was first formalised by Lancia et al. in 2001. Now, nearly two decades later, we discuss the complexity of "haplotyping" metagenomic samples, with a new formalisation of Lancia et al's data structure that allows us to effectively extend the single individual haplotype problem to microbial communities. This work describes and formalizes the problem of recovering genes (and other genomic subsequences) from all individuals within a complex community sample, which we term the metagenomic individual haplotyping (MIH) problem. We also provide software implementations for a pairwise single nucleotide variant (SNV) co-occurrence matrix and greedy graph traversal algorithm.

Our reference implementation of the described pairwise SNV matrix (Hansel) and greedy haplotype path traversal algorithm (Gretel) are open source, MIT licensed and freely available online at github.com/samstudio8/hansel and github.com/samstudio8/gretel, respectively.},
}

@article {pmid33444384,
year = {2021},
author = {Maguire, M and Kase, JA and Roberson, D and Muruvanda, T and Brown, EW and Allard, M and Musser, SM and González-Escalona, N},
title = {Precision long-read metagenomics sequencing for food safety by detection and assembly of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in irrigation water.},
journal = {PloS one},
volume = {16},
number = {1},
pages = {e0245172},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0245172},
pmid = {33444384},
issn = {1932-6203},
abstract = {Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) contamination of agricultural water might be an important factor to recent foodborne illness and outbreaks involving leafy greens. Closed bacterial genomes from whole genome sequencing play an important role in source tracking. We aimed to determine the limits of detection and classification of STECs by qPCR and nanopore sequencing using 24 hour enriched irrigation water artificially contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 (EDL933). We determined the limit of STEC detection by qPCR to be 30 CFU/reaction, which is equivalent to 105 CFU/ml in the enrichment. By using Oxford Nanopore's EPI2ME WIMP workflow and de novo assembly with Flye followed by taxon classification with a k-mer analysis software (Kraken2), E. coli O157:H7 could be detected at 103 CFU/ml (68 reads) and a complete fragmented E. coli O157:H7 metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) was obtained at 105-108 CFU/ml. Using a custom script to extract the E. coli reads, a completely closed MAG was obtained at 107-108 CFU/ml and a complete, fragmented MAG was obtained at 105-106 CFU/ml. In silico virulence detection for E. coli MAGs for 105-108 CFU/ml showed that the virulotype was indistinguishable from the spiked E. coli O157:H7 strain. We further identified the bacterial species in the un-spiked enrichment, including antimicrobial resistance genes, which could have important implications to food safety. We propose this workflow provides proof of concept for faster detection and complete genomic characterization of STECs from a complex microbial sample compared to current reporting protocols and could be applied to determine the limit of detection and assembly of other foodborne bacterial pathogens.},
}